Which statement about underway is true?

Which statement about underway is true?

• A. A boat that has stopped and is secured to a dock.
• B. A boat that is pulled onto the beach.
• C. A boat that is not at anchor or made fast to the shore, or aground.
• D. A boat that is under power.

Answer: (C)

Underway means the vessel is not at anchor, not made fast to shore, and not aground. That status describes a craft that is free to move and is not secured to a dock, shore, or the ground. The statement that a boat is not at anchor, not made fast to the shore, and not aground matches this definition precisely, so it is true. Being under power doesn’t by itself define underway, since a vessel could be moving under power or could be stationary yet still secured or aground in other scenarios. Likewise, being tied to a dock or beached clearly means the vessel isn’t underway.

Underway means the vessel is not at anchor, not made fast to shore, and not aground. That status describes a craft that is free to move and is not secured to a dock, shore, or the ground. The statement that a boat is not at anchor, not made fast to the shore, and not aground matches this definition precisely, so it is true.

Being under power doesn’t by itself define underway, since a vessel could be moving under power or could be stationary yet still secured or aground in other scenarios. Likewise, being tied to a dock or beached clearly means the vessel isn’t underway.