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.

35: What are the dimensions of the channel maintained at Baton Rouge, LA?
101: At 1430 on 13 August, you pass Carolina Landing Light (mile 508.8 AHP). What has been the average current since 0230, 13 August if you have been making turns for 8.0 mph?
191: If you make good 12 knots, what is the ETA at North Chesapeake Channel Entrance Buoy "NCA" (LL #375)?
307: A vessel at LAT 28°00'N, LONG 116°00'W is to proceed to LAT 34°00'N, LONG 123°40'W. What is the course and distance by mid-latitude sailing? 

    N a. 323°T, 428 miles
    N b. 324°T, 453 miles
    Y c. 312°T, 533 miles
    N d. 302°T, 539 miles
555: Your 0507 position is about 7 miles from Bridgeport, CT. What is the distance from this position to Newport, RI? 

    N a. 114 miles
    N b. 101 miles
    N c. 95 miles
    Y d. 88 miles
563: At 0705, the gyro loses power. At 0715, you are on course 092° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: Falkner Light bears 356°psc, Horton Point Light bears 123°psc, and Kelsey Point Breakwater Light bears 048°psc. What is the position of your 0715 fix? 

    N a. LAT 41°06.7'N, LONG 72°36.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°07.0'N, LONG 72°36.2'W
    N c. LAT 41°07.2'N, LONG 72°36.4'W
    N d. LAT 41°07.4'N, LONG 72°36.4'W
563: At 0705, the gyro loses power. At 0715, you are on course 092° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: Falkner Light bears 356°psc, Horton Point Light bears 123°psc, and Kelsey Point Breakwater Light bears 048°psc. What is the position of your 0715 fix? 

    N a. LAT 41°06.7'N, LONG 72°36.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°07.0'N, LONG 72°36.2'W
    N c. LAT 41°07.2'N, LONG 72°36.4'W
    N d. LAT 41°07.4'N, LONG 72°36.4'W
635: You complete changing out your tow and get underway enroute Ark City Tank Storage (mile 554.0 AHP) to deliver the tank barges. What is the distance you must travel from Cairo Point Light? 

    N a. 606.8 miles
    N b. 554.0 miles
    Y c. 399.8 miles
    N d. 202.1 miles
704: As you approach Giles Bend Cut-off Light (mile 367.7 AHP), what type of daymark would you see on the light structure? 

    N a. Green square
    N b. Green diamond
    Y c. Red triangle
    N d. Red diamond
748: On 7 May , you observe Polaris for latitude at 0303 ZT. Your DR position is LAT 56°35.4'N, LONG 05°38.9'W. The sextant altitude is 56°11.1'. The height of eye is 36', and the index error is 3.3' off the arc. What is the latitude at the time of the sight? 

    N a. 56°24.6'N
    N b. 56°32.6'N
    N c. 56°35.0'N
    Y d. 56°38.7'N
825: On 15 August , an ex-meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb at upper transit was observed at 1130 ZT. Your DR position is LAT 26°24.0'S, LONG 155°02.0'E, and your sextant altitude (hs) is 48°45.9'. The index error is 2.6' on the arc, and your height of eye is 51.5 feet. The chronometer time of the observation is 01h 27m 38s, and the chronometer error is 02m 14s slow. Find the latitude at meridian transit from the ex-meridian observation. 

    N a. LAT 26°32.6'S
    Y b. LAT 26°51.6'S
    N c. LAT 26°57.0'S
    N d. LAT 27°09.9'S
977: On 8 February , your 0800 zone time (ZT) position was LAT 28°55.0'S, LONG 52°27.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 036°T at a speed of 19.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0938 ZT. The chronometer read 12h 37m 23s and was slow 01m 24s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 45°29.2'. Local Apparent Noon (LAN) occurred at 1240 ZT. The observed altitude (Ho) was 77°10.5'. What was the longitude of your 1200 ZT running fix? 

    N a. 51°29.6'W
    N b. 51°31.4'W
    N c. 51°33.1'W
    Y d. 51°35.4'W
1084: On 4 Dec. , your 1500 ZT DR position is LAT 18°06.0'N, LONG 75°42.0'W. You are on course 020°T at a speed of 15.0 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1548 running fix. 

    N a. LAT 18°10.3'N, LONG 75°34.5'W
    N b. LAT 18°12.6'N, LONG 75°42.0'W
    N c. LAT 18°14.0'N, LONG 75°40.0'W
    Y d. LAT 18°17.3'N, LONG 75°37.7'W
1186: On 16 November , your 0800 zone time DR position is LAT 25°11.0'N, LONG 117°41.0'W. Your vessel is on course 252°T at a speed of 14.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1131
    N b. 1135
    Y c. 1139
    N d. 1144
1226: What are the dimensions of the Port Allen Lock at Baton Rouge, LA? 

    N a. 75 feet x 1188 feet
    N b. 84 feet x 1180feet
    Y c. 84 feet x 1188 feet
    N d. 75 feet x 1180 feet
1422: What organization has an installation at the uppermost end of Carthage Revetment? 

    N a. U.S. Coast Guard
    Y b. River Cement Co.
    N c. U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers
    N d. International Paper Co.
1479: On 6 November , your vessel's 0706 zone time DR position is LAT 25°30.0'N, LONG 85°35.0'W, when an azimuth of the Sun is observed. The chronometer time of the sight is 01h 03m 30s, and the Sun is bearing 114.0°pgc. The chronometer error is 02m 30s slow, and the variation in the area is 2°.
What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 0.8°E
    N b. 0.8°W
    N c. 2.0°W
    Y d. 2.0°E
1484: On 7 December , your vessel's 0835 zone time DR position is LAT 28°30.0'N, LONG 125°39.3'W, when an azimuth of the Sun is observed. The chronometer time of the sight is 04h 34m 48s, and the Sun is bearing 113° per standard magnetic compass. The chronometer error is 01m 24s slow, and the variation in the area is 13.0°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.7°E
    N b. 1.0°W
    Y c. 2.3°E
    N d. 3.0°W
1731: What is the total length of the trip? 

    N a. 910.6 miles
    Y b. 901.2 miles
    N c. 900.3 miles
    N d. 873.7 miles
1773: What daymark should you see as you approach French Point Light (mile 915.4 AHP)? 

    Y a. Red triangle
    N b. Green triangle
    N c. Red diamond
    N d. Green diamond
1838: What is the distance from Baton Rouge, LA, to St. Louis, MO, on the Mississippi River System? 

    N a. 1038 miles
    Y b. 916 miles
    N c. 690 miles
    N d. 352 miles
1959: The charts show two dashed lines crossing the river just south of St. Catherine Bar Light. What does this indicate? 

    N a. Overhead power lines
    N b. Louisiana-Mississippi ferry crossings
    N c. Two railroad trestles
    Y d. Two submerged oil pipelines
2050: From Baton Rouge to Cairo, what is the maintained minimum channel depth during low water? 

    Y a. 9 feet
    N b. 12 feet
    N c. 15 feet
    N d. 30 feet
2061: As you approach mile 225 AHP, you notice on the map a black broken line crossing the river at mile 224.2 AHP. This line indicates __________. 

    N a. ferry crossing
    N b. submarine crossing
    N c. gas pipelines
    Y d. power lines
2122: At 1538 ZT, on 15 October , in DR LAT position LAT 18° 12.8' S, LONG 160° 48.4' E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 276.2°psc. Variation is 10° E. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 2.6°E
    N b. 2.6°W
    N c. 3.6°E
    Y d. 3.6°W
2176: On 9 November , at 0426 ZT, your position was LAT 25°17.0'S, LONG 154°16.0'E. Your vessel is steaming at 14.0 knots on course 066°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0837 ZT. The chronometer reads 10h 35m 21s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 50°26.9'. The index error is 1.5' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 48s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 56.0 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho) and azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 50°18.1',  086.3°T
    N b. 50°18.1',  093.7°T
    Y c. 50°33.5',  085.9°T
    N d. 50°33.5',  093.7°T
2404: 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.
    Y b. Your compass may be influenced by a local magnetic disturbance.
    N c. You should adjust the magnetic compass.
    N d. The deviation is increasing as you go south.
2458: You have steamed 560 miles at 23 knots and burning 524 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 260 barrels per day with 316 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel? 

    N a. 16.3
    N b. 18.6
    N c. 19.9
    Y d. 21.6
2463: You have steamed 491 miles at 20 knots and burning 568 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 265 barrels per day with 313 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel? 

    N a. 10.9
    N b. 14.3
    Y c. 17.1
    N d. 18.2
2654: You are steering 231°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 12.3 miles at 0338. You change course to pass the light 4 miles off abeam to starboard. If you are making 16.5 knots, what is your ETA at the position 4 miles off the light? 

    Y a. 0420
    N b. 0423
    N c. 0426
    N d. 0429
2777: The Helena Gage reads 2.3 feet. The high point on your towboat is 26 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge? 

    N a. 76.0 feet
    N b. 84.2 feet
    N c. 89.5 feet
    Y d. 90.7 feet
2894: You are steaming on a course of 071°T at 19 knots. At 1907 you observe a lighthouse bearing 122°T. At 1915 the lighthouse bears 154°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing? 

    N a. 3.4 miles
    Y b. 3.7 miles
    N c. 4.0 miles
    N d. 4.3 miles
2900: You are steaming on a course of 167°T at 19.5 knots. At 1837 you observe a lighthouse bearing 224°T. At 1904 the lighthouse bears 268°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing? 

    N a. 8.8 miles
    N b. 9.5 miles
    Y c. 10.4 miles
    N d. 11.3 miles
3083: The speed necessary to reach port at a designated time is 18.7 knots. The propeller pitch is 24'03", and you estimate 3% positive slip. How many RPM's will the shaft have to turn? 

    Y a. 81 RPM
    N b. 87 RPM
    N c. 98 RPM
    N d. 104 RPM
3103: You are turning 93 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 25 feet, and an estimated slip of 0%. What is the speed of advance? 

    N a. 20.2 knots
    N b. 21.9 knots
    N c. 22.4 knots
    Y d. 22.9 knots
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
10302: Determine the course per standard magnetic compass from Cerberus Shoal Buoy 9 (LAT 41°10.4'N, LONG 71°57.1'W) to a position 0.2 mile south of Race Rock Light (LAT 41°14.6'N, LONG 72°02.8'W). 

    Y a. 326.5°psc
    N b. 324.0°psc
    N c. 298.5°psc
    N d. 296.0°psc
10304: Determine the course per standard magnetic compass from the entrance to Ninigret Pond (LAT 41°21.3'N, LONG 71°38.3'W) to the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island. 

    N a. 192.0°psc
    Y b. 184.0°psc
    N c. 154.5°psc
    N d. 152.5°psc
11405: At 2125 your GPS position is LAT 41°05.7'N, LONG 72°46.5'W. At 2208 your position is LAT 41°03.3'N, LONG 72°37.9'W. What was your course made good by standard magnetic compass? 

    Y a. 123°psc
    N b. 287°psc
    N c. 303°psc
    N d. 326°psc
12302: You are on course 203° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Block Island North Light in line with the Block Island Aero Beacon bearing 194° per standard magnetic compass. Based on this you __________. 

    N a. know the correct deviation is 3°W
    Y b. should swing your vessel to check the deviation table
    N c. should apply 15°W compass error to all compass readings
    N d. know you are steering a true course of 185°
12609: You are on course 239° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Falkner Island Light 314°psc Duck Island West Breakwater Light 2DI 039°psc Horton Point Light 157°psc What is your position? 

    Y a. LAT 41°09.9'N, LONG 72°32.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°33.0'W
    N c. LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 72°32.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°11.6'N, LONG 72°33.6'W
12708: You are on course 302° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Little Gull Island Light 283°psc Race Rock Light 311°psc Latimer Reef Light 027°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°12.2'N, LONG 71°57.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 71°57.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 71°57.9'W
    Y d. LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 71°57.6'W
13108: At 1103 you are in the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island with buoy "5" close aboard. What is your ETA at light "1" at the mouth of the approaches to Lake Montauk if you make good 8.2 knots? 

    N a. 1249
    N b. 1254
    N c. 1259
    Y d. 1310
15018: What course per standard magnetic compass (psc) is the same as 247°pgc? 

    N a. 240°psc
    N b. 246°psc
    Y c. 257°psc
    N d. 260°psc
15027: You are passing the Memphis Gage at 0405, 18 March. If you are turning for 8 mph and estimate the current at 0.9 mph, what is your ETA at Cairo Point, IL (mile 954.5 AHP)? 

    N a. 0447, 19 Mar
    Y b. 1052, 19 Mar
    N c. 1518, 19 Mar
    N d. 1808, 19 Mar
15262: At 0910, your DR position is LAT 41°11.9'N, LONG 72°47.8'W. Your vessel is on course 097°T at 9.5 knots, and the weather is foggy. At 0915, Branford Reef Light is sighted through a break in the fog bearing 318°T. At 0945,
Falkner Island Light is sighted bearing 042°T. What is your 0945 running fix position? 

    N a. LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°41.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°41.0'W
    Y c. LAT 41°11.5'N, LONG 72°40.7'W
    N d. LAT 41°11.6'N, LONG 72°41.0'W
15358: At 0507, Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light bears 208°pgc. What is the position of your 0507 running fix? 

    N a. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°05.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°04.9'N, LONG 73°04.8'W
    Y c. LAT 41°05.1'N, LONG 73°05.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°05.3'N, LONG 73°04.8'W
15642: At 2030 you take the following radar ranges:

Race Rock Light 2.1 miles
Latimer Reef Light 6.4 miles

If you estimate an average current of 080°T at 1.5 knots,
which course will you steer per gyrocompass to leave Endeavor Shoals Gong Buoy bearing 270°T at 1.5 miles? 

    N a. 115°
    N b. 118°
    N c. 124°
    Y d. 127°
15767: Which statement describes the shore between Watch Hill Point and Point Judith? 

    N a. Low, rocky cliffs with heavily wooded hills inland
    Y b. Sandy beaches broken by rocky points
    N c. Sand dunes and beaches with a mud and sand bottom
    N d. Wooded, barren hills with isolated prominent buildings
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
16263: If you increase speed to 8 knots, and the current is 240°
at 0.7 knot. What course should you steer from your 0400 position to arrive at point A? 

    N a. 178°T
    N b. 180°T
    Y c. 183°T
    N d. 186°T
16313: At 0730, visibility is 5.5 miles. At what time will you lose sight of Horton Point Light? 

    N a. It is not visible at 0730
    Y b. 0751
    N c. 0812
    N d. 0825
16611: At 0109 you get underway, and at 0112 you take the following set of bearings:

Branford Reef Light bearing 051°true
Stratford Point Light bearing 258°true

What is your 0112 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°11.2'N, LONG 72°51.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.4'N, LONG 72°50.5'W
    Y c. LAT 41°11.4'N, LONG 72°51.3'W
    N d. LAT 41°11.8'N, LONG 72°51.5'W
16739: What is the earliest time you should sight Montauk Point Light (nominal range - 24 miles) if you are turning for 9.2 knots? Visibility is 5 nautical miles. 

    Y a. The light is visible at 2212
    N b. 2221
    N c. 2243
    N d. You will not sight the light on this course.