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.


112: Which chart number indicates an NGA (NIMA) chart designed for inshore coastwise navigation?


143: Under the IALA - A Buoyage System, a buoy used as a port hand mark would not show which light characteristic?


146: What change in the wind direction could be expected at position "D" if the low were moving northeasterly? (D049NG )


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

263: Loran-C uses the multiple pulse system because __________.

    N a. less signal energy is necessary for receiver operation
    Y b. more signal energy is available at the receiver
    N c. it significantly increases the peak power
    N d. it increases the signal capacity

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.

271: Your vessel is leaving New York harbor in dense fog. As the vessel slowly proceeds toward sea, you sight a green can buoy on the starboard bow. Which action should you take?

    N a. Turn hard right to get back into the channel.
    N b. Pass the buoy close to, leaving it to your port.
    N c. Stop and fix your position.
    Y d. Stand on, leaving the buoy to your starboard.

296: The wind flow from the horse latitudes to the doldrums is deflected due to __________.

    Y a. Coriolis force
    N b. the mid-latitude, semi-permanent high
    N c. differing atmospheric pressures
    N d. the prevailing westerlies

325: What is the longitude of the geographical position of a body whose Greenwich hour angle is 210°30'?

    N a. 30°30'E
    N b. 59°30'W
    N c. 120°30'W
    Y d. 149°30'E

357: On 10 August 1983 you will dock near Days Point, Weehawken, on the Hudson River, at 1800 DST (ZD +4). The charted depth alongside the pier is 24 feet (7.3 meters). What will be the depth of water when you dock?

    N a. 23.5 feet (7.1 m)
    Y b. 23.9 feet (7.2 m)
    N c. 24.9 feet (7.5 m)
    N d. 26.3 feet (8.0 m)

372: You would find the variation on a polyconic projection chart __________.

    Y a. on the compass rose
    N b. on the mileage scale
    N c. written on the chart title
    N d. at each line of longitude

397: The mean tide level at Peaks Island, ME, is __________.

    N a. 1.8 feet (0.5 meters)
    N b. 2.5 feet (0.8 meters)
    N c. 3.2 feet (1.0 meters)
    Y d. 4.5 feet (1.4 meters)

500: The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (formerly the National Imagery and Mapping Agency) would produce a chart of the coast of __________.

    N a. Alaska
    Y b. Canada
    N c. Puerto Rico
    N d. Hawaii

515: The small circle of the celestial sphere parallel to the celestial equator, and transcribed by the daily motion of the body, is called the __________.

    N a. hour circle of the body
    Y b. parallel of declination
    N c. vertical circle of the body
    N d. parallel of altitude

598: A great circle crosses the equator at 141°E. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?

    N a. 180°E
    N b. 41°E
    N c. 141°W
    Y d. 39°W

653: You have been observing your radar screen and notice that a contact on the screen has remained in the same position, relative to you, for several minutes. Your vessel is making 10 knots through the water. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The contact is dead in the water.
    Y b. The contact is on the same course and speed as your vessel.
    N c. The contact is on a reciprocal course at the same speed as your vessel.
    N d. The radar is showing false echoes and is probably defective.

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

773: What is the basic principle of the magnetic compass?

    Y a. Magnetic materials of the same polarity repel each other and those of opposite polarity attract.
    N b. The Earth's magnetic lines of force are parallel to the surface of the Earth.
    N c. Magnetic meridians connect points of equal magnetic variation.
    N d. The compass needle(s) will, when properly compensated, lie parallel to the isogonic lines of the Earth.

822: Charts should be corrected by using information published in the __________.

    N a. Light List
    N b. American Practical Navigator
    Y c. Notice to Mariners
    N d. Coast Pilot

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

839: When using a radar in an unstabilized mode, fixes are determined most easily from __________.

    Y a. ranges
    N b. center bearings
    N c. tangent bearings
    N d. objects that are close aboard

870: Vessels should maintain a sharp lookout, especially during December through March, when navigating the right whale's only known calving grounds which lie off the coasts of __________.

    N a. Nova Scotia
    N b. Maine and Massachusetts
    Y c. Georgia and NE Florida
    N d. California and Mexico

954: A thin, whitish, high cloud popularly known as "mares' tails" is __________.

    N a. altostratus
    N b. stratus
    N c. cumulus
    Y d. cirrus

1045: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 15 miles and a height above water of 40 feet (12.2 meters). Your height of eye is 25 feet (7.6 meters) and the visibility is 5 miles. At about what range will you FIRST sight the light?

    N a. 6.2 miles
    Y b. 9.5 miles
    N c. 12.9 miles
    N d. 14.2 miles

1048: The velocity of the current in large coastal harbors is __________.

    N a. unpredictable
    N b. generally too weak to be of concern
    Y c. predicted in Tidal Current Tables
    N d. generally constant

1053: Before a magnetic compass is adjusted certain correctors must be checked to ensure that they are free of permanent magnetism. These correctors are the __________.

    N a. fore-and-aft and athwartships magnets
    N b. dip needle and heeling magnet
    N c. heeling magnet and Flinders bar
    Y d. Flinders bar and quadrantal spheres

1114: Mechanical lifting of air by the upslope slant of the terrain is called __________.

    N a. vertical lifting
    N b. convective lifting
    N c. advective lifting
    Y d. topographic lifting

1149: 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 )

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

1174: Your vessel is enroute from Japan to Seattle and is located at position I on the weather map. You should experience which weather condition? (D013NG )

    N a. Clear skies with warm temperatures
    N b. Steady precipitation
    N c. Overcast skies with rising temperature
    Y d. Thundershowers

1189: Concerning a celestial observation, the azimuth angle is measured from the principal vertical circle to the ____________ .

    N a. Greenwich celestial meridian
    N b. hour circle of the body
    N c. local celestial meridian
    Y d. vertical circle of the body

1224: NGA (NIMA) charts are adopting the metric system. In order to change a charted depth in meters to feet you may use the conversion table found __________.

    N a. in the Light List
    N b. in Bowditch Vol. II
    N c. on the chart
    Y d. All of the above

1299: What will be the time (ZD +5) of the second high tide at Weymouth Fore River Bridge, MA, on 12 November 1983?

    N a. 1639
    N b. 1643
    N c. 1647
    Y d. 1650

1314: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates hail? (D042NG )

    N a. N
    Y b. H
    N c. Q
    N d. F

1366: Clouds appearing in the following order: cirrus, cirrostratus, altostratus, stratus, and nimbostratus usually indicate the approach of a(n) __________.

    Y a. warm front
    N b. occluded front
    N c. medium front
    N d. cold front

1511: When within 300 miles of a named tropical storm or hurricane, it is standard practice to send weather reports every __________.

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

1529: Widely spaced isobars on a weather map indicate __________.

    N a. high winds
    Y b. gentle breezes
    N c. ice, snow or frozen rain
    N d. probability of tornados

1564: What is a characteristic of cardinal marks?

    Y a. Light rhythms indicating directional orientation
    N b. Vertical stripes
    N c. Square or triangular topmarks
    N d. Number-letter combinations for identification

1571: Which sextant in illustration D043NG reads 29°42.7'? (D043NG )

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

1678: Which information is NOT provided in broadcasts by the National Institute of Standards and Technology?

    N a. Storm Warnings
    N b. Time Announcements
    N c. GPS Information
    Y d. NAVAREA Warnings

1696: Two well-developed high pressure areas may be separated by a __________.

    N a. hill of low pressure
    Y b. trough of low pressure
    N c. valley of low pressure
    N d. ridge of low pressure

1729: The first cloud formations you can use to indicate the bearing of the center of a hurricane or tropical storm are __________.

    Y a. the point of convergence of the cirrus clouds
    N b. the direction of movement of thunderstorms on radar
    N c. the darkest point of the clouds in the "bar" of the storm
    N d. the point of origin of the altostratus clouds

1729: The first cloud formations you can use to indicate the bearing of the center of a hurricane or tropical storm are __________.

    Y a. the point of convergence of the cirrus clouds
    N b. the direction of movement of thunderstorms on radar
    N c. the darkest point of the clouds in the "bar" of the storm
    N d. the point of origin of the altostratus clouds

1791: The accuracy of an azimuth circle can be checked by __________.

    N a. sighting a terrestrial range in line and comparing the observed bearing against the charted bearing
    N b. aligning the relative bearing markings so that 000° is on the lubber's line and the line of sight passes over the center of the compass
    N c. ensuring that the alignment marks on the inner face of the circle are in line with those on the repeater on relative bearings of 000° and 090°
    Y d. comparing observed azimuths at different altitudes with computed values at the times of observation to see if the difference is constant

2186: 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°. What action should be taken?

    N a. Adjust the compass with the athwartships magnets until the compass reads 268°.
    N b. Adjust the compass with the fore-and-aft magnets until the compass reads 270°.
    N c. Adjust the compass with the quadrantal spheres until the compass reads 274°.
    Y d. Adjust the compass with the fore-and-aft magnets until the compass reads 268°.

2186: 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°. What action should be taken?

    N a. Adjust the compass with the athwartships magnets until the compass reads 268°.
    N b. Adjust the compass with the fore-and-aft magnets until the compass reads 270°.
    N c. Adjust the compass with the quadrantal spheres until the compass reads 274°.
    Y d. Adjust the compass with the fore-and-aft magnets until the compass reads 268°.

2203: You get underway from the shipyard in Chester, PA, at 1515 DST (ZD +4) on 6 August 1983, enroute to sea. You will be turning for eight knots. What current can you expect at Fourteen Foot Bank Light?

    N a. Slack
    Y b. 1.3 knots ebbing
    N c. 1.7 knots ebbing
    N d. 0.5 knot ebbing

2232: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 003°. Which action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    N a. If the red ends are to starboard you should raise the athwartships tray.
    Y b. If the red ends are to starboard, and the athwartships tray is at the bottom, you should remove some magnets.
    N c. If the red ends are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should reverse the magnets.
    N d. If the red ends are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should lower the tray.

2236: Which is TRUE of a downbound power-driven vessel, when meeting an upbound vessel on the Western Rivers?

    N a. She has the right of way.
    N b. She shall propose the manner of passage.
    N c. She shall initiate the maneuvering signals.
    Y d. All of the above

2308: The points where the Sun is at 0° declination are known as __________.

    N a. solstices
    Y b. equinoxes
    N c. perigee
    N d. apogee

2387: You are on a voyage from New Orleans to Boston and navigating off the Florida coast. You will get the greatest benefit from the Gulf Stream if you navigate __________.

    N a. about 5 miles east of Cape Canaveral
    N b. about 15 miles east of Daytona
    N c. along the 50-fathom curve
    Y d. about 20 miles east of Jupiter Inlet

2400: You are in a channel in U.S. waters near an industrial plant with a load/discharge facility for barges. You see an emergency rotating flashing light on the facility light up. What does this indicate?

    N a. A barge at the facility has commenced transferring a hazardous cargo.
    N b. A barge carrying a hazardous cargo is mooring or unmooring at the facility.
    N c. The facility is warning a barge to shut down transfer operations due to weather conditions (electrical storm, tornado, hurricane, etc.).
    Y d. There is danger at the facility due to a fire or cargo release.

2452: The permanent magnetism of a vessel may change in strength due to __________.

    N a. the nature of the cargo being carried
    N b. changes in heading
    Y c. major structural repair
    N d. All of the above

2496: An orange and white buoy marking a danger area will have what symbol on it?

    Y a. Open-faced diamond
    N b. Diamond with a cross
    N c. Circle
    N d. Square

2502: The major factor that causes the color difference between a red star (Betelgeuse) and a blue star (Rigel) is __________.

    Y a. its surface temperature
    N b. the elevation above the horizon
    N c. the mass of the star
    N d. the contrast to nearby stars

2505: At the approaches to Savannah, GA, with the wind coming out of the west, the wind-driven current will be flowing approximately __________.

    N a. 280°
    N b. 260°
    N c. 100°
    Y d. 080°

2509: All persons or vessels within the lock area, including the lock approach channels, come under the authority of the __________.

    N a. dockmaster
    N b. dock captain
    Y c. lockmaster
    N d. lock foreman

2542: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) CANNOT be set while the vessel is on a heading of magnetic north or magnetic south?

    N a. Athwartships magnets
    N b. Heeling magnet
    Y c. Flinders bar
    N d. All of the above can be set on magnetic north or magnetic south headings.

3003: The height of tide is the __________.

    Y a. difference between the depth of the water and the area's tidal datum
    N b. depth of water at a specific time due to tidal effect
    N c. difference between the depth of the water and the high water tidal level
    N d. difference between the depth of the water at high tide and the depth of the water at low tide

3075: Chart information details to be used in ECDIS should be the latest edition of information originated by a government-authorized hydrographic office and conform to the standards of (the) __________.

    N a. International Maritime Organization
    Y b. International Hydrographic Organization
    N c. NASA
    N d. US Coast Guard

3092: ECDIS must be able to perform all of the following EXCEPT __________.

    N a. determine true bearing and distance between two geographical points
    Y b. determine magnetic compass deviation
    N c. transform a local datum to the WGS-'84 datum
    N d. convert "graphical coordinates" to "display coordinates"