If underway you sight another power-driven vessel dead-ahead showing both the red and green sidelights, the required action is to?

• A. Alter your course to port
• B. Stop engines and drift
• C. Alter your course to starboard
• D. Maintain current course

Answer: (C)

In a head-on encounter between two power-driven vessels, the standard rule is to alter course to starboard so you pass on the other vessel’s port side. Seeing both the red and green sidelights straight ahead means you’re directly facing the other vessel, a head-on situation. Turning to starboard ensures you and the other vessel pass safely to each other’s left side, reducing collision risk. Turning to port would move you into the other vessel’s path, and stopping engines and drifting or maintaining course doesn’t provide a defined, safe resolution. So the required action is to alter your course to starboard.