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.

126: What is your clearance as you pass under the Vicksburg Highway 80 Bridge (mile 437.8 AHP). if the Vicksburg Gage reads 14.8 feet and the highest point on your tow boat is 44.5 feet?
202: Which statement concerning Montauk Point Light is TRUE?
278: The National Weather Service provides 24 hour weather broadcasts to vessels transiting the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area on which frequency?
285: At 1845, you plot the following bearing lines:

Old Plantation Flats Light bearing 251°true
New Point Comfort Light bearing 335°true

Your latitude is __________. 

    N a. 37°10.7'N
    N b. 37°10.9'N
    Y c. 37°11.2'N
    N d. 37°11.6'N
319: At 2100, you have passed through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel and determine your position to be LAT 37°01.3'N, LONG 76°03.0'W. The current is flooding in a direction of 303°T at 2.5 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, which course would you steer while turning RPMs for 6 knots to make good a course of 175°T? 

    N a. 190°T
    N b. 183°T
    N c. 164°T
    Y d. 156°T
333: 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. 221°psc
    N b. 219°psc
    Y c. 217°psc
    N d. 215°psc
338: You passed Cape Henry Light at 0730 outbound at maximum flood. What approximate current can you expect on entering Chesapeake Channel? 

    N a. Slack before ebb
    N b. Slack before flood
    Y c. Flood current
    N d. Ebb current
452: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 35°17.6'N, LONG 144°23.0'E to LAT 47°36.0'N, LONG 124°22.0'W. 

    N a. 3946 miles, 312°T
    Y b. 3931 miles, 048°T
    N c. 3881 miles, 042°T
    N d. 3718 miles, 318°T
499: Which chart should you use to enter Great Salt Pond? 

    N a. 13205
    N b. 13207
    N c. 13214
    Y d. 13217
987: On 17 January , your 0730 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 22°26.0'S, LONG 152°17.0'E. Your vessel is steaming on a course of 116°T at a speed of 17 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 1015 zone time. The chronometer reads 00h 13m 23s, and the chronometer error is 01m 49s slow. The observed altitude (Ho) is 66°02.1'. LAN occurs at 1152 zone time and a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is made. The observed altitude (Ho) is 87°54.2'. Determine the vessel's 1200 zone time position. 

    Y a. LAT 22°53.8'S, LONG 153°25.6'E
    N b. LAT 22°53.8'S, LONG 153°28.8'E
    N c. LAT 22°56.3'S, LONG 153°25.6'E
    N d. LAT 22°56.3'S, LONG 153°28.8'E
1103: On 25 August , your 0300 zone time DR position is LAT 21°28.0'N, LONG 167°48.0'E. You are on course 248°T at a speed of 12 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. NP-0032

    N a. LAT 20°52.4'N, LONG 167°32.1'E
    Y b. LAT 20°57.1'N, LONG 167°01.0'E
    N c. LAT 20°59.5'N, LONG 166°54.8'E
    N d. LAT 21°06.0'N, LONG 167°10.9'E
1282: On 1 November , your 1600 zone time DR position is LAT 27°48'S, LONG 91°26'E. Your vessel is on a course of 327°
T at a speed of 16 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    Y a. 1813
    N b. 1821
    N c. 1829
    N d. 1836
1410: What is the distance from the Amoco Docks at Baton Rouge, LA, to Pittsburgh, PA? 

    Y a. 1681  miles
    N b. 1575 miles
    N c. 981 miles
    N d. 727 miles
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
1705: What is the mile point of the Rosedale, MS Gage? 

    N a. 554.2 AHP
    Y b. 592.2 AHP
    N c. 632.5 AHP
    N d. 663.0 AHP
1722: You estimate the current as 2.0 mph. What is the speed over the ground? 

    N a. 4.5 mph
    Y b. 5.5 mph
    N c. 7.5 mph
    N d. 9.5 mph
1739: The Delta-Friar Point revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________. 

    N a. 645.6 - 641.4 RDB
    N b. 652.8 - 649.6 RDB
    N c. 648.5 - 645.5 LDB
    Y d. 657.3 - 652.2 LDB
1742: The highest point on your towboat is 32 feet above the
water, and the Helena Gage reads +6.6 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the A-span of the Helena Highway Bridge? 

    Y a. 80.8 feet
    N b. 73.1 feet
    N c. 68.0 feet
    N d. 56.1 feet
1775: At 1412 you increase speed to make good 10.2 mph. At 1506 you have a daymark on your port beam. Which daymark is this? 

    N a. Bessie Daymark
    Y b. Nolan Light
    N c. Everetts Light
    N d. Marr Towhead Light
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
1910: On 22 February , your 1857 DR position is LAT 23°46.0'S, LONG 93°16.5'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 126°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 40°21.5'. The chronometer reads 01h 00m 35s and is 03m 25s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Adhara
    N b. Miaplacidus
    N c. Avior
    Y d. Suhail
1927: At 1554, on 25 May, you pass Huntington Point Light (mile 555.2 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. DockS (253.6 AHP)? 

    N a. 6.9 mph
    Y b. 6.2 mph
    N c. 4.8 mph
    N d. 4.3 mph
2103: On 24 August , in DR position LAT 26°49.4'N, LONG 146°19.4'E, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 084°psc. The chronometer reads 07h 55m 06s and is 01m 11s fast. Variation in the area is 15°W. What is the deviation of the magnetic compass? 

    N a. 8.0°E
    Y b. 8.3°E
    N c. 8.5°E
    N d. 8.7°E
2285: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 45°49.7' on 13 November . The index error is 1.0' on the arc. The height of eye is 61 feet (18.6 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 45°59.3'
    Y b. 45°56.4'
    N c. 45°52.9'
    N d. 45°49.8'
2335: You are underway and intend to make good a course of 088°T. You experience a current with a set and drift of 300°T at 2.4 knots, and a southerly wind produces a leeway of 3°. You adjust your course to compensate for the current and leeway, while maintaining an engine speed of 16 knots. What will be your speed made good over your intended course of 088°T? 

    N a. 13.4 knots
    Y b. 13.9 knots
    N c. 14.4 knots
    N d. 14.9 knots
2392: Which company does NOT have a marine facility in Rosedale harbor (mile 585 AHP)? 

    N a. Sanders Elevator Corp
    N b. Rosedale-Boliver County Port Commission
    Y c. T.L. James
    N d. Cives Steel Company
2581: At 1732, Bartlett Reef Lt bears 016°psc. Race Rock Lt bears 125.5°psc with a radar range of 4.4 miles. What is the set and drift? 

    N a. 116°,  0.4 knot
    N b. 116°,  1.0 knot
    N c. 296°,  0.4 knot
    Y d. 296°,  1.0 knot
2587: What VHF frequency would you use to listen to a weather forecast for the eastern part of Long Island Sound? 

    N a. 156.65 MHz
    N b. 156.85 MHz
    Y c. 162.475 MHz
    N d. 162.775 MHz
3086: If the pitch of the propeller is 19.7 feet, and the revolutions per day are 86,178, calculate the day's run allowing 3% negative slip. 

    N a. 279.2 miles
    Y b. 287.6 miles
    N c. 311.4 miles
    N d. 326.2 miles
3251: You have steamed 916 miles at 13 knots, and consumed 166 tons of fuel. If you have 203 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 14 knots? 

    N a. 757 miles
    N b. 841 miles
    Y c. 966 miles
    N d. 1108 miles
3253: You have steamed 925 miles at 13.5 knots, and consumed 181 tons of fuel. If you have 259 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 16 knots? 

    N a. 795 miles
    Y b. 942 miles
    N c. 1117 miles
    N d. 1409 miles
3467: You are underway on course 160°T at 10 knots. The current is 210°T at 0.9 knots. What is the speed being made good? 

    Y a. 10.7 knots
    N b. 11.0 knots
    N c. 11.6 knots
    N d. 12.3 knots
4003: 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 gyro heading of 058°.
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° 

    Y a. 1.5°W
    N b. 1.0°W
    N c. 1.0°E
    N d. 0.5°W
4014: 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 true heading of 157°.
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. 2.0°W
    Y b. 1.5°W
    N c. 1.0°W
    N d. 0.0°
11405: At 2125 your GPS position is LAT 41°05.7'N, LONG 72°46.5'W. At 2208 your position is LAT 41°03.3'N, LONG 72°37.9'W. What was your course made good by standard magnetic compass? 

    Y a. 123°psc
    N b. 287°psc
    N c. 303°psc
    N d. 326°psc
11409: At 0647 your position is LAT 41°08.6'N, LONG 72°41.6'W. At 0729 your position is LAT 41°10.3'N, LONG 72°29.2'W. What were your true course and speed made good? 

    N a. 074° at  9.5 knots
    Y b. 080° at 13.6 knots
    N c. 253° at  9.7 knots
    N d. 258° at 13.5 knots
12501: You are on course 056° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Cape Henry Light 262°psc Cape Charles Light 344°psc Chesapeake Light 125°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 36°58.4'N, LONG 75°49.1'W
    N b. LAT 36°58.1'N, LONG 75°50.0'W
    N c. LAT 36°57.8'N, LONG 75°49.2'W
    Y d. LAT 36°57.6'N, LONG 75°49.8'W
12908: At 0919 you are inbound, approximately 3.3 miles east of Cape Henry with buoy "15" close aboard to port. What is your ETA between Trestle B and Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel if you are making 11.3 knots? 

    N a. 1010
    Y b. 1014
    N c. 1019
    N d. 1025
13309: What type of bottom can be expected at the northern end of York Spit Channel? 

    N a. Hard clay
    N b. Fine gray sand
    N c. Soft black mud
    Y d. Mud and sand
13802: Which chart would you use for more detailed information on the Connecticut River? 

    N a. 12354
    N b. 12370
    N c. 12371
    Y d. 12375
13904: On the south and the east coasts of Block Island are circles with a dot in the center and labeled CUP. This is a __________. 

    N a. conspicuous object
    N b. steep depression in the surrounding hills that resembles a cup
    Y c. domed structure useful for navigation
    N d. calling-up-point used for traffic control
14004: At 1745 Lady Island Upper Range is in line dead astern and Washougal Lower Range is in line on the starboard bow. You are steaming in an easterly direction. What speed must you average to arrive abeam of Cape Horn Light No. 67 at 1839? 

    N a. 9.3 mph
    N b. 9.8 mph
    Y c. 10.2 mph
    N d. 10.8 mph
14205: You are off the coast of Mexico and are taking a time tick for 1600. At approximately 1554, you hear the preparatory signal "VVVV de XDD" from the time signal station. Then you hear a series of 1 second dashes followed by a 9 second silent period and then a long 1.3 second dash. At the beginning of the long dash, your comparing watch reads 03h 59m 56s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 04h 01m 22s, and the chronometer reads 04h 02m 11s. What is the chronometer error? 

    N a. 0m 04s slow
    N b. 2m 15s slow
    Y c. 0m 45s fast
    N d. 1m 26s fast
15114: Your 1900 position is LAT 37°12.9'N, LONG 76°13.5'W. You change course to 317°pgc and slow to 8.0 knots. What is the course per standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 331°psc
    Y b. 329°psc
    N c. 311°psc
    N d. 309°psc
15169: At 2123, your position is LAT 37°20.0'N, LONG 76°03.0'W. What is your distance offshore of Savage Neck? 

    Y a. 1.7 miles
    N b. 2.5 miles
    N c. 3.6 miles
    N d. 10.9 miles
15264: At 1100, your position is LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°28.0'W. You are steering a course of 069°T to leave Black Point one mile off your port beam. It has been reported that the Long Sand Shoal Buoys and Hatchett Reef Buoys are off station. What will serve to keep your vessel in safe water and away from these hazards? 

    N a. Maintaining a 7 nm range off Orient Point
    Y b. Danger bearing to Black Point of not more than 064°T
    N c. A bearing to Little Gull Island Light of not less than 090°
    N d. A distance to Saybrook Breakwater Light of not less than 1.3 miles
15507: What course should you steer by your standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 280°T? 

    N a. 266°psc
    N b. 272°psc
    N c. 290°psc
    Y d. 294°psc
15515: You decide to use the 9960-Y and 9960-W rates. At 1915,
you obtain the following readings:

9960-Y-43936.0
9960-W-14653.3

What is your 1915 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°13.0'N, LONG 71°54.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°13.1'N, LONG 71°53.9'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.2'N, LONG 71°54.3'W
    Y d. LAT 41°13.2'N, LONG 71°53.7'W
15643: The light on Block Island Sound South Entrance Obstruction Buoy "BIS" is reported extinguished. Which of the following will serve as a positive warning that you are being set onto the obstruction? 

    N a. Radar ranges to Southwest Point of less than 7.9 miles
    N b. Soundings of less than 50 feet
    N c. Shagwong Reef Lighted Bell Buoy "7SR" 3.1 miles off  abeam
    Y d. Race Rock Light bearing 299°T and decreasing
15664: At 0815, Montauk Pt. Light House is bearing 172°T,
Shagwong Pt. has a radar range of 4.5 miles. If the engine was making turns for 10 knots, what was the current since 0748? 

    N a. Set 040°T, drift 0.7 knots
    N b. Set 040°T, drift 1.6 knots
    Y c. Set 220°T, drift 1.6 knots
    N d. Set 220°T, drift 0.7 knots
15870: What is the approximate distance from a point three miles south of Stratford Point to Perth Amboy, NJ? 

    N a. 53 miles
    N b. 62 miles
    Y c. 73 miles
    N d. 136 miles
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
15942: At 1959 Watch Hill Point Light bears 030°T, Montauk Point Light bears 146°T, and Little Gull Light bears 283°T. What is the approximate fathometer reading? 

    Y a. 51 feet
    N b. 73 feet
    N c. 95 feet
    N d. 111 feet
16456: What is the course per standard magnetic compass from the anchorage to point A located 0.5 mile east of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy 14? 

    Y a. 194°psc
    N b. 190°psc
    N c. 187°psc
    N d. 180°psc
16610: 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. _ _
    Y c. . _
    N d. . .
16638: At 0400 your position is:

Latitude 40° 50.2' North
Longitude 071° 36.2' West

From your 0400 fix, you steer a course to make good 347°T at 12.5 knots. Visibility is good. What is the earliest time you can expect to raise Montauk Point Light? (Nominal range - 24 miles, height above water - 168 feet) 

    Y a. The light is visible at 0400.
    N b. 0426
    N c. 0435
    N d. 0442