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.


3: Blinking of a Loran-C signal indicates __________.


6: Wind velocity varies __________.


11: A buoy having red and green horizontal bands would have a light characteristic of __________.


23: If Loran-C signals become unsynchronized, the receiver operator is warned because __________.

    Y a. signals begin to blink
    N b. signals begin to shift
    N c. stations discontinue transmission
    N d. stations transmit grass

27: Spring tides are tides that __________.

    Y a. have lows lower than normal and highs higher than normal
    N b. have lows higher than normal and highs lower than normal
    N c. are unpredictable
    N d. occur in the spring of the year

99: You are enroute to Jacksonville, FL, from San Juan, P.R. There is a fresh N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.

    N a. smoother seas and warmer water
    Y b. steeper waves, closer together
    N c. long swells
    N d. cirrus clouds

131: A vertically-striped buoy may be __________.

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

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

    Y a. Veering to the west
    N b. Backing to the north
    N c. Veering to the north
    N d. Backing to the east

216: The prevailing winds in the band of latitude from approximately 5衹 to 30衹 are the __________.

    N a. prevailing westerlies
    Y b. northeast trade winds
    N c. southeast trade winds
    N d. doldrums

267: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309訊. You are steering 306訊 and have the range in sight as shown. The range continues to open. What action should you take? (D047NG )

    N a. Alter course to the right to 309訊 or more to bring the range in line.
    Y b. Alter course to the left until the range closes, then steer to the left of 306訊.
    N c. Alter course to the left to close the range, then alter course to 309訊.
    N d. Maintain course as it is normal for the range to open as you get close.

581: The Captain of the Port has closed to navigation, and buoyed, a section of a harbor. These buoys would be painted __________.

    N a. red or green to conform with the other lateral aids
    N b. red and green horizontally-striped
    N c. solid yellow
    Y d. white with orange markings

627: You are on a coastwise voyage bound for Marcus Hook, PA. Your speed is 15 knots. You wish to use the flood tide to facilitate docking starboard side to, heading seaward. To have the most favorable tide throughout, you should time your arrival at the entrance to Delaware Bay __________.

    N a. for 1 hour before flood begins
    N b. for 1 hour after flood begins
    Y c. for 3 hours after flood begins
    N d. for 1 hour before ebb begins

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

775: A sidereal day is shorter than a solar day. This difference is due to __________.

    N a. irregularities in the daily rotational rate of the Sun
    N b. the space motion of the solar system
    N c. the precession of the equinoxes
    Y d. the use of different reference points

852: What is published by the U.S. Coast Guard?

    Y a. Light List
    N b. Nautical Charts
    N c. Tide Tables
    N d. U.S. Coast Pilot

897: What current flows southward along the west coast of the United States and causes extensive fog in that area?

    N a. Davidson Current
    N b. North Pacific Current
    N c. Alaska Current
    Y d. California Current

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

1004: A low, uniform layer of cloud resembling fog, but not resting on the ground, is called __________.

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

1046: The probability of a sudden wind may be foretold by __________.

    N a. a partly cloudy sky
    N b. an overcast sky
    Y c. a fast approaching line of dark clouds
    N d. the formation of cumulus clouds in the sky

1185: An orange and white buoy with a rectangle on it displays __________.

    N a. directions
    N b. distances
    N c. locations
    Y d. All of the above

1230: Weather forecast messages are usually __________.

    N a. given only to TV stations
    N b. transmitted only by commercial broadcast stations
    Y c. broadcast in plain language
    N d. broadcast immediately on VHF Channel 16 and 2182 kHz

1238: What will be the height of tide at Three Mile Harbor Entrance, Gardiners Bay, NY, at 0700 (ZD +5) on 14 Nov 1983?

    N a. 1.1 feet (0.3 meters)
    Y b. 1.7 feet (0.5 meters)
    N c. 1.9 feet (0.6 meters)
    N d. 2.2 feet (0.7 meters)

1252: Port side daymarks may be __________.

    Y a. numbered
    N b. octagonal
    N c. black and white
    N d. of any shape

1256: A cold front moving in from the northwest can produce __________.

    Y a. thunderstorms, hail, and then rapid clearing
    N b. increasing cloud cover lasting for several days
    N c. lengthy wet weather
    N d. low ceilings with thick cirrus clouds

1268: On a nautical chart, the inner ring of a compass rose indicates __________.

    N a. true directions
    N b. compass error
    N c. deviation
    Y d. magnetic directions

1316: When a warm air mass overtakes a cold air mass, the contact surface is called a __________.

    N a. line squall
    N b. water spout
    N c. cold front
    Y d. warm front

1422: Cumulus clouds are indicated by what number in illustration D039NG? (D039NG )

    N a. 3
    N b. 5
    N c. 6
    Y d. 7

1431: A lighthouse is 120 feet (36.6 meters) high and the light has a nominal range of 18 miles. Your height of eye is 42 feet (12.8). If the visibility is 11 miles, approximately how far off the light will you be when the light becomes visible?

    N a. 12.5 miles
    N b. 16.0 miles
    Y c. 19.0 miles
    N d. 23.5 miles

1501: What is the distance from the bottom of a wave trough to the top of a wave crest?

    N a. Wave length
    Y b. Wave height
    N c. Wave breadth
    N d. Wave depth

1524: A barometric pressure reading of 29.92 inches of mercury is equivalent to __________.

    Y a. 1013.25 millibars
    N b. 29.92 feet of water
    N c. 766 millimeters of mercury
    N d. 76 centimeters of water

1665: Air circulation is caused or affected by __________.

    N a. the rotation of the earth on its axis
    N b. convection currents caused by differences in radiant heating between equatorial and polar regions
    N c. mountain ranges
    Y d. All of the above

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

1723: The intensity of a hurricane as it reaches higher latitudes and cooler waters __________.

    N a. Increases
    N b. remains the same
    Y c. decreases
    N d. None of the above

1745: When your vessel is on the storm track but behind the storm's center the __________.

    N a. wind direction remains steady
    N b. wind speed decreases
    N c. barometer rises
    Y d. All of the above

1872: To find a magnetic compass course from a true course you must apply __________.

    N a. deviation
    N b. variation
    Y c. deviation and variation
    N d. magnetic anomalies (local disturbances)

1900: A parallax correction is NOT applied to observations of the __________.

    Y a. stars
    N b. Moon
    N c. Sun
    N d. Planets

1909: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the equator on the Earth?

    N a. Prime vertical circle
    N b. Principal vertical circle
    N c. Parallels of altitude
    Y d. Horizon

1942: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to the declination of the equator system?

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

2059: Illustration D038NG represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter E in the illustration? (D038NG )

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

2066: 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. No lights

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

2127: 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. No lights
    N b. One red light
    N c. Two red lights
    Y d. Three red lights

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

2306: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light with 9 flashes every 15 seconds. Which of the four topmarks shown would be fitted to the buoy? (D031NG )

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

2306: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light with 9 flashes every 15 seconds. Which of the four topmarks shown would be fitted to the buoy? (D031NG )

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

2332: Magnetic dip is a measurement of the angle between the __________.

    N a. geographic pole and the magnetic pole
    N b. lubber's line and true north
    Y c. horizontal and the magnetic line of force
    N d. compass heading and the magnetic heading

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.

2462: Under ideal viewing conditions, the dimmest star that can be seen with the unaided eye is of what magnitude?

    N a. First
    N b. Third
    N c. Fourth
    Y d. Sixth

2489: You are approaching a drawbridge and must pass through during a scheduled closure period. What signal should you sound?

    Y a. Five short blasts
    N b. Two prolonged, two short blasts
    N c. Three prolonged blasts
    N d. Three short blasts, two prolonged blasts

2716: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, passing daymarks on the left descending bank are __________.

    N a. green squares
    N b. green diamonds
    N c. red diamonds
    Y d. red triangles

2831: A coastal chart could have a scale of __________.

    N a. not more than 1:25,000
    N b. 1:35,000
    Y c. 1:100,000
    N d. 1:500,000

2840: The lockmaster has given you permission to tie off on the lower guide wall to wait your turn to lock through. What should you be most concerned with?

    N a. A downbound vessel
    N b. An upbound vessel
    Y c. Current reaction when the lock chamber is being emptied
    N d. Current reaction when the lock chamber is being filled

2846: Which type of daymark is used to mark the port side of the channel when entering from sea?

    N a. Red and white octagon
    N b. Black and white diamond
    N c. Red triangle
    Y d. Green square

2852: A daymark warning of a danger will have the shape indicated by which letter? (D045NG )

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

2891: Twenty-three meters equals __________.

    N a. 17.50 feet
    Y b. 75.46 feet
    N c. 96.00 feet
    N d. 104.99 feet

2988: The buoy indicated by the letter A is a __________. (D044NG )

    N a. nun
    Y b. can
    N c. spar
    N d. pillar

2999: When entering a channel from seaward, the numbers on buoys __________.

    N a. are the same as their Light List number
    N b. are marked in 6 inch figures with retroreflective material
    Y c. increase with the even numbers to starboard
    N d. decrease with the odd numbers to starboard

3026: A compass card without north-seeking capability that is used for relative bearings is a(n) __________.

    N a. bearing circle
    Y b. pelorus
    N c. bearing bar
    N d. alidade

3039: As you enter a U.S. channel from seaward the numbers on the buoys __________.

    N a. increase with the can buoys being even numbered
    Y b. increase with the can buoys being odd numbered
    N c. decrease with the can buoys being even numbered
    N d. increase in channels going to the north or west, and decrease in channels going to the south or east

3124: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?

    Y a. AIS is a short-range VHF-FM system that automatically broadcasts a vessel's position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment in the area.
    N b. AIS is a one-way centrally managed system that requires the local VTS to send commands to instruct each vessel to broadcast position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment in the area.
    N c. AIS is a global tracking system that relies upon INMARSAT C service to communicate vessel position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment in the area.
    N d. AIS is a short-range 3 cm X-band radar system that automatically sends a vessel's position, course, speed and other safety related information to all those with similar equipment within the area.