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.

79: The map shows a circle with two black quadrants located at mile 846.4 AHP. What does this indicate?
113: What is indicated by the two light gray shaded areas that cross the river above False River Lt. (mile 251.0 AHP)?
128: At Filter Point Light (mile 475 AHP) there are 2 close straight dashed lines on the map. What do these lines represent?
152: How long will it take you to go from the Memphis Gage to your destination in New Orleans, LA, if you estimate the average current on this segment of the route to be 2.0 mph and you increase the engine turns to 8.5 mph. 

    N a. 1 day 20 hours 33 minutes
    N b. 2 days 6 hours 24 minutes
    Y c. 2 days 12 hours 15 minutes
    N d. 3 days 4 hours 11 minutes
159: You are turning for 6.8 mph and estimate the current at 1.0 mph. What is your speed over the ground? 

    N a. 8.8 mph
    N b. 8.2 mph
    Y c. 7.8 mph
    N d. 6.8 mph
265: At 0740, you take the following Radar Ranges:

Branford Reef Light @ 2.5 nm
New Haven Light @ 3.9 nm

What is your position? 

    Y a. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 72°51.5'W
    N b. LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 72°51.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°12.7'N, LONG 72°51.9'W
    N d. LAT 41°12.2'N, LONG 72°52.0'W
270: At 0830, you wish to get the latest weather forecasts for the Falkner Island area. On what frequency would you set your FM radio for this information? 

    N a. 2181 kHz
    Y b. 162.40 Mhz
    N c. 156.80 Mhz
    N d. 156.65 Mhz
334: Your gyro and electronic gear are again operating. At 1710, Chesapeake Light bears 137°pgc at 6.6 miles. The current is setting 160°T at 2 knots. At your speed of 6 knots, what is your true course to steer to remain in the inbound traffic lane? 

    N a. 250°
    N b. 261°
    N c. 265°
    Y d. 269°
413: A vessel steams 1106 miles on course 249°T from LAT 13°30.0'N, LONG 144°30.3'E. What is the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    N a. LAT 07°01.0'N, LONG 127°02.0'E
    Y b. LAT 06°54.0'N, LONG 127°08.0'E
    N c. LAT 06°50.0'N, LONG 127°13.0'E
    N d. LAT 06°46.0'N, LONG 127°17.0'E
507: At 0112, you are on course 124°T and turning for 12.0 knots. What course will you make good if the current is 255°T at 1.2 knots? 

    N a. 118°
    N b. 120°
    Y c. 129°
    N d. 132°
726: On 16 December , your 1810 zone time DR position is LONG 129°46.5'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 23°56.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 12m 31s, and the chronometer error is 02m 16s fast. The index error is 2.5' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52.6 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    Y a. 23°07.8'N
    N b. 23°12.3'N
    N c. 24°11.9'N
    N d. 24°18.6'N
833: On 17 November , in DR position LAT 01°14.4'S, LONG 148°45.5'E, you take an ex-meridian observation of the planet Venus at upper transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 05h 31m 42s, and the chronometer error is 01m 50s fast. The sextant altitude (hs) is 64°41.1'. The index error is 1.8' off the arc, and your height of eye is 50 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit? 

    N a. LAT 01°14.4'S
    N b. LAT 01°16.3'S
    Y c. LAT 01°18.0'S
    N d. LAT 01°20.2'S
1130: At 1923, on September 21, you pass Bixby Towhead Light (mile 873.7 AHP). What was your average speed since leaving Cairo? 

    N a. 9.2 mph
    N b. 8.8 mph
    Y c. 8.5 mph
    N d. 7.2 mph
1290: You are at mile 230.0 AHP and see on the map a large rectangle outlined with a broken line . This indicates a __________. 

    N a. revetment
    N b. dredge material
    Y c. fleeting area
    N d. dike
1420: What company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Helena (mile 661 to 665 AHP)? 

    N a. Helena Port Terminal, Inc.
    Y b. Riceland Food Corps..
    N c. Quincy Soybean Co.
    N d. Texas Eastern Pipeline Co.
1425: At 1227, on 19 October, you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What speed must you average to arrive at Jimmy Hawken Light (mile 663.5 AHP) at 0930 the following day? 

    N a. 5.2 mph
    N b. 5.6 mph
    N c. 5.9 mph
    Y d. 6.3 mph
1654: On 28 September , in DR position LAT 27°16.7'S, LONG 113°27.2'W, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 273°psc. The chronometer reads 01h 17m 26s and is 01m 49s slow. Variation in the area is 6°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.2°W
    Y b. 0.4°E
    N c. 0.6°W
    N d. 0.8°E
1668: On 20 June , your vessel's 1955 ZT DR position is LAT 52°38.9'N, LONG 03°42.7'E, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 311° per gyrocompass. Variation in the area is 6°W. At the time of the observation, the helmsman noted that he was heading 352° per gyrocompass and 358° per steering compass. What is the gyro error and deviation for that heading? 

    N a. 1.3°W  GE, 1.3°E DEV
    N b. 0.0° GE, 0.0° DEV
    N c. 1.3°W  GE, 1.3°W DEV
    Y d. 1.3°E  GE, 1.3°E DEV
1671: On 9 May , your vessel's 1809 ZT DR position is LAT 48°13.7'N, LONG 168°36.3'E, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 283.7° per standard magnetic compass. Variation in the area is 13.0°E. The chronometer reads 07h 13m 19s and is 02m 56s fast. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    Y a. 0.1°W
    N b. 1.1°W
    N c. 1.1°E
    N d. 1.9°W
1726: The highest point on your towboat is 57 feet above water. The Natchez Gage (mile 363.3 AHP) reads 16.7 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Natchez - Vidalia (westbound) Hwy. Bridge? 

    Y a. 52.3 feet
    N b. 59.9 feet
    N c. 61.0 feet
    N d. 68.6 feet
2020: On 23 July , your 1700 zone time DR position is LAT 27°29'N, LONG 129°26'W. You are on course 079°T at a speed of 20 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time? 

    N a. Arcturus, Jupiter, Denebola
    Y b. Spica, Sabik, Vega
    N c. Antares, Polaris, Altair
    N d. Jupiter, Saturn, Polaris
2107: At 0045, you obtain the following bearings:

Rocky Point lookout tower 072°T
Horton Point lighthouse 213°T

What were the set and drift between 0005 and 0045? 

    N a. 272°true, 0.9 knot
    N b. 272°true, 1.4 knots
    N c. 092°true, 0.9 knot
    Y d. 092°True, 1.4 knots
2296: If your vessel is making turns for 7.5 mph with an estimated average current of 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at the dock in Angelina, LA? 

    Y a. 1621, 28 Dec
    N b. 2203, 28 Dec
    N c. 0516, 29 Dec
    N d. 1621, 29 Dec
2589: From the 2130 position, you steer 236°T at 10 knots. A strong northerly wind is causing 4° of leeway. What course must you steer per standard compass, to make good 236°T? 

    N a. 232° psc
    N b. 240° psc
    N c. 244° psc
    Y d. 252° psc
2590: You have maneuvered for traffic and at 2215 you obtain the following radar information:

Middle Ground Light bearing 287° pgc @ 6.65 nm


What course must you steer to arrive at buoy "PJ", passing 0.5 nm off "Mt Misery Shoal"? 

    N a. 237° psc
    N b. 257° psc
    Y c. 261° psc
    N d. 265° psc
2659: You are steering 115°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 16.7 miles at 0522. You change course to pass the light 3.5 miles off abeam to port. If you are making 12 knots, what is your ETA at the position 3.5 miles off the light? 

    Y a. 0644
    N b. 0647
    N c. 0650
    N d. 0653
2677: You sight a light 9° on your starboard bow at a distance of 21 miles. Assuming you make good your course, what will be your distance off the light when abeam? 

    Y a. 3.3 miles
    N b. 3.7 miles
    N c. 4.0 miles
    N d. 4.3 miles
2908: Your vessel is on a course of 223°T at 17 knots. At 1323 a lighthouse bears 318° relative. At 1341 the same lighthouse bears 287° relative. What is your distance off the lighthouse at 1341? 

    N a. 4.3 miles
    N b. 5.1 miles
    Y c. 6.6 miles
    N d. 7.8 miles
3058: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 20.9 feet and a pitch of 19.6 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 447 miles in a 23 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 108? 

    N a. -5.6%
    N b. +5.6%
    N c. -7.0%
    Y d. +7.0%
3452: You wish to make good a course of 035°T while turning for an engine speed of 12 knots. The set is 340°T, and the drift is 2 knots. What course should you steer? 

    N a. 027°T
    N b. 037°T
    Y c. 044°T
    N d. 054°T
3606: You are steering 154°pgc. The wind is southwest causing 4° leeway. The gyro error is 3°E, variation is 11°W and deviation is 7°E. What is the true course made good? 

    Y a. 153°T
    N b. 158°T
    N c. 161°T
    N d. 164°T
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
3758: 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 212°T, and the variation is 7°W. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 208° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation? 

    N a. 4°E
    N b. 4°W
    Y c. 11°E
    N d. 11°W
3760: 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 352°T, and the variation is 4°W. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 359° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation? 

    Y a. 3°W
    N b. 7°E
    N c. 11°E
    N d. 11°W
3771: Two beacons form a range in the direction of 221.5°T. The range is seen in line from your vessel bearing 223° per gyro compass. The variation in the area is 4°E. What is the error of your gyro compass? 

    Y a. 1.5°W
    N b. 2.5°W
    N c. 5.5°W
    N d. 2.5°E
4002: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°E. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a true heading of 258°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 350° 122.5° - 110° 239.5° - 230°
030.5° - 020° 152.0° - 140° 269.0° - 260°
061.5° - 050° 181.0° - 170° 298.0° - 290°
092.0° - 080° 210.0° - 200° 327.5° - 320° 

    N a. 0.5°W
    N b. 0.0°
    N c. 0.5°E
    Y d. 1.0°E
14103: You are approaching Bonneville Lock and Dam and desire lockage. Which call sign should you use to contact the lock? 

    Y a. WUJ 33
    N b. WUJ 34
    N c. WUJ 41
    N d. WUJ 45
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
14500: Your vessel is at mile 170 on the Columbia River. You are proceeding in a westerly direction and are approaching the lift bridge at Hood River. The pool level of the Bonneville reservoir stands at 92 feet above MSL. If the highest point on your vessel is 52 feet above the water, which of the following statements is TRUE? 

    N a. You may pass under the lift bridge, in the "down" position  with a vertical clearance of 15 feet.
    N b. You may pass under the lift bridge in the "up" position with a clearance of 96 feet.
    N c. You may pass under the lift bridge, in the "down" position  with a vertical clearance of 25 feet.
    Y d. You may pass under the lift bridge, in the "up" position with a vertical clearance of 76 feet.
15115: If the visibility is 11 miles, what is the luminous range of New Point Comfort Spit Light "4"? 

    N a. 0.5 mile
    N b. 3.8 miles
    N c. 4.3 miles
    Y d. 5.0 miles
15311: You leave York Spit Channel at buoy "14" at 0600 with an engine speed of 12 knots. You receive orders to rendezvous with the tug "Quicksilver" and her tow at Hog Island Bell Buoy "12". What is your ETA at the rendezvous point, if you pass through Chesapeake Channel to buoy "CBJ", through the outbound traffic separation lane to buoy "NCA"
(LL#375), and then to the rendezvous point? 

    N a. 0830
    N b. 0850
    Y c. 0910
    N d. 0935
15469: At 1037, you are on course 010°T at 10 knots, when you take the following bearings:

Old Plantation Flats Light bearing 125°pgc
Wolf Trap Light bearing 338°pgc
New Point Comfort Light bearing 286°pgc


What is your 1037 position? 

    N a. LAT 37°15.9'N, LONG 76°07.1'W
    Y b. LAT 37°16.1'N, LONG 76°07.4'W
    N c. LAT 37°16.2'N, LONG 76°07.8'W
    N d. LAT 37°16.3'N, LONG 76°07.2'W
15627: What is the vertical clearance of the Natchez Highway Bridge (westbound) when the river level is the same as the Low Water Reference Plane (6.1 ft)? 

    N a. 102.2 ft
    N b. 108.3 ft
    Y c. 119.4 ft
    N d. 125.6 ft
15828: At 0305 on 18 April, you pass under the Greenville Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. Docks (mile 253.6 AHP)? 

    N a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 6.5 mph
    Y c. 6.8 mph
    N d. 7.2 mph
15845: If you are going to head directly for Chesapeake Light from your 2111 fix, what is the course to make good? 

    Y a. 190°T
    N b. 193°T
    N c. 196°T
    N d. 199°T
16262: What was the speed made good from 0240 to 0400? 

    N a. 5.2 knots
    N b. 5.6 knots
    Y c. 6.0 knots
    N d. 6.4 knots
16540: You sight Bartlett Reef Light in range with New London Harbor Light bearing 038°pgc. At the time of the bearing,
the helmsman reports he was heading 253°pgc and 269° per standard magnetic compass. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    Y a. 1°E
    N b. 1°W
    N c. 4°E
    N d. 4°W
16540: You sight Bartlett Reef Light in range with New London Harbor Light bearing 038°pgc. At the time of the bearing,
the helmsman reports he was heading 253°pgc and 269° per standard magnetic compass. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    Y a. 1°E
    N b. 1°W
    N c. 4°E
    N d. 4°W
16556: You are underway in the vicinity of Block Island and obtain the following lines of position:

Montauk Point Light 267°pgc
Block Island Southeast Light 030°pgc
Radar Bearing to Block Island
Southwest Point (tangent) 352°pgc

What is your position at the time of these sightings? 

    N a. LAT 41°05.2'N, LONG 71°36.2'W
    Y b. LAT 41°05.3'N, LONG 71°35.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 71°36.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 71°35.9'W