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) __________.


27: Spring tides are tides that __________.


130: The distance between the surface of the water and the tidal datum is the __________.


232: Which statement concerning the chartlet is TRUE? (Soundings and heights are in meters) (D010NG )

    N a. Maury lightship is visible for 17 miles.
    N b. The bottom to the south-southeast of the lightship is soft coral.
    N c. There is a 12-meter deep west of Beito Island and inside the 5-meter line.
    Y d. There is a dangerous eddy southeast of Beito Island.

324: Index error of a sextant is primarily caused by __________.

    N a. improperly correcting the other errors in a sextant
    N b. the horizon glass not being parallel to the horizon mirror
    Y c. the horizon glass not being parallel to the index mirror
    N d. human error in taking a celestial observation

339: The wind at Frying Pan shoals has been north-northeasterly at an average velocity of 30 knots. The predicted set and drift of the rotary current are 355° at 0.8 knot. What current should you expect?

    N a. 010° at 1.1 knots
    N b. 047° at 0.3 knot
    Y c. 325° at 0.7 knot
    N d. 279° at 1.0 knot

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

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

392: A pilot chart does NOT contain information about __________.

    N a. average wind conditions
    Y b. tidal currents
    N c. magnetic variation
    N d. average limits of field ice

401: You are steaming in a westerly direction along the Gulf Coast. You see ahead of you a lighted buoy showing a red isophase light. Which action should you take?

    Y a. Alter course to port and leave the buoy to starboard.
    N b. Alter course to starboard and leave the buoy to port.
    N c. Alter course and leave the buoy near by on either side.
    N d. Alter course and pass the buoy well-off on either side.

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

612: Which statement is TRUE concerning a Mercator projection?

    N a. Degrees of longitude decrease in length as latitude increases.
    Y b. The length of the meridians is increased to provide for equal expansion in all directions.
    N c. The mileage between the meridians is increased as the latitude increases.
    N d. All of the above

672: You are planning to enter an unfamiliar U.S. port. Which publication provides information about channel depths, dangers, obstructions, anchorages, and marine facilities available in that port?

    N a. American Practical Navigator
    N b. Notice to Mariners
    Y c. Coast Pilot
    N d. Sailing Directions

713: The closest point of approach (CPA) of a contact on a relative motion radar may be determined __________.

    N a. immediately when the contact is noted on radar
    N b. only if the radar scope is watched constantly
    Y c. after the contact has been marked at least twice
    N d. by an occasional glance at the radar

733: What would give the best radar echo?

    N a. The beam of a three masted sailing vessel with all sails set.
    N b. A 110-foot fishing vessel with a radar reflector in its rigging.
    N c. A 300-foot tanker, bow on.
    Y d. A 600-foot freighter, beam on.

752: Which publication would NOT be used on a voyage from Houston to New York?

    N a. Coast Pilot
    N b. Light List
    N c. Radio Navigational Aids
    Y d. Sailing Directions (Enroute)

805: If the right ascension of a body is 9 hours, it also __________.

    Y a. is 135°
    N b. corresponds to an SHA for the body of 45°
    N c. means that the GP of the body is in the western hemisphere
    N d. All of the above

818: Ocean swells originating from a typhoon can move ahead of it at speeds near __________.

    N a. 10 knots
    N b. 20 knots
    N c. 30 knots
    Y d. 50 knots

821: In addition to monitoring channel 16, all Corps of Engineer locks may use as working channels __________.

    N a. 06, 12 and 22A
    N b. 01A, 05A and 07A
    Y c. 12, 13 and 14
    N d. 14, 24 and 28

854: The appearance of nimbostratus clouds in the immediate vicinity of a ship at sea would be accompanied by which of the following conditions?

    Y a. Rain and poor visibility
    N b. Dropping barometric pressure and backing wind in the Northern Hemisphere
    N c. High winds and rising sea
    N d. Severe thunderstorms

892: When a buoy is in position only during a certain period of the year, where may the dates when the buoy is in position be found?

    Y a. Light List
    N b. Notice to Mariners
    N c. On the chart
    N d. Coast Pilot

929: Which error is NOT included in the term "current" when used in relation to a fix?

    N a. Poor steering
    N b. Leeway
    Y c. Known compass error
    N d. Ocean currents

929: Which error is NOT included in the term "current" when used in relation to a fix?

    N a. Poor steering
    N b. Leeway
    Y c. Known compass error
    N d. Ocean currents

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

985: A time diagram is a diagram on the plane of the __________.

    N a. celestial meridian
    Y b. celestial equator
    N c. celestial horizon
    N d. principal vertical circle

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

995: What is the equivalent of 83°29.6' in time units?

    N a. 5h 47m 34.8s
    N b. 5h 18m 22.7s
    N c. 5h 01m 42.3s
    Y d. 5h 33m 58.4s

1055: The radius of a circle of equal altitude for a body equals the body's __________.

    N a. declination
    N b. polar distance
    N c. altitude
    Y d. zenith distance

1082: Northern right whales can be identified by __________.

    N a. whitish patches of skin on top of the head
    N b. "V" shaped blow easily visible from ahead or behind
    N c. no dorsal fin on the back
    Y d. All of the above

1095: The celestial coordinate of a star that is relatively constant in value is the __________.

    N a. Greenwich hour angle
    N b. local hour angle
    Y c. sidereal hour angle
    N d. meridian angle

1123: What are the only magnetic compass correctors that correct for both permanent and induced effects of magnetism?

    N a. Quadrantal spheres
    Y b. Heeling magnets
    N c. Athwartships magnets
    N d. Fore-and-aft magnets

1142: Which weather conditions would you expect to find 100 miles East of position "B"? (D049NG )

    N a. Winds NW at 20.5 knots, steady warm temperature, high seas
    N b. Winds calm, falling temperature, clear skies, high seas
    Y c. Winds WSW, steady temperature, scattered clouds, moderate seas
    N d. None of the above

1169: The symbols shown are used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "O" represents __________. (D042NG )

    Y a. sandstorms
    N b. thunderstorms
    N c. snow
    N d. rain showers

1213: If the magnetic heading is greater than the compass heading, the deviation is __________.

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

1312: Which factor(s) is/are used to develop the charted information of a lighthouse?

    Y a. Height and intensity of the light
    N b. Height of the light and the observer
    N c. Height of the observer and the intensity of the light
    N d. Height of the light only

1429: A celestial body will cross the prime vertical circle when the latitude is numerically __________.

    Y a. greater than the declination and both are of the same name
    N b. less than the declination and both are of the same name
    N c. greater than the declination and both are of contrary name
    N d. less than the declination and both are of contrary name

1441: Your height of eye is 40 feet (12.2 meters). What is the approximate geographical distance at which Ambrose Light, NY, could be visible? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS".

    N a. 18.3 nm
    N b. 19.5 nm
    Y c. 21.0 nm
    N d. 22.8 nm

1449: The presence of stratus clouds and a dying wind will usually result in __________.

    N a. heavy rain
    N b. heavy snow
    Y c. thick fog
    N d. clearing skies

1453: Indications of the master gyrocompass are sent to remote repeaters by the __________.

    N a. follow-up system
    Y b. transmitter
    N c. phantom element
    N d. azimuth motor

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

1614: Hot air can hold __________.

    N a. less moisture than cold air
    Y b. more moisture than cold air
    N c. the same amount of moisture as cold air
    N d. moisture independent of air temperature

1762: In high latitudes, celestial observations can be made over a horizon covered with pack ice by bringing the sun tangent to the ice and __________.

    N a. adding 30° of arc to the sight
    Y b. using a dip correction based on the height of eye above the ice
    N c. doubling the semidiameter correction
    N d. using a dip correction from table 22 in Bowditch Vol. II

1815: Which weather system produces strong cold winds called "Northers" during the winter months in the Gulf of Mexico?

    Y a. An anticyclone
    N b. A polar maritime air mass
    N c. A cyclone
    N d. A low pressure system

1838: The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the left bank. This means that the light can be seen on the starboard side of a vessel __________.

    Y a. ascending the river
    N b. descending the river
    N c. crossing the river
    N d. proceeding towards sea

1928: "Rotation" is the __________.

    N a. wobbling of the Earth about its axis
    N b. motion of bodies in the solar system relative to the stars
    N c. motion of a celestial body in its orbit
    Y d. spinning of a celestial body about its axis

2030: A vessel heading NE is on a course of __________.

    N a. 022.5°
    Y b. 045.0°
    N c. 067.5°
    N d. 090.0°

2052: Under the chart numbering system used by NGA (NIMA), the first digit of a multi-digit number indicates __________.

    Y a. the general geographic area
    N b. the general scale of the chart
    N c. whether it is a major or minor chart
    N d. the projection used to construct the chart

2122: A position that is obtained by using two or more intersecting lines of position taken at nearly the same time, is a(n) __________.

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

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

2286: Which light signal indicates that you have permission to enter a lock on the Ohio River?

    N a. Steady red
    N b. Flashing amber
    N c. Steady green
    Y d. Flashing green

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

2478: On 23 August 1981 you observe a back sight of the lower limb of the Sun. The sextant altitude (hs) is 116°42.8'. The height of eye is 56 feet and the index error is 2.0' on the arc. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    Y a. 63°42.0'
    N b. 63°38.0'
    N c. 63°19.4'
    N d. 62°49.6'

2583: You are in the Northern Hemisphere and a tropical wave is located 200 miles due west of your position. Where will the wave be located 24 hours later?

    N a. In the same place
    N b. Closer and to the west
    N c. Closer and to the east
    Y d. Farther away to the west

2826: You take a bearing of 043° and 169° of two objects. What bearing of a third object will give the best fix?

    N a. 356°
    Y b. 102°
    N c. 144°
    N d. 201°

2851: You determine your vessel's position by taking a range and bearing to a buoy. Your position will be plotted as a(n) __________.

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

2884: The pictures shown represent the geographic location of a vessel and the radar presentation at the same time. Which statement is TRUE? (D011NG )

    Y a. Ship No. 1 does not appear as an individual target due to the effect of beam width.
    N b. Small island is not detected due to the multiple echo effect from the mountain.
    N c. A tangent bearing of the headland to the south-southeast is corrected by subtracting one-half of the beam width.
    N d. Ship No. 2 is not detected due to the side lobe effect of radar reflecting from the mountain.

2910: 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°
    N b. 45°
    Y c. 90°
    N d. 30°

2974: What daymark shape is used in the lateral system?

    N a. Semicircle
    Y b. Triangle
    N c. Pentagon
    N d. Diamond

3007: A rotary current sets through all directions of the compass. The time it takes to complete one of these cycles, in a locale off the East coast of the US, is approximately __________.

    N a. 2 1/2 hours
    N b. 3 1/2 hours
    N c. 6 1/4 hours
    Y d. 12 1/2 hours

3007: A rotary current sets through all directions of the compass. The time it takes to complete one of these cycles, in a locale off the East coast of the US, is approximately __________.

    N a. 2 1/2 hours
    N b. 3 1/2 hours
    N c. 6 1/4 hours
    Y d. 12 1/2 hours

3028: The channel under a bridge is marked with aids from the lateral system. The centerline of the channel is marked on the bridge with __________.

    N a. a yellow triangle
    N b. three white lights
    N c. a black-and-white diamond
    Y d. a red-and-white octagon