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Deck: Rules of the Road

Question 785 of 1,025

BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What describes a head-on situation?

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Comments from mariners who studied this question.

be beetlesb · Mar 19, 2015
According to rule 25(a) a vessel under sail need only show side lights and a stern light. Therefore both B and C are correct answers.
Sh Shawn · Mar 26, 2015
I agree, a sailing vessel less than 20m will not show a masthead light. Definitely submit an exam challenge sheet for this.

Rule 14 (b) Such a situation shall be deemed to exist when a vessel sees the other ahead or nearly ahead and by night she could see the masthead lights of the other in a line or nearly in a line and/or both sidelights and by day she observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel.
sa sailorstu · Apr 16, 2015
A head-on situation exists only when 2 POWER DRIVEN VESSELS are meeting on reciprocal or near reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision. Therefore, C is only the right answer.
Sh Shawn · Apr 17, 2015
I realize rule 14 says power driven vessel, but this question merely asks what describes a head-on situation? What makes answer B true is that you can have a head-on situation with a sailing vessel at night that only shows the side lights..

25(a) A sailing vessel underway shall exhibit: Sailing Vessel Underway

(i) sidelights;
(ii) a sternlight.

(b) In a sailing vessel of less than 20 meters in length the lights prescribed in Rule 25(a) may be combined in one lantern carried at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen.
sa sailorstu · Apr 17, 2015
You just answered the question! Per the book, 4 conditions must be met for a head-on situation to exist:

1. Vessels must be in sight of one another (rule 14 falls under section 2)
2. ONLY 2 power driven vessels
3. Reciprocal or near reciprocal courses such that at night, you can see both sidelights and/or masthead lights in a line
4. Risk of collision exists

A head-on situation does not exist if one of the 2 vessels is a sailing vessel or any vessel other than a power driven vessel. If you were on a power-driven vessel and saw a combined lantern at night, you are to steer clear as per the hierarchy of vessels (rule 18).
Sh Shawn · Apr 17, 2015
Good ol' rule 18.. your right, but I still don't like this question haha - thanks for the reply.
jr jrmuniz · Apr 19, 2016
makes sense
ja jahamilton · Mar 18, 2020
could be a sailboat