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.


159: You are turning for 6.8 mph and estimate the current at 1.0 mph. What is your speed over the ground?


197: At 2215, Cape Henry Light bears 242°pgc, Cape Charles Light bears 010.5°pgc, and Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light bears 319°pgc. You are heading 271°pgc. What is the relative bearing of Thimble Shoal Light?


244: Your vessel is entering New London Harbor Channel. If there is no current, what should you steer per gyro compass to stay on the range?


356: At 0410, you take the following bearings:

New Point Comfort Light "2" 242°T
Wolf Trap Light 313°T
Horn Harbor Entrance Light "HH" 262°T

What is your 0410 position?

    N a. LAT 37°20.9'N, LONG 76°07.7'W
    Y b. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°08.1'W
    N c. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°07.9'W
    N d. LAT 37°21.2'N, LONG 76°08.2'W

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

393: A vessel at LAT 32°14.7'N, LONG 66°28.9'W, heads for a destination at LAT 36°58.7'N, LONG 75°42.2'W. Determine the distance by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 241.2° miles
    N b. 270.2° miles
    N c. 300.2° miles
    Y d. 538.2° miles

606: At 0915 zone time, on 11 May , you depart Yokohama, LAT 35°27.0'N, LONG 139°39.0'E (ZD -9). You are bound for Seattle, LAT 47°36.0'N, LONG 122°22.0'W, and you estimate your speed of advance at 19.5 knots. The distance is 4,276 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Seattle?

    Y a. 1932, 19 May
    N b. 0332, 20 May
    N c. 1032, 20 May
    N d. 1232, 20 May

756: Anchorage regulations for this area may be obtained from __________.

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

1006: On 30 July , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 19°02'N, LONG 138°12'W. You are on course 309°T, speed 24 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.
ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1220 138°25.0' N 18°22.3' 88°43.3'
1226 139°55.0' N 18°22.2' 88°24.0'

    N a. LAT 19°28.0'N, LONG 138°35.2'W
    Y b. LAT 19°29.7'N, LONG 138°42.0'W
    N c. LAT 19°32.6'N, LONG 138°49.4'W
    N d. LAT 19°34.5'N, LONG 138°40.9'W

1131: At 1923, you increase speed to make good 9.2 mph. What is the first Gage you will pass after your speed change?

    N a. Cottonwood Point
    Y b. Caruthersville
    N c. Fulton
    N d. New Madrid

1230: At 1814, on 11 September, you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What speed must you average to arrive at Jimmy Hawken Light (mile 663.5 AHP) at 0930 the following day?

    Y a. 8.7 mph
    N b. 7.7 mph
    N c. 6.3 mph
    N d. 5.6 mph

1231: Which company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Madison Parish (mile 457.0 AHP)?

    N a. Complex Chemical Co.
    N b. Delta Southern Railroads
    N c. Farm Chemical
    Y d. Baxter Wilson

1267: On 10 December , your 1300 zone time (ZT) DR position is LAT 26°27.0'S, LONG 79°04.0'E. You are on course 068°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    Y a. 1824
    N b. 1846
    N c. 1854
    N d. 1908

1473: On 26 January , your 1615 ZT DR position is LAT 27°14.0'S, LONG 57°22.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 266°psc. The chronometer reads 08h 13m 19s, and the chronometer error is 01m 46s slow. The variation is 4°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 4.8°E
    N b. 4.9°W
    Y c. 5.9°W
    N d. 7.8°E

1502: On May 20 , you are keeping ZD +4, and your 2300 (ZD +4) DR position is LAT 42°07'N, LONG 81°02'W. At that time, you observe Polaris bearing 012°psc. The chronometer time of the observation is 03h 02m 23s, and the chronometer is 1m 17s fast. The variation is 9.5°W. What is the deviation of the magnetic compass?

    Y a. 2.7°W
    N b. 12.2°W
    N c. 6.8°E
    N d. 12.2°E

1710: What is the width of the navigable channel at Columbus Pt. Light (mile 936.0 AHP)?

    N a. 200 ft.
    Y b. 300 ft.
    N c. 450 ft.
    N d. 750 ft.

1772: What is your ETA at the Fulton Gage?

    N a. 1405, 12 Sept
    N b. 1052, 12 Sept
    N c. 0828, 12 Sept
    Y d. 0204, 12 Sept

1774: You pass New Madrid, MO (mile 889.0 AHP) at 1412. What was your average speed since leaving Cairo?

    Y a. 8.0 mph
    N b. 7.8 mph
    N c. 7.6 mph
    N d. 7.3 mph

1894: On 22 July , your 0442 DR position is LAT 26°35.6'N, LONG 22°16.7'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 149°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 12°55.0'. The chronometer reads 05h 39m 03s, and is 03m 14s slow. What star did you observe?

    N a. Hamal
    N b. Rigel
    N c. Menkar
    Y d. Acamar

1901: On 22 April , your 1852 DR position is LAT 23°54.5'N, LONG 117°36.8'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 248°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 25°00.9'. The chronometer reads 02h 54m 53s, and is 02m 51s fast. What star did you observe?

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

1924: On 23 September , your 1836 DR position is LAT 25°18'S, LONG 162°23'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 000°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 26°18'. The chronometer reads 07h 34m 12s, and is 01m 54s slow. What star did you observe?

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

2119: At 1622 ZT, on 15 June , in DR position LAT 10° 15.2' N, LONG 135° 10' W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon, bearing 101.2°psc. The variation is 5° E. What is the deviation?

    Y a. 1.5°E
    N b. 1.5°W
    N c. 0.5°E
    N d. 0.5°W

2651: You are steering 246°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 14 miles at 1037. You change course to pass the light 2.5 miles off abeam to port. If you are making 12 knots, what is your ETA at the position 2.5 miles off the light?

    N a. 1143
    Y b. 1146
    N c. 1149
    N d. 1152

2680: While on course 321°pgc with a 1°W gyro error, you pick up a buoy on radar bearing 001° relative at 5.2 miles. What will be the course to pass the buoy by 1 mile abeam to starboard, if you change course when the buoy is 4.5 miles away?

    N a. 305°T
    Y b. 310°pgc
    N c. 316°T
    N d. 336°pgc

3062: The propeller on your vessel has a pitch of 22.8 feet. From 0800, 18 April, to 1020, 19 April, you steamed an observed distance of 403.6 miles. If your average RPM was 74, what was the slip?

    N a. +7.0%
    N b. -7.0%
    Y c. +8.0%
    N d. -8.0%

3277: While steaming at 12.3 knots, your vessel burns 168 bbls of fuel per day. What will be the rate of fuel consumption if you increase speed to 13.5 knots?

    N a. 192 bbls/day
    N b. 204 bbls/day
    Y c. 222 bbls/day
    N d. 238 bbls/day

3465: You are underway on course 000°T at 9.5 knots. The current is 082°T at 1.1 knots. What is the course being made good?

    Y a. 007°T
    N b. 009°T
    N c. 021°T
    N d. 353°T

3638: You desire to make good a true course of 007°. The variation is 5°E, magnetic compass deviation is 3°W, and gyrocompass error is 2°E. A southwest by west wind produces a 2° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good?

    Y a. 003°psc
    N b. 005°psc
    N c. 007°psc
    N d. 009°psc

3647: The true course between two points is 220°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 1°E. You make an allowance of 1° leeway for a north-northwest wind. What gyro course should be steered to make the true course good?

    Y a. 220°pgc
    N b. 221°pgc
    N c. 222°pgc
    N d. 223°pgc

3759: 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 147°T, and the variation is 5°E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 148° per standard magnetic compass,
what is the correct deviation?

    N a. 1°E
    N b. 1°W
    N c. 6°E
    Y d. 6°W

10706: At 0726 you depart Lake Montauk with light 1 close aboard and set course 310.5° per standard magnetic compass at 7.6 knots. At 0812 your GPS position is LAT 41°08.1'N, LONG 72°03.7'W. What is the current?

    N a. 151°T at 1.0 knot
    N b. 164°T at 0.7 knot
    Y c. 334°T at 1.4 knot
    N d. 321°T at 0.8 knot

11409: At 0647 your position is LAT 41°08.6'N, LONG 72°41.6'W. At 0729 your position is LAT 41°10.3'N, LONG 72°29.2'W. What were your true course and speed made good?

    N a. 074° at 9.5 knots
    Y b. 080° at 13.6 knots
    N c. 253° at 9.7 knots
    N d. 258° at 13.5 knots

11802: What course should you steer by your standard magnetic compass (psc), between New Haven Light and Stratford Pt. Light, if the set and drift of the current are 345°T at 3.0 knots, and a northerly wind will cause 1° of leeway? Your engines are making turns for 18.0 knots.

    N a. 245.0°psc
    Y b. 247.0°psc
    N c. 264.0°psc
    N d. 266.5°psc

14303: What is the height above the water of light No. 84 on the Columbia River below Bonneville lock & dam?

    N a. 10 feet
    Y b. 14 feet
    N c. 18 feet
    N d. 24 feet

15011: 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
    Y c. 1.1 mile
    N d. 1.7 miles

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

15108: Your 1752 position places you __________.

    Y a. less than 0.5 mile westward of York Spit Channel
    N b. less than 0.5 mile eastward of York Spit Channel
    N c. greater than 0.5 mile westward of York Spit Channel
    N d. greater than 0.5 mile eastward of York Spit Channel

15168: Which chart provides more detail of Cape Charles harbor and its approaches?

    N a. 12238
    N b. 12225
    Y c. 12224
    N d. 12222

15208: At 1750, your position is LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°22.9'W. What was the course made good between 1730 and 1750?

    N a. 072°T
    N b. 075°T
    Y c. 078°T
    N d. 080°T

15267: From your 1210 position, you are making good a course of 083°
T. Your engines are turning RPMs for 10 knots. The set and drift of the current are 310° at 1.7 knots. At what time should you expect to enter the red sector of New London Harbor Light?

    Y a. 1243
    N b. 1249
    N c. 1253
    N d. 1301

15315: At 1810, you obtain the following radar reading:

Cape Henry Light bearing 252.5° true @4.0 nm


What is your position?

    N a. LAT 36°56.0'N, LONG 75°58.5'W
    N b. LAT 36°55.4'N, LONG 75°56.0'W
    N c. LAT 36°54.9'N, LONG 75°53.8'W
    Y d. LAT 36°56.8'N, LONG 75°55.6'W

15343: At 1844 Watch Hill Point bears 323° true and Block Island North Light bears 084° true

Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Your fathometer reads 97 feet
    N b. You are governed by the Inland Rules of the Road.
    N c. You are to the left (north) of your desired course line.
    Y d. Your vessel is approximately 8.7 miles off Sandy Point.

15459: At 0823, Old Point Comfort Light bears 000°T at 0.6 mile. What is your 0823 position?

    Y a. LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 76°18.4'W
    N b. LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 76°21.6'W
    N c. LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 76°19.6'W
    N d. LAT 36°55.5'N, LONG 76°18.6'W

15739: Your 1900 position is LAT 40°45.5'N, LONG 72°03.0'W. Your course is 046°T, and your engines are turning RPM's for 9 knots. At your 1939 DR position, what is the expected relative bearing of Montauk Point Light on the port bow?

    N a. 024° relative
    Y b. 028° relative
    N c. 032° relative
    N d. 036° relative

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

15861: At 0125, Mattituck Inlet Light bears 203°pgc at 2.1 miles.
What is the approximate depth of the water under the keel?

    N a. 46 fathoms (83.6 meters)
    N b. 44 fathoms (80.0 meters)
    N c. 43 feet (13.0 meters)
    Y d. 38 feet (11.5 meters)

16312: Assuming no current, at what time can you expect to be abeam of Townshend Ledge Lighted Buoy?

    N a. 0859
    N b. 0902
    N c. 0905
    Y d. 0910

16367: Weather broadcasts for the Norfolk area are broadcast on what frequency?

    N a. 162.25 MHz
    N b. 162.30 MHz
    Y c. 162.55 MHz
    N d. 162.65 MHz

16418: At 2100, you set course of 000°T, speed 10 knots from LAT 41°07.0'N, LONG 71°30.0'W. Visibility is 5.5 n.m. What is the earliest time you can expect to sight Point Judith Light? (Use charted range of 20 miles as nominal range.)

    N a. The light is visible at 2100.
    Y b. 2114
    N c. 2123
    N d. 2131

16643: At 0520 your position is LAT 41°07.2'N, LONG 71°41.6'W. You set course to leave Race Rock Light abeam to starboard at 0.5 mile. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass? (Assume no current)

    N a. 301.5°
    N b. 305.0°
    Y c. 307.5°
    N d. 309.0°

20107: You are steaming at 19 knots and burning 440 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 137 barrels per day. What must you reduce your speed to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 18.2
    N b. 14.8
    Y c. 12.9
    N d. 11.1