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.

72: In order to determine what buoys, if any, are in place at Concordia Bar crossing (mile 596.0 AHP), what should you check?
158: Which daymark should you see as you approach French Point Light (mile 915.4 AHP)?
216: NOAA VHF-FM weather broadcasts from New London, CT are on __________.
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
293: At 1730, your position is LAT 37°13.9'N, LONG 76°26.4'W. You are steering course 088° per standard magnetic compass (psc) at an engine speed of 8.0 knots. What is your distance off Tue Marshes Light at 1730? 

    N a. 3.2 miles
    N b. 3.0 miles
    N c. 2.8 miles
    Y d. 2.6 miles
312: A vessel at LAT 07°05'N, LONG 81°45'W is to proceed to LAT 08°40'N, LONG 88°00'W. What are the course and distance by mid-latitude sailing? 

    N a. 283.1°T, 381.2 miles
    Y b. 284.3°T, 384.6 miles
    N c. 285.6°T, 385.0 miles
    N d. 286.8°T, 387.4 miles
334: Your gyro and electronic gear are again operating. At 1710, Chesapeake Light bears 137°pgc at 6.6 miles. The current is setting 160°T at 2 knots. At your speed of 6 knots, what is your true course to steer to remain in the inbound traffic lane? 

    N a. 250°
    N b. 261°
    N c. 265°
    Y d. 269°
449: You estimate the current to be 160°T at 1.2 knots. What should your course and speed be in order to make good 000°T at 10 knots? 

    N a. 358°T at 09.8 knots
    Y b. 358°T at 11.1 knots
    N c. 002°T at 11.2 knots
    N d. 002°T at 09.9 knots
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
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
640: Which of the following statements concerning the buoys on the Mississippi River is TRUE? 

    N a. The position of river buoys can be determined by consulting the latest Light List - Vol. V.
    N b. A preferred channel mark is a lateral mark indicating a channel junction which must always be passed to starboard.
    Y c. Setting a buoy is the act of placing a buoy on assigned position in the water.
    N d. None of the above.
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
806: On 15 November , your 0913 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 22°30.0'N, LONG 68°28.0'W. Your vessel is on course 164°T, and your speed is 13.5 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1118 zone time at which time meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 49°46.0'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN? 

    N a. 21°36.1'N
    N b. 21°37.7'N
    Y c. 21°39.3'N
    N d. 21°40.9'N
847: On 17 December , your 0600 ZT fix gives you a position of LAT 27°16.7'N, LONG 138°39.2'W. Your vessel is on course 137°T, and your speed is 14.8 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1207 ZT, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 40°22.1'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN? 

    N a. 26°09.9'N
    N b. 26°11.6'N
    N c. 26°13.0'N
    Y d. 26°15.4'N
1078: On 6 April , your 1830 ZT DR position is LAT 26°33.0'N, LONG 64°31.0'W. You are on course 082°T at a speed of 16 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1900 running fix. NP-0008

    N a. LAT 26°49.5'N, LONG 64°06.5'W
    Y b. LAT 26°32.5'N, LONG 64°27.1'W
    N c. LAT 26°31.2'N, LONG 64°32.1'W
    N d. LAT 26°28.7'N, LONG 64°32.1'W
1177: On 2 April , your 0900 zone time DR position is LAT 28°04.0'S, LONG 94°14.0'E. Your vessel is on course 316°T at a speed of 18.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1138
    N b. 1143
    N c. 1146
    Y d. 1149
1239: In high water conditions, which publication would you consult for the latest information on buoys between Baton Rouge and Cairo? 

    N a. List of Buoys and Daymarks
    N b. U.S.C.G. Light List
    N c. Army Corps. of Engineers Navigation Chart
    Y d. None of the above
1262: On 27 September , your 0345 ZT DR position is LAT 26°18.0'S, LONG 4°18.0'W. You are on course 271°T at a speed of 15 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel? 

    N a. 0525
    N b. 0545
    N c. 0555
    Y d. 0605
1291: As you pass Solitude Lt. (mile 249.0 AHP) which dayboard would you see? 

    Y a. Green diamond
    N b. Green square
    N c. Red triangle
    N d. Red diamond
1495: On 9 September , your 2043 ZT position is LAT 24°18'N, LONG 66°46'W. You observe Polaris bearing 001°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 031°pgc and 040°psc. The variation is 11°W. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    N a. 0°
    N b. 1°W
    N c. 3°W
    Y d. 2°E
1536: As you approach Casting Yard Dock Lt. (mile 265.4 AHP) you notice on the map a circle with 2 black sectors. This symbol indicates a __________. 

    N a. lock
    N b. warning sign
    Y c. river gage
    N d. mooring buoy
1801: What is the distance from the Amoco Docks at Baton Rouge, LA, to the new mouth of the White River? 

    N a. 981.5 miles
    N b. 953.5 miles
    Y c. 345.3 miles
    N d. 700.2 miles
1884: On 26 November , your 0535 DR position is LAT 27°18.9'S, LONG 30°18.4'E. You observe an unidentified planet bearing 085°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 32°15.2'. The chronometer reads 03h 33m 16s, and is 01m 48s slow. What planet did you observe? 

    N a. Saturn
    Y b. Jupiter
    N c. Mars
    N d. Venus
1893: On 22 July , your 0442 DR position is LAT 26°35.6'N, LONG 22°16.7'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 104°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 9°55.7'. The chronometer reads 05h 39m 03s, and is 03m 14s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Hamal
    Y b. Rigel
    N c. Menkar
    N d. Acamar
1895: On 22 June , your 0424 DR position is LAT 26°18.5'N, LONG 124°18.2'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 195°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 03°30.7'. The chronometer reads 00h 23m 24s, and is 01m 32s slow. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Peacock
    N b. Schedar
    N c. Ankaa
    N d. Alioth
1896: On 22 June , your 0424 DR position is LAT 26°18.5'N, LONG 124°18.2'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 154°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 15°01.2'. The chronometer reads 12h 23m 24s, and is 01m 32s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Peacock
    N b. Schedar
    Y c. Ankaa
    N d. Alioth
1908: On 22 March , your 1834 DR position is LAT 26°13.5'S, LONG 108°36.5'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 315°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 66°01.2'. The chronometer reads 01h 32m 37s, and is 01m 50s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Regulus
    N b. Menkar
    Y c. Rigel
    N d. Alphard
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
2702: You are underway on course 241°T at a speed of 18.2 knots.
You sight a daymark bearing 241°T at a radar range of 3.9 miles at 1006. If you change course at 1009, what is the course to steer to leave the daymark abeam to starboard at 1.0 mile? 

    N a. 218°T
    Y b. 222°T
    N c. 257°T
    N d. 260°T
2870: Your vessel is on a course of 126°T at 17 knots. At 0251 a light bears 099.5°T, and at 0313 the light bears 081°T. At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0327, 4.4 miles
    Y b. 0335, 6.2 miles
    N c. 0345, 6.8 miles
    N d. 0351, 7.4 miles
3293: Your vessel consumes 274 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 17.5 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 13.5 knots? 

    Y a. 126 bbls
    N b. 163 bbls
    N c. 211 bbls
    N d. 253 bbls
3625: Your vessel is steering course 111°psc, variation for the area is 5°E, and deviation is 3°W. The wind is from the northwest, producing a 1° leeway. What true course are you making good? 

    N a. 108°T
    N b. 110°T
    N c. 112°T
    Y d. 114°T
3646: The true course between two points is 041°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 1°W. You make an allowance of 2° leeway for a east-southeast wind. What gyro course should be steered to make the true course good? 

    N a. 040°pgc
    N b. 042°pgc
    N c. 043°pgc
    Y d. 044°pgc
11109: What is the velocity of the maximum ebb current approximately 1.1 miles ENE of Little Gull Island in the afternoon of 25 April 1983? 

    Y a. 5.5 knots
    N b. 4.7 knots
    N c. 4.2 knots
    N d. 1.3 knots
11308: At 1919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. At 2011 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°44.9'W. What was the speed made good? 

    Y a. 13.7 knots
    N b. 12.0 knots
    N c. 11.6 knots
    N d. 10.9 knots
13004: At 1815 your position is LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°47.3'W. You are making turns for 12.6 knots. What is your ETA at Plum Island Mid Channel Buoy PI (LAT 41°13.3'N, LONG 72°10.8'W)? 

    N a. 2019
    N b. 2028
    Y c. 2032
    N d. 2038
15012: At 2020, you obtain a fix using the following information:

9960-X-27112
9960-Y-41432

Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14" bears 333°pgc. Your longitude is __________. 

    N a. 75°38.9'W
    N b. 75°39.1'W
    N c. 75°39.3'W
    Y d. 75°40.5'W
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
15170: From your 2123 position, you are approximately 42 miles from Crisfield, MD. If you are making good a speed of 11 knots, at what time should you arrive at Crisfield, MD? 

    N a. 2359
    N b. 0037
    Y c. 0112
    N d. 0149
15208: At 1750, your position is LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°22.9'W. What was the course made good between 1730 and 1750? 

    N a. 072°T
    N b. 075°T
    Y c. 078°T
    N d. 080°T
15244: At the time of your 1245 position, which statement is TRUE? 

    Y a. Your fathometer should indicate a reading of approximately 47 feet.
    N b. Bradford Reef is 5.7 miles on the starboard bow.
    N c. You are in a danger area.
    N d. You must follow the International Rules of the Road.
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
15569: The coastline between Point Judith and Watch Hill is __________. 

    N a. marked by waterfalls from the highland ponds
    N b. low and marshy
    Y c. sandy and broken by rocky points
    N d. heavily forested
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
15920: What chart should you use after you enter New London Harbor? 

    N a. 13211
    Y b. 13213
    N c. 13214
    N d. 13272
16140: Available information indicates that there is a set and drift in this area of 290°T at 2 knots. Allowing for this set and drift, what course must you steer to make good a true course of 150°, while maintaining an engine speed of 13 knots, from your 1930 position? 

    N a. 141°T
    Y b. 145°T
    N c. 149°T
    N d. 153°T
16516: At 0815, visibility is excellent and you can see Montauk
Point. Montauk Point is __________. 

    N a. low and rocky with scattered small pine trees
    N b. a low lying wetland
    N c. a flat wooded plain
    Y d. a high sandy bluff
16544: At 2347 you are advised that your assistance is no longer needed. At 2350 you change course to make good 268°T. At 0015 you take the following round of bearings:
Kelsey Point Breakwater light 024°pgc
Horton Point Light 100°pgc
Falkner Island Light 333°pgc

At 0030 Falkner Island Lt. bears 000°T at 5.9 miles.

What is the course and speed made good between 0015 and 0030? 

    N a. CMG 262°T,  SMG 10.4 knots
    N b. CMG 268°T,  SMG 10.8 knots
    N c. CMG 268°T,  SMG 10.4 knots
    Y d. CMG 272°T,  SMG 10.8 knots