Question 553 Rules of the Road

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BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on a vessel heading due south and see the lights shown in illustration D051RR below one point on the port bow. What direction could this vessel be heading in?

Rules of the Road Question 553 diagram
A NW
B NE
C SE
D SW
AI Explanation

The correct answer is A) NW. According to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), when you see the lights shown in illustration D051RR one point on the port bow, the other vessel must be heading in a northwesterly (NW) direction. This is because the configuration of the lights indicates the other vessel is traveling in a direction approximately 11.25 degrees to the right of your vessel's heading, which is northwest. The other answer choices are incorrect because a vessel showing these lights could not be heading northeast (NE), southeast (SE), or southwest (SW) in relation to your vessel's southbound course.

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Official Resources
USCG Navigation Rules (COLREGS) 33 CFR Navigation Rules USCG Navigation Center
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