Relative bearing vs true bearing: which statement is correct?

Prepare for the Radar Observer Unlimited Exam with flashcards and multiple-choice questions that include hints and explanations. Equip yourself for examination success!

Relative bearing is the angle to a target measured from the vessel’s own heading, while true bearing is the angle from true north to the target. Because the heading is the direction the vessel is pointing, relative bearing changes as you turn, but true bearing uses geographic north as the reference and remains fixed with respect to the world. That’s why navigation practice converts a relative bearing to a true bearing by adding the vessel’s heading (and wrapping around at 360 degrees) to get the bearing from true north.

For example, if your heading is 120 degrees and a target lies at a relative bearing of 30 degrees to starboard, the true bearing is 150 degrees. If the relative bearing is 320 degrees (to port), the true bearing becomes 120 + 320 = 440, which wraps to 80 degrees.

The statements that tie relative bearing to magnetic north or claim both bearings use the same reference are not correct because relative bearing is defined relative to the vessel’s heading, not a north reference, and true bearing is defined from true north.