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.


9: When displayed under a single-span fixed bridge, red lights indicate __________.


98: A position that is obtained by applying estimated current and wind to your vessel's course and speed is a(n) __________.


110: A millibar is a unit of __________.


163: How many fixed objects are needed to plot a running fix?

    N a. None
    Y b. One
    N c. Two
    N d. Three

248: What is the index error of sextant A in illustration D050NG? (D050NG )

    N a. 0° 10' off the arc
    N b. 0° 10' on the arc
    N c. 3° 00' off the arc
    Y d. 4° 20' off the arc

273: Loran-C is which type of navigation system?

    Y a. Hyperbolic, long-range navigation system
    N b. Short-range electronic
    N c. Long-range, high frequency navigation system
    N d. Long-range, with a frequency of 1950 kHz

312: The depth of water on a chart is indicated as 23 meters. This is equal to __________.

    N a. 11.5 fathoms
    Y b. 12.6 fathoms
    N c. 69.0 feet
    N d. 78.6 feet

485: A phase correction is applied to observations of __________.

    N a. the Sun
    N b. stars
    Y c. planets
    N d. All of the above

491: A special purpose buoy shall be __________.

    N a. lighted with a white light
    N b. striped black and red
    N c. lighted with a red light
    Y d. yellow

572: You wish to measure the distance on a Mercator chart between a point in latitude 43°30'N and a point in latitude 40°30'N. To measure 30 miles at a time, you should set the points of the dividers at __________.

    N a. 41°30' and 42°00'
    Y b. 41°45' and 42°15'
    N c. 42°00' and 42°30'
    N d. 42°15' and 42°45'

641: Buoys which mark isolated dangers are painted with alternating _____________ .

    Y a. red and black bands
    N b. green and black bands
    N c. red and white stripes
    N d. green and white bands

662: What publication contains descriptions of the coast line, buoyage systems, weather conditions, port facilities, and navigation instructions for the United States and its possessions?

    Y a. Coast Pilots
    N b. Sailing Directions
    N c. Port Index
    N d. Light List

669: It is desirable that a vessel encountering hurricane or typhoon conditions sends weather reports to the closest meteorological service at least every __________.

    N a. hour
    Y b. 3 hours
    N c. 6 hours
    N d. 8 hours

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

    N a. 249°
    Y b. 256°
    N c. 262°
    N d. 268°

781: The IALA Buoyage Systems do NOT apply to __________.

    N a. the sides and centerlines of navigable channels
    N b. natural dangers and other obstructions, such as wrecks
    Y c. lighthouses and lightships
    N d. areas in which navigation may be subject to regulation

784: Variation is the angular measurement between __________.

    N a. compass north and magnetic north
    N b. compass north and true north
    Y c. magnetic meridian and the geographic meridian
    N d. your vessel's heading and the magnetic meridian

810: The position labeled B is a(n) __________. (D051NG )

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

823: The greatest directive force is exerted on the magnetic compass when the __________.

    N a. needles are nearly in line with the meridian
    N b. vessel is near the magnetic poles
    N c. variation is near zero
    Y d. vessel is near the magnetic equator

824: An "atoll cloud" forming over an island due to heating of the land during the daytime would be which type?

    N a. Cirrus
    Y b. Cumulus
    N c. Stratus
    N d. Nimbus

848: It is unlawful to approach within how many yards of a northern right whale?

    N a. 200
    N b. 300
    N c. 400
    Y d. 500

901: Under the IALA-A Buoyage System, a buoy indicating that the preferred channel is to port when entering from seaward, can have a __________.

    N a. can shape
    N b. group-flashing (2) light
    N c. red-and-green vertical stripes
    Y d. green light

1071: A cardinal mark showing an uninterrupted quick-flashing white light indicates the deepest water in the area is on the __________.

    Y a. north side of the mark
    N b. west side of the mark
    N c. east side of the mark
    N d. south side of the mark

1075: The expression "first magnitude" is usually used to refer only to bodies of magnitude __________.

    Y a. 1.5 and greater
    N b. 1.25 and greater
    N c. 1.0 and greater
    N d. 0.5 and greater

1075: The expression "first magnitude" is usually used to refer only to bodies of magnitude __________.

    Y a. 1.5 and greater
    N b. 1.25 and greater
    N c. 1.0 and greater
    N d. 0.5 and greater

1084: As the temperature of an air mass decreases, the __________.

    N a. absolute humidity decreases
    Y b. relative humidity increases
    N c. specific humidity decreases
    N d. dew point rises

1195: A position that is obtained by applying estimated current and wind to your vessel's course and speed is a(n) __________.

    N a. dead reckoning position
    N b. fix
    Y c. estimated position
    N d. None of the above

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

1319: The Sailing Directions (Planning Guide) contain information on all of the following EXCEPT __________.

    Y a. coastal features
    N b. ocean basin environment
    N c. ocean routes
    N d. military operating areas

1333: If a magnetic compass is not affected by any magnetic field other than the Earth's, which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. Compass error and variation are equal.
    N b. Compass north will be true north.
    N c. Variation will equal deviation.
    N d. There will be no compass error.

1499: You are scanning the radar screen for a buoy fitted with racon. How should this signal appear on the PPI display?

    Y a. Starting with a dash and extending radially outward from the target
    N b. As a broken line from center of PPI to the target
    N c. Starting with a dot and extending radially inward from the target
    N d. Starting with a dash and extending to the right of the target

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

1606: Aids to navigation marking the intracoastal waterway can be identified by __________.

    N a. the letters ICW after the aid's number or letter
    Y b. yellow stripes, squares, or triangles marked on them
    N c. white retroreflective material
    N d. the light characteristic and color for lighted aids

1629: Air temperature varies with __________.

    N a. the altitude above sea level
    N b. the season of the year
    N c. the latitude or distance from the equator
    Y d. All of the above

1643: Cumulus clouds that have undergone vertical development and have become cumulonimbus in form, indicate __________.

    N a. clearing weather
    N b. that a warm front has passed
    Y c. probable thunderstorm activity
    N d. an approaching hurricane or typhoon

1802: What is the major advantage of high altitude observations?

    N a. Errors due to unusual parallax are eliminated.
    Y b. The same body can be used for a fix from observations separated by several minutes.
    N c. The declination is the only information needed from the almanac.
    N d. The semidiameter correction of the sextant altitude is eliminated.

1934: The great circle of the celestial sphere that passes through the zenith, nadir, and the eastern point of the horizon is the __________.

    N a. principal vertical
    N b. hour circle
    N c. celestial meridian
    Y d. prime vertical

1984: When a dual purpose marking is used, the mariner following the Intracoastal Waterway should be guided by the __________.

    N a. color of the aid
    N b. shape of the aid
    N c. color of the top band
    Y d. shape of the yellow mark

2061: Fog is likely to occur when there is little difference between the dew point and the __________.

    N a. relative humidity
    Y b. air temperature
    N c. barometric pressure
    N d. absolute humidity

2088: Information about major breakdowns, repairs, or other emergency operations with regard to weirs and (or) wicket dams, on the western rivers, may be obtained by consulting the __________.

    N a. Sailing Directions
    N b. Light List Vol. V
    N c. U.S. Coast Pilot
    Y d. Broadcast Notice to Mariners

2114: Vessels regularly navigating rivers above Cairo, Illinois, shall at all times have on board a copy of __________.

    N a. Sailing Directions
    N b. Nautical Almanac for the year
    N c. U.S. Coast Pilot
    Y d. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulations (Blue Book)

2121: In plotting a running fix, how many fixed objects are needed to take your lines of position from?

    N a. Three
    N b. Two
    Y c. One
    N d. None

2174: By convention, the Earth's north magnetic pole is colored __________.

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

2207: Yesterday your chronometer read 11h 59m 58s at the 1200 GMT time tick. Today your chronometer reads 12h 00m 00s at the 1200 time tick. What is the chronometer rate?

    N a. Nil
    N b. 12h
    Y c. +2s
    N d. -2s

2209: You have completed the magnetic compass adjustments on magnetic east and magnetic south. The vessel is now steady on magnetic west but the compass reads 266°. You should now adjust the compass until it reads __________.

    Y a. 268°
    N b. 270°
    N c. 274°
    N d. Do not adjust the compass, just record the error.

2229: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 003°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    Y a. If the red ends are to port the athwartships magnets should be raised.
    N b. If the blue ends are to port the athwartships magnets should be raised.
    N c. If the red ends are forward the fore-and-aft magnets should be lowered.
    N d. If the blue ends are forward the fore-and-aft magnets should be raised.

2269: One of the factors which affects the circulation of ocean currents is __________.

    N a. humidity
    Y b. varying densities of water
    N c. vessel traffic
    N d. the jet stream

2270: The lubber's line of a magnetic compass __________.

    N a. always shows true north direction
    Y b. indicates the vessel's heading
    N c. is always parallel to the vessel's transom
    N d. is located on the compass card

2481: The letter D as shown represents the __________. (D006NG )

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

2508: Normal pool elevation is the height in feet of the section of river above a dam. This height is measured from __________.

    N a. low steel on the Huey P. Long Bridge
    Y b. mean sea level
    N c. the local water table
    N d. the minimum dam control level

2527: In the doldrums you can expect __________.

    N a. steady, constant winds
    Y b. frequent rain showers and thunderstorms
    N c. steep pressure gradients
    N d. low relative humidity

2587: Given are the courses and speeds of 4 vessels. The navigator of which vessel would be required to know the actual time of meridian transit in order to take an accurate observation at LAN?

    Y a. C 166°T, Sp 24 knots
    N b. C 013°T, Sp 7 knots
    N c. C 291°T, Sp 25 knots
    N d. C 112°T, Sp 4 knots

2626: What information is found in the chart title?

    N a. Date of the first edition
    N b. Date of the edition and, if applicable, the revision
    Y c. Information on the sounding datum
    N d. Information on which IALA buoyage system applies

2644: The sidereal day begins __________.

    N a. when the sun is over the first point of Aries
    N b. when the first point of Aries is over 180° longitude
    Y c. when the first point of Aries is over the upper branch of the reference meridian
    N d. at 0000 on 1 January (Sidereal Date)

2700: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the meridian angle of the celestial equator system?

    Y a. Azimuth angle
    N b. Zenith distance
    N c. Colatitude
    N d. Altitude

2730: When attempting an upstream landing while pushing empty barges ahead in a hard onshore wind, the approach is best made __________.

    Y a. with bow out, stern in
    N b. with bow in, stern out
    N c. parallel to the dock, as close in as possible
    N d. parallel to the dock, as far out as possible

2820: A towboat is pushing barges ahead at a dangerously fast speed when __________.

    N a. the towboat vibrates when backing down
    N b. the roostertail exceeds the height of the main deck
    N c. a strain is placed on the face wires
    Y d. water comes over the foredeck of the lead barges

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°

2878: Given are the courses and speeds of 4 vessels. The navigator of which vessel would be required to know the actual time of meridian transit in order to take an accurate observation at LAN?

    N a. C 356°T, Sp 5 knots
    N b. C 099°T, Sp 17 knots
    Y c. C 192°T, Sp 23 knots
    N d. C 278°T, Sp 6 knots

3038: In low latitudes, the low(s) of the diurnal variation of pressure occur(s) at __________.

    N a. noon
    N b. noon and midnight
    N c. 1000 and 2200
    Y d. 0400 and 1600

3125: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?

    N a. AIS is designed to replace ARPA, maneuvering boards, and visual bearings as a means to ascertain the risk of collision.
    Y b. AIS provides near real-time information regarding another vessel's speed over ground and heading regardless of visibility.
    N c. AIS will not provide information on another vessel if that vessel is indistinguishable in radar sea clutter.
    N d. AIS can be relied upon as the sole means to determine course changes due to other AIS equipped traffic.