What is what does it mean if you are the stand on vessel in an overtaking situation?

In an overtaking situation, if you are the stand-on vessel, also known as the burdened vessel, it means you have a duty to maintain your course and speed. This allows the overtaking vessel to predictably execute their maneuver. However, this duty is not absolute. If it becomes apparent that the overtaking vessel is not taking appropriate action to avoid a collision, you have a duty to take action to avoid a collision. This is often referred to as the "give-way" vessel's duty. You must act according to the rules of the road (COLREGS) to avoid a collision.