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.


37: As you pass under the Natchez-Vidalia Dual Bridge, the gage on the bridge reads -3.6 feet. If the highest point on your vessel is 62 ft. above the water, what is your vertical clearance?


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?


128: At Filter Point Light (mile 475 AHP) there are 2 close straight dashed lines on the map. What do these lines represent?


148: You are turning for 8.2 mph and estimate the current at 1.5 mph. What is you speed over the ground?

    Y a. 9.7
    N b. 8.2
    N c. 7.8
    N d. 6.7

438: You estimate that you are making 9.3 knots over the ground. At what time will you enter waters governed by the COLREGS?

    N a. 0258
    N b. 0255
    Y c. 0251
    N d. 0247

808: On 28 July , your 0800 zone time 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 1149 zone time, 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 calculated latitude at LAN?

    N a. 26°21.9'N
    N b. 26°23.4'N
    Y c. 26°25.0'N
    N d. 26°27.7'N

808: On 28 July , your 0800 zone time 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 1149 zone time, 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 calculated latitude at LAN?

    N a. 26°21.9'N
    N b. 26°23.4'N
    Y c. 26°25.0'N
    N d. 26°27.7'N

1076: On 25 Mar , your 0500 ZT DR position is LAT 28°14.0'S, LONG 93°17.0'E. You are on course 291°T at a speed of 16.0 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0550 running fix. NP-0006

    Y a. LAT 28°15.9'S, LONG 92°56.9'E
    N b. LAT 28°19.3'S, LONG 92°59.0'E
    N c. LAT 28°06.4'S, LONG 93°02.5'E
    N d. LAT 27°53.2'S, LONG 93°17.6'E

1082: On 20 Nov. , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 27°16.0'N, LONG 157°18.6'E. You are on course 060°T at a speed of 20 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1200 running fix. NP-0012

    N a. LAT 27°16.8'N, LONG 157°30.5'E
    N b. LAT 27°22.6'N, LONG 157°37.8'E
    Y c. LAT 27°29.7'N, LONG 157°43.0'E
    N d. LAT 27°33.4'N, LONG 157°48.2'E

1285: On 28 June , your 1820 ZT DR position is LAT 16°00.0'N,
LONG 31°00.0'W. You are on course 310°T at a speed of 18 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    N a. 1828
    N b. 1832
    N c. 1836
    Y d. 1840

1471: On 21 February , your 0823 zone time DR position is LAT 21°44.0'S, LONG 80°14.0'E. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 096°psc. The chronometer reads 03h 25m 19s, and the chronometer error is 01m 52s fast. The variation is 5°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 2.2°E
    Y b. 4.7°W
    N c. 5.7°E
    N d. 6.3°W

1730: What is the distance from Arkansas City, AR, to St. Louis, MO, on the Mississippi River System?

    Y a. 584 miles
    N b. 617 miles
    N c. 733 miles
    N d. 832 miles

1775: At 1412 you increase speed to make good 10.2 mph. At 1506 you have a daymark on your port beam. Which daymark is this?

    N a. Bessie Daymark
    Y b. Nolan Light
    N c. Everetts Light
    N d. Marr Towhead Light

1780: At 1523 ZT, on 14 June , in DR position LAT 31°58'S, LONG 48°42'W you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 118.0°psc. The variation is 10°W. What is the deviation?

    N a. 2.5°W
    Y b. 2.1°W
    N c. 1.7°W
    N d. 1.7°E

1804: You pass Red River Gage at 2015 on 16 April and estimate the current will average 3.0 mph for the remainder of the time on the Mississippi River. What is your ETA at the mouth of the Ohio River if you continue to turn for 10 mph?

    Y a. 1718, 20 April
    N b. 1830, 20 April
    N c. 0028, 21 April
    N d. 0821, 21 April

1907: On 22 March , your 1834 DR position is LAT 26°13.5'S, LONG 108°36.5'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 062°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 23°22.0'. The chronometer reads 01h 32m 37s, and is 01m 50s slow. Which star did you observe?

    Y a. Regulus
    N b. Menkar
    N c. Rigel
    N d. Alphard

2021: On 29 April , your 0300 ZT DR position is LAT 28°39'N, LONG 168°03'E. You are on course 108°T at a speed of 22 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time?

    Y a. Moon, Alpheratz, Polaris
    N b. Deneb, Dubhe, Zubenelgenubi
    N c. Venus, Polaris, Arcturus
    N d. Moon, Altair, Sabik

2123: At 0410, you take the following bearings:
New Point Comfort Light "2" 244°pgc Wolf Trap Light 315°pgc What is your 0410 position?

    N a. LAT 37°21.2'N, LONG 76°08.3'W
    N b. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°08.8'W
    N c. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°07.9'W
    Y d. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°08.1'W

2201: At 1000, on May 11th, you are passing George Prince Lt. (mile 364.1 AHP) in Natchez, Mississippi and must send an ETA to the Monsanto Terminal in St. Louis (mile 178.0 UMR). Your engines are still turning for 8.5 mph and you estimate the current at 2.5 mph. What will be your arrival time in St. Louis?

    N a. 1919 on 15 May
    N b. 2344 on 15 May
    N c. 1113 on 16 May
    Y d. 1757 on 16 May

2290: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 75°12.3' on 6 August . The index error is 1.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 32 feet (9.8 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 75°18.6'
    Y b. 75°24.0'
    N c. 75°30.7'
    N d. 75°34.6'

2859: Your vessel is on a course of 307°T at 20 knots. At 0914 a light bears 284.5°T, and at 0937 the light bears 262°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light?

    N a. 0950, 4.4 miles
    Y b. 0953, 5.4 miles
    N c. 0957, 6.6 miles
    N d. 1002, 7.1 miles

2885: Your vessel is steering 194°T at 13 knots. At 0116 a light bears 243°T, and at 0147 the same light bears 267°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    N a. 11.2 miles
    N b. 11.6 miles
    Y c. 12.0 miles
    N d. 12.5 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

3272: Your vessel arrives in port with sufficient fuel to steam 775 miles at 17 knots. If you are unable to take on bunkers, at what speed must you proceed to reach your next port, 977 miles distant?

    Y a. 15.1 knots
    N b. 15.8 knots
    N c. 17.2 knots
    N d. 17.7 knots

3307: You have steamed 182 miles and consumed 16.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 392 miles?

    N a. 28.3 tons
    Y b. 34.5 tons
    N c. 49.6 tons
    N d. 74.2 tons

3453: You wish to make good a course of 350°T while turning for an engine speed of 10 knots. The set is 070°T, and the drift is 1.5 knots. What course should you steer?

    N a. 332°T
    Y b. 341°T
    N c. 345°T
    N d. 359°T

3650: The true course between two points is 194°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 2°W and you make an allowance of 1° leeway for a southwest wind. What gyro course should you steer to make the true course good?

    N a. 193°pgc
    N b. 195°pgc
    Y c. 197°pgc
    N d. 199°pgc

4011: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°E. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a magnetic compass heading of 234°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 350° 122.5° - 110° 239.5° - 230°
030.5° - 020° 152.0° - 140° 269.0° - 260°
061.5° - 050° 181.0° - 170° 298.0° - 290°
092.0° - 080° 210.0° - 200° 327.5° - 320°

    N a. 2.5°W
    N b. 2.5°E
    N c. 1.0°W
    Y d. 0.5°E

11800: What is the course to steer between Port Jefferson Approach buoy "PJ" and New Haven Lighted Buoy "NH"? Your engine speed is 12 knots and you allow for a current of 93°T at 0.8 knot. A NW'ly wind causes 3° leeway.

    Y a. 030°T
    N b. 034°T
    N c. 037°T
    N d. 044°T

12507: You are on course 300° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" 240°psc Horn Harbor Entrance Light HH 268°psc Wolf Trap Light 003°psc What is the position of the fix?

    N a. LAT 37°20.8'N, LONG 76°09.6'W
    Y b. LAT 37°20.8'N, LONG 76°11.0'W
    N c. LAT 37°20.9'N, LONG 76°11.5'W
    N d. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°08.2'W

12509: You are on course 027° per magnetic compass when you take the following bearings per magnetic compass: New Point Comfort Light "2" 253°
Horn Harbor Entrance Light HH 282°
Wolf Trap Light 348°
What is the position of the fix?

    N a. LAT 37°19.4'N, LONG 76°09.5'W
    N b. LAT 37°19.4'N, LONG 76°09.8'W
    N c. LAT 37°19.7'N, LONG 76°10.3'W
    Y d. LAT 37°19.7'N, LONG 76°09.9'W

12707: You are on course 246° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Little Gull Island Light 286° Race Rock Light 308° Latimer Reef Light 018°What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 71°55.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 71°56.6'W
    Y c. LAT 41°12.7'N, LONG 71°56.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°13.1'N, LONG 71°56.1'W

13505: What soundings are indicated by a blue tint on this chart?

    N a. 30 fathoms or more
    Y b. 30 feet or less
    N c. 30 feet or more
    N d. 30 fathoms or less

14302: What are the characteristics of the upper light of Government Island Lower Range, on the Columbia River?

    Y a. Equal interval red, 6 seconds
    N b. Green group flashing, 6 seconds
    N c. Quick flashing red, 6 seconds
    N d. Equal interval green, 6 seconds

14602: Where would you tune your radio to receive a VHF-FM weather broadcast for the Columbia River in the vicinity of Government Island?

    N a. KIH-32 - 162.40 MHz
    N b. KBA-99 - 162.40 MHz
    Y c. KEB-97 - 162.55 MHz
    N d. KEC-62 - 162.55 MHz

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)

15111: At 1810, you sight a buoy on your starboard side labeled "19".
This buoy marks __________.

    N a. a submerged obstruction in York Spit Channel
    N b. the visibility limit of the red sector of Cape Henry Light
    Y c. the side of York Spit Channel
    N d. the junction of the York Spit and York River Entrance Channels

15160: At 1815, your position is LAT 37°01.0'N, LONG 75°42.7'W. If there is no current, what is the course per standard magnetic compass to arrive at a point 0.3 mile due north of North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy "NCA"?

    N a. 249.0°psc
    N b. 251.5°psc
    N c. 255.0°psc
    Y d. 257.0°psc

15216: Which of the following concerning Thimble Shoal Channel is TRUE?

    N a. Only deep-draft passenger ships and large naval vessels may use the main channel.
    N b. The channel is 14.5 miles in length.
    Y c. A tow drawing 20 feet is excluded from the main channel.
    N d. Thimble Shoal Channel is in international waters.

15419: The mean high water level at Old Point Comfort is __________.

    Y a. 2.6 feet (0.8 meters)
    N b. 1.2 feet (0.4 meters)
    N c. 0.0 feet
    N d. -3.5 feet (-1.1 meters)

15459: At 0823, Old Point Comfort Light bears 000°T at 0.6 mile. What is your 0823 position?

    Y a. LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 76°18.4'W
    N b. LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 76°21.6'W
    N c. LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 76°19.6'W
    N d. LAT 36°55.5'N, LONG 76°18.6'W

15620: From your 2123 position, you are approximately 42 miles from Crisfield, MD. If you are making good a speed of 13 knots, at what time should you arrive at Crisfield, MD?

    N a. 2359
    Y b. 0037
    N c. 0112
    N d. 0148

15760: As you near Little Gull Island, you use your loran to insure that you do not come within 0.5 mile of the island. Which loran reading will act as a danger line and keep you off Little Gull Island by a minimum of 0.5 mile?

    N a. Not more than 9960-W-14735.9
    N b. Not more than 9960-X-26149.0
    N c. Not less than 9960-X-26140.0
    Y d. Not less than 9960-Y-43953.5

15956: The National Weather Service provides 24-hour weather broadcasts to vessels transiting the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The broadcasts may be found on __________.

    N a. 202.35 MHz
    N b. 181.15 MHz
    Y c. 162.55 MHz
    N d. 147.45 MHz

16069: From your 2118 position, you steer a course of 288°T at an engine speed of 7.0 knots. Visibility is 2 miles. Height of eye is 12 feet (3.7 meters). At what time can you expect to see Old Point Comfort Light?

    N a. The light is visible at 2118
    N b. 2139
    N c. 2201
    Y d. 2232

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

16360: What is the course to steer per gyro compass from the anchorage to point "A" if westerly winds are causing 3° of leeway?

    N a. 178°pgc
    N b. 182°pgc
    N c. 184°pgc
    Y d. 187°pgc

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

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

16570: NOAA VHF-FM weather broadcasts from Providence, RI are on __________.

    N a. 162.25 MHz
    N b. 162.30 MHz
    Y c. 162.40 MHz
    N d. 162.55 MHz