Coast Guard Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Question: 1 / 400

Which navigational term indicates the orientation of a ship as it moves?

Heading

The term "heading" refers to the direction in which a ship's bow is pointed or the angle relative to true north around which the vessel is oriented as it moves through the water. This is a critical concept in navigation as it helps determine the vessel's course and influences the navigation decisions made by the captain. Knowing a ship's heading allows crew members to understand its movement and plan for safe navigation, factoring in wind, currents, and other conditions that may affect the actual path.

In contrast, "leeward" describes the side of the ship that is sheltered from the wind, "gunwale" refers to the upper edge of the sides of a boat or ship, and "hawser" is a heavy rope used for mooring or towing. While all these terms are relevant in maritime contexts, they do not provide information about the ship's orientation or direction of movement like "heading" does.

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Leeward

Gunwale

Hawser

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