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.


45: You are in charge of a vessel that damages an aid to navigation established and maintained by the United States. Which statement is TRUE?


51: As you approach Anconia Pt. Light (mile 528.6 AHP), which type of dayboard would you see on the light structure?


54: What is the length of the trip?


88: What is the vertical clearance between the highest point of your towboat, if it is 58 feet above the water, and if the Natchez Gage reads 28.13 feet when passing under the Natchez Upper Highway Bridge?

    N a. 45.4 feet
    Y b. 39.3 feet
    N c. 33.2 feet
    N d. 15.9 feet

125: As you approach Ashland Light (mile 378.1 AHP) which daymark would you see?

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

182: What course should you steer using the standard magnetic compass (psc) to make good the course of 192°pgc?

    N a. 188°psc
    Y b. 203°psc
    N c. 205°psc
    N d. 208°psc

186: Assume set and drift have no effect on your vessel. If you change course to 187°pgc from your 1950 position, how close will you pass Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14"?

    N a. 0.1 mile
    N b. 0.5 mile
    N c. 0.8 mile
    Y d. 1.1 miles

301: You depart LAT 28°55.0'N, LONG 89°10.0'W, enroute to LAT 24°25.0'N, LONG 83°00.0'W. Determine the true course and distance by mid-latitude sailing?

    N a. 418 miles, 122°T
    Y b. 427 miles, 129°T
    N c. 436 miles, 133°T
    N d. 442 miles, 122°T

305: A vessel steams 666 miles on course 295°T from LAT 24°24'N, LONG 83°00'W. What are the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by mid-latitude sailing?

    N a. LAT 29°01'N, LONG 94°18'W
    Y b. LAT 29°06'N, LONG 94°16'W
    N c. LAT 29°10'N, LONG 94°10'W
    N d. LAT 29°13'N, LONG 94°06'W

405: You depart LAT 33°45.0'N, LONG 118°30.0'W, and steam 2216 miles on course 250°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing?

    N a. LONG 156°08.0'W
    N b. LONG 156°36.0'W
    N c. LONG 157°21.0'W
    Y d. LONG 157°31.0'W

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

442: Shortly after getting underway, you sight Stonington Outer Breakwater Light in line with Stonington Inner Breakwater Light bearing 000° per gyrocompass. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The deviation is 2°W
    N b. The variation is 2°E.
    N c. The compass error is 16°W.
    Y d. The gyro error is 2.5°W

508: Branford Reef is __________.

    N a. a hard sand shoal marked with a light
    Y b. completely submerged at all stages of the tide
    N c. surrounded by rocks awash at low water spring tides
    N d. a small, low, sandy islet surrounded by shoal water

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

808: On 28 July , your 0800 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 25°16.0'N, LONG 71°19.0'W. Your vessel is on course 026°T, and your speed is 17.5 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1149 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 82°28.7'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN?

    N a. 26°21.9'N
    N b. 26°23.4'N
    Y c. 26°25.0'N
    N d. 26°27.7'N

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°T 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

1103: On 25 August , your 0300 zone time DR position is LAT 21°28.0'N, LONG 167°48.0'E. You are on course 248°T at a speed of 12 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. NP-0032

    N a. LAT 20°52.4'N, LONG 167°32.1'E
    Y b. LAT 20°57.1'N, LONG 167°01.0'E
    N c. LAT 20°59.5'N, LONG 166°54.8'E
    N d. LAT 21°06.0'N, LONG 167°10.9'E

1129: Which daymark should you see as you approach French Point Light (mile 915.4 AHP)?

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

1194: On 16 January your 0930 ZT DR position is LAT 26°07.0'S, LONG 51°43.0'E. Your vessel is on course 238°T at a speed of 17.0 knots. What is the ZT of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    Y a. 1145
    N b. 1148
    N c. 1152
    N d. 1156

1207: On 10 July , your 0930 zone time DR position is LAT 26°31.0'S, LONG 4°41.0'E. Your vessel is on course 308°T at a speed of 22.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1144
    Y b. 1149
    N c. 1153
    N d. 1159

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

1305: As you approach Ashland Light (mile 378.1 AHP) which daymark would you see?

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

1426: What is the total length of the trip?

    N a. 910.6 miles
    N b. 901.4 miles
    N c. 900.7 miles
    Y d. 873.7 miles

1469: On 2 March , your 2216 ZT DR position is LAT 21°20.0'S, LONG 17°10.0'W. At that time, you observe Saturn bearing 078°psc. The chronometer reads 11h 14m 04s, and the chronometer error is 02m 20s slow. The variation is 4.5°W. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    N a. 1.5°W
    N b. 1.6°E
    N c. 2.9°W
    Y d. 3.6°E

1536: As you approach Casting Yard Dock Lt. (mile 265.4 AHP) you notice on the map a circle with 2 black sectors. This symbol indicates a __________.

    N a. lock
    N b. warning sign
    Y c. river gage
    N d. mooring buoy

1676: On 10 June , your vessel's 0519 zone time DR position is LAT 27°07.0'N, LONG 92°10.0'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 063.6° per standard magnetic compass. The variation in the area is 4.8°E. The chronometer reads 11h 17m 32s and is 01m 18s slow. What is the deviation of the compass?

    N a. 5.6°E
    N b. 4.8°E
    N c. 4.2°W
    Y d. 4.8°W

1679: On 13 October , your vessel's 1722 zone time DR position is LAT 27°36'S, LONG 136°16'E, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 266° per standard magnetic compass. Variation in the area is 2°W. The chronometer reads 08h 24m 19s and is 01m 43s fast. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 2.3°E
    Y b. 2.8°W
    N c. 4.8°E
    N d. 6.8°W

1861: On 22 February , your 1857 ZT DR position is LAT 23°46.0'S, LONG 93°16.5'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 159°T, at an observed altitude (Ho) of 34°30.0'. The chronometer reads 01h 00m 35s and is 03m 25s fast. What star did you observe?

    N a. Adhara
    Y b. Miaplacidus
    N c. Avior
    N d. Suhail

2454: 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

2455: You are underway and intend to make good a course of 170°T. You experience a current with a set and drift of 050°T at 2.8 knots, and a easterly wind produces a leeway of 3°. You adjust your course to compensate for the current and leeway, while maintaining an engine speed of 18.5 knots. What will be your speed made good over your intended course of 170°T?

    N a. 18.5 knots
    N b. 18.1 knots
    N c. 17.6 knots
    Y d. 17.2 knots

2588: At 2130 New Haven buoy "NH" bears 337° per gyro compass and Middle Ground Lt bears 254° per gyro compass. You must arrive 0.3 miles off Port Jefferson buoy "PJ" at 2300. What speed will you have to make good, for arrival at 2300?

    N a. 9.0 knots
    Y b. 9.3 knots
    N c. 9.6 knots
    N d. 10.7 knots

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

2712: What is the length of the trip?

    N a. 720.8 miles
    N b. 777.4 miles
    Y c. 897.2 miles
    N d. 906.3 miles

2878: Your vessel is steering 143°T at 16 knots. At 2147 a light bears 106°T, and at 2206 the same light bears 078°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    N a. 5.1 miles
    N b. 5.4 miles
    Y c. 5.9 miles
    N d. 6.5 miles

3649: The true course between two points is 078°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 2°E. You make an allowance of 3° leeway for a north wind. What gyro course should be steered to make the true course good?

    Y a. 073°pgc
    N b. 075°pgc
    N c. 077°pgc
    N d. 079°pgc

3756: Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line dead ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 093°T, and the variation is 6°E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 097° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation?

    N a. 5°E
    N b. 5°W
    N c. 10°E
    Y d. 10°W

3770: You wish to check the deviation of your standard magnetic compass. You find a natural range that you steer for and note that the gyrocompass heading is 034°, and the heading by standard magnetic compass is 026°. The gyro error is 1°W. Variation is 9°E. What is the deviation for that heading?

    Y a. 2°W
    N b. 0°
    N c. 2°E
    N d. 9°E

10709: At 0726 you depart Lake Montauk with light 1 close aboard and set course 065° per standard magnetic compass at 6.7 knots. At 0912 your GPS position is LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 71°46.6'W. What is the current?

    N a. 151°T at 1.2 knots
    N b. 164°T at 0.7 knot
    N c. 227°T at 0.9 knot
    Y d. 240°T at 1.4 knots

11302: At 1614 your GPS position is LAT 37°01.6'N, LONG 75°31.7'W. At 1703 your position is LAT 36°57.0'N, LONG 75°41.0'W. What was the course made good between the fixes?

    Y a. 238°T
    N b. 242°T
    N c. 247°T
    N d. 250°T

14101: What signal is given by air horn to indicate that Bonneville Lock is ready for entrance?

    N a. two long blasts
    N b. two short blasts
    N c. one short blast
    Y d. one long blast

14103: You are approaching Bonneville Lock and Dam and desire lockage. Which call sign should you use to contact the lock?

    Y a. WUJ 33
    N b. WUJ 34
    N c. WUJ 41
    N d. WUJ 45

15118: What was the speed made good from 1845 to 1930?

    N a. 6.2 knots
    N b. 7.5 knots
    Y c. 8.3 knots
    N d. 9.4 knots

15240: At 1130, Horton Point Light bears 172° true at a range of 3.45nm

The fathometer reads 81 ft. Your position is __________.

    N a. north of your intended track line
    N b. 41°09.4'N, 72°22.6'W
    N c. three miles southeast of Six Mile Reef Buoy "8A"
    Y d. 41°08.5'N, 72°27.3'W

15514: From your 1850 fix, you come left to a course of 280°T,
while maintaining a speed of 10 knots. Which of the following combinations of available Loran-C lines would give the best cross for position determining?

    Y a. 9960-Y and 9960-W
    N b. 9960-X and 9960-Y
    N c. 9960-W and 9960-X
    N d. All are equally good.

15565: From your 0600 position, what is the course per gyrocompass to leave Watch Hill Light abeam to starboard at 2.0 miles if a southerly wind is producing 3° of leeway?

    N a. 251°pgc
    N b. 254°pgc
    N c. 257°pgc
    Y d. 261°pgc

15869: After you raise Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light, how will the bearings change if you pass to the north of the light?

    Y a. The bearings will change to the left.
    N b. The bearings will remain steady.
    N c. The bearings will change to the right.
    N d. Magnetic compass bearings will change to the left and gyro compass bearings will change to the right.

15966: The yellow buoys on either side of your vessel that lead to Mobjack Bay mark __________.

    N a. the limits of the dredged channel
    Y b. fish trap areas
    N c. underwater cable areas
    N d. ferry routes

16017: What is the approximate distance to New Bedford, MA, from your 0530 DR position, if your 0352 position was 7 miles from Bridgeport, CT?

    N a. 77 miles
    N b. 91 miles
    Y c. 104 miles
    N d. 115 miles

16066: Which statement concerning Thimble Shoal Channel is TRUE?

    Y a. The project width of the main channel is 1000 feet (30.3 meters)
    N b. The channel is 14.5 miles in length.
    N c. A tow drawing 30 feet (9.1 meters) is excluded from the main channel.
    N d. Thimble Shoal Channel is in international waters.

16311: The broken magenta line which runs parallel to the shore between Roanoke Point and Mattituck Inlet marks a __________.

    N a. pipeline
    Y b. fish trap area
    N c. demarcation line
    N d. cable area

16719: You are bound for New London. Where will you cross the demarcation line and be governed by the Inland Rules of the Road?

    N a. You are already governed by the Inland Rules.
    Y b. In the Race
    N c. Above the Thames River Bridge
    N d. You will not be governed by the Inland Rules.