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.


27: Spring tides are tides that __________.


38: When navigating a vessel, you __________.


122: 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?


220: At 0000 you fix your position and plot a new DR track line. At 0200 you again fix your position and it is 0.5 mile east of your DR. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The current is westerly at 0.5 knot.
    N b. You must increase speed to compensate for the current.
    N c. The current cannot be determined.
    Y d. The drift is 0.25 knot.

253: Loran-C is which type of system?

    N a. Reflected electron
    N b. Electrical radiation
    N c. Quarterpoint electrical navigation
    Y d. Hyperbolic radio navigation

294: What is a nonadjustable error of the sextant?

    Y a. Prismatic error
    N b. Index error
    N c. Side error
    N d. Error of collimation

441: A yellow buoy may exhibit a(n) __________.

    N a. fixed red light
    Y b. flashing light
    N c. white light
    N d. occulting light

502: A gnomonic projection is based on a(n) __________.

    Y a. plane tangent at one point
    N b. cylinder tangent at the equator
    N c. cone tangent at one parallel
    N d. infinite series of cones tangent at selected parallels

579: Low pressure disturbances, which travel along the intertropical convergence zone, are called __________.

    N a. permanent waves
    N b. tidal waves
    Y c. tropical waves
    N d. tropical storms

579: Low pressure disturbances, which travel along the intertropical convergence zone, are called __________.

    N a. permanent waves
    N b. tidal waves
    Y c. tropical waves
    N d. tropical storms

610: The apparent wind's speed can be zero, but only when two conditions are present. One condition is that the true wind __________.

    N a. must be from dead ahead
    N b. speed must be zero
    Y c. must be from dead astern
    N d. must be on the beam

624: When using a mechanical (windup type) marine chronometer, how often should it be reset?

    Y a. Only when it is overhauled
    N b. Whenever the chronometer error exceeds approximately four minutes
    N c. At the start of each voyage
    N d. If the chronometer rate changes from gaining to losing or vice versa

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

713: The closest point of approach (CPA) of a contact on a relative motion radar may be determined __________.

    N a. immediately when the contact is noted on radar
    N b. only if the radar scope is watched constantly
    Y c. after the contact has been marked at least twice
    N d. by an occasional glance at the radar

725: The First Point of Aries is the position of the Sun on the celestial sphere on or about __________.

    Y a. March 21
    N b. June 21
    N c. September 21
    N d. December 21

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

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

910: The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 12 miles and a height above water of 25 feet (7.6 meters). Your height of eye is 38 feet (11.6 meters) and the visibility is 5.5 miles. At what approximate range will you FIRST sight the light?

    N a. 5.5 miles
    N b. 6.3 miles
    Y c. 8.0 miles
    N d. 12.0 miles

963: To center a compass bowl in its binnacle, you should have the ship on an even keel, heading north or south, and adjust the screws until __________.

    N a. the compass heading is in line with the lubber's line
    N b. there is no lost motion in the gimbal rings
    Y c. no change of heading by compass is observed if you raise and lower the heeling magnet
    N d. the gimbal rings do not strike the compass frame when they are tilted

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

971: You are in British waters on course 090°T when you sight a flashing white light with a characteristic of VQ(9)10s. You immediately change course to 030°T. After one hour, you sight another flashing white light with the characteristic of VQ. You must pass well __________.

    N a. south of this buoy
    N b. west of this buoy
    Y c. north of this buoy
    N d. east of this buoy

1068: A vessel sighting a northern right whale dead ahead should __________.

    N a. maintain course and speed
    Y b. alter course to give a wide clearance
    N c. report the whale's position to the Canadian Coast Guard
    N d. All of the above

1131: On navigational aids, what does the light characteristic "Fl(2+1)" mean?

    N a. A flashing light combined with a fixed light of greater brightness
    Y b. Light flashes combined in groups, with a different number of flashes in each group
    N c. A light showing groups of two or more flashes at regular intervals
    N d. A fixed light varied at regular intervals by groups of two or more flashes of greater brightness

1167: The velocity of the current in large coastal harbors is __________.

    N a. unpredictable
    Y b. predicted in Tidal Current Tables
    N c. generally constant
    N d. generally too weak to be of concern

1195: A position that is obtained by applying estimated current and wind to your vessel's course and speed is a(n) __________.

    N a. dead reckoning position
    N b. fix
    Y c. estimated position
    N d. None of the above

1272: What are the colors of a mid-channel daymark?

    N a. Black and red
    Y b. Red and white
    N c. Green and red
    N d. Green and white

1285: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5.5 knots on course 033°T, and bears 248°T at 64 miles from you. What is the time to intercept if you make 13 knots?

    N a. 4h 55m
    N b. 4h 36m
    N c. 3h 59m
    Y d. 3h 44m

1298: The vertex of a great circle track is in LONG 109°E. An eastbound vessel would cross the equator in LONG __________.

    Y a. 161°W
    N b. 161°E
    N c. 19°E
    N d. 19°W

1323: The magnetic compass error which changes with the geographical location of your vessel is called __________.

    N a. deviation
    Y b. variation
    N c. compensation
    N d. differentiation

1453: Indications of the master gyrocompass are sent to remote repeaters by the __________.

    N a. follow-up system
    Y b. transmitter
    N c. phantom element
    N d. azimuth motor

1476: When warm moist air blows over a colder surface and is cooled below its dew point, the result is __________.

    N a. radiation fog
    N b. ice fog
    Y c. advection fog
    N d. frost smoke

1542: To find a magnetic course from a true course you must apply __________.

    N a. magnetic anomalies (local disturbances)
    N b. deviation
    Y c. variation
    N d. deviation and variation

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

1636: A type of precipitation that occurs only in thunderstorms with strong convection currents that convey raindrops above and below the freezing level is known as __________.

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

1644: Which scale is used to estimate wind speed by observing sea conditions __________.

    N a. Metric scale
    N b. Wind scale
    N c. Coriolis scale
    Y d. Beaufort scale

1672: Data relating to the direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents can be found in the __________.

    N a. Mariner's Guide
    Y b. Tidal Current Tables
    N c. Nautical Almanac
    N d. Tide Tables

1684: Which type of frontal passage is associated with a relatively narrow band of precipitation?

    Y a. A cold front
    N b. A warm front
    N c. A stationary front
    N d. None of the above

1715: The hurricane season generally occurs from __________.

    N a. August to January
    N b. July to December
    Y c. June to November
    N d. January to June

1870: A vessel heading SW is on a course of __________.

    N a. 202.5°
    Y b. 225.0°
    N c. 247.5°
    N d. 270.0°

1885: Under the Uniform State Waterway Marking System a mooring buoy is painted __________.

    Y a. white with a blue band
    N b. yellow
    N c. any color that does not conflict with the lateral system
    N d. white with a green top

1914: In the horizon system of coordinates what is equivalent to longitude on the Earth?

    N a. Altitude
    Y b. Azimuth angle
    N c. Horizon
    N d. Zenith distance

1941: 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 can buoy
    N b. red conical buoy
    N c. green can buoy
    Y d. green conical buoy

2070: What is the relative bearing of an object on the port beam?

    N a. 045°
    N b. 090°
    N c. 180°
    Y d. 270°

2254: A rock and sand structure extending from the bank of the river toward the channel is known as a __________.

    Y a. wingdam
    N b. towhead
    N c. cutoff
    N d. landwall

2277: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 20 miles and is 52 feet high. If the visibility is 12.0 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet, at what approximate distance will you sight the light?

    N a. 21.5 miles
    N b. 20.0 miles
    Y c. 13.7 miles
    N d. 12.0 miles

2277: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 20 miles and is 52 feet high. If the visibility is 12.0 miles and your height of eye is 20 feet, at what approximate distance will you sight the light?

    N a. 21.5 miles
    N b. 20.0 miles
    Y c. 13.7 miles
    N d. 12.0 miles

2292: The points on the earth's surface where the magnetic dip is 90° are __________.

    N a. along the magnetic equator
    N b. connected by the isoclinal line
    N c. the isopors
    Y d. the magnetic poles

2375: The shortest distance between any two points on earth defines a __________.

    N a. small circle
    Y b. great circle
    N c. rhumb line
    N d. hyperbola

2730: When attempting an upstream landing while pushing empty barges ahead in a hard onshore wind, the approach is best made __________.

    Y a. with bow out, stern in
    N b. with bow in, stern out
    N c. parallel to the dock, as close in as possible
    N d. parallel to the dock, as far out as possible

2816: The length of a wave is the length __________.

    N a. of the wave's crest
    N b. of the wave's trough
    N c. measured from crest to trough
    Y d. measured from crest to crest

2852: A daymark warning of a danger will have the shape indicated by which letter? (D045NG )

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

2882: While upbound through Memphis, the weather report on TV news indicates that a warm front is stationary over the Kentucky - Missouri - Tennessee areas. What weather conditions should you expect?

    N a. Strong, gusting winds from the NW with thundershowers
    N b. Light winds from the northeast with clear skies
    N c. A "blue norther"
    Y d. Southerly winds with steady rain; fog or overcast

2918: Which agency maintains federal aids to navigation?

    N a. Corps of Engineers
    Y b. Coast Guard
    N c. National Ocean Service
    N d. Maritime Administration

2950: On an Army Corps of Engineers navigation map, each mile A.H.P. on the Lower Mississippi River is marked by a __________.

    N a. dashed red line
    N b. number showing mileage
    N c. navigation light
    Y d. red circle

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

2977: Which symbol represents a 2-fathom curve?

    N a. -- -- --
    N b. .. ____ .. ____ .. ____
    N c. ____ . ____ . ____ .
    Y d. .. .. .. .. ..

3014: 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?

    N a. C 356°T, Sp 5.5 knots
    Y b. C 162°T, Sp 27 knots
    N c. C 095°T, Sp 30 knots
    N d. C 268°T, Sp 22 knots

3032: The direction in which a vessel is steered is the course. The path actually followed is the __________.

    N a. route
    N b. track
    N c. heading
    Y d. course over the ground

3063: Which of the following must the electronic chart of an ECDIS display, as required by IMO/IHO?

    N a. Hydrography
    N b. Ferry routes
    N c. Regulatory boundaries
    Y d. All of the above

3084: An ECDIS is required to display which information?

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

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