When encountering distress signals from another vessel, what is the recommended action?

• A. Maintain your course
• B. Give way, reduce speed, and proceed with extreme caution, following distress signals
• C. Increase speed to complete the passage
• D. Ignore the distress signals

Answer: (B)

When a vessel signals distress, your safety is tied to giving the other boat space to operate and to assist if you can. The proper action is to give way, slow down, and proceed with extreme caution, while paying close attention to the distress signals and following any instructions from the distressed vessel. This approach helps prevent collisions and allows you to render aid if you’re able to do so without creating additional danger.

Maintaining course would increase the risk of collision or complicate the rescue, increasing danger to both vessels. Speeding up to push through the passage ignores the urgency of the situation and can worsen the distress. Ignoring the signals is not acceptable and violates the duty to assist others in distress.