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.


13: Most modern Loran-C receivers, when not tracking properly, have a(n) __________.


16: The direction of the surface wind is __________.


68: A position obtained by taking lines of position from one object at different times and advancing them to a common time is a(n) __________.


165: On 6 July 1981, at 1000 zone time, you cross the 180th meridian steaming westward. What is your local time?

    N a. It is 1000, 5 July.
    N b. It is 1000, 6 July.
    N c. It is 2200, 7 July.
    Y d. It is 1000, 7 July.

309: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 120°T, 110 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285°T at 25 knots. What course should you steer at 12 knots to have the maximum CPA?

    N a. 332°
    N b. 339°
    Y c. 346°
    N d. 357°

318: Vessels required to have an Automatic Radar Plotting Aid must have a device to indicate the __________.

    N a. distance to the next port
    Y b. speed of the vessel over the ground or through the water
    N c. time of the next navigational satellite pass
    N d. None of the above

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

    N a. subtract one hour from the times listed under the reference stations
    Y b. add one hour to the times listed under the reference 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

338: The illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "N" represents __________. (D042NG )

    N a. hail
    N b. freezing rain
    Y c. rain
    N d. snow

342: A polyconic projection is based on a __________.

    N a. plane tangent at one point
    N b. cylinder tangent at one parallel
    N c. cone tangent at one parallel
    Y d. series of cones tangent at selected parallels

364: What causes the error of collimation with regards to the four adjustments to a sextant?

    Y a. Telescope not parallel to the frame
    N b. Personal error
    N c. The frame and index mirror not perpendicular
    N d. The frame and horizon glass not perpendicular

407: What would be the height of the tide at Crisfield, MD, at 0310 DST (ZD +4) on 6 May 1983?

    N a. 0.1 foot
    Y b. 0.5 foot
    N c. 1.1 feet
    N d. 1.6 feet

457: Find the height of the tide at Port Wentworth, GA, on 5 October 1983, at 1840 DST (ZD +4).

    N a. 3.0 feet
    N b. 3.5 feet
    N c. 4.0 feet
    Y d. 4.4 feet

558: A buoy bears 176°T at 3000 yards. What is the course to make good to leave the buoy 100 yards to starboard?

    Y a. 174°T
    N b. 176°T
    N c. 178°T
    N d. 180°T

658: Monsoons are characterized by __________.

    N a. light, variable winds with little or no humidity
    N b. strong, gusty winds that blow from the same general direction all year
    Y c. steady winds that reverse direction semiannually
    N d. strong, cyclonic winds that change direction to conform to the passage of an extreme low pressure system

663: You are underway at 10 knots. At 1800 you note a radar contact dead ahead at a range of 10 miles. At 1812 the contact is dead ahead at a range of 8 miles. The estimated speed of the contact is __________.

    Y a. dead in the water
    N b. 5 knots
    N c. 10 knots
    N d. 15 knots

686: The pressure gradient between the horse latitudes and doldrums runs __________.

    N a. east to west
    Y b. north to south
    N c. northeast to southwest
    N d. northwest to southeast

706: A steep barometric gradient indicates __________.

    N a. calms
    N b. light winds
    Y c. strong winds
    N d. precipitation

769: What does not contribute to the commercial GPS receiver position error?

    N a. Satellite clock
    Y b. Ship's speed
    N c. Atmospheric/Ionospheric propagation
    N d. Satellites' orbits

842: Coast Pilots and navigational charts are kept corrected and up-to-date by using the __________.

    N a. pilot charts
    Y b. Notices to Mariners
    N c. Tide Tables
    N d. Current Tables

850: When is the peak of the hurricane season in the western North Pacific?

    N a. January through March
    N b. April through June
    Y c. July through October
    N d. November through December

872: Which agency publishes the Light Lists?

    Y a. United States Coast Guard
    N b. National Ocean Service
    N c. Oceanographic Office
    N d. Army Corps of Engineers

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

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

1196: In the Northern Hemisphere, gusty winds shifting clockwise, a rapid drop in temperature, thunderstorms or rain squalls in summer (frequent rain/snow squalls in winter) then a rise in pressure followed by clearing skies, indicate the passage of a(n) __________.

    N a. warm front
    N b. tropical cyclone
    N c. anticyclone
    Y d. cold front

1222: On entering from seaward, a starboard side daymark will __________.

    N a. show a fixed red light if lighted
    N b. show a Morse (A) white light
    N c. be square in shape
    Y d. have an even number if numbered

1267: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Coxsackie, NY, at 0945 EST (ZD +5) on 11 March 1983?

    N a. 0.3 knot
    Y b. 0.7 knot
    N c. 1.2 knots
    N d. 1.9 knots

1328: What will be the velocity of the tidal current in Bolivar Roads, Texas, at a point 0.5 mile north of Ft. Point, on 23 November 1983 at 0330 CST (ZD +6)?

    Y a. Slack water
    N b. 0.8 kt
    N c. 1.2 kts
    N d. 3.4 kts

1419: The MOST important feature of the material used for making the binnacle of a standard magnetic compass is that it is __________.

    Y a. nonmagnetic
    N b. weatherproof
    N c. corrosion resistant
    N d. capable of being permanently affixed to the vessel

1469: The charted channel depth at Eastport, ME, is 28 feet. You are drawing 31.5 feet and wish 2 feet clearance under the keel. What is the earliest time after 1700 (ZD +4) on 6 September 1983 that you can enter the channel?

    N a. 1825
    N b. 1903
    Y c. 1915
    N d. 2003

1489: Cumulonimbus clouds can produce __________.

    N a. dense fog and high humidity
    Y b. gusty winds, thunder, rain or hail, and lightning
    N c. clear skies with the approach of a cold front
    N d. a rapid drop in barometric pressure followed by darkness

1494: Cirrocumulus clouds are indicated by which number? (D039NG )

    N a. 7
    N b. 5
    Y c. 3
    N d. 1

1558: As a high pressure system approaches, the barometer reading __________.

    N a. stays the same
    N b. falls
    Y c. rises
    N d. falls rapidly

1577: Yesterday your chronometer read 11h 59m 59s at 1200 GMT time tick. Today the chronometer reads 12h 00m 01s at the 1200 GMT tick. What is the chronometer rate?

    N a. -1s
    N b. +1s
    N c. -2s
    Y d. +2s

1643: Cumulus clouds that have undergone vertical development and have become cumulonimbus in form, indicate __________.

    N a. clearing weather
    N b. that a warm front has passed
    Y c. probable thunderstorm activity
    N d. an approaching hurricane or typhoon

1662: Fog generally clears when the __________.

    N a. wind speed increases
    N b. wind direction changes
    N c. temperature increases
    Y d. All of the above

1671: Cirrus clouds are composed primarily of __________.

    Y a. ice crystals
    N b. water droplets
    N c. snow crystals
    N d. nitrogen

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

1735: A vessel entering the eye of a hurricane should expect __________.

    N a. moderating winds and heavy confused seas to strike his vessel from all directions
    N b. the winds to increase to hurricane force and strike from a different direction as the eye passes
    N c. the barometer to reach the lowest point
    Y d. All of the above

1784: If your vessel were proceeding down river (descending), a green square marker with a green reflector border on the right bank would be a __________.

    N a. mile board
    N b. dredging mark
    Y c. passing daymark
    N d. crossing daymark

2016: Which statement about the Flinders bar of the magnetic compass is CORRECT?

    Y a. It compensates for the error caused by the vertical component of the Earth's magnetic field.
    N b. It compensates for error caused by the heeling of a vessel.
    N c. It compensates for quadrantal deviation.
    N d. It is only needed in equatorial waters.

2120: If a chart indicates the depth of water to be 6 fathoms and your draft is 6.0 feet, what is the depth of the water under your keel? (Assume the actual depth and charted depth to be the same)

    N a. 6.0 feet
    N b. 26.5 feet
    Y c. 30.0 feet
    N d. 56.5 feet

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

2189: 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?

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

2202: 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 276°. What action should be taken?

    N a. Adjust the compass with the athwartships magnets until the compass reads 264°.
    Y b. Adjust the compass with the fore-and-aft magnets until the compass reads 273°.
    N c. Adjust the compass with the quadrantal spheres until the compass reads 270°.
    N d. Adjust the compass with the athwartships magnets until the compass reads 273°.

2229: 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 port the athwartships magnets should be raised.
    N b. If the blue ends are to port the athwartships magnets should be raised.
    N c. If the red ends are forward the fore-and-aft magnets should be lowered.
    N d. If the blue ends are forward the fore-and-aft magnets should be raised.

2240: If you observe a buoy off station you should __________.

    N a. fill out and mail CG Form 2692 to the nearest Coast Guard office
    N b. appear in person at the nearest Coast Guard office
    N c. notify Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC
    Y d. immediately contact the nearest Coast Guard office by radiotelephone

2254: A rock and sand structure extending from the bank of the river toward the channel is known as a __________.

    Y a. wingdam
    N b. towhead
    N c. cutoff
    N d. landwall

2416: An orange and white buoy indicating a vessel-exclusion area will be marked with what symbol?

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

2430: You are on course 222°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 025°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?

    N a. 197°
    Y b. 247°
    N c. 315°
    N d. 335°

2482: When a vessel changes course from one cardinal heading to another cardinal heading while adjusting the compass, which action should be taken?

    N a. The course change should be made rapidly to prevent transient induced magnetism while passing the intercardinal headings.
    Y b. After the new heading is reached, the vessel should steam on that course for at least two minutes before the adjustment.
    N c. During the course change, you should gently tap the compass to remove any error caused by friction on the pivot bearing.
    N d. After steadying on the new heading, the compass card should be slewed by a magnet and allowed to oscillate freely to remove any gaussin error.

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

2518: In low latitudes, the full Moon will always rise at about __________.

    N a. sunrise
    N b. 1200 LMT
    Y c. sunset
    N d. 2400 LMT

2528: 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 A in the illustration? (D038NG )

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

2562: In the time diagram shown __________. (D005NG )

    N a. the GHA of the Sun is approximately 330°
    Y b. your date is one day later than the date at Greenwich
    N c. the LHA of the Sun is approximately 120°
    N d. you are in west longitude

2604: A sidereal day is approximately how much shorter than a solar day?

    Y a. 4 minutes
    N b. 8 minutes
    N c. 12 minutes
    N d. 16 minutes

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

2689: The letter D in illustration D006NG represents __________. (D006NG )

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

2829: A spar buoy is indicated by which letter in illustration D044NG?

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

2862: When slanted letters are used to spell the name of a charted object you know the __________.

    N a. object is only a hazard to vessels drawing in excess of 20 feet
    N b. position is approximate or doubtful
    N c. object is always visible
    Y d. object may cover and uncover with the tide

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

3078: Which data must ECDIS be able to record at one-minute intervals?

    N a. Position
    N b. Electronic navigational chart source
    N c. Course made good history
    Y d. All of the above