National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners (Sample Examination) Page 1 of 17
Choose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice questions. 1. The Coast Guard Captain of the Port has excluded all traffic from a section of a port, while a regatta is taking place. The buoys marking this exclusion area will be. o (A) marked with a spherical topmark o (B) nun- or can-shaped to conform to the overall direction of navigation (C) orange and white o (D) yellow 2. You have replaced the chart paper in the course recorder. What is NOT required to ensure that a correct trace is recorded? o (A) Set the zone pen on the correct quadrant o (B) Line the course pen up on the exact heading of the ship o (C) Adjust the chart paper to indicate the correct time (D) Test the electrical gain to the thermograph pens 3. Which item in illustration D034NG below shows a Morse (A) light? o (A) A o (B) B o (C) C (D) D 4. Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, the topmark of a red and white vertically-striped buoy shall be. o (A) X-shaped (B) a single red sphere o (C) a single red cone o (D) two black spheres 5. Which statement describes the prevailing wind direction in mid-winter in the Gulf Coast area? o (A) 40% to 50% of mid-winter winds are from a southern quadrant. (B) 30% to 40% of mid-winter winds are from a northern quadrant. o (C) the winds are variable in speed, but strongest in March. o (D) None of the above Page 2 of 17
6. A special mark (yellow buoy), if lighted, may exhibit which light rhythm? o (A) Occulting o (B) Morse "A" (C) Flashing o (D) Equal interval 7. A hygrometer is a device used for determining. (A) relative humidity o (B) the absolute temperature o (C) atmospheric pressure o (D) wind velocity 8. The maximum distance at which a light may be seen under existing visibility conditions is called. o (A) nominal range o (B) geographic range (C) luminous range o (D) charted range 9. At 2221 your course is 222 pgc at a speed of 11.2 knots, when radar detects a buoy bearing 355 relative, at a range of 5.8 miles. The gyro error is 2 E. If you change course at 2226, what course should you steer to leave the buoy 1.0 mile abeam to port? o (A) 210 pgc (B) 228 pgc o (C) 231 pgc o (D) 206 pgc 10. An indirect radar echo is caused by a reflection of the main lobe of the radar beam off the observer's vessel. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of indirect echoes? o (A) The indirect echoes usually appear in shadow sectors. o (B) When plotted, their movements are usually abnormal. o (C) Their bearing is almost constant, even when the true bearing of the contact changes appreciably. (D) They always appear on a bearing of 90 from the true bearing of the contact. Page 3 of 17
11. What do the numbers on isobars indicate? o (A) temperature o (B) rain in inches o (C) wind speed (D) barometric pressure 12. Which of the following is a boundary between two air masses? o (A) continent o (B) isobar (C) front o (D) lapse rate 13. You are heading out to sea in a buoyed channel and see a quick flashing green light on a buoy ahead of you. In U.S. waters, you should leave the buoy. (A) to starboard o (B) about 50 yards off on either side o (C) well clear on either side o (D) to port 14. While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore? (A) 360 yards o (B) 140 yards o (C) 320 yards o (D) 280 yards 15. You are 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. o (A) east of this buoy (B) north of this buoy o (C) south of this buoy o (D) west of this buoy Page 4 of 17
16. What will be the time of maximum flood current at Sagamore Bridge on the Cape Cod Canal during the morning of 6 December 1983 (ZD +5)? (A) 0708 o (B) 0712 o (C) 0716 o (D) 1020 17. How is the intensity of a light expressed in the Light Lists? o (A) Geographic range (B) Nominal range o (C) Luminous range o (D) Meteorological range 18. An orange and white buoy marking an area where operating restrictions are in effect will be marked with which symbol? o (A) Rectangle o (B) Diamond with a cross (C) Circle o (D) Open-faced diamond 19. A current perpendicular to a vessel's track has the greatest effect on the vessel's course made good. (A) at low vessel speeds o (B) at high vessel speeds o (C) in deep water o (D) in shallow water 20. The datum from which the predicted heights of tides are reckoned in the tide tables is the same as that used for the charts of the locality. The depression of the datum below mean sea level for Hampton Roads, Virginia is. o (A) between -.7 and +.5 feet o (B) between 1.9 and 3.2 feet o (C) 4.1 feet (D) 1.2 feet Page 5 of 17
21. What does not contribute to the commercial GPS receiver position error? (A) Ship's speed o (B) Satellite clock o (C) Satellites' orbits o (D) Atmospheric/Ionospheric propagation 22. The points on the earth's surface where the magnetic dip is 90 are. o (A) connected by the isoclinal line o (B) along the magnetic equator o (C) the isopors (D) the magnetic poles 23. If the current and wind are in opposite directions, the sea surface represents. o (A) more turbulent winds o (B) a greatly reduced wind speed o (C) a lower wind speed than what really exists (D) a higher wind speed than what really exists 24. While your vessel is proceeding down a channel you notice a range of lights in line with your vessel's mast. If your vessel is on course 001 per gyro compass and the charted value of the range of lights is 359 T, what is the gyro compass error? (A) 2 W o (B) 2 E o (C) 1 E o (D) 1 W 25. Where would you expect to find climatological and meteorological tables for the Gulf Coast area? o (A) Only at the National Weather Service office o (B) In any Coast Pilot volume o (C) In the publication entitled Radio Aids to Navigation (D) In the back of Coast Pilot #5 Page 6 of 17
26. Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, a buoy displaying a red light will. o (A) be lettered (B) be left to starboard when entering from seaward o (C) show a light characteristic of Morse Code "A" o (D) have a radar reflector 27. Naval authorities would NOT give orders about which of the following, when the vessel is under control of the Naval Control of Shipping Organization? (A) Schedules for loading cargo o (B) Diversions o (C) Visual communication at sea o (D) Rescue operations 28. A buoy marking a wreck will show a(n). o (A) occulting green light and may be lettered (B) white light FL (2) and a topmark of 2 black spheres o (C) continuous quick white light and may be numbered o (D) yellow light and will be numbered 29. The area of strong westerly winds occurring between 40 S and 60 S latitude is called the. o (A) polar easterlies o (B) jet streams (C) roaring forties o (D) prevailing westerlies 30. The dry-bulb temperature is 78 F and the wet-bulb temperature is 62 F. What is the relative humidity? o (A) 16% o (B) 24% (C) 39% o (D) 79% Page 7 of 17
31. In the IALA Maritime Buoyage System, what is a red and white vertically-striped buoy used to indicate? o (A) isolated danger mark o (B) special mark not primarily used for navigation o (C) cardinal mark (D) safe water mark 32. A Doppler log in the bottom return mode indicates the. o (A) velocity of the current o (B) depth of the water (C) speed over the ground o (D) bottom characteristics 33. An electronic depth finder operates on the principle that. o (A) radar signals travel at a constant speed through water o (B) pressure increases with depth o (C) radio signals reflect from a solid surface (D) sound waves travel at a constant speed through water 34. A radar range to a small, charted object such as a light will provide a line of position in which form? o (A) Straight line o (B) Parabola o (C) Hyperbola (D) Arc 35. If your vessel were proceeding up river (ascending), the port side of the channel would be marked according to the U. S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers by. o (A) red can buoys o (B) green nun buoys (C) green can buoys o (D) red nun buoys Page 8 of 17
36. The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the. o (A) distance o (B) depth o (C) period (D) range 37. What term is used to describe a river barge designed to carry coal or any similar cargo not requiring weather protection? (A) Open hopper o (B) Double skin o (C) Single skin o (D) Deck barge 38. Sometimes foreign charts are reproduced by NGA. On such a chart a wire dragged (swept) area may be shown in purple or. o (A) red o (B) magenta (C) green o (D) yellow 39. Entering a harbor, you take a bearing on a range and get 338 per gyrocompass (pgc). The true bearing from the chart is 340 T. Variation for the area is 14 E. Your course is 329 per standard magnetic compass (psc) and 338 pgc. What is the deviation on this heading? o (A) 3 E (B) 3 W o (C) 5 E o (D) 5 W 40. 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? o (A) Light winds from the northeast with clear skies o (B) A "blue norther" (C) Southerly winds with steady rain; fog or overcast o (D) Strong, gusting winds from the NW with thundershowers Page 9 of 17
41. Your vessel is steering 263 T at 22 knots. At 0413 a light bears 294 T and at 0421 the same light bears 312 T. What will be your distance off when abeam? o (A) 3.4 miles (B) 3.7 miles o (C) 4.3 miles o (D) 4.9 miles 42. The climate of the northern Gulf coast. o (A) has an east coast marine type of climate (B) is a warm marine type of climate o (C) is humid and subtropical throughout the year o (D) varies from warm to subtropical 43. What will be the velocity and direction of the tidal current at Old Ferry Point, NY, at 1340 EST (ZD +5) on 5 February 1983? o (A) 0.8 knot at 060 T o (B) 0.8 knot at 240 T o (C) 1.0 knot at 076 T (D) 1.4 knots at 076 T 44. The permanent magnetism of a vessel may change in strength due to. (A) major structural repair o (B) the nature of the cargo being carried o (C) changes in heading o (D) All of the above 45. While proceeding downriver, you sight a red triangular-shaped daymark on the left bank. Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers this is a. o (A) crossing daymark o (B) mark with no lateral significance o (C) special purpose signal (D) passing daymark Page 10 of 17
46. High clouds, composed of small white flakes or scaly globular masses, and often banded together to form a "mackerel sky", would be classified as. o (A) altostratus (B) cirrocumulus o (C) cirrus o (D) cumulonimbus 47. Luminous range is the. o o (A) average distance of visibility of the light (B) maximum distance at which a light may be seen considering the height of the light and the height of the observer (C) maximum distance at which a light may be seen under existing visibility conditions o (D) maximum distance at which a light may be seen in clear weather 48. Which describes privately maintained aids to navigation included in the Light List? o (A) must be conspicuously marked by a signboard with the words "PRIVATE AID" (B) must conform to the standards of the U.S. Aids to Navigation System o (C) are painted white and must use a white light if lighted o (D) are not permitted in or along first-class waterways and may be authorized for second- and third-class waterways 49. What will be the time after 0800 EST (ZD +5) that the height of the tide at South Freeport, ME, will be 6.0 feet (1.8 meters) on 7 November 1983? o (A) 0936 o (B) 0942 (C) 0951 o (D) 1001 50. Information about temporary, short term changes affecting the safety of navigation in U.S. waters is distributed to navigational interests by the. o (A) Daily Memorandum o (B) Summary of Corrections o (C) HYDROLANT or HYDROPAC broadcasts (D) Local Notice to Mariners Page 11 of 17
51. The time meridian used when computing the height of tide or the velocity of the current for Pensacola Bay, FL, is. o (A) 75 00'W (B) 90 00'W o (C) 82 30'W o (D) 97 30'W 52. A nautical mile is a distance of approximately how much greater than or less than a statute mile? o (A) 1/4 greater (B) 1/7 greater o (C) 1/7 less o (D) 1/4 less 53. 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? o (A) ICW traffic should not proceed beyond the buoy unless the crossing waterway is clear of all traffic. (B) You should leave the buoy to port. o o (C) The buoy is off station and should be ignored as a navigational mark. (D) The waterway in that area has shoaled and the available depth of water is less than the project depth. 54. Your radar has a beam width of 2. The radar gyro bearing of the right tangent of an island is 316. The gyro error is 1 E. Which true bearing should be plotted on the chart? o (A) 313 o (B) 314 (C) 316 o (D) 317 Page 12 of 17
55. Your vessel has a draft of 24 feet. On 7 April 1983 you wish to pass over a temporary obstruction near Lovell Island, MA, that has a charted depth of 22 feet. Allowing for a safety margin of 3.1 feet under your keel, what is the earliest time after 0100 EST (ZD +5) that this passage can be made? o (A) 0248 o (B) 0304 (C) 0342 o (D) 0356 56. Which information is NOT required to be posted in or near the wheelhouse? o (A) Stopping time and distance from full speed while maintaining course with minimum rudder (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) Operating instructions for change-over procedures for remote steering gear systems o (D) For vessels with a fixed propeller, a table of shaft RPMs for a representative range of speeds 57. Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, the buoys marking the starboard side of the channel when going upstream will be. o (A) green (B) red o (C) black o (D) yellow 58. Which statement about gyrocompass error is TRUE? o (A) Any error will remain constant unless the compass is stopped and restarted. o (B) Any error shown by a gyro repeater will be the same as the error of the master compass. o (C) The sign (E or W) of the error will change with different headings of the ship. (D) The amount of the error and the sign will generally be the same on all headings. 59. Atmospheric pressure at sea level is equal to. o (A) 1013.25 millibars o (B) 29.92 inches of mercury o (C) 14.7 pounds per square inch (D) All of the above Page 13 of 17
60. While enroute from Cape Town to Rio a vessel's course is 281 pgc. The variation for the locality is 24 W. The deviation is 4 E. The gyro error is 2 W. What is the true course made good? o (A) 301 T (B) 279 T o (C) 283 T o (D) 261 T 61. In addition to monitoring channel 16, all Corps of Engineer locks may use as working channels. o (A) 14, 24 and 28 o (B) 06, 12 and 22A o (C) 01A, 05A and 07A (D) 12, 13 and 14 62. The National Ocean Service publishes the. o (A) pilot charts o (B) Light Lists (C) Coast Pilots o (D) Sailing Directions 63. Quadrantal error in a gyrocompass has its GREATEST effect on which of the following? o (A) near the equator o (B) in high latitudes o (C) on north or south headings (D) on intercardinal headings 64. When the Moon's declination is maximum north, which of the following will occur? o (A) Equatorial tides o (B) Higher high tides and lower low tides (C) Tropic tides o (D) Mixed-type tides Page 14 of 17
65. Your vessel is on a course of 144 T at 20 knots. At 0022 a light bears 117.5 T, and at 0035 the light bears 099 T. At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? o (A) 0052, 5.1 miles o (B) 0044, 3.2 miles (C) 0048, 4.3 miles o (D) 0056, 6.0 miles 66. 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). o (A) course is in error (B) compass has some easterly error o (C) are being affected by a southerly current o (D) must come right to get on the range 67. A single line of position combined with a dead-reckoning position results in a(n). o (A) fix o (B) assumed position (C) estimated position o (D) running fix 68. 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. o (A) ascending the river o (B) proceeding from seaward (C) descending the river o (D) crossing the river Page 15 of 17
69. Which piece of navigational safety equipment is NOT required on towing vessels over 12 meters in length, provided that the vessel remains within the navigable waters of the U.S.? o (A) Charts or maps of the areas to be transited o (B) Searchlight o (C) VHF-FM radio(s) (D) GPS receiver 70. A preferred-channel buoy will show a. (A) composite group-flashing (2 + 1) red or green light o (B) white light whose characteristic is Morse (A) o (C) composite group-flashing (2 + 1) white light o (D) group-occulting white light Page 16 of 17
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners D034NG 5/23/2016 Adapted for testing purposes only Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 17 of 17