In navigation, what does the term 'bearing' specify?

• A. The vessel's current speed
• B. The water depth
• C. The direction from your position to a target, in degrees
• D. The ship's course over the ground

Answer: (C)

Bearing is the direction from your position to a target, expressed in degrees. It indicates where the target lies relative to you, using a compass where 0/360 degrees is north and angles increase clockwise. This helps you know exactly where to look or steer to reach or align with the target.

This is different from speed (how fast the vessel is moving), water depth (how deep the water is), or course over ground (the direction the ship’s hull is actually moving over the ground). Bearing focuses on the relative line from you to the target, measured in degrees.