In the priority acronym, what does 'New' denote?

• A. New vessel
• B. New engine
• C. Not under command (Broken)
• D. New navigation

Answer: (C)

The concept here is how certain vessel statuses are remembered for collision avoidance. In the priority mnemonic used in many training materials, the label “New” is the cue for a vessel that is Not Under Command. A Not Under Command vessel cannot maneuver to comply with the Rules due to a deficiency (for example, loss of propulsion or steering), so other vessels must take action to keep well clear and avoid relying on it to maneuver. That status is why the correct interpretation is Not Under Command (Broken). The other options don’t correspond to recognized statuses in the Rules of the Road—“New vessel,” “New engine,” and “New navigation” aren’t defined categories.