PCOC Navigation and Route Planning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When reading a nautical chart, what does a number printed in blue or white water areas indicate?
- Water depth in feet or fathoms (Correct answer)
- Distance from shore in nautical miles
- A restricted anchoring zone
- A navigation hazard marker
Correct answer: Water depth in feet or fathoms
Numbers on nautical charts indicate water depth, shown in feet, fathoms, or meters depending on the chart.
Question 2: What does a flashing green buoy mark when navigating a U.S. waterway?
- The left (port) side of the channel when returning from sea (Correct answer)
- The right (starboard) side of the channel when returning from sea
- A dangerous underwater obstruction
- A speed restriction zone
Correct answer: The left (port) side of the channel when returning from sea
Green buoys mark the port (left) side of the channel when returning from sea under the IALA-B system used in the U.S.
Question 3: What is a 'waypoint' in GPS navigation?
- A pre-programmed geographic coordinate used as a navigation reference (Correct answer)
- A chart notation indicating shallow water
- A mandatory reporting location for vessels
- A landmark used for visual bearings
Correct answer: A pre-programmed geographic coordinate used as a navigation reference
A waypoint is a specific geographic coordinate entered into a GPS unit to mark a destination or route point.
Question 4: When planning a coastal route, what does 'leeway' refer to?
- The sideways drift of a vessel caused by wind (Correct answer)
- Extra fuel carried for emergencies
- The distance kept from a hazard
- A legal margin for speed limits
Correct answer: The sideways drift of a vessel caused by wind
Leeway is the lateral drift of a boat downwind from its intended course due to wind pressure.
Question 5: You are approaching a drawbridge that has two short horn blasts. What does this signal mean?
- The bridge will not open (Correct answer)
- The bridge is opening
- Danger — stop immediately
- You must wait 15 minutes
Correct answer: The bridge will not open
Two short blasts from a drawbridge tender means the bridge cannot open at that time.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a 'range' on a nautical chart?
- Two aligned markers that guide a vessel along a safe centerline (Correct answer)
- A measurement of radar signal distance
- The maximum depth in a channel
- A warning area around a military zone
Correct answer: Two aligned markers that guide a vessel along a safe centerline
A range consists of two lights or markers that, when aligned, indicate the vessel is on the safe center of a channel.
Question 7: What does a circle with a cross symbol on a nautical chart typically represent?
- A church or landmark used for visual navigation (Correct answer)
- An anchorage area
- A shipwreck hazard
- A prohibited fishing zone
Correct answer: A church or landmark used for visual navigation
A circle with a cross on a nautical chart denotes a prominent landmark such as a church spire useful for visual fixes.
PCOC Navigation and Route Planning 2
When reading a nautical chart, what does a number printed in blue or white water areas indicate?