USCG Exam PracticeTides and currents — predictions and corrections
Under 33 CFR §164.78, a person directing a towing vessel may NOT fix the vessel's position by which method alone?
- A. Hydrographic contours displayed on the chart
- B. Geographic reference points identified visually
- ✓ Buoys, because they may not maintain exact charted positionsCorrect
- D. Installed navigational equipment such as GPS or radar
Why C is correct
33 CFR §164.78(a)(3) explicitly prohibits fixing position using buoys alone, noting that strong currents, heavy seas, ice, and vessel collisions can move or sink them or set them adrift. Buoys may corroborate a fix obtained by other means or establish an estimated position when no other aids are available, but they cannot fix a position.
Cited:33 CFR §164.78