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.


47: What is the distance in river miles, from the new mouth of the White River to the RR and Hwy bridge at Baton Rouge, LA?


123: On which map would you find Redman Point, Arkansas?


298: You have just passed York River Entrance Channel Lighted Buoys "13" and "14". The chart shows a light approximately 1.0 mile off your port beam with a light characteristic "Fl 6 sec". What is the name of this light?


351: At 0430, you change course and speed to make good 090訊 at 10 knots. At 0433, you slow due to an engineering casualty and estimate you are making good 5.5 knots. At what time will Branford Reef Light bear 000訊?

    N a. 0624
    N b. 0620
    Y c. 0609
    N d. 0601

365: You sighted Trestle "A" in line at 0707 and are steering 108訊. At 0731, Cape Henry Light bears 136訊; Cape Charles Light bears 032.5訊; and Thimble Shoal Tunnel South Light bears 282訊. 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

374: You calculate that the current will be ebbing at the Race at 0700. You should expect to be set in which general direction at the Race?

    N a. West
    Y b. East
    N c. Northeast
    N d. North

416: A vessel at LAT 18�54'N, LONG 73�00'E, heads for a destination at LAT 13�12'N, LONG 54�00'E. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 247訊, 1161 miles
    N b. 250訊, 1172 miles
    Y c. 253訊, 1154 miles
    N d. 256訊, 1136 miles

476: The great circle distance from LAT 35�08.0'S, LONG 19�26.0'E to LAT 33�16.0'S, LONG 115�36.0'E is 4559 miles and the initial course is 121訊. Determine the longitude of the vertex.

    N a. 26�50.9'E
    Y b. 65�45.9'E
    N c. 69�19.1'E
    N d. 72�18.3'E

507: At 0112, you are on course 124訊 and turning for 12.0 knots. What course will you make good if the current is 255訊 at 1.2 knots?

    N a. 118�
    N b. 120�
    Y c. 129�
    N d. 132�

519: At 0520 you are on course 243郡gc at 12 knots. What is the course per standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 227郡sc
    N b. 233郡sc
    N c. 258郡sc
    Y d. 262郡sc

543: What was the current between 0520 and 0600?

    N a. 201� at 1.0 knot
    N b. 201� at 1.5 knot
    Y c. 021� at 1.5 knot
    N d. 021� at 1.0 knots

549: In order to check your compasses, you sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light bearing 074郡gc. The helmsman was steering 303郡gc 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訖.
    N c. The magnetic compass error is 12訖.
    Y d. The gyro error is exactly 1.5蚩.

610: At 0820 zone time, on 10 April , you depart Yokohoma, LAT 35�27.0'N, LONG 139�39.0'E (ZD -9). You are bound for Honolulu, LAT 21�18.5'N, LONG 157�52.2'W (ZD +10) and you estimate your speed of advance at 17.5 knots. The distance is 3,397 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Honolulu?

    N a. 0127, 17 April
    Y b. 1527, 17 April
    N c. 0127, 18 April
    N d. 0927, 18 April

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.

686: The Vaucluse Trench fill revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________.

    Y a. 535.6 - 532.9 RDB
    N b. 535.9 - 534.3 RDB
    N c. 535.9 - 534.3 LDB
    N d. 534.3 - 532.6 LDB

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

809: On 7 November , your 0830 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 27�36.0'N, LONG 163�19.0'W. Your vessel is on course 289訊, and your speed is 19.0 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1138 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 45�35.0'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN?

    N a. 27�52.3'N
    N b. 27�53.4'N
    N c. 27�55.1'N
    Y d. 27�57.2'N

830: On 23 August , in DR position LAT 24�22.0'S, LONG 64�55.3'E, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Moon's upper limb at upper transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 02h 15m 04s, and the chronometer error is 01m 06s fast. The sextant altitude (hs) is 48�03.6'. The index error is 2.0' on the arc, and your height of eye is 60 feet (21.0 meters). What is the latitude at meridian transit?

    Y a. 24�20.5'S
    N b. 24�22.8'S
    N c. 24�24.8'S
    N d. 24�49.5'S

992: At 0100 zone time, on 23 September , your DR position is LAT 24�25.0'N, LONG 83�00.0'W. You are steering course 315訊. The speed over the ground is 10.0 knots. You observed 3 morning sun lines. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1100 running fix? NP-0002

    Y a. LAT 25�35.3'N, LONG 84�17.0'W
    N b. LAT 25�42.6'N, LONG 84�18.7'W
    N c. LAT 25�30.4'N, LONG 84�28.6'W
    N d. LAT 25�28.3'N, LONG 84�34.3'W

1081: On 14 Sept , your 1810 ZT DR position is LAT 27�12.0'S, LONG 71�10.0'E. You are on course 060訊 at a speed of 15.0 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1822 running fix. NP-0011

    N a. LAT 27�04.5'S, LONG 71�22.4'E
    N b. LAT 27�07.5'S, LONG 71�18.6'E
    N c. LAT 27�09.2'S, LONG 71�11.3'E
    Y d. LAT 27�11.0'S, LONG 71�14.5'E

1099: On 6 April , your 0300 DR position is LAT 27�42'S, LONG 128�58'W. You are on course 097訊 at a speed of 18 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. NP-0029

    N a. LAT 27�15.5'S, LONG 128�12.4'W
    Y b. LAT 27�44.7'S, LONG 127�47.5'W
    N c. LAT 27�52.4'S, LONG 127�49.4'W
    N d. LAT 28�15.2'S, LONG 128�11.6'W

1260: On 16 March , your 0330 ZT DR position is LAT 22�36.0'S, LONG 76�16.0'E. You are on course 098訊 at a speed of 16 knots. What will be the ZT of sunrise at your vessel?

    N a. 0545
    Y b. 0553
    N c. 0600
    N d. 0608

1295: After passing Wilkinson Lt. you see a flashing amber light on the right descending bank ahead. The flashing light indicates that you should __________.

    N a. stay in the deepest water
    N b. slow down due to dredging operations
    Y c. keep as close to the left descending bank as safety permits
    N d. keep as close to the right descending bank as safety permits

1465: On 22 April , your 0344 zone time DR position is LAT 21�16.0'N, LONG 107�32.0'W. At that time, you observe Spica bearing 236郡sc. The chronometer reads 10h 45m 16s,
and the chronometer error is 00m 25s fast. The variation is 7.5蚩. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    N a. 1.1訖
    Y b. 5.2蚩
    N c. 5.2訖
    N d. 6.1訖

1545: You are downbound, passing by Warfield Point Lt. (mile 537 AHP), when you observe on your Mississippi River map several black lines extending into the river from the bank. These indicate __________.

    N a. revetments
    N b. weirs
    N c. fleeting areas
    Y d. dikes

1548: As you approach Buckridge Light (mile 412.5 AHP),
which type of daymark would you see on the light structure?

    N a. Red diamond
    N b. Red triangle
    N c. Green diamond
    Y d. Green square

1711: What is the length of the trip?

    N a. 722.0 miles
    N b. 953.8 miles
    Y c. 1097.9 miles
    N d. 1332.1 miles

1883: On 13 June , your 0445 DR position is LAT 20�12.0'N, LONG 44�45.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 168訊 at an observed altitude (Ho) of 38�56.0'. The chronometer reads 07h 43m 20s, and is 01m 39s slow. Which star did you observe?

    N a. Peacock
    N b. Ankaa
    N c. Al Na'ir
    Y d. Fomalhaut

2094: At your current speed of 20 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 218 miles. You must travel 395 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination?

    N a. 17.4
    N b. 16.2
    Y c. 14.9
    N d. 13.7

2286: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 50�26.9' on 9 November . The index error is 1.5' on the arc. The height of eye is 56 feet (17 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 50�04.2'
    N b. 50�18.1'
    Y c. 50�33.5'
    N d. 50�41.4'

2682: While on a course of 066郡gc, a light bears 18� on the port bow at a distance of 12.3 miles. What course should you steer to leave the light 4 miles abeam to port?

    Y a. 067郡gc
    N b. 072郡gc
    N c. 079郡gc
    N d. 085郡gc

2684: You are steering 173訊, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 13.9 miles at 0054. You change course to pass the light 4.5 miles off abeam to port. If you are making 21 knots, what is your ETA at the position 4.5 miles off the light?

    N a. 0122
    N b. 0125
    Y c. 0131
    N d. 0134

3254: You have steamed 746 miles at 14.0 knots, and consumed 152 tons of fuel. If you have 201 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 10 knots?

    N a. 1381 miles
    Y b. 1934 miles
    N c. 2263 miles
    N d. 2707 miles

3462: You are underway on course 160訊 at 10 knots. The current is 210訊 at 0.9 knots. What is the course made good?

    N a. 156訊
    N b. 160訊
    Y c. 164訊
    N d. 169訊

3607: You desire to make good 152訊. The magnetic compass deviation is 4蚩, the variation is 5蚩, and the gyro error is 3蚩. A southwesterly wind produces a 4� leeway. Which course would you steer per standard compass to make good the true course?

    N a. 137郡sc
    N b. 141郡sc
    N c. 143郡sc
    Y d. 147郡sc

3771: Two beacons form a range in the direction of 221.5訊. The range is seen in line from your vessel bearing 223� per gyro compass. The variation in the area is 4蚩. What is the error of your gyro compass?

    Y a. 1.5訖
    N b. 2.5訖
    N c. 5.5訖
    N d. 2.5蚩

11105: What is the height of the tide at Great Salt Pond on Block Island at the afternoon high water (daylight savings time) on 1 July 1983?

    N a. 3.9 feet
    N b. 3.0 feet
    N c. 2.4 feet
    Y d. 2.1 feet

12703: You are on course 025� per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Point Judith Light - 072郡sc Block Island North Point Light - 118郡sc Watch Hill Light - 306郡sc What s your position?)

    N a. LAT 41�14.9'N, LONG 71�43.2'W
    N b. LAT 41�15.1'N, LONG 71�44.0'W
    Y c. LAT 41�15.4'N, LONG 71�43.1'W
    N d. LAT 41�15.6'N, LONG 71�42.8'W

13009: Your 1830 position is LAT 41�05.4'N, LONG 72�59.4'W. You are making turns for 9 knots. What is your ETA at Mattituck Inlet?

    Y a. 2044
    N b. 2052
    N c. 2059
    N d. 2106

13302: The shoal spanned by Trestle B of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel is __________.

    N a. Chesapeake shoal
    N b. the Middle ground
    N c. Lynnhaven roads
    Y d. the Tail of the Horseshoe

13701: Why are there no buoys charted at the approach to Sand Shoal Inlet (LAT 37�16'N, LONG 75�46'W)?

    N a. No buoys are stationed there.
    N b. They frequently shift position due to heavy weather.
    Y c. They are frequently shifted to conform to the changing channel.
    N d. The buoys are being replaced with fixed lights.

15065: At 0925, you plot the following:

Falkner Island Light bearing 252� true @ 1.8 nm

If you correct for a current setting 035訊 at 0.5 knot,
what true course will you steer from the 0925 position to arrive at a position 0.5 mile south of Long Sand Shoal West End Horn Buoy "W"?

    N a. 089訊
    N b. 092訊
    Y c. 095訊
    N d. 102訊

15214: If you steer 143郡gc from your 2015 position at an engine speed of 8.0 knots, at what time would you reach a point midway between buoys "11" and "12" (ignore set and drift)?

    N a. 2023
    Y b. 2029
    N c. 2032
    N d. 2037

15216: Which of the following concerning Thimble Shoal Channel is TRUE?

    N a. Only deep-draft passenger ships and large naval vessels may use the main channel.
    N b. The channel is 14.5 miles in length.
    Y c. A tow drawing 20 feet is excluded from the main channel.
    N d. Thimble Shoal Channel is in international waters.

15314: Your gyro and electronic gear are again operating. At 1710, Chesapeake Light bears 137郡gc at 6.6 miles. The current is setting 160訊 at 2 knots. At your speed of 6 knots, what is your true course to steer to remain in the inbound traffic lane?

    Y a. 269�
    N b. 265�
    N c. 261�
    N d. 250�

15830: The black broken-line marking, across the river, that appears at mile 952.1 AHP represents a __________.

    Y a. utility crossing
    N b. railroad
    N c. submarine crossing
    N d. revetment

16065: If you steer 143郡gc at an engine speed of 8.0 knots from your 2015 position, at what time would you reach a point midway between buoys "11" and "12" (ignore set and drift)?

    N a. 2020
    Y b. 2029
    N c. 2032
    N d. 2039

16209: You calculate that the current will be ebbing at the Race at 0700. You should expect to be set in which general direction at the Race?

    N a. West
    N b. North
    N c. Northeast
    Y d. East

16268: As you pass between trestle "B" and trestle "C" of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel, you sight along the trestle "C" when it is in line. The gyro bearing is 048�. What is the gyro error by observation?

    N a. 4蚩
    Y b. 1蚩
    N c. 0�
    N d. 2訖