What does the term "stand-on vessel" mean?

The term "stand-on vessel" refers to a vessel that is required to maintain its course and speed in specific navigation situations. In maritime navigation under the Rules of the Road, the stand-on vessel is the one that has priority in a crossing situation and should not take evasive action unless it becomes apparent that a collision is inevitable. The stand-on vessel expects the other vessel, known as the give-way vessel, to take action to avoid a collision.

This definition is crucial for understanding maritime right-of-way scenarios, where each vessel must know its responsibilities to navigate safely. By maintaining course and speed, the stand-on vessel helps ensure predictability in its movements, which is vital in preventing misunderstandings with other vessels on the water.

Other options relate to different aspects of vessel navigation. The vessel that must change course and speed refers to the give-way vessel, which has the responsibility to navigate away from the stand-on vessel to avoid a collision. The concept of having the right of way is inherently tied to the stand-on vessel; however, it does not fully encompass the operational requirement to maintain course and speed. The term "anchored vessel" pertains to a completely different situation, where the vessel is not in a navigation scenario at all.