You have a vessel on a steady bearing on your port bow. Can you take early action?

When a vessel is observed on a steady bearing on your port bow, it indicates that the other vessel is likely on a collision course. In such scenarios, it is advisable to take early action to avoid an imminent collision. This aligns with the COLREGs, which emphasize the importance of proactive navigational measures to ensure safety at sea.

Taking early action means making a course alteration or speed change well before the situation reaches a critical point. By doing this, the risk of collision can be effectively minimized. The rules of the road dictate that if a vessel is on a steady bearing, it is crucial for the officer of the watch to act without delay, as the risk of collision increases the longer action is postponed.

This approach applies universally, regardless of the size of the other vessel or its type of operation, such as fishing. Therefore, it is always prudent to take early action when faced with a potentially hazardous navigation scenario.