Yes, the bearing of N 20 degrees E refers to a direction that is 20 degrees north of the east direction. In navigational terms, bearings are typically expressed in degrees from the north, moving clockwise around the compass. Therefore, when you see a bearing written as N 20° E, it indicates starting from true north and rotating 20 degrees towards the east.
To visualize this, imagine a compass where the top points to true north. If you measure 20 degrees to the right of the north line (toward the east), that’s your N 20° E direction. This notation is commonly used in navigation and surveying to provide precise directional information.