Which term describes the horizontal direction a vessel is intended to be steered?

Which term describes the horizontal direction a vessel is intended to be steered?

• A. Heading
• B. Bearing
• C. Range
• D. Course

Answer: (D)

The main idea is the direction over the water that you intend to follow. This is the course—the track you aim to steer over the ground, usually given as degrees from true north (true course) or magnetic north (magnetic course). The heading is what the bow is pointing at any moment, which can differ from the course if there’s drift from wind or current. Bearing refers to the direction to a fixed object from your vessel, used for locating or avoiding things, while range is the distance to that object. So the term that best matches the intended horizontal direction to steer is the course.

The main idea is the direction over the water that you intend to follow. This is the course—the track you aim to steer over the ground, usually given as degrees from true north (true course) or magnetic north (magnetic course). The heading is what the bow is pointing at any moment, which can differ from the course if there’s drift from wind or current. Bearing refers to the direction to a fixed object from your vessel, used for locating or avoiding things, while range is the distance to that object. So the term that best matches the intended horizontal direction to steer is the course.