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A Quick Look at Coast Pilot and Light List |
About
United States Coast Pilot – a brief description
This publication is prepared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and is available in nine separate volumes, covering specific
areas of the US. The material in our Reproductions
book is taken from Coast Pilot Two, Atlantic Coast: Cape Cod to Sandy Hook,
29th edition, 1996.
All volumes of Coast Pilot are similar. They are broken down into chapters and tables. Chapter one is of particular importance to test takers and should be read through for familiarization, but not necessarily for memorization. The Coast Pilot will be available at the Coast Guard Regional Exam Center for the use of test takers. Chapter one covers a wide variety of subjects and it is heavily drawn from on the Coast Guard exam. The entire Chapter One is reproduced in our book.
Chapter two is on navigation regulations. Some parts of the chapter are of general interest to all mariners, and some parts are particular to the region covered. A few sections of this chapter are included in our book.
Chapter three provides a general discussion of the area covered by the particular volume. In our book the useful information on weather is included. Following the general discussion of the area covered, there are several sections devoted to specific sub-areas. In Coast Pilot 2 these sub-areas include Block Island Sound, and New York Harbor and Approaches, to name a few. Tides and currents, harbors of refuge, important lights, important geographical features, important navigational hazards and special anchorages are among the features typical of these chapters. This material has been omitted from our book. It would not be realistic to try to familiarize yourself with all of that material for the two Coast Pilots provided at the exam center (#2 and #3:Sandy Hook to Cape Henry). You will be able to look it up as needed.
Approximately 25 pages of tables are found at the back of the Coast Pilot. All important tables are reproduced in our book. Exam candidates must be aware of what information the tables provide and how to use them.
General information is found at the beginning of each Light List. This includes a description of the types of aids and their flashing patterns (occulting, quick flashing, etc.). Other useful information is included, such as a luminous range diagram with explanation. All of the introductory material is in our book of reproductions, since any of it may be referenced in questions on the exam. The bulk of the material in the Light Lists is the details of the many navigational aids. Our book contains sample sections showing the details for a few geographical areas.