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.


108: The horizontal clearance of the center span on the Baton Rouge RR and Highway 190 Bridge is __________.


149: Your engines are turning for 8.2 mph. You estimate the current at 1.5 mph. What is your speed over the ground?


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


209: At 0705, you take the following bearings:

Watch Hill Light 034.5郡gc
Latimer Reef Light 338.0郡gc
Race Rock Light 268.0郡gc

What was the true course made good between 0645 and 0705?

    Y a. 253訊
    N b. 256訊
    N c. 263訊
    N d. 266訊

220: From your 1715 fix, you steer 214訊 at 12 knots. At 1800,
you take the following bearings:

Chesapeake Light bearing 175郡gc
Cape Henry Light bearing 239郡gc
Cape Charles Light bearing 293郡gc

Your 1800 position is __________.

    N a. LAT 37�02.7'N, LONG 75�42.7'W
    Y b. LAT 37�02.9'N, LONG 75�43.1'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

254: At 0130, you obtain the following radar ranges:

Horton Point Light - 4.3 miles;
Mattituck Breakwater Light - 3.45 miles;
Duck Pond Point - 2.0 miles.

What were the course and speed made good between 0100 and 0130?

    N a. 236訊 at 9.4 knots
    Y b. 246訊 at 9.8 knots
    N c. 259訊 at 9.8 knots
    N d. 267訊 at 9.4 knots

287: If the visibility is 11 miles, what is the luminous range of New Point Comfort Spit Light "4"?

    N a. 6.5 mile
    Y b. 5.0 miles
    N c. 3.3 miles
    N d. 2.0 miles

316: From your 1830 fix, you continue south on a course of 150訊 turning RPMs for 6 knots. You encounter a flood current in the direction of 330訊 at 2 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, which course would you steer to make good a course of 150訊 while turning RPMs for 6 knots?

    N a. 162訊
    N b. 158訊
    Y c. 150訊
    N d. 144訊

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

435: Which course should you change to per standard magnetic compass as you pass SW Ledge Light to remain in the channel?

    N a. 026郡sc
    Y b. 022郡sc
    N c. 014郡sc
    N d. 007郡sc

516: You sight Bartlett Reef Light in line with New London Harbor Light bearing 043郡gc. You are heading 088郡gc and 098.5� per standard magnetic compass at the time of the observation. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The true heading at the observation was 090�.
    N b. The gyro error is 2蚩.
    N c. The magnetic compass error is 9.5訖.
    Y d. The deviation is 1.5蚩 by observation.

575: What is the course per standard magnetic compass on the southern leg of York Spit Channel between buoys "15" and "23"?

    N a. 341�
    Y b. 339�
    N c. 322�
    N d. 319�

736: On 6 March , your 1854 zone time DR position is LAT 23�51.5'N, LONG 73�14.0'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 24�16.5'. The chronometer time of the sight is 11h 52m 40s, and the chronometer error is 01m 56s slow. The index error is 5.0' on the arc, and the height of eye is 43.5 feet (13.3 meters.) What is your latitude by Polaris?

    N a. 23�29.5'N
    Y b. 23�36.3'N
    N c. 23�49.9'N
    N d. 24�02.9'N

821: On 30 August , in DR position LAT 26�34.0'N, LONG 141�36.0'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 09h 15m 26s, and the chronometer error is 00m 00s. The sextant altitude (hs) is 71�41.7'. The index error is 3.2' off the arc, and your height of eye is 49.6 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

    Y a. LAT 26�41.9'N
    N b. LAT 26�44.6'N
    N c. LAT 26�48.2'N
    N d. LAT 26�52.3'N

824: On 30 October , an ex-meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb at upper transit was observed at 1144 ZT. Your DR position is LAT 22�42.0'S, LONG 137�16.0'W, and your sextant altitude (hs) is 80�59.4'. The index error is 2.5' off the arc, and your height of eye is 42.5 feet. The chronometer time of the observation is 08h 46m 15s, and the chronometer error is 02m 12s fast. Find the latitude at meridian transit from the ex-meridian observation.

    Y a. LAT 22�31.4'S
    N b. LAT 22�42.3'S
    N c. LAT 22�46.2'S
    N d. LAT 23�00.9'S

845: On 16 September , your 0600 ZT fix gives you a position of LAT 29�47.2'N, LONG 65�28.4'W. Your vessel is on course 242訊 and your speed is 13.5 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1227 ZT, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 63�25.3'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN?

    N a. 29�07.9'N
    N b. 29�06.1'N
    Y c. 29�04.7'N
    N d. 29�01.6'N

1176: On 24 January , your 0700 zone time DR position is LAT 22�25.0'N, LONG 46�10.0'W. Your vessel is on course 110訊 at a speed of 12.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1203
    N b. 1208
    Y c. 1212
    N d. 1215

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訊 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

1363: You are taking a time tick using the 1400 signal from Buenos Aires, Argentina. You hear a 0.4 second dash followed by a series of dots, noting that the 29th and the 56th to 59th dots are omitted. At the start of the following 0.4 second dash (which is followed by an 8 second pulse), the comparing watch reads 02h 00m 15s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 02h 01m 29s, and the chronometer reads 01h 59m 50s. What is the chronometer error?

    N a. 0m 15s fast
    N b. 1m 14s fast
    Y c. 1m 24s slow
    N d. 1m 54s slow

1459: On 28 July , your 1937 zone time DR position is LAT 26�13.0'N, LONG 78�27.0'E. At that time, you observe Deneb bearing 048.7郡gc. The chronometer reads 02h 37m 42s, and the chronometer error is 00m 15s fast. The variation is 4訖. What is the gyro error?

    N a. 2.4訖
    Y b. 2.8蚩
    N c. 3.6訖
    N d. 3.6蚩

1491: On 5 February , your 2320 ZT position is LAT 52�28'N, LONG 23�48'W. You observe Polaris bearing 000.2郡gc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 224郡gc and 244郡sc. The variation is 20訖. What is the deviation for that heading?

    N a. 0.0�
    Y b. 1.5訖
    N c. 3.0訖
    N d. 4.5訖

1494: On 5 August , your 0310 ZT position is LAT 09�02'N, LONG 21�08'W. You observe Polaris bearing 002郡gc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 316郡gc and 329郡sc. The variation is 15訖. What is the deviation for that heading?

    N a. 0.0�
    N b. 1.5訖
    N c. 3.0訖
    Y d. 0.5蚩

1851: On 23 September , while taking stars for an evening fix, an unidentified star is observed bearing 261訊 at an observed altitude of 61�35'. Your 1836 zone time DR position is LAT 25�18'S, LONG 162�36'E. The chronometer reads 07h 34m 12s, and the chronometer error is 01m 54s slow. Your vessel is steaming on a course of 230訊 at a speed of 18 knots. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Antares
    N b. Canopus
    N c. Achernar
    N d. Sirius

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

2007: On 4 September , your 1813 zone time DR position is LAT 24�18.0'S, LONG 95�16.0'E. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three stars best suited for a fix at star time?

    N a. Enif, Miaplacidus, Alkaid
    N b. Betelgeuse, Acrux, Hamal
    Y c. Rasalhague, Fomalhaut, Spica
    N d. Deneb, Altair, Vega

2017: On 2 February , your 0400 zone time DR position is LAT 24�14.0'N, LONG 163�28.0'W. You are on course 322訊 at a speed of 22 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time?

    Y a. Saturn, Antares, Rasalhague
    N b. Jupiter, Saturn, Polaris
    N c. Saturn, Polaris, Zubenelgenubi
    N d. Jupiter, Spica, Denebola

2106: 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郡sc
    N b. 213郡sc
    N c. 220郡sc
    Y d. 235郡sc

2170: On 22 July , at 0720 ZT, in DR position LAT 20�38.2'N, LONG 87�16.0'W, you observe the Moon's lower limb. The sextant altitude (hs) is 38�32.6, and the chronometer reads 01h 18m 14s. The chronometer is 01m 28s slow. The index error is 3.1' off the arc, and the height of eye is 68 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) and intercept (a) of this sight from the assumed position?

    N a. Zn 291.4�, a 5.2' A
    N b. Zn 111.4�, a 8.7' A
    Y c. Zn 248.6�, a 5.0' T
    N d. Zn 068.6�, a 6.5' T

2341: You have steamed 1175 miles at 19 knots, and consumed 257 tons of fuel. If you have to steam 1341 miles to complete the voyage, how many tons of fuel will be consumed while steaming at 18 knots?

    N a. 293 tons
    Y b. 263 tons
    N c. 202 tons
    N d. 172 tons

3075: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 15.7 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 23.4 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 6% negative slip?

    Y a. 64
    N b. 68
    N c. 72
    N d. 76

3615: You want to make good a true course of 137�. A north-northeast wind produces a 3� leeway. The variation is 11� west, deviation is 5� east, and gyrocompass error is 2� east. What course must you steer per gyrocompass to make the true course good?

    Y a. 132郡gc
    N b. 134郡gc
    N c. 136郡gc
    N d. 138郡gc

3755: Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 186訊, and the variation is 11訖. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 193� per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation?

    Y a. 4蚩
    N b. 4訖
    N c. 7蚩
    N d. 7訖

4011: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2蚩. The variation is 8訖. Find the deviation on a magnetic compass heading of 234�.
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. 2.5訖
    N b. 2.5蚩
    N c. 1.0訖
    Y d. 0.5蚩

10205: Your present position is LAT 41�05.5'N, LONG 72�38.0'W. Assuming that there is no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to arrive at a position 2 miles due west of Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy (LAT 41�09.3'N, LONG 72�30.5'W)?

    Y a. 055郡sc
    N b. 059郡sc
    N c. 064郡sc
    N d. 069郡sc

11907: Your position is 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course to steer to arrive at LAT 41�00.0'N, LONG 71�30.0'W, if you are turning for 7.8 knots, the current is 130� at 1.2 knots, and a southerly wind causes 3� of leeway?

    N a. 112訊
    Y b. 108訊
    N c. 105訊
    N d. 102訊

13210: At 0943, your position is LAT 41�14.8'N, LONG 71�54.3'W. You are turning for 12.2 knots. What is your ETA at the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island?

    Y a. 1054
    N b. 1048
    N c. 1040
    N d. 1032

15063: At 0830, you want the latest weather forecasts for the Falkner Island area. On what frequency do you set your FM radio for this information?

    N a. 2182 kHz
    N b. 162.80 Mhz
    N c. 156.65 Mhz
    Y d. 162.55 Mhz

15116: According to your track line, how far off New Point Comfort Spit Light "4" will you be when abeam of this light?

    Y a. 0.9 mile
    N b. 1.2 miles
    N c. 1.5 miles
    N d. 1.8 miles

15246: From your 1845 position, you desire to leave Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light 1.0 mile off your starboard beam at 1900. Which course and speed would you order if you allow for a 2.0 knot current with a set of 180訊?

    N a. 205訊 at 9.2 knots
    N b. 208訊 at 11.4 knots
    Y c. 215訊 at 9.2 knots
    N d. 225訊 at 11.5 knots

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

15668: At 0839, Montauk Pt. Light is bearing 205訊 at a radar distance of 6.6 miles. What is your speed made good from your 0815 position?

    N a. 8.2 knots
    Y b. 9.2 knots
    N c. 10.0 knots
    N d. 10.5 knots

15728: What company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Helena (mile 658 to 665 AHP)?

    Y a. Helena Grain Co.
    N b. Helena Port Terminal, Inc.
    N c. Arkansas Power & Light Co.
    N d. Texas Eastern Pipeline Co.

15759: You calculate that the current will be flooding at the Race at 0700. You should expect to be set in which general direction at the Race?

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

15806: What type of bottom is found at Long Sand Shoal?

    N a. Rocky
    N b. Muddy
    N c. Sandy
    Y d. Hard

15857: You are southeast of Saybrook Breakwater Light passing a horizontally-banded buoy. This buoy marks __________.

    N a. a sunken wreck
    N b. a tide rips area
    N c. the junction with the Connecticut River
    Y d. shoal water

15908: At 0740, you obtain the following radar information:

Branford Reef Light bearing 250� true @ 2.55 nm

What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41�12.6'N, LONG 72�51.3'W
    N b. LAT 41�12.6'N, LONG 72�51.8'W
    Y c. LAT 41�12.4'N, LONG 72�51.5'W
    N d. LAT 41�12.3'N, LONG 72�52.0'W

16338: At 2209 your position is latitude 40 47.7'N, longitude 71 35.5'W. There is a strong WSW'ly wind causing an estimated 3� leeway. What course will you steer by standard magnetic compass from your 2209 position to make good 340訊?

    N a. 322�
    N b. 348�
    Y c. 356�
    N d. 002�

16408: You estimate that you are making 9.3 knots over the ground.
At what time will you enter waters governed by the COLREGS?

    N a. 0247
    Y b. 0251
    N c. 0255
    N d. 0258