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.


83: Which light characteristics does Catfish Point Lower Light (mile 572.2 AHP) have?


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


201: What course should you steer by your standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 280°T?


258: During twilight on 28 December , about 1800 GMT, in DR position LAT 4°00'N, LONG 0°06'W, the sextant altitude (hs) of Venus was 30°46.8'. The height of eye was 36 feet, and the index error was 2.0' on the arc. The temperature was 68°F. The barometer read 1030 mb. Calculate the observed altitude (Ho).

    N a. Ho 30°35.2'
    N b. Ho 30°37.1'
    Y c. Ho 30°38.1'
    N d. Ho 30°40.3'

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

395: A vessel at LAT 45°36.0'N, LONG 11°36.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 24°16.0'N, LONG 73°52.0'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.

    Y a. 247°T, 3299.3 miles
    N b. 247°T, 3951.6 miles
    N c. 251°T, 3298.5 miles
    N d. 251°T, 3951.6 miles

479: The great circle distance from LAT 24°25.3'N, LONG 83°02.6'W to LAT 35°57.2'N, LONG 5°45.7'W is 3966.5 miles. Determine the latitude of the vertex.

    N a. 38°46.2'N
    N b. 38°16.4'N
    Y c. 38°09.4'N
    N d. 37°57.3'N

618: Your vessel departs Seattle at 1010 zone time (ZD +8), on 28 May, bound for Apra, Guam (ZD -10). The distance by great circle is 4,948 miles, and you estimate that you will average 18.5 knots. What is your estimated zone time of arrival?

    Y a. 0737, 9 June
    N b. 1737, 9 June
    N c. 1937, 9 June
    N d. 0737, 10 June

739: On 29 April , your 1913 zone time DR position is LAT 22°09.0'N, LONG 56°16.0'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 22°25.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 11h 11m 14s, and the chronometer error is 02m 18s slow. The index error is 1.5' off the arc, and the height of eye is 61.5 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris?

    N a. 21°39.9'N
    N b. 21°55.7'N
    Y c. 22°39.9'N
    N d. 22°48.8'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

830: On 23 August , in DR position LAT 24°22.0'S, LONG 64°55.3'E, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Moon's upper limb at upper transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 02h 15m 04s, and the chronometer error is 01m 06s fast. The sextant altitude (hs) is 48°03.6'. The index error is 2.0' on the arc, and your height of eye is 60 feet (21.0 meters). What is the latitude at meridian transit?

    Y a. 24°20.5'S
    N b. 24°22.8'S
    N c. 24°24.8'S
    N d. 24°49.5'S

1081: On 14 Sept , your 1810 ZT DR position is LAT 27°12.0'S, LONG 71°10.0'E. You are on course 060°T at a speed of 15.0 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1822 running fix. NP-0011

    N a. LAT 27°04.5'S, LONG 71°22.4'E
    N b. LAT 27°07.5'S, LONG 71°18.6'E
    N c. LAT 27°09.2'S, LONG 71°11.3'E
    Y d. LAT 27°11.0'S, LONG 71°14.5'E

1183: On 25 June , your 0900 zone time DR position is LAT 24°10.0'S, LONG 148°30.0'W. Your vessel is on a course of 230°T at a speed of 18.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1154
    N b. 1156
    Y c. 1200
    N d. 1204

1185: On 31 January , your 0920 zone time DR position is LAT 24°16.0'S, LONG 151°33.0'E. Your vessel is on course 258°T at a speed of 18.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1202
    N b. 1207
    Y c. 1211
    N d. 1215

1343: At 1019, on 10 March, you pass under the Greenville Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What was your average speed since departing River Cement Co. Dock?

    Y a. 7.2 mph
    N b. 6.8 mph
    N c. 6.5 mph
    N d. 6.2 mph

1487: On 5 June , your 0420 zone time DR position is LAT 26°47.0'N, LONG 133°19.5'W. At that time, you observe Vega bearing 298.1°psc. The chronometer reads 01h 21m 17s, and the chronometer error is 02m 25s fast. The variation is 3.5°E. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    N a. 1.8°E
    N b. 5.2°E
    Y c. 1.8°W
    N d. 5.2°W

1677: On 23 August , at 0604 ZT, in DR position LAT 16°42.3'S, LONG 28°19.3'W, you observed an amplitude of the Sun. The lower limb was a little above the horizon, and the Sun bore 076.0°pgc. At the time of the observation, the helmsman reported that he was heading 143°pgc and 167°
per standard magnetic compass. The variation in the area was 23°W. What were the gyro error and deviation for that heading?

    N a. 1°W GE, 2°W DEV
    N b. 1°E GE, 1°E DEV
    N c. 2°W GE, 1°E DEV
    Y d. 2°E GE, 1°E DEV

1727: You pass under the Natchez bridge (mile 363.3 AHP) at 1300, on 27 March, and estimate the current to be 3.3 mph. What is your ETA at St. Louis if you continue to turn for 7.5 mph?

    N a. 0617, 4 April
    Y b. 0316, 4 April
    N c. 1153, 30 March
    N d. 1253, 31 April

1887: On 8 April , your evening DR position is LAT 22°16.0'N, LONG 157°58.3'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 271°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 44°08.2'. The chronometer reads 05h 09m 57s, and is 01m 23s slow. What star did you observe?

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

2122: At 1538 ZT, on 15 October , in DR LAT position LAT 18° 12.8' S, LONG 160° 48.4' E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 276.2°psc. Variation is 10° E. What is the deviation?

    N a. 2.6°E
    N b. 2.6°W
    N c. 3.6°E
    Y d. 3.6°W

2152: On 25 June , at 0612 zone time, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 28°13.0'S, LONG 49°34.0'E. Your vessel is steaming at 17.0 knots on a course of 066°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 1022 zone time. The chronometer reads 07h 19m 17s, and the sextant altitude is 35°26.3'. The index error is 1.5' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 02m 51s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 58.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    Y a. 021.5°T
    N b. 157.5°T
    N c. 201.5°T
    N d. 338.5°T

2158: On 26 May , your vessel's 1906 zone time position is LAT 27°16.0'N, LONG 24°37.0'W. At that time, a sextant observation of the planet Jupiter was made. The sextant altitude is 63°27.6', and the chronometer reads 09h 05m 16s. The index error is 5.2' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 25s slow. Your height of eye is determined to be 52.6 feet. What is the (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    N a. 011.3°T
    Y b. 168.7°T
    N c. 191.3°T
    N d. 348.7°T

2247: At 1845 zone time, on 17 March , while taking stars for an evening fix, you observe an unidentified star bearing 200°T at an observed altitude of 53°45.0'. Your DR position at the time of the sight is LAT 25°10.0'N, LONG 66°48.0'W. The chronometer time of the sight is 10h 47m 49s, and the chronometer error is 1m 54s fast. Your vessel is steaming on a course of 290°T at a speed of 18.0 knots. What star did you observe?

    N a. Altair
    N b. Mirfak
    N c. Pollux
    Y d. Rigel

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

2662: You are on course 006°T, speed 16.6 knots. At 0516 you see a light bearing 008°T at a range of 10.2. If you change course at 0528 to leave the light abeam to port at 1.0 mile,
at what time will the light be abeam?

    Y a. 0553
    N b. 0556
    N c. 0604
    N d. 0607

2711: Which light characteristics does Foster Light have?

    N a. 1 green flash every 4 seconds
    N b. 1 red flash every 4 seconds
    Y c. 2 white flashes every 5 seconds
    N d. 2 red flashes every 5 seconds

2888: Your vessel is underway on a course of 323.5°T at a speed of 16 knots. At 1945° a light bears 350°T. At 2010 the light bears 008.5°T. What will be your distance off when abeam of the light?

    N a. 3.3 miles
    N b. 4.8 miles
    Y c. 6.7 miles
    N d. 8.7 miles

3080: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 21.6 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 22.5 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 2% positive slip?

    N a. 81
    N b. 87
    N c. 95
    Y d. 99

3086: If the pitch of the propeller is 19.7 feet, and the revolutions per day are 86,178, calculate the day's run allowing 3% negative slip.

    N a. 279.2 miles
    Y b. 287.6 miles
    N c. 311.4 miles
    N d. 326.2 miles

3100: The pitch of the propeller on your vessel is 19'09". You estimate the slip at -3%. If you averaged 82 RPM for the day's run, how many miles did you steam?

    N a. 370.8
    N b. 373.6
    N c. 393.7
    Y d. 395.3

3632: You desire to make good a true course of 157°. The variation is 15°E, magnetic compass deviation is 9°W, and gyrocompass error is 3°E. A southwesterly wind produces a 2° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good?

    N a. 145°psc
    N b. 147°psc
    N c. 150°psc
    Y d. 153°psc

4015: 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 true heading of 319°.
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. 0.5°E
    N b. 1.0°W
    Y c. 2.5°E
    N d. 2.5°W

13101: At 1523 your position is LAT 41°08.2'N, LONG 71°34.4'W. You are turning for 8.7 knots. What is your ETA at Shagwong Reef Buoy "7SR"?

    N a. 1653
    N b. 1700
    Y c. 1711
    N d. 1718

13810: Which chart would you use if you planned to continue westward beyond the coverage of this chart?

    Y a. 12363
    N b. 12373
    N c. 13205
    N d. 13218

14005: At 0800 your vessel is at mile 110 on the Columbia River. You are steaming in an easterly direction. At 0854 Lady Island Range is in line dead astern and Government Island Upper Range is in line on your port quarter. What speed have you averaged?

    N a. 8.1 mph
    N b. 8.5 mph
    Y c. 9.4 mph
    N d. 10.2 mph

15061: Falkner Island Light is shown __________.

    N a. 46 feet (13.9 meters) above sea level
    N b. only from 1 June to 10 October
    Y c. from a white octagonal tower
    N d. with a six-second period

15144: At 2310 Buoy "MP" bears 305° true with a radar range of 2.5 miles. From this position you change course to 005° true. Without any set and drift, what would be your predicted distance off Southwest Ledge Buoy "2" when it is on your starboard beam?

    N a. 0.9 mile
    N b. 1.1 miles
    Y c. 1.5 miles
    N d. 1.9 miles

15622: What are the dimensions of the Old River Lock on the Lower Old River (304 AHP)?

    Y a. 1190 x 75 feet
    N b. 1195 x 75 feet
    N c. 1195 x 84 feet
    N d. 1202 x 84 feet

15709: At 0830, you obtained the following radar informations:

Branford Reef Light bearing 259° true @ 4.2 nm


What is your vessel's position?

    N a. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 73°56.0'W
    N b. LAT 40°17.4'N, LONG 73°54.0'W
    N c. LAT 41°12.0'N, LONG 72°53.8'W
    Y d. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 72°53.8'W

15759: You calculate that the current will be flooding at the Race at 0700. You should expect to be set in which general direction at the Race?

    Y a. West
    N b. East
    N c. Northeast
    N d. Southwest

15914: At 0844, the range to the north end of Falkner Island is 2.0 miles and the left tangent bearing is 102°T. What is the approximate charted depth of the water?

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

16258: What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass from the anchorage to point A, if easterly winds are causing 3° of leeway?

    N a. 187°
    Y b. 191°
    N c. 194°
    N d. 197°

16344: After changing course to allow for a current of 090°T at 1.0 knot, what time will Endeavor Shoals Lighted Gong Buoy "3" be abeam to port?

    N a. 2340
    N b. 2345
    Y c. 2350
    N d. 2355

16409: At 0337, fog closes in and you anchor under the following radar ranges and bearing.

South tip of Watch Hill Point 3.0 miles
East point of Fishers Island 1.4 miles
Latimer Reef Light 331°T

What is the approximate depth of water at your anchorage?

    N a. 83 feet (25.2 meters)
    Y b. 100 feet (30.3 meters)
    N c. 120 feet (36.4 meters)
    N d. 135 feet (40.9 meters)

16540: You sight Bartlett Reef Light in range with New London Harbor Light bearing 038°pgc. At the time of the bearing,
the helmsman reports he was heading 253°pgc and 269° per standard magnetic compass. What is the deviation for that heading?

    Y a. 1°E
    N b. 1°W
    N c. 4°E
    N d. 4°W

16741: At 2346 Montauk Point Light bears 285°pgc, and the radar range to Montauk Point is 5.9 miles. You are steering to make good 034°T. In order to remain westward of Southwest Ledge you should __________.

    Y a. come left when South East Point Light bears 057° true
    N b. remain on your present course and you will clear Southwest Ledge
    N c. keep Block Island North Light bearing 033°T or less
    N d. alter course to the right when Block Island Aerobeacon bears 055°T

16838: At 0800 you obtain the following Loran-C readings:

9960-X-27101
9960-Y-41612
9960-Z-58737

What is your vessel's position?

    N a. LAT 37°20.9'N, LONG 75°29.5'W
    Y b. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 75°32.0'W
    N c. LAT 37°19.8'N, LONG 75°30.6'W
    N d. LAT 37°20.8'N, LONG 75°31.2'W