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.


68: The river will be temporarily closed to navigation at mile 531.3 AHP due to repairs to the bridge. This will occur at 1300, 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?


265: At 0740, you take the following Radar Ranges:

Branford Reef Light @ 2.5 nm
New Haven Light @ 3.9 nm

What is your position?


294: What is the maximum allowable speed of vessels underway up river from Tue Marshes Light?


374: You calculate that the current will be ebbing at the Race at 0700. You should expect to be set in which general direction at the Race?

    N a. West
    Y b. East
    N c. Northeast
    N d. North

409: A vessel steams 1082 miles on course 047°T from LAT 37°18.0'N, LONG 24°40.0'W. What is the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by Mercator sailing?

    N a. LAT 49°30.0'N, LONG 06°22.0'W
    N b. LAT 49°33.0'N, LONG 06°25.0'W
    Y c. LAT 49°36.0'N, LONG 06°28.0'W
    N d. LAT 49°39.0'N, LONG 06°31.0'W

488: At 0705, with your gyro again functioning properly, you change course to 096°T. At this time Race Rock Light is bearing 000°T at 0.35 mile. You are now governed by which Navigation Rules?

    Y a. International Rules
    N b. Local Pilot Rules
    N c. Inland Rules
    N d. Coastal Fishery Rules

491: At 0748, you take the following bearings:

Watch Hill Point Light bearing 020.5° pgc
Race Point Light bearing 267.5° pgc

What is the approximate depth of water at this position?

    N a. 104 feet
    Y b. 130 feet
    N c. 175 feet
    N d. 325 feet

511: At 0130, your position is LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°46.9'W when you change course to 086°T. If you make good 086°T, what is the closest point of approach to Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy?

    N a. 1.2 mile
    N b. 1.1 mile
    Y c. 0.9 miles
    N d. 0.7 miles

539: Determine the distance from LAT 59°12'N, LONG 14°00'W to LAT 59°12'N, LONG 03°20'W by parallel sailing.

    N a. 324.2 miles
    N b. 325.4 miles
    Y c. 327.7 miles
    N d. 328.9 miles

563: At 0705, the gyro loses power. At 0715, you are on course 092° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: Falkner Light bears 356°psc, Horton Point Light bears 123°psc, and Kelsey Point Breakwater Light bears 048°psc. What is the position of your 0715 fix?

    N a. LAT 41°06.7'N, LONG 72°36.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°07.0'N, LONG 72°36.2'W
    N c. LAT 41°07.2'N, LONG 72°36.4'W
    N d. LAT 41°07.4'N, LONG 72°36.4'W

572: At 0908, you change course to 010°T. What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 359°
    Y b. 021°
    N c. 017°
    N d. 003°

636: 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

667: You are planning a voyage from departure Seattle (LAT 48°30'N, LONG 125°00'W) to a position at LAT 44°00'N, LONG 161°00'E. Which statement is TRUE? (Use gnomonic chart WOXZC 5270.)

    N a. You must plot a composite sailing to remain south of the Aleutians.
    N b. The northern hemisphere vertex lies to the west of your arrival position.
    Y c. Military exercises north of 53°N, between 150°W and 165°W, will not affect your voyage.
    N d. At your highest latitude, the sun will be visible at upper and lower transit if the voyage occurs on 21 June.

669: You are planning a voyage from Cape May (LAT 38°45'N, LONG 74°45'W) to Lisbon (LAT 38°37'N, LONG 09°45'W). Which of the following is TRUE? (Use gnomonic chart WOXZC 5274)

    N a. Because the latitudes are almost the same, a great circle track approximates a parallel sailing.
    Y b. The northern hemisphere vertex is approximately at longitude 42°26'W.
    N c. The distance is measured by using the length of one degree of the meridian at the position of the vertex.
    N d. A composite sailing must be plotted to remain south of a limiting latitude of 44°N.

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

1247: At 0509, on 26 December, you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge (mile 661.7 AHP). What has been the average speed of the current since departing Memphis Harbor, McKellar Lake, if you have been making turns for 7.5 mph?

    N a. 5.6 mph
    Y b. 4.4 mph
    N c. 2.1 mph
    N d. 1.8 mph

1339: At 1300, 5 January, the river will be temporarily closed to navigation for six hours at mile 531.3 AHP due to repairs to a bridge. What minimum speed over the ground must you make from Natchez Gage in order not to be delayed?

    N a. 5.7 mph
    Y b. 6.0 mph
    N c. 6.8 mph
    N d. 7.3 mph

1726: The highest point on your towboat is 57 feet above water. The Natchez Gage (mile 363.3 AHP) reads 16.7 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Natchez - Vidalia (westbound) Hwy. Bridge?

    Y a. 52.3 feet
    N b. 59.9 feet
    N c. 61.0 feet
    N d. 68.6 feet

1738: Which of the following statements regarding aids to navigation shown in the Corps. of Engineers map book is TRUE?

    Y a. Buoys should always be given as wide a berth in passing as possible.
    N b. The U.S. Army Corps.. of Engineers is responsible for placing and maintaining all aids to navigation.
    N c. Buoy positions as shown on the chart are exact.
    N d. Lights and daymarks are always shown in their exact location.

1803: As you approach Shreves cut-off you see Red River Landing Gage (mile 302.4 AHP) which reads 4.2 feet. The Low Water Reference Plane (LWRP) is 10.6 feet. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    N a. This reading is 6.4 feet above the Low Water Reference Plane.
    N b. A vessel drawing 8 ft would be able to pass over the sill at Old River Lock
    Y c. This reading is 6.4 feet below the Low Water Reference Plane.
    N d. A vessel drawing 7 ft. would be able to pass through the locks at Lower Old River.

1872: 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 031°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 70°10.3'. 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?

    N a. Sheratan
    N b. Ruchbah
    N c. Mimosa
    Y d. Cor Caroli

1914: On 14 January , your 0550 DR position is LAT 25°26.0'N, LONG 38°16.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 192°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 06°15.2'. The chronometer reads 08h 48m 51s, and is 01m 22s slow. What star did you observe?

    N a. Gienah
    N b. Kochab
    Y c. Gacrux
    N d. Eltanin

2002: On 16 July , your 1810 zone time DR position is LAT 24°16.5'S, LONG 162°52.0'E. Considering their magnitude,
azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time?

    N a. Arcturus, Spica, Antares
    Y b. Jupiter, Alphard, Alphecca
    N c. Pollux, Mars, Deneb
    N d. Vega, Hadar, Venus

2005: On 17 July , your 1951 zone time DR position is LAT 24°26.0'N, LONG 51°16.0'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time?

    N a. Hadar, Deneb, Alphard
    N b. Regulus, Venus, Antares
    N c. Mars, Vega, Dubhe
    Y d. Kochab, Jupiter, Rasalhague

2024: On 3 December , evening twilight for your vessel will occur at 1901 zone time. Your vessel's DR position for this time will be LAT 24°18.5'S, LONG 110°30.6'W. Considering their magnitude and location, what are the three stars best suited to observe for a fix at star time?

    N a. Canopus, Hamal, Deneb
    Y b. Alpheratz, Achernar, Nunki
    N c. Antares, Fomalhaut, Mirfak
    N d. Rigel, Canopus, Regulus

2090: At your current speed of 17 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 316 miles. You must travel 622 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination?

    Y a. 12.1
    N b. 13.3
    N c. 14.5
    N d. 15.7

2594: What will be the current at Port Jefferson entrance at 0130 on December 5, 1983?

    N a. 1.4 knots, flood
    N b. 1.4 knots, ebb
    N c. 0.8 knot, flood
    Y d. 0.8 knot, ebb

2594: What will be the current at Port Jefferson entrance at 0130 on December 5, 1983?

    N a. 1.4 knots, flood
    N b. 1.4 knots, ebb
    N c. 0.8 knot, flood
    Y d. 0.8 knot, ebb

2695: You are underway on course 017°T at a speed of 14.2 knots.
You sight a buoy bearing 025°T at a radar range of 3.7 miles at 1947. If you change course at 1953, what is the course to steer to leave the buoy abeam to starboard at 0.1 mile?

    N a. 021°T
    N b. 024°T
    Y c. 027°T
    N d. 030°T

2696: You are underway on course 059°T at a speed of 13.8 knots.
You sight a light bearing 064°T at a radar range of 5.1 miles at 1839. If you change course at 1845, what is the course to steer to leave the light abeam to starboard at 1.0 mile?

    N a. 047°T
    Y b. 050°T
    N c. 053°T
    N d. 058°T

2870: Your vessel is on a course of 126°T at 17 knots. At 0251 a light bears 099.5°T, and at 0313 the light bears 081°T. At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light?

    N a. 0327, 4.4 miles
    Y b. 0335, 6.2 miles
    N c. 0345, 6.8 miles
    N d. 0351, 7.4 miles

3256: You have steamed 918 miles at 15.0 knots, and consumed 183 tons of fuel. If you have 200 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 12 knots?

    N a. 1021 miles
    N b. 1261 miles
    Y c. 1568 miles
    N d. 1960 miles

3310: You have steamed 216 miles and consumed 19.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 315 miles?

    Y a. 27.7 tons
    N b. 32.3 tons
    N c. 36.9 tons
    N d. 40.4 tons

3451: You are underway and intend to make good a course of 040°T. You experience a current with a set and drift of 190°T at 1.4 knots, and a northwest wind produces a leeway of 3°. You adjust your course to compensate for the current and leeway, while maintaining an engine speed of 10 knots. What will be your speed made good over your intended course of 040°T?

    N a. 7.8 knots
    Y b. 8.8 knots
    N c. 9.8 knots
    N d. 11.0 knots

3639: You desire to make good a true course of 132°. The variation is 10°W, magnetic compass deviation is 5°E, and gyrocompass error is 5°W. A northeast by east wind produces a 5° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good?

    Y a. 132°psc
    N b. 135°psc
    N c. 137°psc
    N d. 142°psc

10100: Your GPS position is LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 75°48.6'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position one mile south of Cape Charles Buoy "14" (which is positioned at LAT 37°07.4'N, LONG 75°41.0'W)?

    Y a. 045°psc
    N b. 049°psc
    N c. 053°psc
    N d. 057°psc

10202: Your present position is LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°38.0'W. Assuming that there is no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to arrive at a position midway between New Haven Harbor Channel buoys #1 and #2?

    N a. 137°psc
    N b. 309°psc
    Y c. 315°psc
    N d. 319°psc

10500: At 1712 your GPS indicates a position of LAT 36°54.8'N, LONG 75°39.8'W. You are on course 319° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 9.9 knots. At 1800 your GPS indicates your position at LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°45.8'W. What were the set and drift?

    N a. 262°T at 0.9 knot
    N b. 267°T at 1.3 knots
    Y c. 087°T at 1.2 knots
    N d. 093°T at 0.8 knot

10504: At 1354 your GPS indicates a position of LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°45.8'W. You are on course 088° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 9.5 knots. At 1500 your GPS indicates your position as LAT 37°01.6'N, LONG 75°31.7'W. What were the set and drift?

    N a. 273°T at 0.8 knot
    N b. 241°T at 1.1 knots
    N c. 061°T at 1.3 knots
    Y d. 092°T at 0.9 knot

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

12104: You sight Wolf Trap Light in line with New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" bearing 234° per standard magnetic compass. You are on course 329°psc. Based on this, you __________.

    N a. know the compass error is 8°W
    Y b. should swing the vessel to check the deviation table
    N c. know the deviation is 1°W
    N d. know the deviation table is accurate for that bearing

15064: At 0844, the range to the north end of Falkner Island is 2.0 miles and the left tangent bearing is 102°T. If the height of the tide is +1.0 foot, what is the approximate depth of the water under the keel?

    N a. 14 ft (4.2 meters)
    Y b. 19 ft (5.8 meters)
    N c. 22 ft (6.7 meters)
    N d. 29 ft (8.8 meters)

15506: You are underway in the vicinity of Block Island and obtain the following lines of position:

Montauk Point Light 263°pgc
Block Island Southeast Light 026°pgc
Radar Bearing to Block Island Southwest Point 348°pgc

What is your position at the time of these sightings?

    N a. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 71°36.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°05.1'N, LONG 71°36.0'W
    Y c. LAT 41°05.3'N, LONG 71°35.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 71°35.5'W

15539: At 2127 you are on course 076°T. What is your ETA at a position where Twenty Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Bell Buoy "TE" is abeam to port?

    N a. 2316
    N b. 2324
    Y c. 2332
    N d. 2345

15622: What are the dimensions of the Old River Lock on the Lower Old River (304 AHP)?

    Y a. 1190 x 75 feet
    N b. 1195 x 75 feet
    N c. 1195 x 84 feet
    N d. 1202 x 84 feet

15630: The area between Island 67 Upper Light (mile 623.1 AHP) and Sunflower Cut-off Foot Light (mile 624.8 AHP) is known as a __________.

    N a. transit
    N b. chute
    Y c. crossing
    N d. slough

15712: At 0910, your DR position is LAT 41°11.9'N, LONG 72°47.8'
W. Your vessel is on course 097°T at 9.5 knots, and the weather is foggy. At 0915, Branford Reef Light is sighted through a break in the fog bearing 318°T. At 0945,
Falkner Island Light is sighted bearing 042°T. What is your 0945 running fix position?

    N a. LAT 41°11.1'N, LONG 72°41.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°41.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°11.4'N, LONG 72°41.0'W
    Y d. LAT 41°11.5'N, LONG 72°40.7'W

15720: The red sector of New London Harbor Light covers from __________.

    N a. 040° - 310°
    Y b. 000° - 041°
    N c. 208° - 220°
    N d. 204° - 239°

15741: At 2050 Montauk Point Light is bearing 337° true at a range of 8 nm, From this position, you change course in order to pass 1 mile due east of Montauk Point Lighted Whistle Buoy "MP". If there are no set and drift, what course must you steer?

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

15862: At 0125, you change course to make good 280°T. What is the course per standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 290°psc
    Y b. 292°psc
    N c. 294°psc
    N d. 296°psc

15944: From your 2038 position you change course to 104°T and increase engine speed to 18 knots. If you make good this course and speed, at what time will Southwest Ledge Lighted Bell Buoy "2" bear 157°T?

    N a. 2047
    Y b. 2052
    N c. 2056
    N d. 2101

16356: What is the course per standard magnetic compass from the anchorage to point "A" located 0.5 mile east of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy 14?

    N a. 185°
    N b. 188°
    N c. 191°
    Y d. 194°

16410: By 1015, visibility has increased to 5.0 miles and you can see Fishers Island. Fishers Island has __________.

    N a. low and sandy beaches with salt ponds and marsh grass
    N b. sheer cliffs rising from the sea to a high, flat plateau
    N c. barren, rocky hills with prominent sandy beaches
    Y d. sparsely wooded hills and is fringed with shoals to the south

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.

16567: From your 1915 position, you come left and set a course for Gardiners Point. At 1930, your position is LAT 41°12.7'N,
LONG 71°56.8'W. What type of bottom is charted at this position?

    N a. Blue mud, gritty shells
    N b. Buried mussels, gritty shells
    Y c. Blue mud, gray sand
    N d. Bumpy mud with gravel surface