Piloting and Navigation Flashcards
What feature(s) of a daymark is (are) used to identify the beacon upon which it is mounted?
A. Color and shape
B. Size
C. Method of construction
D. Signal characteristics
A. Color and shape
Red lights may appear on
A. Horizontally banded buoys
B. Vertically stripped buoys
C. Yellow buoys
D. Spherical buoys
A. Horizontally banded buoys
The annual change for variation for an area can be found in…
A. The handbook for Magnetic Compass Adjustment, Pub 226
B. The center of the compass rose on a chart of the area
C. The compass deviation table
D. Variation does not change
B. The center of the compass rose on a chart of the area
In which source could you find the number of a chart for a certain geographic area?
A. Chart No. 1
B. Catalog of Charts
C. American Practical Navigator
D. U.S. Coast Guard Light List
B. Catalog of Charts
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 listed in the light list in which of the following manners?
A. Geographic positions outlining the area of the sector
B. True bearings as observed from the ship toward the light
C. An outline of the area of the sector
D. True bearings as observed from the light towards the ship
B. True bearings as observed from the ship toward the light
On entering from seaward, a starboard side daymark will…
A. Show a fixed red light if lighted
B. Show a Morse (A) white light
C. Be square in shape
D. Have an even number if numbered
D. Have an even number if numbered
Which buoy may be odd numbered?
A. A spherical buoy
B. Unlighted can buoy
C. A red buoy
D. A yellow buoy
B. Unlighted can buoy
A triangular daymark would be colored…
A. Red
B. Red and white
C. Green
D. Green and white
A. Red
A nun buoy will…
Be green in color
Have an even number
Be left to port when entering from seaward
Be cylindrical in shape
Have an even number
Preferred channel buoys indicate the preferred channel to transit by…
A. Odd or even numbers
B. The color of their top band
C. The location of the buoy in the channel junction
D. The buoy’s light rhythms
B. The color of their top band
Which buoy may be even numbered?
A. Mid-channel buoy
B. Unlighted nun buoy
C. Lighted green buoy
D. All of the above
B. Unlighted nun buoy
Under the IALA-B Buoyage System, a conical buoy will be…
A. Red in color
B. Numbered with an odd number
C. Left to port when entering from seaward
D. All of the above
A. Red in color
Under IALA-B buoyage system, when entering from seaward, a buoy that should be left to port will be…
A. Black
B. Red
C. Green
D. Yellow
C. Green
What are the colors of a mid-channel daymark?
A. Black and red
B. Red and white
C. Green and yellow
D. Green and white
B. Red and white
What are the characteristics of an isophase light?
4 sec. Flash, 2 sec. Eclipse, 3 sec. Flash, 2 sec. eclipse
2 sec. Flash, 5 sec eclipse
1 sec. Flash, 1 sec. Eclipse
6 sec. Flash, 3 sec. Eclipse
1 sec. Flash, 1 sec. Eclipse
Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation system, a yellow buoy is a …
A. Safe water buoy
B. Junction buoy
C. Cardinal mark
D. Special purpose mark
D. Special purpose mark
A white buoy with a blue band is…
A. An isolated danger mark
B. A hydrographic data collection buoy
C. A mooring buoy
D. Marking a restricted area
C. A mooring buoy
What indicates a buoy that should be left to port when entering from sea? (U.S. Aids to Navigation)
A. White light
B. Group flashing characteristic
C. Nun shape
D. Odd number
D. Odd number
When entering a channel from seaward the numbers of the buoys…
A. Are the same as their light list number
B. Are marked in 6 inch figures with retroreflective material
C. Increase with the even numbers to starboard
D. Decrease with the odd numbers to starboard
C. Increase with the even numbers to starboard
The time required for a lighted aid to complete a full cycle of light changes is listed in the Light List as…
Set
Frequency
Period
Function
Period
To find the specific phase characteristic of a lighthouse on a sound of the United States you would use the…
A. American Practical Navigator
B. Light List
C. Nautical Chart Catalog
D. U.S. Coast Pilot
B. Light List
Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is…
A. Inconspicuous
B. Conspicuous
C. A government facility or station
D. A radio transmitter
B. Conspicuous
Mariners are first warned of serious defects or important changes to aids to navigation by means of…
A. Marine broadcast notice to mariners
B. Weekly Notice to Mariners
C. Corrected editions of charts
D. Light Lists
A. Marine broadcast notice to mariners
Which navigational mark may only be lettered?
A. An unlighted green, can buoy
B. A spherical buoy
C. A red buoy
D. A port side dayshape
B. A spherical buoy
What daymark shape is used in the lateral system?
A. Semicircle
B. Triangle
C. Pentagon
D. Diamond
B. Triangle
What is the light characteristic of a lighted preferred channel buoy?
A. Fixed and flashing
B. Continuous quick
C. Isophase
D. Composite group-flashing
D. Composite group-flashing
When you are steering on a pair of range lights and find the upper light is above the lower light you should… (inline)
A. Come left
B. Come right
C. Continue on present course
D. Wait until the lights are no longer in a vertical line
C. Continue on present course
In the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, red and green horizontally banded buoys mark…
Channels for shallow draft vessels
General anchorage areas
Fishing grounds
Junctions or bifurcation
Junctions or bifurcation
Buoys are marked with reflective material to assist in their detection by search light. Which statement is true?
A. A safe-water buoy will display red and white vertical stripes of reflective material
B. All reflective material is white because it is the most visible at night
C. A special-purpose mark will display either red or green reflective material to agree with its shape
D. A preferred-channel buoy displays either red or green reflective material to agree with the top band of color
D. A preferred-channel buoy displays either red or green reflective material to agree with the top band of color
The light rhythm of Morse (A) is shown on…
Preferred-channel buoys
Starboard or port-side buoys
Special marks
Safe water buoys
Safe water buoys
If a magnetic compass is not affected by any magnetic field other than the earth’s, which statement is true?
A. Compass error and variation are equal
B. Compass north will be true north
C. Variation will equal deviation
D. There will be no compass error
A. Compass error and variation are equal
The lubber’s line on a magnetic compass indicates__________.
compass north
the direction in which the boat’s bow is heading.
magnetic north
a relative bearing taken with an azimuth circle
the direction in which the boat’s bow is heading.
Deviation is not constant; it is different with every change in…
A. Speed
B. Vessel heading
C. Geographic location
D. Cargo
B. Vessel heading
To find a magnetic compass course from a true course you must apply…
A. Deviation and variation
B. Deviation
C. Variation
D. Magnetic anomalies (local disturbances)
A. Deviation and variation
The difference in degrees between true north and magnetic north is called….
Variation
Deviation
Drift
PSC
Variation
Which information does the outer ring of a compass rose on a nautical chart provide?
Variation
True directions
Magnetic directions
Annual rate of variation change
True directions
The deviation of a compass for a 235° compass course and a 232° true course with variation of 004°E is…
007°E
007°W
003°W
003°E
007*E
Your chart shows that 3 buoys in line bear 300° true. When in line with these buoys, your compass reads 322°. Your compass error is…
045° E
022°W
016° W
008°E
022°W
Deviation is caused by…
Changes in the earth’s magnetic field
Magnetic influence inherent to that particular vessel
Nearby magnetic land masses or mineral deposits
The magnetic lines of force not coinciding with the lines of longitude
Magnetic influence inherent to that particular vessel
The most important feature of the material used for making the binnacle of a standard magnetic compass is that it is__________.
nonmagnetic
weatherproof
corrosion resistant
capable of being permanently affixed to the vessel
nonmagnetic
Variation is not constant; it is different with every change in __________.
speed
geographic location
vessel heading
cargo
geographic location
You desire to steer a course of 045° magnetic. Your compass has a 005°E deviation on a heading of northeast. What would you steer…
040° PSC
045° PSC
035° PSC
030° PSC
040° PSC
As a vessel changes course to starboard, the compass card in a magnetic compass ____________.
A. remains aligned with compass north
B. also turns to starboard
C. first turns to starboard then counterclockwise to port
D. turns counterclockwise to port
A. remains aligned with compass north
The bearing of a range taken from the inner circle of the compass rose on a local chart was found to be 177°. The bearing of the same range taken on your vessel’s compass was 175° What was the deviation of the compass…
004°E
004°W
002°E
002°W
002°E
A vessel is heading 270° PSC. On this heading, the deviation is 004°W. The variation is 012°E. The true heading is…
228°T
238°T
268°T
278°T
278°T
The datum from which the predicted heights of tides are reckoned in the tide tables is…
Mean low water
The same as that used for the charts of the locality
The highest possible level
Given in table three of the tide tables
The same as that used for the charts of the locality
The term “flood Current” refers to that time when the water…
Is flowing towards land
Is moving towards the ocean
Level is not changing
Level is rising because of heavy rains
Is flowing towards land
In a river subject to tidal currents, the best time to dock a ship without the assistance of tugs is…
At slack water
At flood tide
When there is following current
At high water
At slack water
The point where the vertical rise or fall of tide has stopped is referred to as…
Slack water
The rip tide
The stand of the tide
The reverse of the tide
The stand of the tide
Mean high water is the average height of…
The higher high waters
The lower high waters
The lower of the two daily tides
All high waters
All high waters
The movement of water away from shore or downstream is called a(n)…
Reversing current
Ebb current
Flood current
Slack current
Ebb current
When the moon is new or full which type of tides occur?
Neap
Spring
Diurnal
Apogean
Spring
The velocity of the current in large coastal harbors is…
Unpredictable
Predicted in tidal Current Tables
Generally constant
Generally to weak to be of concern
Predicted in tidal Current Tables
Information about currents on the Pacific Coast of the U.S. is found in the…
Nautical Almanac
Tidal Current Tables
Ocean Current Tables
Tide Tables
Tidal Current Tables
The distance between the surface of the water and the tidal datum is the…
Range of tide
Height of tide
Charted depth
Actual water depth
Height of tide
Which term refers to the direction a current is flowing?
Set
Drift
Vector direction
Stand
Set
The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the…
Period
Range
Distance
Depth
Range
What does the term “tide” refer to?
Horizontal movement of the water
Vertical movement of the water
Mixing tendency of the water
Salinity content of the water
Vertical movement of the water
A tide is called diurnal when…
Only one high and one low water occur during a lunar day
The high tide is higher and the low tide is lower than usual
The high tide and low tide are exactly six hours apart
Two high tides occur during a lunar day
Only one high and one low water occur during a lunar day
The drift and set of tidal, river, and ocean currents refer to the…
Position and area of the current
Speed and direction toward which current flows
Type and characteristic of the current’s flow
None of the above
Speed and direction toward which current flows
The holding power of an anchor at a given scope of cable increases when the ___________.
amount of chain lying along the bottom increases
length of the catenary is reduced
mooring line tension is increased
amount of chain lying along the bottom decreases
amount of chain lying along the bottom increases
By paying out more anchor cable, you_________.
decrease the holding power of your anchor
decrease the swing of your vessel while at anchor
increase the holding power of your anchor
increase the possibility that your vessel will drag anchor
increase the holding power of your anchor
When a small craft’s anchor refuses to break free, the operator should ___________.
haul vertically on the line
back down using the force of the engine
run in a wide circle, slowly, to change the angle of pull
increase the scope with the anchor line taut
run in a wide circle, slowly, to change the angle of pull
The holding power of an anchor is primarily determined by the ___________.
anchor’s ability to dig in
shape of the anchor
stowage of the anchor on board
size of the vessel and its draft
anchor’s ability to dig in
What is the normal length of anchor cable used to anchor a vessel?
An amount equal to the depth of the water
Two times the depth of water
Three to four times the depth of water
Five to seven times the depth of water
Five to seven times the depth of water
Which type of bottom is best suited for holding an anchor of a small boat?
Hard mud and clay
Rock and coral
Loose sand
Gravel
Hard mud and clay
The best method of determining if a vessel is dragging anchor is to note_________.
the amount of line paid out
how much the vessel sheers while at anchor
any change in the tautness of the anchor chain
changes in bearings of fixed objects onshore
changes in bearings of fixed objects onshore
Which part of the anchor actually digs into the bottom and provide holding power?
Stock
Shank
Crown
Fluke
Fluke
While anchoring your vessel, the best time to let go the anchor is when the vessel is…
dead in the water
making slight sternway due to wind or current
moving fast ahead over the ground
moving fast astern over the ground
making slight sternway due to wind or current
To safely anchor a vessel there must be sufficient “scope” in the anchor cable. Scope is the ratio of_______________.
Weight of cable to weight of vessel
Weight of cable to weight of anchor
Length of anchor to depth of water
Length of cable to depth of water
Length of cable to depth of water
The BEST holding ground for a conventional anchor is ____________.
very soft mud
hard mud
shale
rock
hard mud
A sufficient amount of chain must be veered when anchoring a vessel to ensure ____________.
the vessel has enough room to swing while at anchor
the anchor flukes bite into the ocean bottom
there is a sufficient scope of chain to keep the anchor on the bottom
there is more chain out than there is in the chain locker
the anchor flukes bite into the ocean bottom
Using a scope of 6, determine how much anchor rode you should put out to anchor in 12 feet (3.7 meters) of water.
2 feet (0.6 meters)
18 feet (5.5 meters)
48 feet (14.6 meters)
72 feet (21.9 meters)
72 feet (21.9 meters)
The best method to stop a vessel from dragging anchor in a sand bottom is to _________.
reduce the length of the cable
pay out more anchor cable
back the engines
swing the rudder several times to work the anchor into the bottom
pay out more anchor cable
The line connecting the anchor with a vessel is called _________.
windless
rode
scope
vertical load
rode
Which general statement concerning radar is FALSE?
A. Raising the antenna height increases the radar range.
B. The ability of radar to detect objects is unaffected by weather conditions, especially dense rain.
C. Radar bearings are less accurate than radar ranges.
D. Radar should be checked regularly during clear weather to ensure it is operating properly.
B. The ability of radar to detect objects is unaffected by weather conditions, especially dense rain.
All depth sounders can measure the __________.
actual depth of the water
actual depth of the water below the keel
average depth from the waterline to hard bottom
average depth of the water to a soft bottom
actual depth of the water below the keel
The description “RACON” besides an illustration on a chart would mean a __________?
A. radar transponder beacon
B. radar conspicuous beacon
C. radar calibration beacon
D. circular radio beacon
A. radar transponder beacon
With regard to GPS, a civilian receiver will have the same accuracy as a military receiver if…
A. selective availability is set to zero
B. the satellites are all below 15° in elevation
C. your vessel is equipped with a Doppler receiver
D. horizontal dilution of precision is high
A. selective availability is set to zero
The highest level of navigational accuracy is provided by __________.
DGPS
DPPS
NAVSAT
DSPS
DGPS
When operated over a muddy bottom, a Fathometer may indicate__________.
a shallow depth reading
a zero depth reading
no depth reading
two depth readings
two depth readings
What does not contribute to the accuracy of a GPS?
Satellite and receiver clock timing errors
Ship’s speed
Position satellite errors
Atmospheric variations
Ship’s speed
Which of the following is NOT a limitation of radar
Minimum and maximum range settings.
Mechanical and electrical failures
Radar transmission is line of sight
Radar may be used at night in low visibility conditions.
Radar may be used at night in low visibility conditions.
When using GPS (Global Positioning System) you may expect your position to be accurate 95% of the time to within a radius of…
10 meters
20 meters
50 meters
100 meters
20 meters
You are approaching a light fitted with a RACON. The light may be identified on the radar by __________.
a dashed line running from the center of the scope to the light.
an audible signal when the sweep crosses the light.
a circle appearing on the scope surrounding the light.
a coded signal appearing on the same bearing at a greater range than the light.
a coded signal appearing on the same bearing at a greater range than the light.
In modern fathometers the sonic or ultrasonic sound waves are produced electrically by means of a(n)…
transmitter
transducer
transceiver
amplifier
transducer
What should you apply to a Fathometer reading to determine the depth of water?
Subtract the draft of the vessel.
Add the draft of the vessel.
Subtract the sea water correction.
Add the sea water correction.
Add the draft of the vessel.
What would give the best radar echo?
A 600-foot freighter, beam on.
The beam of a three masted sailing vessel with all sail set.
A 100-foot fishing vessel with a radar reflector in its rigging.
A 300-foot tanker, bow on.
A 600-foot freighter, beam on.
What would give the best radar echo?
A. The beam of a three masted sailing vessel with the sails set.
B. A 110-foot fishing vessel with a radar reflector in its rigging.
C. A 600-foot freighter.
D. A 300-foot tanker, bow on.
C. A 600-foot freighter.
Which statement concerning the operation of radar in fog is TRUE?
Radar ranges are less accurate in fog.
Navigation buoys will always show up on a radar.
A sandy beach will show up clearer on radar than a rocky cliff.
Small wooden boats may not show up on radar
Small wooden boats may not show up on radar.
Preferred channel, Isolated Danger, and Safe Water Marks: A. No Numbers B. May be Lettered C. May be Lighted D. All of the above
D. All of the Above
Port Side Aids
Green, Can, Odd, Square
Starboard Side Aids
Red, Nun, Even, Triangle
Isolated danger Aids
Red & Black Horizontal, No numbers, two Black balls, white light Only, Fl (2)s
Safe Water Aids
White & Red vertical, No numbers, one Red ball, white light only, Morse code A
Special Marks ICW
Yellow, Yellow light, fixed flashing,
Yellow Triangle: ICW leave to Starboard
Yellow Square: ICW Leave to Port
Yellow Band ICW: No lateral Information
