When a vessel is RAM (Restricted in Ability to Maneuver), how should other vessels typically respond?

• A. Give way and take early action to avoid collision.
• B. Maintain your course and speed.
• C. Ignore the RAM vessel's restrictions.
• D. Speed up to overtake the RAM vessel.

Answer: (A)

When a vessel is RAM (Restricted in Ability to Maneuver), it cannot easily take action to avoid another vessel due to the nature of its work or equipment. Because the RAM vessel may not respond to evasive maneuvers, other vessels have the obligation to give way and take early action to ensure safe passage.

In practice, this means the vessel approaching a RAM vessel should start to avert the risk of collision well in advance. This can involve reducing speed, altering course to pass clear, and communicating intentions if needed so the RAM vessel can maintain its path without forcing an emergency maneuver. The RAM vessel itself should not be expected to maneuver to avoid the approaching vessel.

Why the other options don’t fit: simply maintaining your course and speed could leave insufficient room for the RAM vessel to respond; ignoring the RAM vessel’s restrictions is unsafe and against the rules; speeding up to overtake is not a guaranteed safe action and could place you into a more hazardous situation. The priority is to give way and act early to prevent a collision.