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.


66: At 2126, you pass Morganza Bend Light (mile 278.4 AHP). At 0122, 4 January, you pass Red River Landing Gage (302.4 AHP). You have been turning for 7.5 mph. What is the current?


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?


325: You are entering Norfolk Harbor and have just passed Craney Island. Which chart should you use for your final approach into Norfolk Harbor?


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

419: At 0900, you take the following radar ranges:

Watch Hill Point 5.4 miles
Block Island Grace Point 8.3 miles

Which statement about this fix is TRUE?

    N a. You are to the left of the track line.
    N b. The bottom in the area is sand and gravel.
    N c. You are governed by the Inland Rules.
    Y d. The fix is indeterminate.

431: At 0900, the current is flooding in a direction of 350°T at 1.2 knots. If your engines are turning RPMs for 9 knots, which course should you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 297° true?

    N a. 319°psc
    N b. 317°psc
    N c. 311°psc
    Y d. 302°psc

468: Determine the great circle initial course from LAT 07°05.0'N, LONG 81°45.0'W to LAT 21°15.0'N, LONG 157°40.0'W.

    N a. 128°T
    N b. 217°T
    Y c. 290°T
    N d. 326°T

564: Horton Point Light __________.

    N a. is 14 feet above sea level
    N b. has a fixed green light
    Y c. is shown from a white square tower
    N d. is synchronized with a radio beacon

988: On 29 June , your 0800 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 26°16.0'S, LONG 61°04.0'E. Your vessel is steaming a course of 079°T at a speed of 15.5 knots. An observation of the Sun's upper limb is made at 0905 zone time, and the observed altitude (Ho) is 25°20.1. The chronometer reads 05h 08m 12s, and the chronometer error is 02m 27s fast. Local apparent noon occurs at 1154 zone time, and a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is made. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 40°44.2'. Determine the vessel's 1200 zone time position.

    Y a. LAT 26°02.0'S, LONG 62°05.0'E
    N b. LAT 26°02.0'S, LONG 62°23.2'E
    N c. LAT 26°05.1'S, LONG 62°06.3'E
    N d. LAT 25°56.0'S, LONG 62°03.0'E

1130: At 1923, on September 21, you pass Bixby Towhead Light (mile 873.7 AHP). What was your average speed since leaving Cairo?

    N a. 9.2 mph
    N b. 8.8 mph
    Y c. 8.5 mph
    N d. 7.2 mph

1189: On 7 February , your 0800 zone time DR position is LAT 22°16.0'N, LONG 92°26.0'W. Your vessel is on course 270°
T at a speed of 20.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1218
    N b. 1222
    N c. 1226
    Y d. 1230

1195: On 23 June , your 0900 zone time DR position is LAT 21°26.0'N, LONG 137°46.0'W. Your vessel is on course 059°T at a speed of 19.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1159
    N b. 1205
    Y c. 1210
    N d. 1214

1210: It is 19 October and you are keeping +4 zone time. You are on course 275°, speed 16 knots. Your 0800 DR position is LAT 25°34.0'N, LONG 74°36.0'W. What is the second estimate of the time of LAN by ship's clocks?

    N a. 11h 48m 38s
    N b. 12h 04m 49s
    Y c. 12h 49m 10s
    N d. 13h 48m 36s

1664: On 10 February in DR position LAT 25°32.0'N, LONG 135°15.0'E, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 109°psc. The chronometer reads 09h 43m 25s and is 03m 20s fast. Variation in the area is 4.5°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    Y a. 1.6°E
    N b. 2.9°W
    N c. 10.5°E
    N d. 30.5°W

1757: What town is located at mile 395 AHP?

    Y a. St. Joseph
    N b. Belmont
    N c. St. James
    N d. Rodney

1801: What is the distance from the Amoco Docks at Baton Rouge, LA, to the new mouth of the White River?

    N a. 981.5 miles
    N b. 953.5 miles
    Y c. 345.3 miles
    N d. 700.2 miles

1831: You pass Warnicott Bar Lt. at 1146, 24 May. What is your ETA off the Mhoon Landing Gage if you average 6.5 mph?

    N a. 0152, 26 May
    N b. 0426, 26 May
    Y c. 1528, 26 May
    N d. 0909, 27 May

1855: On 22 July , your 0442 ZT DR position is LAT 26°35.6'N, LONG 22°16.7'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 112°T, at an observed altitude (Ho) of 44°16.0'. The chronometer reads 05h 39m 03s and is 03m 14s slow. What star did you observe?

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

1873: On 12 June , your 1845 DR position is LAT 21°47'N,
LONG 46°52'W when you observe a faint unidentifiable star through a break in the clouds. The star bears 174.0°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 18°58.6'. The index error is 0.5°
on the arc, and the height of eye is 45 feet. The chronometer reads 09h 43m 27s, and the chronometer error is 1m 46s slow. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Muhlifain
    N b. Alpha Hydri
    N c. Almak
    N d. Alpha Muscae

2014: On 16 October , evening twilight will occur at 1746 ZT, and your DR position will be LAT 28°43.2'N, LONG 60°29.8' W. Considering their magnitude and location, which of the following are the three best stars to select for a fix at star time?

    Y a. Antares, Arcturus, Polaris
    N b. Deneb, Polaris, Vega
    N c. Antares, Deneb, Vega
    N d. Vega, Polaris, Enif

2104: What type of bottom is found at Long Sand Shoal?

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

2462: You have steamed 504 miles at 21 knots and burning 633 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 410 barrels per day with 399 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 20.1
    Y b. 19.0
    N c. 16.2
    N d. 15.0

2589: From the 2130 position, you steer 236°T at 10 knots. A strong northerly wind is causing 4° of leeway. What course must you steer per standard compass, to make good 236°T?

    N a. 232° psc
    N b. 240° psc
    N c. 244° psc
    Y d. 252° psc

2592: What chart would you need to enter Port Jefferson Harbor?

    Y a. 12362
    N b. 12364
    N c. 12369
    N d. 12370

2665: You are on course 079°T, speed 11.2 knots. At 0904 you see a daymark bearing 078°T at a range of 4.6. If you change course at 0910 to leave the daymark abeam to starboard at 0.5 mile, at what time will the daymark be abeam?

    N a. 0918
    N b. 0923
    Y c. 0928
    N d. 0935

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

2701: You are underway on course 204°T at a speed of 17.3 knots. You sight a light bearing 205°T at a radar range of 4.7 miles at 1222. If you change course at 1228, what is the course to steer to leave the light abeam to port at 1.5 miles?

    N a. 223°T
    N b. 229°T
    Y c. 236°T
    N d. 240°T

2717: The Natchez Gage reads 16.3 feet. The high point on your towboat is 38 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Natchez Highway Bridge?

    N a. 79.0 feet
    Y b. 71.7 feet
    N c. 65.2 feet
    N d. 59.1 feet

2781: Your engine speed is 9.8 mph and you estimate the current at 1.6 mph. What is your speed over the ground?

    N a. 11.0 mph
    N b. 9.8 mph
    N c. 8.6 mph
    Y d. 8.2 mph

2787: What is the length of the trip?

    Y a. 1088.5 miles
    N b. 1332.2 miles
    N c. 1334.6 miles
    N d. 1566.4 miles

2888: Your vessel is underway on a course of 323.5°T at a speed of 16 knots. At 1945° a light bears 350°T. At 2010 the light bears 008.5°T. What will be your distance off when abeam of the light?

    N a. 3.3 miles
    N b. 4.8 miles
    Y c. 6.7 miles
    N d. 8.7 miles

3618: Your vessel is steering course 027° per standard magnetic compass (psc), variation for the area is 19°W, and deviation is 2°E. The wind is from the north-northwest, producing a 5° leeway. What true course are you making good?

    N a. 005°T
    Y b. 015°T
    N c. 044°T
    N d. 049°T

3622: Your vessel is steering a course of 337°psc. Variation for the area is 13°W, and deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the south, producing a 3° leeway. Which true course are you making good?

    N a. 325°T
    N b. 328°T
    Y c. 331°T
    N d. 349°T

10201: Your present position is LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°38.0'W. Assuming that there are no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to arrive at a position 0.5 mile due south of New Haven Lighted whistle Buoy NH?

    N a. 315.5°psc
    Y b. 310.5°psc
    N c. 290.5°psc
    N d. 284.5°psc

11403: At 2115 your position is LAT 41°14.4'N, LONG 72°07.2'W. At 0015 your position is LAT 41°03.3'N, LONG 72°37.9'W. What was your true course made good?

    N a. 062°T
    N b. 076°T
    Y c. 245°T
    N d. 259°T

11407: At 1930 your GPS position is LAT 41°00.5'N, LONG 72°49.5'W. At 2018 your position is LAT 41°08.6'N, LONG 72°41.6'W. What was your true course and speed made good?

    N a. 219° at 10.1 knots
    N b. 214° at 12.5 knots
    Y c. 036° at 12.6 knots
    N d. 039° at 11.2 knots

11509: At 1014 you depart the entrance to Lake Montauk with light "1" close aboard. Your course is 066° per standard magnetic compass, and the speed is 8.6 knots. At 1232 your position is LAT 41°20.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W. What is the course made good?

    N a. 036°T
    Y b. 040°T
    N c. 044°T
    N d. 047°T

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

13807: The chart symbol depicted at LAT 40°58.5'N, LONG 72°43.4'W indicates a(n) __________.

    N a. abandoned lighthouse
    N b. light ship
    N c. wreck with only its mast visible
    Y d. wreck showing a portion of the hull above the sounding datum

14104: You are approaching Bonneville Lock and Dam. Which FM-radio channel should be used to communicate with the lockmaster?

    N a. 13
    Y b. 14
    N c. 15
    N d. 16

15014: If you make good 12 knots, what is the ETA at North Chesapeake Channel Entrance Buoy "NCA" (LL #375)?

    N a. 2116
    Y b. 2111
    N c. 2106
    N d. 2101

15139: At what time would you expect to be abeam of Buoy "MP"?

    N a. 2240
    N b. 2244
    Y c. 2248
    N d. 2252

15140: At 2100 your position is 40°44.1'N, 72°07.6'W. From this position, at which time will Montauk Point Light become visible if the luminous range of the light is 8 miles?

    N a. 2215
    Y b. 2221
    N c. 2227
    N d. 2235

15161: From your 1815 position, you want to make good course 263°
T. Your engines are turning RPMs for 12 knots. The current is 050°T at 1.9 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, at what time should you expect to enter the red sector of Cape Henry Light?

    N a. 1851
    N b. 1857
    Y c. 1904
    N d. 1911

15308: From your 0315 position, what time can you expect to reach York Spit Channel Buoys "37" and "38"?

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

15310: Which chart could you use for greater detail of the area at the south end of York Spit Channel?

    Y a. 12222
    N b. 12224
    N c. 12226
    N d. 12254

15361: Your 0530 position is LAT 41°04.9'N, LONG 73°01.1'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position 1.0 mile south of Twenty Eight Foot Shoal "TE"
buoy?

    N a. 082.0°psc
    N b. 092.5°psc
    N c. 096.0°psc
    Y d. 099.5°psc

15970: If you have 16.3 miles to reach your destination from your 2000 position and want to be there at 2230, what speed should you make good?

    N a. 5.7 knots
    N b. 6.1 knots
    Y c. 6.5 knots
    N d. 6.9 knots

16145: At 2054 Block Island Southeast Point Light bears 054°T at 6.9 miles and Southwest Ledge Lighted Bell Buoy 2 is 1.6 miles off to port. The set and drift from 2027 to 2054 is __________.

    Y a. 127°T at 3.1 knots
    N b. 127°T at 1.4 knots
    N c. 307°T at 3.1 knots
    N d. 307°T at 1.4 knots

16341: At 2230 you take the following visual bearings:

Montauk Point Light, Long Island 317°pgc
Southeast Point Light, Block Island 009°pgc

What is your position?

    N a. LAT 40°51.2'N, LONG 71°35.9'W
    N b. LAT 40°51.5'N, LONG 71°36.4'W
    N c. LAT 40°52.2'N, LONG 71°36.6'W
    Y d. LAT 40°52.0'N, LONG 71°37.4'W

16345: Where will you cross the demarcation line between the International and Inland Rules of the Road?

    N a. Between Montauk Point and Block Island
    Y b. In the Race
    N c. At the mouth of Bridgeport Harbor
    N d. Between Plum Gut and Niantic Bay

16415: You can follow what loran reading between your two positions?

    N a. There is no loran reading to follow.
    N b. 9960-Y-43958
    N c. 9960-W-14655
    Y d. 9960-X-25982

16539: If you estimate 3° leeway due to northerly winds, which course will you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc)
to make good 255°T?

    N a. 267°psc
    Y b. 270°psc
    N c. 272°psc
    N d. 274°psc

16708: At 0520 you are on course 243°pgc at 12 knots. What is the course per standard magnetic compass?

    Y a. 263°psc
    N b. 258°psc
    N c. 233°psc
    N d. 227°psc

16717: At 0705, you take the following bearings:
Watch Hill Light 030.5°pgc
Latimer Reef Light 329.0°pgc
Race Rock Light 262.0°pgc

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

    N a. 252°T
    Y b. 256°T
    N c. 263°T
    N d. 266°T