COLREGs Scenarios Practice Test 2026 – All-in-One Guide to Master Maritime Rules of the Road!

In a narrow channel, space to maneuver is tight, so the rule for Narrow Channels tells vessels to keep as near to the outer limit of the channel as safety and practicality allow, and not to impede a vessel that must navigate within the channel. This positioning helps ensure there’s still room for others to pass and reduces the chance of a collision when the waterway is constrained.

So this rule is the best answer because it directly prescribes how to behave in restricted waterways, which is exactly what “Narrow Channels” cover. The other rules address different situations—lookout, traffic separation schemes, or general actions when vessels see each other—and don’t specifically govern passage through a confined waterway.