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.

87: You pass Red River Gage at 2015 on 16 April and estimate the current will average 3.5 mph for the remainder of the time on the Mississippi River. What is your ETA at the mouth of the Ohio River if you continue to turn for 10 mph?
112: Which of the following statements regarding buoys on the Mississippi River is TRUE?
229: If you want a more detailed chart of the area at your 2115 DR position, which chart should you use?
420: At 0930, your position is LAT 41°16.5'N, LONG 71°41.4'W, and you are turning for 7 knots. Allowing 3° leeway for southerly winds and estimating the current as 035° at 0.3 knot, what is the course to steer (pgc) to point "B"? 

    Y a. 096°pgc
    N b. 094°pgc
    N c. 091°pgc
    N d. 089°pgc
531: You depart LAT 15°48'N, LONG 174°06'E and steam 905 miles on course 090°. What is the LONG of arrival? 

    N a. 165°41'W
    Y b. 170°13'W
    N c. 172°47'W
    N d. 179°06'E
605: At 0915 ZT, on 26 July , 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 14 knots. The distance is 4,245 miles. What is your estimated ZT of arrival at Seattle? 

    Y a. 0728, 7 August
    N b. 1528, 7 August
    N c. 0028, 8 August
    N d. 1528, 8 August
625: You are on a voyage from Boston, MA, to the South Pass, LA. The distance is 1870 miles, and the speed of advance is 13.6 knots. You estimate 16.5 hours for bunkering enroute at Port Everglades, FL. If you sailed at 0836 hours (ZD +5), 26 February , what was your ETA (ZD +6) at the South Pass? 

    N a. 2336, 3 March
    N b. 1136, 4 March
    N c. 1236, 4 March
    Y d. 1736, 4 March
1110: On 19 November , your 0300 zone time DR position is LAT 19°23'N, LONG 151°37'E. You are on course 293°T at a speed of 17 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. NP-0039

    N a. LAT 19°38.5'N, LONG 150°41.6'E
    Y b. LAT 19°34.8'N, LONG 150°48.0'E
    N c. LAT 19°32.9'N, LONG 150°52.3'E
    N d. LAT 19°30.5'N, LONG 150°48.5'E
1142: At 1132, 24 May, you pass Natchez Beam Lt. (mile 364.8 AHP). What is your ETA off the Memphis Gage if you average 8.0 mph? 

    N a. 2345, 25 May
    Y b. 0947, 26 May
    N c. 1525, 26 May
    N d. 2215, 26 May
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
1424: You pass Springfield Bend Lt. (mile 244.8 AHP) at 1242, on 17 October, and estimate the current will average 2.5 mph for the remainder of your trip. What is your ETA at the mouth of the Ohio River if you are making turns for 10.5 mph? 

    N a. 1905, 19 October
    N b. 2122, 19 October
    Y c. 0519, 21 October
    N d. 0847, 21 October
1425: At 1227, on 19 October, 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? 

    N a. 5.2 mph
    N b. 5.6 mph
    N c. 5.9 mph
    Y d. 6.3 mph
1470: On 1 March , your 2135 zone time DR position is LAT 23°54.0'N, LONG 63°22.0'W. At that time, you observe Schedar bearing 328°psc. The chronometer reads 01h 35m 16s, and the chronometer error is 00m 07s slow. The variation is 3.5°E. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    N a. 2.3°E
    N b. 2.5°W
    Y c. 3.2°W
    N d. 4.2°E
1485: On 6 October , your 0416 zone time DR position is LAT 25°16.0'N, LONG 130°25.0'E. At that time, you observe Mars bearing 083°psc. The chronometer reads 07h 16m 22s, and the chronometer error is 00m 10s fast. The variation is 1.5°E. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    N a. 0.4°E
    Y b. 1.2°W
    N c. 3.5°E
    N d. 19.0°E
1765: The river will be temporarily closed to navigation at mile 531.3 AHP due to repairs to the bridge. This will occur at 1530, 5 January, and last for six hours. What minimum speed over the ground must you make from Red River Landing Gage in order not to be delayed? 

    Y a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 6.4 mph
    N c. 6.8 mph
    N d. 7.3 mph
1804: You pass Red River Gage at 2015 on 16 April and estimate the current will average 3.0 mph for the remainder of the time on the Mississippi River. What is your ETA at the mouth of the Ohio River if you continue to turn for 10 mph? 

    Y a. 1718, 20 April
    N b. 1830, 20 April
    N c. 0028, 21 April
    N d. 0821, 21 April
1839: What are the dimensions of the channel maintained from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, LA? 

    N a. 30 feet x 300 feet
    N b. 40 feet x 300 feet
    N c. 30 feet x 500 feet
    Y d. 45 feet x 500 feet
2166: On 10 January , at 0550 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 25°16.0'N, LONG 123°18.0'W. Your vessel is steaming at 22.0 knots on a course of 295°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0915 ZT. The chronometer reads 05h 14m 02s, and the sextant altitude is 24°00.7'. The index error is 2.6' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 34s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 55.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 127.8°T
    N b. 129.8°T
    Y c. 131.9°T
    N d. 133.6°T
2171: On 8 August , at 0545 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 26°16.0'
S, LONG 94°16.0'E. Your vessel is steaming at 20.0 knots on a course of 346°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0905 ZT. The chronometer reads 03h 02m 52s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 38°07.5'. The index error is 5.2' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 2m 17s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 72 feet (22.0 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho) and azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    Y a. 38°19.4',  048.4°T
    N b. 38°19.4',  131.6°T
    N c. 38°54.9',  048.4°T
    N d. 38°54.9',  131.6°T
2425: You are taking a time tick using the 2100 signal from Callao, Peru. You hear a series of 1 second dashes followed by a 9 second silent period, then a long 1.3 second dash. At the beginning of the long dash, your comparing watch reads 09h 00m 07s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 09h 01m 12s, and the chronometer reads 08h 59m 32s. What is the chronometer error? 

    Y a. 1m 33s slow
    N b. 0m 28s slow
    N c. 1m 05s fast
    N d. 0m 07s fast
2658: You are steering 202°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 14.6 miles at 2234. You change course to pass the light 5 miles off abeam to starboard. If you are making 21 knots, what is your ETA at the position 5 miles off the light? 

    N a. 2310
    Y b. 2313
    N c. 2316
    N d. 2319
2703: You are underway on course 254°T at a speed of 16.5 knots. You sight a rock bearing 255°T at a radar range of 6.1 miles at 0916. If you change course at 0922, what is the course to steer to leave the rock abeam to starboard at 1.5 miles? 

    N a. 268°T
    N b. 239°T
    Y c. 236°T
    N d. 233°T
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
2853: Your vessel is on a course of 343°T at 14 knots. At 2156 a light bears 320.5°T, and at 2217 the light bears 298°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    Y a. 2232, 3.4 miles
    N b. 2235, 4.3 miles
    N c. 2228, 4.9 miles
    N d. 2241, 6.9 miles
2906: You are steaming on a course of 211°T at 17 knots. At 0417 a light bears 184°T, and at 0428 the same light bears 168°T. What is the distance off the light at 0428? 

    N a. 3.4 miles
    N b. 4.6 miles
    Y c. 5.1 miles
    N d. 5.6 miles
3108: You are turning 105 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 17 feet, and an estimated slip of -1%. What is the speed of advance? 

    N a. 15.3 knots
    N b. 16.9 knots
    N c. 17.4 knots
    Y d. 17.8 knots
4003: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°W. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a gyro heading of 058°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 354° 122.5° - 114° 239.5° - 234°
030.5° - 024° 152.0° - 144° 269.0° - 264°
061.5° - 054° 181.0° - 174° 298.0° - 294°
092.0° - 084° 210.0° - 204° 327.5° - 324° 

    Y a. 1.5°W
    N b. 1.0°W
    N c. 1.0°E
    N d. 0.5°W
10700: At 1020 your position is LAT 41°11.0'N, LONG 71°50.0'W. You are on course 056° per standard magnetic compass at 9.2 knots. At 1112 your position is LAT 41°15.9'N, LONG 71°41.7'W. What were the set and drift? 

    N a. 130°T at 0.9 knot
    Y b. 141°T at 1.2 knots
    N c. 331°T at 0.8 knot
    N d. 346°T at 1.1 knots
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
11505: 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 1230 your position is LAT 41°20.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W. What is the speed made good? 

    N a. 8.0 knots
    N b. 8.3 knots
    Y c. 8.6 knots
    N d. 8.9 knots
12106: While in the Back River, you sight the two tanks along the Northwest Branch (vicinity LAT 37°05.6'N, LONG 76°22.0'W) in line bearing 277° per standard magnetic compass. If your vessel is heading 243°psc, what is TRUE? 

    N a. There is no deviation.
    N b. The deviation table is incorrect.
    Y c. The compass error is 12°W.
    N d. The deviation is 3°E for bearings of 277°psc.
12208: You sight Stratford Pt. Light in line with the Igor I. Sikorsky Airport Aero Beacon bearing 319° per standard magnetic compass. What is the compass error? 

    N a. 4°E
    N b. 10°W
    N c. 14°E
    Y d. 18°W
12302: You are on course 203° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Block Island North Light in line with the Block Island Aero Beacon bearing 194° per standard magnetic compass. Based on this you __________. 

    N a. know the correct deviation is 3°W
    Y b. should swing your vessel to check the deviation table
    N c. should apply 15°W compass error to all compass readings
    N d. know you are steering a true course of 185°
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
12902: Your 1312 position is LAT 37°10.9'N, LONG 75°29.6'W. You are turning for 8.3 knots. What is your ETA at LAT 37°21.9'N, LONG 75°42.6'W? 

    N a. 1449
    N b. 1456
    Y c. 1502
    N d. 1511
15040: At about what time will you see Chesapeake Light if visibility is exceptionally clear? 

    Y a. 0729
    N b. 0733
    N c. 0738
    N d. 0742
15169: At 2123, your position is LAT 37°20.0'N, LONG 76°03.0'W. What is your distance offshore of Savage Neck? 

    Y a. 1.7 miles
    N b. 2.5 miles
    N c. 3.6 miles
    N d. 10.9 miles
15265: Orient Point Light is __________. 

    N a. lighted only during daytime when the sound signal is in operation
    N b. maintained only from May 1 to Oct 1
    N c. 64 feet (19.4 meters) above mean low water
    Y d. lighted throughout 24 hours
15419: The mean high water level at Old Point Comfort is __________. 

    Y a. 2.6 feet (0.8 meters)
    N b. 1.2 feet (0.4 meters)
    N c. 0.0 feet
    N d. -3.5 feet (-1.1 meters)
15508: From your position you observe a rotating white and green light to the north. This light is most likely __________. 

    N a. from a submarine on the surface
    N b. the light at Southeast Point
    Y c. at an airport
    N d. on a coastal patrol vessel
15606: Your 1600 position is LAT 37°22.5'N, LONG 75°32.3'W. The depth of water under the keel is about __________. 

    Y a. 38 feet (11.5 meters)
    N b. 45 feet (13.6 meters)
    N c. 52 feet (15.8 meters)
    N d. 59 feet (17.3 meters)
15740: At 2000 Montauk Point Light bears 010°T. At 2030 Montauk Point Light bears 348°T. Assuming that you are making good your course of 046°T and a speed of 9 knots, what is your 2030 running fix position? 

    N a. LAT 40°53.9'N,  LONG 71°51.3'W
    Y b. LAT 40°54.2'N,  LONG 71°50.2'W
    N c. LAT 40°55.9'N,  LONG 71°49.0'W
    N d. LAT 40°56.7'N,  LONG 71°48.1'W
15770: At 0930, your position is LAT 41°16.5'N, LONG 71°41.4'W, and you are turning for 7 knots. Allowing 3° leeway for northerly winds and estimating the current as 035° at 0.3 knot, what is the course to steer (pgc) to point "B"? 

    N a. 084°pgc
    Y b. 086°pgc
    N c. 091°pgc
    N d. 094°pgc
15870: What is the approximate distance from a point three miles south of Stratford Point to Perth Amboy, NJ? 

    N a. 53 miles
    N b. 62 miles
    Y c. 73 miles
    N d. 136 miles
15914: At 0844, the range to the north end of Falkner Island is 2.0 miles and the left tangent bearing is 102°T. What is the approximate charted depth of the water? 

    N a. 14 ft (4.2 meters)
    N b. 19 ft (5.8 meters)
    N c. 22 ft (6.7 meters)
    Y d. 29 ft (8.8 meters)
15962: Based on dead reckoning, at approximately 1817 you would expect to __________. 

    N a. enter a traffic separation zone
    N b. depart a restricted area
    N c. cross a submerged pipeline
    Y d. depart a regulated area
16045: The north shore of Long Island, from Horton Point to Orient Point,
is __________. 

    Y a. bluff and rocky
    N b. low and sparsely wooded
    N c. marked by long sandy beaches at low water
    N d. marshy and backed with sand dunes
16440: What course per gyrocompass would you need to steer from the anchorage to York Spit Channel buoy "29"? 

    Y a. 172°  pgc
    N b. 175°  pgc
    N c. 178°  pgc
    N d. 181°  pgc
16544: At 2347 you are advised that your assistance is no longer needed. At 2350 you change course to make good 268°T. At 0015 you take the following round of bearings:
Kelsey Point Breakwater light 024°pgc
Horton Point Light 100°pgc
Falkner Island Light 333°pgc

At 0030 Falkner Island Lt. bears 000°T at 5.9 miles.

What is the course and speed made good between 0015 and 0030? 

    N a. CMG 262°T,  SMG 10.4 knots
    N b. CMG 268°T,  SMG 10.8 knots
    N c. CMG 268°T,  SMG 10.4 knots
    Y d. CMG 272°T,  SMG 10.8 knots
16620: You sight Bartlett Reef Light in line with New London Harbor Light bearing 043°pgc. You are heading 088°pgc 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°.
    Y b. The deviation is 1.5°E by observation.
    N c. The magnetic compass error is 9.5°W.
    N d. The gyro error is 2°E.