In a crossing situation, your vessel is not making way and another vessel is approaching on your starboard beam. Which statement is true?

• A. You are the stand-on vessel.
• B. Your vessel is the give-way vessel in a crossing situation.
• C. Both vessels are give-way vessels.
• D. You should stop the engine.

Answer: (B)

In a crossing situation, the vessel that has the other vessel on its own starboard side must keep clear and take early, substantial action to avoid collision. Since another vessel is approaching on your starboard beam, you have the other vessel on your starboard side, so you must give way. That makes you the give-way vessel. The other vessel would be the stand-on vessel in this scenario, with you on its port side. The required response is to take action to keep well clear—such as altering course and/or reducing speed—rather than continuing on your current path or stopping the engine outright.