otnmbrd wrote:

Incorrect..... NUC is unable to maneuver...."PERIOD"
RAM is ABLE to maneuver but in a highly restricted fashion

One more thing: Rule 13 (Overtaking) specifically takes priority over
rule 18. This is affirmed in both Rules 13 and 18. Thus, a NUC is
required to, if possible, keep out of the way of a vessel it may be
overtaking. If it was presumed that a NUC is totally incapable of
maneuvering, it would not have this responsibility. The authors, in
their wisdom, must have foreseen a situation where a vessel might be a
NUC, but still able to fulfill its Rule 13 responsibilities.

In addition, a NUC may have Rule 9 and 10 responsibilities.

Clearly, a NUC may be unable to fulfill any of these responsibilities,
but the rules do not consider it an absolute, and to the extent
possible, it must try.