Under International Rules, which vessel must avoid impeding the safe passage of a vessel constrained by her draft?

• A. A power-driven vessel
• B. A sailing vessel
• C. A vessel not under command
• D. A vessel constrained by her draft

Answer: (B)

Vessels with restricted ability to maneuver have priority over others, because they cannot easily deviate to avoid danger. A vessel constrained by her draft (VCFD) is such a case: due to depth or operating restrictions she cannot easily alter course or speed. Because of that, other vessels must not impede her safe passage and should take early, decisive action to stay clear.

In this situation, a sailing vessel is the one that must avoid impeding the safe passage of a vessel constrained by her draft. The constrained vessel is the one that cannot easily maneuver, so it is the sailing vessel’s responsibility to give way and pass with plenty of room. The other choices describe vessels that either are the constrained vessel itself or are not the one required to yield in this specific interaction, so they don’t fit as the vessel that must avoid impeding in this scenario.