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.


58: You should plot your dead reckoning position __________.


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


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


148: When possible, a DR plot should always be started from where?

    N a. Any position
    Y b. A known position
    N c. An assumed position
    N d. None of the above

229: The shoreline on charts generally represents the mean __________.

    Y a. high water line
    N b. low water line
    N c. low water spring line
    N d. tide level

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

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

323: The position accuracy of Loran-C degrades with increasing distance from the transmitting stations as __________.

    N a. gains are made over the signal path
    Y b. a result of variation in propagation conditions
    N c. the frequency of the pulses increases
    N d. the stations shift pulses

475: A correction for augmentation is included in the Nautical Almanac corrections for __________.

    N a. the Sun
    Y b. the Moon
    N c. Venus
    N d. None of the above

505: The error in the measurement of the altitude of a celestial body, caused by refraction, increases as the __________.

    N a. horizontal parallax decreases
    N b. observer's height above sea level increases
    N c. humidity of the atmosphere decreases
    Y d. altitude of the body decreases

619: According to Buys Ballot's Law, when an observer in the Southern Hemisphere experiences a northwest wind, the center of the low pressure is located to the __________.

    N a. east-northeast
    Y b. south-southwest
    N c. east-southeast
    N d. west-southwest

697: The set of the current is the __________.

    N a. speed of the current at a particular time
    N b. maximum speed of the current
    N c. direction from which the current flows
    Y d. direction in which the current flows

711: In the IALA Maritime Buoyage System, a red and white vertically-striped buoy is used as a(n) __________.

    Y a. safe water mark
    N b. cardinal mark
    N c. isolated danger mark
    N d. special mark not primarily used for navigation

897: What current flows southward along the west coast of the United States and causes extensive fog in that area?

    N a. Davidson Current
    N b. North Pacific Current
    N c. Alaska Current
    Y d. California Current

965: In order for a star to be used for a sight at lower transit, the star must __________.

    Y a. be circumpolar
    N b. have a declination equal to or greater than your latitude
    N c. have a GHA of 180°
    N d. have the SHA equal to or less than the LHA

985: A time diagram is a diagram on the plane of the __________.

    N a. celestial meridian
    Y b. celestial equator
    N c. celestial horizon
    N d. principal vertical circle

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

1082: Northern right whales can be identified by __________.

    N a. whitish patches of skin on top of the head
    N b. "V" shaped blow easily visible from ahead or behind
    N c. no dorsal fin on the back
    Y d. All of the above

1109: You are on course 146°T. To check the speed of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 000°
    N b. 056°
    N c. 090°
    Y d. 146°

1139: A star is observed at lower transit. The line of position derived from this sight is __________.

    N a. on the prime vertical
    Y b. a latitude line
    N c. a longitude line
    N d. of no special significance

1188: The magnitude of three stars is indicated. Which star is the brightest?

    N a. Antares + 1.2
    N b. Altair + 0.9
    Y c. Vega + 0.1
    N d. Cannot be determined; magnitude indicates size not brightness

1223: The difference between magnetic heading and compass heading is called __________.

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

1279: For 3 November 1983, at 0830 EST (ZD +5) at Catskill, NY, what is the predicted height of tide?

    N a. +0.1 foot (+0.0 m)
    Y b. -0.6 foot (-0.2 m)
    N c. +0.9 foot (+0.3 m)
    N d. -1.3 feet (-0.4 m)

1356: The first indications a mariner will have of the approach of a warm front will be __________.

    N a. large cumulonimbus (thunderclouds) building up
    Y b. high cirrus clouds gradually changing to cirrostratus and then to altostratus
    N c. fog caused by the warm air passing over the cooler water
    N d. low dark clouds accompanied by intermittent rain

1484: You should plot your dead reckoning position at __________.

    N a. every fix or running fix
    N b. every course change
    N c. every speed change
    Y d. All of the above are correct.

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

1500: In what order should the following sextant adjustments be made? I. Make telescope parallel to frame of sextant. II. Set horizon glass perpendicular to frame of sextant. III. Make index mirror and horizon glass parallel when index arm is set at zero. IV. Set index mirror perpendicular to frame of sextant.

    N a. I, II, III, IV
    N b. I, IV, II, III
    N c. III, II, IV, I
    Y d. IV, II, III, I

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.

1530: In shallow water, waves that are too steep to be stable, causing the crests to move forward faster than the rest of the wave, are called __________.

    N a. rollers
    Y b. breakers
    N c. white caps
    N d. surfers

1537: Which sextant in illustration D043NG reads 29°47.5'? (D043NG )

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

1540: You are sailing south on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) when you sight a green can buoy with a yellow square painted on it. Which of the following is TRUE?

    N a. You should pass the buoy close aboard on either side.
    N b. The buoy marks the end of the ICW in that area.
    Y c. You should leave the buoy to port.
    N d. The yellow square is retroreflective material used to assist in sighting the buoy at night.

1787: What indicates that a tropical cyclone may be within 500 to 1,000 miles of your position?

    Y a. A pumping of the barometer up and down a few millibars
    N b. A sudden wind shift from southwest to northwest followed by steadily increasing winds
    N c. The normal swell pattern becoming confused, with the length of the swell increasing
    N d. An overcast sky with steadily increasing rain from nimbostratus clouds

1868: Illustration D036NG represents a fixed C of E lock and dam. What navigational light(s) is(are) exhibited at the position indicated by the letter A in the illustration? (D036NG )

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

1879: A chart projection depicting the poles and a small area on either side of a connecting meridian, that is sometimes used for star charts, is the __________.

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

1879: A chart projection depicting the poles and a small area on either side of a connecting meridian, that is sometimes used for star charts, is the __________.

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

2082: You are holding position above Gallipolis Lock and Dam when you hear two long blasts of the horn from the lock. This indicates that you should __________.

    Y a. enter the riverward lock
    N b. hold position until two more upbound tows have locked through
    N c. enter the landward lock
    N d. hold position until the lower gates are closed

2099: You are inbound in a channel marked by a range. The range line is 309°T. You are steering 306°T. The range appears as shown and is closing. Which action should you take? (D047NG )

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

2100: You are underway in a vessel with a draft of 7.0 feet (2.1 meters). The charted depth for your position is 9 fathoms. You compute the height of tide to be +3.0 feet (0.9 meters). You determine the depth of the water beneath your keel to be __________.

    N a. 32 feet (9.8 meters)
    N b. 41 feet (12.6 meters)
    Y c. 50 feet (15.3 meters)
    N d. 64 feet (19.6 meters)

2171: 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
    N b. One red light
    N c. Two red lights
    Y d. Three red lights

2179: A vessel is heading magnetic northwest and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 312°. The quadrantal spheres are arranged athwartships. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    N a. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way in, replace them with larger ones.
    N b. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way out, remove one of the spheres.
    N c. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way out, move the spheres in.
    Y d. If the quadrantal spheres are all of the way out, replace them with smaller spheres.

2210: A dead reckoning (DR) plot __________.

    Y a. ignores the effect of surface currents
    N b. is most useful when in sight of land
    N c. must be plotted using magnetic courses
    N d. may be started at an assumed position

2236: Which is TRUE of a downbound power-driven vessel, when meeting an upbound vessel on the Western Rivers?

    N a. She has the right of way.
    N b. She shall propose the manner of passage.
    N c. She shall initiate the maneuvering signals.
    Y d. All of the above

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

2306: In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light with 9 flashes every 15 seconds. Which of the four topmarks shown would be fitted to the buoy? (D031NG )

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

2312: Mars is only seen at two phases, one of which __________.

    Y a. is the full phase
    N b. is conjunction
    N c. occurs only at sunset or sunrise
    N d. occurs at or near 0° elongation

2429: The lock chamber is 600 feet X 110 feet. Your towboat is 150 feet X 35 feet. Which of these tows will require a double lockage?

    N a. A set-over single
    N b. 4 standard barges abreast next to your boat's head and 3 jumbo abreast in the lead
    N c. 6 jumbo (3 abreast and 2 long) with a standard on each side of your boat
    Y d. 9 jumbo barges

2430: You are on course 222°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 025°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?

    N a. 197°
    Y b. 247°
    N c. 315°
    N d. 335°

2440: You are on course 357°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 180°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?

    N a. 003°
    N b. 227°
    Y c. 177°
    N d. 363°

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°

2480: You are on course 277°T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 045°. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse?

    N a. 038°
    N b. 232°
    N c. 315°
    Y d. 322°

2525: Daylight savings time is a form of zone time that adopts the time __________.

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

2650: In the celestial equator system of coordinates what is equivalent to the colatitude of the Earth system of coordinates?

    N a. Coaltitude
    N b. Zenith distance
    Y c. Polar distance
    N d. Declination

2796: The correction tables in the Nautical Almanac for use with Moon sights do NOT include the effects of __________.

    Y a. instrument error
    N b. augmentation
    N c. semidiameter
    N d. parallax

2846: Which type of daymark is used to mark the port side of the channel when entering from sea?

    N a. Red and white octagon
    N b. Black and white diamond
    N c. Red triangle
    Y d. Green square

2851: You determine your vessel's position by taking a range and bearing to a buoy. Your position will be plotted as a(n) __________.

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

2889: On 29 June 1981 you observe a back sight of the upper 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' off the arc. The horizontal parallax is 60.5'. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 66°23.8'
    N b. 66°04.4'
    N c. 66°00.4'
    Y d. 65°53.8'

2926: 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. Which action should you take? (D047NG )

    Y a. Come left until the range closes then steer to the left of 306°T.
    N b. Alter course to the right to 309°T or more to bring the range in line.
    N c. Continue on course but be prepared to come right if the range continues to open.
    N d. Alter course to the left to close the range, then alter course to 309°T.

3021: Which information is found in the chart title?

    N a. Chart number
    Y b. Chart sounding datum
    N c. Revision and edition date
    N d. Variation information

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

3070: The database information that should be shown when a chart is first displayed on ECDIS is the __________.

    N a. display base information
    Y b. standard display information
    N c. system electronic nautical chart
    N d. chart display information