u.s.c.g. merchant marine exam master less than 500-1600 ... · q322-nav general-great lakes and...

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U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam

Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons

Q322 Nav General – Great Lakes and Inland

(Sample Examination)

of 19 Q322 Nav General – Great Lakes and Inland

9/5/2019

Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3

Choose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice questions.

1. Which characteristics will a lighted buoy that is to be left to starboard, when entering a U.S. port from seaward have?

o (A) A light characteristic of Morse (A) o (B) A white light • (C) A red light o (D) A green light

If choice C is selected set score to 1.

2. While passing through Memphis, the weather report on the TV news indicates that a cold front is crossing western Kentucky and Tennessee. Tomorrow's weather will be dominated by a high pressure area. What weather should you expect tomorrow?

o (A) Light, southerly winds; high humidity and possibly fog o (B) Scattered clouds with light, southeasterly winds; high humidity and possibly fog o (C) Low overcast; mild temperatures with light, steady rain or drizzle • (D) Moderate winds from the northwest, clear visibility and cooler temperatures

If choice D is selected set score to 1.

3. 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) Not permitted in or along first-class waterways and may be authorized for second- and third-

class waterways o (C) They must be conspicuously marked by a signboard with the words "PRIVATE AID" o (D) They are painted white and must use a white light if lighted

If choice A is selected set score to 1.

4. Which describes a diurnal tide?

o (A) The two high tides occur during a lunar day o (B) The high tide is higher and the low tide is lower than usual • (C) Only one high and one low water occur during a lunar day o (D) The high tide and low tide are exactly six hours apart



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Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3 5. Which is the FIRST indications a mariner will have of the approach of a warm front?

o (A) Low dark clouds with intermittent rain • (B) High clouds gradually followed by lower thicker clouds o (C) Fog caused by the warm air passing over the cooler water o (D) Large cumulonimbus clouds building up

If choice B is selected set score to 1.

6. Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, what does a lighted buoy with a spherical topmark mark indicate?

o (A) The position of underwater cables o (B) A hazard to navigation • (C) Safe water o (D) The port side of the channel


7. What do the numbers on isobars indicate?

o (A) Wind speed • (B) Barometric pressure o (C) Temperature o (D) Rain in inches


8. Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, which is TRUE of the topmark of a red and white vertically-striped buoy?

o (A) It shall be X-shaped o (B) It shall be a single red cone • (C) It shall be a single red sphere o (D) It shall be two black spheres


9. Which describes a line of position derived by radar range from an identified point on a coast?

o (A) A line parallel to the coast o (B) Straight line • (C) Arc o (D) Parabola



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Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3 10. You are bound for the Chelsea docks in the Hudson River. The Captain wants to arrive at the docks

at the first slack water on 28 July 1983. You are keeping daylight saving time. What time should you be at the docks?

• (A) 0215 o (B) 0530 o (C) 0811 o (D) 0911


11. What agency of the U.S. Government issues charts of U.S. waters and Coast Pilots?

• (A) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration o (B) National Imagery and Mapping Agency o (C) U.S. Coast Guard o (D) U.S. Naval Observatory


12. Which wind is a strong, often violent, northerly wind occurring on the Pacific coast of Mexico, particularly during the colder months?

o (A) Papagayo • (B) Tehuantepecer o (C) Pampero o (D) Norther


13. The shoreline shown on nautical charts of areas affected by large tidal fluctuations is usually the line of mean __________.

• (A) high water o (B) low water o (C) tide level o (D) lower low water


14. Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, what color are the buoys marking the starboard side of the channel when going upstream?

o (A) Green o (B) Black o (C) Yellow • (D) Red



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Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3 15. What causes permanent magnetism on a vessel?

• (A) The earth's magnetic field affecting the ship's hard iron during construction o (B) The horizontal component of the earth's magnetic field acting on the horizontal soft iron o (C) The operation of electrical equipment and generators on board ship o (D) The vertical component of the earth's magnetic field acting on the vertical soft iron


16. You are approaching Chatham Strait from the south in foggy weather. You have Coronation Island and Hazy Islands on the radar. Suddenly the radar malfunctions. You then resort to using whistle echoes to determine your distance off Coronation Island. Your stopwatch reads 16.3 seconds for the echo to be heard. How far are you off Coronation Island?

o (A) 1.0 mile • (B) 1.5 miles o (C) 2.0 miles o (D) 2.5 miles


17. You are approaching a swing bridge at night. How do you know that the bridge is open for river traffic?

o (A) The fixed, green light starts to flash o (B) The red light is extinguished o (C) The amber light changes to green • (D) The red light changes to green


18. The luminous range of a light takes into account which factor?

o (A) The elevation of the light o (B) The observer's height of eye o (C) The glare from background lighting • (D) The existing visibility conditions


19. The set of the current is the __________.

• (A) direction in which the current flows o (B) speed of the current at a particular time o (C) direction from which the current flows o (D) maximum speed of the current



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Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3 20. If the current and wind are in the same direction, what does the sea surface represent concern the

true wind speed?

o (A) It appears higher than actually exists o (B) It appears at the correct speed o (C) The appearance of the sea surface does not change • (D) It appears less than actually exists


21. 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?

o (A) 2241, 6.9 miles o (B) 2235, 4.3 miles o (C) 2228, 4.9 miles • (D) 2232, 3.4 miles


22. The lockmaster has given you permission to tie off on the lower guide wall to wait your turn to lock through. What should you be most concerned with?

• (A) Current reaction when the lock chamber is being emptied o (B) An upbound vessel o (C) A downbound vessel o (D) Current reaction when the lock chamber is being filled


23. What color lights do lighted information markers display?

• (A) White lights o (B) Green lights o (C) Yellow lights o (D) Red lights


24. Which publication would describe the explosive anchorages in the ports on the east coast of the United States?

• (A) Coast Pilot o (B) Pilot Rules for Inland Waters o (C) Sailing Directions o (D) Notice to Mariners



9/5/2019

Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3 25. How many fixed objects are needed to plot a running fix?

o (A) None • (B) One o (C) Two o (D) Three


26. The track line on the chart is 274°T. Variation is 4°E, and deviation is 2°E. The gyro error is 1.5°E. What course would be steered by gyrocompass to make good the desired course?

o (A) 280.5°pgc o (B) 278.0°pgc o (C) 275.5°pgc • (D) 272.5°pgc


27. You are steaming on a course of 025°T at 15.5 knots. At 0645 you observe a lighthouse bearing 059°T. At 0655 the same lighthouse bears 075°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing?

• (A) 5.3 miles o (B) 2.6 miles o (C) 4.0 miles o (D) 1.5 miles


28. A daymark used to indicate the starboard side of the channel when approaching from seaward will have the shape indicated by what letter in illustration D045NG below?

o (A) A o (B) B o (C) C • (D) D


29. You are approaching Gallipolis Lock and Dam. The traffic signal light is flashing red. Which action are you required to take?

o (A) Proceed at normal speed to enter the lock o (B) Approach the lock slowly under full control • (C) Stand clear and do not attempt to enter the lock o (D) Make up to the river-side wall of the lock



9/5/2019

Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3 30. An orange and white buoy indicating a vessel-exclusion area will be marked with what symbol?

o (A) Open-faced diamond o (B) Circle • (C) Diamond with a cross o (D) Square


31. Which publication indicates the HYDROLANTS or HYDROPACS issued since the previous working day?

• (A) Daily Memorandum o (B) Local Notice to Mariners o (C) Broadcast Notice to Mariners o (D) Summary of Corrections


32. Which topmark shown in illustration D023NG below identifies an isolated danger?

o (A) A • (B) B o (C) C o (D) D


33. Which radar control reduces weak echoes out to a limited distance from the ship?

o (A) The fast time constant (differentiator) o (B) The brilliance control • (C) The sensitivity time control (sea-clutter control) o (D) The receiver gain control


34. You are in a channel inbound from sea. A daymark used to mark a channel junction, when the preferred channel is to port will have the shape indicated by what letter in illustration D045NG below?

o (A) A o (B) B o (C) C • (D) D



9/5/2019

Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3 35. Which radar control shortens all echoes on the display and reduces clutter caused by rain or snow?

o (A) The receiver gain control o (B) The brilliance control • (C) The fast time constant (differentiator) o (D) The sensitivity time control (sea clutter control)


36. What will be the velocity of the tidal current at Coxsackie, NY, at 0945 EST (ZD +5) on 11 March 1983?

o (A) 0.3 knot • (B) 0.7 knot o (C) 1.2 knots o (D) 1.9 knots


37. A buoy having red and green horizontal bands would have which light characteristic?

o (A) Interrupted quick flashing • (B) Composite group flashing o (C) Quick flashing o (D) Morse (A)


38. The climate of the northern Gulf coast __________.

• (A) is a warm marine type of climate o (B) varies from warm to subtropical o (C) has an east coast marine type of climate o (D) is humid and subtropical throughout the year


39. You are underway on course 340°T at a speed of 14.8 knots. You sight a buoy bearing 342°T at a radar range of 4.8 miles at 1422. If you change course at 1428, what is the true course to steer to leave the buoy abeam to port at 1.0 mile?

o (A) 354°T o (B) 357°T • (C) 001°T o (D) 327°T



9/5/2019

Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3 40. When changing from a compass course to a true course, which should you apply?

o (A) A correction for the direction of current set • (B) Both variation and deviation o (C) Deviation only o (D) Variation only


41. You are steering a southerly course, and you note that the chart predicts an easterly current. Without considering wind, how may you allow for the set?

• (A) Head your vessel slightly to the right o (B) Decrease your speed o (C) Increase your speed o (D) Head your vessel slightly to the left


42. Which statement concerning the chartlet seen in illustration D010NG below is TRUE? (Soundings and heights are in meters)

o (A) Maury lightship is visible for 17 miles. • (B) There is a dangerous eddy southeast of Beito Island. o (C) The bottom to the south-southeast of the lightship is soft coral. o (D) There is a 12-meter deep hole west of Beito Island and inside the 5-meter line.


43. While steaming on course 280°T, you sight a buoy showing a very quick flashing (VQ) white light well to port. Maintaining course, you sight another buoy showing a quick flashing (Q) white light. How should you pass?

o (A) South of the buoy • (B) North of the buoy o (C) East of the buoy o (D) West of the buoy


44. By what means are indications of the master gyrocompass sent to remote repeaters?

o (A) by azimuth motor o (B) by phantom element o (C) by follow-up system • (D) by transmitter



9/5/2019

Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3 45. Prevailing winds between 30°N and 60°N latitude are from which direction?

o (A) South o (B) North o (C) East • (D) West


46. Which is TRUE concerning the dew point temperature?

o (A) It is always higher than the air temperature o (B) It is always lower than the air temperature o (C) It is equal to the difference between the wet and dry bulb temperatures • (D) It is the temperature at which the air is saturated with water vapor


47. All echo-sounders can measure the __________.

o (A) average depth of water to soft bottom • (B) actual depth of water below keel o (C) average depth from waterline to hard bottom o (D) actual depth of water


48. At what time after 1400 EST (ZD +5), on 4 January 1983, will the height of the tide at Port Wentworth, GA, be 3.0 feet?

o (A) 1612 o (B) 1630 • (C) 1653 o (D) 1718


49. On 6 July 1983, at 1830 DST (ZD +4), what will be the predicted height of tide at Newburgh, NY?

o (A) 3.3 feet o (B) 2.6 feet o (C) 2.4 feet • (D) 2.0 feet



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Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3 50. You are entering an east coast port and see a buoy with a yellow triangle painted on it. What does

the symbol indicate?

o (A) The buoy is off station • (B) You are in the vicinity of the ICW o (C) The buoy designates a sharp turn in the channel o (D) The buoy is a special mark


51. Apparent wind speed blowing across your vessel while underway can be measured by which instrument?

• (A) anemometer o (B) thermometer o (C) wind vane o (D) barometer


52. Where will you find information about the duration of slack water?

o (A) American Practical Navigator o (B) Sailing Directions • (C) Tidal Current Tables o (D) Tide Tables


53. Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, which is TRUE of a preferred channel buoy?

o (A) It shall be solid green o (B) It shall be solid red • (C) It shall be horizontally-banded red and green o (D) It shall be vertically-striped red and white


54. With regard to GPS, how can a civilian receiver may be capable of achieving the same accuracy as a military receiver?

• (A) If the selective availability is set to zero o (B) When the horizontal dilution of precision is high o (C) Only if your vessel is equipped with a Doppler receiver o (D) If the satellites are all below 15° in elevation



9/5/2019

Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3 55. 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) are being affected by a southerly current o (B) course is in error o (C) must come right to get on the range • (D) compass has some easterly error


56. Which publication contains information on Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) in time of emergency or war?

o (A) Pub. 102, International Code of Signals • (B) Pub. 117, Radio Navigational Aids o (C) Appropriate volume of the Sailing Directions o (D) Light List


57. When does a Doppler speed log indicate speed over ground?

o (A) At all times o (B) The unit can only speed over ground when there is no current • (C) When senseing the bottom in depths of less than 600 feet o (D) When the unit is in the volume reverberation mode


58. Which device maintains a continuous graphic record of the heading of the vessel?

• (A) The course recorder o (B) The auto pilot o (C) The AIS system o (D) The fathometer


59. When a low pressure area is approaching, which is generally TRUE of the weather?

• (A) The weather worsens o (B) The weather is unpredictable o (C) The weather improves o (D) The weather remains the same



9/5/2019

Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3 60. Geographic range is the maximum distance at which a light may be seen under which conditions?

o (A) Existing visibility conditions, limited only by the curvature of the Earth • (B) Perfect visibility conditions, limited only by the curvature of the Earth o (C) Existing visibility conditions, limited only by the intensity of the light o (D) Perfect visibility conditions, limited only by interference from background lighting


61. 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 014°T, and the variation is 11°E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 009° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation?

o (A) 5°E o (B) 5°W o (C) 6°E • (D) 6°W


62. What term is used to describe a tank barge constructed with the structural framing outside the cargo tank and the cargo tank plating separated from the shell plating?

• (A) Double hull o (B) Hopper type o (C) Shell plated o (D) Independent tank


63. Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, which category is a yellow buoy?

o (A) A safe water buoy • (B) A special purpose mark o (C) A junction buoy o (D) A cardinal mark


64. 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.



9/5/2019

Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3 65. Fog forms when which condition exists?

o (A) When the air is 90% water saturated o (B) When the air is 50% water saturated o (C) When the air temperature is greater than the dew point temperature • (D) When the air temperature is equal to, or below the dew point temperature


66. Which is TRUE of an alternating light?

o (A) It marks an alternate lesser used channel • (B) It shows a light that changes color o (C) It is used as a replacement for another light o (D) It shows a light with varying lengths of the lighted period


67. Which is TRUE of the velocity of the current in large coastal harbors?

o (A) The current is generally constant o (B) The current is generally too weak to be of concern o (C) The current is unpredictable • (D) The current is predicted in Tidal Current Tables


68. Which characteristic and color will a preferred-channel buoy show?

o (A) A group-occulting white light o (B) A composite group-flashing (2 + 1) white light o (C) A white light whose characteristic is Morse (A) • (D) A composite group-flashing (2 + 1) red or green light


69. What is published by the U.S. Coast Guard?

o (A) U.S. Coast Pilot • (B) Light List o (C) Nautical Charts o (D) Tide Tables



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Q322-Nav General-Great Lakes and Inland U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Illustrations: 3

70. Your ship is entering port from sea, and you sight a pair of range lights. When in line, they bear 315°per standard magnetic compass. The chart shows that the range bearing is 312°T, and that variationis 6°W. What is the deviation of your compass at the time of the sighting?

• (A) 3°Eo (B) 3°Wo (C) 9°Eo (D) 9°W



9/5/2019

National Maritime Center

Serving Our Nation's Mariners

8/29/2018

D010NG

Adapted for testing purposes only from BOWDITCH, The American Practical Navigator,

An Epitome of Navigation, Volume I, 1984 Edition

Copyright © 1984 by the Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center

Further reproduction prohibited without permission of 19 Q322 Nav General – Great Lakes and Inland



8/29/2018

D023NG

Adapted for testing purposes only from BOWDITCH, The American Practical Navigator,

An Epitome of Navigation, Volume I, 1984 Edition

Copyright © 1984 by the Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center


u.s.c.g. merchant marine exam master less than 500-1600 ... · q322-nav general-great lakes and...

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