🔍 Key Concepts

• Rule 15 – Crossing Situations (who is stand-on vs give-way) • Rule 17 – Action of the Stand-On Vessel (what you must do, and when you may maneuver) • The idea of early and substantial action vs waiting until a true emergency (extremis)

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: At what point does the stand-on vessel change from simply maintaining course and speed to being allowed to maneuver on its own to avoid collision? • Think about the difference between a situation that is merely developing vs a situation that is clearly dangerous because the give-way vessel is not doing what it should. • Which option best reflects the requirement to first follow the rules (maintain course/speed), but then to prevent a collision if the other vessel fails in its duty?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify what Rule 17(b) says about when the stand-on vessel may take action by her maneuver alone. • Check whether the rules require you to wait until you are in extremis (last possible moment) or allow you to act before it becomes that critical. • Confirm that the stand-on vessel’s special action is tied to the give-way vessel’s failure to take appropriate action, not just any feeling or prediction.