USCG Exam PracticeVisual piloting — three-bearing fixes, danger bearings
You observe a vessel on your starboard bow. You take compass bearings at regular intervals and find the bearing is not changing while the range is decreasing. This situation indicates:
- A. the vessel is crossing ahead and will pass safely
- ✓ risk of collision exists and action is requiredCorrect
- C. the vessel is on a reciprocal course and will pass port-to-port
- D. the vessel is overtaking and you are the stand-on vessel
Why B is correct
Bowditch Ch. 7 §704 states that if compass bearing remains constant and range is decreasing (CBDR), risk of collision exists. Constant bearing with decreasing range is the canonical indicator regardless of the relative geometry.
Cited:Bowditch Ch. 7 §704