U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Unlimited Tonnage ... · 9/9/2019 · free of permanent magnetism. Which are the correctors? • (A) Flinders bar and quadrantal spheres o (B)

National Maritime Center Serving Our Nation’s Mariners

U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam

Master Unlimited Tonnage Rivers

Q382-Navigation General-Rivers

(Sample Examination)

Page 1 of 13 Q382-Navigation General-Rivers

10/7/2020

Q382-Navigation General-Rivers U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Unlimited Tonnage Rivers Illustrations: 1

Choose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice Questions.

1. In the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, what do red and green horizontally-banded buoys mark?

o (A) Fishing grounds • (B) Junctions or bifurcations o (C) Channels for shallow draft vessels o (D) General anchorage areas

If choice B is selected set score to 1.

2. Your ship is returning to New Orleans from a foreign voyage and carrying a bulk cargo of anhydrous ammonia. Under what conditions must you must notify the Captain of the Port, New Orleans?

o (A) Only if your arrival will vary more than six hours from your ETA reported to AMVER o (B) Only if you have a hazardous condition aboard • (C) At least 96 hours before entering port o (D) If you are not participating in the USMER system

If choice C is selected set score to 1.

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


4. Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, which describes the daymarks on the left descending bank?

o (A) Red squares • (B) Red triangles o (C) Green squares o (D) Green diamonds



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Q382-Navigation General-Rivers U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Unlimited Tonnage Rivers Illustrations: 1 5. A current moving across a lock entrance toward the river or toward the dam is known by which term?

o (A) Lockwash o (B) Springpool • (C) Outdraft o (D) Cutoff


6. Yellow lights may appear on which buoys?

o (A) Horizontally-banded buoys o (B) Spherical buoys o (C) Vertically-striped buoys • (D) Special purpose buoys

If choice D is selected set score to 1.

7. When using an echo sounder in deep water, it is NOT unusual to encounter which situation?

o (A) Receiving a first return near the surface during the day, and a strong return at about 200 fathoms (366 meters) at night

• (B) Receiving a strong return at about 200 fathoms (366 meters) during the day, and one nearer the surface at night

o (C) To have to recalibrate every couple of days due to inaccurate readings o (D) Receiving false echoes at a constant depth day and night


8. Which instrument is used to predict the approach of a low pressure system?

• (A) Barometer o (B) Fathometer o (C) Thermometer o (D) Anemometer

If choice A is selected set score to 1.

9. Which type of cloud is composed entirely of ice crystals and is found at very high altitudes?

o (A) Stratus • (B) Cirrus o (C) Nimbostratus o (D) Cumulus



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Q382-Navigation General-Rivers U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Unlimited Tonnage Rivers Illustrations: 1 10. The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the right bank. This means that the light can be

seen on the starboard side of a vessel under which circumstances?

o (A) The vessel is crossing the river o (B) The vessel is proceeding from seaward o (C) The vessel is ascending the river • (D) The vessel is descending the river


11. A vessel sighting a northern right whale dead ahead should take which action?

o (A) Report the whale's position to the Canadian Coast Guard • (B) Immediately leave the area at slow speed o (C) Maintain course and speed o (D) Sound the vessel's whistle to alert the animal


12. Ascending and descending air masses with different temperatures is part of an important heat transmitting process in our atmosphere. Which term is given to this process?

• (A) Convection o (B) Barometric inversion o (C) Radiation o (D) Conduction


13. A List of Lights entry (L Fl) is a single flashing light which shows a long flash of not less than which duration?

o (A) 1.0 second duration o (B) 1.5 seconds duration • (C) 2.0 seconds duration o (D) 3.0 seconds duration


14. 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



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Q382-Navigation General-Rivers U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Unlimited Tonnage Rivers Illustrations: 1 15. Which of the following should be done when crossing the magnetic equator?

o (A) the quadrantal spheres should be rotated 180° o (B) Flinders bar should be moved to the opposite side of the binnacle • (C) heeling magnet should be inverted o (D) Flinders bar should be inverted


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

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


17. Brief, violent showers frequently accompanied by thunder and lightning are usually associated with __________.

o (A) stationary high pressure systems o (B) winds shifting counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere o (C) passage of a warm front • (D) passage of a cold front


18. You are ascending a river and exchanging navigational information via radiotelephone with a descending vessel. If the descending vessel advises you to "watch for the set" above point X, what would you expect to encounter above point X?

o (A) Shallow water o (B) An increase in current velocity o (C) Slack water • (D) A sideways movement of your vessel


19. What causes deviation in a magnetic compass?

o (A) The magnetic lines of force not coinciding with the lines of longitude o (B) A nearby magnetic land masses or mineral deposits • (C) The magnetic influence inherent to that particular vessel o (D) The changes in the earth's magnetic field



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Q382-Navigation General-Rivers U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Unlimited Tonnage Rivers Illustrations: 1 20. Which defines a bold reef?

• (A) A steep and prominent sandbar o (B) A reef that is perpendicular to the current o (C) A shallow reef o (D) A man made reef extending above the water


21. In the IALA Buoyage System, preferred-channel-to-port or preferred-channel-to-starboard buoys, which is TRUE when fitted with lights?

• (A) The light must be a composite group flashing (2 + 1) light o (B) The light will be quick flashing light o (C) The light shall be group flashing o (D) The light must be a long flashing light


22. 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 without a tow o (B) A power-driven vessel descending the river with a tow o (C) A power-driven vessel ascending the river with a tow • (D) All of the above


23. Which type of precipitation occurs only in thunderstorms with strong convection currents that convey raindrops above and below the freezing level?

o (A) Rime o (B) Sleet • (C) Hail o (D) Freezing rain


24. You are in charge of a power-driven vessel crossing a river on the Western Rivers. You must keep out of the way of __________.

o (A) a power-driven vessel ascending the river o (B) a sail vessel descending the river o (C) a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver crossing the river • (D) All of the above



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Q382-Navigation General-Rivers U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Unlimited Tonnage Rivers Illustrations: 1 25. You are in a channel in U.S. waters near an industrial plant with a load/discharge facility for barges.

You see an emergency rotating flashing light on the facility light up. What does this indicate?

o (A) A barge carrying a hazardous cargo is mooring or unmooring at the facility. o (B) A barge at the facility has commenced transferring a hazardous cargo. o (C) The facility is warning a barge to shut down transfer operations due to weather conditions

(electrical storm, tornado, hurricane, etc.). • (D) There is danger at the facility due to a fire or cargo release.


26. Where are buoys and day beacons exhibiting a yellow triangle or square painted on them used?

o (A) In minor harbors where the controlling depth is 10 feet (3 meters) or less • (B) Locations where the ICW and other waterways coincide o (C) Only at particularly hazardous turns of the channel o (D) On isolated stretches of the ICW to mark undredged areas


27. Which measurement uses mean high water as the reference plane?

o (A) Soundings on the East and West Coasts o (B) All vertical measurements on charts • (C) Heights above water of land features such as lights o (D) Water depths on the East Coast only


28. Entering from sea, how would a daymark on the port side of the channel be indicated on a chart?

o (A) A white square with the letters GR • (B) A green square with the letter G o (C) A white triangle with the letters RG o (D) A red triangle with the letter R


29. The revision date of a chart is printed on which area of the chart?

• (A) Lower left corner o (B) Top center o (C) Part of the chart title o (D) Any clear area around the neat line



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Q382-Navigation General-Rivers U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Unlimited Tonnage Rivers Illustrations: 1 30. 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 o (B) On daymarks with no lateral significance • (C) On preferred-channel buoys o (D) Only to identify the left descending bank


31. What will NOT induce errors into a Doppler sonar log?

• (A) Increased draft o (B) Excessive vibration o (C) Roll o (D) Pitch


32. In the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, the light characteristic of group flashing (2) is used for which purpose?

• (A) To mark the left descending bank o (B) To mark the right descending bank o (C) To indicate daymarks with no lateral significant o (D) To indicate the preferred channel


33. Some lights used as aids to marine navigation have a red sector to indicate a danger area. The limits of a colored sector of a light are listed in the Light List in which of the following manners?

o (A) Geographical positions outlining the area of the sector o (B) An outline of the area of the sector o (C) True bearings as observed from the light toward the ship • (D) True bearings as observed from the ship toward the light


34. Which is TRUE concerning daymarks marking the starboard side of the channel when going towards the sea?

o (A) The will be green triangles • (B) The will be green squares o (C) They will be red squares o (D) They will be red triangles



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Q382-Navigation General-Rivers U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Unlimited Tonnage Rivers Illustrations: 1

35. Which term is given to a light that has a light period shorter than its dark period?

o (A) Occulting• (B) Flashingo (C) Pulsatingo (D) Alternating


36. Your height of eye is 40 feet (12.2 meters). What is the approximate geographical distance at which Ambrose Light, NY, could be visible? Refer to "Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS".

o (A) 19.5 nm• (B) 21.0 nmo (C) 22.8 nmo (D) 18.3 nm


37. Which is the most commonly encountered fog at sea?

• (A) Advection fogo (B) Frontal fogo (C) Radiation fogo (D) Conduction fog


38. Quadrantal error in a gyrocompass has its GREATEST effect on which of the following?

o (A) When the vessel is near the equatoro (B) When the vessel is in high latitudeso (C) When the vessel is on north or south headings• (D) When the vessel is on intercardinal headings


39. A section of the river that is narrower than usual and is often navigable from bank to bank is a__________.

o (A) stabilized channel• (B) chuteo (C) navigable passo (D) slough



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Q382-Navigation General-Rivers U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Unlimited Tonnage Rivers Illustrations: 1 40. What does a white buoy with an orange circle marked on it indicate?

• (A) Operating restrictions are in effect o (B) A mooring buoy o (C) Vessels are excluded from the area o (D) Danger


41. Which defines the term relative humidity?

o (A) The maximum vapor content the air is capable of holding • (B) The ratio of the actual vapor content at the current temperature to the air's vapor holding

capability o (C) The maximum vapor content the air is capable of holding o (D) The relation of the moisture content of the air to barometric pressure


42. A drawbridge may use visual signals to acknowledge a vessel's request to open the draw. Which signal indicates that the draw will NOT be opened immediately?

o (A) A flashing white light o (B) A flashing amber light o (C) A white flag raised and lowered vertically • (D) A fixed red light


43. When compared to air temperature, which factor is most useful in predicting fog?

o (A) Absolute humidity o (B) Barometric pressure • (C) Dew point o (D) Vapor pressure


44. Which condition(s) is (are) necessary for the formation of dew?

o (A) Available nuclei in the air • (B) Clear skies o (C) Moderate winds o (D) A surface warmer than the dew point of the air



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Q382-Navigation General-Rivers U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Unlimited Tonnage Rivers Illustrations: 1 45. Under the IALA-A and B Buoyage Systems, what does a buoy with alternating red and white vertical

stripes indicate?

o (A) The preferred channel is to starboard o (B) The preferred channel is to port o (C) An isolated danger exists • (D) There is navigable water all around


46. Which is a characteristic of anticyclones?

o (A) Overcast skies o (B) Gustiness and continuous precipitation o (C) High winds and cloudiness • (D) Dry, fair weather


47. Which statement about gyrocompass error is TRUE?

o (A) The sign (E or W) of the error will change with different headings of the ship. o (B) Any error will remain constant unless the compass is stopped and restarted. o (C) Any error shown by a gyro repeater will be the same as the error of the master compass. • (D) The amount of the error and the sign will generally be the same on all headings.


48. What is the name of the region of high pressure extending around the Earth at about 35°N latitude?

o (A) The doldrums o (B) The troposphere o (C) The prevailing westerlies • (D) The horse latitudes


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

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



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Q382-Navigation General-Rivers U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Unlimited Tonnage Rivers Illustrations: 1 50. You are in a channel inbound from sea. A daymark used to mark a channel junction when the

preferred channel is to starboard will have the shape indicated by what letter in illustration D045NG below?

• (A) A o (B) B o (C) C o (D) D



10/7/2020

National Maritime Center

Serving Our Nation’s Mariners

9/10/2018

D045NG

Adapted for testing purposes only from CUTLER, Dutton’s Nautical Navigation, 15th edition

Copyright © 2004 by the U.S. Naval Institute

Further reproduction prohibited without permission


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U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam Master Unlimited Tonnage ... · 9/9/2019 · free of permanent magnetism. Which are the correctors? • (A) Flinders bar and quadrantal spheres o (B)