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.


30: When taking an amplitude, the Sun's center should be observed on the visible horizon when __________.


58: You should plot your dead reckoning position __________.


65: The LMT of LAN is 1210. Your longitude is 70°30'E. Which time would you use to enter the Nautical Almanac to determine the declination of the Sun at LAN?


140: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 080°T, 100 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 265°T at 22 knots. If you maneuver at 12 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA?

    N a. 76 miles
    N b. 69 miles
    Y c. 63 miles
    N d. 56 miles

221: In United States waters, a buoy having red and white vertical stripes has a light characteristic of __________.

    N a. group occulting
    Y b. Morse (A)
    N c. interrupted quick flashing
    N d. quick flashing

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

259: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "Q" represents a __________. (D042NG )

    N a. convergence zone
    N b. squall line
    Y c. convergence line
    N d. weather boundary

311: You are steaming southward along the west coast of the United States when you encounter a buoy showing a flashing red light. The buoy should be left on __________.

    N a. the vessel's starboard side
    Y b. the vessel's port side
    N c. either side close aboard
    N d. either side well clear

370: Prevailing winds between 30°N and 60°N latitude are from the __________.

    N a. north
    N b. south
    N c. east
    Y d. west

370: Prevailing winds between 30°N and 60°N latitude are from the __________.

    N a. north
    N b. south
    N c. east
    Y d. west

386: Your vessel is on course 180°T speed 22 knots. The apparent wind is from 70° off the port bow, speed 20 knots. The true direction and speed of the wind are __________.

    N a. 45°T, 21.0 knots
    Y b. 51°T, 24.0 knots
    N c. 58°T, 21.2 knots
    N d. 64°T, 26.0 knots

437: Your vessel will be docking at Chester, PA, during the evening of 22 April 1983. The chart shows a depth of 20 feet (6.1 meters) at the pier. What will be the depth of water available at 1856 EST (ZD +5)?

    N a. 22.4 feet (6.8 meters)
    Y b. 23.4 feet (7.2 meters)
    N c. 24.9 feet (7.6 meters)
    N d. 25.7 feet (7.8 meters)

441: A yellow buoy may exhibit a(n) __________.

    N a. fixed red light
    Y b. flashing light
    N c. white light
    N d. occulting light

466: In the relatively calm area near the hurricane center, the seas are __________.

    N a. moderate but easily navigated
    N b. calm
    Y c. mountainous and confused
    N d. mountainous but fairly regular as far as direction is concerned

703: Which statement concerning the operation of radar in fog is TRUE?

    N a. Radar ranges are less accurate in fog.
    N b. Navigation buoys will always show up on radar.
    N c. A sandy beach will show up clearer on radar than a rocky cliff.
    Y d. Small wooden boats may not show up on radar.

722: Which publication would describe the explosive anchorages in the ports on the east coast of the United States?

    N a. Sailing Directions
    N b. Pilot Rules for Inland Waters
    Y c. Coast Pilot
    N d. Notice to Mariners

791: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, the topmark of a red and white vertically-striped buoy shall be __________.

    N a. X-shaped
    N b. two black spheres
    Y c. a single red sphere
    N d. a single red cone

834: In many areas "atoll" clouds (clouds of vertical development) are produced over small islands. These are the result of __________.

    Y a. rising air currents produced by the warm islands
    N b. warm air from the sea rising over higher land areas
    N c. cool land air mixing with warm sea air
    N d. descending air over the islands

950: Where is the dangerous semicircle located on a hurricane in the Southern Hemisphere?

    Y a. To the left of the storm's track
    N b. To the right of the storm's track
    N c. In the high pressure area
    N d. On the south side

998: The navigable semicircle of a tropical storm in the South Indian Ocean is located on which side of the storm's track?

    N a. Rear
    N b. Front
    N c. Left
    Y d. Right

1138: On approaching the English Channel on course 080°T, you note the symbol YBY near a charted buoy. You must pass __________.

    N a. northward of the buoy
    N b. southward of the buoy
    N c. eastward of the buoy
    Y d. westward of the buoy

1184: Your position X is at LAT 35°S. Which winds are you experiencing? (D009NG )

    Y a. Northeasterly
    N b. Northwesterly
    N c. Southeasterly
    N d. Southwesterly

1273: Deviation changes with a change in __________.

    N a. latitude
    Y b. heading
    N c. longitude
    N d. sea conditions

1284: The Sailing Directions (Enroute) contain information on all of the following EXCEPT __________.

    Y a. ocean currents
    N b. outer dangers to navigation
    N c. tidal currents
    N d. major port anchorages

1285: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5.5 knots on course 033°T, and bears 248°T at 64 miles from you. What is the time to intercept if you make 13 knots?

    N a. 4h 55m
    N b. 4h 36m
    N c. 3h 59m
    Y d. 3h 44m

1337: What will be the time of maximum flood current at Sagamore Bridge on the Cape Cod Canal during the morning of 6 December 1983 (ZD +5)?

    Y a. 0708
    N b. 0712
    N c. 0716
    N d. 1020

1338: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 6? (D039NG )

    N a. Altocumulus
    Y b. Stratocumulus
    N c. Altostratus
    N d. Cirrus

1374: On a working copy of a weather map, a warm front is represented by what color line?

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

1406: What will act to dissipate fog?

    N a. Upwelling cold water
    N b. Advection of warm air over a colder surface
    N c. Rain that is warmer than air
    Y d. Downslope motion of an air mass along a coast

1406: What will act to dissipate fog?

    N a. Upwelling cold water
    N b. Advection of warm air over a colder surface
    N c. Rain that is warmer than air
    Y d. Downslope motion of an air mass along a coast

1510: During daylight savings time the meridian used for determining the time is located farther __________.

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

1515: An aneroid barometer on a boat should always be __________.

    N a. located in an air-conditioned area
    N b. mounted in the passenger compartment
    N c. protected by a collision bulkhead
    Y d. permanently mounted

1516: Which correction(s) must be applied to an aneroid barometer?

    Y a. Instrument error and height error
    N b. Instrument error only
    N c. Height error only
    N d. Instrument error and latitude correction

1522: The pressure-sensitive element of an aneroid barometer is called a __________.

    N a. pressure bellows
    Y b. sylphon cell
    N c. column of mercury
    N d. constant pressure capsule

1611: What indicates a dual purpose buoy?

    N a. Red buoy with a horizontal yellow band
    N b. Red and white vertically-striped buoy with a vertical yellow stripe
    N c. Red and white vertically-striped buoy with a red spherical topmark
    Y d. Green buoy with a yellow square

1625: A sling psychrometer is used to measure __________.

    N a. seawater temperature
    N b. engine temperature
    Y c. dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures
    N d. barometric pressure

1673: Information about currents on the Pacific Coast of the U. S. is found in the __________.

    N a. Nautical Almanac
    Y b. Tidal Current Tables
    N c. Ocean Current Tables
    N d. Tide Tables

1680: A weather front exists when __________.

    N a. air masses of the same temperature meet
    Y b. air masses of different temperatures meet
    N c. many clouds create a differential in air density
    N d. two lows are separated by a ridge of higher pressure

1681: You can expect frontal activity when two air masses collide and __________.

    N a. their barometric pressures and temperatures are the same
    N b. there are differences in how they track along the jet stream
    N c. there are no significant differences between their temperatures and moisture content
    Y d. there are significant differences between the temperature of each air mass

1686: Which of the following statements concerning frontal movements is TRUE?

    N a. The temperature rises after a cold front passes.
    N b. The barometric pressure rises when a warm front passes.
    Y c. A cold front generally passes faster than a warm front.
    N d. A warm front usually has more violent weather associated with it than a cold front.

1699: In the Northern Hemisphere, when the center of a high pressure system is due east of your position, you can expect winds from the __________.

    N a. south to west
    Y b. south to east
    N c. north to west
    N d. north to east

1706: In the Northern Hemisphere a wind is said to veer when the wind __________.

    Y a. changes direction clockwise, as from north to east, etc.
    N b. changes direction violently and erratically
    N c. remains constant in direction and speed
    N d. changes direction counterclockwise, as from south to east, etc.

1774: Restricted areas at locks and dams are indicated by __________.

    N a. flashing red lights upstream and fixed red lights downstream
    N b. yellow unlighted buoys
    Y c. signs and/or flashing red lights
    N d. red daymarks upstream and green daymarks downstream

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.

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

2076: You should plot your dead reckoning position __________.

    Y a. from every fix or running fix
    N b. from every estimated position
    N c. every three minutes in pilotage waters
    N d. only in pilotage waters

2162: The new Moon cannot be seen because the Moon is __________.

    N a. in the opposite direction of the Sun
    N b. below the horizon
    Y c. between the Earth and the Sun
    N d. at quadrature

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

2351: A position obtained by applying ONLY your vessel's course and speed to a known position is a __________.

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

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

2372: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light showing 6 flashes followed by one long flash at 15 second intervals. Which of the four topmarks illustrated in diagram D031NG would be fitted to this buoy? (D031NG )

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

2609: The letter A in illustration D006NG represents the __________. (D006NG )

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

2638: A vessel crossing a river on the Western Rivers has the right of way over __________.

    N a. vessels ascending the river
    N b. vessels descending the river
    N c. all vessels ascending and descending the river
    Y d. None of the above

2812: A line of position from a celestial observation is a segment of a __________.

    Y a. circle of equal altitude
    N b. parallel of declination
    N c. parallel of altitude
    N d. vertical circle

2869: A pillar buoy is indicated by which letter shown in the illustration? (D044NG )

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

2880: While upbound through Memphis, the weather report on the TV news indicates that a cold front will cross western Kentucky and Tennessee the next morning. What weather should accompany this front?

    N a. Light, southerly winds; high humidity and possibly fog
    N b. Overcast with steady, light rain or drizzle
    Y c. Gusting winds shifting to the northwest with thunderstorms
    N d. Scattered clouds with light to moderate southeasterly winds and possibly fog

3036: Which daymark has no lateral significance?

    N a. Square; top half green and bottom half red
    Y b. Black and white diamond
    N c. Red triangle
    N d. Green square

3103: In general, on how many radio channels will an automatic identification system (AIS) operate?

    N a. 1
    Y b. 3
    N c. 4
    N d. 12

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.