Question 656Navigation General

The correct answer is D) the compass card remains aligned with compass north as the vessel changes course to starboard. This is because the compass card in a magnetic compass is designed to always point to magnetic north, regardless of the vessel's heading. As the vessel turns, the compass housing rotates around the fixed compass card, but the card itself does not move. This allows the navigator to accurately read the vessel's course relative to magnetic north. The other options are incorrect because the compass card does not turn counterclockwise to port (A), turn to starboard (B), or first turn to starboard then counterclockwise to port (C) - it remains fixed to magnetic north as the vessel changes course.