USCG Exam PracticeVisual piloting — three-bearing fixes, danger bearings
You observe that the compass bearing to a vessel on your port bow has remained constant over the past five minutes while the range has been decreasing. Under the rules, this situation indicates:
- A. The other vessel is the stand-on vessel and no action is required
- ✓ Risk of collision existsCorrect
- C. The other vessel is executing a crossing maneuver and will pass ahead
- D. A running fix should be plotted before any determination is made
Why B is correct
Constant bearing with decreasing range (CBDR) is the canonical indicator of risk of collision, as stated in Bowditch Ch. 7 §704. The determination of risk precedes any stand-on/give-way analysis.
Cited:Bowditch Ch. 7 §704