If you are overtaking another vessel, what is your status?

When overtaking another vessel, the law designates you as the give-way vessel, which means you must yield to the vessel you are passing. This requirement is rooted in the navigation rules aimed at promoting safety and preventing collisions on the water.

In this situation, it is essential to maintain a safe distance and allow the overtaken vessel to continue its course without alteration or interference. Yielding helps to ensure that both vessels can navigate safely, especially in crowded or narrow waterway conditions.

Other options, such as being the stand-on vessel or increasing speed, do not apply in this scenario since the overtaking vessel is required to defer to the vessel being passed. Additionally, signaling another vessel is not a primary requirement when overtaking; instead, the focus is on safe maneuvering and yielding adequately.