Risk of Collision shall be deemed to exist if the bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change.

Risk of Collision shall be deemed to exist if the bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change.

• A. If the Bearing Changes Appreciably
• B. If There Is No Change in Bearing
• C. If the Bearing Does Not Appreciably Change
• D. If the Other Vessel Signals Distress

Answer: (C)

Understanding risk of collision comes from watching how the other vessel’s bearing changes from your point of view. If the bearing to the approaching vessel stays essentially the same as you both move, you’re on a potential collision course and must act to prevent a collision. That’s why this rule states that risk exists when the bearing does not appreciably change. When the bearing does change appreciably, you’re usually not on a near-collision path, giving you more time to maneuver. Signals of distress don’t address the collision risk by bearing change, so they’re not the basis for this rule.

Understanding risk of collision comes from watching how the other vessel’s bearing changes from your point of view. If the bearing to the approaching vessel stays essentially the same as you both move, you’re on a potential collision course and must act to prevent a collision. That’s why this rule states that risk exists when the bearing does not appreciably change. When the bearing does change appreciably, you’re usually not on a near-collision path, giving you more time to maneuver. Signals of distress don’t address the collision risk by bearing change, so they’re not the basis for this rule.