Under International Rules, which statement is true about a vessel constrained by her draft?

• A. She Must Be A Sailing Vessel
• B. She Must Be A Power-Driven Vessel
• C. She Must Be A Vessel Not Under Command
• D. She Must Be A Tug

Answer: (B)

A vessel constrained by her draft is defined by the fact that her depth relative to the waterway severely limits her ability to deviate from her course. In shallow channels or harbors, large ships with deep drafts can’t maneuver as freely, so propulsion becomes the primary factor in her movement. For collision regulations, this situation is treated as a power-driven vessel. That classification matters because the rules for crossing, overtaking, and meeting vessels depend on whether you’re dealing with a power-driven or a sailing vessel, and the constrained-by-draft condition is handled under the power-driven framework to reflect her limited ability to change course.

So the true statement is that she must be considered a power-driven vessel. The other options don’t fit because a vessel constrained by draft is not defined by sailing capability, nor by being not under command, and it isn’t specifically a tug by virtue of the constraint.