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.

41: The Delta-Friar Point revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________.
67: The Gage at Red River Landing reads 22.2 feet. The LWRP for Red River is 10.6 feet. What is the water level in relation to the low water reference plane?
86: As you approach Shreves cut-off you see Red River Landing Gage (mile 302.4 AHP) which reads 6.2 feet. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
87: You pass Red River Gage at 2015 on 16 April and estimate the current will average 3.5 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? 

    N a. 0821, 21 April
    Y b. 0028, 21 April
    N c. 1830, 20 April
    N d. 1445, 20 April
90: As you approach Giles Bend Cutoff Light (mile 367.7 AHP), what type of daymark would you see on the light structure? 

    N a. None
    N b. Red diamond
    N c. Red square
    Y d. Red triangle
212: 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
    Y c. 13214
    N d. 13215
309: A vessel at LAT 14°10'N, LONG 61°00'W is to proceed to LAT 10°00'N, LONG 53°23'W. What is the course and distance by mid-latitude sailing? 

    N a. 117.3°T, 503.0 miles
    N b. 117.9°T, 504.0 miles
    N c. 118.6°T, 508.0 miles
    Y d. 119.2°T, 512.0 miles
370: At 0812, you are on course 132°T. The standard magnetic compass reads 135°. What should you conclude? 

    N a. The deviation table is correct for that heading.
    N b. You should adjust the magnetic compass.
    N c. The deviation is increasing as you go south.
    Y d. Your compass may be influenced by a local magnetic disturbance.
403: You receive a distress call from a vessel reporting her position as LAT 30°21'N, LONG 88°34'W. Your position is LAT 24°30'N, LONG 83°00'W. Determine the true course and distance to the distress scene by Mercator sailing. 

    N a. 317°T, 470 miles
    Y b. 320°T, 460 miles
    N c. 322°T, 455 miles
    N d. 324°T, 460 miles
406: You depart LAT 49°45.0'N, LONG 06°35.0'W, and steam 3599 miles on course 246.5°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    N a. LONG 76°36.2'W
    Y b. LONG 77°02.8'W
    N c. LONG 78°14.0'W
    N d. LONG 78°22.6'W
454: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 26°00.0'S, LONG 56°00.0'W to LAT 34°00.0'S, LONG 18°15.0'E. 

    N a. 3705 miles, 153°T
    N b. 3841 miles, 068°T
    N c. 3849 miles, 248°T
    Y d. 3805 miles, 117°T
465: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 34°51.0'N, LONG 115°01.2'E to LAT 10°16.0'S, LONG 51°42.6'E. 

    N a. 4436 miles, 245.3°T
    N b. 4598 miles, 245.6°T
    Y c. 4493 miles, 245.6°T
    N d. 4582 miles, 245.6°T
522: In clear weather, how far away will you sight Point Judith Light? (use charted range of 20 miles as nominal range) 

    Y a. 14.0 nm
    N b. 12.3 nm
    N c. 10.6 nm
    N d. 9.2 nm
689: You are turning for 10 mph and passing Hog Point, LA. (mile 297.5 AHP). Angola reports that the current at Red River Landing is 4.5 mph. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. The main channel lies on the south side of the island you see ahead.
    N b. You are making 14.5 mph over the ground.
    Y c. An underwater stone dike has been constructed 0.5 miles upstream of Miles Bar Towhead.
    N d. You would expect to find the more favorable current near the broken red line in the river.
705: At 1554, on 25 May, you pass Huntington Point Light (mile 555.2 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. DockS (mile 253.6 AHP)? 

    Y a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 5.2 mph
    N c. 4.8 mph
    N d. 4.3 mph
976: On 7 November , your 0830 zone time position was LAT 27°36.0'N, LONG 162°19.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 289°T at a speed of 19.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0945 ZT. The chronometer read 08h 43m 11s and was slow 01m 51s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 38°21.1'. Local Apparent Noon (LAN) occurred at 1138 zone time. The observed altitude (Ho) was 45°35.0'. What was the longitude of your 1200 zone time running fix? 

    Y a. 163°38.8'W
    N b. 163°34.0'W
    N c. 163°30.2'W
    N d. 163°26.0'W
982: On 15 August , your 0512 zone time position was LAT 29°18.0'N, LONG 57°24.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 262°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0824 ZT. The chronometer read 00h 22m 24s and was slow 01m 34s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 38°16.7'. LAN occurred at 1204 zone time.
The observed altitude (Ho) was 74°58.0'. What was the longitude of your 1204 zone time running fix? 

    N a. LONG 59°52.0'W
    N b. LONG 59°54.0'W
    Y c. LONG 59°58.5'W
    N d. LONG 60°02.0'W
1097: On 9 November , your 0400 DR position is LAT 18°24.0'S, LONG 97°36.0'W. You are on course 138°T at a speed of 16 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. NP-0027

    N a. LAT 18°15.0'S, LONG 98°52.5'W
    Y b. LAT 18°45.0'S, LONG 97°06.8'W
    N c. LAT 18°52.5'S, LONG 97°10.6'W
    N d. LAT 19°15.5'S, LONG 98°08.8'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
1225: You estimate the current at 2.0 mph. What is the speed over the ground? 

    N a. 9.5 mph
    Y b. 5.5 mph
    N c. 5.0 mph
    N d. 4.5 mph
1465: On 22 April , your 0344 zone time DR position is LAT 21°16.0'N, LONG 107°32.0'W. At that time, you observe Spica bearing 236°psc. The chronometer reads 10h 45m 16s,
and the chronometer error is 00m 25s fast. The variation is 7.5°E. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    N a. 1.1°W
    Y b. 5.2°E
    N c. 5.2°W
    N d. 6.1°W
1542: You are turning for 6.8 mph and estimate the current at 1.0 mph. What is your speed over the ground? 

    N a. 6.8 mph
    Y b. 7.8 mph
    N c. 8.8 mph
    N d. 9.4 mph
1680: On 31 October , your 1700 zone time DR position is LAT 27°17.0'N, LONG 116°10.0'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 246.5° per standard magnetic compass. Variation in the area is 8.5°E. The chronometer reads 01h 01m 23s and the chronometer error is 01m 54s slow. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    N a. 0.8°E
    Y b. 0.8°W
    N c. 2.5°E
    N d. 2.5°W
1831: You pass Warnicott Bar Lt. at 1146, 24 May. What is your ETA off the Mhoon Landing Gage if you average 6.5 mph? 

    N a. 0152, 26 May
    N b. 0426, 26 May
    Y c. 1528, 26 May
    N d. 0909, 27 May
1841: At 0509, on 26 December, you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge (mile 661.7 AHP). What has been the average speed of the current since departing Memphis Harbor, McKellar Lake, if you have been making turns for 7.5 mph? 

    N a. 1.8 mph
    N b. 2.1 mph
    Y c. 4.4 mph
    N d. 5.6 mph
1841: At 0509, on 26 December, you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge (mile 661.7 AHP). What has been the average speed of the current since departing Memphis Harbor, McKellar Lake, if you have been making turns for 7.5 mph? 

    N a. 1.8 mph
    N b. 2.1 mph
    Y c. 4.4 mph
    N d. 5.6 mph
2242: At 1620 ZT, on 10 September , in DR position LAT 34° 03.8' N, LONG 050° 28.4' W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The Moon’s upper limb is observed on the visible horizon and bears 110.2° psc. The variation is 2° E. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 2.0°E
    N b. 2.0°W
    Y c. 1.2°E
    N d. 1.2°W
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
2864: You are steering a course of 316°T, and a light bears 34° on the port bow at 2053. At 2126 the same light bears 68° on the port bow, and you have run 5 miles since the first bearing. What is the ETA when the lighthouse is abeam? 

    Y a. 2139
    N b. 2143
    N c. 2149
    N d. 2159
2871: Your vessel is on a course of 052°T at 16 knots. At 0916 a light bears 078.5°T, and at 0927 the light bears 097°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0929, 2.0 miles
    N b. 0932, 2.3 miles
    N c. 0935, 2.6 miles
    Y d. 0938, 2.9 miles
3056: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 18.8 feet and a pitch of 21.4 feet. What would be the slip if the vessel cruised 378 miles in a 24 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 76? 

    Y a. +1.9%
    N b. -1.9%
    N c. +4.7%
    N d. -4.7%
3259: You have steamed 607 miles at 17.0 knots, and consumed 121 tons of fuel. If you have 479 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 14.5 knots? 

    N a. 1211 miles
    N b. 1748 miles
    N c. 2817 miles
    Y d. 3303 miles
3639: You desire to make good a true course of 132°. The variation is 10°W, magnetic compass deviation is 5°E, and gyrocompass error is 5°W. A northeast by east wind produces a 5° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good? 

    Y a. 132°psc
    N b. 135°psc
    N c. 137°psc
    N d. 142°psc
10210: Your present position is LAT 41°07.4'N, LONG 72°44.0'W. Assuming that there is no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to a position of LAT 41°08.5'N, LONG 72°28.8'W? 

    N a. 073°psc
    N b. 084°psc
    N c. 091°psc
    Y d. 097°psc
11101: Great Salt Pond on Block Island is __________. 

    Y a. entered through a dredged cut
    N b. not accessible in easterly gales
    N c. available for vessels up to a maximum draft of 8 feet (2.4m)
    N d. not affected by the tide
11410: At 0647 a GPS fix places your vessel 1 mile due south of buoy "8C" (buoy position LAT 41°10.8'N, LONG 72°29.4'W). At 0753 another GPS fix places your vessel at LAT 41°08.6'N, LONG 72°41.6'W. What were your true course and speed made good? 

    N a. 088° at 9.6 knots
    N b. 192° at 8.8 knots
    Y c. 263° at 8.5 knots
    N d. 268° at 9.1 knots
11904: 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 6.5 knots, allow for a current of 295°T at 0.9 knot, and an easterly wind is causing 4° of leeway? 

    Y a. 196°T
    N b. 200°T
    N c. 213°T
    N d. 217°T
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
13308: You are navigating 1 mile north of Cape Henry Lighthouse at the southern entrance to Chesapeake Bay. You observe that this area is bounded on the chart by magenta bands. This indicates a(n) __________. 

    N a. fish trap area
    N b. explosive anchorage
    Y c. pilotage area
    N d. danger zone
13706: What is the horizontal clearance of the navigation opening of Trestle B of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel? 

    N a. 21 feet
    Y b. 70 feet
    N c. 75 feet
    N d. 300 feet
14104: You are approaching Bonneville Lock and Dam. Which FM-radio channel should be used to communicate with the lockmaster? 

    N a. 13
    Y b. 14
    N c. 15
    N d. 16
15013: At 2020, what is the course to steer to enter the inbound lane of North Chesapeake Entrance traffic separation scheme if a northwesterly wind causes 3° of leeway? 

    N a. 227°pgc
    N b. 224°pgc
    Y c. 221°pgc
    N d. 215°pgc
15058: At 0740, you obtain the following radar data:

Branford Reef Light bears 248° true @ 3.0 nm

What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°12.0'N, LONG 72°51.3'W
    N b. LAT 41°12.0'N, LONG 72°51.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°51.5'W
    Y d. LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°52.0'W
15219: From your 2118 position, you steer a course of 288°T at an engine speed of 7.0 knots. At 2120 visibility is suddenly reduced to 2 miles. At what time can you expect to see Old Point Comfort Light? 

    N a. 2136
    N b. 2143
    N c. 2202
    Y d. 2228
15309: The engineer has advised that it will be necessary to secure the gyrocompass and the electronic equipment. From your 0315 position, what is your course per standard magnetic compass to York Spit Channel Buoy "38", if there is no current? 

    N a. 212°psc
    N b. 214°psc
    Y c. 216°psc
    N d. 218°psc
15540: At 2200 Middle Ground Light is bearing 270° true at 9 nm

Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. The current is flooding.
    Y b. You are being set to the left of the track.
    N c. The set is towards the southwest.
    N d. The drift is 0.6 knot.
15739: Your 1900 position is LAT 40°45.5'N, LONG 72°03.0'W. Your course is 046°T, and your engines are turning RPM's for 9 knots. At your 1939 DR position, what is the expected relative bearing of Montauk Point Light on the port bow? 

    N a. 024° relative
    Y b. 028° relative
    N c. 032° relative
    N d. 036° relative
15817: The south coast of Long Island Sound between Mattituck Inlet and Port Jefferson is __________. 

    N a. composed of high rocky bluffs
    N b. a high, flat plateau with sheer cliffs
    Y c. fringed by rocky shoals
    N d. low and marshy with isolated beaches
15824: You pass Red River Gage at 2015 on 16 April and estimate the current will average 3.5 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? 

    N a. 1445, 20 April
    N b. 1830, 20 April
    Y c. 0028, 21 April
    N d. 0821, 21 April
15946: At 2132 you sight Block Island Southest Point Light in line with the Aerobeacon (rotating white and green) bearing 308.5°pgc. The helmsman reports he was heading 106°pgc and 119°psc. What is the deviation on that heading? 

    N a. 4°W
    N b. 2°W
    Y c. 2°E
    N d. 4°E
16113: After you enter Thimble Shoal Channel, you will alter course to pass between Trestle "A" and "B". Which channel should you use? 

    N a. Thimble Shoal Main Channel or the South Auxiliary Channel
    N b. Any of the channels but keep to the right hand side
    Y c. The South Auxiliary Channel
    N d. Thimble Shoal Main Channel
16141: The speed you can expect to make good over your course while steering to make 150°T is __________. 

    N a. 11.0 knots
    Y b. 11.4 knots
    N c. 14.0 knots
    N d. 14.4 knots
16370: The wind is westerly and will cause 2° of leeway. The current is 180° at 0.5 knot. If your engines are turning for 8.0 knots, what should you steer to remain in York River Entrance Channel? 

    N a. 304°T
    N b. 307°T
    Y c. 311°T
    N d. 314°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