UNIT 4 Mercator Sailing

4.1 Describe the Mercator Chart, Mercator Projections.

4.2 Define Meridional Parts and DMP.
4.3 List advantages of Mercator sailing over plane sailing.
4.4 Solve problems of Mercator sailing, Compass Corrections (Variation and Deviation, True
course. Magnetic course,Compass course).

Note: Single Correct Option. One option is correct out of four.

1. Which of the following is correct for Mercator Projection?

I. It is a cylindrical projection
II. It is two dimensional representation of three dimensional curved surface
III. Rhumb lines are curved line on Mercator Chart

A) I
B) II
C) I& II
D) II & III
Option C

2. All lines drawn on a Mercator Chart are

A) Cut all meridians at the same angle
B) Cut all meridians at the different angle
C) Great circles
D) Both A & B
Option A
3. On a globe , great circle paths are ________________.

A) curves,
B) straight lines
C) plane triangles
D) orthomorphic

Option B
4. Mercator charts are termed orthomorphic which means
A) Directions are different
B) Directions are same
C) Directions are maintained despite change in size
D) Size is maintained despite different directions
Option C
 5. On a globe, rhumb lines are ______________
A) curves,
B) straight lines
C) plane triangles
D) orthomorphic

Option A

6. Which of the following is CORRECT for Mercator Chart.

I. Chart is orthomorphic
II. Equator appears as curved line
III. All meridians appear as straight lines parallel to each other.

A) I
B) II
C) I & II
D) I & III
Option D
7. Which of the following is the characteristic of Mercator chart?
A) The distance between two consecutive meridians is constant
B) All meridians cross equator at different angles
C) All meridians and parallels of latitude cross at various angles
D) Parallels of latitude appear as curved lines

Option A
8. The distance between consecutive parallels of latitude on a Mercator chart
A) Decreases
B) Increases
C) Decrease with latitude
D) Increases with latitude
Option D

9. In Mercator Chart, one minute of d’long is

A) Variable
B) Equal to Dlat
C) Constant in all parts of chart
D) Dependent on rhumb line

Option C

10. Which of the following is/are characteristic (s) of Mercator Chart?

I. Polar regions do not appear
II. Rhumb line appears as straight line
 III. Great circle path always lies on the pole ward side of rhumb line

A. I & II
B. I & III
C. II & III
D. I, II & III

Option D

11. One minute of d’lat increases on a Mercator chart as we go

A) Towards equator
B) Away from equator
C) Away from North Pole
D) Away from South Pole

Option B

12. On a Mercator chart, the distances are measured in any direction using
A) Minutes of latitude scale
B) Minutes of longitude scale
C) Minutes of equatorial scale
D) Minutes of variable scale

Option A

13. The size of one minute of latitude on a Mercator Chart

A) Decreases with latitude
B) Increases with latitude
C) Decreases with longitude
D) Remains constant
Option B

14. On a Mercator Chart, all meridians are parallel. Therefore, length of

A) Latitude scale is variable

B) One minute of D’lat is same
C) One minute of D’long is same
D) Latitude scale is constant

Option C
15. Meridional part of a latitude is defined as the distance measured from the equator to a
parallel of latitude using
A) Minutes of lat scale
B) Minutes of longitude scale
 C) Any scale of the chart
D) Minutes of equatorial scale

Option B
16. A difference of meridional part ( DMP) is defined as
A) North- South separation between their parallels of latitude expressed in minutes of
longitude
B) North- South separation between their parallels of latitude expressed in minutes of
latitude
C) North- South separation between their longitudes expressed in minutes of longitude
D) North- South separation between their latitudes

Option A

17. If you measure North- South separation between two parallels of latitude along the
latitude scale on a Mercator Chart, you would get
A) D’lat
B) D’long
C) Departure
D) DMP

Option A

18. In the adjoining diagram, side AC represents

A) D’lat
B) D’long
C) DMP
D) Distance

Option C

19. A plane sailing triangle can be

superimposed on the Mercator sailing
triangle as shown in the adjacent
diagram. Side DE represents
A) Dlat
B) Departure
C) DMP
D) True Course
Option B

20. What is the advantage of Mercator sailing over plane sailing?

A) You can use for distances more than 100 miles
B) You can use for distances more than 400 miles
C) You can use for distances less than 600 miles
D) You can use for any distances as it does not have limitation of 600 miles

Option D

21. Find the Rhumb line course between A - 02° 12’ S 160° 18’ W and B - 10° 19’ N 140° 40’ W
A) 057° 32.5’( T)
B) 067° 32.5’( T)
C) 077° 32.5’( T)
D) 087° 32.5’( T)

Option A

D’lat = 751’ N D’long =1178’ E

MP of lat1 = 131.10

MP of lat2 = 618.18

DMP = 749.28

TanƟ = D’long / DMP

Ɵ = 57° 32.5’ = N57° 32.5’E = 057° 32.5’ T

22. Find the Rhumb line distance between A - 02° 12’ S 160° 18’ W and B - 10° 19’ N 140° 40’
W.
A) 1299.3 NM
B) 1399.3 NM
C) 1499.3 NM
D) 1599.3 NM
Option B
cosƟ = D’lat / dist.
Dist. = 751 / cos 57° 32.5’ = 1399.3 Nm
23. Find the Rhumb line course between A - 40° 18’ N 100° 20’ W and B - 68° 00’ N 140° 10’ E.
 A) 272°33.3’(T)
B) 282°33.3’(T)
C) 292°33.3’(T)
D) 262°33.3’(T)
Option C
D’lat = 1662’ N D’long =7170’ W

MP of lat1 = 2631.10

MP of lat2 = 5609.09

DMP = 2977.99

TanƟ = D’long / DMP

Ɵ = 67°26.7’ = N 67°26.7’ W= 292°33.3’ T

24. Find the Rhumb line distance between A - 40° 18’ N 100° 20’ W and B - 68° 00’ N 140° 10’ E.
A) 4333.9 NM
B) 4633.9 NM
C) 4366.6 NM
D) 4699.3 NM

Option A

cosƟ = D’lat / dist.

Dist. = 4333.9 nm

25. A ship started from position 06° 10’ S 176° 47’ W and did Rhumb Line sailing for 333°(T)
through 4450 Nm. Find the arrival latitude.

A) 390 55’ N
B) 490 55’ N
C) 590 55’ N
D) 690 55’ N

Option C
cosƟ = D’lat / dist.

D’lat = 3964.98’ = 66°05’ N

Arrival lat = 59° 55’ N

26. A ship started from position 06° 10’ S 176° 47’ W and did Rhumb Line sailing for 333°(T)
through 4450 Nm. Find the arrival longitude.
A) 1410 54.1’ E
B) 1510 54.1’ E
C) 1410 54.1’ W
D) 1710 54.1’ E

Option A

MP of lat1 = 368.20

MP of lat2 = 4497.11

DMP = 4865.31

TanƟ = D’long / DMP

D’long = 41° 18.9’W

Arr long= 176 deg 47’W + 41 deg 18.9 W= 218 deg 5.9 W= 1410 54.1’ E

27. If compass course is 0500 ( C), variation 20 E, deviation 40W, what will be true course?
A) 0480 ( T)
B) 0520 ( T)
C) 0540 ( T)
D) 0460 ( T)

CE= 2W, True Co= 050-2= 048. Option A

28. If true course is 1500 ( T), variation 20 E, deviation 40W, what will be compass course?
A) 1480 ( T)
B) 1520 ( T)
C) 1560 ( T)
D) 1460 ( T)

CE= 2 W, Compass= 150+2 W= 152 (C). Option B

29. Find the compass course to steer to make good a true course of 3400 if the variation is 50 E and
deviation is 60 E.
A) 319
B) 329
C) 339
 D) 369

CE= 110 E, Compass Co= True co- CE= 340(T)-11= 329(C). Option B

30. The compass bearing of the sun was observed to be 2210 (C). At the same time the true bearing was
calculated to be 2250 (T). If the variation was 80 E, find the deviation for the ships head.
A) 40 E
B) 60 E
C) 40 W
D) 50 E

CE= 4 E, Compass least, error east, 8E+ Dev= 4E, Dev= 4 W. Option C

31. What is Rhumb Line ?

I. It is a curve on the earth’s surafce
II. It represants a line of constant course
III. It crosses all meridians at different angle
A) I
B) II
C) I & II
D) I, II & III

Option C

32. A Rhumb line will appear on the surface of earth as

A) Straight line
B) Parallel line
C) Curved line away from pole
D) Spiral towards pole

Option D

33. Which of the following is/are related with Mercator Projection?

I. It is used for the majority of navigational charts
II. There is some distortion produced by this projection
III. The properties of distortion are most adavantageous to the navigator.
A) I
B) II
C) II & III
D) I, II & III

Option D

34. Most important and essential requirements of navigator’s chart is that rhumb line is portrayed on
the chart as
 A) Curved line
B) Straight line
C) Spiral toward pole
D) Distorted line

Option B

35. Which of the following is True related to distortion in Mercators Chart?

I. The distortion has little effect upon the use to which the chart is to be put
II. The distoration decreases with latitude
III. It varies as secant of the latitude
A) I
B) II
C) II & III
D) I & III

Option D

36. The latitude scale is streched by the same amount by which the Mercator chart is distoarted in E-W
direction by showing
A) Converging meridians as curved line
B) Converging meridians as parallel line
C) Converging latitudes as curved line
D) Converging latitudes as straight line

Option B

37. Mercator’s projection is not suitable for showing regions of high latitude because of
A) Excessive distortion
B) Small distortion
C) Longitude
D) Natural scale

Option A

38. The distance on a Merctor chart are measured against the ____________ as near as possible in
their own _________.
Choose the right pair.

A) Latitude scale, longitude

B) Latitude scale, latitude
C) Longitude scale, latitude
D) Longitude scale, longitude

Option B

39. For larger distances, it is much better to

A) Use latitude scale
 B) Longitude scale
C) DMP Scale
D) Calculate mathemaically

Option D

40. On a Mercator Chart, latitude scale is ued to indicate as follows:

I. One minute of the scale as one nautical mile

II. One minute of the scale as one statute mile
III. One minute of the scale as one geographical mile
IV. Scale of measuring distance
A) I
B) III
C) I & III
D) I & IV

Option D

41. What is the use of longitude scale on a Mercator Chart?

A) Plotting a latitude
B) Measuring distance
C) Plotting longitude
D) Findind DMP

Option C

42. Meridional parts for any latitude is

A) Length along a meridian on a Mercator Chart between equator and that parallel of latitude
expressed in units of latitude scale
B) Length along a meridian on a Mercator Chart between equator and that parallel of latitude
expressed in units of longitude scale
C) Length along a meridian on a Mercator Chart between equator and that parallel of latitude
expressed in units of meridional scale
D) Length along a meridian on a Mercator Chart between poles and that parallel of latitude
expressed in units of longitude scale

Option A

43. DMP between any two latitudes is the length of a meridian on a Mercator chart between the
A) Two parallels expressed in units of the laltitude scale
B) Two meridians expressed in units of the longitude scal
C) Two parallels expressed in units of the longitude scale
D) Two meridians expressed in units of the latitude scale
Option C

44. Mercator sailing may be used to find the course and distance between any two positions on the
earth’s surface. The hypotenuse of Mercator sailing traingle represants
A) Latitude
B) Longitude
C) Departure
D) Distance

Option D

45. Which of the following is CORRECT relation ship for Mercator Sailing traingle?
A) D’long= DMP X Sin Course
B) D’long= DMP X Cos Course
C) D’long= DMP X tan Course
D) D’long= Dep X tan Course

Option C

46. Distance between two positions can be computed using following formula?
A) Distance = D’lat X Cos Latitude
B) Distance = D’lat X Sin Latitude
C) Distance = D’lat X tan Latitude
D) Distance = D’lat X Sec Latitude

Option D

47. By Mercator Sailing, find true course between 490 10’ N, 0120 30’W and 25015’ N, 026050’W .
A) 2000 (T)
B) 2050 (T)
C) 2150 (T)
D) 2250 (T)

Dlat = 1435’S, MP1= 3379.6, MP2= 1556.6, DMP= 1823, Dlong= 140 20’W = 860’W
 Tan co= 860/1823= S250 15.3’ W = 205.255 0 ( T) Option B

48. By Mercator Sialing, find the distance in nautical miles between 490 10’ N, 0120 30’W and 25015’ N,
026050’W.
A) 1586.7
B) 1568.8
C) 1658.7
D) 1566.7

Distance = Dlat X Sec Co= 1435 X Sec 25015.3’ = 1586.7 ‘. Option A

49. The compass bearing of the sun was observed to be 1200 (C). At the same time the true bearing was
calculated to be 1150 (T). If the variation was 20 W, find the deviation for the ships head.
A) 40 E
B) 30 E
C) 30 W
D) 60 W

CE= 5 deg W, 2 W+ Dev = 5 W, Dev= 3 W. Option C

50. The compass bearing of the sun was observed to be 1100 (C). At the same time the true bearing was
calculated to be 1150 (T). If the variation was 40 E, find the deviation for the ships head
A) 10 E
B) 10 W
C) 40 E
D) 40 W

CE= 5 deg E, 4 E+ Dev = 5 E, dev = 1 E. Option A