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.


80: The Helena Gage reads 9.4 feet. The high point on your towboat is 46 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge?


95: You complete changing out your tow and get underway enroute Memphis, Tennessee to deliver 2 tank barges. What is the distance you must travel from Cairo Point Light to the Lion Oil Refining Co. Docks in Memphis?


186: Assume set and drift have no effect on your vessel. If you change course to 187°pgc from your 1950 position, how close will you pass Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14"?


220: From your 1715 fix, you steer 214°T at 12 knots. At 1800,
you take the following bearings:

Chesapeake Light bearing 175°pgc
Cape Henry Light bearing 239°pgc
Cape Charles Light bearing 293°pgc

Your 1800 position is __________.

    N a. LAT 37°02.7'N, LONG 75°42.7'W
    Y b. LAT 37°02.9'N, LONG 75°43.1'W
    N c. LAT 37°03.0'N, LONG 75°43.3'W
    N d. LAT 37°03.1'N, LONG 75°42.8'W

345: The characteristic of Branford Reef Light is __________.

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

346: At 0415, you take the following bearings:

Stratford Point Light 329.5°pgc
Middle Ground Light 223.5°pgc
Old Field Point Light 199.5°pgc

Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The current's drift is greater than predicted.
    Y b. You are to the right of your intended track line.
    N c. The course made good since 0352 is 081°T.
    N d. Your fathometer reads about 76 fathoms.

642: Where can scheduled broadcast times of river stages be found?

    N a. Sailing Directions
    Y b. Light List
    N c. List of Lights
    N d. Coast Pilot

643: 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

705: 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 (mile 253.6 AHP)?

    Y a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 5.2 mph
    N c. 4.8 mph
    N d. 4.3 mph

812: On 28 July , your 0800 zone time (ZT) fix gives you a position of LAT 25°16.0'N, LONG 71°19.0'W. Your vessel is on course 026°T, and your speed is 17.5 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1150 ZT, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 82°28.7'. What is the latitude at 1200 ZT?

    N a. 26°25.0'N
    Y b. 26°27.6'N
    N c. 26°29.8'N
    N d. 26°32.0'N

1195: On 23 June , your 0900 zone time DR position is LAT 21°26.0'N, LONG 137°46.0'W. Your vessel is on course 059°T at a speed of 19.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1159
    N b. 1205
    Y c. 1210
    N d. 1214

1270: At 0500 zone time, on 21 August , your DR position is LAT 47°00'N, LONG 125°15'W. You are steering 000°T at a speed of 9.8 knots. What is the zone time of sunrise?

    Y a. 0525
    N b. 0529
    N c. 0531
    N d. 0535

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

1680: On 31 October , your 1700 zone time DR position is LAT 27°17.0'N, LONG 116°10.0'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 246.5° per standard magnetic compass. Variation in the area is 8.5°E. The chronometer reads 01h 01m 23s and the chronometer error is 01m 54s slow. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    N a. 0.8°E
    Y b. 0.8°W
    N c. 2.5°E
    N d. 2.5°W

1734: You pass Springfield Bend Lt. (mile 244.8 AHP) at 1242, on 17 October, and estimate the current will average 2.5 mph for the remainder of your trip. What is your ETA at the mouth of the Ohio River if you are making turns for 10.5 mph?

    N a. 1905, 19 October
    N b. 0207, 21 October
    Y c. 0519, 21 October
    N d. 0847, 21 October

1766: What type of daymark will you see as you approach Black Hills Light (mile 337.7 AHP)?

    N a. Private aid - no daymark
    N b. Red square
    N c. Red diamond
    Y d. Red triangle

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

1914: On 14 January , your 0550 DR position is LAT 25°26.0'N, LONG 38°16.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 192°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 06°15.2'. The chronometer reads 08h 48m 51s, and is 01m 22s slow. What star did you observe?

    N a. Gienah
    N b. Kochab
    Y c. Gacrux
    N d. Eltanin

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

2368: At 2100, January 12, you are passing Cherokee Landing Lt. (mile 112.5 UMR). What has been your speed over the ground since leaving St. Louis, MO (mile 181 UMR).

    N a. 10.4 mph
    Y b. 9.8 mph
    N c. 9.2 mph
    N d. 8.8 mph

2405: You are underway and intend to make good a course of 350°T. You experience a current with a set and drift of 070°T at 1.5 knots, and a westerly wind produces a leeway of 4°. You adjust your course to compensate for the current and leeway, while maintaining an engine speed of 10 knots. What will be your speed made good over your intended course of 350°T?

    N a. 9.4 knots
    N b. 9.8 knots
    Y c. 10. 2knots
    N d. 10.6 knots

2583: You lose GPS and are navigating solely on LORAN. What LORAN line would you follow to leave Six Mile Reef buoy "8C" abeam to port at 1.0 mile?

    N a. 9960-W-14885.0
    N b. 9960-Y-43980.5
    Y c. 9960-Y-43982.0
    N d. 9960-Y-43983.5

2594: What will be the current at Port Jefferson entrance at 0130 on December 5, 1983?

    N a. 1.4 knots, flood
    N b. 1.4 knots, ebb
    N c. 0.8 knot, flood
    Y d. 0.8 knot, ebb

2776: The charts show a circle with two black quadrants located at mile 846.0 AHP. What does this indicate?

    N a. Hazardous chemical dock
    Y b. River Gage
    N c. Betz-Tipton Veneers Terminal
    N d. Bulletin Board

2778: What company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Helena (mile 658 to 665 AHP)?

    N a. Texas Eastern Pipeline Co.
    N b. Helena Port Terminal, Inc.
    N c. Arkansas Power & Light Co.
    Y d. Helena Grain Co.

3111: You are turning 100 RPM, with propeller pitch of 25 feet, and an estimated negative slip of 5%. What is the speed of advance?

    N a. 23.4 knots
    N b. 24.7 knots
    Y c. 25.9 knots
    N d. 26.3 knots

3300: You have steamed 156 miles and consumed 19 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 273 miles?

    N a. 23.6 tons
    N b. 27.9 tons
    Y c. 33.3 tons
    N d. 37.2 tons

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

3636: You desire to make good a true course of 279°. The variation is 8°W, magnetic compass deviation is 3°E, and gyrocompass error is 1°E. A north-northwesterly wind produces 3° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to make the true course good?

    N a. 281°psc
    N b. 284°psc
    Y c. 287°psc
    N d. 290°psc

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

3766: Your vessel is proceeding down a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line dead ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 229°T, and variation is 6°W. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 232° per standard magnetic compass, what is the deviation?

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

6446: You continue on course from your 1126 fix. At 1131 Cape Charles Light bears 322°T. At 1135 you change course to 000°T. At 1149 Cape Henry Light bears 247°T. Which statement concerning your 1149 running fix is TRUE?

    N a. Your fathometer reads 47 feet.
    Y b. You are in a danger area.
    N c. Chesapeake Light is due south of you.
    N d. You are north of Smith Island Shoal.

11106: What is the height of the tide at Great Salt Pond, on Block Island, at the morning high water (daylight savings time) on 1 July 1983?

    N a. 1.3 feet
    Y b. 2.3 feet
    N c. 3.2 feet
    N d. There is no morning high water

11802: What course should you steer by your standard magnetic compass (psc), between New Haven Light and Stratford Pt. Light, if the set and drift of the current are 345°T at 3.0 knots, and a northerly wind will cause 1° of leeway? Your engines are making turns for 18.0 knots.

    N a. 245.0°psc
    Y b. 247.0°psc
    N c. 264.0°psc
    N d. 266.5°psc

12203: Your vessel is steady on a heading of 310° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Stratford Point Light and Igor I. Sikorsky Airport Aero Beacon in line dead ahead. This information indicates that the __________.

    N a. existing deviation table is correct for this heading
    N b. deviation is 1°E
    N c. variation is 18°W for this area
    Y d. compass error is 10°W

12205: Your vessel is steady on a heading of 160° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Southwest Ledge Light and New Haven Outer Channel Range Rear Light in line dead astern. What is the deviation of the compass based on this observation?

    Y a. 2°E
    N b. 2°W
    N c. 5°E
    N d. 5°W

12612: You are on course 242° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: Stratford Point Light 325°psc Old Field Point Light 239°psc Middle Ground Light 270°psc What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41°04.4'N, LONG 72°59.5'W
    Y b. LAT 41°05.1'N, LONG 72°59.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 73°00.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°59.3'W

13002: At 0829 your position is LAT 41°02.9'N, LONG 72°57.4'W. You are making turns for 8.5 knots. What is your ETA at a position midway between buoys "1" and "2" at the entrance of New Haven Outer Channel?

    N a. 0925
    N b. 0931
    N c. 0938
    Y d. 0944

13006: Your 1600 position is LAT 41°08.0'N, LONG 72°44.8'W. You are making turns for 14 knots. What is your ETA at Mattituck Inlet?

    N a. 1636
    N b. 1643
    Y c. 1647
    N d. 1651

15024: Which of the following statements regarding buoys on the Mississippi River is TRUE?

    N a. The positions of river buoys can be found in the latest edition of Light List-Vol. V.
    Y b. Buoy positions on the chart are approximate.
    N c. The buoys are maintained on station year round.
    N d. The buoys do not shift positions due to permanent moorings.

15443: As you enter Chesapeake Bay, visibility improves. At 2235 you are between Chesapeake Channel Buoys "5" and "6" in the 41 foot dredged section of Chesapeake Channel. At that time, you change course to pass between buoys "9" and "10". If buoys "11" and "12" are extinguished, your best leading light to keep you in deep water in the Chesapeake Channel, as you approach the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel, would be __________.

    N a. fixed red light on trestle "C"
    Y b. fixed green light on trestle "B"
    N c. fixed red light on trestle "B"
    N d. Thimble Shoal Light

15466: At 1015, you estimate you have 139 miles to complete the voyage. If you average 9.5 knots, you will complete the voyage in __________.

    N a. 14 hours 22 minutes
    N b. 14 hours 30 minutes
    Y c. 14 hours 38 minutes
    N d. 14 hours 44 minutes

15623: At 2126, you pass Morganza Bend Light (mile 278.4 AHP).
At 0122, 4 January, you pass Red River Landing Gage (302.4 AHP). You have been turning for 7.5 mph. What is the current?

    Y a. 1.4 MPH
    N b. 1.8 MPH
    N c. 2.7 MPH
    N d. 6.2 MPH

15846: At 2200, you alter course to 204°T, at 14 knots. You expect a current on this leg of the trip, setting 325° at 1.5 knots. Which course should you steer per gyro compass to make good the true course?

    N a. 184°pgc
    N b. 190°pgc
    N c. 194°pgc
    Y d. 201°pgc

16064: At 2015, your vessel is at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel midway between buoys "13" and "14". If the height of tide is -1 foot (-.3 meter). What is the approximate depth under the keel?

    N a. 51 feet (15.5 meters)
    Y b. 45 feet (13.6 meters)
    N c. 40 feet (12.1 meters)
    N d. 35 feet (10.6 meters)

16111: Which publication contains the specific information about navigating in York Spit Channel?

    N a. Light List
    Y b. Coast Pilot
    N c. Chesapeake Bay Harbor- master's Regulations Manual
    N d. Navigator's Manual - Chesapeake Bay

16141: The speed you can expect to make good over your course while steering to make 150°T is __________.

    N a. 11.0 knots
    Y b. 11.4 knots
    N c. 14.0 knots
    N d. 14.4 knots

16266: The abandoned lighthouse at Cape Henry is a(n) __________.

    N a. octagonal, black and white tower
    N b. radio beacon station
    N c. emergency back up to Cape Henry Light
    Y d. gray, pyramidal tower

16342: At 2302 you fix your position at LAT 40°57.8'N, LONG 71°39.3'W. What current have you experienced since your 2209 fix?

    Y a. 105°T at 1.0 knot
    N b. 105°T at 0.9 knot
    N c. 285°T at 1.0 knot
    N d. 285°T at 0.9 knot

16345: Where will you cross the demarcation line between the International and Inland Rules of the Road?

    N a. Between Montauk Point and Block Island
    Y b. In the Race
    N c. At the mouth of Bridgeport Harbor
    N d. Between Plum Gut and Niantic Bay

16546: At 0100 you notice that the wind has become SSW'ly and has freshened. At 0200 you sight Stratford Point Lighted Bell Buoy "18" bearing 268°pgc. At 0215 the buoy bears 269°pgc. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. You should alter course to the right to increase the rate of the bearing change.
    N b. You are making more speed over the ground than you estimated.
    Y c. You should alter course to decrease the distance that you will pass off Middle Ground Shoal.
    N d. You can hold the present course and safely pass buoy "18".

16708: At 0520 you are on course 243°pgc at 12 knots. What is the course per standard magnetic compass?

    Y a. 263°psc
    N b. 258°psc
    N c. 233°psc
    N d. 227°psc