What requirement must be met for any action taken to avoid collision?

• A. It must not result in another close quarters situation
• B. It must be completed within 60 seconds
• C. It must always involve slowing down
• D. It must always be to starboard

Answer: (A)

The action you take to avoid a collision must not create a new hazard for other vessels. In practice, when you decide how to maneuver, you need to ensure that the chosen change in bearing or speed actually increases separation and, crucially, does not put any other vessel into a close-quarters situation. Even if you successfully avoid the other vessel, your maneuver should not risk bringing you into a new dangerous situation with someone else.

This is why focusing on not causing another close-quarters scenario is the best principle. The timing of the maneuver isn’t fixed (no universal 60-second rule), and the action isn’t always a slowdown or a turn to a specific side; the key is that the action must be safe for all vessels and avoid creating new risk.