🔍 Key Concepts

• Rule 8 – Action to Avoid Collision in the Navigation Rules • How changing speed (slowing, stopping, reversing) affects your ability to make a safe decision • The purpose of speed changes compared with sound/visual signals used to get attention

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: when you slow, stop, or reverse, how does that change the time you have to understand what’s going on around you? • Consider whether speed changes by themselves are intended to signal other vessels, or mainly to help you handle the risk of collision • Think about whether one action can realistically ‘create’ a crossing situation, or if crossing situations are defined by relative positions and headings

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify in Rule 8 what it says about ‘slackening speed or stopping or reversing her means of propulsion’ • Check whether the Rules use sound signals (whistle blasts, etc.) or engine movements as the primary way to attract attention • Confirm whether a vessel is supposed to use a speed change to manage risk and decision‑making time, not to deliberately create a new meeting or crossing situation