USCG Exam Prep
Navigation General Practice Questions
Piloting, tides and currents, aids to navigation, and dead reckoning — the everyday skills of keeping track of where your vessel is.
213 Navigation General questions are in the Binnacle School bank (2,256 total across all 12 USCG categories). Here are 5 to try right now — answers and explanations included.
1. A vessel departs a known position at 0800 on course 090°T at 12 knots. What is the DR position at 1100?
- A.36 nautical miles east of the departure point✓
- B.24 nautical miles east of the departure point
- C.48 nautical miles east of the departure point
- D.36 nautical miles west of the departure point
Why: Time elapsed = 1100 - 0800 = 3 hours. Distance = Speed × Time = 12 × 3 = 36 nm. Course 090°T is due east, so the DR position is 36 nm east of departure.
2. A running fix is generally considered less reliable than a fix from simultaneous bearings because:
- A.Only one lighthouse can be used for a running fix
- B.The accuracy depends on the precision of the course and distance run between observations✓
- C.Running fixes cannot be plotted on Mercator charts
- D.A running fix always results in a larger cocked hat
Why: A running fix requires advancing an earlier LOP, which depends on knowing the exact course made good and distance run between bearings. Any errors in CMG (from current, leeway, or compass error) or distance run will introduce error into the advanced LOP and the resulting fix.
3. Variation: 20° W, Deviation: 4° W. A compass course of 350° converts to what true course?
- A.326°✓
- B.334°
- C.366° (006°)
- D.374° (014°)
Why: Compass→True (correcting): add East, subtract West. Magnetic = 350° − 4°W = 346°. True = 346° − 20°W = 326°. Answer: 326°T.
4. One degree of latitude on a nautical chart is equal to:
- A.60 nautical miles✓
- B.60 statute miles
- C.69 nautical miles
- D.One nautical mile
Why: By definition, one minute of latitude equals one nautical mile; therefore one degree of latitude (60 minutes) equals exactly 60 nautical miles, which is the basis for using the latitude scale to measure nautical miles.
5. A chart symbol showing an anchor with a circle around it indicates:
- A.A prohibited anchorage
- B.A recommended anchorage✓
- C.A fish haven obstruction
- D.An abandoned anchor wreck
Why: In Chart No. 1, an anchor with a surrounding circle denotes a recommended or designated anchorage. A prohibited anchorage is typically shown with the same anchor symbol but with a magenta circle and cross (prohibition symbol) or magenta text. Fish havens use an obstruction symbol with foul-ground notation.
Drill all 213 Navigation General questions
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