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.


22: Charts showing the coast of Mexico are produced by the United States __________.


94: When using a recording depth finder in the open ocean, what phenomena is most likely to produce a continuous trace that may not be from the actual ocean bottom?


96: A weather forecast states that the wind will commence veering. In the Northern Hemisphere this indicates that the wind will __________.


151: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, spherical buoys may be __________.

    N a. numbered
    Y b. lettered
    N c. lighted
    N d. All of the above

255: On March 17, at 0500 zone time, you cross the 180th meridian steaming eastward to west longitude. What is your local time?

    N a. You are in -12 time zone.
    N b. It is 1700, March 18.
    Y c. It is 0500, March 16.
    N d. It is 0500, March 18.

258: You are enroute to Savannah, GA, from Recife, Brazil. There is a strong N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________.

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

278: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 11 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 070°T, 80 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 270°T at 19 knots. If you maneuver at 11 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA?

    N a. 84 miles
    N b. 79 miles
    N c. 74 miles
    Y d. 66 miles

417: On 6 July 1983, at 1830 DST (ZD +4), what will be the predicted height of tide at Newburgh, NY?

    N a. 3.3 feet
    N b. 2.6 feet
    N c. 2.4 feet
    Y d. 2.0 feet

418: In most cases, the direction of the apparent wind lies between the bow and __________.

    Y a. the direction of the true wind
    N b. true north
    N c. the beam on the windward side
    N d. the beam on the lee side

465: When applying a dip correction to the sighted sextant angle (hs), you always subtract the dip because you are correcting __________.

    N a. hs to the visible horizon
    Y b. hs to the sensible horizon
    N c. hs to the celestial horizon
    N d. Ho to the celestial horizon

681: You sight a spar buoy with the top mark shown in the illustration. You must __________. (D027NG )

    N a. pass to the east of the buoy
    N b. pass to the south of the buoy
    N c. pass to the north of the buoy
    Y d. keep well clear of the buoy and pass on either side

710: What is the FIRST sign of the existence of a well developed tropical cyclone?

    N a. Gale force winds from the north
    Y b. An unusually long ocean swell
    N c. Steep, short-period waves and light wind
    N d. Thunderstorms and higher than usual humidity

841: Under the IALA-A Buoyage system, a buoy marking the port hand of the channel when approaching from seaward may NOT have a __________.

    N a. red light
    Y b. conical shape
    N c. group-flashing light
    N d. square topmark

843: The line which connects the points of zero magnetic dip is __________.

    N a. an agonic line
    Y b. the magnetic equator
    N c. a magnetic meridian
    N d. All of the above

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

915: The Sun's center may be coincident with both the celestial equator and the observer's prime vertical circle when __________.

    N a. it crosses the December solstitial point
    N b. it crosses the June solstitial point
    N c. it is in upper transit
    Y d. its declination is zero

937: The north equatorial current flows to the __________.

    N a. east
    N b. northeast
    N c. southwest
    Y d. west

957: The Humboldt Current flows in which direction?

    Y a. North
    N b. South
    N c. East
    N d. West

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

1030: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. The dry bulb thermometer reads 78°F, and the wet bulb thermometer reads 75°F. How would you encode the air temperature groups in the report? (D041NG )

    Y a. 10256, 2023/
    N b. 10780, 2074/
    N c. 00256, 0023/
    N d. 10256, 2074/

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

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

1128: In 1981, when would Jupiter and Saturn be visible in temperate latitudes for both evening and morning stars?

    N a. 10 January
    Y b. 27 March
    N c. 22 June
    N d. 8 October

1137: When the declination of the Moon is 0°12.5'S, you can expect some tidal currents in Gulf Coast ports to __________.

    Y a. become weak and variable
    N b. exceed the predicted velocities
    N c. become reversing currents
    N d. have either a double ebb or a double flood

1152: When using GPS without Selective Availability, you may expect your horizontal accuracy to be better than __________.

    N a. 3 meters
    Y b. 20 meters
    N c. 100 meters
    N d. 200 meters

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

1306: What type of clouds are associated with a cold front?

    N a. Altostratus and fracto-cumulus
    N b. Altostratus and cirrus
    N c. Cirrus and cirrostratus
    Y d. Cumulus and cumulonimbus

1372: 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. cirrus clouds
    N b. long swells
    N c. smoother seas and warmer water
    Y d. steeper waves, closer together

1388: If you observe a rapid fall of barometric pressure you should __________.

    N a. call the Coast Guard to verify the change
    N b. know the barometer is not working properly
    N c. contact the NWS or a local radio station
    Y d. prepare for the onset of stormy weather with strong winds

1389: A boundary between two air masses is a(n) __________.

    N a. lapse rate
    N b. isobar
    Y c. front
    N d. continent

1423: Quadrantal error in a gyrocompass has its GREATEST effect __________.

    N a. in high latitudes
    N b. near the equator
    N c. on north or south headings
    Y d. on intercardinal headings

1460: What is the major advantage of a rhumb line track?

    Y a. The vessel can steam on a constant heading (disregarding wind, current, etc.).
    N b. The rhumb line is the shortest distance between the arrival and departure points.
    N c. It is easily plotted on a gnomonic chart for comparison with a great circle course.
    N d. It approximates a great circle on east-west courses in high latitudes.

1528: Cirrostratus clouds are indicated by which number? (D039NG )

    N a. 1
    Y b. 2
    N c. 8
    N d. 9

1538: The winds of the "roaring forties" are strongest near __________.

    N a. 40°N
    N b. 50°N
    N c. 40°S
    Y d. 50°S

1574: Information about currents around Pacific Coast ports of the U.S. is found in the __________.

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

1595: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 8 miles and is 48 feet(14.6 meters) high. If the visibility is 6 miles and your height of eye is 35 feet(10.7 meters), at what approximate distance will you sight the light?

    N a. 15.0 nm
    N b. 12.4 nm
    N c. 8.0 nm
    Y d. 5.9 nm

1598: A slow, gradual fall of the barometer indicates approaching __________.

    N a. gale force winds within 12 hours
    N b. blizzard conditions
    Y c. deteriorating or unsettled weather
    N d. heavy, wind driven rain

1649: If you count 20 seconds between seeing lightning and hearing the thunder, how far is the storm away from you?

    N a. 2 miles
    Y b. 4 miles
    N c. 6 miles
    N d. 8 miles

1711: An instrument that indicates wind direction is known as a(n) __________.

    Y a. weather vane, wind vane or wind sock
    N b. hydrometer
    N c. hygrometer
    N d. sling psychrometer

1816: A white buoy with an orange circle marked on it indicates __________.

    N a. danger
    N b. vessels are excluded from the area
    N c. a mooring buoy
    Y d. operating restrictions are in effect

1840: A vessel heading NW is on a course of __________.

    N a. 274.5°
    N b. 292.5°
    Y c. 315.0°
    N d. 337.5°

1875: The position labeled "E" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    N a. a dead reckoning position is plotted within a half-hour of each course change
    N b. the position is a running fix
    Y c. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each speed change
    N d. the vessel's position was fixed at 1145

2042: At morning stars, the last stars that should be observed are those with an azimuth in which quadrant?

    N a. Eastern
    N b. Southern
    Y c. Western
    N d. Northern

2073: Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is __________.

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

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

2271: What is the definition of height of tide?

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

2375: The shortest distance between any two points on earth defines a __________.

    N a. small circle
    Y b. great circle
    N c. rhumb line
    N d. hyperbola

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

2508: Normal pool elevation is the height in feet of the section of river above a dam. This height is measured from __________.

    N a. low steel on the Huey P. Long Bridge
    Y b. mean sea level
    N c. the local water table
    N d. the minimum dam control level

2587: Given are the courses and speeds of 4 vessels. The navigator of which vessel would be required to know the actual time of meridian transit in order to take an accurate observation at LAN?

    Y a. C 166°T, Sp 24 knots
    N b. C 013°T, Sp 7 knots
    N c. C 291°T, Sp 25 knots
    N d. C 112°T, Sp 4 knots

2798: A can buoy is indicated by which letter in illustration D044NG?

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

2803: Some locations maintain a zone time of -13. What are the Greenwich time and date if the zone time and date are 0152, 10 January?

    Y a. 1252, 9 January
    N b. 1452, 9 January
    N c. 0052, 11 January
    N d. 1452, 11 January

2854: The distance in miles between the circle of equal altitude for the observed altitude (Ho) and the circle of equal altitude for the computed altitude (Hc) is the __________.

    N a. equation of time
    N b. zenith distance
    Y c. intercept
    N d. zenith angle

2920: Navigation charts of the Upper Mississippi River are published by __________.

    N a. National Ocean Service
    N b. Lake Survey
    Y c. Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army
    N d. U.S. Coast Guard

2969: A red triangular daymark marks __________.

    N a. the centerline of a navigable channel
    Y b. the starboard side of a channel
    N c. a prominent object of navigational interest that has no lateral significance
    N d. an area of a channel where passing another vessel is permitted

3035: A major advantage of the NAVTEX system when compared to other systems is that __________.

    N a. the information can be received on an ordinary FM radio
    Y b. warnings are printed out for reading when convenient
    N c. broadcasts are at scheduled times
    N d. a low frequency band is used for long distance transmission

3063: Which of the following must the electronic chart of an ECDIS display, as required by IMO/IHO?

    N a. Hydrography
    N b. Ferry routes
    N c. Regulatory boundaries
    Y d. All of the above

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

3109: While underway, a vessel over 100,000 gross tons with an automatic identification systems (AIS) is expected to broadcast all of the following information every 1 to 10 seconds EXCEPT __________.

    N a. rate of turn
    Y b. name of vessel
    N c. navigational status
    N d. ship's heading

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.