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.

71: The Natchez Gage reads 20.6 feet. The high point on your towboat is 47 feet above the water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Natchez Highway Bridge?
83: Which light characteristics does Catfish Point Lower Light (mile 572.2 AHP) have?
145: As you approach Joseph Henry Light (mile 445.2 AHP) which daymark would you see?
232: At 0700, Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light bears 137°pgc. From your radar, you get a bearing of 007°pgc to the south tip of Stratford Point with a range of 4.5 miles. What is your 0700 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°04.6'N, LONG 73°07.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°04.6'N, LONG 73°06.6'W
    N c. LAT 41°04.6'N, LONG 73°07.4'W
    Y d. LAT 41°04.6'N, LONG 73°07.2'W
315: From your 1430 fix, you order turns for 8 knots. You steer 045°T and experience no set and drift. At what time would you expect to have New Point Comfort Spit Light "4" abeam? 

    N a. 1510
    N b. 1504
    Y c. 1458
    N d. 1452
377: You depart LAT 22°35.0'N, LONG 157°30.0'W, and steam 4505.0 miles on course 135°T. What are the latitude and longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    Y a. 30°30.5'S, 102°35.3'W
    N b. 30°30.5'S, 104°30.0'W
    N c. 32°20.0'S, 102°35.3'W
    N d. 32°20.0'S, 104°30.0'W
384: What is the course per standard magnetic compass between points "A" and "B"? 

    N a. 099.5°
    Y b. 098.5°
    N c. 095.5°
    N d. 094.5°
411: A vessel steams 3312 miles on course 282°T from LAT 34°24'S, LONG 18°18'E. What is the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    N a. LAT 22°39'S, LONG 43°17'W
    N b. LAT 22°42'S, LONG 43°14'W
    N c. LAT 22°47'S, LONG 43°10'W
    Y d. LAT 22°55'S, LONG 43°05'W
433: What true course and speed did you make good between 0730 and 0900? 

    N a. 271°T, 8.9 knots
    N b. 273°T, 8.7 knots
    Y c. 277°T, 8.4 knots
    N d. 284°T, 7.5 knots
453: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 08°36.0'N, LONG 126°17.0'E to LAT 02°12.0'S, LONG 81°53.0'W. 

    N a. 9015 miles, 067°T
    N b. 9076 miles, 067°T
    N c. 9105 miles, 079°T
    Y d. 9076 miles, 079°T
506: At 0112, what is the approximate depth under the keel? 

    N a. 57 feet (17.3 meters)
    N b. 51 feet (15.5 meters)
    N c. 47 feet (14.2 meters)
    Y d. 38 feet (11.5 meters)
516: You sight Bartlett Reef Light in line with New London Harbor Light bearing 043°pgc. You are heading 088°pgc and 098.5° per standard magnetic compass at the time of the observation. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. The true heading at the observation was 090°.
    N b. The gyro error is 2°E.
    N c. The magnetic compass error is 9.5°W.
    Y d. The deviation is 1.5°E by observation.
706: The solid lines extending into the channel at mile 948 AHP are __________. 

    N a. revetments
    Y b. dikes
    N c. spoil areas
    N d. Westvaco Service Facilities
978: On 11 November , your 0730 zone time position was LAT 19°58.0'N, LONG 143°54.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 084°T at a speed of 15.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0931 ZT. The chronometer read 07h 29m 22s and was slow 02m 22s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 44°17.6'. LAN occurred at 1125 zone time (ZD +10). The observed altitude (Ho) was 52°17.4'. What was the longitude of your 1200 zone time running fix? 

    N a. 142°34.7'W
    N b. 142°37.1'W
    Y c. 142°40.2'W
    N d. 142°44.2'W
1007: On 30 July , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 17°46'N, LONG 139°30'W. You are on course 129°T, speed 24 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.
ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1220 138°25.0' N 18°22.3' 88°43.3'
1226 139°55.0' N 18°22.2' 88°24.0' 

    N a. LAT 17°24.0'N, LONG 138°59.8'W
    N b. LAT 17°21.6'N, LONG 138°56.2'W
    N c. LAT 17°18.7'N, LONG 139°07.6'W
    Y d. LAT 17°15.1'N, LONG 139°00.0'W
1079: On 12 Dec. , your 1830 ZT DR position is LAT 24°16.0'S, LONG 41°18.0'W. You are on course 235°T at a speed of 16.0 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1930 running fix. NP-0009

    N a. LAT 24°12.5'S, LONG 41°10.9'W
    Y b. LAT 24°16.9'S, LONG 41°18.2'W
    N c. LAT 24°25.2'S, LONG 41°39.9'W
    N d. LAT 27°46.9'S, LONG 41°31.2'W
1107: On 16 April , your 0200 zone time DR position is LAT 17°18'S, LONG 168°46'E. You are on course 236°T at a speed of 16 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. 

    N a. LAT 17°54.9'S, LONG 167°48.7'E
    N b. LAT 17°55.6'S, LONG 167°45.1'E
    N c. LAT 17°56.8'S, LONG 167°52.4'E
    Y d. LAT 18°00.4'S, LONG 167°49.2'E
1210: It is 19 October and you are keeping +4 zone time. You are on course 275°, speed 16 knots. Your 0800 DR position is LAT 25°34.0'N, LONG 74°36.0'W. What is the second estimate of the time of LAN by ship's clocks? 

    N a. 11h 48m 38s
    N b. 12h 04m 49s
    Y c. 12h 49m 10s
    N d. 13h 48m 36s
1243: What is the width of the widest span of the Cairo Highway Bridge (Upper Mississippi River mile 1.3)? 

    N a. 800 feet
    Y b. 675 feet
    N c. 625 feet
    N d. 503 feet
1462: On 17 June , your 0815 zone time DR position is LAT 25°27.0'N, LONG 47°16.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 079.5°psc. The chronometer reads 11h 15m 03s, and the chronometer error is 01m 15s fast. The variation is 3°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.7°W
    Y b. 3.5°W
    N c. 3.7°E
    N d. 2.3°E
1466: On 21 April , your 1542 zone time DR position is LAT 28°54.0'S, LONG 19°07.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 299°psc. The chronometer reads 04h 44m 11s, and the chronometer error is 01m 54s fast. The variation is 3°E. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    Y a. 0.3°W
    N b. 0.4°E
    N c. 2.7°W
    N d. 2.7°E
1759: The Greenville Gage reads 1.6 feet. The high point of your towboat is 54 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge? 

    Y a. 74.5 feet
    N b. 64.2 feet
    N c. 55.5 feet
    N d. 44.4 feet
1805: What is the vertical clearance between the highest point of your towboat, if it is 48 feet above the water, and if the Natchez Gage reads 20.1 feet when passing under the Natchez Upper Highway Bridge? 

    N a. 35.9 feet
    N b. 43.2 feet
    N c. 49.3 feet
    Y d. 57.9 feet
1863: On 14 January , your 1922 ZT DR position is LAT 27°18.5'S, LONG 67°18.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 029°T, at an observed altitude (Ho) of 29°35.0'. The chronometer reads 03h 25m 43s and is 03m 15s fast. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Elnath
    N b. Fomalhaut
    N c. Pollux
    N d. Markab
2030: Which of the following statements regarding buoys on the Mississippi River is TRUE? 

    Y a. Buoys should be given as wide a berth as possible in passing.
    N b. Buoy positions on the chart are exact.
    N c. The buoys are maintained on station year round.
    N d. The buoys do not shift positions due to permanent moorings.
2090: At your current speed of 17 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 316 miles. You must travel 622 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination? 

    Y a. 12.1
    N b. 13.3
    N c. 14.5
    N d. 15.7
2233: You have orders to drop off the empties at the fleeting area at Cairo Point and add five loaded tank barges to your tow. If you are turning for 9 mph and estimate the current at 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at Cairo? 

    N a. 1031, 22 June
    Y b. 1423, 22 June
    N c. 1741, 22 June
    N d. 2210, 22 June
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
2874: Your vessel is on a course of 207°T at 13 knots. At 0539 a light bears 180.5°T, and at 0620 the light bears 162°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0633, 5.9 miles
    N b. 0641, 6.5 miles
    N c. 0653, 7.6 miles
    Y d. 0701, 8.9 miles
2880: Your vessel is steering 218°T at 19 knots. At 2223 a light bears 261°T, and at 2234 the same light bears 289°T. What will be your distance off abeam? 

    N a. 4.5 miles
    Y b. 4.9 miles
    N c. 5.3 miles
    N d. 5.7 miles
2906: You are steaming on a course of 211°T at 17 knots. At 0417 a light bears 184°T, and at 0428 the same light bears 168°T. What is the distance off the light at 0428? 

    N a. 3.4 miles
    N b. 4.6 miles
    Y c. 5.1 miles
    N d. 5.6 miles
3063: The observed distance for a day's run was 302.7 miles. The propeller had a pitch of 20'06", and the average RPM was 67. What was the slip? 

    N a. +0.7%
    N b. -0.7%
    Y c. +7.0%
    N d. -7.0%
3451: You are underway and intend to make good a course of 040°T. You experience a current with a set and drift of 190°T at 1.4 knots, and a northwest wind produces a leeway of 3°. You adjust your course to compensate for the current and leeway, while maintaining an engine speed of 10 knots. What will be your speed made good over your intended course of 040°T? 

    N a. 7.8 knots
    Y b. 8.8 knots
    N c. 9.8 knots
    N d. 11.0 knots
3608: You are steering 125°pgc. The wind is southwest by south causing a 3° leeway. The variation is 6°E, the deviation is 2°W, and the gyro error is 1°W. What is the true course made good? 

    Y a. 121°T
    N b. 123°T
    N c. 127°T
    N d. 129°T
3759: Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 147°T, and the variation is 5°E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 148° per standard magnetic compass,
what is the correct deviation? 

    N a. 1°E
    N b. 1°W
    N c. 6°E
    Y d. 6°W
4010: 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 104°.
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. 1.8°E
    N b. 2.6°E
    Y c. 2.2°W
    N d. 2.7°W
10306: You are 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to LAT 41°00.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W? 

    N a. 145.5°psc
    Y b. 142.5°psc
    N c. 138.5°psc
    N d. 127.0°psc
10612: You are taking a time tick using the 2000 signal from Kekaha-Kauai, Hawaii (WWVH). You hear a series of 1 second dashes followed by a 9 second silent period, then a long 1.3 second dash. At the beginning of the long dash, your comparing watch reads 08h 00m 08s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 08h 01m 15s, and the chronometer reads 07h 59m 55s. What is the chronometer error? 

    N a. 0m 08s fast
    N b. 1m 07s fast
    Y c. 1m 12s slow
    N d. 1m 28s slow
12107: You sight Tue Marshes Light (LAT 37°14.1'N, LONG 76°23.2'W) in line with Goodwin Thorofare Light "16" (LAT 37°13.7'N, LONG 76°25.0'W) bearing 267° per standard magnetic compass. What is TRUE if your vessel's heading is 056°psc? 

    N a. The compass error is 13°E.
    Y b. The deviation table is in error and should be corrected.
    N c. The deviation is 4°E.
    N d. The deviation table is correct for a heading of 056°psc.
12906: At 0919 you are in Chesapeake Channel between Trestle B and Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. What is your ETA between York River Entrance Channel Buoys "17" and "18" if you are making 11.3 knots? 

    N a. 1034
    N b. 1039
    Y c. 1044
    N d. 1049
13401: You are planning to anchor in Orient Harbor at LAT 41°07.9'N, LONG 72°18.5'W. Assuming that normal conditions exist, how much anchor cable should you put out? 

    N a. 16 to  18 feet
    N b. 40 to  60 feet
    Y c. 80 to 112 feet
    N d. 120 to 140 feet
13703: NOAA weather broadcasts can be received on what frequency while navigating off Cape Henry? 

    N a. 162.45 MHz
    Y b. 162.55 MHz
    N c. 162.65 MHz
    N d. 162.70 MHz
14100: Your vessel is awaiting lockage at Bonneville Lock. The staff gauge on the guide wall reads 18'-06". What is the maximum vessel draft allowed to enter the lock? 

    N a. 17'-00"
    Y b. 17'-06"
    N c. 18'-00"
    N d. 18'-06"
14402: You are underway and proceeding in an easterly direction on the Columbia River. Your vessel is positioned in the right outside quarter of McGowans Channel and is abeam of light No. 88. What should your fathometer read at this position, if the staff gauge at Portland reads + 15.0 feet? 

    N a. 22 feet
    N b. 31 feet
    N c. 43 feet
    Y d. 52 feet
15116: According to your track line, how far off New Point Comfort Spit Light "4" will you be when abeam of this light? 

    Y a. 0.9 mile
    N b. 1.2 miles
    N c. 1.5 miles
    N d. 1.8 miles
15356: You are on course 092°T, and the engines are turning for 8 knots. At 0452, you take the following bearings:

Stratford Point Light 020°pgc
Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light 141°pgc

What is your 0452 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 73°07.7'W
    Y b. LAT 41°05.2'N, LONG 73°07.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.2'N, LONG 73°07.5'W
    N d. LAT 41°05.1'N, LONG 73°07.7'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
15811: At 0100, you obtain the following bearings:

Rocky Point Lookout Tower 062°T
Horton Point Lighthouse 189°T

What was the speed made good between 0045 and 0100? 

    Y a. 7.4 knots
    N b. 8.0 knots
    N c. 8.7 knots
    N d. 9.2 knots
15863: If the current is 050° at 0.9 knot, and a northerly wind causes 3° of leeway. What is the course to steer per gyro compass to make good 280°T if you are turning for 9 knots? 

    N a. 284°pgc
    N b. 279°pgc
    Y c. 276°pgc
    N d. 273°pgc
16040: At 0847 you take a round of bearings as follows:

Middle Ground Shoal Light - 237° pgc
Stratford Point Light - 289° pgc
New Haven Light - 019° pgc

What were the set and drift since your 0820 position? 

    N a. Set 180°T, drift 0.6 kt
    N b. Set 360°T, drift 0.3 kt
    N c. Set 180°T, drift 0.3 kt
    Y d. Set 360°T, drift 0.6 kt
16245: At 2259 Cape Henry Light bears 250°T, Chesapeake Light bears 122°T, and North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy "NCA" has a radar range of 1.8 miles. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. The course made good is 226°T.
    N b. You are in the red sector of Cape Henry Light.
    N c. You are in a submerged submarine transit lane.
    Y d. Chesapeake Light is 7.6 miles off.
16267: When Cape Henry Light is abeam, what is the approximate distance to Yorktown, VA? 

    Y a. 34 miles
    N b. 42 miles
    N c. 55 miles
    N d. 58 miles
16267: When Cape Henry Light is abeam, what is the approximate distance to Yorktown, VA? 

    Y a. 34 miles
    N b. 42 miles
    N c. 55 miles
    N d. 58 miles
16317: Which chart would you use for more detailed information on New Haven Harbor? 

    N a. 12370
    Y b. 12371
    N c. 12372
    N d. 12373
16320: Which course should you change to per standard magnetic compass as you pass SW Ledge Light to remain in the channel? 

    N a. 007°psc
    N b. 014°psc
    Y c. 021°psc
    N d. 026°psc
16417: You are encountering heavy weather. What action should you take based on your 1430 fix? 

    Y a. Alter course to the right, to pass well clear of Southwest Ledge.
    N b. Continue on the same course at the same speed.
    N c. Slow to 8.3 knots to compensate for the current.
    N d. Continue on the same course but increase speed.
16546: At 0100 you notice that the wind has become SSW'ly and has freshened. At 0200 you sight Stratford Point Lighted Bell Buoy "18" bearing 268°pgc. At 0215 the buoy bears 269°pgc. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. You should alter course to the right to increase the rate of the bearing change.
    N b. You are making more speed over the ground than you estimated.
    Y c. You should alter course to decrease the distance that you will pass off Middle Ground Shoal.
    N d. You can hold the present course and safely pass buoy "18".
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