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.


30: When taking an amplitude, the Sun's center should be observed on the visible horizon when __________.


38: When navigating a vessel, you __________.


52: The reference datum used in determining the heights of land features on most charts is __________.


70: The station located at "A" is the __________. (D001NG )

    N a. on station
    N b. off station
    Y c. master station
    N d. secondary station

125: The GMT is 0445 and your zone description is +1. Your zone time is __________.

    N a. 0445
    Y b. 0345
    N c. 0545
    N d. 1545

257: Spring tides occur __________.

    N a. at the start of spring, when the Sun is nearly over the equator
    N b. only when the Sun and Moon are on the same side of the Earth and nearly in line
    N c. when the Sun and Moon are at approximately 90° to each other as seen from the Earth
    Y d. when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are nearly in line, in any order

298: A great circle crosses the equator at 173°E. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?

    Y a. 7°W
    N b. 73°E
    N c. 73°W
    N d. 173°W

328: The direction of prevailing winds in the Northern hemisphere is caused by the __________.

    N a. magnetic field at the North Pole
    N b. Gulf Stream
    Y c. Earth's rotation
    N d. Arctic cold fronts

401: You are steaming in a westerly direction along the Gulf Coast. You see ahead of you a lighted buoy showing a red isophase light. Which action should you take?

    Y a. Alter course to port and leave the buoy to starboard.
    N b. Alter course to starboard and leave the buoy to port.
    N c. Alter course and leave the buoy near by on either side.
    N d. Alter course and pass the buoy well-off on either side.

444: A sylphon cell is a part of a __________.

    N a. maximum thermometer
    Y b. barograph
    N c. thermograph
    N d. hygrometer

536: You are enroute from Puerto Rico to New York. A hurricane makes up and is approaching. If the wind veers steadily, this indicates that your vessel is __________.

    Y a. in the dangerous semicircle
    N b. in the navigable semicircle
    N c. directly in the path of the storm
    N d. in the storm center

601: White and orange buoys, if lighted, show which color light?

    Y a. White
    N b. Orange
    N c. Red
    N d. Alternating yellow and white

646: You have determined that you are in the right semicircle of a tropical cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere. What action should you take to avoid the storm?

    N a. Place the wind on the starboard quarter and hold that course.
    N b. Place the wind on the port quarter and hold that course.
    N c. Place the wind on the port bow and hold that course.
    Y d. Place the wind on the starboard bow and hold that course.

646: You have determined that you are in the right semicircle of a tropical cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere. What action should you take to avoid the storm?

    N a. Place the wind on the starboard quarter and hold that course.
    N b. Place the wind on the port quarter and hold that course.
    N c. Place the wind on the port bow and hold that course.
    Y d. Place the wind on the starboard bow and hold that course.

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

813: At the magnetic equator there is no induced magnetism in the vertical soft iron because __________.

    N a. the lines of force cross the equator on a 0°-180° alignment
    N b. the quadrantal error is 0°
    Y c. there is no vertical component of the Earth's magnetic field
    N d. the intercardinal headings have less than 1° error

837: The Brazil Current flows in which general direction?

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

858: Your ship is proceeding on course 320°T at a speed of 25 knots. The apparent wind is from 30° off the starboard bow, speed 32 knots. What is the relative direction, true direction and speed of the true wind?

    Y a. Relative 80°true 040°T, 16.2 knots
    N b. Relative 40°true 080°T, 16.4 knots
    N c. Relative 80° true 060°T, 15.2 knots
    N d. Relative 60°true 040°T, 18.6 knots

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

882: Some lights used as aids to marine navigation have a red sector to indicate a danger area. The limits of a colored sector of a light are listed in the Light List in which of the following manners?

    N a. Geographical positions outlining the area of the sector
    Y b. True bearings as observed from the ship toward the light
    N c. An outline of the area of the sector
    N d. True bearings as observed from the light toward the ship

936: A cyclone in its final stage of development is called a(n) __________.

    N a. tornado
    N b. anticyclone
    Y c. occluded cyclone or occluded front
    N d. polar cyclone

976: The atmosphere in the vicinity of a high pressure area is called a(n) __________.

    Y a. anticyclone
    N b. cold front
    N c. occluded front
    N d. cyclone

989: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 18 miles and a height above water of 22 feet (6.7 meters). Your height of eye is 16 feet (4.9 meters) and the visibility is 2.0 miles. At which approximate range will you first sight the light?

    N a. 2.0 miles
    N b. 2.7 miles
    N c. 4.2 miles
    Y d. 5.8 miles

1033: Deviation which is maximum on intercardinal compass headings may be removed by the __________.

    N a. Flinders bar
    N b. transverse magnets
    N c. fore-and-aft magnets
    Y d. soft iron spheres on the sides of the compass

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

1165: Which statement concerning the chartlet is TRUE? (Soundings and heights are in meters) (D010NG )

    N a. Maury lightship is visible for 17 miles.
    Y b. There is a dangerous eddy southeast of Beito Island.
    N c. There is a 12-meter deep west of Beito Island and inside the 5-meter line.
    N d. The bottom to the south-southeast of the lightship is soft coral.

1262: A safe water daymark has what shape?

    N a. Triangular
    N b. Diamond
    N c. Circular
    Y d. Octagonal

1314: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which of these symbols indicates hail? (D042NG )

    N a. N
    Y b. H
    N c. Q
    N d. F

1353: The difference in degrees between true north and magnetic north is called __________.

    Y a. variation
    N b. deviation
    N c. drift
    N d. compass error

1364: The Sailing Directions are published in the Enroute format and the __________.

    N a. Coastal editions
    N b. World Port Index
    N c. Pilot format
    Y d. Planning Guide

1427: Determine the duration of the first PM slack water on 3 March 1983, east of the Statue of Liberty, when the current is less than 0.1 knot?

    N a. 10 minutes
    Y b. 13 minutes
    N c. 16 minutes
    N d. 19 minutes

1457: What is the period of time from around 1008 DST (ZD +4) at Canapitsit Channel, MA, on 7 August 1983, in which the current does not exceed 0.4 knot?

    N a. 0945 to 1031
    N b. 0950 to 1026
    Y c. 0955 to 1021
    N d. 1000 to 1024

1470: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. Which symbol indicates a hurricane? (D042NG )

    N a. M
    N b. I
    N c. L
    Y d. K

1471: A mountain peak charted at 700 feet breaks the horizon, and your height of eye is 12 feet. What is your approximate distance off (choose closest answer)?

    Y a. 34.7 nm
    N b. 40.3 nm
    N c. 55.3 nm
    N d. 61.6 nm

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

1648: A sign of thunderstorm development is a cumulus cloud __________.

    N a. darkening, growing in size and forming an anvil top
    N b. that shows extensive vertical development
    N c. creating cold downdrafts that are felt on the ground
    Y d. All of the above

1688: Which type of front forms when a cold front overtakes and forces a warm front upwards?

    N a. A cold front
    Y b. An occluded front
    N c. A warm front
    N d. A stationary front

1710: A gale is characterized by a wind speed of __________.

    N a. 10 to 20 knots
    Y b. 34 to 47 knots
    N c. 48 to 63 knots
    N d. 64 to 83 knots

1750: Clearance gauges at bridges indicate __________.

    N a. the height of the tide
    N b. depth of water under the bridge
    N c. charted vertical clearance at mean low water
    Y d. distance from the water to low steel of the bridge

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"

1866: What term is used to describe a tank barge constructed with the structural framing inside the cargo tank and the side shell plating containing the cargo?

    Y a. Single hull
    N b. Shell plated
    N c. Hopper type
    N d. Independent tank

1970: The azimuth angle of a sun sight is always measured from the __________.

    N a. Greenwich meridian
    N b. prime vertical circle
    Y c. principal vertical circle
    N d. first point of Aries

2061: Fog is likely to occur when there is little difference between the dew point and the __________.

    N a. relative humidity
    Y b. air temperature
    N c. barometric pressure
    N d. absolute humidity

2072: The Illustration represents a movable dam. If a bear trap is open what will be displayed at the lock to indicate this condition? (D037NG )

    Y a. An amber light under a red light
    N b. A white square
    N c. A green triangle
    N d. A yellow pentagon

2142: Which lights would you see on the Illinois waterway 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 amber (yellow)
    Y b. Red over amber (yellow)
    N c. Red over blue
    N d. Green over red

2165: The illustration 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? (D037NG )

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

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

2243: Which aid is NOT marked on a chart with a magenta circle?

    N a. Radar station
    N b. Radar transponder beacon
    Y c. Aero light
    N d. Radio beacon

2332: Magnetic dip is a measurement of the angle between the __________.

    N a. geographic pole and the magnetic pole
    N b. lubber's line and true north
    Y c. horizontal and the magnetic line of force
    N d. compass heading and the magnetic heading

2432: A time diagram is a diagram of the celestial sphere as observed from above the __________.

    Y a. south celestial pole
    N b. north celestial pole
    N c. observer's meridian
    N d. Greenwich meridian

2432: A time diagram is a diagram of the celestial sphere as observed from above the __________.

    Y a. south celestial pole
    N b. north celestial pole
    N c. observer's meridian
    N d. Greenwich meridian

2450: You are on course 180°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 225°. What is the true bearing of the lighthouse?

    Y a. 045°
    N b. 135°
    N c. 180°
    N d. 270°

2527: In the doldrums you can expect __________.

    N a. steady, constant winds
    Y b. frequent rain showers and thunderstorms
    N c. steep pressure gradients
    N d. low relative humidity

2659: IN REGION A of the IALA Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, the port side of a channel would be marked by a __________.

    N a. black can buoy
    N b. red conical buoy
    N c. black conical buoy
    Y d. red can buoy

2673: A bluff bar is a bar __________.

    N a. extending out from a bluff alongside the river
    N b. that tends to give a false indication of its position
    Y c. that has a sharp drop off into deep water
    N d. that is perpendicular to the current

3057: IN REGION A of the IALA Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, the starboard side of a channel would be marked by a __________.

    Y a. green conical buoy
    N b. green can buoy
    N c. red can buoy
    N d. red conical buoy

3072: ECDIS must give an alarm for which of the following cases?

    N a. When the specified limit for deviation from the planned route is exceeded
    N b. If the ship, within a specified time set by the watch officer, is going to cross a safety contour
    N c. If the ship, within a specified time set by the watch officer, is going to cross the boundary of a prohibited area
    Y d. All of the above

3077: ECDIS must have the capability to preserve the record of the voyage track for the previous __________.

    N a. 4 hours
    N b. 6 hours
    Y c. 12 hours
    N d. 24 hours

3084: An ECDIS is required to display which information?

    Y a. Soundings
    N b. Waypoints
    N c. Meteorological data
    N d. Radar targets

3094: ECDIS must have the capability to preserve the record of the track for the previous __________.

    Y a. 12 hours
    N b. 24 hours
    N c. 48 hours
    N d. 72 hours