USCG Exam PracticeDanger bearings and danger circles
A danger bearing labelled 'NMT 310°T' is plotted using a lighthouse as the reference object. As your vessel approaches the coast, you observe the lighthouse bearing 315°T. This indicates:
- A. The vessel is in safe water because 315°T is greater than 310°T
- ✓ The vessel has crossed the danger bearing and may be standing into dangerCorrect
- C. The vessel is exactly on the danger bearing and no action is required
- D. The danger bearing is invalid because the observed bearing exceeds the charted value
Why B is correct
NMT (not more than) means the observed bearing must not exceed 310°T to remain safe. An observed bearing of 315°T exceeds that limit, indicating the vessel has crossed to the dangerous side of the bearing. Bowditch Ch. 7 §706 defines NMT labelling for this purpose.
Cited:Bowditch Ch. 7 §706