USCG Exam PracticeDanger bearings and danger circles
A danger bearing is labelled 'NMT 310°T' on the chart. As your vessel approaches the coast, the bearing to the charted object reads 315°T. What does this indicate?
- A. The vessel is in safe water because 315°T exceeds the NMT limit
- ✓ The vessel has crossed into the dangerous side of the bearingCorrect
- C. The vessel is exactly on the danger bearing and no action is needed
- D. The danger bearing label should be re-evaluated using a running fix
Why B is correct
NMT (not more than) 310°T means the observed bearing must stay at or below 310°T to remain safe. An observed bearing of 315°T exceeds that limit, placing the vessel on the dangerous side of the line. Bowditch Ch. 7 §706 defines the NMT convention.
Cited:Bowditch Ch. 7 §706