How should you reduce speed in restricted visibility to maintain safe separation?

• A. Slow to a safe speed appropriate for the conditions, giving time to detect hazards and take action.
• B. Maintain your current speed.
• C. Speed up to keep formation.
• D. Stop immediately.

Answer: (A)

In restricted visibility you must slow to a safe speed appropriate for the conditions so you have enough time to spot hazards and take action. Reducing speed increases your window to detect other vessels, obstacles, or changing conditions and to maneuver safely to maintain separation. While you slow you should keep a proper lookout and use all available means (radar, AIS, sound signals as appropriate) to continuously assess risk and adjust course or speed as needed. Maintaining your current speed or speeding up reduces your time to react and can close the gap with hazards, and stopping immediately is not a practical default unless there’s an imminent danger that requires it.