Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 014°T, and the variation is 11°E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 009° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation?

Question

Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 014&deg;T, and the variation is 11&deg;E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 009&deg; per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation?

Accepted Answer

Option D: 6&deg;W. The range bearing is 014°T. With 11°E variation, the Magnetic bearing is 003°M. The compass bearing is 009°psc. The difference between the Magnetic bearing (003°) and the Compass bearing (009°) is 6°W. This indicates the compass is deflected 6° to the west of the magnetic meridian.