What should a stand-on vessel do if it appears the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action?

A stand-on vessel has a responsibility to maintain its course and speed unless it is apparent that the give-way vessel is not taking the necessary actions to avoid a collision. In such cases, the stand-on vessel must take action to avoid a collision. This is aligned with the Rules of the Road (COLREGs), which stipulate that if a stand-on vessel realizes the give-way vessel is not following the rules and could lead to a dangerous situation, it must be proactive in preventing a collision.

Taking action to avoid collision could involve altering its course or speed to ensure safety, demonstrating a practical understanding of maritime navigation and safety. This emphasizes the importance of situational awareness and the need for vessels to be vigilant in confirming that other vessels are adhering to their responsibilities.

The other options imply passive behaviors that could lead to accidents. Maintaining course and speed at all costs ignores the real-time assessment of the situation and could result in a collision, while simply sounding a warning signal does not guarantee safety if the give-way vessel is unresponsive. Changing course to port without assessing the situation could also be inappropriate, depending on the navigation context and the actions of the give-way vessel.