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.


88: What is the vertical clearance between the highest point of your towboat, if it is 58 feet above the water, and if the Natchez Gage reads 28.13 feet when passing under the Natchez Upper Highway Bridge?


167: The Arkansas City Yellow Bend revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________.


211: You decide to use the 9960-Y and 9960-W rates. At 1915,
you obtain the following readings:

9960-Y-43936.0
9960-W-14653.3

What is your 1915 position?


234: Which structure should you look for while trying to locate Southwest Ledge Light?

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

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

318: From your 1915 fix you come right and steer a course of 200°T. At 2000, your position is LAT 37°05.5'N, LONG 76°07.0'W. Your intention is to pass through Chesapeake Channel. If there are no set and drift, what course would you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 145°T?

    Y a. 156°
    N b. 151°
    N c. 139°
    N d. 134°

355: Orient Point Light will break the horizon at a range of about __________.

    N a. 9.3 miles
    N b. 10.8 miles
    N c. 12.1 miles
    Y d. 13.9 miles

376: You depart LAT 40°42.0'N, LONG 74°01.0'W, and steam 3365.6 miles on course 118°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing?

    N a. 24°29.0'W
    N b. 22°58.0'W
    Y c. 17°41.0'W
    N d. 10°46.0'W

414: A vessel at LAT 49°45'N, LONG 6°35'W, heads for a destination at LAT 25°50'N, LONG 77°00'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.

    Y a. 246.5°T, 3597 miles
    N b. 253.0°T, 3648 miles
    N c. 268.6°T, 3483 miles
    N d. 066.4°T, 3602 miles

472: The great circle distance from LAT 38°17.0'N, LONG 123°16.0'W to LAT 35°01.0'N, LONG 142°21.0'E is 4330 miles and the initial course is 300.9°T. The latitude of the vertex is 47°40.5'N. What is the longitude of the vertex?

    N a. 173°04.6'E
    N b. 167°18.0'E
    N c. 173°04.6'W
    Y d. 167°18.5'W

493: At 0815, Montauk Pt. Light House is bearing 167°T, Shagwong Pt. has a radar range of 4.5 miles, and Cerberus Shoal "9" Buoy is bearing 284°T. If the engine is making turns for 10 knots, what was the set and drift of the current since 0748?

    N a. Set 065°T, drift 1.1 knots
    N b. Set 065°T, drift 2.4 knots
    Y c. Set 245°T, drift 2.4 knots
    N d. Set 245°T, drift 1.1 knots

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

549: In order to check your compasses, you sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light bearing 074°pgc. The helmsman was steering 303°pgc and 315° per standard magnetic compass at the time.

Which of the following is TRUE?

    N a. The true line of the range is 072°.
    N b. The deviation based on the observation is 15°W.
    N c. The magnetic compass error is 12°W.
    Y d. The gyro error is exactly 1.5°E.

609: At 0915 zone time, on 7 April , you depart San Francisco, LAT 37°48.5'N, LONG 122°24.0'W (ZD +8). You are bound for Kobe, LAT 34°40.0'N, LONG 135°12.0'E, and you estimate your speed of advance at 17 knots. The distance is 4,819 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Kobe?

    N a. 0343, 18 April
    N b. 1243, 19 April
    Y c. 2143, 19 April
    N d. 0443, 20 April

682: As you pass under the Natchez-Vidalia Dual Bridge, the gage on the bridge reads 8.9 ft. If the highest point on your vessel is 54 ft. above the water, what is your vertical clearance?

    N a. 60.0 feet
    Y b. 63.1 feet
    N c. 67.2 feet
    N d. 122.0 feet

1094: On 12 Oct. , your vessel is on course 081°T, speed 20 knots. Your 1800 zone time DR position is LAT 26°11.0'S, LONG 77°18.0'E. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1835 running fix. NP-0024

    N a. LAT 26°05.5'S, LONG 77°14.5'E
    N b. LAT 26°07.5'S, LONG 77°34.0'E
    N c. LAT 26°09.0'S, LONG 77°27.5'E
    Y d. LAT 26°12.0'S, LONG 77°31.0'E

1138: After you get underway, what is the first river gage you will pass?

    Y a. Donaldsonville
    N b. Head of Passes
    N c. Baton Rouge
    N d. Red River Landing

1144: What is the brown colored tint shown at Bordeaux Point Dykes (mile 681.0 AHP)?

    N a. river gage
    N b. fish hatchery
    Y c. dredge material
    N d. levee

1257: On 5 May , your 1300 ZT DR position is LAT 25°16.0'S, LONG 12°30.0'W. You are on course 012°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    N a. 1702
    Y b. 1719
    N c. 1730
    N d. 1741

1412: At Filter Point Light (mile 475 AHP) there are 3 close straight dashed lines on the map passing through the black dot below the number 475. What do these lines represent?

    N a. Oil pipelines
    N b. Submerged gas pipelines
    Y c. Power Cables
    N d. Submerged fiber optic cable

1457: On 25 August , your 1926 zone time DR position is LAT 24°17.0'S, LONG 05°47.0'W. At that time, you observe Fomalhaut bearing 117°psc. The chronometer reads 07h 26m 52s, and the chronometer error is 00m 15s fast. The variation is 1.5°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 0.2°W
    N b. 0.4°E
    N c. 1.3°W
    Y d. 2.8°W

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

1964: The Platte River empties into which river?

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

2087: At your current speed of 21 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 404 miles. You must travel 731 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination?

    N a. 18.9
    N b. 17.8
    N c. 16.7
    Y d. 15.6

2181: On 4 June , at 0630 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 26°15'S, LONG 121°20'W. Your vessel is steaming at 13.0 knots on a course of 246°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0915 ZT. The chronometer reads 05h 14m 27s, and the sextant altitude is 25°57.8'. The index error is 2.1' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 0m 53s slow. Your height of eye is 39.0 feet. What is the intercept (a) and azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position method?

    N a. Zn 044.6°, a 1.7' A
    Y b. Zn 044.6°, a 2.5' T
    N c. Zn 135.1°, a 1.7' A
    N d. Zn 135.1°, a 2.5' T

2209: The Helena Gage reads 9.4 feet. The high point on your towboat is 42 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge?

    N a. 53.0 feet
    N b. 62.6 feet
    N c. 64.2 feet
    Y d. 68.0 feet

2660: You are steering 287°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 19.4 miles at 0419. You change course to pass the light 4 miles off abeam to starboard. If you are making 13 knots, what is your ETA at the position 4 miles off the light?

    N a. 0541
    N b. 0544
    Y c. 0547
    N d. 0550

2881: Your vessel is steering 049°T at 15 knots. At 1914 a light bears 078°T, and at 1951 the same light bears 116°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    Y a. 6.7 miles
    N b. 7.1 miles
    N c. 7.5 miles
    N d. 8.3 miles

2889: While underway you sight a light 11° on your port bow at a distance of 12 miles. Assuming you make good your course, what will be your distance off the light when abeam?

    Y a. 2.3 miles
    N b. 3.1 miles
    N c. 3.9 miles
    N d. 4.5 miles

3057: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 25.3 feet and a pitch of 23.2 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 515 miles in a 23 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 93?

    N a. -3.6%
    N b. +3.6%
    Y c. -5.2%
    N d. +5.2%

3084: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 18.6 knots, and the pitch of the propeller is 26.2 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 4% negative slip?

    Y a. 69
    N b. 72
    N c. 75
    N d. 78

3302: You have steamed 132 miles and consumed 14.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 289 miles?

    N a. 21.6 tons
    N b. 24.5 tons
    N c. 27.9 tons
    Y d. 30.7 tons

3767: You are on course 251°pgc and 241° per magnetic compass, when you observe a range in line bearing 192°pgc. The chart indicates that the range is in line on a bearing of 194°T. The variation is 16°E. What is the deviation of the magnetic compass?

    N a. 2°E
    N b. 2°W
    Y c. 4°W
    N d. 10°W

6144: What are the dimensions of the Old River Lock on the Lower Old River (mile 304 AHP)?

    Y a. 1190 X 75 feet
    N b. 1185 X 84 feet
    N c. 1190 X 84 feet
    N d. 1185 X 75 feet

10907: What is the time (DST ZD +4) of the AM high tide at York Point, Poquoson River on 8 September 1983?

    N a. 0955
    Y b. 1048
    N c. 1055
    N d. 1102

11011: According to the U.S. Coast Pilot, what is the depth of the channel between State Pier No. 1 and the U.S. Navy Submarine Base in New London Harbor?

    N a. 40 feet (12.1 meters)
    N b. 38 feet (11.5 meters)
    Y c. 36 feet (10.9 meters)
    N d. 34 feet (10.3 meters)

11801: What course should you steer by standard magnetic compass (psc) between Horton Pt. Light and Falkner Island Light, if the set and drift of the current are 040°T at 0.9 knot, and a westerly wind will cause 2° of leeway? Your engines are making turns for 10 knots.

    Y a. 314.0°psc
    N b. 319.0°psc
    N c. 324.5°psc
    N d. 328.5°psc

14517: 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. 2239
    N b. 2255
    N c. 2315
    Y d. 2344

15161: From your 1815 position, you want to make good course 263°
T. Your engines are turning RPMs for 12 knots. The current is 050°T at 1.9 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, at what time should you expect to enter the red sector of Cape Henry Light?

    N a. 1851
    N b. 1857
    Y c. 1904
    N d. 1911

15246: From your 1845 position, you desire to leave Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light 1.0 mile off your starboard beam at 1900. Which course and speed would you order if you allow for a 2.0 knot current with a set of 180°T?

    N a. 205°T at 9.2 knots
    N b. 208°T at 11.4 knots
    Y c. 215°T at 9.2 knots
    N d. 225°T at 11.5 knots

15310: Which chart could you use for greater detail of the area at the south end of York Spit Channel?

    Y a. 12222
    N b. 12224
    N c. 12226
    N d. 12254

15467: At 1018, you are entering York Spit Channel and buoy "19" is abeam to starboard. At 1031, buoy "23" is abeam. What speed are you making good?

    N a. 8.4 knots
    Y b. 8.8 knots
    N c. 9.7 knots
    N d. 9.9 knots

15516: If you were to head into Fishers Island Sound, which of the following charts would you switch to for better detail of Mystic and Mystic Harbor?

    N a. 13209
    N b. 13212
    N c. 13213
    Y d. 13214

15627: What is the vertical clearance of the Natchez Highway Bridge (westbound) when the river level is the same as the Low Water Reference Plane (6.1 ft)?

    N a. 102.2 ft
    N b. 108.3 ft
    Y c. 119.4 ft
    N d. 125.6 ft

15742: At 2100 your position is LAT 40°58.5'N, LONG 71°46.0'W. You are proceeding north. At 2131 Montauk Point Light has a radar range of 5.1 miles and bears 284°T. Block Island Southeast Light has a radar range of 10.8 miles. What was the course made good from your 2100 position?

    N a. 005°T
    Y b. 011°T
    N c. 017°T
    N d. 025°T

15830: The black broken-line marking, across the river, that appears at mile 952.1 AHP represents a __________.

    Y a. utility crossing
    N b. railroad
    N c. submarine crossing
    N d. revetment

15915: At 0925, you obtain the following radar information:

Falkner Island Light bearing 252° true @ 1.65 nm

If you correct for a current setting 215°T at 0.5 knot,
what course will you steer from the 0925 position to arrive at a position 0.5 mile south of Long Sand Shoal West End Horn Buoy "W"?

    Y a. 089°T
    N b. 093°T
    N c. 096°T
    N d. 102°T

16310: At 0730, your position is LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 72°32.2'W. From this position you steer course 286°psc with an engine speed of 9.0 knots. What is the approximate depth of water under your keel?

    Y a. 52 feet (15.8 meters)
    N b. 57 feet (17.3 meters)
    N c. 62 feet (18.8 meters)
    N d. 67 feet (20.3 meters)

16556: You are underway in the vicinity of Block Island and obtain the following lines of position:

Montauk Point Light 267°pgc
Block Island Southeast Light 030°pgc
Radar Bearing to Block Island
Southwest Point (tangent) 352°pgc

What is your position at the time of these sightings?

    N a. LAT 41°05.2'N, LONG 71°36.2'W
    Y b. LAT 41°05.3'N, LONG 71°35.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 71°36.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 71°35.9'W

16707: Point Judith Harbor of Refuge __________.

    N a. is used mostly by towing vessels
    N b. has a maximum depth of 14 feet at MHW
    N c. is easily accessible in heavy southerly seas
    Y d. is entered through the East Gap or the West Gap