Which activity qualifies a vessel as restricted in her ability to maneuver?

• A. Fishing
• B. Mineclearing
• C. Towing
• D. Salvage operations

Answer: (B)

Restricted in her ability to maneuver means a vessel is doing work that inherently limits how she can steer or quickly change course. Mine clearance is a classic example because the operation requires the vessel to hold a precise path, move slowly, and maintain a steady course to sweep or clear mines. That kind of task prevents the vessel from maneuvering freely to avoid other traffic, so she is considered restricted.

The other activities listed aren’t by themselves defined as automatically restricting maneuverability. Fishing, towing, or salvage operations can occur with normal steering freedom or under conditions that don’t inherently tie the vessel to a restricted path, so they don’t automatically place the vessel in the restricted category as mine clearance does.