Which statement about the overtaking angle rule is correct?

Which statement about the overtaking angle rule is correct?

• A. A vessel is overtaking when approaching from more than 22.5° abaft the beam
• B. A vessel is overtaking when approaching from less than 22.5° abaft the beam
• C. Overtaking is defined by crossing the beam at 45°
• D. Overtaking occurs only when vessels are directly astern

Answer: (A)

In this rule, overtaking is defined by where the other vessel appears relative to your own vessel's beam. If another vessel is approaching from behind and its bearing is more than 22.5 degrees aft of your beam, you are overtaking it. That 22.5-degree boundary separates overtaking from other situations like crossing or head-on, and it means the overtaking vessel is effectively coming up from the stern half rather than from ahead or from the broad side. So the correct idea is that overtaking occurs when the other vessel is more than 22.5 degrees abaft the beam. If the bearing is less than that, the situation is not overtaking (it could be crossing or meeting). Overtaking is not limited to directly astern; it can occur with the other vessel behind and to either side, as long as it’s more than 22.5 degrees abaft the beam. The notion of overtaking being tied to a 45-degree “crossing” or to being directly astern is not the formal rule.

In this rule, overtaking is defined by where the other vessel appears relative to your own vessel's beam. If another vessel is approaching from behind and its bearing is more than 22.5 degrees aft of your beam, you are overtaking it. That 22.5-degree boundary separates overtaking from other situations like crossing or head-on, and it means the overtaking vessel is effectively coming up from the stern half rather than from ahead or from the broad side.

So the correct idea is that overtaking occurs when the other vessel is more than 22.5 degrees abaft the beam. If the bearing is less than that, the situation is not overtaking (it could be crossing or meeting). Overtaking is not limited to directly astern; it can occur with the other vessel behind and to either side, as long as it’s more than 22.5 degrees abaft the beam. The notion of overtaking being tied to a 45-degree “crossing” or to being directly astern is not the formal rule.