Course Angle

(angle on the bow), the angle between the center line of a vessel and the direction to some object observed from the vessel. It is measured in degrees, which are read on an azimuth from 0° to 180° in the starboard (right) or port (left) direction from the bow of the vessel. With a direction finder the circular system of reading is used (0° to 360°). The direction perpendicular to the vessel’s center line, that is, the one corresponding to a course angle of 90°, is called abeam (port or starboard).