Question 1760Navigation General

The correct answer is B) Illuminated Swing Meter. Vessels engaged in towing exclusively on the Western Rivers, such as the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio rivers, are permitted to use an illuminated swing meter in place of a magnetic compass. This is specified in the regulations for inland navigation, which allow for alternative methods of direction finding on these rivers where magnetic compasses may not be reliable due to the strong currents and magnetic interference. The other options are incorrect because: A) GPS receivers are not an approved substitute for a compass, C) VHF radios do not provide directional information, and D) gyrocompasses are not commonly used on smaller towing vessels on the Western Rivers.