In a navigation situation, what does a stand-on vessel do?

In a navigation situation, a stand-on vessel is the vessel that has the right of way in a potential collision situation and is expected to maintain its course and speed. This concept is part of the "Navigational Rules" or "Rules of the Road" that govern vessel interactions at sea.

When a vessel is designated as the stand-on vessel, it must hold its position and not take any evasive action unless it becomes clear that the give-way vessel is not taking adequate measures to avoid a collision. By maintaining course and speed, the stand-on vessel provides predictability to its actions, allowing the give-way vessel to maneuver safely. This helps ensure both vessels can navigate safely without confusion about their intentions.

Changing course immediately would not be advisable for a stand-on vessel, as this could create uncertainty, potentially increasing the risk of collision. Similarly, raising additional flags or turning to avoid collisions would imply that the stand-on vessel is not fulfilling its responsibility to maintain its established course and speed, which could lead to miscommunication with the other vessel involved.