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.


85: You are turning for 10 mph, approaching Angola, LA. Angola reports that the current at Red River Landing is estimated at 4.5 mph. Which of the following statements is TRUE?


228: Your height of eye is 25 feet (7.6 meters). If the visibility is 5.5 nautical miles, what is the luminous range of Wolf Trap Light?


282: From your 1752 position, you steer 307°pgc at 9 knots. At 1805, you obtain the visual bearings. What are the latitude and longitude of your 1805 position? Old Pt. Comfort Light 232°pgc. Chesapeake Bay Tunnel North Light 130°pgc.


371: You are steering 087°pgc and turning for 6.8 knots. At 0600, you take the following bearings:

Little Gull Island Light bearing 089.5° pgc
Bartlett Reef Light bearing 047° pgc

What is your 0600 position?

    N a. LAT 41°11.2'N, LONG 72°14.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.7'N, LONG 72°14.4'W
    Y c. LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°13.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°12.5'N, LONG 71°14.9'W

378: A vessel at LAT 37°24.0'N, LONG 178°15.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 34°18.0'N, LONG 178°25.0°E. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 041°T, 273.9 miles
    N b. 047°T, 273.9 miles
    Y c. 221°T, 247.2 miles
    N d. 227°T, 247.2 miles

395: A vessel at LAT 45°36.0'N, LONG 11°36.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 24°16.0'N, LONG 73°52.0'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.

    Y a. 247°T, 3299.3 miles
    N b. 247°T, 3951.6 miles
    N c. 251°T, 3298.5 miles
    N d. 251°T, 3951.6 miles

492: At 0748, you change course to 160°T. What loran reading can you follow to remain on this course?

    N a. 9960-W-14660.0
    Y b. 9960-W-14651.0
    N c. 9960-Y-43943.8
    N d. 9960-Y-43852.0

549: In order to check your compasses, you sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light bearing 074°pgc. The helmsman was steering 303°pgc and 315° per standard magnetic compass at the time.

Which of the following is TRUE?

    N a. The true line of the range is 072°.
    N b. The deviation based on the observation is 15°W.
    N c. The magnetic compass error is 12°W.
    Y d. The gyro error is exactly 1.5°E.

631: From your 0100 position, you change course to 258° per standard magnetic compass. Your engine speed is 10.0 knots. A short time later, your fathometer reads 51 feet (15.5 meters) under the keel. What is the water depth?

    N a. 38.5 feet (11.7 meters)
    N b. 43.5 feet (13.2 meters)
    N c. 51.0 feet (15.5 meters)
    Y d. 59.5 feet (18.0 meters)

847: On 17 December , your 0600 ZT fix gives you a position of LAT 27°16.7'N, LONG 138°39.2'W. Your vessel is on course 137°T, and your speed is 14.8 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1207 ZT, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 40°22.1'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN?

    N a. 26°09.9'N
    N b. 26°11.6'N
    N c. 26°13.0'N
    Y d. 26°15.4'N

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

1149: As you approach Dean Island Light (mile 754.8 AHP), which type of daymark will be observed at the light?

    N a. Green triangle
    Y b. Green diamond
    N c. Green square
    N d. Red-and-green banded square

1228: As you pass under the Natchez-Vidalia Dual Bridge, the gage on the bridge reads 8.9 ft. If the highest point on your vessel is 54 ft. above the water, what is your vertical clearance?

    Y a. 63.1 feet
    N b. 65.3 feet
    N c. 67.2 feet
    N d. 122.0 feet

1261: On 16 February , your 0300 ZT DR position is LAT 28°32.0'S, LONG 176°49.0'E. You are on course 082°T at a speed of 21 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel?

    N a. 0534
    Y b. 0552
    N c. 0631
    N d. 0645

1456: On 12 September , your 0736 zone time DR position is LAT 28°34.0'S, LONG 174°49.0'E. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 084° per standard magnetic compass (psc). The chronometer reads 07h 38m 11s, and the chronometer error is 01m 46s fast. The variation is 11°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 2.9°W
    Y b. 3.2°E
    N c. 3.9°E
    N d. 4.7°W

1456: On 12 September , your 0736 zone time DR position is LAT 28°34.0'S, LONG 174°49.0'E. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 084° per standard magnetic compass (psc). The chronometer reads 07h 38m 11s, and the chronometer error is 01m 46s fast. The variation is 11°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 2.9°W
    Y b. 3.2°E
    N c. 3.9°E
    N d. 4.7°W

1702: You are upbound approaching Springfield Bend Lt. (mile 244.8 AHP) downriver from Profit Island. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    Y a. Profit Island Chute is closed to navigation.
    N b. Tow length must not exceed 600 feet to use Profit Island Chute.
    N c. Tows must navigate toward left ascending bank when passing Profit Island Chute.
    N d. Profit Island Chute is open to navigation and is a shortcut for single barge tows.

1746: The Crooked River empties into which river?

    Y a. Missouri
    N b. Mississippi
    N c. Tennessee
    N d. Ohio

2292: In addition to those found in the Coast Pilot, information concerning anchorage regulations for this area may be obtained from __________.

    N a. Chesapeake Bay Port Authority, Hampton VA
    N b. Virginia - Maryland Pilots Association
    N c. Commanding General, Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.
    Y d. Office of the Commander 5th Coast Guard District

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

2585: At 2000 you plot your position as: LAT 41°11'N, LONG 072°35'W. The set and drift is 095°T at 0.8 knot. What course must you steer, and what engine speed must you turn, in order to make good 255°T at 8.5 knots?

    Y a. 257°T, 9.3 knots
    N b. 253°T, 9.3 knots
    N c. 257°T, 7.7 knots
    N d. 253°T, 7.7 knots

2591: Which statement best describes the shoreline at Mount Misery?

    N a. Wooded, barren hills with a rocky beach
    N b. Low, rocky cliffs with heavily wooded hills inland
    N c. Sand dunes and beaches with a mud and sand bottom
    Y d. Sand bluffs 60 feet high and banks dug out by sand and gravel companies

2662: You are on course 006°T, speed 16.6 knots. At 0516 you see a light bearing 008°T at a range of 10.2. If you change course at 0528 to leave the light abeam to port at 1.0 mile,
at what time will the light be abeam?

    Y a. 0553
    N b. 0556
    N c. 0604
    N d. 0607

2701: You are underway on course 204°T at a speed of 17.3 knots. You sight a light bearing 205°T at a radar range of 4.7 miles at 1222. If you change course at 1228, what is the course to steer to leave the light abeam to port at 1.5 miles?

    N a. 223°T
    N b. 229°T
    Y c. 236°T
    N d. 240°T

2901: You are steaming on a course of 198°T at 18.5 knots. At 0316 you observe a lighthouse bearing 235°T. At 0348 the lighthouse bears 259°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing?

    Y a. 14.8 miles
    N b. 15.3 miles
    N c. 15.8 miles
    N d. 16.3 miles

3064: The propeller of a vessel has a pitch of 19.0 feet. If the vessel traveled 183.5 miles (observed distance) in 24 hours at an average of 44 RPM, what was the slip?

    Y a. +7.4%
    N b. -7.4%
    N c. +11.6%
    N d. -11.6%

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

3310: You have steamed 216 miles and consumed 19.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 315 miles?

    Y a. 27.7 tons
    N b. 32.3 tons
    N c. 36.9 tons
    N d. 40.4 tons

4017: 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 196°.
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. 2.0°E
    N b. 2.0°W
    N c. 1.0°W
    Y d. 0.0°

10902: Fishermans Island (LAT 37°05.0'N, LONG 75°57.7'W) is __________.

    N a. privately owned
    N b. sparsely wooded and awash at spring tides
    N c. a high rocky promontory with marshy backwater
    Y d. a National Wildlife Refuge

11502: At 1016 your GPS position is LAT 41°07.6'N, LONG 71°38.5'W. At 1104 your position is LAT 41°00.4'N, LONG 71°29.4'W. What was the speed made good between the two positions?

    N a. 10.9 knots
    N b. 11.7 knots
    Y c. 12.5 knots
    N d. 13.6 knots

11509: At 1014 you depart the entrance to Lake Montauk with light "1" close aboard. Your course is 066° per standard magnetic compass, and the speed is 8.6 knots. At 1232 your position is LAT 41°20.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W. What is the course made good?

    N a. 036°T
    Y b. 040°T
    N c. 044°T
    N d. 047°T

12108: 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 262° per standard magnetic compass. What is TRUE if your vessel's heading is 119°psc?

    N a. The compass error is 10°W.
    N b. The deviation table must be corrected for the change in date.
    N c. The deviation is 1°W.
    Y d. The deviation table is correct for a heading of 119°psc.

12506: You are on course 203° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: New Point Comfort Spit Light 2 267°psc Horn Harbor Entrance Light HH 304°psc Wolf Trap Light 006°psc What is the position of the fix?

    N a. LAT 37°18.9'N, LONG 76°10.4'W
    Y b. LAT 37°18.8'N, LONG 76°10.8'W
    N c. LAT 37°18.7'N, LONG 76°11.1'W
    N d. LAT 37°18.5'N, LONG 76°10.7'W

12508: You are on course 319° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: New Point Comfort Light "2" 244°psc Horn Harbor Entrance Light "HH" 267°psc Wolf Trap Light 335°°psc What is the position of the fix?

    N a. LAT 37°20.9'N, LONG 76°09.7'W
    N b. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°09.2'W
    N c. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°09.9'W
    Y d. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°09.5'W

13002: At 0829 your position is LAT 41°02.9'N, LONG 72°57.4'W. You are making turns for 8.5 knots. What is your ETA at a position midway between buoys "1" and "2" at the entrance of New Haven Outer Channel?

    N a. 0925
    N b. 0931
    N c. 0938
    Y d. 0944

13006: Your 1600 position is LAT 41°08.0'N, LONG 72°44.8'W. You are making turns for 14 knots. What is your ETA at Mattituck Inlet?

    N a. 1636
    N b. 1643
    Y c. 1647
    N d. 1651

13403: Your vessel has become disabled and is dead in the water. Your GPS set fixes your position at LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°43.5'W. You decide to anchor at this position. Which type of bottom should you expect?

    N a. Soft clay and sand
    Y b. Soft mud and shell
    N c. Hard sand and rocks
    N d. Blue mud and gray sand

13404: Your vessel has become disabled and is dead in the water. Your GPS position is LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°43.5'W. You decide to anchor at this position. Under normal conditions, how much anchor chain should you expect to put out?

    N a. 80 to 190 feet
    N b. 190 to 240 feet
    Y c. 245 to 343 feet
    N d. 345 to 420 feet

13504: A vessel anchoring in the middle of Cherry Harbor, 1 mile off Gardiner's Island, will find what type of bottom?

    N a. Rocky
    N b. Shells
    Y c. Mud
    N d. Silt

15016: If the visibility is 3 miles, at what range will you lose sight of Chesapeake Light?

    N a. The light has never been visible.
    N b. 6.4 miles
    Y c. 8.3 miles
    N d. 12.1 miles

15162: At 1920, Cape Henry Light bears 231°pgc, and Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light bears 294°pgc. If your heading is 268°T, what is the relative bearing of Chesapeake Light?

    Y a. 213°
    N b. 201°
    N c. 194°
    N d. 179°

15268: Your vessel is proceeding up New London Harbor Channel, and you are in line with the range. What would be your course per standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 352°
    N b. 354°
    N c. 002°
    Y d. 007°

15411: 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. 144°T
    Y b. 150°T
    N c. 158°T
    N d. 162°T

15519: As an option to heading into Long Island Sound, you consider anchoring in the vicinity of the Gardiners Point Ruins approximately one mile off the north end of Gardiners Island. What is the minimum recommended distance from the ruins for fishing,
trawling, or anchoring?

    Y a. 300 yards (91 meters)
    N b. 1.0 mile
    N c. 0.5 mile
    N d. No distance is prescribed since any such activities in the area are prohibited.

15541: You alter course to make good 076°T from your 2200 fix,
and estimate you will make 13.6 knots over the ground. If the visibility is 5.5 miles, what is the earliest time you will sight Falkner Island Light? (nominal range 13 miles)

    N a. The light is visible at 2200
    N b. 2221
    Y c. 2236
    N d. You will not sight the light

15566: At 0520 you take the following observations:

Point Judith Light 036°pgc
Point Judith Harbor of Refuge
Main Breakwater Center Light 312°pgc

What is the position of your 0520 fix?

    Y a. LAT 41°20.8'N, Long 71°29.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°20.8'N, Long 71°30.0'W
    N c. LAT 41°20.6'N, Long 71°30.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°20.5'N, Long 71°29.8'W

15608: At 1630, you reach point A and come right to 204°T. Your engine speed is 12 knots. Your 1715, position is LAT 37°09.8'N, LONG 75°37.4'W. The current was __________.

    N a. 067°T at 1.1 knots
    N b. 246°T at 1.1 knots
    Y c. 067°T at 1.5 knots
    N d. 246°T at 1.5 knots

15609: From your 1715 fix, you steer 214°T at 12 knots. At 1800,
you take the following bearings:

Cape Charles Light bearing 296° true
Cape Henry light bearing 242° true

Your 1800 position is __________.

    Y a. LAT 37°02.9'N, LONG 75°43.1'W
    N b. LAT 37°02.9'N, LONG 75°43.9'W
    N c. LAT 37°03.0'N, LONG 75°43.3'W
    N d. LAT 37°03.1'N, LONG 75°42.8'W

15663: At 0748, you change course to 160°T. Which loran reading will insure you clear Great Eastern Rock?

    Y a. Nothing more than 9960-W-14645
    N b. Nothing more than 9960-X-25970
    N c. Nothing more than 9960-Y-43850
    N d. Nothing more than 9960-Y-43960

15743: At 2155 Montauk Point Light bears 249°T, Watch Hill Point Light bears 335°T, and Block Island North Light bears 045°
T. At this time, you wish to change course to 288°T. The current has a set of 355°T and a drift of 2.0 knots. If your vessel is turning RPM's for 9 knots, what course must you steer in order to make your desired course good?

    Y a. 276°T
    N b. 280°T
    N c. 284°T
    N d. 288°T

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

16339: Based on your 2209 fix, which would be a warning that you are being set down on Block Island Sound South Entrance Obstruction Lighted "BIS" Buoy?

    Y a. Decreasing loran readings on 9960-W
    N b. Visual bearings of Montauk Point Lt. changing to the left
    N c. Increasing bearings of Southeast Point Light
    N d. Decreasing soundings

16344: After changing course to allow for a current of 090°T at 1.0 knot, what time will Endeavor Shoals Lighted Gong Buoy "3" be abeam to port?

    N a. 2340
    N b. 2345
    Y c. 2350
    N d. 2355

16459: What is the course to steer per gyro compass from the anchorage to point "A" if easterly winds are causing 3° of leeway?

    N a. 178°pgc
    Y b. 181°pgc
    N c. 185°pgc
    N d. 189°pgc