In an overtaking situation under Inland Rules, what should you never expect another vessel to sound?

In an overtaking situation under Inland Rules, it is critical to understand the appropriate communication signals that vessels use to indicate their intentions. A prolonged blast is typically used to signal intent to move away from a dock or to indicate a vessel's presence in confined waters, but it does not apply as a signal for overtaking.

When one vessel overtakes another, it is important to remember that the overtaking vessel has the responsibility to keep clear of the vessel being overtaken. In practice, vessels involved in overtaking situations often use specific sound signals such as one short blast (indicating a desire to pass on the starboard side) or two short blasts (indicating a pass on the port side). While three short blasts indicate that the overtaking vessel is returning to its intended course, sounding a prolonged blast does not communicate any specific intention related to overtaking.

Thus, when navigating in an overtaking scenario on the water, it is not expected that another vessel will sound a prolonged blast, making that the correct answer to the question. Understanding these signaling conventions is essential for safe and effective communication between vessels on the water.