Which system primarily provides the vessel's precise positional data on the bridge?

• A. AIS
• B. GPS
• C. NAVTEX
• D. VDR

Answer: (B)

The main concept here is real-time navigational positioning on the bridge. The vessel’s precise position is provided primarily by the Global Positioning System receiver. GPS determines latitude and longitude by measuring signals from satellites and supplies accurate timing, all of which are essential for plotting the ship’s position on the chart, feeding the ECDIS/chart plotter, and updating navigation displays.

GPS is the direct source used by the bridge systems to show where the vessel is. Other options have different roles: AIS uses position data to broadcast the ship’s location to others (often using GPS as the input, but not primarily for the bridge’s own fix), NAVTEX delivers navigational and safety messages, and a VDR records voyage data including GPS information but is not the live position source for navigation.