USCG General Navigation: Master's License

This is an interactive test. Read each question and select the proper answer by clicking on the appropriate answer. If a "Y" appears, your choice is correct. If a "N" appears, more study may be in order.


92: When utilizing a Pacific Coast chart, the reference plane of soundings is __________.


108: A position that is obtained by using two or more intersecting lines of position taken at nearly the same time, is a(n) __________.


157: Tropic tides are caused by the __________.


161: How is a safe water mark, that can be passed close aboard on either side, painted and lighted?

    N a. Black and white stripes with an interrupted quick flashing light
    N b. Black and red stripes with a Morse (A) light
    N c. Black and red stripes with an interrupted quick flashing light
    Y d. Red and white stripes with a Morse (A) light

184: When the index and horizon mirrors of a properly adjusted sextant are at an angle of 45° to each other, the arc reads __________.

    N a. 22 1/2°
    N b. 45°
    N c. 60°
    Y d. 90°

284: The marine sextant is subject to seven different types of errors, four of which may be corrected by the navigator. An error NOT correctable by the navigator is __________.

    N a. index error
    Y b. prismatic error
    N c. perpendicularity of the horizon glass
    N d. perpendicularity of the index mirror

341: Buoys which only mark the left or right side of the channel will never exhibit a light with which characteristic?

    N a. Flashing
    N b. Quick flashing
    Y c. Composite group flashing
    N d. Equal interval (isophase)

396: Your vessel is on course 150°T, speed 17 knots. The apparent wind is from 40° off the starboard bow, speed 15 knots. What is the speed of the true wind?

    N a. 9.0 knots
    N b. 10.2 knots
    Y c. 11.0 knots
    N d. 12.0 knots

494: Aneroid barometers are usually calibrated to indicate atmospheric pressure in __________.

    N a. inches of mercury and centimeters
    N b. feet of mercury and millibars
    N c. inches of mercury and millimeters
    Y d. inches of mercury and millibars

534: What is TRUE concerning an anemometer on a moving vessel?

    N a. It measures true wind speed.
    N b. It measures true wind speed and true wind direction.
    Y c. It measures apparent wind speed.
    N d. It measures apparent wind speed and true wind direction.

643: When using the radar for navigating __________.

    N a. the best fix is obtained by using a tangent bearing and a range
    N b. and using two radar ranges for a fix, the objects of the ranges should be close to reciprocal bearings
    Y c. and using ranges, the most rapidly changing range should be measured last
    N d. and crossing a radar range of one object with the visual bearing of a second object, the two objects should be 80° to 110° apart

655: The equator is __________.

    Y a. the primary great circle of the Earth perpendicular to the axis
    N b. the line to which all celestial observations are reduced
    N c. the line from which a celestial body's altitude is measured
    N d. All of the above

656: In the Northern Hemisphere you are caught in the dangerous semicircle with plenty of sea room available. The best course of action is to bring the wind on the __________.

    Y a. starboard bow and make as much headway as possible
    N b. starboard quarter, and make as much headway as possible
    N c. port quarter, and make as much headway as possible
    N d. port bow, and make as much headway as possible

661: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, safe water marks may show a __________.

    N a. composite group-flashing, Fl(2 + 1), red light
    N b. composite group-flashing, Fl(2 + 1), green light
    N c. quick-flashing, Q(9)15s, white light
    Y d. white Morse (A) light

694: Your ARPA has two guard zones. What is the purpose of the inner guard zone?

    N a. Alert the watch officer that a vessel is approaching the preset CPA limit
    Y b. Warn of small targets that are initially detected closer than the outer guard zone
    N c. Guard against target loss during critical maneuvering situations
    N d. Sound an alarm for targets first detected within the zone

710: What is the FIRST sign of the existence of a well developed tropical cyclone?

    N a. Gale force winds from the north
    Y b. An unusually long ocean swell
    N c. Steep, short-period waves and light wind
    N d. Thunderstorms and higher than usual humidity

728: In the Bay of Fundy, during twilight, you a take sight of Mars. The sextant altitude (hs) is 03°35.5'. Your height of eye is 32 feet and there is no index error. The air temperature is -10°C and the barometer reads 1010 millibars. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 03°14.5'
    Y b. 03°15.8'
    N c. 03°16.2'
    N d. 03°28.8'

745: Retrograde motion is the __________.

    N a. movement of the points of intersection of the planes of the ecliptic and the equator
    Y b. apparent westerly motion of a planet with respect to stars
    N c. movement of a superior planet in its orbit about the Sun
    N d. movement of the celestial north pole in an elliptical pattern in space

809: The compass rose on a nautical chart indicates both variation and __________.

    N a. deviation
    Y b. annual rate of variation change
    N c. precession
    N d. compass error

826: In the U.S., in which direction do air masses usually move?

    Y a. Easterly
    N b. Southerly
    N c. Northerly
    N d. Southwesterly

828: The true wind has been determined to be from 210°T, speed 12 knots. You desire the apparent wind to be 30 knots from 10° on the port bow. What course must you steer, and what speed must you make for this to occur?

    Y a. 235°T, 18.6 knots
    N b. 245°T, 20.0 knots
    N c. 325°T, 22.4 knots
    N d. 335°T, 23.6 knots

921: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, a conical buoy will be __________.

    Y a. red in color
    N b. numbered with an odd number
    N c. left to port when entering from seaward
    N d. All of the above

947: The cold ocean current which meets the warm Gulf Stream between latitudes 40° and 43°N to form the "cold wall" is called the __________.

    N a. North Cape Current
    Y b. Labrador Current
    N c. Greenland Current
    N d. North Atlantic Current

967: On an Atlantic Ocean voyage from New York to Durban, South Africa, you should expect the Agulhas Current to present a strong __________.

    N a. offshore set
    N b. onshore set
    Y c. head current
    N d. fair or following current

1048: The velocity of the current in large coastal harbors is __________.

    N a. unpredictable
    N b. generally too weak to be of concern
    Y c. predicted in Tidal Current Tables
    N d. generally constant

1402: As a vessel changes course to starboard, the compass card in a magnetic compass __________.

    N a. first turns to starboard then counterclockwise to port
    N b. also turns to starboard
    N c. turns counterclockwise to port
    Y d. remains aligned with compass north

1421: What is the approximate geographic visibility of an object with a height above the water of 70 feet, for an observer with a height of eye of 65 feet?

    N a. 16.8 nm
    Y b. 19.0 nm
    N c. 20.6 nm
    N d. 22.4 nm

1458: When navigating coastwise and hurricane warnings are received, you should __________.

    N a. call the Coast Guard to request further information
    N b. call the NWS for further information
    N c. just begin to react and make plans
    Y d. have battened down and be heading for the nearest port of refuge

1458: When navigating coastwise and hurricane warnings are received, you should __________.

    N a. call the Coast Guard to request further information
    N b. call the NWS for further information
    N c. just begin to react and make plans
    Y d. have battened down and be heading for the nearest port of refuge

1479: A microbarograph is a precision instrument that provides a __________.

    N a. charted record of atmospheric temperature over time
    Y b. charted record of atmospheric pressure over time
    N c. graphic record of combustible gases measured in an atmosphere
    N d. graphic record of vapor pressure from a flammable/combustible liquid

1547: Which light combination does NOT indicate a navigational channel passing under a fixed bridge?

    Y a. Red lights on the LDB and green lights on the RDB
    N b. Three white lights in a vertical line
    N c. Two green lights in a range under the span
    N d. A fixed red light on each pier at the channel edge

1572: Generally speaking, in the Northern Hemisphere, when winds are blowing from between SE and SW the barometric reading __________.

    N a. makes no change at all
    Y b. is somewhat lower than it would be for winds from a northern quadrant
    N c. is uncertain and may fluctuate by increasing and decreasing
    N d. is somewhat higher than it would be for winds from the northern quadrant

1736: Which statement is FALSE concerning the dangerous semicircle of a hurricane?

    N a. The actual wind speed is increased by the forward movement of the storm along its track
    N b. the direction of the wind and the sea might carry a vessel directly into the storm's path
    N c. The seas are higher
    Y d. The rain is heavier

1762: In high latitudes, celestial observations can be made over a horizon covered with pack ice by bringing the sun tangent to the ice and __________.

    N a. adding 30° of arc to the sight
    Y b. using a dip correction based on the height of eye above the ice
    N c. doubling the semidiameter correction
    N d. using a dip correction from table 22 in Bowditch Vol. II

1768: A flashing red light displayed at a single lock means that the lock __________.

    N a. is ready to use but vessels must stand clear
    N b. is ready to use and vessels may approach
    Y c. cannot be made ready immediately and vessels shall stand clear
    N d. cannot be made ready immediately but vessels may approach

2052: Under the chart numbering system used by NGA (NIMA), the first digit of a multi-digit number indicates __________.

    Y a. the general geographic area
    N b. the general scale of the chart
    N c. whether it is a major or minor chart
    N d. the projection used to construct the chart

2141: What lights would you see on the Illinois water way when any wickets of the dam or bear traps are open, or partially open, which may cause a set in the current conditions in the upper lock approach?

    N a. Red over green
    N b. Green over red
    Y c. Red over amber (yellow)
    N d. Green over amber (yellow)

2160: Information for updating nautical charts is primarily found in the __________.

    Y a. Notice to Mariners
    N b. Coast Pilots
    N c. nautical chart catalogs
    N d. Sailing Directions

2168: By convention, the north pole of a magnet is painted __________.

    Y a. red
    N b. blue
    N c. white
    N d. black

2238: A vessel is heading magnetic northwest and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 312°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    N a. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way out replace them with larger spheres.
    N b. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way in replace them with larger spheres.
    Y c. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way in, move the spheres out.
    N d. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way out, move the spheres in.

2284: Bellatrix is found in what constellation?

    N a. Canis Minor
    N b. Gemini
    N c. Taurus
    Y d. Orion

2379: The winter solstice is the point where the Sun is at __________.

    N a. maximum declination north
    Y b. maximum declination south
    N c. 0° declination going to northerly declinations
    N d. 0° declination going to southerly declinations

2430: You are on course 222°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 025°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?

    N a. 197°
    Y b. 247°
    N c. 315°
    N d. 335°

2446: What is the equivalent of 47 min. 20 sec. in arc units?

    N a. 8°27'
    Y b. 11°50'
    N c. 13°42'
    N d. 13°56'

2460: You are on course 344°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 270°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?

    N a. 016°
    N b. 074°
    N c. 090°
    Y d. 254°

2518: In low latitudes, the full Moon will always rise at about __________.

    N a. sunrise
    N b. 1200 LMT
    Y c. sunset
    N d. 2400 LMT

2584: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 30" by 36". The area includes latitude 30°45'S to 37°15'S and longitude 004°00'E to 005°00'W. Allow a one inch neat line on all sides. What is the maximum distance between each degree of longitude that will permit the area of the plotting sheet to be drawn within the stated limitation?

    N a. 3.09 inches
    N b. 3.22 inches
    N c. 3.41 inches
    Y d. 3.58 inches

2586: A chart has extensive corrections to be made to it. When these are made and the chart is again printed, the chart issue is a __________.

    N a. first edition
    Y b. new edition
    N c. revised edition
    N d. reprint

2604: A sidereal day is approximately how much shorter than a solar day?

    Y a. 4 minutes
    N b. 8 minutes
    N c. 12 minutes
    N d. 16 minutes

2630: In the celestial equator system of coordinates what is NOT equivalent to the longitude of the Earth system of coordinates?

    N a. SHA
    N b. t
    N c. LHA
    Y d. Zn

2687: The letter B in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

    N a. celestial horizon
    N b. visible horizon
    N c. sensible horizon
    Y d. geoidal horizon

2688: The 10-cm radar as compared to a 3-cm radar of similar specifications will __________.

    N a. be more suitable for river and harbor navigation
    N b. provide better range performance on low lying targets during good weather and calm seas
    Y c. have a wider horizontal beam width
    N d. have more sea return during rough sea conditions

2850: What is used to help prevent damage to barges, locks, and landings when you are locking or landing a tow?

    N a. Dock cushions
    N b. Springers
    N c. Landing bars
    Y d. Bumpers (fenders)

2866: Some locations maintain a zone time of -13. What are the zone time and date if the Greenwich time and date are 2152, 10 January?

    N a. 1052, 9 January
    N b. 0852, 10 January
    N c. 1052, 10 January
    Y d. 1052, 11 January

2868: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 306°T and have the range in sight as shown. Which action should you take? (D048NG )

    N a. Continue on the present heading until the range is in line then alter course to the right.
    Y b. Immediately alter course to the right to bring the range in line.
    N c. Immediately alter course to the left to bring the range in line.
    N d. Immediately alter course to 309°T if the range is closing.

2924: You take a bearing of 264° of a lighthouse. What bearing of another object would give the best fix?

    N a. 289°
    Y b. 350v
    N c. 081°
    N d. 120°

3018: You take a bearing of 356° of a lighthouse. Which bearing of another object would give the best fix?

    N a. 013°
    N b. 178°
    Y c. 256°
    N d. 342°

3060: What information is NOT found in the chart title?

    N a. Survey information
    N b. Scale
    Y c. Date of first edition
    N d. Projection

3111: Which information must automatic identification systems (AIS) automatically provide to appropriately equipped shore stations, vessels and aircraft?

    N a. Vessel's type
    N b. Vessel's course
    N c. Navigational status
    Y d. All of the above

3123: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?

    N a. AIS is a global tracking system that relies upon INMARSAT C service to communicate vessel position and other safety related information to similarly equipped vessels, aircraft and shore stations within the area.
    N b. AIS is a short-range 3 cm X-band radar system that automatically sends a vessel's position and other safety related information to similarly equipped vessels, aircraft and shore stations within the area.
    Y c. AIS is a short-range VHF-FM system that automatically broadcasts a vessel's position and other safety related information frequently to similarly equipped vessels, aircraft and shore stations within the area.
    N d. AIS is a one-way centrally managed system that requires the local VTS to send commands to instruct each vessel to broadcast position and other safety related information to similarly equipped vessels, aircraft and shore stations within the area.