The National Maritime Center (NMC) license exams cover five major subject areas: Rules of the Road, Navigation (including chart work and aids to navigation), Deck General (seamanship, cargo, stability), Safety (firefighting, damage control, survival), and Navigation Problems (tide, current, celestial).
Which games cover which exam topics
- Rules of the Road — COLREGS Watch, Sound Signals, Bridge Watch (CPA/TCPA)
- Cargo & Stability — Stow It (cargo stowage), Cargo Gear, Cargo Plan
- Safety — Fire Boundary, Damage Control, Abandon Ship, EPIRB Test
- Deck General — Knots & Lines, Bunkering, Anchor Watch, Harbor Pilot
- Navigation — Chart Course, Harbor Pilot (passages), Compass Swing, Sat Nav Fix
What to expect on the exam
The USCG exam is computer-based and administered at Regional Exam Centers (RECs). OUPV (6-pack) exams are 50–100 questions depending on endorsement. Inland/Near-Coastal Mate exams are 100 questions per module. A passing score is typically 70%. Rules of the Road and Navigation Problems are the modules where most candidates lose points.
These games won't replace an accredited course (Chapman School, Maritime Professional Training, Kings Point alumni study guides), but they're excellent for drilling specific weaknesses after you've done the book work.