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.

49: As you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge, you estimate the current as 4.5 mph. What is the speed over the ground, if your vessel is making turns for 9 mph?
52: You are downbound when you observe on your Mississippi River map a white square with a number inside located on either bank. This indicates __________.
81: Which company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Helena (mile 658 to 665 AHP)?
256: At 0209, your position is LAT 41°01.8'N, LONG 72°40.8'W. What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good 278° magnetic? (assume no set and drift) 

    N a. 262.0°psc
    N b. 265.0°psc
    N c. 270.5°psc
    Y d. 275.5°psc
292: If you have 17.3 miles to reach your destination from your 2000 position and want to be there at 2230, what speed should you make good? 

    Y a. 6.9 knots
    N b. 6.5 knots
    N c. 6.1 knots
    N d. 5.7 knots
398: You depart LAT 32°16.6'N, LONG 68°28.0'W. What is the course and distance as calculated by Mercator sailing to a position at LAT 43°12.2'N, LONG 55°39.0'W? 

    Y a. 042.8°T, 896.2 miles
    N b. 049.1°T, 955.1 miles
    N c. 132.8°T, 896.2 miles
    N d. 136.6°T, 955.1 miles
476: The great circle distance from LAT 35°08.0'S, LONG 19°26.0'E to LAT 33°16.0'S, LONG 115°36.0'E is 4559 miles and the initial course is 121°T. Determine the longitude of the vertex. 

    N a. 26°50.9'E
    Y b. 65°45.9'E
    N c. 69°19.1'E
    N d. 72°18.3'E
556: Your 0530 position is LAT 41°04.9'N, LONG 73°01.1'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position 1.0 mile south of Twenty Eight Foot Shoal "TE" buoy? 

    Y a. 099.5°psc
    N b. 096.0°psc
    N c. 092.5°psc
    N d. 082.0°psc
571: At 0845, you are approaching the entrances to Thimble Shoal Channel. What channel must you use? 

    N a. The South Auxiliary Channel or Thimble Shoal Channel, but you must remain on the right hand side of the channel.
    Y b. The South Auxiliary Channel since your draft is less than 25 feet (7.6 meters) and you are not a passenger vessel.
    N c. The North Auxiliary Channel since you are going to turn to a northerly heading near buoy "12".
    N d. You are not permitted to use any of the channels, but must remain outside the buoyed channel line.
577: At 1015, you estimate you have 139 miles to complete the voyage. If you average 9.5 knots, you will complete the voyage in __________. 

    N a. 14 hours 44 minutes
    Y b. 14 hours 38 minutes
    N c. 14 hours 30 minutes
    N d. 14 hours 22 minutes
651: You are planning a voyage by great circle from Reykjavik (LAT 63°30'N, LONG 24°00'W) to the Azores (LAT 39°30'N, LONG 29°00'W). Which statement is TRUE? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5274) 

    N a. The distance is measured in sixty-mile segments based on the length of a degree of latitude at the mid-latitude and mid-longitude position.
    N b. The Northern Hemisphere vertex lies south of Reykjavik.
    Y c. The great circle track is not appreciably shorter than a rhumb line track.
    N d. When plotted on a Mercator chart, the great circle track will be convex to the British Isles.
702: If the highest point of your towboat is 54 feet above the water and the Natchez Gage reads 24.8 feet, what will be your vertical clearance when passing under the Natchez-Vidalia westbound Highway Bridge? 

    N a. 35.9 feet
    N b. 43.2 feet
    Y c. 47.2  feet
    N d. 57.5 feet
808: On 28 July , your 0800 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 25°16.0'N, LONG 71°19.0'W. Your vessel is on course 026°T, and your speed is 17.5 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1149 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 82°28.7'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN? 

    N a. 26°21.9'N
    N b. 26°23.4'N
    Y c. 26°25.0'N
    N d. 26°27.7'N
813: On 7 November , your 0830 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 27°36.0'N, LONG 162°19.0'W. Your vessel is on course 289°T and your speed is 19.0 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1138 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 45°35.0'. What is the latitude at 1200 ZT? 

    N a. 27°55.1'N
    N b. 27°57.2'N
    Y c. 27°59.5'N
    N d. 28°01.9'N
1250: What facility is not found near La Grange Towhead Light (538.2 AHP) on Greenville Harbour? 

    N a. Mississippi Limestone
    N b. Ergon, Inc.
    N c. American Commercial Barge Lines
    Y d. Greenville Casino Wharf
1679: On 13 October , your vessel's 1722 zone time DR position is LAT 27°36'S, LONG 136°16'E, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 266° per standard magnetic compass. Variation in the area is 2°W. The chronometer reads 08h 24m 19s and is 01m 43s fast. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 2.3°E
    Y b. 2.8°W
    N c. 4.8°E
    N d. 6.8°W
1732: You estimate the current at 2.0 mph. What is the speed over the ground? 

    N a. 3.5 mph
    Y b. 4.5 mph
    N c. 7.5 mph
    N d. 9.5 mph
1781: At 1524 ZT, on 14 June , in DR position LAT 30°51'N, LONG 30° 02'W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 103.9°pgc. The variation is 10°W. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 1.8°W
    N b. 2.4°E
    N c. 2.2°E
    Y d. 2.0°E
1781: At 1524 ZT, on 14 June , in DR position LAT 30°51'N, LONG 30° 02'W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 103.9°pgc. The variation is 10°W. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 1.8°W
    N b. 2.4°E
    N c. 2.2°E
    Y d. 2.0°E
1874: On 2 October , your 1845 DR position is LAT 28°09.2'S, LONG 167°48.1'E. You observe a faint star through a hole in the clouds at a sextant altitude (hs) of 25°19.4' bearing 273°T. The index error is 1.3' off the arc, and the height of eye is 42 feet. The chronometer reads 07h 46m 19s and is 0m 51s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Alpha Serpentis
    Y b. Beta Librae
    N c. Beta Lupi
    N d. Epsilon Bootis
1886: On 8 April , your evening DR position is LAT 22°16'N, LONG 157°58.3'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 246°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 58°45.5'. The chronometer reads 05h 09m 57s, and is 01m 23s slow. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Betelgeuse
    N b. Aldebaran
    N c. Alnilam
    N d. Bellatrix
1898: On 22 May , your 0437 DR position is LAT 25°18.5'N, LONG 51°18.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 142°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 23°10.2'. The chronometer reads 07h 40m 40s, and is 03m 24s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Markab
    N b. Diphda
    N c. Sabik
    Y d. Fomalhaut
2092: At your current speed of 23 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 386 miles. You must travel 785 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination? 

    N a. 19.3
    N b. 17.7
    Y c. 16.1
    N d. 14.5
2688: While on a course of 214°pgc, a light bears 9° on the port bow at a distance of 7.4 miles. What course should you steer to pass 2 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port? 

    N a. 189°pgc
    N b. 209°pgc
    Y c. 221°pgc
    N d. 229°pgc
2788: The solid lines extending into the channel at mile 948 AHP are __________. 

    Y a. dikes
    N b. revetments
    N c. spoil areas
    N d. Meadwestvaco pipeline
2862: Your are on course 317°T at 13 knots. A light is bearing 22.5° relative at 0640. At 0659 the same light is bearing 45° relative. At what time should the light be abeam? 

    N a. 0709
    Y b. 0712
    N c. 0718
    N d. 0721
3292: Your vessel consumes 215 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 18.0 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 14.0 knots? 

    N a. 67 bbls
    Y b. 101 bbls
    N c. 130 bbls
    N d. 167 bbls
3298: Your vessel consumes 216 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 15.0 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 17.5 knots? 

    N a. 232 bbls
    N b. 252 bbls
    N c. 294 bbls
    Y d. 343 bbls
3309: You have steamed 142 miles and consumed 15.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 472 miles? 

    N a. 36.5 tons
    Y b. 49.9 tons
    N c. 53.8 tons
    N d. 61.4 tons
3462: You are underway on course 160°T at 10 knots. The current is 210°T at 0.9 knots. What is the course made good? 

    N a. 156°T
    N b. 160°T
    Y c. 164°T
    N d. 169°T
4005: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°W. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a magnetic compass heading of 022°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 354° 122.5° - 114° 239.5° - 234°
030.5° - 024° 152.0° - 144° 269.0° - 264°
061.5° - 054° 181.0° - 174° 298.0° - 294°
092.0° - 084° 210.0° - 204° 327.5° - 324° 

    N a. 1.5°E
    N b. 0.5°E
    Y c. 0.0°
    N d. 0.5°W
10610: At 1645 your GPS position is LAT 41°04.9' N, LONG 72°42.1'W. You are on course 072° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 14 knots. At 1727 another GPS fix places your vessel 1 mile due north of Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy TE. What were your set and drift? 

    N a. 032°T at 1.2 knot
    Y b. 026°T at 1.1 knot
    N c. 207°T at 0.9 knot
    N d. 212°T at 1.2 knots
11006: At what time will the first maximum flood occur 1 mile east of Old Field Point on 29 April 1983? (You are keeping daylight saving time ZD +4). 

    N a. 0957
    N b. 1059
    Y c. 1328
    N d. 1423
11902: What is the true course to steer between the entrance to Lake Montauk (LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 71°56.3'W) and Winnapaug Pond entrance) LAT 41°19.6'N, LONG 71°45.8'W), if you are turning for 9.5 knots, allow for a current of 075°T at 1.2 knots, and a westerly wind is causing 3° of leeway? 

    Y a. 021°T
    N b. 024°T
    N c. 027°T
    N d. 029°T
11909: Your position is 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the true course to steer to arrive one mile due south of Block Island Southeast Point Light, if you are turning for 6.8 knots, the current is 330° at 1.2 knots, and a southerly wind causes 3° of leeway? 

    N a. 081°T
    Y b. 084°T
    N c. 087°T
    N d. 090°T
12708: You are on course 302° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Little Gull Island Light 283°psc Race Rock Light 311°psc Latimer Reef Light 027°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°12.2'N, LONG 71°57.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 71°57.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 71°57.9'W
    Y d. LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 71°57.6'W
15008: At 1920, the buoy forward of your starboard beam is __________. 

    N a. an interrupted quick flashing buoy
    N b. Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy
    N c. South Light Buoy
    Y d. Sand Shoal Inlet Lighted Buoy "A"
15009: At 1930, your position is LAT 37°16.7'N, LONG 75°37.7'W. The depth of water is approximately __________. 

    N a. 30 feet ( 9.1 meters)
    N b. 40 feet (12.1 meters)
    Y c. 50 feet (15.1 meters)
    N d. 60 feet (18.1 meters)
15039: At 0725 you determined your vessel's position to be 37°15.5'N, 75°33.2'W. Assuming that you make good your course of 206° true and a speed of 18 knots, at what time would you expect to be abeam of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14"? 

    N a. 0750
    N b. 0754
    Y c. 0758
    N d. 0802
15060: At 0802, the radar range and bearing to Branford Reef Light are 350°pgc at 0.8 mile, and the north point of Falkner Island are 090°pgc at 6.7 miles. What were the set and drift that you encountered since 0740? 

    N a. Set 085°T, drift .2 knot
    Y b. Set 085°T, drift .6 knot
    N c. Set 265°T, drift .2 knot
    N d. Set 265°T, drift .6 knot
15119: What is the height above water of Davis Creek Channel Light "1"? 

    N a. 6 feet (1.8 meters)
    Y b. 15 feet (4.6 meters)
    N c. 17 feet (5.2 meters)
    N d. 24 feet (7.3 meters)
15161: From your 1815 position, you want to make good course 263°
T. Your engines are turning RPMs for 12 knots. The current is 050°T at 1.9 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, at what time should you expect to enter the red sector of Cape Henry Light? 

    N a. 1851
    N b. 1857
    Y c. 1904
    N d. 1911
15240: At 1130, Horton Point Light bears 172° true at a range of 3.45nm

The fathometer reads 81 ft. Your position is __________. 

    N a. north of your intended track line
    N b. 41°09.4'N, 72°22.6'W
    N c. three miles southeast of Six Mile Reef Buoy "8A"
    Y d. 41°08.5'N, 72°27.3'W
15245: After departing the New Haven terminals, your 1800 position puts the New Haven Harbor Lighted Bell Buoy "NH" bearing 130°T at a range of 0.2 mile. From this position you set a course to leave Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light 1.0 mile off your starboard beam. Your speed is 12.5 knots. At 1845 you determine your position to be LAT 41°05.5'N,
LONG 73°03.1'W. What were the set and drift of the current? 

    N a. 294°T at 0.5 knot
    Y b. 294°T at 0.8 knot
    N c. 114°T at 0.5 knot
    N d. 114°T at 0.8 knot
15308: From your 0315 position, what time can you expect to reach York Spit Channel Buoys "37" and "38"? 

    Y a. 0405
    N b. 0412
    N c. 0417
    N d. 0423
15457: What is the distance from Lamberts Point to Thimble Shoal Lt.? 

    N a. 9.0 miles
    N b. 9.8 miles
    N c. 10.6 miles
    Y d. 11.2 miles
15538: At 2127 you take the following round of bearings:

Old Field Point Light 224.0°pgc
Middle Ground Light 320.5°pgc
Stratford Point Light 348.0°pgc

Based on the above fix, which statement is TRUE? 

    Y a. At 2127, your fathometer reads about 17 fathoms.
    N b. You are south of Mt. Misery Shoal.
    N c. You will experience a 1 knot westward setting ebb current
    N d. You have lost sight of the red light at Old Field Point.
15915: At 0925, you obtain the following radar information:

Falkner Island Light bearing 252° true @ 1.65 nm

If you correct for a current setting 215°T at 0.5 knot,
what course will you steer from the 0925 position to arrive at a position 0.5 mile south of Long Sand Shoal West End Horn Buoy "W"? 

    Y a. 089°T
    N b. 093°T
    N c. 096°T
    N d. 102°T
16058: At 1750, your position is LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°22.9'W. What was the speed made good between 1730 and 1750? 

    N a. 7.5 knots
    N b. 7.8 knots
    N c. 8.1 knots
    Y d. 8.4 knots
16063: At 2013, you sight Thimble Shoal Light in line with Old Point Comfort Light bearing 258°pgc. At the time of the bearing, the vessel was headed 142°pgc and 151°psc. Based on this, you __________. 

    N a. know the gyro error is 2°E
    N b. should adjust the magnetic compass
    N c. verified that the variation is 10°W
    Y d. have checked the deviation table for a magnetic heading of 150°