You are in charge of a vessel meeting another vessel head-on. To comply with the rules, you should exchange

• A. One short blast, alter course to starboard, and pass port to port.
• B. Two short blasts, and pass starboard to starboard.
• C. Long blast, then stop.
• D. Short blast, then speed up.

Answer: (A)

In a head-on situation, the safest and required action is for both vessels to take early and clear action to pass on the port side of each other by steering to starboard. To communicate that intention, you sound a single short blast. Then you alter course to starboard and pass port to port.

This matches the standard practice: a solo blast signals your plan to pass on the other vessel’s port side, and the maneuver is to head to starboard so you’re on a port-to-port passage. The other options don’t fit because they either suggest passing on the wrong side or use signals that don’t correspond to the required action in a head-on situation.