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.

149: Your engines are turning for 8.2 mph. You estimate the current at 1.5 mph. What is your speed over the ground?
166: If the Bayou Sara Gage reads -0.5 feet, the Low Water Reference Plane is 5.25. What is the water level in relation to the low water reference plane?
180: On 4 July you observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 25°29.8'. The index error is 3.1' off the arc. The height of eye is 48 feet (14.6 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
184: At 1930, your position is LAT 37°16.7'N, LONG 75°37.7'W. The depth of water is approximately __________. 

    N a. 40 feet (12.2 meters)
    Y b. 50 feet (15.2 meters)
    N c. 60 feet (18.3 meters)
    N d. 70 feet (23.2 meters)
262: You are northwest of Port Jefferson Harbor steering 242° per standard magnetic compass. As you continue westward, you see that the Port Jefferson Range Front Light and Rear Light come into line. If the deviation table is correct, the bearing of the range should be __________. 

    Y a. 157°psc
    N b. 160°psc
    N c. 163°psc
    N d. 166°psc
273: If you correct for the current in the previous question (215°T at 0.5 knot) and maintain an engine speed of 7.5 knots, what is your ETA 0.5 mile south of buoy "W"? 

    N a. 1014
    N b. 1018
    N c. 1021
    Y d. 1026
303: A vessel steams 576 miles on course 260°T from LAT 40°36'N, LONG 50°24'W. What are the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by mid-latitude sailing? 

    N a. LAT 39°12'N, LONG 62°28'W
    N b. LAT 39°06'N, LONG 62°34'W
    N c. LAT 39°02'N, LONG 62°37'W
    Y d. LAT 38°56'N, LONG 62°42'W
343: While on a heading of 082°T, you sight Middle Ground Light in line with Old Field Point Light bearing 206° per standard magnetic compass. From this you can determine the __________. 

    Y a. deviation table is correct for that heading
    N b. variation
    N c. compass error is 17.5°E
    N d. deviation is 3.5°E for a bearing of 206° per standard magnetic compass
481: The great circle distance from LAT 25°50'N, LONG 77°00'W to LAT 35°56'N, LONG 06°15'W is 3616 miles, and the initial course is 061.7°T. Determine the latitude of the vertex. 

    N a. 37°32.2'N
    Y b. 37°34.9'N
    N c. 37°41.6'N
    N d. 37°45.2'N
498: As you head toward Great Salt Pond, visibility is unlimited. At what time will you lose sight of Montauk Pt. Light? 

    N a. 0905
    N b. 0928
    N c. 0950
    Y d. It will remain visible to Great Salt Pond.
654: In planning a North Pacific voyage, you wish to steam the minimum distance from LAT 48°30'N, LONG 124°45'W to LAT 44°00'N, LONG 150°00'E, while remaining south of 51°N latitude. Which track meets these requirements? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5270) 

    N a. A Mercator sailing from departure to the mid-longitude at 51°N, thence great circle to arrival
    N b. A great circle between departure and arrival with parallel  sailing between the longitudes where the great circle intersects 51°N
    N c. A great circle tangent to 51°N from departure to the mid-longitude then a great circle to arrival
    Y d. A great circle from departure to LAT 51°N, LONG 148°W, parallel sailing to LAT 51°N, LONG 171°W, then a great circle to arrival
670: You are on a voyage from Cape May (LAT 39°50'N, LONG 74°45'W) to the English Channel (LAT 49°00'N, LONG 05°00'W). What will NOT prohibit the use of a great circle track from departure to arrival? (Use gnomonic chart WOXZC5274.) 

    N a. Newfoundland
    N b. Icebergs north of 48°N and west of 49°W
    N c. Islands approximately 50 miles south of Cape Cod
    Y d. The high latitude in which the vertex lies
688: What is the distance from the Amoco Docks at Baton Rouge, LA, to Pittsburgh, PA? 

    N a. 727.9 miles
    N b. 981.5 miles
    N c. 1575.3 miles
    Y d. 1681.7 miles
742: On 15 July , at 0447 ZT, your vessel's DR position is LAT 22°42'N, LONG 126°36'E. At approximately this time, you obtain a sextant altitude (hs) of Polaris reading 23°46.2' with an index error of 1.6' off the arc. Your chronometer reads 08h 48m 28s, and is 1m 16s fast. What is your latitude by Polaris, given a height of eye of 33 feet? 

    N a. 22°44.1'N
    N b. 22°46.2'N
    N c. 22°50.2'N
    Y d. 22°54.1'N
1135: The low water reference plane (LWRP) for Bayou Sara is 5.25 feet. If the Bayou Sara Gage reads -0.5 feet, what is the water level in relation to the low water reference plane? 

    N a. 4.75 feet above the plane
    N b. 5.75 feet above the plane
    Y c. 5.75 feet below the plane
    N d. 4.75 feet below the plane
1177: On 2 April , your 0900 zone time DR position is LAT 28°04.0'S, LONG 94°14.0'E. Your vessel is on course 316°T at a speed of 18.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1138
    N b. 1143
    N c. 1146
    Y d. 1149
1184: On 8 April , your 0830 zone time DR position is LAT 22°49.0'N, LONG 84°37.0'W. Your vessel is on course 228°
T at a speed of 19.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    Y a. 1144
    N b. 1147
    N c. 1150
    N d. 1154
1259: On 10 April , your 1630 ZT DR position is LAT 21°03.0'N, LONG 63°11.0'W. You are on course 324°T at a speed of 22 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1805
    N b. 1814
    N c. 1818
    Y d. 1833
1282: On 1 November , your 1600 zone time DR position is LAT 27°48'S, LONG 91°26'E. Your vessel is on a course of 327°
T at a speed of 16 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    Y a. 1813
    N b. 1821
    N c. 1829
    N d. 1836
1285: On 28 June , your 1820 ZT DR position is LAT 16°00.0'N,
LONG 31°00.0'W. You are on course 310°T at a speed of 18 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1828
    N b. 1832
    N c. 1836
    Y d. 1840
1341: What is the distance from the River Cement Co. Dock to the mouth of the Ohio River? 

    N a. 718.8 miles
    Y b. 780.8 miles
    N c. 953.5 miles
    N d. 981.5 miles
1543: As you pass under the Natchez-Vidalia Dual Bridge, the gage on the bridge reads -3.6 feet. If the highest point on your vessel is 62 ft. above the water, what is your vertical clearance? 

    N a. 60.0 feet
    N b. 63.6 feet
    Y c. 67.6 feet
    N d. 122.0 feet
1763: At 2126, you pass Morganza Bend Light (mile 278.4 AHP).
At 0226, 4 January, you pass Red River Landing Gage (mile 302.4 AHP). You have been turning for 7.5 mph. What is the current? 

    N a. 1.4 mph
    N b. 1.8 mph
    Y c. 2.7 mph
    N d. 6.2 mph
1778: At 2234 ZT, on 14 July , in DR position LAT 34°03'N, LONG 150°16'W you observe an amplitude of Saturn. The planet is about one Sun's diameter above the visible horizon and bears 272.1°pgc. The variation is 14°E. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 0.5°W
    N b. 0.5°E
    Y c. 1.5°W
    N d. 2.5°E
1880: On 13 September , your 1830 ZT DR position was LAT 23°03'S, LONG 105°16'E when you observed a faint unidentifiable star through a hole in the clouds. The star bore 265.0°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 62°25.4'. The chronometer read 11h 24m 39s and is 5m 08s slow. The index error is 1.0' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52 feet. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Sigma Ophiuchi
    N b. Alcyone
    Y c. Dschubba
    N d. Gamma Lupi
2092: At your current speed of 23 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 386 miles. You must travel 785 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination? 

    N a. 19.3
    N b. 17.7
    Y c. 16.1
    N d. 14.5
2101: On 2 January , your 1759 zone time DR position is LONG 45°17.6'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 24°16.5'. The chronometer time of the sight is 08h 57m 10s, and the chronometer error is 02m 16s slow. The index error is 3.5' on the arc, and the height of eye is 42.5 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    N a. 22°50.2'N
    Y b. 23°18.8N
    N c. 23°30.2N
    N d. 24°07.3'N
2120: At 1502 ZT, on 4 August , in DR position LAT 11° 21.6' S, LONG 088° 14.3' E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The upper limb of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 289° psc. The variation is 15° W. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 1.1°E
    Y b. 1.1°W
    N c. 1.9°E
    N d. 1.9°W
2595: At 0145 you take on the pilot and are inbound Port Jefferson. The ship's heading is 147°pgc when lined up on the Port Jefferson range. What is your gyro error? 

    Y a. 1° W
    N b. 1° E
    N c. 2° E
    N d. 0°
2697: You are underway on course 106°T at a speed of 15.3 knots.
You sight a buoy bearing 109°T at a radar range of 3.6 miles at 1725. If you change course at 1728, what is the course to steer to leave the buoy abeam to port at 0.5 mile? 

    N a. 100°T
    N b. 117°T
    Y c. 120°T
    N d. 125°T
2858: Your vessel is on a course of 082°T at 19 knots. At 0255 a light bears 059.5°T, and at 0312 the light bears 037°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0333, 5.1 miles
    N b. 0321, 4.7 miles
    N c. 0327, 4.3 miles
    Y d. 0324, 3.8 miles
2881: Your vessel is steering 049°T at 15 knots. At 1914 a light bears 078°T, and at 1951 the same light bears 116°T. What will be your distance off abeam? 

    Y a. 6.7 miles
    N b. 7.1 miles
    N c. 7.5 miles
    N d. 8.3 miles
3296: Your vessel consumes 199 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 14.5 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 10.0 knots? 

    Y a. 65 bbls
    N b. 95 bbls
    N c. 137 bbls
    N d. 148 bbls
3612: Your vessel is steering 195° per standard magnetic compass. Variation for the area is 13°W, and the deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the west-southwest, producing a 2° leeway. Which true course are you making good? 

    N a. 178°T
    N b. 180°T
    N c. 182°T
    Y d. 184°T
4002: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°E. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a true heading of 258°.
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. 0.5°W
    N b. 0.0°
    N c. 0.5°E
    Y d. 1.0°E
10509: At 0919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. You are on course 270°T at 7.8 knots. At 1035 your position is LAT 37°00.5'N, LONG 75°43.8'W. What was the set and driftt? 

    N a. 281° at 0.7 knot
    Y b. 292° at 1.0 knot
    N c. 305° at 1.3 knots
    N d. 113° at 1.2 knots
11704: What is the true heading to steer in York River Entrance Channel if your engines are turning for 10.2 knots, the current is 220°T at 1.2 knots and a southwesterly wind causes 3° of leeway? 

    N a. 316°T
    Y b. 313°T
    N c. 309°T
    N d. 300°T
14602: Where would you tune your radio to receive a VHF-FM weather broadcast for the Columbia River in the vicinity of Government Island? 

    N a. KIH-32 - 162.40 MHz
    N b. KBA-99 - 162.40 MHz
    Y c. KEB-97 - 162.55 MHz
    N d. KEC-62 - 162.55 MHz
14703: At 0800 your vessel is at mile 110 proceeding in an easterly direction on the Columbia River. At 1030 Reed Island is abeam to port as you pass the 125 mile mark. What has been your average speed in knots? 

    N a. 4.3 knots
    Y b. 5.2 knots
    N c. 8.7 knots
    N d. 10.0 knots
15009: At 1930, your position is LAT 37°16.7'N, LONG 75°37.7'W. The depth of water is approximately __________. 

    N a. 30 feet ( 9.1 meters)
    N b. 40 feet (12.1 meters)
    Y c. 50 feet (15.1 meters)
    N d. 60 feet (18.1 meters)
15068: Long Sand Shoal __________. 

    N a. shoals gradually on the north and south sides
    Y b. is hard and lumpy
    N c. shows breakers when northerly winds exceed 10 knots
    N d. has gray sand with scattered shells
15213: At 2015, your vessel is at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel midway between buoys "13" and "14". If the height of tide is -1 foot (-0.3 meters), what is the approximate depth of water? 

    Y a. 53 feet (15.5 meters)
    N b. 46 feet (13.9 meters)
    N c. 40 feet (12.1 meters)
    N d. 35 feet (10.6 meters)
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°T? 

    N a. 205°T at  9.2 knots
    N b. 208°T at 11.4 knots
    Y c. 215°T at  9.2 knots
    N d. 225°T at 11.5 knots
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
16114: As you pass through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel,
you sight Trestle "A" in line bearing 198°pgc. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 2°E
    N b. 0°E
    Y c. 2°W
    N d. 4°W
16118: You will enter waters governed by the International Rules when __________. 

    N a. you cross the territorial sea boundary line
    N b. abeam of buoy "CBJ"
    N c. you cross the boundary of the contiguous zone
    Y d. Cape Charles Light bears 022°T
16257: If your engines turn for 6.5 knots, and you encounter a 0.5 knot southerly current after weighing anchor. What is your ETA at point A? 

    N a. 0511
    N b. 0501
    Y c. 0450
    N d. 0440
16561: From your 1830 fix, you come left to a course of 290°T.
Which statement concerning Watch Hill Light is TRUE? 

    N a. The nominal range of its white light is 16 miles.
    Y b. It displays both red and white lights.
    N c. Its horn blasts every 15 seconds in fog.
    N d. Its geographic range is 18.5 miles at a 35-foot (10.7 meters) height of eye.
16618: What is the distance from your 0200 position to the point where Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal lighted buoy is abeam to starboard? 

    N a. 6.6 miles
    Y b. 6.9 miles
    N c. 7.1 miles
    N d. 7.3 miles
16638: At 0400 your position is:

Latitude 40° 50.2' North
Longitude 071° 36.2' West

From your 0400 fix, you steer a course to make good 347°T at 12.5 knots. Visibility is good. What is the earliest time you can expect to raise Montauk Point Light? (Nominal range - 24 miles, height above water - 168 feet) 

    Y a. The light is visible at 0400.
    N b. 0426
    N c. 0435
    N d. 0442
16644: Visibility becomes variable in patchy fog and you maintain 5 knots speed. At 0610 you sight Montauk Point Light bearing 239°pgc, and at 0630 you sight Watch Hill Point Light bearing 333°pgc. What is the position of your 0630 running fix? 

    Y a. LAT 41°08.3'N, LONG 71°45.4'W
    N b. LAT 41°08.2'N, LONG 71°45.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°08.1'N, LONG 71°45.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°08.0'N, LONG 71°45.2'W
16846: Your vessel's heading is 330°pgc and 345°psc with a 2°E gyro error. What is the deviation on this heading? 

    N a. 0°
    Y b. 3°W
    N c. 4°E
    N d. 7°W