Which statement best reflects Coast Guard policy on providing a course to steer to a disoriented mariner?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only if requested
• D. Only for harbor routing

Answer: (B)

When helping a disoriented mariner, the focus is on safety through information and coordination, not on prescribing a fixed path to steer. Giving a specific course to steer can lock the mariner into an action that may become unsafe as conditions change or as the mariner’s perception remains unreliable. Instead, guidance centers on reorienting the mariner and assisting them to reach safety by other means—sharing bearings to known landmarks, providing position fixes, advising on safe speeds, and coordinating with rescue services or nearby vessels. Because a precise heading to steer can be misinterpreted or impractical in dynamic conditions, Coast Guard policy is not to provide a course to steer, even if requested or tied to harbor routing. The goal is to empower the mariner to make safe navigational decisions with support and to ensure timely and appropriate assistance.