USCG Navigation Problems: Master's License

This is an interactive test. Read each question and select the proper answer by clicking on the appropriate answer. If a "Y" appears, your choice is correct. If a "N" appears, more study may be in order.

60: What town is located at mile 389.8 AHP?
101: At 1430 on 13 August, you pass Carolina Landing Light (mile 508.8 AHP). What has been the average current since 0230, 13 August if you have been making turns for 8.0 mph?
210: During evening twilight on 28 December , the sextant altitude (hs) of the planet Venus was 29°43.2'. The height of eye was 40 feet, and the index error was 2.0' on the arc. What was the observed altitude (Ho)?
284: Based on a DR, at approximately 1817 you would expect to __________. 

    N a. enter a traffic separation zone
    N b. cross a submerged pipeline
    Y c. depart a regulated area
    N d. depart a restricted area
384: What is the course per standard magnetic compass between points "A" and "B"? 

    N a. 099.5°
    Y b. 098.5°
    N c. 095.5°
    N d. 094.5°
504: At 2142, you change course to make good 030°T and increase speed to 14 knots. You rendezvous with another vessel and receive fresh supplies while off New Haven Harbor lighted whistle buoy "NH". What is the light characteristic of this buoy? 

    N a. _ .
    N b. _ _
    N c. . .
    Y d. . _
579: Which loran line of position will serve as a danger reading on the loran to keep you west of the submerged obstruction at LAT 37°24.2'N, LONG 76°03.7'W, after you leave York Spit Channel? 

    Y a. Not less than 9960-X-27246
    N b. Not more than 9960-Y-41595
    N c. Not less than 9960-Y-41595
    N d. Not less than 9960-Z-58622
604: At 1820 zone time, on 21 March , you depart San Francisco, LAT 37°48.5'N, LONG 122°24.0'W (ZD +8). You are bound for Melbourne, LAT 37°49.2'S, LONG 144°56.0'E, and you estimate your speed of advance at 21 knots. The distance is 6,970 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Melbourne? 

    N a. 1214, 4 April
    N b. 2214, 4 April
    Y c. 0814, 5 April
    N d. 1314, 5 April
753: On 10 June , your 2010 zone time DR position is LAT 41°10.0'N, LONG 61°15.0'W. At that time, you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 40°35.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 00h 08m 18s, and the chronometer error is 01m 54s slow. The index error is 2.0' on the arc, and the height of eye is 40 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    N a. 41°10.6'N
    Y b. 41°15.0'N
    N c. 41°18.3'N
    N d. 41°21.2'N
983: On 17 January , your 0730 zone time position was LAT 22°26.0'N, LONG 152°17.0'E. Your vessel was steaming on course 136°T at a speed of 17.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 1015 ZT. The chronometer read 00h 13m 23s and was slow 01m 49s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 40°25.7'. LAN occurred at 1222 zone time. The observed altitude (Ho) was 47°48.1'. What was the longitude of your 1200 zone time running fix? 

    N a. LONG 153°04.2'E
    N b. LONG 153°08.3'E
    Y c. LONG 153°13.1'E
    N d. LONG 153°18.6'E
1105: On 28 May , your 0200 DR position is LAT 19°16.5'S , LONG 119°24.0'W. You are on course 107°T at a speed of 18 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. NP-0034

    Y a. LAT 19°43.0'S, LONG 117°54.0'W
    N b. LAT 19°48.2'S, LONG 118°04.5'W
    N c. LAT 20°07.5'S, LONG 117°32.0'W
    N d. LAT 20°17.1'S, LONG 118°06.0'W
1125: Where would you find out which buoys, if any, are in place at Concordia Bar crossing (mile 596.0 AHP)? 

    Y a. Local Notice to Mariners
    N b. Bulletin board at the Rosedale Gage
    N c. Waterways Journal
    N d. None of the above
1164: At 2350 on 23 June, you are at mile 610.5 AHP when you see about a mile ahead lights on the water near the left bank. What might you see when you come abreast of these lights? 

    N a. Privately maintained buoys at a yacht club
    N b. Government buoys marking the Hurricane Point dikes
    Y c. Barges moored at the Dennis Landing Terminal
    N d. A pipeline discharging dredge spoil
1644: From your 2207 position you adjust your course to arrive 0.3 mile north of Lighted Whistle Buoy "NCA". If you make good 14 knots, at what time will Cape Charles Light be abeam? 

    Y a. 2242
    N b. 2245
    N c. 2247
    N d. 2250
1760: The area between Island 67 Upper Light (mile 623.1 AHP) and Sunflower Cut-off Foot Light (mile 624.8 AHP) is known as a __________. 

    N a. transit
    Y b. crossing
    N c. chute
    N d. slough
1889: On 22 July , your 1759 DR position is LAT 24°50.2'S, LONG 05°16.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 293°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 17°52.8'. The chronometer reads 06h 01m 31s, and is 02m 15s fast. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Regulus
    N b. Antares
    N c. Miaplacidus
    N d. Suhail
1919: On 17 March , your 0520 DR position is LAT 27°23.0'N, LONG 39°42.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 110°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 50°47.2'. The chronometer reads 08h 22m 15s, and is 01m 45s fast. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Altair
    N b. Alkaid
    N c. Arcturus
    N d. Deneb
2031: After passing Wilkinson Lt. (mile 310.0 AHP) you see a flashing amber light on the right descending bank ahead. The flashing light indicates that you should __________. 

    N a. stay in the deepest water
    N b. slow down due to dredging operations
    N c. keep as close to the right descending bank as safety permits
    Y d. keep as close to the left descending bank as safety permits
2053: At 2342, on 25 August, you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge (mile 661.7 AHP). What has been the average speed of the current since departing Memphis Harbor, McKellar Lake, if you have been making turns for 9 mph? 

    Y a. 1.8 mph
    N b. 2.1 mph
    N c. 4.4 mph
    N d. 5.6 mph
2125: From your 0410 fix, what is the course per standard magnetic compass to enter York Spit Channel with buoy "29"
close abeam to starboard? 

    N a. 172°psc
    N b. 176°psc
    Y c. 198°psc
    N d. 202°psc
2187: At which of the following times would you be able to listen to lower Mississippi River conditions on VHF Channel 22? 

    N a. 0900 hours
    N b. 1100 hours
    Y c. 1300 hours
    N d. 1600 hours
2272: As you approach Buckridge Light (mile 412.5 AHP), which type of daymark would you see on the light structure? 

    N a. Red diamond
    N b. Red triangle
    N c. Green diamond
    Y d. Green square
2333: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 37°47.2' on 11 October . The index error is 3.0' off the arc. The height of eye is 63 feet (19.2 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 37°25.2'
    N b. 37°42.5'
    N c. 37°51.5'
    Y d. 37°57.5'
2669: You are steering 143°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 18.2 miles at 2006. You change course to pass the light 5.5 miles off abeam to port. If you are making 14.5 knots, what is your ETA at a position 5.5 miles off the light? 

    N a. 2115
    Y b. 2118
    N c. 2121
    N d. 2124
3263: You have steamed 1124 miles at 21 knots, and consumed 326 tons of fuel. If you have 210 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 17 knots? 

    N a. 1096 miles
    Y b. 1105 miles
    N c. 1218 miles
    N d. 1304 miles
3602: You are heading 328°pgc to make good a course of 332°T, allowing 3° leeway for westerly winds and 1°E gyro error. The variation is 17°E. What should your heading be by standard magnetic compass to make good 332°T.
DEVIATION TABLE
MAGNETIC HEADING DEV.
345° 1°E
330° 1°W
315° 3°W 

    Y a. 315°psc
    N b. 318°psc
    N c. 343°psc
    N d. 345°psc
3616: You desire to make good a true course of 046°. The variation is 6°E, magnetic compass deviation is 12°W, and the gyrocompass error is 3°W. A northerly wind produces a 5° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make good the true course? 

    Y a. 047°psc
    N b. 049°psc
    N c. 052°psc
    N d. 057°psc
3619: Your vessel is steering course 149°psc, variation for the area is 13°E, and deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the northeast, producing a 4° leeway. What true course are you making good? 

    N a. 128°T
    N b. 136°T
    N c. 162°T
    Y d. 170°T
3623: Your vessel is steering course 166°psc, variation for the area is 8°W, and deviation is 3°W. The wind is from the west-southwest, producing a 2° leeway. What true course are you making good? 

    Y a. 153°T
    N b. 157°T
    N c. 175°T
    N d. 179°T
3755: Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 186°T, and the variation is 11°W. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 193° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation? 

    Y a. 4°E
    N b. 4°W
    N c. 7°E
    N d. 7°W
10208: Your GPS position is LAT 41°08.5'N, LONG 72°28.8'W. What course must you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to leave Cornfield Lighted Whistle Buoy "CF" 0.5 mile abeam to starboard? 

    N a. 032°psc
    N b. 048°psc
    N c. 055°psc
    Y d. 067°psc
10603: At 1300 your GPS position is LAT 41°09.2' N, LONG 72°36.9'W. You are steering course 291° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 8 knots. At 1345 you fix your position by plotting several compass bearings on nearby known fixed objects. These result in a position of LAT 41°09.9'N, LONG 72°46.1'W. Which statement is TRUE with respect to the combined effects of wind and current experienced since 1300? 

    N a. There has been no set and drift.
    N b. Set and drift are westerly at approximately 0.9 knot.
    Y c. Your speed over the bottom is approximately 9.2 knots.
    N d. Set and drift are easterly at approximately 1.0 knot.
10902: Fishermans Island (LAT 37°05.0'N, LONG 75°57.7'W) is __________. 

    N a. privately owned
    N b. sparsely wooded and awash at spring tides
    N c. a high rocky promontory with marshy backwater
    Y d. a National Wildlife Refuge
12709: You are on course 157° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Little Gull Island Light 276°psc Race Rock Light 301°psc Latimer Reef Light 028°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°13.5'N, LONG 71°57.9'W
    Y b. LAT 41°13.5'N, LONG 71°57.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 71°57.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 71°57.8'W
15024: Which of the following statements regarding buoys on the Mississippi River is TRUE? 

    N a. The positions of river buoys can be found in the latest edition of Light List-Vol. V.
    Y b. Buoy positions on the chart are approximate.
    N c. The buoys are maintained on station year round.
    N d. The buoys do not shift positions due to permanent moorings.
15069: During extreme low water, the soundings near Saybrook may require corrections up to __________. 

    N a. 1 foot (+.3 meters)
    N b. -2 feet (-.6 meters)
    Y c. -3.5 feet (-1.1 meters)
    N d. The sounding datum is based on extreme low water and no correction is necessary
15313: From your noon position, if there is no set and drift, what is your course per standard magnetic compass to the "NCA"
(LL #375) buoy? 

    N a. 215°psc
    Y b. 217°psc
    N c. 219°psc
    N d. 221°psc
15506: You are underway in the vicinity of Block Island and obtain the following lines of position:

Montauk Point Light 263°pgc
Block Island Southeast Light 026°pgc
Radar Bearing to Block Island Southwest Point 348°pgc

What is your position at the time of these sightings? 

    N a. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 71°36.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°05.1'N, LONG 71°36.0'W
    Y c. LAT 41°05.3'N, LONG 71°35.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 71°35.5'W
15623: At 2126, you pass Morganza Bend Light (mile 278.4 AHP).
At 0122, 4 January, you pass Red River Landing Gage (302.4 AHP). You have been turning for 7.5 mph. What is the current? 

    Y a. 1.4 MPH
    N b. 1.8 MPH
    N c. 2.7 MPH
    N d. 6.2 MPH
15641: You will pass through the Race at approximately the time of maximum ebb current. As you APPROACH the Race from New London, you will be set __________. 

    Y a. to the left of the track line
    N b. to the right of the track line
    N c. forward along the track line
    N d. towards New London along the track line
15644: At 2045 You take the following set of bearings:

Watch Hill Point Light bears 005° true
Montauk Point Light bears 350° true

Determine your 2103 fix. 

    Y a. LAT 41°09.2'N, LONG 71°52.5'W
    N b. LAT 41°09.1'N, LONG 71°52.2'W
    N c. LAT 41°09.0'N, LONG 71°52.9'W
    N d. LAT 41°08.8'N, LONG 71°52.5'W
15667: At 0815, you change course to 079°T. To compensate for a southerly wind, you estimate a 3° leeway is necessary. Which course should you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good 079°T? 

    N a. 090°psc
    N b. 093°psc
    N c. 095°psc
    Y d. 099°psc
15726: The charts show a circle with two black quadrants located at mile 846.0 AHP. What does this indicate? 

    N a. Hazardous chemical dock
    N b. Bulletin Board
    N c. Betz-Tipton Veneers Terminal
    Y d. River Gage
15745: Your 2239 position is LAT 41°08.5'N, LONG 71°53.3'W. You change course to 315°T, and you maintain RPM's for 9 knots. At 2329 Little Gull Island Light bears 253°T, Race Rock Light bears 309°T, and Watch Hill Point Light bears 058°T. What were the set and drift of the current you experienced from your 2239 position? 

    N a. 076°T at 0.75 knot
    N b. 076°T at 0.90 knot
    N c. 256°T at 0.75 knot
    Y d. 256°T at 0.90 knot
15917: At what approximate distance would you expect Bartlett Reef Light to break the horizon, if the visibility is 27 nautical miles? 

    N a. 5.9 nm
    N b. 6.9 nm
    N c. 12.0 nm
    Y d. 12.8 nm
15944: From your 2038 position you change course to 104°T and increase engine speed to 18 knots. If you make good this course and speed, at what time will Southwest Ledge Lighted Bell Buoy "2" bear 157°T? 

    N a. 2047
    Y b. 2052
    N c. 2056
    N d. 2101
15963: At 1845, you obtain the following Radar Ranges:

Old Plantation Flats Light @ 7.45nm
New Point Comfort Light @ 7.35nm

Your latitude is __________. 

    N a. 37°11.4'N
    Y b. 37°11.2'N
    N c. 37°10.9'N
    N d. 37°10.7'N
16062: At 1930, your vessel is between York River Entrance Channel Lighted Buoys "1YR" and "2". From this position, you change course to 142°pgc at an engine speed of 8.0 knots. At 2000, you take the following bearings: Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light - 131°pgc Thimble Shoal Light - 247°pgc
What were the set and drift between 1930 and 2000? 

    N a. 140°T at 0.2 knot
    Y b. 140°T at 0.4 knot
    N c. 320°T at 0.2 knot
    N d. 320°T at 0.4 knot
16438: Chesapeake Channel is temporarily closed to traffic.
At 2215 you anchor on the following bearings:

Wolf Trap Light 358°pgc
Light "HH" 301°pgc
New Point Comfort Light "2" 263°pgc

What is your 2215 position? 

    Y a. LAT 37°18.3'N, LONG 76°10.9'W
    N b. LAT 37°18.2'N, LONG 76°11.2'W
    N c. LAT 37°18.1'N, LONG 76°10.8'W
    N d. LAT 37°18.0'N, LONG 76°11.2'W
16443: As you transit the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel, you take a gyro bearing of trestle C when it is in line. The gyro bearing was 050°. At that time, the helmsman noted that he was heading 139°pgc and 146° per standard magnetic compass. What is the deviation? 

    Y a. 2°E
    N b. 0°
    N c. 2°W
    N d. 4°W
16468: When Cape Henry Light is abeam, what is the approximate distance to Yorktown? 

    N a. 58 miles
    N b. 55 miles
    N c. 42 miles
    Y d. 34 miles
20106: You are steaming at 22 knots and burning 319 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 137 barrels per day. What must you reduce your speed to in order to burn this amount of fuel? 

    N a. 12.4
    N b. 14.8
    Y c. 16.6
    N d. 18.2