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General Navigation - USCG Exam Questions

Chart reading, the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, compass error, tides and currents, and the standard navigation publications.

Every question below is a real U.S. Coast Guard exam question with four choices. Answer one and the correct choice is revealed instantly, with the USCG reference and illustration where the question uses one.

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All General Navigation questions

Questions 2,501–2,600 of 2,639 · page 26 of 27

  1. #2706 Your vessel is steering 143°T at 16 knots. At 2147 a light bears 106°T and at 2206 the same light bears 078°T. What will be your distance off when abe...
  2. #2707 How are you informed of defects or changes in aids to navigation?
  3. #2708 Which characteristics will a lighted buoy that is to be left to starboard, when entering a U.S. port from seaward have?
  4. #2709 Which radar control is used to reduce sea return at close ranges?
  5. #2710 The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the left bank. This means that the light can be seen on the starboard side of a vessel under which...
  6. #2711 What does the "head of a bend" in a waterway refer to?
  7. #2712 What does a white buoy with a blue band signify?
  8. #2713 What is the function of a red triangular daymark?
  9. #2714 What are drawbridges equipped with radiotelephones required to display?
  10. #2715 You are underway and intend to make good a course of 350°T. You experience a current with a set and drift of 070°T at 1.5 knots, and a westerly wind p...
  11. #2716 All persons or vessels within the lock area, including the lock approach channels, come under the authority of which person?
  12. #2717 How do preferred channel buoys indicate the preferred channel to transit?
  13. #2718 What can be expected with the presence of stratus clouds and a dying wind?
  14. #2719 If your vessel were proceeding upriver (ascending), how is the port side of the channel marked according to the U. S. Aids to Navigation System on the...
  15. #2720 In regions near the poles, how are the winds generally described?
  16. #2721 Which time meridian is used when computing the velocity of the current for Pensacola Bay, Florida?
  17. #2722 If an observer in the Northern Hemisphere faces the surface wind, where is the center of low pressure located?
  18. #2723 By convention, what color is the north seeking end of a compass' magnet?
  19. #2724 On 10 November 2023 at 2030, you are inbound at Charleston Harbor Entrance Buoy “10” (ACT6611). What is the direction and velocity of the current you... illustration
  20. #2725 Geographic range is the maximum distance at which a light may be seen under which conditions?
  21. #2726 In the illustration, what two shapes shown are used to indicate a preferred channel? illustration
  22. #2727 Your vessel is on a course of 082°T at 19 knots. At 0255 a light bears 059.5°T, and at 0312 the light bears 037°T. At what time and distance off will...
  23. #2728 What is the color scheme of navigational marks used for informational or regulatory purposes?
  24. #2729 Which is TRUE of a special mark?
  25. #2730 Determine the approximate geographic visibility of an object, with a height above the water of 85 feet (25.9 meters), for an observer with a height of...
  26. #2731 Which government agency publishes the U.S. Coast Pilot?
  27. #2732 Where can information for updating paper nautical charts primarily be found?
  28. #2733 Which are associated with Cumulonimbus clouds?
  29. #2734 When considering currents, which defines the term set?
  30. #2735 On 15 October 2023, you will be docking on the Southern Branch Elizabeth River, VA at the first low tide. The berth is located between NOAA reference... illustration
  31. #2736 Which refers to the period at high or low tide during which there is no change in the height of the water?
  32. #2737 Which topmark shown in the illustration identifies an isolated danger? illustration
  33. #2738 When entering from seaward, what does a buoy displaying a single-flashing red light indicate?
  34. #2739 Where can complete information on weather broadcasts throughout the world be found?
  35. #2740 Which is TRUE of a shipborne Class A Automatic Identification System (AIS)?
  36. #2741 In the illustration, on an ECDIS S-57 compliant ENC, which symbol represents a Zone of Confidence (ZOC) U? illustration
  37. #2742 What color is a triangular daymark?
  38. #2743 Which dynamic information would an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmit every 2 to 10 seconds?
  39. #2744 Which of the sources contains information on Northern Right Whales?
  40. #2745 Which is TRUE of a nun buoy in the IALA Region B system of buoyage?
  41. #2746 On 3 October 2023, you will be docking at the Dundalk Marine terminals in Baltimore, MD at the second high tide. The berth is located between NOAA ref... illustration
  42. #2747 Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, which is TRUE of a preferred channel buoy?
  43. #2748 How is an occluded front represented on a weather map?
  44. #2749 Green lights may appear on which buoys?
  45. #2750 Which term defines a submerged dike extending from the bank of the river used to train the channel?
  46. #2751 Which term describes a tow that is properly aligned to pass through a narrow opening between two bridge piers or any other critical navigational maneu...
  47. #2752 As a vessel changes course to starboard, which is TRUE concerning the compass card in a magnetic compass?
  48. #2753 What is a section of the river that is narrower than usual and is often navigable from bank to bank?
  49. #2754 Which is TRUE of the direction of flow (channel) on the Corps of Engineer's Navigation Maps?
  50. #2755 You are underway and pass by a lighthouse. Its light, which was white since you first sighted it, changes to red. What does this indicate?
  51. #2756 Which is TRUE of a bluff bar?
  52. #2757 In the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, what do red and green horizontally-banded buoys mark?
  53. #2758 Who publishes the navigation charts of the Upper Mississippi River?
  54. #2759 When would cloud formations be minimal?
  55. #2760 (4.1.1.3A2.1-6) A daymark used to indicate the safe water in a channel will have which of the shapes shown in the illustration? illustration
  56. #2761 On entering from seaward, which is TRUE of a starboard side daymark?
  57. #2762 What does the abbreviation L.W.R.P. on the navigation maps mean?
  58. #2763 When observing a rapid rise in barometric pressure, what may you expect?
  59. #2764 Which measurement uses mean high water as the reference plane?
  60. #2765 While proceeding downriver (descending) you sight a red diamond-shaped panel with small, red reflector squares in each corner on the left bank. Under...
  61. #2766 In which situation is the light characteristic of composite group flashing (2 + 1) used in the Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers?
  62. #2767 In the IALA Buoyage System, preferred-channel-to-port or preferred-channel-to-starboard buoys, which is TRUE when fitted with lights?
  63. #2768 Which describes a deadhead?
  64. #2769 What does the agonic line on an isomagnetic chart indicate?
  65. #2770 As you enter a U.S. channel from seaward, which is TRUE concerning the numbers on the buoys?
  66. #2771 Which is a characteristic of anticyclones?
  67. #2772 Under the IALA cardinal system, what does a mark with a quick white light showing 6 flashes followed by one long flash indicate in relation to the loc...
  68. #2773 Which frontal system occurs when a cold air mass and a warm air mass meet, and there is no horizontal motion of either air mass?
  69. #2774 What does the Flinders bar on a magnetic compass compensate for?
  70. #2775 Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, which is TRUE of the topmark of a red and white vertically-striped buoy?
  71. #2776 The magnetic compass magnets are acted on by the horizontal component of the Earth's total magnetic force. Where is this magnetic force the GREATEST?
  72. #2777 What is the reference datum mean high water used to measure?
  73. #2778 The Daily Memorandum contains which information?
  74. #2779 Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a cardinal mark may NOT be used to indicate which of the following?
  75. #2780 The line of position should be plotted as a circle around the GP of the body when the Ho exceeds what minimum value?
  76. #2781 What is the proper name given to the movement of water away from the shore or downstream?
  77. #2782 Which defines a light's luminous range?
  78. #2783 The GP of a body for a high-altitude sight is determined from the declination and which other information?
  79. #2784 (4.3.2.1-28) What causes compass deviation?
  80. #2785 Which is TRUE of Radiation fog?
  81. #2786 While proceeding downriver, you sight a red triangular-shaped daymark on the left bank. What does this daymark represent under the U.S. Aids to Naviga...
  82. #2787 The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the right bank. In which situation can the light be seen on the port side of a vessel?
  83. #2788 (4.5.6.2-31) How are clouds formed?
  84. #2789 (4.4.2.1-21) Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?
  85. #2790 Which defines a bold reef?
  86. #2791 What do clearance gauges at bridges indicate?
  87. #2792 When is an air mass termed "warm"?
  88. #2793 What are drawbridges equipped with radiotelephones required to display?
  89. #2794 Steam fog is most likely to occur on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers in __________.
  90. #2795 INLAND ONLY A power-driven vessel when pushing ahead or towing alongside on the Western Rivers (above the Huey P. Long Bridge on the Mississippi River...
  91. #2796 How should a look-out, in the merchant service, report sightings?
  92. #2797 Which term is used to express the maximum distance at which a light may be seen under existing visibility conditions?
  93. #2798 How should a vessel spotted at 45° relative be reported?
  94. #2799 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which signal, other than a distress signal, can be used by a vessel to attract attention?
  95. #2800 What is the compass course of a vessel heading WSW?
  96. #2801 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel engaged in fishing during the day would show which shape?
  97. #2802 Which is TRUE of a nun buoy in the IALA Region B system of buoyage?
  98. #2803 Which is TRUE concerning compass error?
  99. #2804 INLAND ONLY Vessels "A" and "B" are meeting on a river as shown in the illustration and will pass 1/4 mile apart. Which is one of the lights on vessel... illustration
  100. #2805 A safe water daymark has what shape?

General Navigation questions: what to expect

Q How many General Navigation questions are in the Deck pool?

There are 2,639 General Navigation questions on this site, every one released by the U.S. Coast Guard or taken from the National Maritime Center's sample examinations, with its correct answer. The exam draws its General Navigation module from the same pool.

Q What score do I need to pass the General Navigation module?

Most USCG exam modules, including General Navigation, require 70 percent to pass. Rules of the Road modules require 90 percent.

Q Are these the real USCG General Navigation exam questions?

Yes. They are the published U.S. Coast Guard questions, matched to the National Maritime Center's 2026 sample examinations. Answer any question to see the correct choice, the USCG reference and the illustration where the question uses one.

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About the Deck question pool

The Deck pool holds the current U.S. Coast Guard questions for every deck credential, from Able Seaman and the OUPV six-pack up to unlimited Master. Each question is multiple choice with four options, graded instantly, with the USCG reference shown where one exists.