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.


108: The horizontal clearance of the center span on the Baton Rouge RR and Highway 190 Bridge is __________.


213: From your 1915 position, you come left and set a course for Gardiners Point. At 1930, your position is LAT 41°12.7'N, LONG 71°56.8'W. What type of bottom is charted at this position?


228: Your height of eye is 25 feet (7.6 meters). If the visibility is 5.5 nautical miles, what is the luminous range of Wolf Trap Light?


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

    Y a. Depth contours
    N b. Breakers
    N c. Limiting danger
    N d. Tide rips

261: You must arrive at your final destination by 0800. The distance from your 0300 position to the final destination is 40.5 miles. What minimum speed must be made good to arrive on time?

    N a. 9.6 knots
    N b. 9.3 knots
    N c. 8.5 knots
    Y d. 8.1 knots

407: You depart LAT 34°22'S, LONG 18°23'E, and steam 3174 miles on course 282°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing?

    Y a. LONG 40°33.5'W
    N b. LONG 40°19.5'W
    N c. LONG 40°18.2'W
    N d. LONG 40°17.3'W

415: A vessel at LAT 33°45'N, LONG 118°30'W, heads for a destination at LAT 21°15'N, LONG 157°36'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 109.8°T, 2196 miles
    N b. 236.3°T, 2259 miles
    Y c. 250.2°T, 2216 miles
    N d. 289.2°T, 2413 miles

452: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 35°17.6'N, LONG 144°23.0'E to LAT 47°36.0'N, LONG 124°22.0'W.

    N a. 3946 miles, 312°T
    Y b. 3931 miles, 048°T
    N c. 3881 miles, 042°T
    N d. 3718 miles, 318°T

501: You depart from the position in the previous question at 2114 and make good 12 knots on a course of 040°T. At what time will you sight New Haven Light if the visibility is 11 miles?

    N a. The light is visible at 2114.
    N b. 2152
    Y c. 2159
    N d. 2206

506: At 0112, what is the approximate depth under the keel?

    N a. 57 feet (17.3 meters)
    N b. 51 feet (15.5 meters)
    N c. 47 feet (14.2 meters)
    Y d. 38 feet (11.5 meters)

581: At 1119, Wolf Trap Light bears 268°T at 4.4 miles by radar. What were the set and drift since your 1037 fix?

    Y a. 358°, 0.7 knot
    N b. 358°, 0.5 knot
    N c. 178°, 0.7 knot
    N d. 178°, 0.5 knot

735: On 22 August , your 1852 zone time DR position is LONG 155°54.0'E. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 27°36.9'. The chronometer time of the sight is 08h 54m 06s, and the chronometer error is 02m 20s fast. The index error is 3.6' off the arc, and the height of eye is 61.5 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris?

    N a. 27°05.5'N
    N b. 27°31.0'N
    Y c. 28°05.9'N
    N d. 28°09.5'N

811: On 1 July , your 0515 ZT fix gives you a position of LAT 24°36.0'S, LONG 151°42.0'W. Your vessel is on course 300°T, and your speed is 10.0 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1215 ZT, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 42°55.0'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN?

    N a. 24°03.6'S
    N b. 24°02.5'S
    Y c. 24°01.0'S
    N d. 24°00.0'S

1002: On 13 November , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 19°03'S, LONG 6°34'E. You are on course 164°T, speed 12 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.
ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1112 351°55.4' S 18°00.4' 88°08.0'
1121 354°10.4' S 18°00.5' 88°33.9'

    Y a. LAT 19°22.3'S, LONG 6°37.8'E
    N b. LAT 19°20.1'S, LONG 6°41.4'E
    N c. LAT 19°17.6'S, LONG 6°39.2'E
    N d. LAT 19°15.8'S, LONG 6°36.8'E

1004: On 15 November , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 19°41'S, LONG 41°37'W. You are on course 239°T, speed 22 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.

ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1128 40°50.4' S 18°33.6' 88°18.4'
1133 42°05.4' S 18°33.6' 88°37.7'

    Y a. LAT 20°01.0'S, LONG 42°05.9'W
    N b. LAT 20°04.3'S, LONG 42°09.8'W
    N c. LAT 20°06.7'S, LONG 42°06.1'W
    N d. LAT 20°08.1'S, LONG 42°00.7'W

1124: The Vicksburg Gage reads 31.9 feet. The high point on your towboat is 43 feet above the water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Vicksburg Highway 80 Bridge?

    N a. 36.2 feet
    Y b. 41.4 feet
    N c. 58.0 feet
    N d. 84.3 feet

1344: At 2142, on January 3, you pass Sebastapol Light (mile 283.3 AHP). At 0137, January 4, you pass Fort Adams Light(mile 311.4 AHP). You have been turning for 9.0 mph. What was the current?

    N a. 4.2 mph
    N b. 3.3 mph
    N c. 2.7 mph
    Y d. 1.8 mph

1643: Which facility is located on the right descending bank at mile 363.6 AHP?

    N a. River Cement Corps..
    N b. Bunge Corps..
    N c. T.L. James
    Y d. Vidalia Dock and Storage Co.

1838: What is the distance from Baton Rouge, LA, to St. Louis, MO, on the Mississippi River System?

    N a. 1038 miles
    Y b. 916 miles
    N c. 690 miles
    N d. 352 miles

2054: The Natchez Gage reads 16.3 feet. The high point on your towboat is 38 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Natchez Highway Bridge?

    N a. 79.0 feet
    Y b. 71.7 feet
    N c. 65.2 feet
    N d. 59.1 feet

2161: On 28 April , your vessel's 0515 zone time position is LAT 23°26'S, LONG 95°30'E. At this time, the observed altitude (Ho) of the star Rigil Kentaurus is 24°51.4'. Your chronometer reads 11h 16m 36s and is 01m 18s fast. What is the intercept (a) based on the assumed position method?

    N a. 30.9 miles
    N b. 32.3 miles
    N c. 33.1 miles
    Y d. 34.4 miles

2277: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 41°29.8' on 11 January . The index error is 2.4' off the arc. The height of eye is 68 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 41°36.4'
    Y b. 41°39.4'
    N c. 41°42.0'
    N d. 41°44.5'

2284: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 35°26.3' on 25 June . The index error is 1.5' on the arc. The height of eye is 58 feet (17.6 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 35°28.2'
    N b. 35°29.9'
    Y c. 35°32.1'
    N d. 35°36.7'

2339: You have steamed 1260 miles at 18 knots, and consumed 205 tons of fuel. If you have to steam 1423 miles to complete the voyage, how many tons of fuel will be consumed while steaming at 16 knots?

    N a. 143 tons
    N b. 183 tons
    Y c. 293 tons
    N d. 333 tons

2402: You will enter waters governed by the International Rules when __________.

    N a. you cross the territorial sea boundary line
    N b. enter the pilotage area
    N c. you cross the boundary of the contiguous zone
    Y d. Cape Henry Light bears 202°T

2577: On 23 July, you take a time tick using the 0900 GMT Cape Town broadcast. You hear a repeating series of 59 dots followed by a dash. At the beginning of the fifth dash you start your stopwatch. The chronometer reads 08h 39m 16s at the time the stopwatch reads 01m 42s. The chronometer error at 0900 GMT, 22 July, was 22m 24s slow. What is the chronometer rate?

    Y a. 00m 02s losing
    N b. 01m 02s gaining
    N c. 22m 24s losing
    N d. 22m 26s slow

2710: What does the circle with black and white quadrants across from Morgan Point Landing (769.0 miles AHP) represent?

    Y a. Gage reading
    N b. Day Beacon
    N c. Light Tower
    N d. Speed zone

2718: What organization has an installation at the uppermost end of Carthage Revetment?

    N a. City of Natchez (waterfront)
    Y b. River Cement Co.
    N c. J.M. Jones Lumber
    N d. International Paper Co.

2882: Your vessel is steering 096°T at 17 knots. At 1847 a light bears 057°T, and at 1916 the same light bears 033°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    N a. 9.9 miles
    N b. 10.7 miles
    Y c. 11.4 miles
    N d. 11.9 miles

3314: You have steamed 150 miles and consumed 17 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 350 miles?

    N a. 12.82 tons
    N b. 29.41 tons
    N c. 34.00 tons
    Y d. 39.66 tons

3468: You are underway on course 215°T at 12 knots. The current is 000°T at 2.3 knots. What is the speed being made good?

    N a. 8.5 knots
    Y b. 10.2 knots
    N c. 10.9 knots
    N d. 11.2 knots

11903: What is the true course to steer between the entrance to Winnapaug Pond (LAT 41°19.6'N, LONG 71°45.8'W) and the entrance to Lake Montauk (LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 71°56.3'W), if you are turning for 8.5 knots, allowing for a current of 095°T at 0.9 knot, and an easterly wind is causing 3° of leeway?

    N a. 200°T
    N b. 208°T
    Y c. 211°T
    N d. 214°T

12105: While in the Back River, you sight the two tanks along the Northwest Branch (vicinity LAT 37°05.6'N, LONG 76°22.0'W) in line bearing 274°psc. If your vessel is heading 300°psc, what is TRUE?

    Y a. There is no deviation.
    N b. The deviation is equal to the variation.
    N c. The deviation is 9°E.
    N d. The deviation is 0° only for a bearing of 274°psc.

12903: Your 1426 position is LAT 37°10.9'N, LONG 75°29.6'W. You are turning for 9.3 knots. What is your ETA at Chesapeake Light?

    N a. 1616
    N b. 1621
    N c. 1626
    Y d. 1633

13909: The irregular black line around a charted light such as Race Rock Light indicates that it is __________.

    N a. unwatched
    Y b. surrounded by riprap
    N c. a minor light
    N d. constructed on an artificial island

15064: At 0844, the range to the north end of Falkner Island is 2.0 miles and the left tangent bearing is 102°T. If the height of the tide is +1.0 foot, what is the approximate depth of the water under the keel?

    N a. 14 ft (4.2 meters)
    Y b. 19 ft (5.8 meters)
    N c. 22 ft (6.7 meters)
    N d. 29 ft (8.8 meters)

15119: What is the height above water of Davis Creek Channel Light "1"?

    N a. 6 feet (1.8 meters)
    Y b. 15 feet (4.6 meters)
    N c. 17 feet (5.2 meters)
    N d. 24 feet (7.3 meters)

15145: At 2357 your position is 41°09.0'N, 71°47.0'W and Montauk Point Light bears 216° true. You change to a course of 293° true and your speed is 14.5 knots. At 0012 Montauk Point Light bears 177° true. Which statement about your 0012 running fix is TRUE?

    N a. You are being set to the north.
    Y b. The fathometer reading is about 14 fathoms.
    N c. You are governed by the Inland Rules of the Road.
    N d. The fathometer trace shows you passed over the 89 foot sounding.

15258: Which structure should you look for while trying to locate Stratford Point Light?

    Y a. White conical tower with a brown band midway of height
    N b. White octagonal house on a cylindrical pier
    N c. Conical tower, upper half white, lower half brown
    N d. Black skeleton tower on a granite dwelling

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

15357: If the visibility is 10 miles, what is the earliest time you can expect to see New Haven Light?

    N a. The light is visible at 0452.
    N b. 0458
    N c. 0510
    Y d. You will not sight the light.

15408: From your 1430 fix, you order turns for 8 knots. You steer 045°T and experience no set and drift. At what time would you expect to have New Point Comfort Spit Light "4" abeam?

    N a. 1452
    Y b. 1458
    N c. 1504
    N d. 1510

15607: 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. 190°pgc
    Y b. 193°pgc
    N c. 196°pgc
    N d. 199°pgc

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)

15957: At 1752, your position is LAT 37°04.3'N, LONG 76°06.4'W. On an ebb current you should expect to be set to the __________.

    N a. north northeast
    Y b. south southeast
    N c. south southwest
    N d. north northwest

16039: From your 0820 position you change course to your rendezvous position, one mile due south of buoy "NH", speed 14.5 knots. You estimate the current to be 260°T at 0.5 knot. The wind is northwesterly at 20 knots and you estimate 2° leeway. What is your course per gyrocompass (pgc) to the rendezvous position, if you correct your heading for current and leeway?

    N a. 039°
    N b. 041°
    N c. 043°
    Y d. 045°

16220: At 0930, your position is LAT 41°16.5'N, LONG 71°41.4'W,
and you are turning for 7 knots. Allowing 3° leeway for southerly winds and estimating the current as 035° at 0.3
knot, what is the course to steer (pgc) to point "B"?

    N a. 089°pgc
    N b. 091°pgc
    N c. 093°pgc
    Y d. 096°pgc

16316: At 0900, the current is flooding in a direction of 350°T at 1.2 knots. If your engines are turning RPMs for 9 knots, which course should you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 297° true?

    Y a. 302°psc
    N b. 311°psc
    N c. 317°psc
    N d. 319°psc

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

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

16417: You are encountering heavy weather. What action should you take based on your 1430 fix?

    Y a. Alter course to the right, to pass well clear of Southwest Ledge.
    N b. Continue on the same course at the same speed.
    N c. Slow to 8.3 knots to compensate for the current.
    N d. Continue on the same course but increase speed.

16561: From your 1830 fix, you come left to a course of 290°T.
Which statement concerning Watch Hill Light is TRUE?

    N a. The nominal range of its white light is 16 miles.
    Y b. It displays both red and white lights.
    N c. Its horn blasts every 15 seconds in fog.
    N d. Its geographic range is 18.5 miles at a 35-foot (10.7 meters) height of eye.