Which statement best describes a Visual Fix?

• A. A fix obtained electronically via signals
• B. A fix determined by sighting a charted object or landmark
• C. A fix computed from GNSS signals
• D. A fix derived from radar imagery

Answer: (B)

A Visual Fix comes from what you can directly observe with your eyes: you sight a charted object or landmark, determine its bearing (and sometimes range) from your vessel, and use the known position of that object on the chart to plot a line (or lines) of position. By obtaining bearings to two distinct charted landmarks, you can intersect their lines of position on the chart to determine your own coordinates. This method relies on visibility and the accuracy of the charted object’s known location, not on electronic signals.

The other methods described are electronic or radar-based, not visual: fixes obtained from signals, GNSS, or radar imagery all rely on equipment rather than sighting natural or man-made features.