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.

40: The predicted time that the flood begins at the entrance to Delaware Bay is 1526. You are anchored off Chestnut St. in Philadelphia. If you get underway bound for sea at 1600 and turn for 8 knots, at what point will you lose the ebb current?
71: A preferred-channel buoy may be __________.
111: Green lights may appear on __________.
127: Mean low water is the average height of __________. 

    N a. the surface of the sea
    N b. high waters and low waters
    Y c. all low waters
    N d. the lower of the two daily low tides
141: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 6 knots on course 133°T, and bears 042°T, 105 miles from you. What is the time to intercept if you make 10 knots? 

    N a. 12h 30m
    N b. 12h 44m
    Y c. 12h 58m
    N d. 13h 22m
144: In modern fathometers the sonic or ultrasonic sound waves are produced electrically by means of a(n) __________. 

    N a. transmitter
    Y b. transducer
    N c. transceiver
    N d. amplifier
222: Which statement concerning the illustration is correct? (Soundings and heights are in meters) (D010NG )

    N a. Maury Lightship swings about her anchor on a circle with a  21-meter diameter.
    N b. The position of the lightship is indicated by the center of the star on the symbol's mast.
    N c. There is a 12 meter deep hole inside the 5-meter curve just west of Beito Island.
    Y d. The sunken wreck southwest of Beito Island shows the hull or superstructure above the sounding datum.
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
357: On 10 August 1983 you will dock near Days Point, Weehawken, on the Hudson River, at 1800 DST (ZD +4). The charted depth alongside the pier is 24 feet (7.3 meters). What will be the depth of water when you dock? 

    N a. 23.5 feet (7.1 m)
    Y b. 23.9 feet (7.2 m)
    N c. 24.9 feet (7.5 m)
    N d. 26.3 feet (8.0 m)
369: 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. What course should you steer at 11 knots to have the maximum CPA? 

    N a. 250°
    N b. 234°
    N c. 227°
    Y d. 215 °
369: 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. What course should you steer at 11 knots to have the maximum CPA? 

    N a. 250°
    N b. 234°
    N c. 227°
    Y d. 215 °
378: A navigator fixing a vessel's position by radar __________. 

    N a. should never use radar bearings
    Y b. can use radar information from one object to fix the position
    N c. should only use radar bearings when the range exceeds the distance to the horizon
    N d. must use information from targets forward of the beam
421: Daylight savings time is a form of zone time that adopts the time __________. 

    N a. one zone to the west
    Y b. one zone to the east
    N c. two zones to the west
    N d. two zones to the east
422: If you are sailing from the East Coast of the United States to the Caribbean Sea, which publication would contain information on weather, currents, and storms? 

    N a. Sailing Charts of the Caribbean Sea
    Y b. Pilot Charts of the North Atlantic
    N c. Light Lists, Atlantic and Gulf Coast
    N d. Tidal Current Tables
435: If an observer is at 35°N latitude, his zenith is __________. 

    N a. 55°S of the celestial equator
    N b. at the north celestial pole
    Y c. 35°N of the celestial equator
    N d. 55°N of the celestial equator
438: Your longitude is 124°E, and your local mean time is 0520 on the 5th of the month. The mean time and date at Greenwich is __________. 

    N a. 1336 on the 4th
    N b. 1336 on the 5th
    Y c. 2104 on the 4th
    N d. 2104 on the 5th
520: On charts of U.S. waters, a magenta marking is NOT used for marking a __________. 

    Y a. 5-fathom curve
    N b. prohibited area
    N c. lighted buoy
    N d. radio beacon
572: You wish to measure the distance on a Mercator chart between a point in latitude 43°30'N and a point in latitude 40°30'N. To measure 30 miles at a time, you should set the points of the dividers at __________. 

    N a. 41°30' and 42°00'
    Y b. 41°45' and 42°15'
    N c. 42°00' and 42°30'
    N d. 42°15' and 42°45'
603: What is the approximate wave length of an X Band Radar operating on a frequency of approximately 9500 MHz? 

    Y a. 3 cm
    N b. 10 cm
    N c. 30 cm
    N d. 100 cm
623: An indirect radar echo is caused by a reflection of the main lobe of the radar beam off the observer's vessel. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of indirect echoes? 

    N a. Their bearing is almost constant, even when the true bearing of the contact changes appreciably.
    Y b. They always appear on a bearing of 90°From the true bearing of the contact.
    N c. The indirect echoes usually appear in shadow sectors.
    N d. When plotted, their movements are usually abnormal.
756: What is a common unit of measure for atmospheric pressure? 

    N a. centimeters
    Y b. Inches
    N c. Degrees
    N d. Feet
815: When entering from seaward, a buoy displaying a composite group (2+1) flashing red light indicates __________. 

    Y a. a junction with the preferred channel to the left
    N b. a sharp turn in the preferred channel to the right
    N c. the starboard side of the secondary channel
    N d. a wreck to be left on the vessel's port side
847: On a voyage from Halifax, N.S., to Dakar, West Africa, the Canary Current will __________. 

    N a. set the vessel to the left
    Y b. set the vessel to the right
    N c. offer resistance in the form of a head current
    N d. furnish additional thrust in the form of a fair or following current
847: On a voyage from Halifax, N.S., to Dakar, West Africa, the Canary Current will __________. 

    N a. set the vessel to the left
    Y b. set the vessel to the right
    N c. offer resistance in the form of a head current
    N d. furnish additional thrust in the form of a fair or following current
896: The wind direction around a low pressure area in the Northern Hemisphere is __________. 

    N a. clockwise and inward
    N b. clockwise and outward
    Y c. counterclockwise and inward
    N d. counterclockwise and outward
920: What is the average speed of the movement of a hurricane following the recurvature of its track? 

    N a. 5 to 10 knots
    Y b. 20 to 30 knots
    N c. 40 to 50 knots
    N d. Over 60 knots
922: How is the intensity of a light expressed in the Light Lists? 

    N a. Luminous range
    N b. Geographic range
    Y c. Nominal range
    N d. Meteorological range
988: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. One-half of the sky is covered with clouds, and the anemometer indicates that the apparent wind is from 340° relative at 14 knots. You are on course 307°T at 12.6 knots. How should you encode group Nddff? (D041NG )

    N a. 53414
    N b. 54013
    Y c. 42205
    N d. 43013
1042: What is the approximate geographic range of Shinnecock Light, NY, if your height of eye is 24 feet (7.3 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" . 

    N a. 8.7 nm
    N b. 9.9 nm
    N c. 14.4 nm
    Y d. 15.9 nm
1110: To make sure of getting the full advantage of a favorable current, you should reach an entrance or strait at what time in relation to the predicted time of the favorable current? 

    N a. At the predicted time
    Y b. 30 minutes before the predicted time
    N c. One hour after the predicted time
    N d. 30 minutes before flood, one hour after an ebb
1203: If the compass heading and the magnetic heading are the same then __________. 

    N a. the deviation has been offset by the variation
    N b. there is something wrong with the compass
    N c. the compass is being influenced by nearby metals
    Y d. there is no deviation on that heading
1285: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5.5 knots on course 033°T, and bears 248°T at 64 miles from you. What is the time to intercept if you make 13 knots? 

    N a. 4h 55m
    N b. 4h 36m
    N c. 3h 59m
    Y d. 3h 44m
1354: A ship is in longitude 54°00'W on a true course of 090°. 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
    Y b. 52°30'W
    N c. 60°00'W
    N d. 67°30'W
1385: What is the length of the lunar day? 

    Y a. 24h 50m 00s
    N b. 24h 00m 00s
    N c. 23h 56m 04s
    N d. 23h 03m 56s
1498: A true bearing of a charted object, when plotted on a chart, will establish a __________. 

    N a. fix
    Y b. line of position
    N c. relative bearing
    N d. range
1523: Which is a characteristic of the weather preceding an approaching warm front? 

    N a. Gusty winds
    Y b. Steadily falling barometric pressure
    N c. Decreasing relative humidity
    N d. Clearing skies
1610: When the navigational channel passes under a fixed bridge, the edges of the channel are marked on the bridge with what lights? 

    Y a. Red lights
    N b. Three white lights in a vertical line
    N c. Red lights on the LDB and green lights on the RDB
    N d. Yellow lights
1655: Yesterday your chronometer read 11h 59m 59s at the 1200 GMT time tick. Today the chronometer reads 11h 59m 57s at the 1200 time tick. What is the chronometer rate? 

    N a. +2s
    Y b. -2s
    N c. -3s
    N d. +3s
1689: The "horse latitudes" are regions of __________. 

    N a. brisk prevailing winds
    Y b. light airs and calms
    N c. abundant blue sea grass vegetation
    N d. None of the above
1709: The Beaufort scale is used to estimate the __________. 

    N a. wind direction
    N b. percentage of cloud cover
    Y c. wind speed
    N d. barometric pressure
1731: When your vessel is on or near the path of an approaching tropical storm the __________. 

    N a. wind direction remains steady
    N b. wind speed increases
    N c. barometer falls
    Y d. All of the above
1740: If you are in the dangerous semicircle of a hurricane you can expect all of the following except __________. 

    Y a. backing winds
    N b. high seas
    N c. high winds
    N d. veering winds
1812: The line of position should be plotted as a circle around the GP of the body when the Ho exceeds what minimum value? 

    N a. 80°
    N b. 83°
    N c. 85°
    Y d. 87°
1858: A white buoy with an orange cross within a diamond marked on it indicates __________. 

    N a. danger
    Y b. vessels are excluded from the area
    N c. an anchorage area
    N d. operating restrictions are in effect
2040: A vessel heading NNE is on a course of __________. 

    Y a. 022.5°
    N b. 045.0°
    N c. 067.5°
    N d. 090.0°
2181: Diagram Number D037NG represents a movable dam. If there is high water and the wickets are down so that there is an unobstructed navigable pass through the dam, what light(s) will be shown at D if the lock walls and piers are not awash? 

    Y a. One red light
    N b. Two red lights
    N c. Three red lights
    N d. No lights
2182: Diagram Number D037NG represents a movable dam. If there is high water and the wickets are down so that there is an unobstructed navigable pass through the dam, what light(s) will be shown at D if the lock walls and piers are not awash? 

    N a. No lights
    Y b. One red light
    N c. Two red lights
    N d. Three red lights
2255: The height of tide is the __________. 

    N a. depth of water at a specific time due to tidal effect
    N b. difference between the depth of the water at high tide and  the depth of the water at low tide
    N c. difference between the depth of the water and the high water tidal level
    Y d. difference between the depth of the water and the area's tidal datum
2322: You have completed the magnetic compass adjustments on magnetic east and magnetic south. The vessel is now steady on magnetic north but the compass reads 356°. Which action should be taken? 

    N a. Use the fore-and-aft magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 358°.
    Y b. Use the athwartships magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 358°.
    N c. Use the fore-and-aft magnets and adjust the compass until it reads 000°.
    N d. Use the quadrantal spheres and adjust the compass until it  reads 000°.
2369: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) CANNOT be set on a heading of magnetic east or magnetic west? 

    Y a. Heeling magnet
    N b. Flinders bar
    N c. Fore-and-aft magnets
    N d. All of the above can be set on magnetic east or magnetic west headings.
2390: You are in a channel in U.S. waters near an industrial plant with a load/discharge facility for barges. You hear a siren being sounded at the facility. What does this indicate? 

    Y a. There is danger at the facility due to a fire or cargo release.
    N b. A towboat with a hazardous cargo barge is being moved to or from the facility.
    N c. The facility is warning a barge to shut down transfer operations due to weather conditions (electrical storms, tornado, etc.).
    N d. A barge at the facility has commenced loading or discharging operations.
2454: Illustration D037NG represents a moveable dam. If the wickets are down and there are open weirs due to high water, what light(s) will be shown at C if the lock walls and piers are not awash? (D037NG )

    N a. One red light
    Y b. Two red lights
    N c. Three red lights
    N d. One amber light
2469: A tow that is properly aligned to pass through a narrow opening between two bridge piers is "________________". 

    N a. on course
    N b. headed fair
    N c. holding on
    Y d. in shape
2530: The distance between any two meridians measured along a parallel of latitude __________. 

    N a. increases in north latitude and decreases in south latitude
    N b. decreases as DLO increases
    N c. increases with increased latitude
    Y d. decreases with increased latitude
2544: At McAlpine L & D, normal upper pool elevation is 420.0 feet MSL, equal to 12.0 feet on the upper gage. The vertical clearance at the Clark Memorial Highway bridge is 72.6 feet above normal pool. What is the clearance if the gage reads 27.2 feet? 

    N a. 25.4 feet
    Y b. 57.4 feet
    N c. 60.6 feet
    N d. 72.6 feet
2576: What is the equivalent of 8 min. 56 sec. in arc units? 

    N a. 0°28'
    N b. 0°46'
    N c. 1°12'
    Y d. 2°14'
2656: What is the equivalent of 0 min. 16 sec. in arc units? 

    N a. 0°32'
    N b. 0°16'
    Y c. 0°04'
    N d. 0°01'
2928: You are in a buoyed channel at night and pass a lighted buoy with an irregular characteristic. You should report this to the __________. 

    Y a. Coast Guard
    N b. harbor master
    N c. Corps of Engineers
    N d. National Ocean Service
2929: On 29 June 1981 you observe a back sight of the lower limb of the Moon. The sextant altitude (hs) is 114°16.9'. The height of eye is 36 feet and the index error is 2.0' on the arc. The horizontal parallax is 60.5'. What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    Y a. 66°31.6'
    N b. 66°31.0'
    N c. 66°28.8'
    N d. 66°26.0'
2982: You take a bearing of 142° and 259° of two objects. What bearing of a third object will give the best fix? - 

    Y a. 019°
    N b. 084°
    N c. 166°
    N d. 281°