In foggy conditions, what should a vessel operator do to reduce the risk of a collision?

In foggy conditions, reducing speed to the minimum needed to stay on course is vital for safety on the water. This approach gives the vessel operator more time to react to any potential hazards or obstacles that may suddenly appear, such as other vessels or navigational markers that are rendered less visible by the fog. Slowing down also minimizes the potential force of any collisions that might occur, ensuring the safety of passengers and crew while allowing for better control of the vessel in challenging visibility conditions.

In addition, while sound signals can be useful, sounding the horn every minute alone does not significantly improve safety if the vessel is traveling at a higher speed, as it may not provide enough time to avoid a collision. Increasing speed in fog is counterproductive and can lead to a higher likelihood of accidents since it reduces reaction time. Turning off navigation lights would create further risk by reducing the visibility of the vessel to other boaters; navigation lights are crucial in low visibility situations for ensuring that others can see your vessel and understand its size and direction.