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.


71: A preferred-channel buoy may be __________.


78: A single line of position combined with a dead-reckoning position results in a(n) __________.


187: Which statement is TRUE concerning apogean tides?


204: Because of the reflecting properties of a sextant, if the sextant altitude reads 60° on the limb, the actual arc of the limb from 0° to the 60° reading is __________.

    N a. 20°
    Y b. 30°
    N c. 40°
    N d. 60°

206: The winds you would expect to encounter in the North Atlantic between latitudes 5° and 30° are known as the __________.

    N a. doldrums
    N b. westerlies
    Y c. trades
    N d. easterlies

209: The West Wind Drift is located __________.

    Y a. near 60°S
    N b. on each side of the Equatorial Current
    N c. in the North Atlantic between Greenland and Europe
    N d. in the South Pacific near 5°S

226: What winds blow towards the equator from the area about 30° north?

    N a. Prevailing westerlies
    N b. Roaring thirties
    N c. Equatorial flow
    Y d. Northeast trades

267: 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. The range continues to open. What action should you take? (D047NG )

    N a. Alter course to the right to 309°T or more to bring the range in line.
    Y b. Alter course to the left until the range closes, then steer to the left of 306°T.
    N c. Alter course to the left to close the range, then alter course to 309°T.
    N d. Maintain course as it is normal for the range to open as you get close.

290: The true wind is from 330°T, speed 6 knots. You want the apparent wind to be 30 knots from 10° on your port bow. To what course and speed must you change?

    N a. Cn 240°, 28.0 knots
    N b. Cn 270°, 28.0 knots
    N c. Cn 180°, 30.0 knots
    Y d. Cn 090°, 32.5 knots

384: Which is a nonadjustable error of the sextant?

    N a. Error of perpendicularity
    N b. Side error
    N c. Error of collimation
    Y d. Centering error

395: If the Sun's observed altitude is 27°12', the zenith distance is __________.

    Y a. 62°48'
    N b. 27°12'
    N c. 152°48'
    N d. 43°12'

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

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

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.

541: A yellow buoy may mark a(n) __________.

    N a. wreck
    N b. shoal area
    Y c. anchorage area
    N d. middle ground

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

606: Early indications of the approach of a hurricane may be all of the following EXCEPT __________.

    Y a. short confused swells
    N b. gradually increasing white clouds (mare's tails)
    N c. pumping barometer
    N d. continuous fine mist-like rain

730: In the Northern Hemisphere, the largest waves or swells created by a typhoon or hurricane will be located __________.

    N a. in the southeast quadrant of the storm
    N b. directly behind the storm center
    Y c. forward and to the right of its course
    N d. behind and to the left of its course

746: Lines drawn through points on the Earth having the same atmospheric pressure are known as __________.

    N a. isothermal
    N b. millibars
    Y c. isobars
    N d. seismics

793: The permanent magnetism of a vessel may change in strength due to __________.

    N a. a collision with another vessel
    N b. being moored on a constant heading for a long period of time
    N c. being struck by lightning
    Y d. All of the above

820: A position obtained by crossing lines of position taken at different times and advanced to a common time is a(n) __________.

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

1009: You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. The dry bulb thermometer reads 34°F, and the wet bulb thermometer reads 31°F. Using the ships code card, how would you encode the air temperature groups in the report? (D041NG )

    N a. 10340, 2127/
    N b. 10111, 2104/
    Y c. 10011, 2104/
    N d. 10340, 2031/

1016: A source of an air mass labeled mTw is __________.

    N a. the equator
    Y b. the Gulf of Mexico
    N c. Alaska
    N d. Canada

1178: The range of tide is the __________.

    N a. distance the tide moves out from the shore
    Y b. difference between the heights of high and low tide
    N c. duration of time between the high and low tide
    N d. maximum depth of the water at high tide

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)

1260: On 26 February 1983, at 1750 EST (ZD +5) what will be the predicted height of tide at New Haven (city dock), CT?

    N a. -.3 foot (-0.1 meter)
    Y b. -.6 foot (-0.2 meter)
    N c. 1.3 feet (0.4 meter)
    N d. 1.6 feet (0.5 meter)

1293: Deviation is caused by __________.

    N a. changes in the earth's magnetic field
    N b. nearby magnetic land masses or mineral deposits
    Y c. magnetic influence inherent to that particular vessel
    N d. the magnetic lines of force not coinciding with the lines of longitude

1368: What area of the earth cannot be shown on a standard Mercator chart?

    N a. Equator
    N b. Areas including both North and South latitudes
    Y c. North and South Poles
    N d. A narrow band along the central meridian.

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

1419: The MOST important feature of the material used for making the binnacle of a standard magnetic compass is that it is __________.

    Y a. nonmagnetic
    N b. weatherproof
    N c. corrosion resistant
    N d. capable of being permanently affixed to the vessel

1473: Which statement about gyrocompass error is TRUE?

    Y a. The amount of the error and the sign will generally be the same on all headings.
    N b. The sign (E or W) of the error will change with different headings of the ship.
    N c. Any error will remain constant unless the compass is stopped and restarted.
    N d. Any error shown by a gyro repeater will be the same as the error of the master compass.

1496: In a microbarograph, the pen should be checked and the inkwell filled __________.

    Y a. each time the chart is changed
    N b. once per month
    N c. once per week
    N d. daily

1509: Your facsimile prognostic chart indicates that you will cross the cold front of a low pressure system in about 24 hours. You should __________.

    N a. expect to see cirrus clouds followed by altostratus and nimbostratus clouds
    N b. alter course to remain in the navigable semicircle
    Y c. prepare for gusty winds, thunderstorms, and a sudden wind shift
    N d. expect clear weather, with steady winds and pressure, until the front passes

1512: You are plotting a running fix. The LOP to be run forward is an arc from a radar range, what technique should be used?

    N a. The arc should be converted into a straight line using offsets and then run forward.
    N b. An arc should never be run forward.
    Y c. The position of the object observed should be advanced to the new time and a new arc swung using the radius of the old arc.
    N d. The distance between LOP's should be added to the radar range and a new arc swung.

1548: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "K" represents a __________. (D042NG )

    Y a. hurricane
    N b. thunderstorm
    N c. convergence zone
    N d. convergence line

1561: You are sailing south on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) when you sight a red nun buoy with a yellow square painted on it. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The buoy is off station and should be ignored as a navigational mark.
    N b. The waterway in that area has shoaled and the available depth of water is less than the project depth.
    N c. ICW traffic should not proceed beyond the buoy unless the crossing waterway is clear of all traffic.
    Y d. You should leave the buoy to port.

1618: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 14 miles and is 26 feet high. If the visibility is 4 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet, at what approximate distance will you sight the light?

    Y a. 7.5 miles
    N b. 9.6 miles
    N c. 11.2 miles
    N d. 14.0 miles

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

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

1759: Which magnetic compass corrector(s) can be set while the vessel is on a heading of magnetic north or magnetic south?

    N a. Quadrantal spheres
    Y b. Heeling magnets
    N c. Flinders bar
    N d. Fore-and-aft magnets

1826: 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 D in the illustration? (D036NG )

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

2110: You are underway in a vessel with a draft of 6.0 feet. You are in an area where the charted depth of the water is 4 fathoms. You would expect the depth of water beneath your keel to be approximately __________.

    N a. 12 feet
    Y b. 18 feet
    N c. 24 feet
    N d. 30 feet

2150: On a Mercator chart, 1 nautical mile is equal to __________.

    N a. 1 minute of longitude
    N b. 1 degree of longitude
    Y c. 1 minute of latitude
    N d. 1 degree of latitude

2160: Information for updating nautical charts is primarily found in the __________.

    Y a. Notice to Mariners
    N b. Coast Pilots
    N c. nautical chart catalogs
    N d. Sailing Directions

2178: The Flinders bar and the quadrantal spheres should be tested for permanent magnetism at what interval?

    N a. They are not subject to permanent magnetism; no check is necessary.
    N b. Semiannually
    Y c. Annually
    N d. Every five years

2248: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 356°. 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 raise the athwartships tray.
    N b. If the red ends of the magnets are to port, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should add some more magnets.
    N c. If the red ends of the magnets are to starboard you should lower the athwartships tray.
    Y d. If the red ends of the magnets are to starboard, and the athwartships tray is at the top, you should add some more magnets.

2276: A vessel is heading magnetic east and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 086°. Which action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    Y a. If the blue ends of the magnets are aft, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the top, you should add some magnets.
    N b. If the blue ends of the magnets are aft you should lower the fore-and-aft tray.
    N c. If the blue ends of the magnets are aft, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the top, you should reverse the magnets.
    N d. If the blue ends of the magnets are forward, and the fore-and-aft tray is at the bottom, you should add some magnets.

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.

2420: You are on course 355°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 275°. What is the true bearing of the lighthouse?

    N a. 080°
    N b. 085°
    N c. 280°
    Y d. 270°

2574: What is the equivalent of 2°52' in time units?

    N a. 9 min. 23 sec.
    Y b. 11 min. 28 sec.
    N c. 11 min. 56 sec.
    N d. 12 min. 18 sec.

2709: Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, when entering from seaward a lateral system buoy to be left to port may display which of the topmarks shown? (D046NG )

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

2766: In low latitudes, the high(s) of the diurnal variation of pressure occur(s) at __________.

    N a. noon
    N b. noon and midnight
    Y c. 1000 and 2200
    N d. 1600

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

3006: You are outbound in a channel marked by a range astern. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 127°T and have the range in sight as shown. What action should you take? (D047NG )

    N a. Come right to 129°T.
    N b. Come left until the range comes in line then alter course to 129°T.
    N c. Come left until the range comes in line then alter course to 125°T.
    Y d. Come right to close the range then when on the range steer 129°T.

3009: "Proceeding from seaward" for the purpose of the direction of buoying offshore, lateral system buoys would be proceeding __________.

    N a. northerly on the Atlantic Coast
    N b. easterly on the Gulf Coast
    Y c. northerly on the Pacific Coast
    N d. None of the above

3025: You determine your vessel's position by taking a range and bearing to a buoy. Your position will be plotted as a(n) __________.

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

3068: Which of the following data layer categories is NOT displayed on ECDIS?

    N a. Notice to Mariners information
    N b. ECDIS warnings and messages
    Y c. Ship hydrodynamic information
    N d. Hydrographic Office data

3090: NOAA VHF weather reports are continuously broadcast on VHF channels WX-1, WX-2 and WX-3 on a frequency of __________.

    N a. 156.8, 157.1, 162.55 MHz
    N b. 162.55, 162.00, 171.5 KHz
    Y c. 162.55, 162.40, 162.475 MHz
    N d. 2182, 2638, 2670 KHz

3125: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?

    N a. AIS is designed to replace ARPA, maneuvering boards, and visual bearings as a means to ascertain the risk of collision.
    Y b. AIS provides near real-time information regarding another vessel's speed over ground and heading regardless of visibility.
    N c. AIS will not provide information on another vessel if that vessel is indistinguishable in radar sea clutter.
    N d. AIS can be relied upon as the sole means to determine course changes due to other AIS equipped traffic.

3129: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS) ?

    Y a. The master may, at his/her discretion, turn off the AIS if he/she believes that it may compromise the safety or security of the vessel.
    N b. Under no circumstances shall AIS be turned off while underway as this could endanger the vessel and those around her.
    N c. AIS is always required to be operating if the vessel is in or in the vicinity of a VTS area.
    N d. AIS is always required to be operating if the vessel is within 100 nautical miles of the coastline.