COLREGs quiz: 10 free collision regulations questions

Question 1 of 10

You are on a power-driven vessel making way. At night you see these lights right ahead (000° relative). The compass bearing is steady and the range is closing. What do you do?

Relative bearing 000°

AnswersAAlter course to starboard – you are meeting head-onBAlter course to port and pass ahead of herCKeep out of her way – you are overtaking herDIncrease speed so you pass ahead of her

Correct!Not quite. The answer is Alter course to starboard – you are meeting head-on.

She is: pilot vessel on duty. Rule 14: two power-driven vessels meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses. Each alters course to starboard so that they pass port to port. If in doubt, assume it is head-on.

Relative bearing 000°

By day

Question 2 of 10

You are on a power-driven vessel making way. At night you see these lights on your starboard bow (030° relative). The compass bearing is steady and the range is closing. What do you do?

Relative bearing 030°

AnswersAAvoid impeding her – she is constrained by her draughtBKeep out of her way – you are overtaking herCKeep out of her way – she has priority over you under Rule 18DGive way – she is crossing from starboard: alter to starboard and pass astern of her

Correct!Not quite. The answer is Give way – she is crossing from starboard: alter to starboard and pass astern of her.

She is: power-driven vessel, less than 50 m. Rule 15: in a crossing situation the vessel that has the other on her own starboard side keeps out of the way and avoids crossing ahead. Rule 16: take early and substantial action.

Relative bearing 030°

By day

Question 3 of 10

You are on a power-driven vessel making way. At night you see these lights right ahead (358° relative). The compass bearing is steady and the range is closing. What do you do?

Relative bearing 358°

AnswersAStand on – keep your course and speed, and watch her closelyBIncrease speed so you pass ahead of herCKeep out of her way – you are overtaking herDAlter course to starboard – you are meeting head-on

Correct!Not quite. The answer is Keep out of her way – you are overtaking her.

She is: power-driven vessel towing, tow over 200 m, towing astern. Rule 13: you see her sternlight but none of her masthead lights or sidelights, so you are coming up from more than 22.5° abaft her beam. You are overtaking and must keep out of her way until you are finally past and clear.

Relative bearing 358°

By day

Question 4 of 10

You are on a power-driven vessel making way. At night you see these lights on your port bow (305° relative). The compass bearing is steady and the range is closing. What do you do?

Relative bearing 305°

AnswersAKeep out of her way – she has priority over you under Rule 18BAvoid impeding her – she is constrained by her draughtCStand on – keep your course and speed, and watch her closelyDIncrease speed so you pass ahead of her

Correct!Not quite. The answer is Keep out of her way – she has priority over you under Rule 18.

She is: vessel engaged in fishing (not trawling), making way. Rule 18(a): a power-driven vessel underway keeps out of the way of a vessel not under command, a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, a vessel engaged in fishing and a sailing vessel.

Relative bearing 305°

By day

Question 5 of 10

Restricted visibility (about 1 nm). You are a power-driven vessel making way and sounding your fog signal. Radar shows an echo on your starboard bow (035° relative), 4.9 nm, bearing steady and range closing. Nothing is in sight. What do you do?

AnswersAKeep course and speed – she is the give-way vesselBAlter course to port in ample timeCAlter course to starboard in ample timeDKeep course and speed and just keep sounding your fog signal

Correct!Not quite. The answer is Alter course to starboard in ample time.

Rule 19(d)(i): avoid an alteration of course to port for a vessel forward of the beam (other than one being overtaken). In restricted visibility there is no stand-on or give-way vessel – both must take avoiding action in ample time, and the manoeuvring signals of Rule 34(a) are only for vessels in sight of one another. Reducing speed is always an option too.

Question 6 of 10

These four vessels are in sight of one another in open water, and no one is overtaking. Rank them by Rule 18: the one with the most right of way first, the one that keeps out of the way of all the others last.

TrawlerEngaged in trawling

Power-drivenPower-driven vessel

SailingSailing vessel

CBDConstrained by her draught

AnswersAPower-driven → Sailing → Trawler → CBDBCBD → Trawler → Sailing → Power-drivenCTrawler → CBD → Power-driven → SailingDTrawler → CBD → Sailing → Power-driven

Correct!Not quite. The answer is CBD → Trawler → Sailing → Power-driven.

Rule 18: a power-driven vessel keeps out of the way of NUC, RAM, fishing and sailing vessels. A sailing vessel keeps out of the way of NUC, RAM and fishing vessels. A vessel engaged in fishing keeps out of the way of NUC and RAM, so far as possible. Every vessel except NUC and RAM avoids impeding a vessel constrained by her draught. This order holds for vessels in sight of one another in open water – overtaking (Rule 13) and narrow channels or TSS (Rules 9 and 10) come first.

Question 7 of 10

Rule 5 requires every vessel to keep a proper look-out by:

AnswersASight and hearing, but only at nightBSight and hearing, and all available means appropriate in the circumstancesCSight only, from the bridgeDRadar only, when the visibility is restricted

Correct!Not quite. The answer is Sight and hearing, and all available means appropriate in the circumstances.

Rule 5: a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions. (Rule 5)

Question 8 of 10

A sailing vessel is overtaking a power-driven vessel. Who keeps out of the way?

AnswersAThe larger vesselBThe power-driven vessel – sail has right of wayCThe sailing vessel – she is overtakingDBoth vessels alter to starboard

Correct!Not quite. The answer is The sailing vessel – she is overtaking.

Rule 13(a): notwithstanding anything in Rules 4–18, any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken. Rule 18 does not change that. (Rule 13(a))

Question 9 of 10

Two power-driven vessels are crossing. Which one keeps out of the way?

AnswersAThe faster vesselBThe one that has the other on her own port sideCThe one that has the other on her own starboard sideDThe larger vessel

Correct!Not quite. The answer is The one that has the other on her own starboard side.

Rule 15: the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circumstances admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel. (Rule 15)

Question 10 of 10

Restricted visibility: a vessel detected by radar alone is forward of your beam and closing. Which action should you avoid?

AnswersAA reduction of speedBAn alteration of course to port (other than for a vessel being overtaken)CSounding the fog signalDAn alteration of course to starboard

Correct!Not quite. The answer is An alteration of course to port (other than for a vessel being overtaken).

Rule 19(d): if possible avoid an alteration of course to port for a vessel forward of the beam, other than for a vessel being overtaken, and an alteration towards a vessel abeam or abaft the beam. (Rule 19(d))

You have right out of answered.Ten of ten? The app draws every question new: other angles, other light, other wrong answers.

COLREGs quiz

You are on a power-driven vessel making way. At night you see these lights right ahead (000° relative). The compass bearing is steady and the range is closing. What do you do?

You are on a power-driven vessel making way. At night you see these lights on your starboard bow (030° relative). The compass bearing is steady and the range is closing. What do you do?

You are on a power-driven vessel making way. At night you see these lights right ahead (358° relative). The compass bearing is steady and the range is closing. What do you do?

You are on a power-driven vessel making way. At night you see these lights on your port bow (305° relative). The compass bearing is steady and the range is closing. What do you do?

Restricted visibility (about 1 nm). You are a power-driven vessel making way and sounding your fog signal. Radar shows an echo on your starboard bow (035° relative), 4.9 nm, bearing steady and range closing. Nothing is in sight. What do you do?

These four vessels are in sight of one another in open water, and no one is overtaking. Rank them by Rule 18: the one with the most right of way first, the one that keeps out of the way of all the others last.

Rule 5 requires every vessel to keep a proper look-out by:

A sailing vessel is overtaking a power-driven vessel. Who keeps out of the way?

Two power-driven vessels are crossing. Which one keeps out of the way?

Restricted visibility: a vessel detected by radar alone is forward of your beam and closing. Which action should you avoid?

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