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.


46: What wind reverses directions seasonally?


69: The parallax angle will vary the most with the time of year for __________.


172: A chart with a scale of 1:45,000 is a __________.


199: Civil twilight occurs at 0558 zone time on 30 December 1981. Your DR position at that time is LAT 15°02'N, LONG 46°02'W. Which statement concerning the planets available for morning sights is TRUE?

    Y a. At 0558, Mars can be used for an ex-meridian observation.
    N b. Venus, Jupiter, and Mars sights will yield a good three line fix.
    N c. Saturn will be near the prime vertical.
    N d. Venus will be visible low in the western sky.

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

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

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

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

504: Barometer readings in weather reports are given in terms of pressure at __________.

    Y a. sea level
    N b. Washington, D.C.
    N c. the weather station
    N d. the broadcasting station

573: What is the name of the movable, radial guide line used to measure direction on a radar?

    N a. Compass rose
    Y b. Cursor
    N c. Plan position indicator
    N d. Variable range marker

677: A swift current occurring in a narrow passage connecting two large bodies of water, which is produced by the continuously changing difference in height of tide at the two ends of the passage, is called a __________.

    Y a. hydraulic current
    N b. rectilinear current
    N c. rotary current
    N d. harmonic current

678: On 25 December 1981 you observe the Sun's lower limb. The sextant altitude (hs) is 4°06.9'. The height of eye is 47 feet and the index error is 1.6' on the arc. The temperature is 19°F. and the barometer reads 1030.8 millibars. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 3°57.4'
    Y b. 4°01.9'
    N c. 4°02.5'
    N d. 4°03.4'

687: The drift and set of tidal, river, and ocean currents refer to the __________.

    N a. position and area of the current
    Y b. speed and direction toward which the current flows
    N c. type and characteristic of the current's flow
    N d. None of the above

711: In the IALA Maritime Buoyage System, a red and white vertically-striped buoy is used as a(n) __________.

    Y a. safe water mark
    N b. cardinal mark
    N c. isolated danger mark
    N d. special mark not primarily used for navigation

764: Magnetic variation changes with a change in __________.

    N a. the vessel's heading
    N b. sea conditions
    N c. seasons
    Y d. the vessel's position

804: A relative bearing is always measured from __________.

    N a. true north
    N b. magnetic north
    N c. the vessel's beam
    Y d. the vessel's head

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

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

861: You would expect to find channels marked with the IALA-A Buoyage System in __________.

    N a. Argentina
    N b. Japan
    Y c. India
    N d. Canada

873: Compass error is equal to the __________.

    N a. deviation minus variation
    N b. variation plus compass course
    Y c. combined variation and deviation
    N d. difference between true and magnetic heading

900: An orange and white buoy with a rectangle on it is a(n) __________.

    Y a. informational buoy
    N b. junction buoy
    N c. safe water buoy
    N d. All of the above

923: A magnetic compass card is marked in how many degrees?

    N a. 90
    N b. 180
    Y c. 360
    N d. 400

953: The magnetic compass operates on the principle that __________.

    N a. like magnetic poles attract
    N b. unlike magnetic poles repel
    Y c. unlike poles attract
    N d. the poles of the compass line up with the geographic poles of the earth

960: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 15 miles and a height above water of 29 feet (8.8 meters). Your height of eye is 52 feet (15.8 meters) and visibility is 6.0 miles. At which approximate range will you first sight the light?

    N a. 8.0 miles
    Y b. 11.0 miles
    N c. 14.5 miles
    N d. 16.0 miles

996: Warm air masses will generally have __________.

    N a. turbulence within the mass
    Y b. stratiform clouds
    N c. heavy precipitation
    N d. good visibility

1009: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. The dry bulb thermometer reads 34°F, and the wet bulb thermometer reads 31°F. Using the ships code card, how would you encode the air temperature groups in the report? (D041NG )

    N a. 10340, 2127/
    N b. 10111, 2104/
    Y c. 10011, 2104/
    N d. 10340, 2031/

1061: In waters where the cardinal system is used you would expect to find danger __________.

    N a. lying to the south of an eastern quadrant buoy
    Y b. lying to the south of a northern quadrant buoy
    N c. lying to the east of an eastern quadrant buoy
    N d. beneath or directly adjacent to the buoy

1092: The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________.

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

1098: A chart position enclosed by a square is a(n) __________.

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

1125: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 19 miles and a height above water of 52 feet (15.8 meters). Your height of eye is 42 feet (12.8 meters) and the visibility is 10.0 miles. At what approximate range will you first sight the light?

    N a. 10.0 miles
    Y b. 16.0 miles
    N c. 17.3 miles
    N d. 19.0 miles

1159: Two navigational hazards are located near to each other, but each is marked by an individual cardinal buoyage system. The buoys of one cardinal system may be identified from the other system by __________.

    N a. the differing light colors
    N b. one system having odd numbers while the other system has even numbers
    N c. one system using horizontal bands while the other system uses vertical stripes
    Y d. the difference in the periods of the light

1237: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Port Royal, VA, at 1505 DST (ZD +4) on 4 June 1983?

    N a. 0.0 knot
    N b. 0.1 knot
    Y c. 0.4 knot
    N d. 0.7 knot

1372: You are enroute to Jacksonville, FL, from San Juan, P.R. There is a fresh 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

1428: The speed of sound in water is approximately __________.

    N a. 1.5 times its speed in air
    N b. 2.5 times its speed in air
    N c. 3.5 times its speed in air
    Y d. 4.5 times its speed in air

1450: The distance between the surface of the water and the tidal datum is the __________.

    N a. range of tide
    N b. charted depth
    Y c. height of tide
    N d. actual water depth

1455: Inferior conjunction is possible for __________.

    Y a. Mercury
    N b. Saturn
    N c. Mars
    N d. Jupiter

1536: What will NOT induce errors into a Doppler sonar log?

    Y a. Increased draft
    N b. Pitch
    N c. Roll
    N d. Change in trim

1691: Which of the following is associated with consistently high barometric pressure?

    Y a. The horse latitudes
    N b. The doldrums
    N c. The prevailing westerlies
    N d. The trade winds

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°

1899: What is the relative bearing of an object broad on the starboard beam?

    N a. 045°
    N b. 060°
    N c. 075°
    Y d. 090°

1900: A parallax correction is NOT applied to observations of the __________.

    Y a. stars
    N b. Moon
    N c. Sun
    N d. Planets

1949: "Revolution" is the __________.

    N a. wobbling of the Earth about its axis
    N b. motion of bodies in the solar system relative to the stars
    Y c. motion of a celestial body in its orbit
    N d. spinning of a celestial body about its axis

2007: Information about the direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the __________.

    N a. Mariner's Guide
    Y b. Tidal Current Tables
    N c. Nautical Almanac
    N d. Tide Tables

2127: Diagram number D037NG represents a movable dam. If there is high water and the wickets are down so that there is an unobstructed navigable pass through the dam, what light(s) will be shown at B if the lock walls and piers are not awash?

    N a. No lights
    N b. One red light
    N c. Two red lights
    Y d. Three red lights

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

2364: The immediate surroundings of what constellation contain the most first magnitude stars?

    N a. Libra
    N b. Cassiopeia
    N c. Pegasus
    Y d. Orion

2369: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) CANNOT be set on a heading of magnetic east or magnetic west?

    Y a. Heeling magnet
    N b. Flinders bar
    N c. Fore-and-aft magnets
    N d. All of the above can be set on magnetic east or magnetic west headings.

2440: You are on course 357°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 180°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?

    N a. 003°
    N b. 227°
    Y c. 177°
    N d. 363°

2462: Under ideal viewing conditions, the dimmest star that can be seen with the unaided eye is of what magnitude?

    N a. First
    N b. Third
    N c. Fourth
    Y d. Sixth

2598: A vessel is proceeding downstream in a narrow channel on the Western Rivers when another vessel is sighted moving upstream. Which vessel has the right of way?

    N a. The vessel moving upstream against the current
    Y b. The vessel moving downstream with a following current
    N c. The vessel located more towards the channel centerline
    N d. The vessel with the least amount of maneuverability

2650: In the celestial equator system of coordinates what is equivalent to the colatitude of the Earth system of coordinates?

    N a. Coaltitude
    N b. Zenith distance
    Y c. Polar distance
    N d. Declination

2708: You are approaching a drawbridge and have sounded the proper whistle signal requesting it to open. You hear a signal of one prolonged and one short blast from the bridge. Which action should you take?

    N a. Anchor or use an alternate route because the bridge is out of service for an extended period of time.
    N b. Approach to a point not closer than 400 yards (360 meters) from the bridge and await further signals.
    N c. Hold in the channel as the bridge will open within 15 minutes.
    Y d. Approach under full control to pass through the bridge.

2722: The paths of intended travel between three or more points is the __________.

    N a. course
    Y b. track
    N c. bearing
    N d. course over the ground

2741: A general chart could have a scale of __________.

    Y a. 1:200,000
    N b. 1:1,000,000
    N c. 1:50,000
    N d. not more than 1:25,000

2803: Some locations maintain a zone time of -13. What are the Greenwich time and date if the zone time and date are 0152, 10 January?

    Y a. 1252, 9 January
    N b. 1452, 9 January
    N c. 0052, 11 January
    N d. 1452, 11 January

2849: You take a bearing of 086° of a lighthouse. What bearing of another object would give the best fix?

    Y a. 000°
    N b. 066°
    N c. 112°
    N d. 271°

2902: The direction a vessel is pointed at any given time is the __________.

    N a. course
    N b. track
    Y c. heading
    N d. course over the ground

3064: ECDIS units incorporate Digital Chart Data Formats, which include __________.

    N a. vector only
    N b. raster only
    Y c. vector and raster
    N d. imposed viewing

3086: Which data must ECDIS be able to record at one-minute intervals?

    Y a. Course made good history
    N b. Estimated time of arrival
    N c. Speed through the water
    N d. Shaft RPM

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

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.