In a situation where a sailing vessel overtakes a power-driven vessel in a narrow channel, which vessel must move to facilitate passage?

In a situation where a sailing vessel overtakes a power-driven vessel in a narrow channel, which vessel must move to facilitate passage?

• A. The overtaking vessel.
• B. The power-driven vessel.
• C. The overtaken vessel.
• D. Both vessels.

Answer: (C)

The key rule is that the vessel overtaking another must keep clear of the vessel being overtaken. In a narrow channel this responsibility doesn't change: the sailing vessel that is overtaking must take action to pass safely, which usually means altering course or speed to go by the power-driven vessel without impeding it. The overtaken vessel should maintain its course to allow passage, unless avoiding a collision requires a maneuver. So, the vessel doing the overtaking is the one that must move to facilitate passage.

The key rule is that the vessel overtaking another must keep clear of the vessel being overtaken. In a narrow channel this responsibility doesn't change: the sailing vessel that is overtaking must take action to pass safely, which usually means altering course or speed to go by the power-driven vessel without impeding it. The overtaken vessel should maintain its course to allow passage, unless avoiding a collision requires a maneuver. So, the vessel doing the overtaking is the one that must move to facilitate passage.