National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners Master TV to Master Less than 500 Gross Registered Tons Oceans or Near Coastal (Sample Examination) Page 1 of 5
Choose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice Questions. 1. You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 37 47.2' on 11 October. The index error is 3.0' off the arc. The height of eye is 63 feet (19.2 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? o (A) 37 25.2' o (B) 37 42.5' o (C) 37 51.5' (D) 37 57.5' 2. A great circle crosses the equator at 93 W. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude? o (A) 177 E o (B) 177 W (C) 87 E o (D) 13 E 3. The great circle distance from LAT 35 08.0'S, LONG 19 26.0'E to LAT 33 16.0'S, LONG 115 36.0'E is 4559 miles and the initial course is 121 T. Determine the longitude of the vertex. o (A) 72 18.3'E o (B) 69 19.1'E (C) 65 45.9'E o (D) 26 50.9'E 4. The tropical year differs from which year by 20 minutes? o (A) Astronomical year o (B) Equinoctial year (C) Sidereal year o (D) Natural year Page 2 of 5
5. On 22 February your 0800 zone time position is LAT 24 16'S, LONG 95 37'E. Your vessel is on course 126 T at a speed of 14 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0945 zone time. The chronometer reads 03h 47m 22s, and the chronometer error is 02m 37s fast. The observed altitude (Ho) is 57 02.1'. LAN occurs at 1148 zone time, and a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is made. The observed meridian altitude (Ho) is 75 22.3'. Determine the vessel's 1200 zone time position. o (A) LAT 24 49.3'S, LONG 96 24.0'E o (B) LAT 24 49.3'S, LONG 96 27.2'E (C) LAT 24 52.2'S, LONG 96 24.0'E o (D) LAT 24 52.2'S, LONG 96 27.2'E 6. On 13 October your 0515 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 26 53.0'N, LONG 90 05.0'W. Your vessel is on course 068 T, and your speed is 7.8 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1145 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 54 51.5'. What is the latitude at 1200 ZT? (A) 27 13.3'N o (B) 27 14.6'N o (C) 27 15.7'N o (D) 27 16.8'N 7. On 16 July at 2000 zone time, you take a sextant observation of Polaris. Your vessel's DR position is LAT 27 22.0'N, LONG 148 35.0'W, and your sextant reads 26 57.5'. Your chronometer reads 05h 59m 16s, and your chronometer error is 01m 28s slow. Your height of eye is 48 feet, and the index error for your sextant is 1.3' off the arc. What is the latitude of your vessel from your observation of Polaris? o (A) 26 52.1'N o (B) 26 58.8'N (C) 27 36.1'N o (D) 27 43.4'N 8. You are on course 355 T and take a relative bearing of a lighthouse of 275. What is the true bearing of the lighthouse? (A) 270 o (B) 080 o (C) 280 o (D) 085 Page 3 of 5
9. On 10 April, your 1630 ZT DR position is LAT 21 03.0'N, LONG 63 11.0'W. You are on course 324 T at a speed of 22 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? o (A) 1805 o (B) 1814 o (C) 1818 (D) 1833 10. Which of the four adjustable errors in the sextant causes side error? o (A) Index mirror not being perpendicular to the frame o (B) Elliptical centering error (C) Horizon glass not being perpendicular to the frame o (D) Telescope not being parallel to the frame 11. On 14 January your 0550 DR position is LAT 25 26.0'N, LONG 38 16.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 043 T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 37 12.1'. The chronometer reads 08h 48m 51s, and is 01m 22s slow. What star did you observe? o (A) Gacrux o (B) Gienah (C) Eltanin o (D) Kochab 12. On 2 February your 0400 zone time DR position is LAT 24 14.0' N, LONG 163 28.0' W. You are on course 322 T at a speed of 22 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time? o (A) Jupiter, Spica, Denebola o (B) Saturn, Polaris, Zubenelgenubi o (C) Jupiter, Saturn, Polaris (D) Saturn, Antares, Rasalhague 13. distance in miles between the circle of equal altitude for the observed altitude (Ho) and the circle of equal altitude for the computed altitude (Hc) is the. (A) intercept o (B) zenith distance o (C) zenith angle o (D) equation of time Page 4 of 5
14. On 12 July your 0800 ZT DR position is LAT 24 15.0'N, LONG 132 30.0'W. Your vessel is on course 045 T at a speed of 15.0 knots. What is the ZT of local apparent noon (LAN)? o (A) 1146 o (B) 1148 (C) 1152 o (D) 1159 15. Determine the distance from LAT 63 54.0'N, LONG 04 52.0'E to LAT 63 54.0'N, LONG 18 24.0'W by parallel sailing. o (A) 608.6 miles o (B) 610.9 miles o (C) 612.3 miles (D) 614.2 miles Page 5 of 5