When two power-driven vessels are meeting on head-on or nearly courses so as to involve risk of collision, each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the reciprocal side of the other vessel. Which side do they pass on?

When two power-driven vessels are meeting on head-on or nearly courses so as to involve risk of collision, each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the reciprocal side of the other vessel. Which side do they pass on?

• A. Starboard
• B. Port
• C. Ahead
• D. Behind

Answer: (B)

When two power-driven vessels are meeting head-on with a risk of collision, both should steer to the right (starboard) so they pass one another on the other vessel’s left side. The left side of a vessel is called the port side, while the right side is the starboard side. By turning to starboard, each vessel moves to the right, making their port sides the ones that pass closest to each other, which helps avoid a collision. So, they pass on the port side.

When two power-driven vessels are meeting head-on with a risk of collision, both should steer to the right (starboard) so they pass one another on the other vessel’s left side. The left side of a vessel is called the port side, while the right side is the starboard side. By turning to starboard, each vessel moves to the right, making their port sides the ones that pass closest to each other, which helps avoid a collision. So, they pass on the port side.