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.


10: The wind at Frying Pan shoals has been northwesterly at an average velocity of 22 knots. The predicted set and drift of the rotary current are 125° at 0.6 knot. What current should you expect?


55: Your longitude is 179°59'W. The LMT at this longitude is 23h 56m on the 4th day of the month. Six minutes later, your position is 179°59'E longitude. Your LMT and date are __________.


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


115: The date is the same all over the world at __________.

    N a. 0000 GMT
    Y b. 1200 GMT
    N c. 0000 LMT for an observer at 90°E longitude
    N d. no time

147: Which statement is TRUE concerning equatorial tides?

    N a. They occur when the Sun is at minimum declination north or south.
    N b. They occur when the Moon is at maximum declination north or south.
    Y c. The difference in height between consecutive high or low tides is at a minimum.
    N d. They are used as the basis for the vulgar establishment of the port.

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

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.

349: The direction of the southeast trade winds is a result of the __________.

    N a. equatorial current
    N b. humidity
    Y c. rotation of the earth
    N d. change of seasons

372: You would find the variation on a polyconic projection chart __________.

    Y a. on the compass rose
    N b. on the mileage scale
    N c. written on the chart title
    N d. at each line of longitude

378: A navigator fixing a vessel's position by radar __________.

    N a. should never use radar bearings
    Y b. can use radar information from one object to fix the position
    N c. should only use radar bearings when the range exceeds the distance to the horizon
    N d. must use information from targets forward of the beam

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

479: 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?

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

533: You are using a radar in which your own ship is shown at the center, and the heading flash always points to 0°. If bearings are measured in relation to the flash, what type of bearings are produced?

    Y a. Relative
    N b. True
    N c. Compass
    N d. Magnetic

605: Which is NOT a side of the celestial navigational triangle?

    N a. Co-latitude
    N b. Zenith distance
    Y c. Altitude
    N d. Co-declination

608: In which voyage, between two points, is the rhumb line distance NOT approximately the same as the great circle distance?

    N a. The two points are in low latitudes in the same hemisphere.
    Y b. The two points are in high latitudes in the same hemisphere.
    N c. The two points are near the equator, but in different hemispheres.
    N d. One point is near the equator, one point is in a high latitude, and both are near the 180th meridian.

663: You are underway at 10 knots. At 1800 you note a radar contact dead ahead at a range of 10 miles. At 1812 the contact is dead ahead at a range of 8 miles. The estimated speed of the contact is __________.

    Y a. dead in the water
    N b. 5 knots
    N c. 10 knots
    N d. 15 knots

665: 17 degrees of latitude is equal to __________.

    N a. 68 miles
    N b. 510 miles
    Y c. 1020 miles
    N d. 4080 miles

703: Which statement concerning the operation of radar in fog is TRUE?

    N a. Radar ranges are less accurate in fog.
    N b. Navigation buoys will always show up on radar.
    N c. A sandy beach will show up clearer on radar than a rocky cliff.
    Y d. Small wooden boats may not show up on radar.

731: Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a vertically-striped buoy may be striped red and __________.

    N a. green
    N b. black
    Y c. white
    N d. yellow

732: What publication has information on the climate, distances, navigation regulations, outstanding landmarks, channels and anchorages of Long Island Sound?

    N a. Light List
    Y b. Coast Pilot
    N c. Sailing Directions
    N d. Pilot Chart

762: Chart correction information is NOT disseminated through the __________.

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

869: Tropical storms and hurricanes are most likely to form in the Southern hemisphere during __________.

    Y a. January through March
    N b. April through May
    N c. June through August
    N d. September through November

1080: Information on northern right whales can be found in __________.

    Y a. the Coast Pilot
    N b. HO 229
    N c. the Nautical Almanac
    N d. Ship's Medicine Chest and Medical Aid at Sea

1084: As the temperature of an air mass decreases, the __________.

    N a. absolute humidity decreases
    Y b. relative humidity increases
    N c. specific humidity decreases
    N d. dew point rises

1095: The celestial coordinate of a star that is relatively constant in value is the __________.

    N a. Greenwich hour angle
    N b. local hour angle
    Y c. sidereal hour angle
    N d. meridian angle

1099: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 6 knots on course 133°T, and bears 343°T at 92 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 9 knots to intercept vessel A?

    N a. 356°
    Y b. 003°
    N c. 022°
    N d. 038°

1106: The legend/symbol which designates an occluded front is represented by a __________.

    N a. red line
    Y b. purple line
    N c. blue line
    N d. dashed blue line

1116: When a cold air mass and a warm air mass meet, and there is no horizontal motion of either air mass, it is called a(n) __________.

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

1184: Your position X is at LAT 35°S. Which winds are you experiencing? (D009NG )

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

1242: Daymarks marking the starboard side of the channel when going towards the sea are __________.

    Y a. green squares
    N b. green triangles
    N c. red squares
    N d. red triangles

1247: What is the predicted velocity of the tidal current 2 miles west of Southwest Ledge for 2330 DST (ZD +4) on 7 September 1983?

    Y a. 1.3 knots
    N b. 1.6 knots
    N c. 1.9 knots
    N d. 2.2 knots

1289: A body can only be observed at lower transit when __________.

    N a. the declination is the opposite name to the latitude
    N b. the algebraic sum of the colatitude and declination exceeds 90°
    N c. the observer is in high latitudes above either polar circle
    Y d. the body is circumpolar

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

1397: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Port Jefferson Harbor Entrance, NY, at 1600 EST (ZD +5) on 23 December 1983?

    N a. 0.9 knot
    Y b. 1.1 knots
    N c. 1.6 knots
    N d. 2.0 knots

1415: Planetary aberration is due, in part, to __________.

    N a. refraction of light as it enters the Earth's atmosphere
    N b. rotation of the Earth on it's axis
    Y c. the body's orbital motion during the time required for its light to reach Earth
    N d. a false horizon

1443: At the master gyrocompass, the compass card is attached to the __________.

    N a. spider element
    Y b. sensitive element
    N c. link arm
    N d. pickup transformer

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

1594: The Illustration shows the symbols used on radio facsimile weather charts. The symbol indicated at letter "P" represents __________. (D042NG )

    N a. snow
    N b. hail
    Y c. freezing rain
    N d. sleet

1665: Air circulation is caused or affected by __________.

    N a. the rotation of the earth on its axis
    N b. convection currents caused by differences in radiant heating between equatorial and polar regions
    N c. mountain ranges
    Y d. All of the above

1713: When a tornado moves over the water from land it is called a __________.

    N a. tornado
    Y b. waterspout
    N c. hurricane
    N d. cyclone

1735: A vessel entering the eye of a hurricane should expect __________.

    N a. moderating winds and heavy confused seas to strike his vessel from all directions
    N b. the winds to increase to hurricane force and strike from a different direction as the eye passes
    N c. the barometer to reach the lowest point
    Y d. All of the above

1751: A tsunami is caused by a(n) __________.

    N a. tidal wave
    N b. storm surge caused by a hurricane or tropical storm
    Y c. earthquake on the ocean's floor
    N d. tornado

1804: Magnetic information on a chart may be __________.

    N a. found in the center(s) of the compass rose(s)
    N b. indicated by isogonic lines
    N c. found in a note on the chart
    Y d. All of the above

1842: What is the major problem with taking high altitude observations?

    N a. Possible errors due to unusual refraction may exist.
    N b. The tables are not as accurate due to inherent errors in the spherical triangle at high altitudes.
    N c. Rapidly changing altitudes make it difficult to get an accurate altitude.
    Y d. It is difficult to establish the point where the sextant is vertical to the horizon.

1875: The position labeled "E" was plotted because __________. (D051NG )

    N a. a dead reckoning position is plotted within a half-hour of each course change
    N b. the position is a running fix
    Y c. a dead reckoning position is plotted for each speed change
    N d. the vessel's position was fixed at 1145

2043: Stormy weather is usually associated with regions of __________.

    N a. changing barometric pressure
    N b. high barometric pressure
    N c. steady barometric pressure
    Y d. low barometric pressure

2066: 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 red light
    N b. Two red lights
    Y c. Three red lights
    N d. No lights

2111: Vessels regularly navigating Ohio and Mississippi rivers above Cairo, Illinois, and their tributaries, shall at all times have on board a copy of __________.

    N a. Tide Tables
    N b. U.S. Coast Pilot
    Y c. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Navigation Regulations (Blue Book)
    N d. Sailing Directions

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

2358: Altair is found in what constellation?

    N a. Hercules
    N b. Cygnus
    Y c. Aquila
    N d. Capricorn

2423: IN REGION A of the IALA Buoyage System, when entering from seaward, the starboard side of a channel would be marked by a __________.

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

2490: A vertex of the navigational triangle is NOT located at the __________.

    N a. elevated pole
    N b. celestial body
    N c. zenith
    Y d. coaltitude

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

2688: The 10-cm radar as compared to a 3-cm radar of similar specifications will __________.

    N a. be more suitable for river and harbor navigation
    N b. provide better range performance on low lying targets during good weather and calm seas
    Y c. have a wider horizontal beam width
    N d. have more sea return during rough sea conditions

2776: For a well made and well maintained sextant, the maximum value of which correction is usually so small that it can be ignored?

    N a. Personal correction
    Y b. Instrument correction
    N c. Phase
    N d. Dip correction

2828: The daily recurring pattern of pressure changes most noticeable in low latitudes is the __________.

    N a. daily lapse reading
    Y b. diurnal variation of pressure
    N c. pressure tendency
    N d. synoptic pressure

2944: The height of a wave is the vertical distance __________.

    N a. from the still water plane to the crest
    N b. from the still water plane to the trough
    Y c. from crest to trough
    N d. between water levels at one-quarter of the wave's length

2978: Where do you find the semidiameter correction to be used to correct sextant observations of the stars?

    N a. It is included in the altitude corrections inside the front cover of the Nautical Almanac.
    N b. Table 25 in Bowditch contains the correction.
    N c. A correction of -0.5' should be applied to all star sights.
    Y d. No semidiameter correction is used.

3061: In a river subject to tidal currents, the best time to dock a ship without the assistance of tugs is __________.

    N a. at flood tide
    N b. at high water
    N c. when there is a following current
    Y d. at slack water

3082: Which type of GPS receiver has at least four channels to process information from several satellites simultaneously?

    N a. Sequential
    Y b. Continuous
    N c. Multiplex
    N d. None of the above