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.


191: If you make good 12 knots, what is the ETA at North Chesapeake Channel Entrance Buoy "NCA" (LL #375)?


224: Which statement concerning your 1920 position is TRUE?


245: On chart 12354, the datum from which heights of objects are taken is __________.


264: At 0720, you are in the outer channel between buoy "1" and buoy "2" and change course to pass Townshend Ledge Lighted Bell Buoy "10A" abeam to port at 200 yards. What is your ETA off the buoy?

    N a. 0745
    N b. 0741
    Y c. 0738
    N d. 0734

274: At what approximate distance would you expect Bartlett Reef Light to break the horizon, if the visibility is 27 nautical miles?

    Y a. 12.8 nm
    N b. 12.0 nm
    N c. 6.9 nm
    N d. 5.9 nm

280: Your 1752 position places you __________.

    N a. less than 0.5 mile eastward of York Spit Channel
    Y b. less than 0.5 mile westward of York Spit Channel
    N c. greater than 0.5 mile westward of York Spit Channel
    N d. greater than 0.5 mile eastward of York Spit Channel

419: At 0900, you take the following radar ranges:

Watch Hill Point 5.4 miles
Block Island Grace Point 8.3 miles

Which statement about this fix is TRUE?

    N a. You are to the left of the track line.
    N b. The bottom in the area is sand and gravel.
    N c. You are governed by the Inland Rules.
    Y d. The fix is indeterminate.

557: The south shore of Long Island Sound near your position is __________.

    N a. high with numerous cliffs
    Y b. fringed with rock shoals
    N c. backed by marshes and wooded uplands
    N d. low and marshy

595: You are passing the Bayou Sara Gage which reads 3.9 feet. The low water reference plane (LWRP) at Bayou Sara is 5.25 feet. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    N a. The river level is above the Low Water Reference Plane.
    N b. Red Store Landing Revetment is ahead on your starboard side
    N c. This gage reading is at a lower elevation than the same reading on the Gage at Head of Passes.
    Y d. None of the above.

617: Your vessel will sail from a position in LAT 8°51.0'N, LONG 81°31.0'W to a position at LAT 33°51.5'S, LONG 151°13.0'E. The distance by great circle is 7,635 miles, and you estimate an average speed of 15.0 knots. What is your estimated zone time of arrival if you depart at 1510 ZT, on 23 July?

    Y a. 1110, 14 August
    N b. 0110, 14 August
    N c. 1110, 13 August
    N d. 1510, 13 August

674: What are the dimensions of the Port Allen Lock at Baton Rouge, LA?

    N a. 75 feet x 1188 feet
    Y b. 84 feet x 1188 feet
    N c. 84 feet x 1180 feet
    N d. 75 feet x 1180 feet

752: On 5 May , at 1953 zone time, you take a sextant observation of Polaris. Your vessel's DR position is LAT 29°30.0'N, LONG 66°25.7'W, and your sextant reads 29°07.2'. Your chronometer reads 11h 51m 45s, and your chronometer error is 01m 36s slow. Your height of eye is 56 feet, and the index error for your sextant is 1.5' on the arc. What is the latitude of your vessel from your observation of Polaris?

    N a. 29°14.3'N
    Y b. 29°23.6'N
    N c. 29°32.3'N
    N d. 29°38.8'N

1093: On 22 Nov. , your vessel is enroute from Accra, Ghana to Montevideo, Uruguay. You are on course 240°T and making a speed of 15.0 knots. Your 1129 DR position is LAT 28°25.0'S, LONG 42°40.0'W. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1137 running fix. NP-0023

    Y a. LAT 28°27.0'S, LONG 42°38.0'W
    N b. LAT 28°25.2'S, LONG 42°40.0'W
    N c. LAT 28°25.0'S, LONG 42°36.0'W
    N d. LAT 28°23.4'S, LONG 42°42.0'W

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

1217: It is 31 October , and you are keeping zone time -12. You are on course 095°T, speed 24 knots. Your 0730 DR position is LAT 29°20.0'N, LONG 178°54.0'E. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks?

    N a. 11h 24m 19s
    Y b. 11h 40m 55s
    N c. 12h 12m 16s
    N d. 12h 40m 02s

1267: On 10 December , your 1300 zone time (ZT) DR position is LAT 26°27.0'S, LONG 79°04.0'E. You are on course 068°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    Y a. 1824
    N b. 1846
    N c. 1854
    N d. 1908

1492: On 22 February , your 2045 ZT position is LAT 33°19'N,
LONG 52°06'W. You observe Polaris bearing 358.1°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 048°pgc and 065°psc. The variation is 19°W. What is the deviation for that heading?

    N a. 1°E
    Y b. 3°E
    N c. 1°W
    N d. 3°W

1683: You are taking a time tick using the 1930 signal from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. You hear the preparatory signal "CQ DE PPE" repeated several times followed by a short dash (0.4 sec), 60 dots (0.1 sec each) and another short dash. At the beginning of the last dash, the comparing watch reads 07h 30m 08s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 07h 31m 48s, and the chronometer reads 07h 32m 16s. What is the chronometer error?

    N a. 0m 28s slow
    N b. 1m 40s slow
    N c. 0m 08s fast
    Y d. 0m 36s fast

1835: The Vaucluse Trench fill revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________.

    N a. 524.3 - 522.6 RDB
    Y b. 535.6 - 532.9 RDB
    N c. 535.9 - 534.3 LDB
    N d. 534.3 - 532.6 LDB

1916: On 14 January , your 1922 DR position is LAT 27°18.5'S, LONG 67°18.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 250°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 31°01.2'. The chronometer reads 03h 25m 43s, and is 03m 15s fast. Which star did you observe?

    N a. Elnath
    Y b. Fomalhaut
    N c. Pollux
    N d. Markab

1955: At 1814, on 11 September, 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?

    Y a. 8.7 mph
    N b. 7.7 mph
    N c. 6.3 mph
    N d. 5.6 mph

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

2177: On 21 November , at 0430 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was LAT 22°14.0'S, LONG 79°23.0'E. Your vessel is steaming at 14.5 knots on a course of 246°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0816 ZT. The chronometer reads 03h 14m 16s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 44°29.2'. The index error is 1.0' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 47s slow. Your height of eye is 61.0 feet (18.6 meters). What is the azimuth (Zn) and intercept (a) of this sight using the assumed position?

    N a. Zn 084.2°, a 6.6' A
    N b. Zn 084.2°, a 6.6' T
    N c. Zn 095.6°, a 6.6' A
    Y d. Zn 095.6°, a 6.6' T

2291: You are taking a time tick using the 2100 signal from Callao, Peru. You hear a series of 1 second dashes followed by a 9 second silent period, then a long 1.3 second dash. At the beginning of the long dash, your comparing watch reads 09h 00m 10s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 09h 01m 20s, and the chronometer reads 08h 59m 22s. What is the chronometer error?

    Y a. 1m 48s slow
    N b. 0m 38s slow
    N c. 1m 10s fast
    N d. 0m 10s fast

2458: You have steamed 560 miles at 23 knots and burning 524 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 260 barrels per day with 316 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 16.3
    N b. 18.6
    N c. 19.9
    Y d. 21.6

2681: Your vessel is on course 312°pgc and you sight a lighthouse dead ahead at a range of 10 miles. The gyro error is 3°E. What course would you steer to leave the lighthouse 1.5 miles abeam to starboard?

    N a. 309°pgc
    Y b. 304°pgc
    N c. 309°T
    N d. 304°T

3266: Your vessel has consumed 1087 bbls of fuel after steaming 2210 miles at a speed of 10.75 kts. What is the maximum speed you can steam for the last 1000 miles of the voyage on the remaining 725 bbls, if you estimate 3% of the fuel is not usable?

    N a. 11.43 knots
    N b. 11.76 knots
    Y c. 12.84 knots
    N d. 15.33 knots

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

3638: You desire to make good a true course of 007°. The variation is 5°E, magnetic compass deviation is 3°W, and gyrocompass error is 2°E. A southwest by west wind produces a 2° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good?

    Y a. 003°psc
    N b. 005°psc
    N c. 007°psc
    N d. 009°psc

10107: What is the first course per standard magnetic compass (psc) in the outbound southeasterly traffic lane of the Chesapeake Bay entrance traffic separation scheme?

    N a. 133°psc
    N b. 138°psc
    N c. 143°psc
    Y d. 148°psc

11803: What is the true course to steer between Falkner Island Light and Horton Point Light, if the set and drift of the current are 041° at 2.4 knots, and a northeasterly wind will cause 4° of leeway? Your engines are making turns for 15 knots.

    N a. 116°T
    N b. 124°T
    Y c. 134°T
    N d. 142°T

12206: You sight Bartlett Reef Light (LAT 41°16.5'N, LONG 72°08.2'W) in line with New London Harbor Light (LAT 41°19.0'N, LONG 72°05.4'W) and bearing 059° per standard magnetic compass. What is the compass deviation?

    N a. 4°E
    Y b. 4°W
    N c. 10°E
    N d. 10°W

12207: You sight Stratford Pt. Light in line with the Igor I. Sikorsky Airport Aero Beacon bearing 319° per standard magnetic compass. What is the compass deviation?

    Y a. 4°W
    N b. 4°E
    N c. 18°W
    N d. 18°E

12605: You are on course 209° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: New Haven Light - 331.5°psc Branford Reef Light - 066.5°psc Old Field Point Light - 240.5°psc What is your position?

    Y a. LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 72°52.8'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°49.9'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 72°53.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°14.5'N, LONG 72°48.8'W

12906: At 0919 you are in Chesapeake Channel between Trestle B and Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. What is your ETA between York River Entrance Channel Buoys "17" and "18" if you are making 11.3 knots?

    N a. 1034
    N b. 1039
    Y c. 1044
    N d. 1049

14101: What signal is given by air horn to indicate that Bonneville Lock is ready for entrance?

    N a. two long blasts
    N b. two short blasts
    N c. one short blast
    Y d. one long blast

14503: You have just cleared Bonneville Lock and are proceeding in an easterly direction on the Columbia River. The pool level of the Bonneville reservoir stands at 78 feet above MSL. If the highest point on your vessel is 46 feet above the water, what will be the vertical clearance when you pass under the overhead power cables at mile 146.5?

    N a. 134 feet
    Y b. 138 feet
    N c. 144 feet
    N d. 150 feet

14601: Where would you look for information on the restricted areas shown on the chart immediately above and below the spillway at The Dalles Lock & Dam ?

    N a. Light List - Vol II
    Y b. Coast Pilot 7 - Chapter 2
    N c. Notice to Mariners
    N d. Sailing directions

15061: Falkner Island Light is shown __________.

    N a. 46 feet (13.9 meters) above sea level
    N b. only from 1 June to 10 October
    Y c. from a white octagonal tower
    N d. with a six-second period

15066: If you correct for the current in the preceding question (035°T at 0.5 knot) and maintain an engine speed of 7.5 knots, what is your ETA 0.5 mile south of buoy "W"?

    N a. 1016
    Y b. 1021
    N c. 1026
    N d. 1030

15108: Your 1752 position places you __________.

    Y a. less than 0.5 mile westward of York Spit Channel
    N b. less than 0.5 mile eastward of York Spit Channel
    N c. greater than 0.5 mile westward of York Spit Channel
    N d. greater than 0.5 mile eastward of York Spit Channel

15110: From your 1752 position, you steer 307°pgc at 9 knots. At 1805, you obtain the following visual bearings:

Old Pt. Comfort Light 232°pgc.
Chesapeake Bay Tunnel North Light 130°pgc.

What are the latitude and longitude of you 1805 position?

    N a. LAT 37°06.1'N, LONG 76°08.1'W
    N b. LAT 37°06.0'N, LONG 76°08.4'W
    N c. LAT 37°05.9'N, LONG 76°07.7'W
    Y d. LAT 37°05.9'N, LONG 76°08.0'W

15117: At 1930, you take a fix using the following radar ranges:

York Spit Light - 3.6 miles
New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" - 2.0 miles
York Spit Swash Channel Light "3" - 2.5 miles

Your longitude is __________.

    N a. 76°16.5'W
    Y b. 76°16.8'W
    N c. 76°17.0'W
    N d. 76°17.2'W

15144: At 2310 Buoy "MP" bears 305° true with a radar range of 2.5 miles. From this position you change course to 005° true. Without any set and drift, what would be your predicted distance off Southwest Ledge Buoy "2" when it is on your starboard beam?

    N a. 0.9 mile
    N b. 1.1 miles
    Y c. 1.5 miles
    N d. 1.9 miles

15263: What do the dotted lines around Goose Island and Kimberly Reef represent?

    N a. Danger soundings
    N b. Breakers
    N c. Tide rips
    Y d. Depth contours

15363: At 0530, you change course to 090°T and increase speed to 8.5 knots. What is the course to steer per gyro compass if northerly winds are causing 2° of leeway?

    N a. 088°pgc
    Y b. 090°pgc
    N c. 092°pgc
    N d. 094°pgc

15566: At 0520 you take the following observations:

Point Judith Light 036°pgc
Point Judith Harbor of Refuge
Main Breakwater Center Light 312°pgc

What is the position of your 0520 fix?

    Y a. LAT 41°20.8'N, Long 71°29.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°20.8'N, Long 71°30.0'W
    N c. LAT 41°20.6'N, Long 71°30.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°20.5'N, Long 71°29.8'W

15808: At 0005, on 26 January, your position is LAT 41°11.8'N,
LONG 72°20.5'W. From this position, you plot a course to steer to a point one half mile north of Mattituck Breakwater Light "MI" with an engine speed of 9.0 knots. If there are no set and drift, what course should you steer?

    N a. 207°psc
    N b. 213°psc
    N c. 220°psc
    Y d. 235°psc

15856: What type of bottom is found at Long Sand Shoal?

    N a. Rocky
    Y b. Hard
    N c. Sandy
    N d. Muddy

15907: At 0720, you are in the outer channel between buoy "1" and buoy "2" and change course to pass Townshend Ledge Lighted Gong Buoy "10A" abeam to port at 200 yards. What is your ETA off the buoy?

    N a. 0734
    Y b. 0738
    N c. 0741
    N d. 0745

16366: From your 0600 fix, you change course to 250°T. At 0605,
Cape Henry Light bears 250°T. At 0615, it bears 251°T. At 0625, it bears 252°T. Based on this you know you are __________.

    Y a. being set to the south
    N b. being set to the north
    N c. meeting a current from dead ahead
    N d. running with a current from dead astern

16506: At 0630, you pass Buoy "PI" close abeam on the starboard side. You are steering 078°T and are headed directly toward Race Rock Light. At 0654, Little Gull Island Light is bearing 207°T and Race Rock Light is bearing 072°T. What is your 0654 position?

    Y a. LAT 41°14.0'N, LONG 72°05.3'W
    N b. LAT 41°14.2'N, LONG 71°54.6'W
    N c. LAT 41°14.4'N, LONG 72°06.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°19.0'N, LONG 72°05.2'W

16539: If you estimate 3° leeway due to northerly winds, which course will you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc)
to make good 255°T?

    N a. 267°psc
    Y b. 270°psc
    N c. 272°psc
    N d. 274°psc

16738: At 2212 your position is LAT 40° 51'N, LONG 71° 53.5'W.

What is the course to steer, per gyrocompass from your 2212 position, to leave Montauk Point Buoy "MP" abeam to port at 1 mile if easterly winds are causing 3° of leeway?

    N a. 027° pgc
    N b. 030° pgc
    N c. 032° pgc
    Y d. 035° pgc