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.


88: Which position includes the effects of wind and current?


95: The difference in local time between an observer on 114°W and one on 119°W is __________.


133: The line connecting the Loran-C master station with a secondary station is called the __________.


167: When the Moon's declination is maximum north, which of the following will occur?

    N a. Mixed-type tides
    N b. Higher high tides and lower low tides
    Y c. Tropic tides
    N d. Equatorial tides

178: You are steering a southerly course, and you note that the chart predicts an easterly current. Without considering wind, how may you allow for the set?

    Y a. Head your vessel slightly to the right
    N b. Head your vessel slightly to the left
    N c. Decrease your speed
    N d. Increase your speed

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

    Y a. conspicuous
    N b. inconspicuous
    N c. a government facility or station
    N d. a radio transmitter

212: Which aid is NOT marked on a chart with a magenta circle?

    N a. Radar station
    N b. Radar transponder beacon
    N c. Radio beacon
    Y d. Aero light

229: The shoreline on charts generally represents the mean __________.

    Y a. high water line
    N b. low water line
    N c. low water spring line
    N d. tide level

240: In a river subject to tidal currents, the best time to dock a ship without the assistance of tugs is __________.

    N a. at high water
    N b. when there is a following current
    Y c. at slack water
    N d. at flood

265: It is 1200 local time for an observer at 54°E longitude. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. It is afternoon at Greenwich.
    N b. It is midnight at 126°E longitude.
    Y c. The observer is in time zone -4.
    N d. All of the above are true.

351: Which buoy may be odd numbered?

    N a. A spherical buoy
    Y b. An unlighted can buoy
    N c. A red buoy
    N d. A yellow buoy

401: You are steaming in a westerly direction along the Gulf Coast. You see ahead of you a lighted buoy showing a red isophase light. Which action should you take?

    Y a. Alter course to port and leave the buoy to starboard.
    N b. Alter course to starboard and leave the buoy to port.
    N c. Alter course and leave the buoy near by on either side.
    N d. Alter course and pass the buoy well-off on either side.

499: Which of the symbols shown represents an occluded front? (D018NG )

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

524: An anemometer on a moving vessel measures __________.

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

650: What classification of tropical cyclone would have closed isobars, counter clockwise rotary circulation, and sustained winds between 34 and 63 knots?

    N a. A tropical disturbance
    N b. A tropical depression
    Y c. A tropical storm
    N d. A hurricane

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

660: What is the length of a nautical mile?

    N a. 1,850 meters
    N b. 5,280 feet
    N c. 1,760 yards
    Y d. 6,076 feet

695: An azimuth angle for a body is measured from the __________.

    Y a. observer's meridian
    N b. Greenwich meridian
    N c. body's meridian
    N d. zenith distance

708: Which statement about Radio Navigational Warning Broadcasts is TRUE?

    N a. Radio navigational warnings are valid for 10 days, unless cancelled earlier.
    N b. NAVAREA warnings cover coastal areas only, while HYDROLANTS or HYDROPACS cover entire ocean areas.
    Y c. Radio navigational warnings issued by NGA (NIMA) are published in the Daily Memorandum and the Notice to Mariners.
    N d. HYDROLANTS and HYDROPACS cover the same geographical areas as NAVAREA warnings, but are for the use of military vessels only.

724: Which statement concerning GPS is TRUE?

    N a. It cannot be used in all parts of the world.
    N b. There are 12 functioning GPS satellites at present.
    Y c. It may be suspended without warning.
    N d. Two position lines are used to give a 2D fix.

748: You are steaming west in the South Atlantic in an extratropical cyclonic storm, and the wind is dead ahead. According to the law of Buys Ballot, the center of low pressure lies __________.

    N a. to the north of you
    Y b. to the south of you
    N c. dead ahead of you
    N d. dead astern of you

830: The highest frequency of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean occurs during __________.

    N a. January, February and March
    N b. April, May and June
    Y c. August, September and October
    N d. July, November and December

876: A generally circular low pressure area is called a(n) __________.

    Y a. cyclone
    N b. anticyclone
    N c. cold front
    N d. occluded front

918: At 1200 ZT, on 31 August, your position is LAT 43°14'S, LONG 175°44'E. You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. How should you encode the first three groups after the call sign if you estimate the wind? (D041NG )

    N a. 01003, 94314, 51757
    Y b. 31003, 99432, 31757
    N c. 31123, 99432, 31754
    N d. 31243, 94314, 31757

973: The heading of a vessel is indicated by what part of the compass?

    N a. Card
    N b. Needle
    Y c. Lubber's line
    N d. Gimbals

975: The change in the length of the day becomes greater as latitude increases because of the __________.

    N a. path of the ecliptic relative to the equator
    N b. decreasing distance between meridians
    N c. changing distance between the Earth and the Sun
    Y d. increased obliquity of the Sun's diurnal circle

993: When crossing the magnetic equator the __________.

    N a. Flinders bar should be inverted
    Y b. heeling magnet should be inverted
    N c. the quadrantal spheres should be rotated 180°
    N d. Flinders bar should be moved to the opposite side of the binnacle

995: What is the equivalent of 83°29.6' in time units?

    N a. 5h 47m 34.8s
    N b. 5h 18m 22.7s
    N c. 5h 01m 42.3s
    Y d. 5h 33m 58.4s

1078: The description "Racon" beside an illustration on a chart would mean a __________.

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

1101: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing an uninterrupted quick-flashing white light. Which of the four topmarks shown will this buoy be fitted with under the IALA Buoyage system? (D031NG )

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

1178: The range of tide is the __________.

    N a. distance the tide moves out from the shore
    Y b. difference between the heights of high and low tide
    N c. duration of time between the high and low tide
    N d. maximum depth of the water at high tide

1239: While taking weather observations, you determine that the wind is blowing from the northeast. You would record the wind direction in the weather log as __________.

    Y a. 045°
    N b. 090°
    N c. 135°
    N d. 225°

1247: What is the predicted velocity of the tidal current 2 miles west of Southwest Ledge for 2330 DST (ZD +4) on 7 September 1983?

    Y a. 1.3 knots
    N b. 1.6 knots
    N c. 1.9 knots
    N d. 2.2 knots

1307: What will be the velocity of the tidal current southwest of Hunts Point, NY, at 0932 EST (ZD +5) on 16 March 1983?

    N a. 0.9 knot
    Y b. 1.5 knots
    N c. 1.8 knots
    N d. 2.3 knots

1323: The magnetic compass error which changes with the geographical location of your vessel is called __________.

    N a. deviation
    Y b. variation
    N c. compensation
    N d. differentiation

1339: You are on course 303°T. To check the speed of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 000°
    N b. 090°
    Y c. 123°
    N d. 213°

1367: You want to transit Hell Gate, NY on 23 July 1983. What is the period of time around the AM (ZD +4) slack before ebb when the current will be less than 0.3 knot?

    N a. 0939 to 0957
    Y b. 0943 to 0953
    N c. 0844 to 0852
    N d. 0348 to 0356

1396: On the approach of a warm front the barometric pressure usually __________.

    Y a. falls
    N b. rises
    N c. is steady
    N d. is unreliable

1567: Buoys and day beacons exhibiting a yellow triangle or square painted on them are used __________.

    N a. in minor harbors where the controlling depth is 10 feet (3 meters) or less
    N b. on isolated stretches of the ICW to mark undredged areas
    Y c. where the ICW and other waterways coincide
    N d. at particularly hazardous turns of the channel

1675: You are entering port and have been instructed to anchor, as your berth is not yet available. You are on a SW'ly heading, preparing to drop anchor, when you observe the range lights as shown on your starboard beam. You should __________. (D047NG )

    N a. NOT drop the anchor until the lights are in line
    Y b. ensure your ship will NOT block the channel or obstruct the range while at anchor
    N c. drop the anchor immediately as the range lights mark an area free of obstructions
    N d. drop the anchor immediately as a change in the position of the range lights will always be an indication of dragging anchor

1860: A vessel heading WSW is on a course of __________.

    N a. 202.5°
    N b. 225.0°
    Y c. 247.5°
    N d. 271.0°

1910: What sextant correction corrects the apparent altitude to the equivalent reading at the center of the Earth?

    N a. Phase
    Y b. Parallax
    N c. Semidiameter
    N d. Augmentation

1948: "Space motion" is the __________.

    N a. action causing precession of the equinoxes
    Y b. motion of a body in the solar system relative to the stars
    N c. motion of a celestial body in its orbit
    N d. irregularity in the motion of the Earth caused by other celestial bodies

1962: When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates __________.

    Y a. the port side of the channel
    N b. a sharp turn in the channel to the right
    N c. a junction with the preferred channel to the left
    N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side

1970: The azimuth angle of a sun sight is always measured from the __________.

    N a. Greenwich meridian
    N b. prime vertical circle
    Y c. principal vertical circle
    N d. first point of Aries

2074: When approaching a lock and at a distance of not more than a mile, vessels desiring a single lockage shall sound which signal?

    Y a. One long blast followed by one short blast
    N b. One short blast followed by one long blast
    N c. Two short blasts
    N d. Two long blasts

2142: Which lights would you see on the Illinois waterway 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. Green over amber (yellow)
    Y b. Red over amber (yellow)
    N c. Red over blue
    N d. Green over red

2142: Which lights would you see on the Illinois waterway 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. Green over amber (yellow)
    Y b. Red over amber (yellow)
    N c. Red over blue
    N d. Green over red

2224: By convention, the north seeking ends of a compass' magnets are colored __________.

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

2300: When a magnetic compass is not in use for a prolonged period of time it should __________.

    Y a. be shielded from direct sunlight
    N b. be locked into a constant heading
    N c. have any air bubbles replaced with nitrogen
    N d. have the compensating magnets removed

2361: The range of tide is the __________.

    N a. maximum depth of the water at high tide
    N b. duration of time between high and low tide
    N c. distance the tide moves out from the shore
    Y d. difference between the heights of high and low tide

2546: A structure, usually made of stone, or cement pilings, which extends from the bank at approximately right angles to the current is called a __________.

    Y a. dike
    N b. revetment
    N c. cutoff
    N d. crib

2560: A plane that cuts the Earth's surface at any angle and passes through the center will always form __________.

    N a. the equator
    Y b. a great circle
    N c. a small circle
    N d. a meridian

2627: Stormy weather is usually associated with regions of __________.

    N a. high barometric pressure
    Y b. low barometric pressure
    N c. steady barometric pressure
    N d. changing barometric pressure

2669: Under the IALA Buoyage System, which topmark shown will be displayed on a safe water mark? (D023NG )

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

2860: On the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, there is a special type of fog known as steam fog. It is caused by __________.

    N a. warm air passing over much colder water
    Y b. cold air passing over much warmer water
    N c. a rapid cooling of the ground on a clear night
    N d. rain coming out of a warm air mass aloft

2941: During daylight savings time the meridian used for determining the time is located farther __________.

    N a. west in west longitude and east in east longitude
    N b. east in west longitude and west in east longitude
    Y c. east
    N d. west

3016: The radar control that shortens all echoes on the display and reduces clutter caused by rain or snow is the __________.

    N a. sensitivity time control (sea clutter control)
    N b. receiver gain control
    N c. brilliance control
    Y d. fast time constant (differentiator)

3110: While underway, automatic identification systems (AIS) broadcast all of the following information every 1 to 10 seconds EXCEPT the __________.

    N a. speed over ground
    N b. latitude and longitude
    N c. course over ground
    Y d. ship's scantlings