🔍 Key Concepts

• Reliability of charted positions for different types of aids (floating vs. fixed) • Who is actually responsible for placing and maintaining aids to navigation in U.S. waters • How accurately floating aids (like buoys) stay in one spot

💭 Think About

• Think about whether a floating object held by a chain in current and wind can stay in an exact charted position at all times. • Consider whether every light and daymark drawn on a Corps of Engineers map must be perfectly, survey-accurate, or if there can be small differences. • Ask yourself which federal agency you’ve learned is primarily responsible for most aids to navigation, and whether that matches what is stated in one of the choices.

✅ Before You Answer

• Compare how fixed aids (lights on structures, daymarks) behave versus floating aids (buoys) in terms of exact location. • Recall which agency – U.S. Coast Guard vs. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – is primarily tasked with aids to navigation in the Navigation Rules and licensing materials. • Think about common seamanship guidance: how close is it normally safe or recommended to pass to buoys given they can yaw, lean, or be off station?