"COLREGs 2025 Practice Test – Your Comprehensive Guide to Mastering International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCS)!"

When vessels are overtaking another vessel, the primary responsibility lies with the overtaking vessel. According to the COLREGs, the overtaking vessel must give way to the vessel being overtaken. This rule is in place to prevent collisions and ensure safe navigation, as it allows the vessel being overtaken to maintain its course and speed without being disrupted by the overtaking maneuver.

This approach helps minimize confusion and potential accidents, as the vessel being overtaken may not be aware of the overtaking vessel's movements. The regulation emphasizes that an overtaking vessel must not only give way but also ensure that the overtaking is performed in a safe manner, keeping the rules of navigation in mind.

The other options do not accurately reflect the correct actions to take while overtaking. For instance, signaling intent and proceeding without altering course does not prioritize the safety of the vessel being overtaken, while maintaining speed and course could lead to dangerous situations if not handled correctly. Turning to starboard as a blanket rule for overtaking is not mandated by COLREGs either, as the maneuver should be based on the specific situation and the relative positions of the vessels involved.