Navigation information that can be passed includes which of the following items?

• A. Characteristics of lights, magnetic or true bearings between charted objects, charted range bearings, charted traffic separation scheme bearings, charted depth of water, charted hazards, radio beacon frequencies, charted buoy positions, and lat and long of charted objects
• B. Signals that indicate distress only
• C. Weather data and wind speed only
• D. GPS coordinates only

Answer: (A)

Sharing navigational information broadens situational awareness for safe passage. When you pass information at sea, you’re not just giving a position; you’re conveying data that helps others plot courses, identify hazards, and coordinate movement. The most useful and complete set includes details about aids to navigation and their characteristics (like light details), bearings between charted objects, range bearings to gauge relative positions, bearings related to traffic separation schemes, charted depths, charted hazards, radio beacon frequencies for navigation and distress signaling, positions of charted buoys, and the precise latitude/longitude of charted objects. This range supports accurate plotting, hazard avoidance, and effective decision-making for everyone involved.

The other options are too narrow—distress signals alone don’t provide routine navigational context, weather data and wind alone omit critical collision-avoidance and positioning details, and GPS coordinates alone don’t convey hazards, aids, or other navigational cues that help others understand and anticipate vessel movements.