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.

15: 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?
91: At 0305 on 18 April, you pass under the Greenville Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. Docks (mile 253.6 AHP)?
118: Your company wants to know at what time you will be arriving at the fleeting area at Sycamore Chute Light (mile 740.3 AHP) in Memphis, TN. You are making turns for 9.0 mph and you estimate the average current at 2.2 mph. Figuring the distance and time from Hole in the Wall Lt. (mile 373.4 AHP), what is your ETA at Sycamore Chute Lt.?
140: If the highest point on your towboat is 52 feet and the West Memphis Gage reads 26 feet what is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Hernando Desoto Bridge (mile 736.6 AHP)? 

    N a. 25.8 feet
    Y b. 30.7 feet
    N c. 42.6 feet
    N d. 56.7 feet
194: At 2100, you alter course to 250°T and reduce speed to 7 knots. You enter the traffic separation scheme on the inbound side. At 2200, your fix shows you crossing a broken purple line on the chart, and you observe North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Gong Buoy "NCD" to port. This area is __________. 

    N a. an area with local magnetic disturbances
    N b. a pilotage area
    Y c. a precautionary area centered on buoy "CBJ"
    N d. in inland waters
325: You are entering Norfolk Harbor and have just passed Craney Island. Which chart should you use for your final approach into Norfolk Harbor? 

    N a. 12263
    Y b. 12253
    N c. 12248
    N d. 12238
412: A vessel steams 1650 miles on course 077°T from LAT 12°47'N, LONG 45°10'E. What is the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    N a. LAT 18°54'N, LONG 72°58'E
    Y b. LAT 18°58'N, LONG 72°52'E
    N c. LAT 19°02'N, LONG 72°44'E
    N d. LAT 19°06'N, LONG 72°36'E
512: At 0200, you take the following bearings:

Falkner Island Light 004.5°T
Kelsey Pt. Breakwater Lt. 054.0°T
Horton Point Light 115.0°T

What were the set and drift from 0130? 

    Y a. 260° at 1.0 knot
    N b. 080° at 0.5 knot
    N c. 260° at 0.5 knot
    N d. There is no current.
527: You depart LAT 25°54'N, LONG 9°38'E and steam 592 miles on course 270°. What is the longitude of arrival? 

    N a. 1°20'E
    N b. 0°40'E
    N c. 0°40'W
    Y d. 1°20'W
559: At 0615, Stratford Point Light bears 292°pgc, Falkner Island Light bears 052°pgc, and Branford Reef Light bears 018°pgc. What was the current since 0530? 

    N a. 083° at 0.9 knots
    Y b. 083° at 1.2 knots
    N c. 263° at 1.2 knots
    N d. 263° at 0.9 knots
595: You are passing the Bayou Sara Gage which reads 3.9 feet. The low water reference plane (LWRP) at Bayou Sara is 5.25 feet. Which of the following statements is TRUE? 

    N a. The river level is above the Low Water Reference Plane.
    N b. Red Store Landing Revetment is ahead on your starboard side
    N c. This gage reading is at a lower elevation than the same reading on the Gage at Head of Passes.
    Y d. None of the above.
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
744: On 22 May , at 0440 ZT, your vessel's DR position is LAT 23°24'N, LONG 110°24'W. At approximately this time, you obtain a sextant altitude (hs) of Polaris reading 23°40.9' with an index error of 1.6' on the arc. Your chronometer reads 11h 42m 14s, and is 2m 36s fast. What is your latitude by Polaris, given a height of eye of 24 feet? 

    N a. 23°28.6'N
    N b. 23°30.0'N
    Y c. 23°31.2'N
    N d. 23°32.8'N
1086: On 15 July , your vessel is enroute from Portland, OR, to Singapore, Malaysia. You are steering course 243°T and making a speed of 16 knots. Your 1845 zone time DR is LAT 27°42.0'N, LONG 167°02.0'E. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1945 running fix. NP-0016

    Y a. LAT 27°31.1'N, LONG 166°43.0'E
    N b. LAT 27°38.5'N, LONG 166°45.1'E
    N c. LAT 27°45.3'N, LONG 166°32.2'E
    N d. LAT 28°18.1'N, LONG 166°39.8'E
1143: Which town is located at mile 663.5 AHP? 

    N a. Friers Point
    Y b. Helena
    N c. St. Francis
    N d. Rodney
1296: At which of the following times would you be able to listen to lower Mississippi River conditions on VHF Channel 22? 

    N a. 0900 hours
    N b. 1100 hours
    N c. 1200 hours
    Y d. 1300 hours
1488: At 2326 ZT, on 22 June , your vessel's position is LAT 28°30'N, LONG 150°04'W. An azimuth of the planet Jupiter is observed, and the standard compass bearing is 250.4°. The chronometer reads 09h 24m 36s and is 01m 12s slow. The variation of this area is 13.5°E. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    N a. 3.0°W
    N b. 3.5°W
    N c. 1.5°E
    Y d. 2.3°E
1685: As you approach Buckridge Light (mile 412.5 AHP), which type of daymark would you see on the light structure? 

    N a. Red square
    N b. Green square
    N c. Red diamond
    Y d. Green diamond
1854: On 22 July , your 1759 ZT DR position is LAT 24°50.2'S, LONG 05°16.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 231°T, at an observed altitude (Ho) of 26°10.0'. The chronometer reads 06h 01m 31s and is 02m 15s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Acamar
    N b. Capella
    N c. Miaplacidus
    Y d. Suhail
1880: On 13 September , your 1830 ZT DR position was LAT 23°03'S, LONG 105°16'E when you observed a faint unidentifiable star through a hole in the clouds. The star bore 265.0°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 62°25.4'. The chronometer read 11h 24m 39s and is 5m 08s slow. The index error is 1.0' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52 feet. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Sigma Ophiuchi
    N b. Alcyone
    Y c. Dschubba
    N d. Gamma Lupi
1888: On 8 April , your evening DR position is LAT 22°16.0'N, LONG 157°58.3'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 238°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 50°02.7'. The chronometer reads 05h 09m 57s, and is 01m 23s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Betelgeuse
    N b. Aldebaran
    Y c. Alnilam
    N d. Bellatrix
1904: On 22 March , your 0519 DR position is LAT 27°20.6'N, LONG 69°25.6'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 115°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 54°52.8'. The chronometer reads 10h 16m 47s, and is 02m 15s slow. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Altair
    N b. Enif
    N c. Menkar
    N d. Rigel
2284: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 35°26.3' on 25 June . The index error is 1.5' on the arc. The height of eye is 58 feet (17.6 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 35°28.2'
    N b. 35°29.9'
    Y c. 35°32.1'
    N d. 35°36.7'
2330: At 0731, what is the approximate depth of water? 

    N a. 31 feet (9.4 meters)
    Y b. 41 feet (12.5 meters)
    N c. 52 feet (15.7 meters)
    N d. 58 feet (17.6 meters)
2589: From the 2130 position, you steer 236°T at 10 knots. A strong northerly wind is causing 4° of leeway. What course must you steer per standard compass, to make good 236°T? 

    N a. 232° psc
    N b. 240° psc
    N c. 244° psc
    Y d. 252° psc
2675: At 1423 you are on course 072 T° at 12.2 knots, when you sight a rock awash bearing 070°T at a range of 3.6 miles. If you change course at 1427, what course would you steer to leave the rock 1.0 mile abeam to port? 

    N a. 049°
    N b. 054°
    N c. 086°
    Y d. 091°
2695: You are underway on course 017°T at a speed of 14.2 knots.
You sight a buoy bearing 025°T at a radar range of 3.7 miles at 1947. If you change course at 1953, what is the course to steer to leave the buoy abeam to starboard at 0.1 mile? 

    N a. 021°T
    N b. 024°T
    Y c. 027°T
    N d. 030°T
2854: Your vessel is on a course of 221°T at 15 knots. At 0319 a light bears 198.5°T, and at 0353 the light bears 176°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0407, 4.3 miles
    N b. 0410, 5.2 miles
    Y c. 0417, 6.0 miles
    N d. 0427, 7.4 miles
2855: Your vessel is on a course of 107°T at 16 knots. At 0403 a light bears 129.5°T, and at 0426 the light bears 152°T. At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0434, 3.2 miles
    Y b. 0442, 4.3 miles
    N c. 0434, 4.3 miles
    N d. 0442, 3.4 miles
2866: Your vessel is on a course of 311°T at 21 knots. At 1957 a light bears 337.5°T, and at 2018 the light bears 356°T. At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 2027, 5.2 miles
    N b. 2033, 6.8 miles
    Y c. 2039, 7.4 miles
    N d. 2043, 10.3 miles
2866: Your vessel is on a course of 311°T at 21 knots. At 1957 a light bears 337.5°T, and at 2018 the light bears 356°T. At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 2027, 5.2 miles
    N b. 2033, 6.8 miles
    Y c. 2039, 7.4 miles
    N d. 2043, 10.3 miles
3469: You are underway on course 315°T at 14 knots. The current is 135°T at 1.9 knots. What is the speed being made good? 

    Y a. 12.1 knots
    N b. 13.5 knots
    N c. 14.0 knots
    N d. 15.9 knots
3610: While enroute from Sydney to the Panama Canal a vessel's true course is 071°. Variation is 14°E. Deviation is 4°W. A northerly breeze causes 2° leeway. What course would you steer psc in order to make good the true course? 

    Y a. 059°psc
    N b. 061°psc
    N c. 063°psc
    N d. 079°psc
4007: 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 gyro heading of 166°.
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° 

    Y a. 1.0°W
    N b. 1.0°E
    N c. 0.5°W
    N d. 0.5°E
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°
13309: What type of bottom can be expected at the northern end of York Spit Channel? 

    N a. Hard clay
    N b. Fine gray sand
    N c. Soft black mud
    Y d. Mud and sand
14205: You are off the coast of Mexico and are taking a time tick for 1600. At approximately 1554, you hear the preparatory signal "VVVV de XDD" from the time signal station. Then you hear a series of 1 second dashes followed by a 9 second silent period and then a long 1.3 second dash. At the beginning of the long dash, your comparing watch reads 03h 59m 56s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 04h 01m 22s, and the chronometer reads 04h 02m 11s. What is the chronometer error? 

    N a. 0m 04s slow
    N b. 2m 15s slow
    Y c. 0m 45s fast
    N d. 1m 26s fast
15014: If you make good 12 knots, what is the ETA at North Chesapeake Channel Entrance Buoy "NCA" (LL #375)? 

    N a. 2116
    Y b. 2111
    N c. 2106
    N d. 2101
15145: At 2357 your position is 41°09.0'N, 71°47.0'W and Montauk Point Light bears 216° true. You change to a course of 293° true and your speed is 14.5 knots. At 0012 Montauk Point Light bears 177° true. Which statement about your 0012 running fix is TRUE? 

    N a. You are being set to the north.
    Y b. The fathometer reading is about 14 fathoms.
    N c. You are governed by the Inland Rules of the Road.
    N d. The fathometer trace shows you passed over the 89 foot sounding.
15306: Your 0200 position is LAT 37°23.5'N, LONG 76°09.2'W. Your speed is 8 knots, and your course is 095°T. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. The depth of the water in your vicinity is about 38 to 40 fathoms (69.1 meters to 72.7 meters).
    Y b. You are less than a mile from a sunken wreck which could interfere with your tow.
    N c. The closest major aid to navigation is New Point Comfort Light.
    N d. You will pass through a disposal area on your present course.
15406: At 1400, your position is LAT 37°14.7'N, LONG 76°22.3'W. From this position, you head for the York River Entrance Channel Buoy "17". What should you steer per standard magnetic compass for this heading? 

    N a. 108°psc
    N b. 119°psc
    N c. 122°psc
    Y d. 125°psc
15413: From your 1915 fix you come right and steer a course of 200°T. At 2000, your position is LAT 37°05.5'N, LONG 76°07.0'W. Your intention is to pass through Chesapeake Channel. If there are no set and drift, what course would you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 145°T? 

    N a. 134°
    N b. 139°
    N c. 151°
    Y d. 156°
15562: The two wavy magenta lines running to Green Hill Point represent __________. 

    N a. recommended approaches to Green Hill Point
    Y b. submarine cables
    N c. prohibited fishing areas
    N d. fish trap areas
15626: What type of daymark will you see as you approach Joe Pierce Light (mile 335.4 AHP)? 

    N a. Private aid - no daymark
    N b. Red square
    Y c. Red triangle
    N d. Red diamond
15808: At 0005, on 26 January, your position is LAT 41°11.8'N,
LONG 72°20.5'W. From this position, you plot a course to steer to a point one half mile north of Mattituck Breakwater Light "MI" with an engine speed of 9.0 knots. If there are no set and drift, what course should you steer? 

    N a. 207°psc
    N b. 213°psc
    N c. 220°psc
    Y d. 235°psc
15826: In high water conditions, which publication would you consult for the latest information on buoys between Baton Rouge and Cairo? 

    Y a. U.S.C.G. Local Notice to Mariners
    N b. U.S.C.G. Light List
    N c. Army Corps. of Engineers Navigation Chart
    N d. List of Buoys and Daymarks
16014: From your 0430 position, what is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position where Twenty-eight foot Shoal lighted buoy "TE" is abeam to port at 1 mile? 

    N a. 082.5°
    N b. 086.0°
    N c. 098.0°
    Y d. 101.5°
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
16142: At 1949 Little Gull Island Light bears 270°T and is 1.7 miles off. From this position, you change course to 118°T and increase engine speed to 18 knots. If you make good your course and speed, at what time should Shagwong Reef Lighted Bell Buoy "7SR" bear 180°T? 

    Y a. 2016
    N b. 2019
    N c. 2022
    N d. 2025
16214: From your 0715 position, you set a course of 085°T. At 0745 you take the following bearings:

Race Rock Light 278°pgc
Watch Hill Light 049°pgc
Fisher's Island East Harbor Cupola 010°pgc

What was the current encountered between 0715 and 0745? 

    N a. Set 030°T, drift 0.4 knot
    N b. Set 216°T, drift 0.3 knot
    Y c. Set 070°T, drift 0.6 knot
    N d. Set 238°T, drift 1.0 knot
16256: What is the course per gyro compass from the anchorage to point A located 0.5 mile east of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy 14? 

    N a. 180°
    Y b. 184°
    N c. 198°
    N d. 199.5°
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
16559: At 1800, your position is LAT 41°06.5'N, LONG 71°43.5'W. How should the buoy which bears 030°T from your position at a range of approximately 0.5 mile be painted? 

    N a. Horizontally banded, red over green, with a red buoyancy chamber
    Y b. Horizontally banded, green over red, with a green buoyancy chamber
    N c. Vertically striped, red and green
    N d. Solid red with green letters "BIS"
16610: At 2142, you change course to make good 030°T and increase speed to 14 knots. You rendezvous with another vessel and receive fresh supplies while off New Haven Harbor lighted whistle buoy "NH". What is the light characteristic of this buoy? 

    N a. _ .
    N b. _ _
    Y c. . _
    N d. . .
16644: Visibility becomes variable in patchy fog and you maintain 5 knots speed. At 0610 you sight Montauk Point Light bearing 239°pgc, and at 0630 you sight Watch Hill Point Light bearing 333°pgc. What is the position of your 0630 running fix? 

    Y a. LAT 41°08.3'N, LONG 71°45.4'W
    N b. LAT 41°08.2'N, LONG 71°45.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°08.1'N, LONG 71°45.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°08.0'N, LONG 71°45.2'W