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.


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


110: A millibar is a unit of __________.


117: Mean high water is the average height of __________.


169: You want to transit Hell Gate 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 0.5 knot?

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

171: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a lighted buoy with a spherical topmark marks __________.

    Y a. safe water
    N b. a fish trap area
    N c. a hazard to navigation
    N d. a bifurcation in the channel

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

203: In any Loran-C chain, there are three or more stations transmitting pulses which radiate in all directions. One of the stations is the master station, and the others in the chain are the __________.

    N a. radio stations
    Y b. secondary stations
    N c. monitor stations
    N d. pulse stations

217: In some parts of the world there is often a slight fall in tide during the middle of the high water period. The effect is to create a longer period of stand at higher water. This special feature is called a(n) __________.

    N a. apogean tide
    Y b. double high water
    N c. perigean tide
    N d. bore

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.

432: When using a Lambert conformal chart in high latitudes, angles such as bearings are measured in reference to __________.

    N a. the meridian through the object of the bearing
    Y b. the meridian through the ship's position
    N c. the meridian midway between the ship and the object
    N d. any meridian

449: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5 knots on course 063°T, and bears 136°T at 78 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 13 knots to intercept vessel A?

    N a. 340°
    N b. 295°
    N c. 158°
    Y d. 114°

549: On a working copy of a weather map, an occluded front is represented by which color line?

    N a. Red
    N b. Blue
    N c. Alternating red and blue
    Y d. Purple

582: Distance along a track line is measured on a Mercator chart by using the __________.

    Y a. latitude scale near the middle of the track line
    N b. longitude scale near the middle of the track line
    N c. latitude scale at the mid-latitude of the chart
    N d. latitude or longitude scale at the middle of the scale

647: You will enter Argentia, Newfoundland, at 1200 on 5 October 1983, while keeping zone description +3 on the ship's clocks. What will be the height of tide at this time (based on the Canadian chart datum)?

    N a. 0.5 feet
    N b. 1.2 feet
    Y c. 2.1 feet
    N d. 3.4 feet

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.

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

    N a. Dead reckoning position
    N b. Leeway position
    N c. Set position
    Y d. Estimated position

813: At the magnetic equator there is no induced magnetism in the vertical soft iron because __________.

    N a. the lines of force cross the equator on a 0°-180° alignment
    N b. the quadrantal error is 0°
    Y c. there is no vertical component of the Earth's magnetic field
    N d. the intercardinal headings have less than 1° error

894: On a clear, warm day, you notice the approach of a tall cumulus cloud. The cloud top has hard well defined edges and rain is falling from the dark lower edge. Should this cloud pass directly overhead __________.

    Y a. it will be preceded by a sudden increase in wind speed
    N b. it will be preceded by a sudden decrease in wind speed
    N c. the wind speed will not change as it passes
    N d. the wind will back rapidly to left in a counterclockwise direction as it passes

914: If the sky was clear, with the exception of a few cumulus clouds, it would indicate __________.

    N a. rain
    N b. hurricane weather
    Y c. fair weather
    N d. fog setting in

964: The thin, whitish, high clouds composed of ice crystals, popularly known as "mares' tails" are __________.

    Y a. cirrus
    N b. cirrocumulus
    N c. altostratus
    N d. nimbostratus

990: You plot a fix using three lines of position and find they intersect in a triangle. You should plot the position of the vessel __________.

    N a. outside of the triangle
    N b. anywhere in the triangle
    N c. on the line of position from the nearest object, between the other two lines of position
    Y d. in the geometric center of the triangle

1173: When adjusting a magnetic compass for error, a deviation table should be made __________.

    N a. before correcting for any deviation
    N b. after correcting for variation
    Y c. after adjusting the fore-and-aft and athwartships permanent magnets
    N d. before the quadrantal correctors are placed on the compass

1177: The magnitude of three stars is indicated. Which star is the brightest?

    Y a. Canopus - 0.9
    N b. Vega + 0.1
    N c. Antares + 1.2
    N d. Cannot be determined; magnitude indicates size not brightness

1188: The magnitude of three stars is indicated. Which star is the brightest?

    N a. Antares + 1.2
    N b. Altair + 0.9
    Y c. Vega + 0.1
    N d. Cannot be determined; magnitude indicates size not brightness

1193: If a ship is proceeding towards the magnetic equator, the uncorrected deviation due to permanent magnetism __________.

    N a. increases
    N b. remains the same
    Y c. decreases
    N d. is unimportant and may be neglected

1278: The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the __________.

    N a. depth
    N b. distance
    Y c. range
    N d. period

1322: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Grant's Tomb, 123rd Street, NY, NY, at 1412 EST (ZD +5) on 22 March 1983?

    N a. 0.5 knot
    N b. 0.8 knot
    Y c. 1.1 knots
    N d. 1.3 knots

1361: The luminous range of a light takes into account the __________.

    N a. glare from background lighting
    Y b. existing visibility conditions
    N c. elevation of the light
    N d. observer's height of eye

1403: Which statement about the gyrocompass is FALSE?

    Y a. Its accuracy remains the same at all latitudes.
    N b. It seeks the true meridian.
    N c. It can be used near the Earth's magnetic poles.
    N d. If an error exists, it is the same on all headings.

1420: the position labeled "E" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    N a. the vessel's position was fixed at 1145
    N b. a dead reckoning position is plotted within a half-hour of each course change
    N c. the position is a running fix
    Y d. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each speed change

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

1453: Indications of the master gyrocompass are sent to remote repeaters by the __________.

    N a. follow-up system
    Y b. transmitter
    N c. phantom element
    N d. azimuth motor

1496: In a microbarograph, the pen should be checked and the inkwell filled __________.

    Y a. each time the chart is changed
    N b. once per month
    N c. once per week
    N d. daily

1503: A radar range to a small, charted object such as a light will provide a line of position in which form?

    N a. Straight line
    Y b. Arc
    N c. Parabola
    N d. Hyperbola

1543: The distance between the surface of the water and the tidal datum is the __________.

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

1674: The letter D in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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

1720: In the Southern Hemisphere winds in a low pressure system rotate in a __________.

    Y a. clockwise direction
    N b. northeasterly direction
    N c. northerly direction
    N d. counterclockwise direction

1781: While in port, you can follow the approach of a dangerous cyclonic storm by inspecting __________.

    N a. the sky overhead
    N b. the National Weather Service Observing Handbook No.1, Marine Surface Observations
    N c. the Coast Pilot or Sailing Directions
    Y d. a weather map

1799: The letter D in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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

1836: At evening stars, the first stars that should be observed are those with an azimuth in what quadrant?

    N a. Southern
    N b. Western
    N c. Northern
    Y d. Eastern

1868: Illustration D036NG represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter A in the illustration? (D036NG )

    Y a. One red light
    N b. Two red lights
    N c. Two green lights
    N d. Three green lights

1875: The position labeled "E" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    N a. a dead reckoning position is plotted within a half-hour of each course change
    N b. the position is a running fix
    Y c. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each speed change
    N d. the vessel's position was fixed at 1145

1907: Information about direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the __________.

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

2083: 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. U.S. Coast Pilot
    Y b. Broadcast Notice to Mariners
    N c. Sailing Directions
    N d. Light List Vol. V

2089: Permission to leave the riverward chamber of twin locks is given by the lockmaster and consists of which sound signal?

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

2181: 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 D if the lock walls and piers are not awash?

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

2378: Which light signal indicates that you may approach the lock?

    N a. Flashing red
    Y b. Flashing amber
    N c. Steady amber
    N d. Steady green

2384: On U.S. charts, you can tell if a named feature such as a rock (i.e. Great Eastern Rock in Block Island Sound) is submerged by the __________.

    N a. color of ink used to print the name
    Y b. style of type used to print the name
    N c. dashed circle around the feature
    N d. magenta circle around the feature

2412: The permanent magnetism of a vessel may change in polarity due to __________.

    N a. being moored for a long time on one heading
    Y b. being struck by lighting
    N c. steaming from the north magnetic hemisphere to the south magnetic hemisphere
    N d. loading a homogenous magnetic cargo such as steel plate, iron bars, etc.

2512: In the time diagram shown __________. (D005NG )

    Y a. you are in east longitude
    N b. your time is about 1000
    N c. your date is a day earlier than the date at Greenwich
    N d. you must be in the Northern Hemisphere for it to be accurate

2548: On the Mississippi River, gage zero is the gage reading measured from the __________.

    Y a. National Geodetic Vertical Datum
    N b. low water reference plane
    N c. the lowest recorded river depth
    N d. the highest recorded river depth

2583: You are in the Northern Hemisphere and a tropical wave is located 200 miles due west of your position. Where will the wave be located 24 hours later?

    N a. In the same place
    N b. Closer and to the west
    N c. Closer and to the east
    Y d. Farther away to the west

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

2629: In both regions of the IALA buoyage system, which topmark is used on a special mark? (D022NG )

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

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

2702: You must draw a plotting sheet covering latitudes 46°N to 48°N and longitudes 179°E to 178°W. If the distance between each degree of longitude is 2 7/8 inches, what is the distance between latitude 46°N and 48°N?

    Y a. 8.4 inches
    N b. 8.1 inches
    N c. 7.9 inches
    N d. 7.7 inches

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

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

3080: Which feature, when set to zero, might allow a GPS unit to have an accuracy equivalent to Precise Positioning Service receiver capability?

    N a. Transit
    Y b. Selective Availability
    N c. Auto-correlation
    N d. Anti-spoofing

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