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?
148: You are turning for 8.2 mph and estimate the current at 1.5 mph. What is you speed over the ground?
178: If the Old Point Comfort main light was inoperative what emergency light would be shown?
240: At 1100, your position is LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°28.0'W. You are steering a course of 069°T to leave Black Point one mile off your port beam. It has been reported that the Long Sand Shoal Buoys and Hatchett Reef Buoys are off station. Which of the following will serve as a line marking the hazards and keep your vessel in safe water? 

    N a. A bearing to Little Gull Island Light of not less than 090°
    N b. Maintaining a 7nm range off Orient point
    Y c. Danger bearing to Black Point of not more than 064°T
    N d. A distance to Saybrook Breakwater Light of not less than 1.3 miles
316: From your 1830 fix, you continue south on a course of 150°T turning RPMs for 6 knots. You encounter a flood current in the direction of 330°T at 2 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, which course would you steer to make good a course of 150°T while turning RPMs for 6 knots? 

    N a. 162°T
    N b. 158°T
    Y c. 150°T
    N d. 144°T
365: You sighted Trestle "A" in line at 0707 and are steering 108°T. At 0731, Cape Henry Light bears 136°T; Cape Charles Light bears 032.5°T; and Thimble Shoal Tunnel South Light bears 282°T. What was the speed made good between 0707 and 0731? 

    N a. 9.4 knots
    N b. 9.2 knots
    Y c. 8.8 knots
    N d. 8.3 knots
408: You depart LAT 37°36'N, LONG 123°00'W, and steam 2022 miles on course 241°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    N a. LONG 163°28.2'W
    N b. LONG 163°18.2'W
    Y c. LONG 156°51.7'W
    N d. LONG 154°18.3'W
469: Determine the great circle initial course from LAT 37°12.6'S, LONG 73°58.0'W to LAT 10°33.0'S, LONG 142°08.0'E. 

    Y a. 223°T
    N b. 253°T
    N c. 287°T
    N d. 317°T
599: Which town is located at mile 663.5 AHP? 

    Y a. Helena
    N b. Friers Point
    N c. St. Francis
    N d. Rodney
651: You are planning a voyage by great circle from Reykjavik (LAT 63°30'N, LONG 24°00'W) to the Azores (LAT 39°30'N, LONG 29°00'W). Which statement is TRUE? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5274) 

    N a. The distance is measured in sixty-mile segments based on the length of a degree of latitude at the mid-latitude and mid-longitude position.
    N b. The Northern Hemisphere vertex lies south of Reykjavik.
    Y c. The great circle track is not appreciably shorter than a rhumb line track.
    N d. When plotted on a Mercator chart, the great circle track will be convex to the British Isles.
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
814: On 1 July , your 0515 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 23°24.0'S, LONG 151°42.0'W. Your vessel is on course 240°T, and your speed is 10.0 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1215 zone time, 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 latitude at 1200 ZT? 

    N a. 24°02.5'S
    N b. 24°01.0'S
    Y c. 23°59.7'S
    N d. 23°58.6'S
823: On 15 October , an ex-meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb at upper transit was observed at 1146 ZT. Your DR position is LAT 22°42.0'N, LONG 139°52.0'E, and your sextant altitude (hs) is 58°30.4'. The index error is 3.4' on the arc, and your height of eye is 56.7 feet. The chronometer time of the observation is 02h 45m 06s, and the chronometer error is 01m 06s slow. Find the latitude at meridian transit from the ex-meridian observation. 

    N a. LAT 22°29.1'N
    Y b. LAT 22°35.2'N
    N c. LAT 22°58.1'N
    N d. LAT 23°20.6'N
990: On 24 March , your 0800 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 22°16.0'N, LONG 31°45.0'W. Your vessel is steaming a course of 285°T at a speed of 16.5 knots. An observation of the Sun's upper limb is made at 0938 zone time, and the observed altitude (Ho) is 46°32.2'. The chronometer reads 11h 41m 01s, and the chronometer error is 02m 50s fast. Local apparent noon occurs at 1214 zone time, and a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is made. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 68°55.8'. Determine the vessel's 1200 zone time position. 

    N a. LAT 22°35.0'N, LONG 30°29.0'W
    Y b. LAT 22°35.0'N, LONG 32°51.0'W
    N c. LAT 22°36.0'N, LONG 32°10.5'W
    N d. LAT 22°36.0'N, LONG 32°55.2'W
1211: It is 15 July and you are keeping +7 zone time. You are on course 095°, speed 16 knots. Your 0800 DR position is LAT 25°39.4'N, LONG 129°46.2'W. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks? 

    N a. 13h 40m 17s
    Y b. 13h 38m 26s
    N c. 12h 42m 20s
    N d. 12h 38m 20s
1245: The highest point on your towboat is 67 feet above the water, and the Helena Gage reads +22.3 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the A-span of the Helena Highway Bridge? 

    N a. 74.7 feet
    N b. 52.4 feet
    N c. 49.8 feet
    Y d. 30.1 feet
1366: On which river is New Providence, TN located? 

    N a. Allegheny
    N b. Upper Mississippi
    N c. Ohio
    Y d. Cumberland
1452: On 6 November , your 0752 zone time DR position is LAT 25°11.0'N, LONG 76°07.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 119°psc. The chronometer reads 12h 53m 07s, and the chronometer error is 01m 19s fast. The variation is 3°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 2.2°W
    N b. 3.8°W
    N c. 2.8°E
    Y d. 3.2°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
1642: From your 2129 position you reduce engine speed to 14 knots. What is the course to make good from your 2129 position to arrive 0.3 mile north of Lighted Whistle Buoy "NCA" (LL#375) assuming no set and drift? 

    N a. 216°T
    N b. 219°T
    Y c. 222°T
    N d. 225°T
1703: At 1218, 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
    N c. 0.8 mph
    Y d. 1.2 mph
1723: You will pass the first gage at __________. 

    N a. Profit Island
    N b. Bayou Sara
    N c. Baton Rouge
    Y d. Red River Landing
1749: Which light characteristics does Black Hawk Light (mile 318.3 AHP) have? 

    N a. 1 red flash every 4 seconds
    N b. 1 green flash every 4 seconds
    Y c. 1 white flash every 4 seconds
    N d. 2 white flashes every 5 seconds
1867: On 12 June , your 1845 DR position is LAT 21°47'N, LONG 46°52'W when you observe a faint unidentifiable star through a break in the clouds. The star bears 162°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 28°36.5'. The index error is 0.5'
on the arc, and the height of eye is 45 feet. The chronometer reads 09h 43m 27s, and the chronometer error is 1m 46s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Gamma Virginis
    Y b. Iota Centauri
    N c. Spica
    N d. Mimosa
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
1964: The Platte River empties into which river? 

    N a. Mississippi
    Y b. Missouri
    N c. Ohio
    N d. Tennessee
2009: On 16 July , your 1920 ZT DR position is LAT 25°36.0'N, LONG 172°18.9'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time? 

    N a. Rasalhague, Spica, Arcturus
    Y b. Venus, Antares, Vega
    N c. Vega, Mars, Antares
    N d. Saturn, Acrux, Spica
2172: On 11 October , at 0516 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 23°21.0'N, LONG 139°27.0'W. Your vessel is steaming at 14.0 knots on a course of 293°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0927 ZT. The chronometer reads 06h 30m 21s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 39°48.7'. The index error is 2.0' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 02m 56s fast. Your height of eye on the bridge is 63.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 116.2°T
    Y b. 123.4°T
    N c. 126.2°T
    N d. 128.4°T
2461: You have steamed 540 miles at 22 knots and burning 618 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 372 barrels per day with 299 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel? 

    Y a. 16.5
    N b. 17.6
    N c. 19.1
    N d. 20.0
2858: Your vessel is on a course of 082°T at 19 knots. At 0255 a light bears 059.5°T, and at 0312 the light bears 037°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0333, 5.1 miles
    N b. 0321, 4.7 miles
    N c. 0327, 4.3 miles
    Y d. 0324, 3.8 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
2910: Your vessel is steaming on a course of 140°T at 15 knots. At 1530 a lighthouse bears 200°T. At 1550 it bears 249°T. What is your distance from the lighthouse at 1550? 

    N a. 1.15 miles
    N b. 4.60 miles
    N c. 5.45 miles
    Y d. 5.75 miles
11402: At 1018 your position is LAT 41°14.4'N, LONG 72°07.2'W. At 1036 your vessels position is LAT 41°13.1'N, LONG 72°16.1'W. What was your true course and speed made good? 

    Y a. 259° at 22.6 knots
    N b. 245° at 23.1 knots
    N c. 079° at 22.8 knots
    N d. 065° at 25.5 knots
12709: You are on course 157° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Little Gull Island Light 276°psc Race Rock Light 301°psc Latimer Reef Light 028°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°13.5'N, LONG 71°57.9'W
    Y b. LAT 41°13.5'N, LONG 71°57.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 71°57.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 71°57.8'W
13405: At 0400 your vessel is dead in the water and in heavy fog. Your GPS position is LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°43.5'W. Bottom samples are taken and indicate a composition of soft mud and shell. Your fathometer reads 40 feet. If the vessel draws 9 feet of water, which of the following is TRUE? 

    Y a. The bottom samples and fathometer reading prove the fix is reliable.
    N b. The bottom samples and fathometer readings indicate that the fix is unreliable.
    N c. The information collected indicates that the fathometer may be in error.
    N d. The information collected indicates that the chart is most  likely in error.
14103: You are approaching Bonneville Lock and Dam and desire lockage. Which call sign should you use to contact the lock? 

    Y a. WUJ 33
    N b. WUJ 34
    N c. WUJ 41
    N d. WUJ 45
15059: From your 0740 position, you change course to pass 1.1 miles north of Falkner Island Light. Which of the following is true? 

    N a. you should consult the sailing directions for pilotage requirements
    N b. you will pass 1.5 nm off Branford Reef Light
    Y c. your course will keep you clear of the 18' shoal
    N d. None of the above
15167: Your height of eye is 25 feet (7.6 meters). If the visibility is 11 nautical miles, what is the luminous range of Wolf Trap Light? 

    N a. 8.2 miles
    Y b. 12.0 miles
    N c. 16.0 miles
    N d. 17.0 miles
15345: You are making good a course of 060°T at a speed of 13.5 knots. At 1855 Block Island North Light bears 086°T; at 1910 Block Island North Light bears 108°T; and at 1930 the same light bears 184°T. Which statement is TRUE about your 1930 running fix position? 

    Y a. You are on the edge of a cable area.
    N b. The bottom is mud, sand, and clay.
    N c. The wavy magenta lines to the north through east of your position are designated lobstering areas.
    N d. You are inside the 120 fathom curve
15443: As you enter Chesapeake Bay, visibility improves. At 2235 you are between Chesapeake Channel Buoys "5" and "6" in the 41 foot dredged section of Chesapeake Channel. At that time, you change course to pass between buoys "9" and "10". If buoys "11" and "12" are extinguished, your best leading light to keep you in deep water in the Chesapeake Channel, as you approach the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel, would be __________. 

    N a. fixed red light on trestle "C"
    Y b. fixed green light on trestle "B"
    N c. fixed red light on trestle "B"
    N d. Thimble Shoal Light
15464: What is the course per standard magnetic compass on the southern leg of York Spit Channel between buoys "15" and "23"? 

    N a. 319°
    N b. 322°
    Y c. 339°
    N d. 341°
15544: At 2310 your position is LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°33.7'W and you change course to make good 068°T. A radar speed check using Twenty Eight Foot Shoal Buoy indicates your speed over the ground is 13.6 knots. At 2325 Horton Point Light bears 129°T. At 2341 the same light bears 194°T. What is the position of your 2341 running fix? 

    N a. LAT 41°07.9'N, LONG 72°25.9'W
    N b. LAT 41°08.3'N, LONG 72°25.8'W
    Y c. LAT 41°08.5'N, LONG 72°25.6'W
    N d. LAT 41°08.8'N, LONG 72°25.2'W
15545: At 2342 the gyro alarm sounds and you commence steering by standard magnetic compass. If you allow 3° leeway for southerly winds and do not correct for any existing current, what is the course to steer by standard magnetic compass to make good 068°T? 

    N a. 054.0°
    N b. 079.5°
    N c. 081.0°
    Y d. 084.5°
15564: What was the current between 0520 and 0600? 

    N a. 178° at 0.8 knot
    N b. 178° at 1.2 knot
    N c. 358° at 0.8 knot
    Y d. 358° at 1.2 knots
16013: At 0430, you take the following bearings:

Stratford Point Light bearing 307° pgc
Middle Ground Light bearing 239° pgc

What is your 0430 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°08.9'N, LONG 73°00.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 73°01.1'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°59.7'W
    Y d. LAT 41°05.8'N, LONG 73°00.8'W
16045: The north shore of Long Island, from Horton Point to Orient Point,
is __________. 

    Y a. bluff and rocky
    N b. low and sparsely wooded
    N c. marked by long sandy beaches at low water
    N d. marshy and backed with sand dunes
16260: If your vessel draws 6.5 feet (2 meters), what is the approximate depth of water under your keel at 0320? 

    N a. 52 feet (15.8 meters)
    N b. 48 feet (14.5 meters)
    N c. 44 feet (13.3 meters)
    Y d. 40 feet (12.0 meters)
16439: While you are at anchor, what will serve as a positive warning that you are drifting towards the wrecks located to the NW and SW of your 2215 position? 

    N a. A constant bearing on New Point Comfort Light.
    Y b. The bearing of Wolf Trap Light changing to the right
    N c. Increasing soundings
    N d. The bearing of Wolf Trap Light changing to the left
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
16738: At 2212 your position is LAT 40° 51'N, LONG 71° 53.5'W.

What is the course to steer, per gyrocompass from your 2212 position, to leave Montauk Point Buoy "MP" abeam to port at 1 mile if easterly winds are causing 3° of leeway? 

    N a. 027°  pgc
    N b. 030°  pgc
    N c. 032°  pgc
    Y d. 035°  pgc