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?


134: The recording fathometer produces a graphic record of the __________.


147: Which statement is TRUE concerning equatorial tides?


168: Your vessel is making way through the water at a speed of 12 knots. Your vessel traveled 30 nautical miles in 2 hours 20 minutes. What current are you experiencing?

    N a. A following current at 2.0 knots
    N b. A head current of 2.0 knots
    Y c. A following current of 0.9 knot
    N d. A head current of 0.9 knot

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.

281: A lighted buoy to be left to starboard, when entering a U.S. port from seaward, shall have a __________.

    N a. white light
    Y b. red light
    N c. green light
    N d. light characteristic of Morse (A)

315: Which statement about the time diagram shown DO08NG is TRUE?

    N a. You are in west longitude.
    N b. Your date is ahead of Greenwich.
    Y c. The meridian angle of the Sun is east.
    N d. The GHA of the Sun is less than 180°.

330: You are taking bearings on two known objects ashore. The BEST fix is obtained when the angle between the lines of position is __________.

    Y a. 90°
    N b. 30°
    N c. 45°
    N d. 60°

368: A great circle crosses the equator at 134°E. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?

    Y a. 46°W
    N b. 124°W
    N c. 134°W
    N d. 34°E

684: The ARPA may swap targets when automatically tracking if two targets __________.

    N a. are tracked on reciprocal bearings
    N b. are tracked at the same range
    N c. are tracked on the same bearing
    Y d. pass close together

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

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

828: The true wind has been determined to be from 210°T, speed 12 knots. You desire the apparent wind to be 30 knots from 10° on the port bow. What course must you steer, and what speed must you make for this to occur?

    Y a. 235°T, 18.6 knots
    N b. 245°T, 20.0 knots
    N c. 325°T, 22.4 knots
    N d. 335°T, 23.6 knots

883: When changing from a compass course to a true course you should apply __________.

    N a. variation
    N b. deviation
    Y c. variation and deviation
    N d. a correction for the direction of current set

885: The daily path of a celestial body that is parallel to the celestial equator is the __________.

    N a. altitude circle
    N b. vertical circle
    Y c. diurnal circle
    N d. hour circle

898: At 1200 ZT, on 31 July, your position is LAT 24°33'N, LONG 173°05'W. You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form, B-80. How should you encode the first three groups after the call sign if you estimate the wind? (D041NG )

    Y a. 01003, 99245, 71731
    N b. 01243, 92433, 71731
    N c. 31243, 99245, 71731
    N d. 31003, 92433, 71730

920: What is the average speed of the movement of a hurricane following the recurvature of its track?

    N a. 5 to 10 knots
    Y b. 20 to 30 knots
    N c. 40 to 50 knots
    N d. Over 60 knots

921: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, a conical buoy will be __________.

    Y a. red in color
    N b. numbered with an odd number
    N c. left to port when entering from seaward
    N d. All of the above

943: You should plot your dead reckoning position __________.

    N a. when you obtain an estimated position
    N b. ONLY in piloting waters
    Y c. at every speed change
    N d. All of the above are correct.

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

994: Which list of clouds is in sequence, from highest to lowest in the sky?

    N a. Altostratus, cirrostratus, stratus
    Y b. Cirrostratus, altostratus, stratus
    N c. Stratus, cirrostratus, altostratus
    N d. Altostratus, stratus, cirrostratus

1007: When a current flows in the opposite direction to the waves, the wave __________.

    N a. length is increased
    Y b. height is increased
    N c. velocity increases
    N d. length is unchanged

1022: What is the approximate geographic range of Fenwick Island Light, Delaware, if your height of eye is 37 feet (11.6 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .

    N a. 24.8 nm
    Y b. 17.8 nm
    N c. 15.9 nm
    N d. 10.3 nm

1073: Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is __________.

    N a. inconspicuous
    N b. a radio transmitter
    Y c. conspicuous
    N d. a government facility or station

1105: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 22 miles and a height above water of 48 feet (14.6 meters). Your height of eye is 35 feet (10.7 meters) and the visibility is 20.0 miles. At what approximate range will you first sight the light?

    N a. 10.5 nm
    N b. 13.2 nm
    Y c. 14.7 nm
    N d. 32.0 nm

1280: A current perpendicular to a vessel's track has the greatest effect on the vessel's course made good __________.

    N a. at high vessel speeds
    Y b. at low vessel speeds
    N c. in shallow water
    N d. in deep water

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

1324: When daylight savings time is kept, the time of tide and current calculations must be adjusted. One way of doing this is to __________.

    Y a. add one hour to the times listed under the reference stations
    N b. subtract one hour from the time differences listed for the subordinate stations
    N c. apply no correction as the times in the reference stations are adjusted for daylight savings time
    N d. add 15° to the standard meridian when calculating the time difference

1362: Which type of cloud is indicated by the number 7 in illustration D039NG? (D039NG )

    N a. Cirrostratus
    N b. Altocumulus
    Y c. Cumulus
    N d. Cumulonimbus

1480: What is the definition of height of tide?

    N a. The vertical difference between the heights of low and high water
    N b. The vertical difference between a datum plane and the ocean bottom
    N c. The vertical distance from the surface of the water to the ocean floor
    Y d. The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water at any time

1519: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 10°38'S, LONG 00°14'E. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )

    N a. LAT 10.6°S, LONG 00.2°E
    N b. L106S, 30002
    N c. 10385, 0014E
    Y d. 99106, 30002

1546: You are sailing south on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) when you sight a red nun buoy with a yellow triangle painted on it. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Geometric symbols such as squares and triangles replace letters and numbers on ICW aids to navigation.
    Y b. The ICW and another waterway coincide in this geographical area.
    N c. The yellow triangle identifies a sharp turn (over 60°) in the channel.
    N d. This is an information or regulatory buoy that also has lateral significance.

1568: You are approaching a vertical lift bridge. You know the span is fully open when __________.

    N a. three white lights in a vertical line are lit
    N b. a red light starts to flash at about 60 times a minute
    N c. a yellow light is illuminated on the bridge pier
    Y d. there is a range of green lights under the lift span

1583: The angle measured from the observer's meridian, clockwise or counterclockwise up to 180°, to the vertical circle of the body is the __________.

    N a. local hour angle
    Y b. azimuth angle
    N c. meridian angle
    N d. observer's longitude

1659: The type of fog that occurs on clear nights with very light breezes and forms when the earth cools rapidly by radiation is known as __________.

    Y a. radiation fog
    N b. frontal fog
    N c. convection fog
    N d. advection fog

1685: Squall lines with an almost unbroken line of threatening dark clouds and sharp changes in wind direction, generally precede a(n) __________.

    N a. slow-moving warm front
    Y b. fast-moving cold front
    N c. stationary front
    N d. occluded front

1714: Which statement concerning storm surges on the Great Lakes is FALSE?

    Y a. They are common along the deeper areas of the lakes.
    N b. They cause rapid differences in levels between one end of the lake and the other.
    N c. The greatest water level difference occurs when the wind is blowing along the longitudinal axis of the lake.
    N d. If the wind subsides rapidly, a seiche effect will most likely occur.

1773: A "Norther" in the Gulf of Mexico is __________.

    N a. a wind shift to the north accompanied by a drop in temperature
    N b. a forcible northerly wind of at least 20 knots
    N c. a strong northerly wind that generally occurs between November and March
    Y d. All of the above

1777: If the current and wind are in the same direction, the sea surface represents a wind speed __________.

    Y a. lower than actually exists
    N b. higher than actually exists
    N c. that actually exists
    N d. that has no proportional relationship

1797: A phenomenon where the atmospheric pressure is higher than that of other surrounding regions is called __________.

    Y a. a high pressure area
    N b. a low front or an occluded front
    N c. the "trade winds"
    N d. the "doldrums"

1809: What occurs when rising air cools to the dew point?

    N a. Advection fog forms
    N b. Humidity decreases
    N c. Winds increase
    Y d. Clouds form

1919: The nadir is the point on the celestial sphere that is __________.

    N a. 90° away from the zenith
    N b. over Greenwich
    N c. on the western horizon
    Y d. directly below the observer

1960: Astronomical refraction causes a celestial body to appear __________.

    N a. to the left of its position in the Northern Hemisphere and to the right in the Southern Hemisphere
    N b. to the right of its position in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere
    Y c. higher than its actual position
    N d. lower than its actual position

1990: The navigational triangle uses parts of two systems of coordinates, one of which is the celestial equator system, the other system is the __________.

    N a. terrestrial system
    Y b. horizon system
    N c. astronomical system
    N d. ecliptic system

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

2167: 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. One red light
    N b. Two red lights
    Y c. Three red lights
    N d. One amber light

2188: 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 starboard the athwartships magnets should be lowered.
    N b. If the blue ends are forward the fore-and-aft magnets should be raised.
    N c. If the red ends are to starboard and the tray is at the top add some athwartships magnets.
    N d. If the blue ends are aft the fore-and-aft magnets should be raised.

2219: A vessel is heading magnetic northwest and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 317°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    Y a. If the quadrantal spheres are in as far as possible replace them with larger spheres.
    N b. If the quadrantal spheres are in as far as possible replace them with smaller spheres.
    N c. If the quadrantal spheres are in as far as possible move the quadrantal spheres out.
    N d. If the spheres are in as far as possible remove one of the spheres.

2220: A dead reckoning (DR) plot __________.

    N a. must utilize magnetic courses
    N b. must take set and drift into account
    N c. should be replotted hourly
    Y d. should be started each time the vessel's position is fixed

2279: Antares is found in what constellation?

    Y a. Scorpio
    N b. Corvus
    N c. Libra
    N d. Corona Borealis

2344: The Moon is subject to four types of libration. Which of the following is NOT one of these types of libration?

    N a. Libration in latitude
    N b. Diurnal libration
    N c. Physical libration
    Y d. Horizontal libration

2404: The dividing meridian between zone descriptions +7 and +8 is __________.

    N a. 105°00'W
    Y b. 112°30'W
    N c. 117°00'W
    N d. 120°30'W

2408: What is the equivalent of 42 min. 48 sec. in arc units?

    N a. 21°24'
    N b. 18°16'
    N c. 11°19'
    Y d. 10°42'

2476: At meridian transit, the diagram used by a navigator to illustrate the angles involved is based on the __________.

    N a. celestial equator as observed from above the south celestial pole
    N b. celestial equator as observed from above the north celestial pole
    Y c. plane of the observer's meridian
    N d. plane of the Greenwich meridian

2492: A star that suddenly becomes several magnitudes brighter and then gradually fades is a __________.

    N a. double star
    N b. variable star
    Y c. nova
    N d. nebula

2585: The letter D as shown represents the __________. (D006NG )

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

2620: The navigator is concerned with three systems of coordinates. Which system is not of major concern?

    N a. Terrestrial
    Y b. Ecliptic
    N c. Celestial horizon
    N d. Celestial equator

2703: Which publication indicates the HYDROLANTS or HYDROPACS issued since the previous working day?

    N a. Broadcast Notice to Mariners
    N b. Local Notice to Mariners
    Y c. Daily Memorandum
    N d. Summary of Corrections

2844: The signal from a ramark will show on the PPI as a __________.

    N a. coded signal on the same bearing and at a greater range then the transponder
    N b. circle surrounding the transponder
    Y c. radial line from the transponder to the center of the PPI
    N d. dashed circle at the same range as the transponder

3030: Isogonic lines are lines on a chart indicating __________.

    Y a. points of equal variation
    N b. points of zero variation
    N c. the magnetic latitude
    N d. magnetic dip

3071: The level of database information which cannot be removed from the ECDIS display and consists of information which is required at all times in all geographic areas and under all circumstances is the __________.

    Y a. display base information
    N b. standard display information
    N c. system electronic nautical chart
    N d. chart display information