Direction of an object from the observer measured clockwise from the ship bow is ______.

Direction of an object from the observer measured clockwise from the ship bow is ______.

• A. Relative Bearing
• B. True Bearing
• C. Magnetic Bearing
• D. Heading

Answer: (A)

Measuring direction from the ship’s bow in a clockwise sense is a relative bearing. It uses the vessel’s forward direction as the reference point, so the angle is a local measurement tied to how the ship is oriented now, not to any global north reference. For example, an object directly ahead has a relative bearing of 0 degrees; to the ship’s right (starboard) is 90 degrees; directly behind is 180 degrees; to the left (port) is 270 degrees. True bearing would require a reference to true north, measured from true north. Magnetic bearing uses magnetic north as that reference. Heading is simply the direction the bow is pointing, i.e., the ship’s orientation, not the bearing to another object.

Measuring direction from the ship’s bow in a clockwise sense is a relative bearing. It uses the vessel’s forward direction as the reference point, so the angle is a local measurement tied to how the ship is oriented now, not to any global north reference.

For example, an object directly ahead has a relative bearing of 0 degrees; to the ship’s right (starboard) is 90 degrees; directly behind is 180 degrees; to the left (port) is 270 degrees. True bearing would require a reference to true north, measured from true north. Magnetic bearing uses magnetic north as that reference. Heading is simply the direction the bow is pointing, i.e., the ship’s orientation, not the bearing to another object.