🔍 Key Concepts

• Helm orders vs. heading reports on the bridge • Difference between reporting rudder angle, ship’s heading, and rate of change of heading • Standard pilot‑master exchange phrases for “How’s your head?”

💭 Think About

• When a pilot asks, “How’s your head?”, are they asking about the rudder position, the condition of the steering gear, or the vessel’s heading on the compass? • Which choice gives information about the actual compass heading or where it is moving toward, rather than just saying that something is okay or that the rudder was moved? • Which reply would help the pilot judge if the vessel is approaching, on, or swinging through the ordered course?

✅ Before You Answer

• Make sure the reply you pick tells the pilot something about the vessel’s heading or how it is changing • Eliminate any option that only reports rudder angle and not the heading itself • Eliminate any option that just says things are “okay/steady” without giving a specific or changing heading