What is the responsibility of a vessel that is a give-way?

A vessel that is designated as the give-way vessel has the responsibility to take action or change course to avoid a collision. This is a fundamental rule of navigation to ensure safety at sea. The give-way vessel must be aware of its surroundings and anticipate the movements of the stand-on vessel, which has the right of way. By changing course or speed, the give-way vessel helps prevent misunderstandings and potential accidents between vessels.

Maintaining the same course would put both vessels at risk if the stand-on vessel proceeds without taking any evasive action. Speeding up might only exacerbate the situation by increasing the risk of collision. Signaling the other vessel could be beneficial for communication, but it does not fulfill the immediate responsibility of avoiding a collision, which is the primary concern of the give-way vessel. Therefore, the core duty of the give-way vessel is to take proactive measures for safe navigation by altering its course or speed as necessary.