USCG Exam Practice · Plotting with variation and deviation (T-V-M-D-C)
According to the navigation regulations for towing vessels, which statement about using buoys to fix a vessel's position is correct?
- ABuoys may be used as the sole means of fixing position when no other aids are available
- BBuoys may corroborate a position fixed by other means but cannot alone fix a position; at best they establish an estimated position✓ correct
- CBuoys are considered reliable position references because the Coast Guard maintains them in exact charted positions
- DBuoys may fix a position provided the vessel's GPS is cross-checked against the buoy bearing
Why B is correct
33 CFR §164.78(a)(3) states that buoys are placed in approximate positions and may not maintain exact charted positions due to currents, seas, ice, and collisions. Although they may corroborate a position fixed by other means, they cannot fix a position; if no other aids are available, buoys alone may establish only an estimated position.
Cited:33 CFR §164.78
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