A vessel may slacken her speed, stop, or reverse her engines to

A vessel may slacken her speed, stop, or reverse her engines to

• A. Allow more time to assess the situation
• B. Avoid collision
• C. Pass at a safe distance
• D. Overtake on the port side

Answer: (B)

When there is a danger of collision, you must take early and decisive action to avoid it. Slacking speed, stopping, or reversing engines are direct, controllable maneuvers that reduce the risk by changing the closing rate with the other vessel. They give you immediate leverage to create separation or ensure the other vessel can maneuver, and they are explicitly appropriate ways to avoid a collision under the rules. Relying on taking more time to assess the situation can be risky, since delaying action may remove the opportunity to maneuver safely. The goal is to avoid collision, and that outcome comes from taking action now rather than waiting. Passing at a safe distance is the desired result of good avoidance, but it’s the outcome, not the immediate action. Overtaking on the port side is a specific scenario that doesn’t apply to the general duty to avoid a collision.

When there is a danger of collision, you must take early and decisive action to avoid it. Slacking speed, stopping, or reversing engines are direct, controllable maneuvers that reduce the risk by changing the closing rate with the other vessel. They give you immediate leverage to create separation or ensure the other vessel can maneuver, and they are explicitly appropriate ways to avoid a collision under the rules.

Relying on taking more time to assess the situation can be risky, since delaying action may remove the opportunity to maneuver safely. The goal is to avoid collision, and that outcome comes from taking action now rather than waiting. Passing at a safe distance is the desired result of good avoidance, but it’s the outcome, not the immediate action. Overtaking on the port side is a specific scenario that doesn’t apply to the general duty to avoid a collision.