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.


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


204: From your 1800 position you steer a course of 350°psc at a speed of 10.0 knots. At 1830, your position is LAT 41°11.7'N, LONG 71°45.8'W. What are the set and drift of the current?


376: You depart LAT 40°42.0'N, LONG 74°01.0'W, and steam 3365.6 miles on course 118°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing?


400: Your vessel receives a distress call from a vessel reporting her position at LAT 5°24'N, LONG 31°16'W. Your position is LAT 2°39'S, LONG 39°24'W. Determine the distance from your vessel to the vessel in distress by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 669.3 miles
    Y b. 688.7 miles
    N c. 699.2 miles
    N d. 712.9 miles

554: Based on your running fix, you __________.

    Y a. have a following current
    N b. have a head current
    N c. are being set to the north
    N d. are not affected by a current

626: You are on a voyage from St. John, Canada, to Galveston, TX. The distance is 2280 miles, and the speed of advance is 15.0 knots. You estimate 16.5 hours for bunkering enroute at Ft. Lauderdale, FL. If you sailed at 1642 hours (ZD +4), 27 February , what was your ETA (ZD +6) at Galveston?

    Y a. 1512, 6 March
    N b. 0812, 6 March
    N c. 0712, 6 March
    N d. 2312, 5 March

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

1107: On 16 April , your 0200 zone time DR position is LAT 17°18'S, LONG 168°46'E. You are on course 236°T at a speed of 16 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix.

    N a. LAT 17°54.9'S, LONG 167°48.7'E
    N b. LAT 17°55.6'S, LONG 167°45.1'E
    N c. LAT 17°56.8'S, LONG 167°52.4'E
    Y d. LAT 18°00.4'S, LONG 167°49.2'E

1122: Which type of daymark will you see as you approach Old Levee Light (mile 385.2 AHP)?

    N a. Green diamond
    N b. Red square
    Y c. Green square
    N d. Private aid - no daymark

1245: The highest point on your towboat is 67 feet above the water, and the Helena Gage reads +22.3 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the A-span of the Helena Highway Bridge?

    N a. 74.7 feet
    N b. 52.4 feet
    N c. 49.8 feet
    Y d. 30.1 feet

1544: What is the distance in river miles, from the new mouth of the White River to the Petroleum Fuel & Terminal Co.(144.6 AHP)?

    N a. 370 miles
    N b. 384 miles
    N c. 437 miles
    Y d. 454 miles

1564: As you approach Dean Island Light (mile 754.8 AHP), which type of daymark will be observed at the light?

    N a. Green triangle
    N b. Red and green banded square
    N c. Green square daymark
    Y d. Diamond-shaped green daymark

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

1740: On what river is Ghent, Kentucky located?

    N a. Tennessee
    N b. Mississippi
    N c. Missouri
    Y d. Ohio

1769: In order to determine what buoys, if any, are in place at Concordia Bar crossing (mile 596.0 AHP), what should you check?

    N a. Bulletin board at the Rosedale Gage
    N b. Waterways Journal
    N c. Light List
    Y d. Notice to Mariners

1864: At 0520 zone time, on 17 March , while taking stars for a morning fix, you observe an unidentified star bearing 050°T, at an observed altitude (Ho) of 45°00.0'. Your DR position at the time of the sight is LAT 27°23.0'N, LONG 39°42.0° W. The chronometer time of the sight is 08h 22m 15s, and the chronometer error is 01m 45s fast. Your vessel is steaming on a course of 300°T at a speed of 18 knots. What star did you observe?

    N a. Altair
    N b. Alkaid
    N c. Arcturus
    Y d. Deneb

2100: From your 2118 position, you are steering 288°T at an engine speed of 7.0 knots. If visibility is suddenly reduced to 2 miles, at what time can you expect Old Point Comfort Light to become visible again?

    N a. The light is visible at 2118.
    N b. 2155
    N c. 2220
    Y d. 2232

2112: At 0130, you obtain the following bearings:

Horton Point Lighthouse 078°T
Mattituck Breakwater Light tower 196°T

What were the course and speed made good between 0100 and 0130?

    Y a. 246°T at 9.8 knots
    N b. 253°T at 9.4 knots
    N c. 259°T at 9.8 knots
    N d. 267°T at 9.4 knots

2168: On 22 July , at 0448 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 21°43.0'N, LONG 158°39.0'E. Your vessel is steaming at 21.0 knots on a course of 028°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0956 ZT. The chronometer reads 10h 54m 27s, and the sextant altitude is 54°28.2'. The index error is 1.5' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 38s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 56 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    N a. 080.9°T
    N b. 082.2°T
    N c. 084.2°T
    Y d. 086.9°T

2286: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 50°26.9' on 9 November . The index error is 1.5' on the arc. The height of eye is 56 feet (17 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 50°04.2'
    N b. 50°18.1'
    Y c. 50°33.5'
    N d. 50°41.4'

2290: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 75°12.3' on 6 August . The index error is 1.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 32 feet (9.8 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 75°18.6'
    Y b. 75°24.0'
    N c. 75°30.7'
    N d. 75°34.6'

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

2330: At 0731, what is the approximate depth of water?

    N a. 31 feet (9.4 meters)
    Y b. 41 feet (12.5 meters)
    N c. 52 feet (15.7 meters)
    N d. 58 feet (17.6 meters)

2456: You have steamed 520 miles at 22 knots and burning 319 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 137 barrels per day with 410 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 12.8
    N b. 14.8
    Y c. 16.2
    N d. 18.2

2716: The charts show two dashed lines crossing the river just south of St. Catherine Bar Light. What does this indicate?

    N a. Overhead power lines
    N b. Louisiana-Mississippi ferry crossings
    N c. Two railroad trestles
    Y d. Two submerged oil pipelines

2871: Your vessel is on a course of 052°T at 16 knots. At 0916 a light bears 078.5°T, and at 0927 the light bears 097°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light?

    N a. 0929, 2.0 miles
    N b. 0932, 2.3 miles
    N c. 0935, 2.6 miles
    Y d. 0938, 2.9 miles

2897: You are steaming on a course of 327°T at 13 knots. At 0207 you observe a lighthouse bearing 020°T. At 0226 the lighthouse bears 042°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing?

    N a. 8.5 miles
    Y b. 8.9 miles
    N c. 9.2 miles
    N d. 9.7 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

2911: What is indicated by the two light gray shaded areas that cross the river above False River Lt. (mile 251.0 AHP)?

    N a. Ferry crossings
    Y b. Utility crossings
    N c. Aerial cable crossings
    N d. Bridge construction

3055: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 24.6 feet and a pitch of 26.1 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 462 miles in a 24 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 72?

    N a. -2.7%
    N b. +2.7%
    Y c. -3.8%
    N d. +3.8%

3072: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 17.4 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 25.6 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 3% positive slip?

    N a. 63
    N b. 67
    Y c. 71
    N d. 75

3260: You have steamed 726 miles at 17.5 knots, and consumed 138 tons of fuel. If you have 252 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 13.5 knots?

    N a. 789 miles
    N b. 1326 miles
    N c. 1719 miles
    Y d. 2228 miles

6844: At 1010 your vessel passes close abeam to Buoy "NCB" in the inbound traffic lane. At this time the Chesapeake Bay Pilot informs you that he will not board your vessel until 1100. The pilot boat is located 1.5 miles northeast of Cape Henry Light. What should you reduce your speed to in order to arrive at the pilot boat at this time?

    N a. 5.9 knots
    N b. 7.5 knots
    Y c. 8.2 knots
    N d. 9.8 knots

11001: What time will high water occur at Saybrook Jetty on the morning of 29 October 1983?

    N a. 0145
    N b. 0255
    Y c. 0405
    N d. 0920

11408: At 1930 your GPS position is LAT 41°08.6'N, LONG 72°41.6'W. At 2024 your position is LAT 41°00.5'N, LONG 72°49.5'W. What is your true course and speed made good?

    N a. 219° at 10.1 knots
    Y b. 216° at 11.2 knots
    N c. 039° at 9.9 knots
    N d. 036° at 11.1 knots

11800: What is the course to steer between Port Jefferson Approach buoy "PJ" and New Haven Lighted Buoy "NH"? Your engine speed is 12 knots and you allow for a current of 93°T at 0.8 knot. A NW'ly wind causes 3° leeway.

    Y a. 030°T
    N b. 034°T
    N c. 037°T
    N d. 044°T

13101: At 1523 your position is LAT 41°08.2'N, LONG 71°34.4'W. You are turning for 8.7 knots. What is your ETA at Shagwong Reef Buoy "7SR"?

    N a. 1653
    N b. 1700
    Y c. 1711
    N d. 1718

13107: At 1103 your position is LAT 41°12.5 N, LONG 71°37.4 W. What is your ETA at the west gap of Point Judith Harbor of Refuge if you make good 11.3 knots?

    N a. 1144
    N b. 1154
    Y c. 1159
    N d. 1205

13906: When approaching Block Island Sound from Long Island Sound, you will enter waters governed by the International Rules of the Road when you __________.

    Y a. pass through The Race
    N b. cross the territorial sea boundary
    N c. exit Block Island Sound to the east or south
    N d. None of the above, as Long Island Sound is governed by the International Rules of the Road

14100: Your vessel is awaiting lockage at Bonneville Lock. The staff gauge on the guide wall reads 18'-06". What is the maximum vessel draft allowed to enter the lock?

    N a. 17'-00"
    Y b. 17'-06"
    N c. 18'-00"
    N d. 18'-06"

15217: At 2118, you obtain the following bearings:

Cape Henry Light - 148°pgc
Cape Charles Light - 033°pgc
Thimble Shoal Light - 291°pgc

From this position, you proceed to Norfolk, VA, a distance of approximately 26.0 miles. To arrive at Norfolk at 0200 the next day, what is the speed to make good from your 2118 position to arrive at this time?

    N a. 5.0 knots
    Y b. 5.5 knots
    N c. 6.0 knots
    N d. 6.5 knots

15230: What is the distance from Cairo Point, IL, to Arkansas City?

    N a. 28 miles
    N b. 110 miles
    N c. 292 miles
    Y d. 400 miles

15611: From your 1815 position, you want to make good a course of 263°T. Your engines are turning RPM's 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. 1849
    N b. 1854
    N c. 1859
    Y d. 1904

15669: The area between Block Island and Montauk Point that is bounded by dashed magenta lines is a __________.

    N a. naval exercise area
    N b. fish trap area
    Y c. submerged cable area
    N d. restricted navigation area

15762: What is the course per standard magnetic compass between points "A" and "B"?

    N a. 090.5°
    N b. 093.0°
    N c. 095.5°
    Y d. 098.5°

15816: At 0209, your position is LAT 41°01.8'N, LONG 72°40.8'W.
What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good 278° magnetic? (assume no set and drift)

    N a. 262.0°psc
    N b. 265.0°psc
    Y c. 275.5°psc
    N d. 280.5°psc

15845: If you are going to head directly for Chesapeake Light from your 2111 fix, what is the course to make good?

    Y a. 190°T
    N b. 193°T
    N c. 196°T
    N d. 199°T

15869: After you raise Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light, how will the bearings change if you pass to the north of the light?

    Y a. The bearings will change to the left.
    N b. The bearings will remain steady.
    N c. The bearings will change to the right.
    N d. Magnetic compass bearings will change to the left and gyro compass bearings will change to the right.

16011: At 0415, you take the following bearings:

Stratford Point Light 329.5°pgc
Middle Ground Light 223.5°pgc
Old Field Point Light 199.5°pgc

Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. You are to the right of your intended track line.
    N b. The current's drift is greater than predicted.
    N c. The course made good since 0352 is 081°T.
    N d. Your fathometer reads about 76 fathoms.

16557: Which course would you steer by your standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 275°T?

    N a. 266°psc
    N b. 272°psc
    Y c. 289°psc
    N d. 294°psc

16607: You depart from the position in the previous question at 2114 and make good 12 knots on a course of 040°T. At what time will you sight New Haven Light if the visibility is 11 miles?

    N a. The light is visible at 2114.
    N b. 2140
    N c. 2152
    Y d. 2159

16739: What is the earliest time you should sight Montauk Point Light (nominal range - 24 miles) if you are turning for 9.2 knots? Visibility is 5 nautical miles.

    Y a. The light is visible at 2212
    N b. 2221
    N c. 2243
    N d. You will not sight the light on this course.