What should the operator of a give-way vessel do to avoid colliding with a stand-on vessel?

The answer

Under the Navigation Rules (COLREGS and the U.S. Inland Rules), a give-way vessel is the boat required to yield. Its duty is to stay out of the way of the stand-on vessel (the boat that holds its course and speed). To do that correctly, the give-way operator should:

• Act early. Make your intentions obvious while the boats are still far apart, so the other operator can clearly read what you are doing.
• Act substantially. One large, decisive course change or speed reduction is far safer than a string of tiny adjustments that leave the other operator guessing.
• Pass at a safe distance, normally by steering behind the stand-on vessel. In a crossing situation that usually means turning to starboard and crossing astern of it.
• Slow, stop, or reverse if needed. Reducing speed is a fully legitimate give-way action when altering course alone will not create enough clearance.

Navigation Rule 16 says the give-way vessel shall "take early and substantial action to keep well clear." Those words — early, substantial, keep well clear — are essentially the entire answer.

Why small or late changes are wrong

Most quiz distractors describe the opposite of good seamanship, and each is unsafe for a concrete reason:

• "Make small course changes." Small alterations are hard to detect, especially at night or on radar. The stand-on operator may not realize you are yielding, and could maneuver at the same instant, making things worse.
• "Maintain course and speed." That is the stand-on vessel's job, not yours. If the give-way vessel holds course, no one is yielding and a collision becomes likely.
• "Speed up to pass in front." Crossing ahead of the stand-on vessel is explicitly discouraged (Rule 15). If you misjudge the closing speed, you cut directly across its bow.
• "Wait to see what the other boat does." Delay is the opposite of the "early action" the rules demand. Late maneuvers give both operators less time and less room.

The bigger picture: who does what

The rules assign a clear role to each boat so their actions are predictable:

• Crossing: The vessel that has the other on its starboard (right) side is the give-way vessel and should pass astern of the other.
• Head-on: Neither boat is purely stand-on. Both alter course to starboard and pass port-to-port, like cars keeping right.
• Overtaking: The boat coming from behind is always the give-way vessel and must keep clear until well past, regardless of vessel type.

The stand-on vessel is not passive forever: it must maintain course and speed at first, but if it becomes clear the give-way vessel is not acting, the stand-on vessel must then take its own avoiding action. And no rule ever guarantees right of way — both operators share the overriding duty to avoid a collision by every means available.