What statement is true regarding the control the operator can exercise over the NAVTEX receiver's operation?

The statement that the operator can set most NAVTEX receivers to reject all messages except navigation, meteorological warnings, and search and rescue messages is correct because NAVTEX receivers are designed to provide flexibility in message reception. This ability allows the operator to focus only on essential information that is critical for safe navigation and operations at sea.

In practice, many NAVTEX units can be configured to filter messages based on their categories, which is particularly important in busy maritime environments where excessive information could overwhelm the operator. It is crucial to carefully manage which messages are received, as rejecting important safety information could lead to dangerous situations. Thus, while the option to filter messages exists, operators must exercise this feature with caution, ensuring that they do not inadvertently miss vital alerts regarding navigation, weather changes, or search and rescue operations.

The other options do not accurately reflect the capabilities or practices associated with NAVTEX operation. For example, automatic rejection of all categories, entering specific codes upon entering coastal areas, or selecting a code to indicate a status not aligned with cruising in coastal regions do not align with standard practices or functionality of NAVTEX receivers.