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

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What is the International VHF channel used for communicating distress?

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Leeway is the:

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

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

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A depthsounder indicates

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

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

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

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A distress signal

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How often do Island Boats have to be inspected?

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

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

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Distress signals include (select all correct)

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

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

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

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

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A fire in electrical equipment should be extinguished by using:

21 / 23

Which regulation governs the licensing of Island Boats in Bermuda?

22 / 23

A fathom is equal to how many feet?

23 / 23

Who inspects Island Boats?

Your score is

The average score is 61%

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.

Collision requirements 25b – sail boat less than 20 meters

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

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A “stand on” vessel is:

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

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When must a vessel proceed at a safe speed?

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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:

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

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What is the arc of visibility for a masthead light

8 / 46

What lights are displayed by a pilot vessel on duty

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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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When should shapes be displayed

18 / 46

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

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.

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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)

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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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

27 / 46

A look-out shall be maintained:

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Action taken to avoid a collision should be

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

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

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Which lights must sailboats show when underway at night?

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

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

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When must navigation lights be displayed

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;

35 / 46

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

36 / 46

What day shape is displayed by a vessel engaged in fishing

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What sound signal means “I am operating astern propulsion”

38 / 46

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

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

40 / 46

A risk of collision exists if:

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

42 / 46

When underway in a channel, you should:

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

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

45 / 46

What describes the arc of visibility for a stern light

46 / 46

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

Your score is

The average score is 53%

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 #102 (Great Sound)

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Ricketts Island (Great Sound)

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Irresistable Island Beacon (Granaway Deep)

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

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Hogfish Beacon (Spanish Point)

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Two Rock Passage – North Side

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Marker #44 (Great Sound)

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Marker #103 (Great Sound)

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Dockyard – North Breakwater

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Timlins Narrows (Hamilton Harbour)

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Marker #42 (Great Sound)

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Marker #38 (Great Sound)

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Pearl Island (Great Sound)

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Watford Bridge (Great Sound)

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Head of the Lane (Hamilton Harbour)

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Devonshire Dock (North Shore)

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Riddells Bay Entrance (Great Sound)

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Marker #33 (Great Sound)

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Dockyard – South Breakwater

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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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Marker #35 Stag Rock (Great Sound)

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

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Pompano Beacon (West End)

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Dagger Rock (Great Sound)

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Marker #26 (South Channel on North Shore)

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Two Rock Passage – South Side

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Wreck Hill Beacon – (Western/Hogfish Channel)

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Marker #99 (Great Sound)

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Marker #29 (Great Sound)

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Spectacle Island Beacon (Hamilton Harbour)

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Cavello Bay Beacon (Great Sound)

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Commodore’s Cottage (Dockyard)

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Hogfish Cut Beacon (West End)

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

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Marker #102 South End of Great Sound Channel

Your score is

The average score is 52%

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.

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Three Sisters Shoal Beacon (St George’s Harbour)

2 / 19

St David’s Island Lighthouse

3 / 19

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

4 / 19

Hen Island (St George’s Harbour)

5 / 19

Marker #20 (South Channel on North Shore)

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Marker #22 (South Channel on North Shore)

7 / 19

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

8 / 19

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

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Marker #15 (Narrows, East End)

10 / 19

Marker #21 (South Channel on North Shore)

11 / 19

Swing Bridge (St George’s)

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Marker #10 (Narrows, East End)

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Marker #16 (Narrows, East End)

14 / 19

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

15 / 19

Shelly Bay Shoal Beacon (South Channel on North Shore)

16 / 19

Higgs Island (St George’s Harbour)

17 / 19

Gibbet Island (North Shore)

18 / 19

Marker #20 (South Channel on North Shore)

19 / 19

Marker #1 (Narrows, East End)

Your score is

The average score is 64%

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

Distance on a nautical chart is measured by

2 / 9

NW on the compass points which direction in degrees

3 / 9

Compass deviation changes depending on

4 / 9

NE on the compass points which direction in degrees

5 / 9

SW on the compass points which direction in degrees

6 / 9

SE on the compass points which direction in degrees

7 / 9

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

8 / 9

How many feet per nautical mile

9 / 9

What is Bermuda’s IALA Region

Your score is

The average score is 58%

0%