A Shipping Report should include which of the following items?

• A. Type of Vessel, Aspect, Range and Bearing (relative) from us, CPA bearing (relative), range, and time, situation, and recommendation
• B. Speed and course of the other vessel
• C. The vessel's nationality and port of registry
• D. Last known position of our own ship

Answer: (A)

Shipping reports aim to give the bridge a clear, actionable picture of a contact. The best choice provides what kind of vessel it is, how it appears relative to us (aspect), how far and in what direction it is (range and bearing), and the predicted risk geometry (closest point of approach with range and time). It also states the current situation and a recommended action so the team can decide on the proper maneuver. The other options don’t give enough context for risk assessment: knowing only the speed and course of the other vessel doesn’t convey relative position or how the encounter will evolve; nationality or port of registry isn’t relevant to collision avoidance; the last known position of our own ship isn’t the focus when reporting a contact.