CADET Seaman Apprentice 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes 'dead reckoning' in navigation?
- Using GPS satellite signals to fix position
- Estimating current position using a known past position, heading, speed, and time elapsed (Correct answer)
- Navigating by observing celestial bodies
- Using radar to detect nearby landmasses
Correct answer: Estimating current position using a known past position, heading, speed, and time elapsed
Dead reckoning calculates current position from a previously known position by accounting for speed, heading, and elapsed time.
Question 2: What does the term 'abeam' mean relative to a vessel's position?
- Directly ahead of the vessel
- Directly behind the vessel
- At a right angle to the vessel's centerline (Correct answer)
- Below the waterline
Correct answer: At a right angle to the vessel's centerline
Abeam refers to a direction or object that is at a 90-degree angle to the ship's keel, on either side.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a 'watch bill' in naval operations?
- A financial record of crew expenses
- A schedule assigning crew members to standing watch duties (Correct answer)
- A maintenance log for navigational equipment
- A manifest listing cargo aboard the vessel
Correct answer: A schedule assigning crew members to standing watch duties
A watch bill is a duty roster that assigns crew members to specific watch stations and times.
Question 4: Which international distress signal involves raising and lowering outstretched arms slowly and repeatedly?
- Morse code SOS
- Pyrotechnic flare signal
- Visual distress signal by body movement (Correct answer)
- Sound signal using a foghorn
Correct answer: Visual distress signal by body movement
Slowly raising and lowering outstretched arms is a recognized visual distress signal that can be used when other equipment is unavailable.
Question 5: What is a 'fathom' as a unit of nautical measurement?
- One nautical mile
- Six feet of depth (Correct answer)
- One-tenth of a knot
- 100 meters of horizontal distance
Correct answer: Six feet of depth
A fathom equals six feet and is traditionally used to measure water depth.
Question 6: When boarding a vessel using a Jacob's ladder, you should always keep:
- Both hands on the rungs and feet on the side ropes
- Three points of contact with the ladder at all times (Correct answer)
- Your body leaning away from the ship's hull
- Your back to the vessel at all times
Correct answer: Three points of contact with the ladder at all times
Maintaining three points of contact (two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand) ensures safety while climbing a Jacob's ladder.
Question 7: What type of anchor is most commonly used on small Canadian naval and coast guard vessels?
- Mushroom anchor
- Danforth (fluke) anchor (Correct answer)
- Grapnel anchor
- Sea anchor
Correct answer: Danforth (fluke) anchor
The Danforth or fluke anchor is widely used on small vessels due to its excellent holding power and compact storage.
CADET Seaman Apprentice 3
Which of the following best describes 'dead reckoning' in navigation?