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.


78: At 1723 you increase speed to make good 9.2 mph. At 1937 you have a daymark on your port beam. What daymark is this?


85: You are turning for 10 mph, approaching Angola, LA. Angola reports that the current at Red River Landing is estimated at 4.5 mph. Which of the following statements is TRUE?


120: You estimate the current as 2.5 mph. What is the speed over the ground?


163: Which light will you be passing at 0059, on 22 September, if you make good 9.2 mph?

    N a. Kate Aubrey Lt.
    Y b. Obion Bar Lt.
    N c. Trotter Lt.
    N d. Quaker Oats Lt.

230: 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. 2.6 miles
    N c. 3.4 miles
    N d. 4.6 miles

232: At 0700, Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light bears 137°pgc. From your radar, you get a bearing of 007°pgc to the south tip of Stratford Point with a range of 4.5 miles. What is your 0700 position?

    N a. LAT 41°04.6'N, LONG 73°07.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°04.6'N, LONG 73°06.6'W
    N c. LAT 41°04.6'N, LONG 73°07.4'W
    Y d. LAT 41°04.6'N, LONG 73°07.2'W

503: What was the speed made good between 2114 and 2142?

    Y a. 11.4 knots
    N b. 11.7 knots
    N c. 12.0 knots
    N d. 12.3 knots

527: You depart LAT 25°54'N, LONG 9°38'E and steam 592 miles on course 270°. What is the longitude of arrival?

    N a. 1°20'E
    N b. 0°40'E
    N c. 0°40'W
    Y d. 1°20'W

536: Determine the distance from LAT 63°54.0'N, LONG 04°52.0'E to LAT 63°54.0'N, LONG 18°24.0'W by parallel sailing.

    N a. 608.6 miles
    N b. 610.9 miles
    N c. 612.3 miles
    Y d. 614.2 miles

554: Based on your running fix, you __________.

    Y a. have a following current
    N b. have a head current
    N c. are being set to the north
    N d. are not affected by a current

626: You are on a voyage from St. John, Canada, to Galveston, TX. The distance is 2280 miles, and the speed of advance is 15.0 knots. You estimate 16.5 hours for bunkering enroute at Ft. Lauderdale, FL. If you sailed at 1642 hours (ZD +4), 27 February , what was your ETA (ZD +6) at Galveston?

    Y a. 1512, 6 March
    N b. 0812, 6 March
    N c. 0712, 6 March
    N d. 2312, 5 March

632: The Memphis Gage reads 18.4 feet. The high point of your towboat is 48 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Memphis Highway Bridge?

    Y a. 46.4 feet
    N b. 53.8 feet
    N c. 66.4 feet
    N d. 75.4 feet

655: On a North Pacific voyage, you wish to sail the shortest distance from LAT 46°05'N, LONG 124°00'W to LAT 44°00'N, LONG 150°00'E. You do not want to exceed 50°N latitude due to anticipated fog conditions. Which voyage plot meets these requirements? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5270)

    N a. A great circle between departure and arrival with Mercator legs north of the Aleutians
    N b. A great circle between departure and arrival with parallel sailing where the track intersects the 50°N parallel
    Y c. A great circle to 50°N, 153°W, parallel sailing to 50°N, 173°W, then a great circle to arrival
    N d. A great circle from departure to the mid-longitude at 50°N, then another great circle to arrival

666: You are on a voyage via position LAT 44°00'N, LONG 150°00'E to LAT 46°15'N, LONG 124°00'W. Using gnomonic chart WOXZC 5270, determine which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. A composite sailing with a limiting latitude of 51°N will clear the Aleutian Islands.
    N b. The northern hemisphere vertex is east of the arrival position.
    N c. The Aleutian Islands are not a navigational hazard on the direct great circle track.
    N d. The final course angle lies in the northeast quadrant.

1086: On 15 July , your vessel is enroute from Portland, OR, to Singapore, Malaysia. You are steering course 243°T and making a speed of 16 knots. Your 1845 zone time DR is LAT 27°42.0'N, LONG 167°02.0'E. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1945 running fix. NP-0016

    Y a. LAT 27°31.1'N, LONG 166°43.0'E
    N b. LAT 27°38.5'N, LONG 166°45.1'E
    N c. LAT 27°45.3'N, LONG 166°32.2'E
    N d. LAT 28°18.1'N, LONG 166°39.8'E

1088: On 9 June , your 0000 DR position is LAT 26°14.0'S, LONG 176°38.1'E. You are on course 223°T, speed 17.8 knots. You observed 4 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0630 running fix.

    Y a. LAT 27°44.7'S, LONG 174°57.1'E
    N b. LAT 27°46.2'S, LONG 175°03.0'E
    N c. LAT 27°41.2'S, LONG 175°01.2'E
    N d. LAT 27°38.5'S, LONG 175°06.3'E

1109: On 5 May , your 1600 zone time DR position is LAT 17°28'S, LONG 143°39'E. You are on course 316°T at a speed of 17 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1800 running fix.

    Y a. LAT 17°05.2'S, LONG 143°11.4'E
    N b. LAT 17°07.8'S, LONG 143°17.5'E
    N c. LAT 17°08.2'S, LONG 143°07.9'E
    N d. LAT 17°09.7'S, LONG 143°10.1'E

1181: On 4 January , your 0800 zone time DR position is LAT 25°25.0 S, LONG 16°09.0'W. Your vessel is on course 290°T at a speed of 13.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1157
    N b. 1205
    N c. 1209
    Y d. 1213

1200: On 26 September , your 0830 DR position is LAT 26°04.0'N, LONG 129°16.0'W. Your vessel is on a course of 119°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    Y a. 1124
    N b. 1128
    N c. 1142
    N d. 1146

1252: On 13 August , your 0345 ZT DR position is LAT 21°35.0'
N, LONG 135°26.0'W. You are on course 052°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel?

    N a. 0443
    N b. 0449
    Y c. 0536
    N d. 0540

1497: On 19 November , your 0146 ZT position is LAT 33°48'N, LONG 25°22'E. You observe Polaris bearing 359.8°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 224°pgc and 222.5°psc. The variation is 2°E. What is the deviation for that heading?

    N a. 2.0°E
    N b. 0.5°E
    Y c. 1.0°W
    N d. 1.5°W

1666: On 23 October , your vessel's 1722 zone time DR position is LAT 27°36'S, LONG 96°16'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's lower limb is about 20 minutes of arc above the visible horizon and bears 246° per standard compass. Variation in the area is 14.0°E. The chronometer reads 11h 24m 19s and is 01m 43s fast. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    N a. 2.3°E
    N b. 2.7°E
    N c. 2.7°W
    Y d. 3.1°W

1725: As you pass Fort Adams (311.4 AHP) you observe a flashing amber light on the right descending bank ahead. This indicates that you should __________.

    N a. proceed with caution as there is construction work being done on the revetment
    N b. keep as close to the right descending bank as safety permits
    Y c. keep as close to the left descending bank as safety permits
    N d. proceed with caution as the river is congested around the bend

1842: What town is located at mile 389.8 AHP?

    N a. Whitehall
    N b. Belmont
    N c. St. James
    Y d. Rodney

1853: On 8 April , while taking observations for an evening fix, you observe an unidentified star bearing 250.7°T at an observed altitude of 51°44.8'. Your DR position at the time of the sight was LAT 22°16.0'N, LONG 157°58.3'W. The chronometer reads 05h 09m 57s and is 01m 23s slow. What star did you observe?

    N a. Betelgeuse
    N b. Aldebaran
    N c. Alnilam
    Y d. Bellatrix

1911: On 22 February , your 1857 DR position is LAT 23°46.0'S, LONG 93°16.5'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 150°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 42°15.0'. The chronometer reads 01h 00m 35s, and is 03m 25s fast. What star did you observe?

    N a. Adhara
    N b. Miaplacidus
    Y c. Avior
    N d. Suhail

2011: On 3 February , your 0547 zone time DR position is LAT 24°18.5'N, LONG 167°25.0'E. Considering their magnitude,
azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time?

    Y a. Regulus, Deneb, Antares
    N b. Altair, Saturn, Regulus
    N c. Arcturus, Kochab, Venus
    N d. Jupiter, Denebola, Regulus

2085: At your current speed of 20 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 360 miles. You must travel 440 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination?

    Y a. 18.1
    N b. 17.5
    N c. 16.9
    N d. 16.3

2163: On 1 April , at 0515 zone time, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 27°05.0'N, LONG 16°30.0'W. Your vessel is steaming at 19.0 knots on a course of 022°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0930 zone time. The chronometer reads 10h 28m 25s, and the sextant altitude is 46°20.3'. The index error is 4.5' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 02m 15s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 57.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    N a. 121.6°T
    N b. 117.9°T
    Y c. 115.0°T
    N d. 112.2°T

2178: On 26 July , your 1901 ZT position is LAT 28°28'N, LONG 157°16'E when you take an observation of Jupiter. The chronometer at the time of the sight reads 08h 54m 34s and is 06m 24s slow. The sextant altitude (hs) is 33°51.5'. The index error is 2.8'off the arc, and the height of eye is 48 feet. What are the azimuth (Zn) and intercept (a) for this sight using the assumed position?

    N a. Zn 110.8°, a 32.0' T
    N b. Zn 249.2°, a 32.0' A
    Y c. Zn 248.2°, a 34.2' T
    N d. Zn 290.8°, a 44.2' A

2694: While on a course of 152°T, a light bears 9° on the port bow at a distance of 11.6 miles. What course should you steer to pass 3 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port?

    N a. 153°
    Y b. 158°
    N c. 163°
    N d. 167°

3060: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 24.0 feet and a pitch of 21.3 feet. What would be the slip if the vessel cruised 510 miles in a 24 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 86?

    N a. -12.2%
    N b. +12.2%
    Y c. -17.5%
    N d. +17.5%

3098: If the pitch of the propeller is 21.2 feet, and the revolutions per day are 93,660, calculate the day's run allowing 5% positive slip.

    N a. 163.3 miles
    N b. 217.8 miles
    Y c. 310.3 miles
    N d. 342.9 miles

3769: Entering a harbor, you take a bearing on a range and get 338° per gyrocompass (pgc). The true bearing from the chart is 340°T. Variation for the area is 14°E. Your course is 329° per standard magnetic compass (psc) and 338°pgc. The deviation on this heading is __________.

    N a. 3°E
    Y b. 3°W
    N c. 5°E
    N d. 5°W

4004: 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 166°.
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. 0.5°W

10109: What is the base course (psc) in the inbound northeasterly traffic lane of the Chesapeake Bay entrance traffic separation scheme?

    Y a. 261°psc
    N b. 258°psc
    N c. 250°psc
    N d. 244°psc

10300: Determine the course per standard magnetic compass from the entrance to Quonochontaug Pond (LAT 41°19.8'N, LONG 71°43.2'W) to the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island.

    N a. 129.5°psc
    N b. 134.0°psc
    N c. 156.0°psc
    Y d. 159.0°psc

12506: You are on course 203° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: New Point Comfort Spit Light 2 267°psc Horn Harbor Entrance Light HH 304°psc Wolf Trap Light 006°psc What is the position of the fix?

    N a. LAT 37°18.9'N, LONG 76°10.4'W
    Y b. LAT 37°18.8'N, LONG 76°10.8'W
    N c. LAT 37°18.7'N, LONG 76°11.1'W
    N d. LAT 37°18.5'N, LONG 76°10.7'W

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

13405: At 0400 your vessel is dead in the water and in heavy fog. Your GPS position is LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°43.5'W. Bottom samples are taken and indicate a composition of soft mud and shell. Your fathometer reads 40 feet. If the vessel draws 9 feet of water, which of the following is TRUE?

    Y a. The bottom samples and fathometer reading prove the fix is reliable.
    N b. The bottom samples and fathometer readings indicate that the fix is unreliable.
    N c. The information collected indicates that the fathometer may be in error.
    N d. The information collected indicates that the chart is most likely in error.

13409: You plan to anchor your vessel at LAT 41°00.5'N, LONG 73°02.8'W. What type of bottom should you expect at this position?

    N a. Gray sand
    Y b. Soft mud
    N c. Hard sand
    N d. Gray mud

13803: NOAA Weather Broadcasts for the New London area may be received by turning your radio to __________.

    Y a. 162.550 MHz
    N b. 162.475 MHz
    N c. 162.400 MHz
    N d. 162.350 MHz

15018: What course per standard magnetic compass (psc) is the same as 247°pgc?

    N a. 240°psc
    N b. 246°psc
    Y c. 257°psc
    N d. 260°psc

15045: From your 0841 position, you are steering a course of 241°
true to the northeasterly inbound channel entrance, your speed is now 15 knots. What is your ETA abeam of buoy "NCA" (LL#375)?

    N a. 0850
    Y b. 0855
    N c. 0901
    N d. 0911

15058: At 0740, you obtain the following radar data:

Branford Reef Light bears 248° true @ 3.0 nm

What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41°12.0'N, LONG 72°51.3'W
    N b. LAT 41°12.0'N, LONG 72°51.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°51.5'W
    Y d. LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°52.0'W

15113: At 1845, you obtain the following bearings:

Old Plantation Flats Light bearing 251° true
New Point Comfort Light bearing 334° true

Your latitude is __________.

    N a. 37°10.7'N
    N b. 37°10.9'N
    N c. 37°11.0'N
    Y d. 37°11.2'N

15638: At 2009 you are leaving New London Harbor with buoy "2"
close abeam to port. What is the true course to the Race that will leave Race Rock Light 0.5 mile abeam to port?

    N a. 156°
    N b. 160°
    Y c. 164°
    N d. 168°

15941: From your 1934 position, you change course to pass 2.0 miles due north of Block Island Sound South Entrance Obstruction Lighted "BIS" Buoy. If you adjust your course only (while maintaining an engine speed of 14 knots) for a set and drift of 230°T at 3.5 knots, what is your ETA and distance off when abeam of Shagwong Reef Lighted Bell Buoy "7SR"?

    N a. 2003, 4.2 miles
    N b. 2009, 4.2 miles
    N c. 2003, 3.7 miles
    Y d. 2009, 3.7 miles

16509: At 0705, with your gyro again functioning properly, you change course to 096°T. At this time Race Rock Light is bearing 000°T at 0.35 mile. You are now governed by which Navigation Rules?

    N a. Inland Rules
    N b. Local Pilot Rules
    Y c. International Rules
    N d. Coastal Fishery Rules

16520: Which chart should you use to enter Great Salt Pond?

    N a. 13214
    N b. 13205
    Y c. 13217
    N d. 13207

16609: What was the speed made good between 2114 and 2142?

    N a. 12.3 knots
    N b. 12.0 knots
    N c. 11.7 knots
    Y d. 11.4 knots

16644: Visibility becomes variable in patchy fog and you maintain 5 knots speed. At 0610 you sight Montauk Point Light bearing 239°pgc, and at 0630 you sight Watch Hill Point Light bearing 333°pgc. What is the position of your 0630 running fix?

    Y a. LAT 41°08.3'N, LONG 71°45.4'W
    N b. LAT 41°08.2'N, LONG 71°45.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°08.1'N, LONG 71°45.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°08.0'N, LONG 71°45.2'W

16742: At 2352 you hear a MAYDAY call from a vessel reporting her position as 1.5 miles due east of Block Island Southeast Point Light. What is the course to steer, per gyrocompass to the distress site, if you change course at midnight and allow 1° leeway for easterly winds?

    N a. 049.5°pgc
    N b. 052.5°pgc
    N c. 055.5°pgc
    Y d. 059.0°pgc