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.


33: What is the total length of the trip?


78: At 1723 you increase speed to make good 9.2 mph. At 1937 you have a daymark on your port beam. What daymark is this?


176: What is your 2118 position?


183: At 1920, the buoy off your starboard bow is __________.

    Y a. Sand Shoal Inlet Lighted Buoy "A"
    N b. Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy
    N c. South Light Buoy
    N d. an interrupted quick flashing buoy

193: 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. 4.6 miles
    N c. 6.4 miles
    Y d. 8.3 miles

207: If your height of eye is 35 feet (10.7 meters), what is the approximate geographic range of Block Island North Light?

    N a. 7.4 nm
    N b. 13.0 nm
    Y c. 15.8 nm
    N d. 17.5 nm

257: At 0705, you change course to head for The Race. You wish to leave Race Rock Light bearing due north at 0.4 mile. If the current is 110°T, at 2.8 knots, and you are turning for 12.0 knots, what course (pgc) should you steer?

    N a. 252°pgc
    N b. 257°pgc
    N c. 265°pgc
    Y d. 271°pgc

278: The National Weather Service provides 24 hour weather broadcasts to vessels transiting the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area on which frequency?

    Y a. 162.55 MHz
    N b. 162.85 MHz
    N c. 181.15 MHz
    N d. 202.35 MHz

328: From your 0315 position, what time can you expect to reach York Spit Channel Buoys "37" and "38"?

    N a. 0423
    N b. 0417
    N c. 0412
    Y d. 0405

329: The engineer has advised that it will be necessary to secure the gyrocompass and the electronic equipment. From your 0315 position, what is your course per standard magnetic compass to York Spit Channel Buoy "38", if there is no current?

    N a. 218°psc
    Y b. 216°psc
    N c. 214°psc
    N d. 212°psc

369: At 0812, you obtain the following radar information:


Cape Henry Light bearing 284°true @ 3.8 nm

What is your 0812 position?

    N a. LAT 36°53.7'N, LONG 75°56.0'W
    N b. LAT 36°53.8'N, LONG 75°56.1'W
    Y c. LAT 36°54.6'N, LONG 75°55.8'W
    N d. LAT 36°55.2'N, LONG 75°55.4'W

390: A vessel at LAT 29°38.0'N, LONG 93°49.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 24°38.0'N, LONG 82°55.2'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 115°T, 637 miles
    Y b. 117°T, 658 miles
    N c. 122°T, 648 miles
    N d. 126°T, 665 miles

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

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

535: You depart LAT 49°38'N, LONG 152°49'E, for LAT 49°38'N, LONG 176°12'E. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing?

    Y a. 090°T, 909 miles
    N b. 090°T, 1204 miles
    N c. 270°T, 909 miles
    N d. 270°T, 1204 miles

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°

601: At 1210 zone time, on 1 December , you depart Seattle, LAT 47°36.0'N, LONG 122°22.0'W (ZD +8). You are bound for Guam, LAT 13°27.0'N, LONG 144°37.0'E, and you estimate your speed of advance at 20 knots. The distance is 4,948 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Guam?

    N a. 1734, 11 December
    N b. 1934, 11 December
    N c. 0334, 12 December
    Y d. 1334, 12 December

678: Using gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5270, determine which of the following statements about a voyage from Valdez, AK, to Hilo, HI, is TRUE.

    Y a. A great circle track is not significantly shorter than a rhumb line track.
    N b. You will cross the Northern Hemisphere vertex where the track line crosses LAT 45°N.
    N c. Distance is measured by using the length of a degree of longitude at the mid-latitude line.
    N d. When plotted on a Mercator chart, the track line will be convex to San Francisco.

1091: On 10 August , your 0430 ZT position is LAT 29°56.7'S, LONG 139°11.0'E. Your course is 321°T, speed 18.2 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0500 running fix. NP-0021

    N a. LAT 29°46.0'S, LONG 138°54.0'E
    Y b. LAT 29°49.2'S, LONG 138°57.0'E
    N c. LAT 29°56.0'S, LONG 139°03.8'E
    N d. LAT 30°07.5'S, LONG 138°55.2'E

1096: On 24 October , your 0100 DR position is LAT 27°42'N, LONG 158°35'E. You are on course 085°T at a speed of 12 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0700 running fix. NP-0026

    N a. LAT 27°48.8'N, LONG 160°12.5'E
    N b. LAT 27°52.5'N, LONG 160°18.2'E
    Y c. LAT 27°56.0'N, LONG 159°47.3'E
    N d. LAT 27°58.4'N, LONG 159°43.5'E

1408: The horizontal clearance of the center span on the Baton Rouge RR and Highway 190 Bridge is __________.

    N a. 443
    N b. 500
    Y c. 623
    N d. 748

1650: On 22 October , in DR position LAT 21°51.0'S, LONG 76°24.0'E, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 256°psc. The chronometer reads 01h 01m 25s and is 01m 15s fast. Variation for the area is 2°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 0.3°E
    Y b. 0.3°W
    N c. 2.0°E
    N d. 2.0°W

1703: At 1218, on 16 March, you are passing the Vicksburg Gage (mile 437.0 AHP). What has been the average current since 0630, 15 March, if you have been making turns for 8.0 mph?

    N a. 0.2 mph
    N b. 0.5 mph
    N c. 0.8 mph
    Y d. 1.2 mph

1833: What are the dimensions of the Port Allen Lock at Baton Rouge, LA?

    N a. 75 feet x 1188 feet
    N b. 84 feet x 1180feet
    Y c. 84 feet x 1188 feet
    N d. 75 feet x 1180 feet

1857: On 22 May , your 0437 ZT DR position is LAT 25°18.5'N, LONG 51°18.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 097°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 48°20.0'. The chronometer reads 07h 40m 40s and is 03m 24s fast. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Markab
    N b. Diphda
    N c. Sabik
    N d. Hamal

1903: On 22 April , your 1852 DR position is LAT 23°54.5'N, LONG 117°36.8'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 259°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 41°15.2'. The chronometer reads 02h 54m 53s, and is 02m 51s fast. What star did you observe?

    N a. Diphda
    Y b. Betelgeuse
    N c. Gienah
    N d. Arcturus

2203: You have orders to drop off the empties at the fleeting area at Cairo Point and add five loaded tank barges to your tow. If you are turning for 9 mph and estimate the current at 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at Cairo?

    N a. 2210, 22 June
    N b. 1741, 22 June
    Y c. 1423, 22 June
    N d. 1031, 22 June

2329: You sighted Trestle "B" in line at 0706 and are steering 108°T. At 0731, Cape Henry Light bears 136°T; Cape Charles Light bears 032.5°T; and Thimble Shoal Tunnel South Light bears 282°T. What was the speed made good between 0706 and 0731?

    Y a. 8.3 knots
    N b. 8.8 knots
    N c. 9.2 knots
    N d. 9.4 knots

2424: As you approach mile 225 AHP, you notice on the map a brown broken-lined rectangular shaped area along the bank. This indicates __________.

    N a. weirs
    N b. a revetment
    Y c. a fleeting area
    N d. utility crossing

3078: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 17.8 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 24.7 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 7% positive slip?

    N a. 67
    N b. 71
    N c. 75
    Y d. 79

3087: If the pitch of the propeller is 20.6 feet, and the revolutions per day are 107,341, calculate the day's run allowing 3% positive slip.

    Y a. 352.7 miles
    N b. 363.6 miles
    N c. 374.5 miles
    N d. 389.1 miles

3263: You have steamed 1124 miles at 21 knots, and consumed 326 tons of fuel. If you have 210 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 17 knots?

    N a. 1096 miles
    Y b. 1105 miles
    N c. 1218 miles
    N d. 1304 miles

3625: Your vessel is steering course 111°psc, variation for the area is 5°E, and deviation is 3°W. The wind is from the northwest, producing a 1° leeway. What true course are you making good?

    N a. 108°T
    N b. 110°T
    N c. 112°T
    Y d. 114°T

3652: The true course between two points is 023°T. Your gyrocompass has an error of 1°W and you make an allowance of 4° leeway for an east wind. What gyro course should be steered to make the true course good?

    N a. 020°pgc
    N b. 021°pgc
    N c. 026°pgc
    Y d. 028°pgc

10306: You are 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to LAT 41°00.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W?

    N a. 145.5°psc
    Y b. 142.5°psc
    N c. 138.5°psc
    N d. 127.0°psc

10610: At 1645 your GPS position is LAT 41°04.9' N, LONG 72°42.1'W. You are on course 072° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 14 knots. At 1727 another GPS fix places your vessel 1 mile due north of Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy TE. What were your set and drift?

    N a. 032°T at 1.2 knot
    Y b. 026°T at 1.1 knot
    N c. 207°T at 0.9 knot
    N d. 212°T at 1.2 knots

11013: What will be the height of the tide at Horton Pt., New York, on 16 June 1983, at 1845 DST (ZD +4)?

    N a. 0.2 foot
    Y b. 2.7 feet
    N c. 4.1 feet
    N d. 5.5 feet

12704: You are on course 137° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Watch Hill Point Light - 051°psc Montauk Point Light - 184°psc Race Rock Light - 279°psc What is your position?

    Y a. LAT 41°15.2'N, LONG 71°54.4'W
    N b. LAT 41°15.1'N, LONG 71°53.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°15.1'N, LONG 71°54.9'W
    N d. LAT 41°15.0'N, LONG 71°53.7'W

13010: Your 0620 position is LAT 40°59.5'N, LONG 73°00.5'W. You are making turns for 8 knots. What is your ETA at LAT 41°08.0'N, LONG 72°44.8'W?

    N a. 0748
    N b. 0802
    Y c. 0809
    N d. 0814

13100: Your position is LAT 41°15.2'N, LONG 71°50.1'W at 1347. You are turning for 6.9 knots. What is your ETA at Shagwong Reef Buoy "7SR"?

    Y a. 1506
    N b. 1515
    N c. 1521
    N d. 1527

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

15709: At 0830, you obtained the following radar informations:

Branford Reef Light bearing 259° true @ 4.2 nm


What is your vessel's position?

    N a. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 73°56.0'W
    N b. LAT 40°17.4'N, LONG 73°54.0'W
    N c. LAT 41°12.0'N, LONG 72°53.8'W
    Y d. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 72°53.8'W

15720: The red sector of New London Harbor Light covers from __________.

    N a. 040° - 310°
    Y b. 000° - 041°
    N c. 208° - 220°
    N d. 204° - 239°

15738: At 1830 you obtained the following Loran-C readings:

9960-W-14820.0
9960-X-26097.0
9960-Y-43713.5

What is your vessel's position?

    N a. LAT 40°41.0'N, LONG 72°06.0'W
    N b. LAT 40°41.0'N, LONG 72°10.6'W
    Y c. LAT 40°42.5'N, LONG 72°07.1'W
    N d. LAT 40°47.5'N, LONG 72°02.9'W

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

15938: At 1910 you obtain the following bearings:

Bartlett Reef Light 268°T
Race Rock Light 147°T
Little Gull Island Light 198°T

Which of the following is your position at 1910?

    N a. LAT 41°17.4'N, LONG 72°05.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°17.0'N, LONG 72°07.1'W
    Y c. LAT 41°16.6'N, LONG 72°04.6'W
    N d. LAT 41°16.2'N, LONG 72°06.4'W

16116: At 0731, approximately how much water is under your keel?

    Y a. 31 feet (9.4 meters)
    N b. 45 feet (13.6 meters)
    N c. 48 feet (14.5 meters)
    N d. 54 feet (16.4 meters)

16211: From point "A", you lay out an intended track line to a point where Block Island North Light bears 180°T at 2.9 miles (Point "B"). What is the length of this leg of the voyage?

    N a. 20.4 miles
    N b. 23.7 miles
    N c. 23.9 miles
    Y d. 24.4 miles

16456: What is the course per standard magnetic compass from the anchorage to point A located 0.5 mile east of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy 14?

    Y a. 194°psc
    N b. 190°psc
    N c. 187°psc
    N d. 180°psc

16470: The wind is easterly and will cause 2° of leeway. The current is 180° at 0.5 knot. If your engines are turning for 8.0 knots, what should you steer to remain in York River Entrance Channel?

    N a. 304°T
    N b. 307°T
    N c. 310°T
    Y d. 315°T

16646: The Tidal Current Tables indicate the following for the Race:
SLACK WATER MAXIMUM CURRENT
0328 0642 3.9 F
0947 1301 3.2 E

What current should you expect when transiting the Race?

    N a. 3.9 knots, flooding
    Y b. 3.5 knots, flooding
    N c. 3.3 knots, flooding
    N d. 3.0 knots, flooding

16838: At 0800 you obtain the following Loran-C readings:

9960-X-27101
9960-Y-41612
9960-Z-58737

What is your vessel's position?

    N a. LAT 37°20.9'N, LONG 75°29.5'W
    Y b. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 75°32.0'W
    N c. LAT 37°19.8'N, LONG 75°30.6'W
    N d. LAT 37°20.8'N, LONG 75°31.2'W