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.


20: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 120°T, 110 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285°T at 25 knots. If you maneuver at 12 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA?


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


164: The part of a sextant mounted directly over the pivot of the index arm is the __________.


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

235: When the equation of time is taken from the Nautical Almanac for use in celestial navigation, it is used to determine __________.

    N a. zone time
    N b. sunrise
    Y c. time of local apparent noon
    N d. local mean time

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

370: Prevailing winds between 30°N and 60°N latitude are from the __________.

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

375: If the Sun's observed altitude is 47°50', the zenith distance is __________.

    Y a. 42°10'
    N b. 42°50'
    N c. 47°50'
    N d. 132°10'

412: If you were sailing in the North Pacific and were interested in the ice and iceberg limits, you could find this information in the __________.

    Y a. Pilot Chart
    N b. Coast Pilot
    N c. Notice to Mariners
    N d. None of the above

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

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

426: The wind speed and direction observed from a moving vessel is known as __________.

    N a. coordinate wind
    N b. true wind
    Y c. apparent wind
    N d. anemometer wind

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

449: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5 knots on course 063°T, and bears 136°T at 78 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 13 knots to intercept vessel A?

    N a. 340°
    N b. 295°
    N c. 158°
    Y d. 114°

466: In the relatively calm area near the hurricane center, the seas are __________.

    N a. moderate but easily navigated
    N b. calm
    Y c. mountainous and confused
    N d. mountainous but fairly regular as far as direction is concerned

534: What is TRUE concerning an anemometer on a moving vessel?

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

542: The only cylindrical chart projection widely used for navigation is the __________.

    N a. Lambert conformal
    Y b. Mercator
    N c. azimuthal
    N d. gnomonic

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

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

574: If your mercurial barometer reads 30.50 inches (1033 millibars) and the temperature is 56°F (13°C), what is the correct reading at 55°N, 150°W?

    N a. 30.42 inches (1030 millibars)
    Y b. 30.45 inches (1031 millibars)
    N c. 30.50 inches (1032 millibars)
    N d. 30.53 inches (1033 millibars)

588: You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 10 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 100°T, 90 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285°T at 19 knots. If you maneuver at 10 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA?

    N a. 39 miles
    N b. 45 miles
    Y c. 53 miles
    N d. 59 miles

643: When using the radar for navigating __________.

    N a. the best fix is obtained by using a tangent bearing and a range
    N b. and using two radar ranges for a fix, the objects of the ranges should be close to reciprocal bearings
    Y c. and using ranges, the most rapidly changing range should be measured last
    N d. and crossing a radar range of one object with the visual bearing of a second object, the two objects should be 80° to 110° apart

669: It is desirable that a vessel encountering hurricane or typhoon conditions sends weather reports to the closest meteorological service at least every __________.

    N a. hour
    Y b. 3 hours
    N c. 6 hours
    N d. 8 hours

782: Mariners are FIRST warned of serious defects or important changes to aids to navigation by means of __________.

    Y a. marine broadcast Notice to Mariners
    N b. Weekly Notices to Mariners
    N c. corrected editions of charts
    N d. Light Lists

798: A HYDROLANT warning would normally be sent for all of the following EXCEPT __________.

    Y a. extinguishment of Robbins Reef Light in New York City's Upper Bay
    N b. unexploded ordinance in ocean waters at a depth of 78 fathoms (143 meters)
    N c. the presence of a large unwieldy tow in congested offshore water
    N d. a report of an overdue ship

812: You are informed of defects or changes in aids to navigation by __________.

    N a. Local Notice to Mariners
    N b. Weekly Notice to Mariners
    N c. marine broadcasts
    Y d. All of the above

909: What is the average speed of movement of a hurricane prior to recurvature?

    N a. 4 to 6 knots
    N b. 6 to 8 knots
    Y c. 10 to 12 knots
    N d. 15 to 20 knots

909: What is the average speed of movement of a hurricane prior to recurvature?

    N a. 4 to 6 knots
    N b. 6 to 8 knots
    Y c. 10 to 12 knots
    N d. 15 to 20 knots

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

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

964: The thin, whitish, high clouds composed of ice crystals, popularly known as "mares' tails" are __________.

    Y a. cirrus
    N b. cirrocumulus
    N c. altostratus
    N d. nimbostratus

997: A coastal current __________.

    N a. is generated by waves striking the beach
    Y b. flows outside the surf zone
    N c. flows in a circular pattern
    N d. is also known as a longshore current

1024: The dew point is reached when the __________.

    N a. temperature of the air equals the temperature of the seawater
    N b. atmospheric pressure is 14.7 lbs. per square inch
    N c. relative humidity reaches 50%
    Y d. air becomes saturated with water vapor

1149: You are entering port and have been instructed to anchor, as your berth is not yet available. You are on a SW'ly heading, preparing to drop anchor, when you observe the range lights, as shown, on your starboard beam. You should __________. (D047NG )

    Y a. ensure your ship will NOT block the channel or obstruct the range while at anchor
    N b. drop the anchor immediately as the range lights mark an area free of obstructions
    N c. drop the anchor immediately as a change in the position of the range lights will be an indication of dragging anchor
    N d. NOT drop the anchor until the lights are in line

1195: 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
    N b. fix
    Y c. estimated position
    N d. None of the above

1221: On a chart, the characteristic of the light on a lighthouse is shown as flashing white with a red sector. The red sector __________.

    N a. indicates the limits of the navigable channel
    Y b. indicates a danger area
    N c. is used to identify the characteristics of the light
    N d. serves no significant purpose

1428: The speed of sound in water is approximately __________.

    N a. 1.5 times its speed in air
    N b. 2.5 times its speed in air
    N c. 3.5 times its speed in air
    Y d. 4.5 times its speed in air

1445: The planet Mars will have its greatest magnitude when at __________.

    N a. conjunction
    Y b. opposition
    N c. east quadrature
    N d. west quadrature

1480: What is the definition of height of tide?

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

1586: A green buoy has a yellow triangle on it. This is a(n) __________.

    N a. information or regulatory buoy that has lateral significance
    N b. buoy that is off-station and is marked to warn mariners of its wrong position
    Y c. dual purpose marking used where the ICW and other waterways coincide
    N d. buoy that was set in error and will be replaced with a red nun buoy

1613: Where would you find information concerning the duration of slack water?

    N a. Tide Tables
    Y b. Tidal Current Tables
    N c. American Practical Navigator
    N d. Sailing Directions

1615: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which symbol indicates snow? (D042NG )

    N a. G
    N b. H
    Y c. M
    N d. N

1617: The inner cloud bands of a hurricane, when viewed from a distance, form a mass of dense, black cumulonimbus clouds called the __________.

    Y a. bar of the storm
    N b. eye of the storm
    N c. funnel
    N d. front

1784: If your vessel were proceeding down river (descending), a green square marker with a green reflector border on the right bank would be a __________.

    N a. mile board
    N b. dredging mark
    Y c. passing daymark
    N d. crossing daymark

1836: At evening stars, the first stars that should be observed are those with an azimuth in what quadrant?

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

1920: Because the actual center of some planets may differ from the observed center, the navigator applies a correction known as the __________.

    Y a. phase correction
    N b. refraction correction
    N c. semidiameter correction
    N d. augmentation correction

2056: This illustration represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter C? (D038NG )

    N a. One red light
    Y b. Two green lights
    N c. Three green lights
    N d. No lights

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

2146: What lights would you see on the Illinois water way when any wickets of the dam or bear traps are open, or partially open, which may cause a set in the current conditions in the upper lock approach?

    N a. Green over red
    N b. Red over blue
    Y c. Red over amber (yellow)
    N d. None of the above

2166: 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 B if the lock walls and piers are not awash?

    N a. One amber light
    Y b. Three red lights
    N c. Two red lights
    N d. One red light

2239: A flashing green light displayed at a single lock means that the lock is __________.

    Y a. ready for entrance
    N b. ready for entrance, but gates cannot be closed completely
    N c. being made ready for entrance
    N d. not ready for entrance

2338: A group of stars which appear close together and form a striking configuration such as a person or animal is a __________.

    N a. cluster
    N b. shower
    Y c. constellation
    N d. galaxy

2438: The radar control that reduces weak echoes out to a limited distance from the ship is the __________.

    Y a. sensitivity time control (sea-clutter control)
    N b. receiver gain control
    N c. brilliance control
    N d. fast time constant (differentiator)

2460: You are on course 344°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 270°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?

    N a. 016°
    N b. 074°
    N c. 090°
    Y d. 254°

2540: The distance between any two meridians measured along a parallel of latitude and expressed in miles is the __________.

    N a. difference in longitude
    N b. mid-longitude
    Y c. departure
    N d. meridian angle

2738: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ship's fog horn 3 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?

    N a. 1100 yards
    N b. 872 yards
    Y c. 550 yards
    N d. 792 yards

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

2868: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 306°T and have the range in sight as shown. Which action should you take? (D048NG )

    N a. Continue on the present heading until the range is in line then alter course to the right.
    Y b. Immediately alter course to the right to bring the range in line.
    N c. Immediately alter course to the left to bring the range in line.
    N d. Immediately alter course to 309°T if the range is closing.

2878: 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?

    N a. C 356°T, Sp 5 knots
    N b. C 099°T, Sp 17 knots
    Y c. C 192°T, Sp 23 knots
    N d. C 278°T, Sp 6 knots

3031: Which symbol would indicate a large automated navigational buoy, such as those that have replaced some lightships? (D015NG )

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

3101: The typical operating range of automatic identification systems (AIS) at sea is nominally __________.

    N a. 2 nm
    N b. 8 nm
    Y c. 20 nm
    N d. 40 nm