What does the concept of "stand-on vessel" refer to?

The concept of a "stand-on vessel" refers to a vessel that has the right of way and is required to maintain its course and speed in a meeting situation at sea. The term is commonly used in navigation rules to designate which vessel has the responsibility to continue on its current path rather than altering it to avoid a potential collision.

In maritime navigation, the stand-on vessel is typically the one that is privileged in a given encounter, meaning it does not need to take evasive action unless it becomes clear that a collision risk exists. This designation helps to establish predictable behavior between vessels, reducing the chances of misunderstanding and mishaps at sea. When the stand-on vessel is aware of potential dangers or the other vessel's course threatens a collision, it may still need to take action, but generally, its obligation is to maintain its course and speed unless absolutely necessary to take evasive maneuvers.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of what a stand-on vessel is. While there are different navigational terms related to vessel behavior, only the definition of maintaining course and speed directly applies to the concept of the stand-on vessel in navigation rules.