National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners (Sample Examination) Page 1 of 17
Choose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice questions. 1. Which is TRUE concerning privately maintained aids to navigation included in the Light List? (A) They must conform to the standards of the U.S. Aids to Navigation System o (B) They are painted white and must use a white light if lighted o (C) Not permitted in or along first-class waterways and may be authorized for second- and thirdclass waterways o (D) They must be conspicuously marked by a signboard with the words "PRIVATE AID" 2. Which describes the wind circulation around a high pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere? o (A) Counterclockwise and moving towards the high (B) Clockwise and moving outward from the high o (C) Counterclockwise and moving outward from the high o (D) Clockwise and moving towards the high 3. While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 3 1/2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore? o (A) 143 yards o (B) 315 yards (C) 640 yards o (D) 480 yards 4. How many slack tidal currents usually occur each day on the east coast of the United States? o (A) One o (B) Two o (C) Three (D) Four Page 2 of 17
5. You are proceeding up a channel at night. It is marked by a range which bears 185 T. You steady up on a compass course of 180 with the range in line dead ahead. This indicates that you(r). (A) compass has some easterly error o (B) must come right to get on the range o (C) course is in error o (D) are being affected by a southerly current 6. Illustration D011NG below represents the geographic location of a vessel and the radar presentation at the same time. Which statement is TRUE? o (A) Small island is not detected due to the multiple echo effect from the mountain. (B) Ship No. 1 does not appear as an individual target due to the effect of beam width. o (C) Ship No. 2 is not detected due to the side lobe effect of radar reflecting from the mountain. o (D) A tangent bearing of the headland to the south-southeast is corrected by subtracting one-half of the beam width. 7. Which of the Nautical Texts is/are published by the U.S. Coast Guard? o (A) U.S. Coast Pilots (B) Light Lists o (C) Radio Navigational Aids o (D) All of the above 8. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publishes which item? o (A) pilot charts o (B) Sailing Directions o (C) Light Lists (D) Coast Pilots 9. How are the doldrums characterized? (A) The frequent calms o (B) The low humidity o (C) The clear skies o (D) The steady, light to moderate winds Page 3 of 17
10. Before a magnetic compass is adjusted certain correctors must be checked to ensure that they are free of permanent magnetism. Which are the correctors? o (A) fore-and-aft and athwartships magnets (B) Flinders bar and quadrantal spheres o (C) dip needle and heeling magnet o (D) heeling magnet and Flinders bar 11. The velocity of the apparent wind can be less than the true wind and from the same direction, if certain conditions are present. One condition is that the. o (A) ship's speed is more than the true wind velocity o (B) true wind is from dead ahead (C) true wind is from dead astern o (D) true wind is on the beam 12. Steam fog is most likely to occur on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers in. o (A) fall, around midday (B) fall, around early morning o (C) spring, around early evening o (D) spring, around late evening 13. Which is a feature of a special daymark? o (A) A red-and-white octagon (B) A yellow diamond o (C) A green square o (D) A daymark with a yellow stripe on it 14. Which aid is NOT marked on a chart with a magenta circle? o (A) Radar transponder beacon o (B) Radar station (C) Aero light o (D) Radio beacon Page 4 of 17
15. You will be advised of any hazardous areas due to the fallout of a nuclear explosive by a message with which code word? o (A) FALLOUT o (B) FALLWARN o (C) NUCLEAR (D) MERWARN 16. The range of tide is the. o (A) duration of time between high and low tide o (B) maximum depth of the water at high tide o (C) distance the tide moves out from the shore (D) difference between the heights of high and low tide 17. How are buoys which mark isolated dangers are painted? o (A) Alternating green and black bands o (B) Alternating red and white stripes (C) Alternating red and black bands o (D) Alternating green and white bands 18. What will be the time (ZD +5) of the second high tide at Weymouth Fore River Bridge, MA, on 12 November 1983? o (A) 1639 o (B) 1643 o (C) 1647 (D) 1650 19. Which feature, when set to zero, might allow a GPS unit to have an accuracy equivalent to Precise Positioning Service receiver capability? o (A) Transit o (B) Anti-spoofing o (C) Auto-correlation (D) Selective Availability Page 5 of 17
20. The predicted time that the flood begins at the entrance to Delaware Bay is 1526. You are anchored off Chestnut St. in Philadelphia. If you get underway bound for sea at 1300 and turn for 13 knots, at what point will you lose the flood current? (A) Billingsport o (B) Marcus Hook o (C) New Castle o (D) Mile 52 21. Prior to reading an aneroid barometer, why should you tap the face lightly with your finger? o (A) To contract and expand the glass face o (B) To demagnetize the metal elements (C) To bring the pointer to its true position o (D) To expose any loose connections 22. What is a system of reservoirs and connecting tubes in a gyro compass called? (A) The mercury ballistics o (B) The gyrotron o (C) The rotor o (D) The spider element 23. You desire to make good a true course of 129. The variation is 7 E, magnetic compass deviation is 4 E, and gyrocompass error is 2 W. An easterly wind produces a 4 leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good? o (A) 116 psc (B) 114 psc o (C) 126 psc o (D) 122 psc 24. The nominal range of a light may be accurately defined as the maximum distance at which a light may be seen. o (A) under existing visibility conditions o (B) with fifteen miles visibility o (C) under perfect visibility (D) with ten miles visibility Page 6 of 17
25. In which situation is the light characteristic of composite group flashing (2 + 1) used in the Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers? o (A) Only to identify the right descending bank (B) On preferred-channel buoys o (C) Only to identify the left descending bank o (D) On daymarks with no lateral significance 26. Your vessel is on a course of 343 T at 14 knots. At 2156 a light bears 320.5 T, and at 2217 the light bears 298 T. At what time and distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? (A) 2232, 3.4 miles o (B) 2241, 6.9 miles o (C) 2228, 4.9 miles o (D) 2235, 4.3 miles 27. Green lights may appear on which buoys? (A) Horizontally banded buoys o (B) Vertically striped buoys o (C) Yellow buoys o (D) Spherical buoys 28. You have replaced the chart paper in the course recorder. Which statement is TRUE? (A) Test the electrical gain to the thermograph pens o (B) Adjust the chart paper to indicate GMT o (C) Line the course pen up on 0 degree mark o (D) Set the zone pen to the far right of the paper 29. Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, which is TRUE of a buoy displaying a red light? o (A) It must have a radar reflector o (B) It will show a light characteristic of Morse Code "A" o (C) It will be lettered (D) It should be left to starboard when entering from seaward Page 7 of 17
30. White lights may be found on which buoys? o (A) Preferred channel buoys (B) Information and regulatory buoys o (C) Numbered buoys o (D) Special purpose buoys 31. If the current and wind are in opposite directions, what does the sea surface indicate? (A) The surface indicates a higher wind speed than what really exists o (B) The surface indicates a greatly reduced wind speed o (C) The surface indicates a lower wind speed than what really exists o (D) The surface does not change, each cancels the other 32. All persons or vessels within the lock area, including the lock approach channels, come under the authority of which person? o (A) The lock foreman (B) The lockmaster o (C) The dock captain o (D) The dockmaster 33. What is the relative bearing of an object broad on the starboard quarter? o (A) 090 o (B) 105 (C) 135 o (D) 150 34. Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 064 T, and the variation is 17 W. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 094 per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation? o (A) 4 E o (B) 4 W o (C) 13 E (D) 13 W Page 8 of 17
35. You are steaming southward along the west coast of the United States when you encounter a buoy showing a flashing red light. Which is TRUE concerning the buoy? o (A) The buoy can remain on either side close aboard (B) The buoy should be left on the vessel's port side o (C) The buoy should be left on the vessel's starboard side o (D) The buoy can be on either side well clear 36. Which light characteristic may be used on a special purpose mark? (A) Fixed o (B) Equal interval o (C) Quick flashing o (D) Occulting 37. Which publication would describe the explosive anchorages in the ports on the east coast of the United States? o (A) Pilot Rules for Inland Waters o (B) Sailing Directions o (C) Notice to Mariners (D) Coast Pilot 38. The luminous range of a light takes into account which factor? o (A) The glare from background lighting o (B) The observer's height of eye (C) The existing visibility conditions o (D) The elevation of the light 39. 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? o (A) You should pass the buoy close aboard on either side. o (B) The yellow square is retro-reflective material used to assist in sighting the buoy at night. (C) You should leave the buoy to port. o (D) The buoy marks the end of the ICW in that area. Page 9 of 17
40. By what means are indications of the master gyrocompass sent to remote repeaters? o (A) by follow-up system o (B) by phantom element o (C) by azimuth motor (D) by transmitter 41. What is the primary source of the earth's weather? (A) The sun o (B) The moon o (C) The oceans o (D) The solar system 42. Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line dead ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 343 T, and the variation is 5 west. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 344 per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation? o (A) 1 E o (B) 1 W (C) 4 E o (D) 4 W 43. Under the IALA cardinal system, what does a mark with a quick white light showing 6 flashes followed by one long flash indicate in relation to the location of the safest water? o (A) Safe water is on the west side of the mark o (B) Safe water is on the east side of the mark o (C) Safe water is on the north side of the mark (D) Safe water is on the south side of the mark 44. Which information is NOT required to be posted in or near the wheelhouse? o (A) For vessels with a fixed propeller, a table of shaft RPMs for a representative range of speeds (B) A diagram of advance and transfer for turns of 30, 60, 90 and 120 at full speed with maximum rudder and constant power o (C) Stopping time and distance from full speed while maintaining course with minimum rudder o (D) Operating instructions for change-over procedures for remote steering gear systems Page 10 of 17
45. When using an echo sounder in deep water, it is NOT unusual to encounter which situation? o (A) To have to recalibrate every couple of days due to inaccurate readings (B) Receiving a strong return at about 200 fathoms (366 meters) during the day, and one nearer the surface at night o (C) Receiving a first return near the surface during the day, and a strong return at about 200 fathoms (366 meters) at night o (D) Receiving false echoes at a constant depth day and night 46. Which position includes the effects of wind and current? o (A) Leeway position (B) Estimated position o (C) Dead reckoning position o (D) Set position 47. For 3 November 1983, at 0830 EST (ZD +5) at Catskill, NY, what is the predicted height of tide? o (A) +0.1 foot (+0.0 m) (B) -0.6 foot (-0.2 m) o (C) +0.9 foot (+0.3 m) o (D) -1.3 feet (-0.4 m) 48. You are outbound in a buoyed channel on course 015 T. You sight a white light showing a Morse (A) characteristic bearing 359 relative. For safety, which action should you take? o (A) Alter course to 000 T and leave the buoy close on the starboard side o (B) Check the chart to see where the marked danger lies in relation to the buoy o (C) Change course to 359 T to pass near to the buoy (D) Stay in the channel and leave the buoy to port 49. What will NOT induce errors into a Doppler sonar log? o (A) Pitch (B) Increased draft o (C) Excessive vibration o (D) Roll Page 11 of 17
50. If your vessel were proceeding up river (ascending), how is the port side of the channel marked according to the U. S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers? o (A) Red nun buoys o (B) Red can buoys o (C) Green nun buoys (D) Green can buoys 51. According to Buys Ballot's law, when an observer in the Northern Hemisphere experiences a northwest wind, where is the center of low pressure located? (A) Northeast of the observer o (B) Northwest of the observer o (C) South-southeast of the observer o (D) West-southwest of the observer 52. The path that a vessel is expected to follow, represented on a chart by a line drawn from the point of departure to the point of arrival, is known by which term? (A) Track line o (B) DR plot o (C) Estimated course o (D) Heading 53. What does a white buoy with an orange rectangle on it indicate? o (A) Danger (B) General information o (C) An exclusion area o (D) A controlled area 54. How many fixed objects are needed to plot a running fix? o (A) None (B) One o (C) Two o (D) Three Page 12 of 17
55. Which radar control is used to reduce sea return at close ranges? o (A) Gain control o (B) Pulse length control (C) Sensitivity time control o (D) Fast time constant 56. On a chart, the characteristic of the light on a lighthouse is shown as flashing white with a red sector. Which is TRUE of the red sector? o (A) It indicates the limits of the navigable channel o (B) It is used to identify the characteristics of the light o (C) It serves no significant purpose (D) It indicates a danger area 57. The lunar or tidal day is. (A) about 50 minutes longer than the solar day o (B) about 10 minutes longer than the solar day o (C) the same length as the solar day o (D) about 50 minutes shorter than the solar day 58. You wish to make good a course of 230 T while turning for an engine speed of 12.5 knots. The set is 180 T, and the drift is 1.7 knots. What course should you steer? o (A) 244 T (B) 236 T o (C) 231 T o (D) 222 T 59. A vessel crossing a river on the Western Rivers, must keep out of the way of which power-driven vessel? o (A) A power-driven vessel ascending the river with a tow o (B) A power-driven vessel ascending the river without a tow o (C) A power-driven vessel descending the river with a tow (D) All of the above Page 13 of 17
60. When is a revised print of a chart made? o (A) Every two years to update the magnetic variation information o (B) After every major hydrographic survey of the area covered by the chart (C) When a low-stock situation occurs and minor corrections are made o (D) When there are numerous corrections to be made or the corrections are extensive 61. How can the permanent magnetism of a vessel change in strength? (A) Welding and major structural repair o (B) The nature of the cargo being carried o (C) Changes in the vessel's heading o (D) Geographical location of vessel 62. Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, what will a spherical buoy mark? o (A) The position of an underwater cable o (B) The port side of the channel (C) Safe water o (D) A hazard to navigation 63. In the Southern Hemisphere the wind circulation in a high pressure system rotates in which direction? o (A) Clockwise and inward o (B) Counterclockwise and inward o (C) Clockwise and outward (D) Counterclockwise and outward 64. What will be the velocity of the tidal current 4.5 miles east of Smith Point, VA, at 0630 DST (ZD +4) on 6 May 1983? (A) 0.3 knot o (B) 0.5 knot o (C) 0.7 knot o (D) 1.0 knot Page 14 of 17
65. When is the hardcopy of The Local Notice to Mariners usually published? o (A) monthly (B) weekly o (C) semiannually o (D) daily 66. You are steaming on a course of 215 T at 14 knots. At 1841 you observe a lighthouse bearing 178 T. At 1904 the same lighthouse bears 156 T. What is your distance off at the second bearing? o (A) 7.5 miles (B) 8.7 miles o (C) 6.6 miles o (D) 5.4 miles 67. Information about the direction and velocity of rotary tidal currents is found in the. o (A) Mariner's Guide o (B) Tide Tables o (C) Nautical Almanac (D) Tidal Current Tables 68. You are on course 027 T and take a relative bearing to a lighthouse of 220. What is the true bearing to the lighthouse? o (A) 113 o (B) 193 (C) 247 o (D) 279 69. A hurricane is characterized by winds of which speed? o (A) Up to 33 knots o (B) 34 to 47 knots o (C) 48 to 63 knots (D) 64 knots or greater Page 15 of 17
70. At what angle to the isobars do surface winds blow over the open sea? (A) About 15 o (B) About 25 o (C) About 90 o (D) About 50 Page 16 of 17
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners D011NG 5/23/2016 Adapted for testing purposes only Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 17 of 17