What should you do upon sighting a vessel aground directly ahead?

The appropriate action upon sighting a vessel aground directly ahead is to take all way off your own vessel and inform the Master. This response is rooted in safety and navigation prudence.

When a vessel is aground, especially if it is directly in your path, it presents a potential collision risk. By taking all way off your vessel, you are effectively slowing down or stopping to evaluate the situation. This action ensures that you maintain control and can safely navigate away from the potential hazard. It is critical to inform the Master so that they can make informed decisions regarding the next steps to avoid any accidents or impacts.

Changing course immediately could also be a reasonable action in certain scenarios; however, it's essential to assess the situation first. Simply increasing speed could exacerbate the risk by leading to an uncontrolled situation. Sounding the horn and continuing forward could also lead to serious consequences, such as a collision with the grounded vessel. Therefore, taking all way off the vessel while informing the Master aligns with the principles of safe seamanship and COLREGs regulations, ensuring that all appropriate precautions are taken.