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?


22: Charts showing the coast of Mexico are produced by the United States __________.


66: What will a veering wind do?


90: When the moon is new or full, which type of tides occur?

    N a. Neap
    Y b. Spring
    N c. Diurnal
    N d. Apogean

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?

    N a. 219°
    Y b. 208°
    N c. 199°
    N d. 190°

113: The type of transmission used in Loran-C is a __________.

    N a. single pulse
    N b. wide pulse
    Y c. multipulse
    N d. narrow pulse

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

210: The position labeled C is a(n) __________. (D051NG )

    N a. fix
    Y b. running fix
    N c. estimated position
    N d. dead reckoning position

225: The equation of time is 8m 40s. The apparent Sun is ahead of the mean Sun. If you are on the central meridian of your time zone, the apparent Sun will cross your meridian at __________.

    Y a. 11-51-20 ZT
    N b. 12-00-00 ZT
    N c. 12-04-20 ZT
    N d. 12-08-40 ZT

407: What would be the height of the tide at Crisfield, MD, at 0310 DST (ZD +4) on 6 May 1983?

    N a. 0.1 foot
    Y b. 0.5 foot
    N c. 1.1 feet
    N d. 1.6 feet

483: Coral atolls, or a chain of islands at right angles to the radar beam, may show as a long line rather than as individual targets due to __________.

    Y a. the effects of beam width
    N b. limitations on range resolution
    N c. the pulse length of the radar
    N d. the multiple-target resolution factor

499: Which of the symbols shown represents an occluded front? (D018NG )

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

503: You are approaching a light fitted with a RACON. The light may be identified on the radar by __________.

    N a. a dashed line running from the center of the scope to the light
    N b. an audible signal when the sweep crosses the light
    N c. a circle appearing on the scope surrounding the light
    Y d. a coded signal appearing on the same bearing at a greater range than the light

564: A hygrometer is a device used for determining __________.

    N a. the absolute temperature
    N b. atmospheric pressure
    N c. wind velocity
    Y d. relative humidity

598: A great circle crosses the equator at 141°E. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?

    N a. 180°E
    N b. 41°E
    N c. 141°W
    Y d. 39°W

675: 15° of latitude is equal to __________.

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

717: Which term refers to the direction a current is flowing?

    Y a. Set
    N b. Drift
    N c. Vector direction
    N d. Stand

727: What is an ebb current?

    N a. A current at minimum flow
    N b. A current coming in
    Y c. A current going out
    N d. A current at maximum flow

727: What is an ebb current?

    N a. A current at minimum flow
    N b. A current coming in
    Y c. A current going out
    N d. A current at maximum flow

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

796: Cyclones tend to move __________.

    N a. perpendicular to the isobars in their warm sectors
    Y b. parallel to the isobars in their warm sectors
    N c. parallel to the line of the cold front
    N d. perpendicular to the line of the cold front

821: In addition to monitoring channel 16, all Corps of Engineer locks may use as working channels __________.

    N a. 06, 12 and 22A
    N b. 01A, 05A and 07A
    Y c. 12, 13 and 14
    N d. 14, 24 and 28

843: The line which connects the points of zero magnetic dip is __________.

    N a. an agonic line
    Y b. the magnetic equator
    N c. a magnetic meridian
    N d. All of the above

960: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 15 miles and a height above water of 29 feet (8.8 meters). Your height of eye is 52 feet (15.8 meters) and visibility is 6.0 miles. At which approximate range will you first sight the light?

    N a. 8.0 miles
    Y b. 11.0 miles
    N c. 14.5 miles
    N d. 16.0 miles

1052: What is the approximate geographic range of Southwest Ledge Light, Connecticut, if your height of eye is 32 feet (9.8 meters)? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS" .

    Y a. 15.5 nm
    N b. 13.4 nm
    N c. 8.7 nm
    N d. 6.9 nm

1215: Daylight savings time is a form of zone time that adopts the time __________.

    N a. two zones to the east
    N b. two zones to the west
    Y c. one zone to the east
    N d. one zone to the west

1229: The initial great circle course angle between LAT 23°00'S, LONG 42°00'W and LAT 34°00'S, LONG 18°00'E is 063.8°. What is the true course?

    N a. 063.8°T
    Y b. 116.2°T
    N c. 243.8°T
    N d. 296.2°T

1313: Variation in a compass is caused by __________.

    N a. worn gears in the compass housing
    Y b. magnetism from the earth's magnetic field
    N c. magnetism within the vessel
    N d. lack of oil in the compass bearings

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

1375: The Moon rises earlier on succeeding days when the __________.

    N a. retardation effect of the revolution of the Moon is greater than the effect due to change of declination
    Y b. effect due to change of declination is larger than that due to revolution
    N c. the revolution effect and the declination effect act in the same direction
    N d. the Moon is on the equator and the revolution effect is at a maximum

1491: You are on course 138°T. To check the latitude of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 138°
    N b. 270°
    N c. 318°
    Y d. 000°

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

1704: If the center of low pressure is due west of you in the Northern Hemisphere, which wind direction should you expect?

    N a. South to west
    Y b. South to east
    N c. West to north
    N d. North to east

1824: The 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 in the illustration? (DO36NG )

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

1898: The subregions of the United States Gulf and East Coasts are numbered 11, 12 and 13 within the chart numbering system. Which chart number indicates a chart for either the Gulf or East coast?

    N a. 14312
    N b. 25134
    N c. 21105
    Y d. 11032

2052: Under the chart numbering system used by NGA (NIMA), the first digit of a multi-digit number indicates __________.

    Y a. the general geographic area
    N b. the general scale of the chart
    N c. whether it is a major or minor chart
    N d. the projection used to construct the chart

2068: 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 D if the lock walls and piers are not awash? (D037NG )

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

2214: By convention, the Earth's south magnetic pole is colored __________.

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

2274: A vessel is heading magnetic east and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 086°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    N a. If the red ends of the magnets are to port you should lower the athwartships tray.
    N b. If the blue ends of the magnets are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should reverse the magnets.
    N c. If the red ends of the magnet are aft, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the top, you should add some more magnets.
    Y d. If the red ends of the magnets are aft you should lower the fore-and-aft tray.

2290: Magnets in the binnacles of magnetic compasses are used to reduce the effect of __________.

    Y a. deviation
    N b. variation
    N c. local attraction
    N d. All of the above

2344: The Moon is subject to four types of libration. Which of the following is NOT one of these types of libration?

    N a. Libration in latitude
    N b. Diurnal libration
    N c. Physical libration
    Y d. Horizontal libration

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.

2402: 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°. You should now adjust the compass until it reads __________.

    Y a. 358°
    N b. 000°
    N c. 002°
    N d. 004°

2442: 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 004°. You should now adjust the compass until it reads __________.

    N a. 356°
    N b. 358°
    N c. 000°
    Y d. 002°

2472: The Sun is closest to the Earth in what month?

    N a. October
    N b. July
    N c. April
    Y d. January

2538: The light characteristic of composite group flashing (2 + 1) is used in the Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers for lights on __________.

    N a. the right descending bank
    N b. the left descending bank
    Y c. preferred-channel buoys
    N d. daymarks with no lateral significance

2587: 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?

    Y a. C 166°T, Sp 24 knots
    N b. C 013°T, Sp 7 knots
    N c. C 291°T, Sp 25 knots
    N d. C 112°T, Sp 4 knots

2672: When you are steering on a pair of range lights and find the upper light is in line above the lower light, you should __________.

    Y a. continue on the present course
    N b. come left
    N c. come right
    N d. wait until the lights are no longer in a vertical line

2680: The angle measured eastward from the vernal equinox along the celestial equator often expressed in time units is the __________.

    N a. Greenwich sidereal time
    Y b. right ascension
    N c. local sidereal time
    N d. sidereal hour angle

2682: Sidereal time is used by navigators when __________.

    N a. used with the equation of time
    Y b. used in the form of LHA Aries
    N c. calculating the time of moonrise
    N d. determining local apparent time

2703: Which publication indicates the HYDROLANTS or HYDROPACS issued since the previous working day?

    N a. Broadcast Notice to Mariners
    N b. Local Notice to Mariners
    Y c. Daily Memorandum
    N d. Summary of Corrections

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

2824: When you turn on the fast time constant (differentiator) control of a radar it will __________.

    N a. enhance weak target echoes and brighten them on the PPI
    Y b. reduce clutter over the entire PPI by shortening the echoes
    N c. only suppress weak targets to a limited distance from the ship (sea clutter)
    N d. reduce the beam width to provide a map-like presentation for navigation

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

2952: The channel under a bridge is marked with lights of the lateral system. The centerline of the channel shall be marked on the bridge by __________.

    Y a. an occulting white light
    N b. a yellow light
    N c. three fixed white lights
    N d. a flashing blue light

2970: The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the left bank. This means that the light can be seen on the port side of a vessel __________.

    N a. ascending the river
    Y b. descending the river
    N c. crossing the river
    N d. proceeding from seaward

3013: A white buoy with an orange rectangle on it displays __________.

    Y a. directions
    N b. dangers
    N c. exclusion areas
    N d. All of the above

3019: Where would you find information about the time of high tide at a specific location on a particular day of the year?

    Y a. Tide Tables
    N b. Tidal Current Tables
    N c. Coast Pilot
    N d. Nautical Almanac

3118: With respect to automatic identification systems (AIS), which information is required to be broadcast every 1 to 10 seconds?

    N a. Call sign and IMO number
    Y b. Course over ground and MMSI
    N c. MMSI number and call sign
    N d. Route Plan and navigational status

3118: With respect to automatic identification systems (AIS), which information is required to be broadcast every 1 to 10 seconds?

    N a. Call sign and IMO number
    Y b. Course over ground and MMSI
    N c. MMSI number and call sign
    N d. Route Plan and navigational status