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.


47: The range of tide is the __________.


86: A weather forecast states that the wind will commence backing. In the Northern Hemisphere, this would indicate that it will __________.


100: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 080°T, 100 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 265°T at 22 knots. What course should you steer at 12 knots to have the maximum CPA?


169: You want to transit Hell Gate on 23 July 1983. What is the period of time around the AM (ZD +4) slack before ebb when the current will be less than 0.5 knot?

    Y a. 0939 to 0957
    N b. 0943 to 0953
    N c. 0844 to 0852
    N d. 0348 to 0356

172: A chart with a scale of 1:45,000 is a __________.

    Y a. harbor chart
    N b. coast chart
    N c. general chart
    N d. sailing chart

213: When using GPS, how many theoretical position lines are required for a two-dimensional fix?

    N a. 1
    N b. 2
    Y c. 3
    N d. 4

274: Which of the four adjustable errors in the sextant causes side error?

    Y a. Horizon glass not being perpendicular to the frame
    N b. Index mirror not being perpendicular to the frame
    N c. Telescope not being parallel to the frame
    N d. Elliptical centering error

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

382: Which would you consult for information about the general current circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean?

    Y a. Pilot chart
    N b. Coast Pilot
    N c. Current Table
    N d. Climatological Atlas

424: For an accurate barometer check, you would __________.

    N a. check it with a barometer on another vessel
    N b. take readings from several barometers and average them
    N c. check it with the barometer at the ship chandlery
    Y d. check it against radio or National Weather Service reports of the immediate vicinity

474: Which indication on the barometer is most meaningful in forecasting weather?

    N a. The words "Fair -- Change -- Rain"
    Y b. The direction and rate of change of barometric pressure
    N c. The actual barometric pressure
    N d. The relative humidity

513: You are radar scanning for a buoy fitted with a racon. Which radar screen represents the presentation you should expect on the PPI? (D017NG )

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

524: An anemometer on a moving vessel measures __________.

    Y a. apparent wind speed only
    N b. true wind speed and true wind direction
    N c. true wind speed only
    N d. apparent wind speed and true wind direction

586: The approximate distance to a storm center can be determined by noting the hourly rate of fall of the barometer. If the rate of fall is 0.08 - 0.12 inches, what is the approximate distance to the storm center?

    N a. 50 to 80 miles
    Y b. 80 to 100 miles
    N c. 100 to 150 miles
    N d. 150 to 250 miles

637: Your draft is 24 feet. You wish to pass over an obstruction near Lovell Island, MA, on 6 May 1983. The charted depth is 22 feet. Allowing a safety margin of 3.0 feet, what is the earliest time after 0200 DST (ZD +4) that this passage can be made?

    N a. 0215
    N b. 0245
    N c. 0310
    Y d. 0347

689: What is the index error of sextant C? (D050NG )

    Y a. 0'20" on the arc
    N b. 1'00" on the arc
    N c. 2'00" on the arc
    N d. 5'10" on the arc

726: Atmospheric pressure at sea level is equal to __________.

    N a. 14.7 pounds per square inch
    N b. 29.92 inches of mercury
    N c. 1013.25 millibars
    Y d. All of the above

737: What describes an ebb current?

    N a. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following low tide
    N b. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land following low tide
    Y c. Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following high tide
    N d. Horizontal movement of the water toward the land following high tide

751: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a yellow buoy may mark __________.

    N a. fish net areas
    N b. spoil areas
    N c. military exercise zones
    Y d. All of the above

759: At 0000 you fix your position and plot a new DR track line. At 0200 you again fix your position and it is 0.5 mile west of your DR. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The set is 090°, drift 0.5 knot.
    Y b. The set is 270°, drift 0.25 knot.
    N c. The set is 270°, drift 0.5 knot.
    N d. The set is 270°, drift 1.0 knot.

926: When a low pressure area is approaching, the weather generally __________.

    N a. improves
    Y b. worsens
    N c. remains the same
    N d. is unpredictable

938: If within 500 yards (460m) of a Northern Right Whale you are lawfully obligated to __________.

    N a. turn away from the whale and leave at full speed
    Y b. turn away from the whale and leave at slow speed
    N c. slow to bare steerageway until the whale swims away
    N d. stop the vessel and sound repeated blasts on the ship's whistle to scare the whale away

987: Which current is responsible for the movement of icebergs into the North Atlantic shipping lanes?

    N a. Iceland Current
    N b. Baltic Current
    Y c. Labrador Current
    N d. Baffin Current

1037: Generally speaking, a ship steaming across the North Pacific from Japan to Seattle is likely to experience __________.

    N a. adverse currents for practically the entire crossing
    Y b. favorable currents for practically the entire crossing
    N c. favorable currents in the summer months and adverse currents in the winter months
    N d. variable currents having no significant effect on the total steaming time

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

1086: When crossing a front isobars tend to __________.

    Y a. change from smooth curves within the air mass to sharp bends at the front
    N b. change from sharp bends within the air mass to smooth curves at the front
    N c. pass smoothly across the front with no change
    N d. become closer together at the front and pass through in straight lines

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

1138: On approaching the English Channel on course 080°T, you note the symbol YBY near a charted buoy. You must pass __________.

    N a. northward of the buoy
    N b. southward of the buoy
    N c. eastward of the buoy
    Y d. westward of the buoy

1184: Your position X is at LAT 35°S. Which winds are you experiencing? (D009NG )

    Y a. Northeasterly
    N b. Northwesterly
    N c. Southeasterly
    N d. Southwesterly

1187: Off Barnegat, NJ, with the wind coming out of the east, the wind-driven current will be flowing approximately __________.

    N a. 016°
    N b. 106°
    Y c. 254°
    N d. 286°

1305: Complete information on weather broadcasts throughout the world is contained in __________.

    Y a. Selected Worldwide Marine Weather Broadcasts
    N b. your local newspaper
    N c. the Notice to Mariners
    N d. the daily weather map

1308: On a voyage from Cape Town to London, the favorable ocean current off the coast of Africa is the __________.

    N a. Canary Current
    Y b. Benguela Current
    N c. Agulhas Current
    N d. South Atlantic Current

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

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

1479: A microbarograph is a precision instrument that provides a __________.

    N a. charted record of atmospheric temperature over time
    Y b. charted record of atmospheric pressure over time
    N c. graphic record of combustible gases measured in an atmosphere
    N d. graphic record of vapor pressure from a flammable/combustible liquid

1502: You are running parallel to the coast and take a running fix using bearings of the same object. If you are making less speed than used for the running fix, in relation to the position indicated by the fix, you will be __________.

    Y a. closer to the coast
    N b. farther from the coast
    N c. on the track line ahead of the fix
    N d. on the track line behind the fix

1506: You are steaming southward along the west coast of the United States when you sight a buoy showing a flashing green light. How should you pass this buoy?

    N a. Leave it to your port.
    Y b. Leave it to your starboard.
    N c. Pass it close aboard on either side.
    N d. Pass it on either side but well clear of it.

1581: Shown are the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "I" represents __________. (D042NG )

    N a. rain showers
    Y b. thunderstorms
    N c. snow storms
    N d. sand storms

1620: You are at anchor in the anchorage at the entrance to Delaware Bay. If you weigh anchor at 1445 DST (ZD +4) on 24 July 1983 and proceed northbound enroute to Philadelphia at a speed of 10 knots, you will have __________.

    N a. a flood current the entire trip
    N b. a flood current from Ship John Shoal Lt. to Philadelphia
    N c. an ebb current north of New Castle, DE
    Y d. a weak flood between Reedy Island and Edgemoor

1671: Cirrus clouds are composed primarily of __________.

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

1672: Data relating to the direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents can be found in the __________.

    N a. Mariner's Guide
    Y b. Tidal Current Tables
    N c. Nautical Almanac
    N d. Tide Tables

1703: In the Northern Hemisphere, when the wind at your location is northerly, the low pressure center causing the wind is located to your __________.

    N a. NNW
    N b. WSW
    Y c. ESE
    N d. SSW

1805: A phenomenon where the atmospheric pressure is higher than that of other surrounding regions is called __________.

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

1818: In order to utilize the capacity of a lock to its maximum, pleasure craft are locked through with all of the following EXCEPT __________.

    N a. coal barges
    Y b. oil barges
    N c. sand barges
    N d. cement barges

1940: The diameter of the Sun and Moon as seen from the Earth varies slightly but averages about __________.

    N a. 1'
    N b. 52'
    Y c. 32'
    N d. 15.5'

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

2086: You are downbound on the Ohio River locking through Greenup. The chamber has been emptied and the lower gates are open. You hear one short blast of the whistle from the lock. You should __________.

    Y a. leave the lock
    N b. hold up until another tow enters the adjacent lock
    N c. tie off to the guide wall until the river is clear of traffic
    N d. hold in the lock chamber due to a malfunction with the gate

2100: You are underway in a vessel with a draft of 7.0 feet (2.1 meters). The charted depth for your position is 9 fathoms. You compute the height of tide to be +3.0 feet (0.9 meters). You determine the depth of the water beneath your keel to be __________.

    N a. 32 feet (9.8 meters)
    N b. 41 feet (12.6 meters)
    Y c. 50 feet (15.3 meters)
    N d. 64 feet (19.6 meters)

2161: Yesterday your chronometer read 03h 01m 56s at the 1500 GMT time tick. Today your chronometer read 03h 01m 58s at the 1500 GMT time tick. What is the chronometer error?

    N a. 03h 01m 58s fast
    Y b. 01m 58s fast
    N c. +2s
    N d. -2s

2494: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 24" by 30". The area includes latitude 28°N to 35°N and longitude 175°E to 178°W. Allow a three-quarter inch neat line on all sides. What is the maximum distance between each degree of longitude that will permit the area of the plotting sheet to be drawn within the stated limitation?

    N a. 3.40 inches
    Y b. 3.22 inches
    N c. 3.03 inches
    N d. 2.91 inches

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

2597: 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. fix
    N b. running fix
    Y c. estimated position
    N d. dead-reckoning position

2606: The measurement of local time is based on the passage of the Sun over the __________.

    N a. upper branch of the observer's meridian
    Y b. lower branch of the observer's meridian
    N c. upper branch of the Greenwich meridian
    N d. lower branch of the Greenwich meridian

2636: You are ascending a river and exchanging navigational information via radiotelephone with a descending vessel. If the descending vessel advises you to "watch for the set" above point X, what would you expect to encounter above point X?

    N a. An increase in current velocity
    N b. Slack water
    N c. Shallow water
    Y d. A sideways movement of your vessel

2714: A current moving across a lock entrance toward the river or toward the dam is called a(n) __________.

    N a. cutoff
    Y b. outdraft
    N c. lockwash
    N d. springpool

2796: The correction tables in the Nautical Almanac for use with Moon sights do NOT include the effects of __________.

    Y a. instrument error
    N b. augmentation
    N c. semidiameter
    N d. parallax

2848: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 6 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?

    N a. 1200 yards
    Y b. 1100 yards
    N c. 1000 yards
    N d. 900 yards

3069: The database resulting from (1) the transformation of the electronic navigational chart (ENC) by ECDIS for appropriate use, (2) the updates to the ENC by appropriate means, and (3) the additional data added by the mariner, is called the __________.

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

3086: Which data must ECDIS be able to record at one-minute intervals?

    Y a. Course made good history
    N b. Estimated time of arrival
    N c. Speed through the water
    N d. Shaft RPM

3108: Automatic identification systems (AIS) are expected to broadcast all of the following information EXCEPT __________.

    N a. navigation status
    N b. ship's heading
    Y c. port of origin
    N d. time stamp