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.


132: The value of sixty nautical miles per degree of geodetic latitude is most correct at __________.


144: In modern fathometers the sonic or ultrasonic sound waves are produced electrically by means of a(n) __________.


197: Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is __________.


258: You are enroute to Savannah, GA, from Recife, Brazil. There is a strong N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.

    N a. cirrus clouds
    N b. long swells
    N c. smoother seas and warmer water
    Y d. steeper waves, closer together

285: The apparent wind is zero when the true wind is __________.

    N a. zero
    N b. from ahead and equal to the ship's speed
    Y c. from astern and equal to the ship's speed
    N d. from astern and is twice the ship's speed

333: Loran-C stations transmit groups of pulses at specific times. The time interval between transmissions from the master station is the __________.

    N a. coding delay
    Y b. group repetition interval
    N c. pulse interval
    N d. phase code

359: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 4.5 knots on course 233°T, and bears 264°T, 68 miles from you. What is the time to intercept if you make 13 Knots?

    N a. 6h 31m
    N b. 6h 47m
    N c. 7h 03m
    Y d. 7h 34m

386: Your vessel is on course 180°T speed 22 knots. The apparent wind is from 70° off the port bow, speed 20 knots. The true direction and speed of the wind are __________.

    N a. 45°T, 21.0 knots
    Y b. 51°T, 24.0 knots
    N c. 58°T, 21.2 knots
    N d. 64°T, 26.0 knots

468: Which of the symbols shown represents a cold front? (D018NG )

    N a. A
    Y b. B
    N c. C
    N d. D

493: The picture shown represents the geographic location of a vessel and the radar presentation at the same time. Which statement is TRUE? (D011NG )

    N a. Ship No. 1 is not detected due to the shadow effect of the headland.
    N b. The small island is not detected due to the effect of beam width.
    Y c. A tangent bearing of the headland to the south-southeast should be corrected by adding one-half of the beam width.
    N d. Ship No. 2 is not detected due to the reflective mass of the background mountain overpowering the ship's reflective signals.

497: What will be the time after 0300 (ZD +4), on 5 March 1983, when the height of the tide at Port of Spain, Trinidad, will be 2.5 feet (.76 meters) ?

    N a. 0548
    Y b. 0602
    N c. 0618
    N d. 0634

502: A gnomonic projection is based on a(n) __________.

    Y a. plane tangent at one point
    N b. cylinder tangent at the equator
    N c. cone tangent at one parallel
    N d. infinite series of cones tangent at selected parallels

521: Which sextant has an index error of 2'10" on the arc? (D050NG )

    N a. A
    N b. B
    N c. C
    Y d. D

645: The arc of an hour circle between the celestial equator and a point on the celestial sphere, measured northward or southward through 90°, is the __________.

    N a. altitude
    Y b. declination
    N c. latitude
    N d. azimuth angle

671: You sight a buoy fitted with a double-sphere topmark. If sighted at night, this buoy would show a __________.

    N a. quick-flashing red light
    N b. quick-flashing green light
    Y c. flashing white light showing a group of two flashes
    N d. flashing red light showing a group of three flashes

729: The doldrums are characterized by __________.

    N a. steady, light to moderate winds
    Y b. frequent calms
    N c. clear skies
    N d. low humidity

759: At 0000 you fix your position and plot a new DR track line. At 0200 you again fix your position and it is 0.5 mile west of your DR. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The set is 090°, drift 0.5 knot.
    Y b. The set is 270°, drift 0.25 knot.
    N c. The set is 270°, drift 0.5 knot.
    N d. The set is 270°, drift 1.0 knot.

768: The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________.

    Y a. wind circulation and forward motion of the storm
    N b. extension of the low pressure ridge
    N c. recurvature effect
    N d. direction of circulation and pressure gradient

803: Which buoy will NOT display white retroreflective material?

    N a. Safe water mark
    N b. Isolated danger mark
    Y c. Preferred channel mark
    N d. Daymark of no lateral significance

854: The appearance of nimbostratus clouds in the immediate vicinity of a ship at sea would be accompanied by which of the following conditions?

    Y a. Rain and poor visibility
    N b. Dropping barometric pressure and backing wind in the Northern Hemisphere
    N c. High winds and rising sea
    N d. Severe thunderstorms

891: Under the IALA-A Buoyage System, a buoy indicating the preferred channel is to port would have __________.

    N a. an even number
    N b. an odd number
    N c. a pillar shape
    Y d. horizontal bands

897: What current flows southward along the west coast of the United States and causes extensive fog in that area?

    N a. Davidson Current
    N b. North Pacific Current
    N c. Alaska Current
    Y d. California Current

913: How many points are there in a compass card?

    N a. 4
    N b. 8
    N c. 24
    Y d. 32

922: How is the intensity of a light expressed in the Light Lists?

    N a. Luminous range
    N b. Geographic range
    Y c. Nominal range
    N d. Meteorological range

952: What is TRUE concerning new editions of Light Lists?

    N a. Supplements to new editions are issued monthly by the U.S. Coast Guard.
    N b. New editions are published by the National Ocean Service.
    Y c. New editions are corrected through the date shown on the title page.
    N d. None of the above

969: The population of northern right whales, an endangered species, numbers approximately __________.

    Y a. 300
    N b. 5000
    N c. 100,000
    N d. 1,000,000

977: In the Sargasso Sea there are large quantities of seaweed and no well defined currents. This area is located in the __________.

    Y a. Central North Atlantic Ocean
    N b. Caribbean Sea
    N c. Western North Pacific Ocean
    N d. area off the west coast of South America

1002: What publication contains information about the port facilities in Cadiz, Spain?

    Y a. World Port Index
    N b. United States Coast Pilot
    N c. Nautical Index
    N d. Sailing Directions

1039: While taking weather observations, you determine that the wind is coming from the west. In the weather log, you would record the wind direction as __________.

    N a. 000°
    N b. 090°
    N c. 180°
    Y d. 270°

1044: The dry-bulb temperature is 78°F and the wet-bulb temperature is 62°F. What is the relative humidity?

    N a. 16%
    N b. 24%
    Y c. 39%
    N d. 79%

1047: Which is NOT a contributing cause of ocean currents?

    N a. Surface winds
    N b. Density differences in the water
    N c. Underwater topography
    Y d. Gravitational effects of celestial bodies

1223: The difference between magnetic heading and compass heading is called __________.

    N a. variation
    Y b. deviation
    N c. compass error
    N d. drift

1400: Which type of cloud is among the most dependable for giving an indication of an approaching weather system?

    N a. Cumulus
    Y b. Altostratus
    N c. Cumulostratus
    N d. Nimbus

1410: A white buoy marked with an orange rectangle indicates __________.

    N a. a fish net area
    Y b. general information
    N c. an anchorage
    N d. mid-channel

1441: Your height of eye is 40 feet (12.2 meters). What is the approximate geographical distance at which Ambrose Light, NY, could be visible? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS".

    N a. 18.3 nm
    N b. 19.5 nm
    Y c. 21.0 nm
    N d. 22.8 nm

1465: The planet Venus can be observed in the morning before sunrise if it is well to the __________.

    Y a. west of and higher than the Sun
    N b. west of and lower than the Sun
    N c. east of and higher than the Sun
    N d. east of and lower than the Sun

1471: A mountain peak charted at 700 feet breaks the horizon, and your height of eye is 12 feet. What is your approximate distance off (choose closest answer)?

    Y a. 34.7 nm
    N b. 40.3 nm
    N c. 55.3 nm
    N d. 61.6 nm

1493: You are running parallel to the coast and estimate that the current is against you. In plotting a running fix using bearings from the same object on the coast, the greatest safety margin from inshore dangers will result if what speed is used to determine the fix?

    Y a. Minimum speed estimate
    N b. Maximum speed estimate
    N c. Average speed estimate
    N d. A running fix should not be used under these conditions.

1502: You are running parallel to the coast and take a running fix using bearings of the same object. If you are making less speed than used for the running fix, in relation to the position indicated by the fix, you will be __________.

    Y a. closer to the coast
    N b. farther from the coast
    N c. on the track line ahead of the fix
    N d. on the track line behind the fix

1505: At 0000 you fix your position and change course to 090°T. At 0030 you again fix your position and it is 0.5 mile east of your DR. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. The current is easterly.
    N b. The drift is 0.5 knot.
    N c. You should alter course to the right to regain the track line.
    N d. The current is perpendicular to your track line.

1659: The type of fog that occurs on clear nights with very light breezes and forms when the earth cools rapidly by radiation is known as __________.

    Y a. radiation fog
    N b. frontal fog
    N c. convection fog
    N d. advection fog

1870: A vessel heading SW is on a course of __________.

    N a. 202.5°
    Y b. 225.0°
    N c. 247.5°
    N d. 270.0°

2103: The description "Racon" beside an illustration on a chart would mean a __________.

    N a. radar calibration beacon
    N b. circular radio beacon
    N c. radar conspicuous beacon
    Y d. radar transponder beacon

2199: Denebola is found in what constellation?

    N a. Hydrus
    Y b. Leo
    N c. Centaurus
    N d. Aquila

2448: What is the equivalent of 37 min. 32 sec. in arc units?

    N a. 4°47'
    N b. 6°38'
    N c. 7°41'
    Y d. 9°23'

2522: The letter H in illustration D006NG represents the __________. (D006NG )

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

2562: In the time diagram shown __________. (D005NG )

    N a. the GHA of the Sun is approximately 330°
    Y b. your date is one day later than the date at Greenwich
    N c. the LHA of the Sun is approximately 120°
    N d. you are in west longitude

2632: A section of the river that is narrower than usual and is often navigable from bank to bank is a __________.

    Y a. chute
    N b. stabilized channel
    N c. slough
    N d. navigable pass

2682: Sidereal time is used by navigators when __________.

    N a. used with the equation of time
    Y b. used in the form of LHA Aries
    N c. calculating the time of moonrise
    N d. determining local apparent time

2710: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the local hour angle of the celestial equator system?

    N a. Altitude
    Y b. Azimuth
    N c. Zenith distance
    N d. Colongitude

2750: When pushing a tow and approaching barges tied off to the shore, you should __________.

    N a. increase speed so you will pass faster
    Y b. decrease speed while passing so you won't create a suction
    N c. do nothing different as the barges should be tied off properly
    N d. move to the opposite side of the channel from the barges and increase speed

2766: In low latitudes, the high(s) of the diurnal variation of pressure occur(s) at __________.

    N a. noon
    N b. noon and midnight
    Y c. 1000 and 2200
    N d. 1600

2832: The Light List indicates that a dayboard is a type MR. You should __________.

    Y a. leave it on either side
    N b. look for the other dayboard forming the range
    N c. look for an all red daymark
    N d. check to enter the correct channel at this junction daymark

2851: You determine your vessel's position by taking a range and bearing to a buoy. Your position will be plotted as a(n) __________.

    N a. dead-reckoning position
    Y b. estimated position
    N c. running fix
    N d. fix

2886: On mid-ocean waters, the height of a wind-generated wave is not affected by the __________.

    Y a. water depth exceeding 100 feet
    N b. fetch
    N c. wind's velocity
    N d. duration of the wind

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°

3093: ECDIS must have the capability to preserve the record of the track for the previous __________.

    N a. 4 hours
    N b. 6 hours
    Y c. 12 hours
    N d. 24 hours

3102: The typical operating range of automatic identification systems (AIS) at sea is nominally __________.

    N a. 50-75 nm
    Y b. 20-25 nm
    N c. 6-8 nm
    N d. 3-4 nm

3107: Automatic identification systems (AIS) are expected to broadcast all of the following information EXCEPT __________.

    Y a. Port of origin
    N b. Name of vessel
    N c. Course and speed over ground
    N d. Draft of vessel

3114: With respect to automatic identification systems (AIS), which information is expected to be broadcast every 1 to 10 seconds?

    N a. Rate of turn
    N b. Latitude and longitude
    N c. Navigational status
    Y d. All of the above