When replying to another vessel’s signal, what should you do?

When replying to another vessel’s signal, what should you do?

• A. Increase speed
• B. Ignore the signal
• C. Repeat same whistle signal back and take steps to affect safe passing
• D. Sound danger signal if you do not hear back

Answer: (C)

When another vessel signals, the goal is to confirm you heard them and coordinate a safe passage. The best approach is to repeat back the same whistle signal to acknowledge it, then take concrete steps to affect safe passing. Echoing the signal shows you’ve heard and agree to the intended plan, and then you adjust speed, course, or distance as needed to pass safely. Raising speed can increase risk in close quarters, ignoring the signal leaves both vessels uninformed, and sounding a danger signal if you don’t hear back isn’t the proper response to a routine signal—acknowledgment and coordinated action are the correct course.

When another vessel signals, the goal is to confirm you heard them and coordinate a safe passage. The best approach is to repeat back the same whistle signal to acknowledge it, then take concrete steps to affect safe passing. Echoing the signal shows you’ve heard and agree to the intended plan, and then you adjust speed, course, or distance as needed to pass safely.

Raising speed can increase risk in close quarters, ignoring the signal leaves both vessels uninformed, and sounding a danger signal if you don’t hear back isn’t the proper response to a routine signal—acknowledgment and coordinated action are the correct course.