Which term is defined as the direction in which the vessel is pointed?

• A. Heading
• B. Reciprocal direction
• C. Course
• D. Bearing

Answer: (A)

Heading is the direction the vessel’s bow is pointed. It describes the orientation of the ship itself, usually given as degrees from north (true or magnetic). This is different from course, which is the path the vessel actually travels over the ground and can be altered by currents and winds, and from bearing, which is the direction from the vessel to a fixed object used for locating things on the chart. The reciprocal direction is simply 180 degrees opposite to a given direction. So, when the question asks for the direction in which the vessel is pointed, the correct term is heading.