What action should be taken to avoid collision when risk is detected?

• A. Take early and substantial action to avoid collision.
• B. Maintain course and speed.
• C. Sound a long blast to warn others.
• D. Accelerate to pass quickly.

Answer: (A)

When there’s any risk of collision, the priority is to reduce that risk with a decisive maneuver as early as possible. You should alter your course and/or your speed in a clear, substantial way so that the other vessel can see and understand your intent, creating a safe passing distance. Delaying action or simply waiting for the other vessel to move leaves less time to react and often forces more drastic measures later, which increases the chance of an incident.

A warning blast can attract attention, but it doesn’t remove the risk by itself. Similarly, simply maintaining speed or rushing to pass without ensuring safety can worsen the situation. The best approach is to take early and substantial action to avoid collision—change course and/or slow down enough to guarantee a clear, safe separation.