Pilot’s License Practice Exams

Below you can select individual sections or full tests covering content likely to be found on the Bermuda Marine Pilot License exam. Check out the Pilot License Guide for a description of what each section covers. Note the sections marked “A/B/C” are needed for all license classes, whereas those marked “A” and “B” specific to the West end and East end licenses only. If you are taking the “C” class license exam you must study and pass all sections at the same time.

This content is meant as a study aid only, and the author accepts no responsibility for accuracy. It is work in progress, please report any errors.

You can browse forward and backwards between the questions, and check/change your answers before you press the “Finish” button to see your results.

A special thank you to Cooper for help writing and uploading many of the test questions!

Pilot License A/B/C – General Safety and Regulation Questions

Required for all of the A, B, and C class licenses.

Questions on Island Boat regulations, distress signals, VHF operation and other general safety.

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A fire in electrical equipment should be extinguished by using:

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What word is used to denote the upcoming transmittal of a weather warning or safety message?

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Which regulation governs the licensing of Island Boats in Bermuda?

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Which regulation governs the licensing of Pilots and Engine Drivers in Bermuda?

5 / 23

Distress signals include (select all correct)

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How often do Island Boats have to be inspected?

7 / 23

A fathom is equal to how many feet?

8 / 23

Leeway is the:

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Which of the following are distress signals under the SOLAS Rules (select all correct)

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A distress signal

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Who inspects Island Boats?

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What signal should be used only when requesting immediate assistance with grave and imminent danger?

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A depthsounder indicates

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What is the International VHF channel used for communicating distress?

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Which of the following are distress signals under the SOLAS Rules (select all correct)

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Which signal can be used by a vessel to attract attention when not in distress?

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Where does an Island Boat license certificate have to be displayed?

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What is the approximate range of a standard mounted VHF radio? This would be a regular VHF radio installed in a boat with an antenna.

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Which vessel is, by definition, unable to keep out of the way of another vessel?

20 / 23

A fire has broken out on the stern of your boat. You should reposition your vessel so that the wind:

21 / 23

What type of message follows “Pan Pan” repeated three times over the radio?

22 / 23

What is the approximate range of a standard handheld VHF radio?

23 / 23

Which channels do Bermuda Harbour Radio use to transmit warnings and weather forecasts?

Your score is

The average score is 56%

0%

Pilot License A/B/C – Rules of the Road (SOLAS Regulations)

Required for all of the A, B, and C class licenses.

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is an international maritime treaty which sets out minimum safety standards in the construction, equipment and operation of merchant ships. Of particular focus for the Bermuda Pilot License are distress signals and rules of the road e.g. right of way.

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What day shape is displayed by a vessel engaged in fishing

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You are driving under power, and you see coming on your port side a sailing vessel on a collision course. You must:

3 / 46

A risk of collision exists if:

Rule 25 (d)(i) sailing vessel less than 7m may use a torch/lantern only in time to prevent collision

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Which of the following vessels is required to show a white light from a lantern (in sufficient time to prevent a collision)?

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Your power-driven vessel is underway when you sight a sailing vessel on your port bow. Which vessel is the ‘stand-on’ vessel?

Collision requirements 25b – sail boat less than 20 meters

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Which vessel may combine sidelights and sternlights in a single lantern?

7 / 46

A vessel is being propelled both by sail and by engines. Under the Rules, the vessel is

8 / 46

If two sailing vessels are moving with the wind on the same side, which one must
keep clear of the other?

9 / 46

What lights must a sailing vessel of 20 meters or more in length show when underway

10 / 46

If two sailing vessels are moving with the wind on the same side, which one has right of way?

11 / 46

In restricted visibility, you hear a signal of one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts every two minutes. What type of vessel is this

12 / 46

What is the day shape for a vessel “not under command” (NUC)

13 / 46

Vessels under sail have the right of way over power-driven vessels except

14 / 46

A power-driven vessel of 50 meters or more in length, when underway, must show how many masthead lights?

15 / 46

Per the COLREGs, what is the visibility range for a masthead light on a vessel 50 meters or more in length

16 / 46

A power driven vessel shall keep out of the way of a

17 / 46

When should shapes be displayed

18 / 46

A power-driven vessel shall keep out of the way of a:

19 / 46

The SOLAS Rules require that a stand – on vessel may take action to avoid a collision when she determines that:

20 / 46

Which vessel is “underway” within the meaning of the Rules?

21 / 46

When you see both the red and green lights on a vessel ahead, the best course of action is to:

22 / 46

What sound signal means “I am operating astern propulsion”

23 / 46

What lights are displayed by a pilot vessel on duty

24 / 46

What signal is used to express doubt about another vessel’s intentions or actions to avoid collision

25 / 46

When underway in a channel, you should:

26 / 46

What is the arc of visibility for a masthead light

27 / 46

Which lights must sailboats show when underway at night?

28 / 46

Action taken to avoid a collision should be

Rule 23(d)(ii) A power-driven vessel of less than 7 meters in length with a maximum speed of less than 7 knots is not required to show sidelights (red and green) and a sternlight, provided it exhibits an all-round white light.

29 / 46

A power-driven vessel of less than 7 meters in length with a maximum speed of less than 7 knots is not required to show which light(s)

30 / 46

A “stand on” vessel is:

31 / 46

When must navigation lights be displayed

32 / 46

What is the day shape for a vessel constrained by its draught (CBD)

33 / 46

What sound signal indicates a power-driven vessel is altering course to starboard when in sight of another vessel

34 / 46

Your vessel is casually drifting in a channel, but not disabled. Another vessel is approaching on your starboard side. Which statement is true?

35 / 46

A vessel over 100 meters in length at anchor in restricted visibility must sound which signal

36 / 46

What light(s), if any, would you show at night if your vessel was broken down and being
towed by another vessel?

37 / 46

When must a vessel proceed at a safe speed?

38 / 46

What describes the arc of visibility for a stern light

39 / 46

What signal should a vessel sound when approaching a bend in a narrow channel where other vessels may be obscured from sight

40 / 46

A look-out shall be maintained:

41 / 46

At night you see the red light of another boat off of your port bow. Which statement is true?

42 / 46

You are the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation. If the give-way vessel is not taking sufficient action to avoid collision, and you are in doubt, you should sound:

43 / 46

What lights would a vessel “not under command” (NUC) display at night

44 / 46

If you are approaching another vessel and cannot see the sidelights, you are considered

45 / 46

What factors should be taken into consideration in determining a safe speed? (select all correct answers)

Rule 23 (c)(i) A power-driven vessel of less than 12 m in length may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white light and sidelights;

46 / 46

A motor vessel less than 12 meters in length may at night show which of the following?

Your score is

The average score is 45%

0%

Pilot License A – Navigational Aids – West of Flatts Inlet

Required for the A class (West End) license

This comprehensive question bank includes all lighted navigational aids in the West End that may show up on the A class test. It is based on the official list provided by Marine and Ports in 2023.

You can see each of these markers on the Bermuda Marine Navigational Aids Map page of this website. Each individual marker the map can be clicked on to show a popup with full information such as flash pattern and other descriptive features.

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Marker #103 (Great Sound)

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Dockyard – South Breakwater

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Marker #38 (Great Sound)

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Spectacle Island Beacon (Hamilton Harbour)

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Irresistable Island Beacon (Granaway Deep)

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Marker #44 (Great Sound)

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Riddells Bay Entrance (Great Sound)

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Hogfish Beacon (Spanish Point)

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Cavello Bay Beacon (Great Sound)

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Marker #29 (Great Sound)

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Pompano Beacon (West End)

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Watford Bridge (Great Sound)

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Two Rock Passage – North Side

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Two Rock Passage – South Side

15 / 36

Marker #102 (Great Sound)

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Ricketts Island (Great Sound)

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Devonshire Dock (North Shore)

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Elbow Bouy (Southern Cardinal Mark, South Channel on North Shore)

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Marker #33 (Great Sound)

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Timlins Narrows (Hamilton Harbour)

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Marker #26 (South Channel on North Shore)

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Marker #42 (Great Sound)

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Marker #102 South End of Great Sound Channel

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Dockyard – North Breakwater

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Hogfish Cut Beacon (West End)

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Elbow Bouy (South Channel on North Shore)

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Marker #30 Grassy Bay (Great Sound)

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Commodore’s Cottage (Dockyard)

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Marker #40 Start of Turn from Great Sound to Two Rock Channel (Western Cardinal Marker)

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Pearl Island (Great Sound)

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Wreck Hill Beacon – (Western/Hogfish Channel)

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Hogfish Marker (Southwest End, used to be a tripod)

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Marker #99 (Great Sound)

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Marker #35 Stag Rock (Great Sound)

35 / 36

Dagger Rock (Great Sound)

36 / 36

Head of the Lane (Hamilton Harbour)

Your score is

The average score is 47%

0%

Pilot License B – Navigational Aids – East of Flatts Inlet

Required for the B class (East End) license only.

This comprehensive question bank includes all lighted navigational aids in the East End that may show up on the B class test. It is based on the official list provided by Marine and Ports in 2023.

You can see each of these markers on the Bermuda Marine Navigational Aids Map page of this website. Each individual marker the map can be clicked on to show a popup with full information such as flash pattern and other descriptive features.

1 / 19

Marker #21 (South Channel on North Shore)

2 / 19

Chalk Wharf (Northwest side of Town Cut, Entrance to St George’s Harbour)

3 / 19

Gibbet Island (North Shore)

4 / 19

Hen Island (St George’s Harbour)

5 / 19

St David’s Narrow (St George’s Harbour)

6 / 19

Higgs Island (St George’s Harbour)

7 / 19

Three Sisters Shoal Beacon (St George’s Harbour)

8 / 19

Horseshoe Island (St George’s Harbour, SG8 and SG10)

9 / 19

Marker #10 (Narrows, East End)

10 / 19

Marker #16 (Narrows, East End)

11 / 19

Marker #22 (South Channel on North Shore)

12 / 19

St David’s Island Lighthouse

13 / 19

Swing Bridge (St George’s)

14 / 19

Marker #1 (Narrows, East End)

15 / 19

Gates Fort (Northeast side of Town Cut, Entrance to St George’s Harbour)

16 / 19

Marker #15 (Narrows, East End)

17 / 19

Shelly Bay Shoal Beacon (South Channel on North Shore)

18 / 19

Marker #20 (South Channel on North Shore)

19 / 19

Marker #20 (South Channel on North Shore)

Your score is

The average score is 54%

0%

Pilot License C – Offshore Navigation including Compass and Marine Charts

Required for the C class (offshore) license only.

Note, the example questions in this quiz are not a comprehensive overview of the full class C license exam. In the real exam you will also need to do practical application of various navigation techniques such as a Running Fix, Transit Bearing, and Cross Bearing on a Marine Map. See the Pilots License Exam Info page for more detail.

1 / 9

What is Bermuda’s IALA Region

2 / 9

NW on the compass points which direction in degrees

3 / 9

NE on the compass points which direction in degrees

4 / 9

Distance on a nautical chart is measured by

5 / 9

Compass deviation changes depending on

6 / 9

How many feet per nautical mile

7 / 9

SW on the compass points which direction in degrees

8 / 9

SE on the compass points which direction in degrees

9 / 9

How many degrees are there per point in a traditional 32-point compass

Your score is

The average score is 49%

0%