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.


5: A vessel is steaming in east longitude on January 25 and crosses the International Date Line on an eastbound course at 0900 zone time. What is the date and time at Greenwich when the vessel crosses the line?


8: When you are steering on a pair of range lights and find the upper light is above the lower light you should __________.


39: Civil twilight begins at 1910 zone time on 20 July 1981. Your DR position at that time is LAT 22°16'N, LONG 150°06'W. Which statement concerning the planets available for evening sights is TRUE?


55: Your longitude is 179°59'W. The LMT at this longitude is 23h 56m on the 4th day of the month. Six minutes later, your position is 179°59'E longitude. Your LMT and date are __________.

    N a. 00h 02m on the 4th
    N b. 00h 02m on the 5th
    N c. 23h 50m on the 5th
    Y d. 00h 02m on the 6th

98: A position that is obtained by applying estimated current and wind to your vessel's course and speed is a(n) __________.

    N a. dead reckoning position
    Y b. estimated position
    N c. fix
    N d. None of the above

162: A chart with a scale of 1:80,000 would fall into the category of a __________.

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

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

185: A ship is in longitude 54°00'W on a true course of 270°. The ship's clocks are on the proper time zone. At what longitude should the clocks be changed to maintain the proper zone time?

    N a. 45°00'W
    N b. 52°30'W
    N c. 60°00'W
    Y d. 67°30'W

280: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a lighted buoy with a spherical topmark marks __________.

    N a. the port side of the channel
    Y b. safe water
    N c. a hazard to navigation
    N d. the position of underwater cables

302: Which symbol represents a 20-fathom curve?

    Y a. -..-..-..-..-
    N b. - - - - - - - -
    N c. - - . - - . - - . - - .
    N d. - - - - - - - -

329: The symbols shown are used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which symbol indicates a weather boundary? (D042NG )

    N a. I
    N b. H
    N c. G
    Y d. F

333: Loran-C stations transmit groups of pulses at specific times. The time interval between transmissions from the master station is the __________.

    N a. coding delay
    Y b. group repetition interval
    N c. pulse interval
    N d. phase code

386: Your vessel is on course 180°T speed 22 knots. The apparent wind is from 70° off the port bow, speed 20 knots. The true direction and speed of the wind are __________.

    N a. 45°T, 21.0 knots
    Y b. 51°T, 24.0 knots
    N c. 58°T, 21.2 knots
    N d. 64°T, 26.0 knots

550: The description "Racon" beside an illustration on a chart would mean a __________.

    Y a. radar transponder beacon
    N b. radar conspicuous beacon
    N c. radar calibration beacon
    N d. circular radio beacon

675: 15° of latitude is equal to __________.

    N a. 600 miles
    Y b. 900 miles
    N c. 1200 miles
    N d. 1500 miles

677: A swift current occurring in a narrow passage connecting two large bodies of water, which is produced by the continuously changing difference in height of tide at the two ends of the passage, is called a __________.

    Y a. hydraulic current
    N b. rectilinear current
    N c. rotary current
    N d. harmonic current

861: You would expect to find channels marked with the IALA-A Buoyage System in __________.

    N a. Argentina
    N b. Japan
    Y c. India
    N d. Canada

906: In the Northern Hemisphere, an area of counterclockwise wind circulation surrounded by higher pressure is a __________.

    Y a. low
    N b. high
    N c. warm front
    N d. cold front

1005: The refraction correction table given in the Nautical Almanac is based on a standard or average atmospheric density with a temperature of 50°F (10°C) and atmospheric pressure of __________.

    N a. 29.72 inches (1006 millibars)
    Y b. 29.83 inches (1010 millibars)
    N c. 29.89 inches (1012 millibars)
    N d. 29.93 inches (1014 millibars)

1058: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. Your position is LAT 64°42'N, LONG 02°28'W. How would this be encoded? (D041NG )

    N a. 90647, 90024
    N b. 0647N, 00025
    Y c. 99647, 70025
    N d. 9064N, 9025W

1092: The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________.

    N a. extension of the low pressure ridge
    Y b. wind circulation and forward motion of the storm
    N c. recurvature effect
    N d. direction of circulation and pressure gradient

1097: The velocity of a rotary tidal current will be decreased when the Moon is __________.

    Y a. at apogee
    N b. new
    N c. full
    N d. All of the above

1146: What is true about a front?

    N a. A front is a boundary between two air masses.
    N b. There are abrupt temperature differences on opposite sides of a front.
    N c. The pressure tendencies are different on opposite sides of a front.
    Y d. All of the above

1146: What is true about a front?

    N a. A front is a boundary between two air masses.
    N b. There are abrupt temperature differences on opposite sides of a front.
    N c. The pressure tendencies are different on opposite sides of a front.
    Y d. All of the above

1204: Which of the symbols in illustration DO18NG designates a stationary front? (D018NG )

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

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)

1239: While taking weather observations, you determine that the wind is blowing from the northeast. You would record the wind direction in the weather log as __________.

    Y a. 045°
    N b. 090°
    N c. 135°
    N d. 225°

1335: Plain language is usually used on marine weather __________.

    Y a. forecasts
    N b. observations
    N c. analyses
    N d. reports

1384: Which type of cloud is indicated by number 9? (D039NG )

    N a. Cumulus
    Y b. Cumulonimbus
    N c. Altostratus
    N d. Stratocumulus

1394: A great circle crosses the equator at 17°W. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?

    N a. 173°W
    N b. 117°W
    Y c. 163°E
    N d. 17°E

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

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.

1625: A sling psychrometer is used to measure __________.

    N a. seawater temperature
    N b. engine temperature
    Y c. dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures
    N d. barometric pressure

1687: Which statement is TRUE when comparing cold and warm fronts?

    Y a. Cold fronts are more violent and of shorter duration.
    N b. Cold fronts are milder and last longer.
    N c. They are very similar with the exception of wind direction.
    N d. Warm fronts are more violent and of longer duration.

1696: Two well-developed high pressure areas may be separated by a __________.

    N a. hill of low pressure
    Y b. trough of low pressure
    N c. valley of low pressure
    N d. ridge of low pressure

1734: The eye of the hurricane has __________.

    N a. very high barometric pressure
    N b. average barometric pressure
    Y c. the lowest barometric pressure
    N d. no change in barometric pressure

1827: The position labeled "D" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    N a. a dead reckoning position is plotted within 30 minutes of a running fix
    Y b. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each course change
    N c. the vessel's speed changed at 1125
    N d. All of the above

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°

1844: What is the relative bearing of an object sighted dead ahead?

    N a. 180°
    N b. 090°
    N c. 015°
    Y d. 000°

1882: The GP of a body for a high altitude sight is determined from the Greenwich hour angle and the __________.

    N a. circle of equal altitude
    N b. zenith distance
    N c. azimuth angle
    Y d. declination

1962: When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates __________.

    Y a. the port side of the channel
    N b. a sharp turn in the channel to the right
    N c. a junction with the preferred channel to the left
    N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side

2113: Vessels regularly navigating rivers above Cairo, Illinois, shall at all times have on board a copy of __________.

    Y a. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulations (Blue Book)
    N b. Nautical Almanac for the year
    N c. Sailing Directions
    N d. Light List Vol. V

2184: By convention, the south seeking ends of a compass' magnets are colored __________.

    Y a. blue
    N b. red
    N c. white
    N d. black

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

2354: A vessel is heading magnetic east and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 093°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    N a. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port you should raise the athwartships tray.
    N b. If the red ends of magnets are to port you should lower the athwartships tray.
    N c. If the red ends of the magnets are aft you should lower the fore-and-aft tray.
    Y d. If the blue ends of the magnets are forward you should raise the fore-and-aft tray.

2397: The letter D in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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

2425: A vessel's position should be plotted using bearings of __________.

    Y a. fixed objects on shore
    N b. buoys at a distance
    N c. buoys close by
    N d. All of the above

2480: You are on course 277°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 045°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?

    N a. 038°
    N b. 232°
    N c. 315°
    Y d. 322°

2624: You must construct a Mercator plotting sheet on a piece of paper measuring 30" by 32". The area includes latitudes 31°10'S to 37°40'S and longitudes 007°00'W to 001°00'E. Allow a one-half 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?

    Y a. 3.69 inches
    N b. 3.52 inches
    N c. 3.38 inches
    N d. 3.26 inches

2687: The letter B in illustration D006NG represents the __________.

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

2692: The dividing meridian between zone descriptions -2 and -3 is __________.

    N a. 15°30'E
    N b. 30°00'E
    Y c. 37°30'E
    N d. 45°00'E

2832: The Light List indicates that a dayboard is a type MR. You should __________.

    Y a. leave it on either side
    N b. look for the other dayboard forming the range
    N c. look for an all red daymark
    N d. check to enter the correct channel at this junction daymark

2960: What is NOT found in the Mississippi River System Light List?

    Y a. Distance that a lighted aid to navigation can be seen at night
    N b. Distance between major points on the Mississippi River
    N c. A color plate showing the details of the aids to navigation used on the Mississippi River
    N d. Times of Coast Guard broadcasts concerning river stages

2964: The pictures shown represent the geographic location of a vessel and the radar presentation at the same time. Which statement is TRUE? (D011NG )

    N a. Ship No. 1 does not paint as an individual target due to the side lobe affect.
    N b. The small island is not detected due to the limitation caused by the pulse length.
    N c. A tangent bearing of the headland to the south-southeast is corrected by subtracting one-half of the beam width.
    Y d. Ship No. 2 is not detected due to the combined affects of beam width and pulse length.

3011: The survey information upon which a chart is based is found __________.

    N a. at the top center of the next line
    Y b. near the chart title
    N c. at the lower left corner
    N d. at any convenient location

3042: How long would a steady wind need to blow in order to create a wind driven current?

    N a. 2 hours
    N b. 6 hours
    Y c. 12 hours
    N d. 18 hours

3042: How long would a steady wind need to blow in order to create a wind driven current?

    N a. 2 hours
    N b. 6 hours
    Y c. 12 hours
    N d. 18 hours

3083: Which theoretical minimum number of measurements from satellites does a GPS receiver need in order to provide an exact three-dimensional position?

    N a. Five
    Y b. Four
    N c. Three
    N d. Two

3104: In general, on how many radio channels will an automatic identification system (AIS) operate?

    Y a. 3
    N b. 5
    N c. 7
    N d. 9

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