National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners (Sample Examination) Page 1 of 17
Choose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice questions. 1. 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 2. Which statement concerning GPS is TRUE? o (A) Two position lines are used to give a 2D fix. o (B) It cannot be used in all parts of the world. o (C) There are 12 functioning GPS satellites at present. (D) It may be suspended without warning. 3. In which source could you find the number of a chart for a certain geographic area? o (A) Chart No. 1 o (B) U.S. Coast Guard Light List (C) Catalog of Charts o (D) American Practical Navigator 4. When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates. o (A) a junction with the preferred channel to the left o (B) a sharp turn in the channel to the right (C) the port side of the channel o (D) a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side 5. The fog produced by warm moist air passing over a cold surface is called. o (A) frontal fog (B) advection fog o (C) conduction fog o (D) radiation fog Page 2 of 17
6. Buoys which mark isolated dangers are painted with alternating. o (A) green and white bands (B) red and black bands o (C) red and white stripes o (D) green and black bands 7. The dangerous semicircle of a typhoon in the Southern Hemisphere is that area. o (A) measured from due south clockwise 180 o (B) ahead of the typhoon measured from the storm's track to 90 on each side (C) to the left of the storm's track o (D) measured from due south counterclockwise 180 8. The revision date of a chart is printed on which area of the chart? o (A) Top center o (B) Part of the chart title (C) Lower left corner o (D) Any clear area around the neat line 9. You take a bearing of 356 of a lighthouse. What bearing of another object would give the best fix? o (A) 013 o (B) 201 o (C) 176 (D) 082 10. What natural feature is responsible for the rather even climate found on the Florida peninsula throughout the year? o (A) The Bermuda high o (B) Strong masses of continental air (C) The Gulf Stream o (D) The cool waters of the Sargasso sea Page 3 of 17
11. In the Northern Hemisphere, the largest waves or swells created by a typhoon or hurricane will be located. o (A) in the southeast quadrant of the storm (B) forward and to the right of its course o (C) directly behind the storm center o (D) behind and to the left of its course 12. The pressure-sensitive element of an aneroid barometer is called a. o (A) pressure bellows o (B) column of mercury (C) sylphon cell o (D) constant pressure capsule 13. Where would you expect to find channels marked with the IALA-A Buoyage System? o (A) Argentina (B) India o (C) Japan o (D) Canada 14. The velocity of the wind, its steady direction, and the amount of time it has blown determines a wind driven current's. o (A) density o (B) deflection o (C) temperature (D) speed 15. 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 Page 4 of 17
16. The line of position should be plotted as a circle around the GP of the body when the Ho exceeds what minimum value? o (A) 80 o (B) 83 o (C) 85 (D) 87 17. By what means are indications of the master gyrocompass sent to remote repeaters? o (A) by follow-up system o (B) by azimuth motor (C) by transmitter o (D) by phantom element 18. You are underway on course 142 T when you sight a buoy bearing 105 T. The buoy's white light has a characteristic of continuous very-quick flashing. What should you do to ensure that your vessel remains in the best navigable water? o (A) pass between the buoy and another buoy showing a fixed white light o (B) continue on course and ensure that the bearings change to the left (C) alter course to port and pass north of the buoy o (D) alter course to port and pass the buoy close aboard to either side 19. 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 on the beam (C) true wind is from dead astern o (D) true wind is from dead ahead 20. The principal vertical circle is that great circle on the celestial sphere that passes through the. o (A) zenith and is parallel to the horizon o (B) poles and Greenwich (C) zenith and the north and south poles o (D) zenith and the celestial body Page 5 of 17
21. While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ship's fog horn 4 1/2 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore? o (A) 405 yards o (B) 628 yards o (C) 730 yards (D) 825 yards 22. You are approaching a sea buoy which emits a racon signal. This signal is most frequently triggered by which type of radar? (A) 3 cm o (B) 10 cm o (C) Both 3 cm and 10 cm o (D) Signal does not depend on radar type. 23. You are underway on course 050 T and your maximum speed is 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 120 T, 110 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285 T at 25 knots. If you maneuver at 12 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA? (A) 77 miles o (B) 82 miles o (C) 87 miles o (D) 93 miles 24. The equation of time is 8m 00s. The mean Sun is ahead of the apparent Sun. If you are 2 W of the central meridian of your time zone, when will the apparent Sun cross your meridian? (A) 1216 o (B) 1208 o (C) 1200 o (D) 1152 25. What is TRUE concerning new editions of Light Lists? o (A) Supplements to new editions are issued monthly by the U.S. Coast Guard. (B) New editions are corrected through the date shown on the title page. o (C) New editions are published by the National Ocean Service. o (D) None of the above Page 6 of 17
26. Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, when entering from seaward a lateral system buoy to be left to port may display which of the topmarks shown in illustration D046NG below? o (A) A o (B) B o (C) C (D) D 27. What does a single vertical magnet placed underneath the compass in the binnacle compensate for? o (A) Induced magnetism in the vertical soft iron o (B) The horizontal component of the permanent magnetism o (C) Induced magnetism in the horizontal soft iron (D) Deviation caused by the vessel's inclination from the vertical 28. In waters where the cardinal system is used where would you expect to find danger? o (A) Beneath or directly adjacent to the buoy o (B) Lying to the east of an eastern quadrant buoy o (C) Lying to the south of an eastern quadrant buoy (D) Lying to the south of a northern quadrant buoy 29. A microbarograph is a precision instrument that provides a. (A) charted record of atmospheric pressure over time o (B) graphic record of vapor pressure from a flammable/combustible liquid o (C) charted record of atmospheric temperature over time o (D) graphic record of combustible gases measured in an atmosphere 30. Steady precipitation is typical of. o (A) scattered cumulus clouds (B) a warm front weather condition o (C) coming cold weather conditions o (D) high pressure conditions Page 7 of 17
31. Preferred channel buoys indicate the preferred channel to transit by. o (A) the buoy's light rhythms o (B) the location of the buoy in the channel junction (C) the color of their top band o (D) odd or even numbers 32. Isobars on a weather map are useful in predicting. (A) wind velocity o (B) relative humidity o (C) temperature o (D) dew point 33. The recording fathometer produces a graphic record of the. o (A) contour of the bottom against a distance base (B) depth underneath the keel against a time base o (C) depth of water against a distance base o (D) bottom contour only up to depths of 100 fathoms 34. The Beaufort scale is used to estimate the. o (A) barometric pressure o (B) wind direction o (C) percentage of cloud cover (D) wind speed 35. 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. Page 8 of 17
36. On 25 December you observe the Sun's lower limb. The sextant altitude (hs) is 4 06.9'. The height of eye is 47 feet and the index error is 1.6' on the arc. The temperature is 19 F and the barometer reads 1030.8 millibars. What is the observed altitude (Ho)? o (A) 3 57.4' (B) 4 01.9' o (C) 4 02.5' o (D) 4 03.4' 37. Your vessel is on course 180 T speed 22 knots. The apparent wind is from 70 off the port bow, speed 20 knots. The true direction and speed of the wind are. o (A) 45 T, 21.0 knots (B) 51 T, 24.0 knots o (C) 58 T, 21.2 knots o (D) 64 T, 26.0 knots 38. The survey information upon which a chart is based is found. o (A) at any convenient location o (B) at the top center of the next line o (C) at the lower left corner (D) near the chart title 39. The equation of time is 8m 40s. The apparent Sun is ahead of the mean Sun. If you are on the central meridian of your time zone, the apparent Sun will cross your meridian at. (A) 11-51-20 ZT o (B) 12-00-00 ZT o (C) 12-04-20 ZT o (D) 12-08-40 ZT 40. Which condition(s) is(are) necessary for the formation of dew? o (A) Earth's surface cooler than the dew point of the air o (B) Clear skies o (C) Calm air (D) All of the above Page 9 of 17
41. What does the term "tide" refer to? (A) Vertical movement of the water o (B) Mixing tendency of the water o (C) Horizontal movement of the water o (D) Salinity content of the water 42. Freezing salt water spray should be anticipated when the air temperature drops below what temperature? o (A) 0 F (-17.8 C) o (B) -40 F (-28.9 C) o (C) 32 F (0.0 C) (D) 28 F (-2.2 C) 43. At evening stars, the last stars that should be observed are those with an azimuth in what quadrant? o (A) Southern o (B) Eastern o (C) Northern (D) Western 44. The speed of sound through ocean water is nearly always. o (A) slower than the speed of calibration for the fathometer (B) faster than the speed of calibration for the fathometer o (C) faster than the speed of calibration for the fathometer, unless the water is very warm o (D) the same speed as the speed of calibration for the fathometer 45. When trying to sight a lighthouse you notice a glare from a town in the background. The range at which the light may be sighted due to this glare is. o (A) increased if the light is red or green due to contrast with the glare (B) considerably reduced o (C) unchanged o (D) increased slightly due to extra lighting Page 10 of 17
46. Which cloud type is normally associated with thunderstorms? o (A) Stratus o (B) Cirrus o (C) Cumulus (D) Cumulonimbus 47. The annual change in variation for an area can be found in. o (A) the compass deviation table o (B) the handbook for Magnetic Compass Adjustment, Pub 226 (C) the center of the compass rose on a chart of the area o (D) Variation does not change. 48. Which of the following describes gyrocompass repeaters which reproduce the indications of the master gyrocompass? (A) They are accurate electronic servomechanisms o (B) They are accurate only in the Polar regions o (C) They are accurate only if the vessel is underway o (D) They are hand operated 49. 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 50. What is the basic principle of the magnetic compass? o (A) The compass needle(s) will, when properly compensated, lie parallel to the isogonic lines of the Earth. o (B) The Earth's magnetic lines of force are parallel to the surface of the Earth. (C) Magnetic materials of the same polarity repel each other and those of opposite polarity attract. o (D) Magnetic meridians connect points of equal magnetic variation. Page 11 of 17
51. Mars will not be visible. (A) at conjunction o (B) at opposition o (C) from quadrature to opposition o (D) at elongation angles near 180 52. A ship is on course 195 at a speed of 15 knots. The apparent wind is from 40 on the port bow, speed 30 knots. The direction and speed of the true wind are. o (A) 068 T, 30 knots (B) 127 T, 21 knots o (C) 263 T, 42 knots o (D) 292 T, 42 knots 53. Which factor(s) is/are used to develop the charted information of a lighthouse? (A) Height and intensity of the light o (B) Height of the observer and the intensity of the light o (C) Height of the light and the observer o (D) Height of the light only 54. Your vessel is participating in the Voluntary Observing Ship Program, at 0600 ZT on 31 January your position is LAT 00 49'S, LONG 84 27'E. You are preparing WS Form B-80 as seen in illustration D041NG below. How should you encode the first three groups after the call sign if you estimate the wind? o (A) 31063, 99049, 58427 (B) 31003, 99008, 30844 o (C) 31003, 99049, 38427 o (D) 30243, 90008, 30848 55. The owner or Master of a towing vessel must ensure that each person that directs and controls the movement of the vessel knows all of the following EXCEPT. o (A) the speed and direction of any current for the area being transited o (B) how to apply variation and deviation to readings from a magnetic compass (C) the ownership of the vessel(s) being towed o (D) the effects of maneuvering on the vessel and its tow Page 12 of 17
56. As the temperature for a given mass of air increases, the. o (A) dew point decreases o (B) dew point increases (C) relative humidity decreases o (D) relative humidity increases 57. Port side daymarks may be. o (A) octagonal (B) numbered o (C) black and white o (D) of any shape 58. Yesterday your chronometer read 11h 59m 58s at the 1200 GMT time tick. Today your chronometer reads 12h 00m 00s at the 1200 time tick. What is the chronometer rate? o (A) Nil o (B) -2s o (C) 12h (D) +2s 59. Warm air masses will generally have. o (A) turbulence within the mass o (B) good visibility (C) stratiform clouds o (D) heavy precipitation 60. You take a bearing of 043 and 169 of two objects. What bearing of a third object will give the best fix? o (A) 144 (B) 102 o (C) 356 o (D) 201 Page 13 of 17
61. On navigational aids, what does the light characteristic "Fl(2+1)" mean? o (A) A light showing groups of two or more flashes at regular intervals o (B) A fixed light varied at regular intervals by groups of two or more flashes of greater brightness o (C) A flashing light combined with a fixed light of greater brightness (D) Light flashes combined in groups, with a different number of flashes in each group 62. Which is a weekly publication advising mariners of important matters affecting navigational safety? (A) Notice to Mariners o (B) Light List o (C) Sailing Directions o (D) Coast Pilot 63. Yesterday your chronometer read 11h 59m 59s at the 1200 GMT time tick. Today the chronometer reads 11h 59m 57s at the 1200 time tick. What is the chronometer rate? o (A) +3s o (B) -3s (C) -2s o (D) +2s 64. What is the equivalent of 10 min. 52 sec. in arc units? o (A) 0 47' o (B) 1 12' (C) 2 43' o (D) 3 52' 65. The point where the vertical rise or fall of tide has stopped is referred to as. o (A) the reverse of the tide o (B) slack water (C) the stand of the tide o (D) the rip tide Page 14 of 17
66. What enables you to estimate the bearing of a storm's center? o (A) An educated guess o (B) Pascal's Law (C) Buys Ballot's Law o (D) The left-hand rule 67. Where are the prevailing westerlies of the Southern Hemisphere located? (A) Between 30 and 60 latitude o (B) Between 10 and 20 latitude o (C) Between the Equator and 10 latitude o (D) Between 60 and 90 latitude 68. 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 69. In the Northern Hemisphere, an area of counterclockwise wind circulation surrounded by higher pressure is a. (A) low o (B) warm front o (C) cold front o (D) high 70. Under the IALA-A Buoyage System, a green spar buoy with a triangular topmark would indicate that the buoy. o (A) is on the north side of a point of interest o (B) may be left close aboard on either side (C) should be left to port when heading out to sea o (D) is marking the preferred channel Page 15 of 17
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners D041NG 5/23/2016 Adapted for testing purposes only Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 16 of 17
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners D046NG 5/23/2016 Adapted for testing purposes only Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 17 of 17