Which term describes the vessel that should maintain course and speed unless collision risk requires action?

Which term describes the vessel that should maintain course and speed unless collision risk requires action?

• A. Give-way vessel
• B. Stand-on vessel
• C. Neither
• D. Both

Answer: (B)

In collision avoidance, two roles drive how two vessels should behave: stand-on and give-way. The stand-on vessel is the one that should keep its course and speed, unless there is a risk of collision that requires it to take action. This duty to maintain course and speed preserves a predictable path and gives the other vessel time to assess and act. The give-way vessel, by contrast, must take early and substantial action to keep well clear. So the term that fits the description “should maintain course and speed unless collision risk requires action” is stand-on. If the other vessel fails to take appropriate action, the stand-on vessel may then need to adjust to avoid collision, but its baseline obligation is to maintain its current course and speed. The give-way vessel is the one charged with deviating to avoid danger, not the one that stays on course.

In collision avoidance, two roles drive how two vessels should behave: stand-on and give-way. The stand-on vessel is the one that should keep its course and speed, unless there is a risk of collision that requires it to take action. This duty to maintain course and speed preserves a predictable path and gives the other vessel time to assess and act. The give-way vessel, by contrast, must take early and substantial action to keep well clear.

So the term that fits the description “should maintain course and speed unless collision risk requires action” is stand-on. If the other vessel fails to take appropriate action, the stand-on vessel may then need to adjust to avoid collision, but its baseline obligation is to maintain its current course and speed. The give-way vessel is the one charged with deviating to avoid danger, not the one that stays on course.