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.


35: What are the dimensions of the channel maintained at Baton Rouge, LA?


57: At 0922, on 24 May, you are abreast the St. Catherine Bar Lt. (mile 348.6 AHP). If you are turning for 8.0 mph, what is the current?


183: At 1920, the buoy off your starboard bow is __________.


218: If there is no current, what is the course per gyro compass from your 1600 position to point A located 0.5 mile due east of Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy "12"?

    N a. 199°pgc
    N b. 196°pgc
    Y c. 193°pgc
    N d. 190°pgc

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

    N a. lowest low water
    N b. mean low water
    Y c. mean high water
    N d. mean lower low water

322: From your 2200 fix, you steer course 288°T to travel up the Thimble Shoal North Auxiliary Channel. If you are making good 6.0 knots, at what time would you expect to pass buoy "18" at the west end of the channel? (There are no set and drift.)

    N a. 2355
    Y b. 2344
    N c. 2335
    N d. 2324

357: If the visibility is 5 miles and you are in the red sector, at what distance off should you sight Cape Henry Light?

    Y a. 09 miles
    N b. 11 miles
    N c. 13 miles
    N d. 15 miles

378: A vessel at LAT 37°24.0'N, LONG 178°15.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 34°18.0'N, LONG 178°25.0°E. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 041°T, 273.9 miles
    N b. 047°T, 273.9 miles
    Y c. 221°T, 247.2 miles
    N d. 227°T, 247.2 miles

540: Determine the distance from LAT 34°18'S, LONG 172°40'E to LAT 34°18'S, LONG 152°38'E, by parallel sailing.

    Y a. 993.0 miles
    N b. 995.2 miles
    N c. 996.4 miles
    N d. 998.6 miles

749: On 15 February at 0610 ZT, in DR position LAT 56°53.0'N, LONG 157°02.9'E, you observe Polaris at a sextant altitude (hs) of 56°10.4'. The index error is 2.5' on the arc, and the height of eye is 18 meters. What is the latitude?

    Y a. 56°41.8'N
    N b. 56°47.9'N
    N c. 56°48.1'N
    N d. 57°10.6'N

1021: On 30 March , your 0145 DR position is LAT 29°30'S, LONG 122°45'E. You are on course 055°T at a speed of 22 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix.

    N a. LAT 28°24.6'S, LONG 124°21.4'E
    Y b. LAT 28°39.9'S, LONG 124°18.6'E
    N c. LAT 28°41.5'S, LONG 124°41.5'E
    N d. LAT 29°20.1'S, LONG 123°41.0'E

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

1259: On 10 April , your 1630 ZT DR position is LAT 21°03.0'N, LONG 63°11.0'W. You are on course 324°T at a speed of 22 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    N a. 1805
    N b. 1814
    N c. 1818
    Y d. 1833

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

1878: On 13 September , your 1830 ZT DR position was LAT 23°03'S, LONG 105°16'E when you observe a faint unidentifiable star through a hole in the clouds. The star bore 132.3°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 29°34.6'. The chronometer read 11h 24m 39s and is 5m 08s slow. The index error is 1.0' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52 feet. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Beta Gruis
    N b. Sigma Capricorni
    N c. Scheat
    N d. Alpha Indi

1912: On 22 February , your 1857 DR position is LAT 23°46.0'S, LONG 93°16.5'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 108°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 67°53.9'. The chronometer reads 01h 00m 35s, and is 03m 25s fast. What star did you observe?

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

1950: The Greenville Gage reads 10.6 feet. The high point of your towboat is 54 feet above water. What is the vertical
clearance as you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge?

    N a. 44.4 feet
    N b. 54.2 feet
    Y c. 65.4 feet
    N d. 75.4 feet

2187: At which of the following times would you be able to listen to lower Mississippi River conditions on VHF Channel 22?

    N a. 0900 hours
    N b. 1100 hours
    Y c. 1300 hours
    N d. 1600 hours

2204: The Clinch River empties into which river?

    N a. Arkansas
    N b. Mississippi
    N c. Ohio
    Y d. Tennessee

2890: You are steaming on a course of 084°T at a speed of 13 knots. At 1919 a lighthouse bears 106.5°T. At 1957 the same lighthouse bears 129°T. What will be your distance off the lighthouse when abeam?

    N a. 4.3 miles
    Y b. 5.7 miles
    N c. 7.1 miles
    N d. 8.2 miles

3050: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 23.7 feet and a pitch of 24.8 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 442 miles in a 23 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 89?

    N a. -7.6%
    N b. +7.6%
    N c. -11.8%
    Y d. +11.8%

3097: If the pitch of the propeller is 19.4 feet, and the revolutions per day are 96,713, calculate the day's run allowing 6% positive slip.

    N a. 266.4 miles
    Y b. 290.1 miles
    N c. 308.6 miles
    N d. 327.1 miles

3284: While steaming at 18.9 knots, your vessel consumes 386 barrels of fuel oil per day. In order to reduce consumption to 251 barrels of fuel oil per day, what is the maximum speed the vessel can turn for?

    N a. 11.6 knots
    N b. 12.3 knots
    N c. 15.2 knots
    Y d. 16.4 knots

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

3612: Your vessel is steering 195° per standard magnetic compass. Variation for the area is 13°W, and the deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the west-southwest, producing a 2° leeway. Which true course are you making good?

    N a. 178°T
    N b. 180°T
    N c. 182°T
    Y d. 184°T

3651: The true course between two points is 337°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 3°E and you make an allowance of 5° leeway for a west wind. Which gyro course should be steered to make the true course good?

    Y a. 329°pgc
    N b. 335°pgc
    N c. 339°pgc
    N d. 345°pgc

4012: 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 210°.
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. 0.0°
    N b. 0.5°W
    N c. 0.5°E
    N d. 1.0°E

10104: Your GPS position is LAT 36°55.2'N, LONG 75°33.1'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to Rudee Inlet (LAT 36°49.8'N, LONG 75°58.0'W)?

    N a. 246.0°psc
    N b. 254.5°psc
    N c. 261.0°psc
    Y d. 265.5°psc

12304: You are on course 302° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Block Island Southeast Point Light in line with the Block Island Aero Beacon bearing 323° per standard magnetic compass. Based on this you __________.

    Y a. know the deviation table is correct for that heading
    N b. know the deviation is 15°E
    N c. should swing your vessel to check the deviation table
    N d. know the deviation is equal to the variation

12502: You are on course 262° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Cape Henry Light 252°psc Cape Charles Light 003°psc Chesapeake Light 131°psc What is your position?

    Y a. LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 75°52.9'W
    N b. LAT 36°58.1'N, LONG 75°52.6'W
    N c. LAT 36°57.9'N, LONG 75°53.2'W
    N d. LAT 36°58.6'N, LONG 75°52.2'W

13809: Which chart, of the same scale, continues eastward from this chart?

    Y a. 13205
    N b. 13212
    N c. 13214
    N d. 13216

13905: The Ruins (LAT 41°08.5'N, L0NG 72°08.8'W) is __________.

    N a. a classic example of 18th century military fortifications
    N b. in an area of unpredictable, treacherous currents
    N c. restricted to surface navigation due to fishery conservation projects nearby
    Y d. prohibited to the public

15023: At 1042, on 16 March, you are passing the Vicksburg Gage (mile 437.0 AHP). What has been the average current since 0630, 15 March, if you have been making turns for 8.0 mph?

    N a. 0.2 mph
    N b. 0.5 mph
    Y c. 0.8 mph
    N d. 1.2 mph

15046: As you pass through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel,
you take a bearing of 047°pgc along trestle C when it is in line. The helmsman reports the vessel's heading as 316°
pgc and 329°psc. What is the deviation on that heading?

    N a. 3°E
    N b. 1°E
    Y c. 1°W
    N d. 9°W

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

15063: At 0830, you want the latest weather forecasts for the Falkner Island area. On what frequency do you set your FM radio for this information?

    N a. 2182 kHz
    N b. 162.80 Mhz
    N c. 156.65 Mhz
    Y d. 162.55 Mhz

15212: At 1930, your vessel is between York River Entrance Channel Lighted Buoys "1YR" and "2". From this position, you change course to 142°pgc at an engine speed of 8.0 knots. At 2001, you obtain the following information:
Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light - 131°pgc;
Thimble Shoal Light - 248°pgc

What were the set and drift between 1930 and 2001?

    N a. 127° at 1.1 knot
    Y b. 127° at 0.5 knot
    N c. 307° at 1.1 knot
    N d. 307° at 0.5 knot

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

15269: New London Harbor is __________.

    Y a. limited to vessels drawing less than 36 feet (10.8 meters)
    N b. closed during the winter season
    N c. subject to dangerous freshets in the fall
    N d. difficult to enter at night

15306: Your 0200 position is LAT 37°23.5'N, LONG 76°09.2'W. Your speed is 8 knots, and your course is 095°T. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The depth of the water in your vicinity is about 38 to 40 fathoms (69.1 meters to 72.7 meters).
    Y b. You are less than a mile from a sunken wreck which could interfere with your tow.
    N c. The closest major aid to navigation is New Point Comfort Light.
    N d. You will pass through a disposal area on your present course.

15438: At 2038 you are on course 272°T when Chesapeake Light is bearing 348° true at a range of 5.3 nm

Based on this fix, which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. You are inside a ten fathom depth curve.
    N b. You are less than five miles from Chesapeake Light.
    N c. You are 0.6 mile north of a wreck.
    N d. You are inside the contiguous zone.

15625: The river will be temporarily closed to navigation at mile 531.3 AHP due to repairs to the bridge. This will occur at 1300, 5 January, and last for six hours. What minimum speed over the ground must you make from Red River Landing Gage in order not to be delayed?

    N a. 6.0 mph
    Y b. 6.4 mph
    N c. 6.8 mph
    N d. 7.3 mph

15716: At 1210, you are in position LAT 41°14.3'N, LONG 72°16.5'W. What is the depth of water below your keel?

    Y a. 97 feet (29.4 meters)
    N b. 108 feet (32.7 meters)
    N c. 119 feet (36.1 meters)
    N d. 125 feet (37.9 meters)

15869: After you raise Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light, how will the bearings change if you pass to the north of the light?

    Y a. The bearings will change to the left.
    N b. The bearings will remain steady.
    N c. The bearings will change to the right.
    N d. Magnetic compass bearings will change to the left and gyro compass bearings will change to the right.

15970: If you have 16.3 miles to reach your destination from your 2000 position and want to be there at 2230, what speed should you make good?

    N a. 5.7 knots
    N b. 6.1 knots
    Y c. 6.5 knots
    N d. 6.9 knots

16010: The characteristic of Branford Reef Light is __________.

    N a. flashing red every 4 seconds
    N b. flashing red every 3 seconds
    Y c. flashing white every 6 seconds
    N d. flashing yellow every 4 seconds

16019: The south shore of Long Island Sound from Horton Point to Orient Point is __________.

    N a. low and marshy
    Y b. bluff and rocky
    N c. marked by sandy beaches and wooded uplands
    N d. bound by gradual shoaling

16117: What is the distance from your 0731 fix to Wilmington, N.C.
(LAT 34°14.0'N, LONG 77°57.0'W)?

    Y a. 339 miles
    N b. 363 miles
    N c. 402 miles
    N d. 486 miles

16318: What true course and speed did you make good between 0730 and 0900?

    N a. 273°T, 8.7 knots
    Y b. 277°T, 8.4 knots
    N c. 279°T, 8.0 knots
    N d. 284°T, 7.5 knots

16343: At 2302 you change course to compensate for an estimated current of 090°T, at 1.0 knot. What course per gyrocompass will you steer to leave Endeavor Shoals Lighted Gong Buoy "3" abeam to port at 1 mile?

    N a. 324°pgc
    Y b. 327°pgc
    N c. 330°pgc
    N d. 333°pgc

16361: At 0400, you take the following bearings:

Sand Shoal Inlet South Light bearing 305°pgc
Cape Charles Light bearing 241°pgc

What was the course made good since 0240?

    N a. 182°T
    Y b. 185°T
    N c. 189°T
    N d. 192°T