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.

42: What is the distance from Greenville, MS, to St. Louis, MO, on the Mississippi River System?
84: What is the distance from the Amoco Docks at Baton Rouge, LA, to the mouth of the Ohio River?
88: What is the vertical clearance between the highest point of your towboat, if it is 58 feet above the water, and if the Natchez Gage reads 28.13 feet when passing under the Natchez Upper Highway Bridge?
128: At Filter Point Light (mile 475 AHP) there are 2 close straight dashed lines on the map. What do these lines represent? 

    N a. Submerged oil pipelines
    N b. Submerged telephone cables
    N c. Submerged gas pipelines
    Y d. Aerial power cables
151: What is the distance from the Memphis Gage to the Redneb Services Dock in New Orleans, LA. 

    N a. 460 miles
    N b. 503 miles
    N c. 588 miles
    Y d. 633 miles
329: The engineer has advised that it will be necessary to secure the gyrocompass and the electronic equipment. From your 0315 position, what is your course per standard magnetic compass to York Spit Channel Buoy "38", if there is no current? 

    N a. 218°psc
    Y b. 216°psc
    N c. 214°psc
    N d. 212°psc
391: A vessel at LAT 40°42.0'N, LONG 74°01.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 14°41.0'N, LONG 17°26.0'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing. 

    N a. 123°T, 3066.5 miles
    N b. 123°T, 3065.6 miles
    N c. 118°T, 3066.5 miles
    Y d. 118°T, 3365.0 miles
460: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 35°27.0'N, LONG 140°20.5'E to LAT 47°51.0'N, LONG 122°51.0'W. 

    N a. 4087 miles, 036°T
    Y b. 4115 miles, 045°T
    N c. 4122 miles. 076°T
    N d. 4136 miles, 076°T
557: The south shore of Long Island Sound near your position is __________. 

    N a. high with numerous cliffs
    Y b. fringed with rock shoals
    N c. backed by marshes and wooded uplands
    N d. low and marshy
577: At 1015, you estimate you have 139 miles to complete the voyage. If you average 9.5 knots, you will complete the voyage in __________. 

    N a. 14 hours 44 minutes
    Y b. 14 hours 38 minutes
    N c. 14 hours 30 minutes
    N d. 14 hours 22 minutes
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.
739: On 29 April , your 1913 zone time DR position is LAT 22°09.0'N, LONG 56°16.0'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 22°25.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 11h 11m 14s, and the chronometer error is 02m 18s slow. The index error is 1.5' off the arc, and the height of eye is 61.5 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    N a. 21°39.9'N
    N b. 21°55.7'N
    Y c. 22°39.9'N
    N d. 22°48.8'N
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
1266: On 1 December , your 1600 ZT DR position is LAT 22°48.0'S, LONG 91°26.0'E. You are on course 327°T at a speed of 16 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1823
    Y b. 1827
    N c. 1831
    N d. 1847
1295: After passing Wilkinson Lt. you see a flashing amber light on the right descending bank ahead. The flashing light indicates that you should __________. 

    N a. stay in the deepest water
    N b. slow down due to dredging operations
    Y c. keep as close to the left descending bank as safety permits
    N d. keep as close to the right descending bank as safety permits
1299: What is the length of the trip? 

    N a. 405.8 miles
    Y b. 904.0 miles
    N c. 1002.0 miles
    N d. 1136.8 miles
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
1364: In high water conditions, which publication would you consult for the latest information on buoys between Baton Rouge and Cairo? 

    N a. List of Buoys and Daymarks
    N b. U.S.C.G. Light List
    N c. Army Corps. of Engineers Navigation Chart
    Y d. None of the above
1451: On 11 December , your 1816 ZT DR position is LAT 26°30.0'N, LONG 140°35.0'E. At that time, you observe Venus bearing 230°pgc. The chronometer reads 09h 14m 52s and the chronometer error is 01m 02s slow. The variation is 3.5°E. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 2.2°E
    Y b. 3.3°E
    N c. 3.2°W
    N d. 4.2°W
1766: What type of daymark will you see as you approach Black Hills Light (mile 337.7 AHP)? 

    N a. Private aid - no daymark
    N b. Red square
    N c. Red diamond
    Y d. Red triangle
1775: At 1412 you increase speed to make good 10.2 mph. At 1506 you have a daymark on your port beam. Which daymark is this? 

    N a. Bessie Daymark
    Y b. Nolan Light
    N c. Everetts Light
    N d. Marr Towhead Light
1891: On 22 July , your 1759 DR position is LAT 24°50.2'S, LONG 005°16.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 203°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 28°12.2'. The chronometer reads 06h 01m 31s, and is 02m 15s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Regulus
    N b. Antares
    Y c. Miaplacidus
    N d. Suhail
1900: On 22 May , your 0437 DR position is LAT 25°18.5'N, LONG 51°18.0'W. You observed an unidentified star bearing 233°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 29°42.3'. The chronometer reads 07h 40m 40s, and is 03m 24s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Markab
    N b. Diphda
    Y c. Sabik
    N d. Hamal
1907: On 22 March , your 1834 DR position is LAT 26°13.5'S, LONG 108°36.5'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 062°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 23°22.0'. The chronometer reads 01h 32m 37s, and is 01m 50s slow. Which star did you observe? 

    Y a. Regulus
    N b. Menkar
    N c. Rigel
    N d. Alphard
2031: After passing Wilkinson Lt. (mile 310.0 AHP) you see a flashing amber light on the right descending bank ahead. The flashing light indicates that you should __________. 

    N a. stay in the deepest water
    N b. slow down due to dredging operations
    N c. keep as close to the right descending bank as safety permits
    Y d. keep as close to the left descending bank as safety permits
2106: At 0005, on 26 January, your position is LAT 41°11.8'N,
LONG 72°20.5'W. From this position, you plot a course to steer to a point one half mile north of Mattituck Breakwater Light "MI" with an engine speed of 9.0 knots. If there are no set and drift, what course should you steer? 

    N a. 207°psc
    N b. 213°psc
    N c. 220°psc
    Y d. 235°psc
2240: At 1542 ZT, on 23 October , in DR position LAT 37° 28.5'N, LONG 156° 17.3'E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 282.5°psc. The variation is 0.0°. What is the deviation? 

    Y a. 2.2°E
    N b. 2.2°W
    N c. 1.2°E
    N d. 1.2°W
2276: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 46°20.3' on 1 April . The index error is 4.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 57 feet (17.4 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 46°24.2'
    N b. 46°27.9'
    N c. 46°30.1'
    Y d. 46°32.6'
2322: At 1032 on 24 June, you pass Carolina Landing Light (mile 508.8 AHP). What has been the average current since 2350, 23 June, if you have been making turns for 9.0 mph? 

    Y a. 0.5 mph
    N b. 1.5 mph
    N c. 5.7 mph
    N d. 8.5 mph
2898: You are steaming on a course of 267°T at 22 knots. At 0433 you observe a lighthouse bearing 290°T. At 0452 the lighthouse bears 328°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing? 

    Y a. 4.5 nm
    N b. 5.9 nm
    N c. 6.6 nm
    N d. 7.2 nm
3088: If the pitch of the propeller is 21.5 feet, and the revolutions per day are 96,666, calculate the day's run allowing 9% negative slip. 

    N a. 311.1 miles
    N b. 341.8 miles
    N c. 357.9 miles
    Y d. 372.6 miles
3264: You have steamed 1134 miles at 10 knots, and consumed 121 tons of fuel. If you have to steam 1522 miles to complete the voyage, how many tons of fuel will be consumed while steaming at 12 knots? 

    N a. 146 tons
    N b. 189 tons
    N c. 200 tons
    Y d. 234 tons
3266: Your vessel has consumed 1087 bbls of fuel after steaming 2210 miles at a speed of 10.75 kts. What is the maximum speed you can steam for the last 1000 miles of the voyage on the remaining 725 bbls, if you estimate 3% of the fuel is not usable? 

    N a. 11.43 knots
    N b. 11.76 knots
    Y c. 12.84 knots
    N d. 15.33 knots
3300: You have steamed 156 miles and consumed 19 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 273 miles? 

    N a. 23.6 tons
    N b. 27.9 tons
    Y c. 33.3 tons
    N d. 37.2 tons
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
3773: Which numbered box indicates the ExxonMobil Refining & Supply Co. in Baton Rouge? 

    Y a. 1
    N b. 2
    N c. 3
    N d. 4
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
10611: You are off the coast of Mexico and are taking a time tick for 1800. At approximately 1754, you hear the preparatory signal "VVVV de XDD" from the time signal station. Then you hear a series of 1 second dashes followed by a 9 second silent period and then a long 1.3 second dash. At the beginning of the long dash, your comparing watch reads 06h 00m 07s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 06h 01m 24s, and the chronometer reads 05h 59m 23s. What is the chronometer error? 

    N a. 0m 07s fast
    N b. 1m 17s fast
    N c. 0m 37s slow
    Y d. 1m 54s slow
10908: What is the velocity of the first maximum flood current in Lynnhaven Roads on 23 July 1983? 

    Y a. 0.4 knot
    N b. 0.5 knot
    N c. 0.8 knot
    N d. 1.3 knots
11103: Point Judith Harbor of Refuge (LAT 41°22'N, LONG 71°30'W) __________. 

    N a. is used only by tows
    N b. has moorings for small craft along the breakwater
    N c. is easily entered in all sea conditions
    Y d. is entered through either the East Gap or the West Gap
11104: What is the time of the first PM (Daylight Savings Time) maximum ebb current at Plum Gut on 10 August 1983? 

    N a. 1231
    N b. 1249
    N c. 1340
    Y d. 1445
12310: You sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light (LAT 41°18.2'N, LONG 71°56.0'W) bearing 091° per standard magnetic compass. If your vessel was heading 246° per standard magnetic compass at the time, which of the following is TRUE? 

    N a. The deviation table is correct.
    Y b. The compass error is 18°W for that heading.
    N c. The deviation is equal to the variation.
    N d. The deviation is equal to but of opposite sign to the variation.
13105: At 1048 you are in the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island with buoy "5" close aboard. What is your ETA at the west gap of Point Judith Harbor of Refuge if you make good 8.3 knots? 

    N a. 1149
    N b. 1154
    N c. 1158
    Y d. 1203
14302: What are the characteristics of the upper light of Government Island Lower Range, on the Columbia River? 

    Y a. Equal interval red, 6 seconds
    N b. Green group flashing, 6 seconds
    N c. Quick flashing red, 6 seconds
    N d. Equal interval green, 6 seconds
15062: If there is no current, what is the course per standard magnetic compass from your 0802 fix to a position 1.1 miles north of Falkner Island Light? 

    N a. 064°psc
    N b. 068°psc
    N c. 091°psc
    Y d. 095°psc
15157: If there is no current, what is the course per gyro compass from your 1600 position to point "A" located 0.5 mile due east of Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy "12"? 

    N a. 190°pgc
    N b. 193°pgc
    N c. 196°pgc
    Y d. 199°pgc
15518: From your 1930 position, you plot a course to pass 0.5 mile due south of Race Rock Light. If your vessel's speed is 10.0 knots, the current's set and drift are 040°T at 1.8 knots, and a north wind produces a 3° leeway, what true course should you steer to make good your desired course? 

    N a. 275°T
    Y b. 280°T
    N c. 290°T
    N d. 294°T
15519: As an option to heading into Long Island Sound, you consider anchoring in the vicinity of the Gardiners Point Ruins approximately one mile off the north end of Gardiners Island. What is the minimum recommended distance from the ruins for fishing,
trawling, or anchoring? 

    Y a. 300 yards (91 meters)
    N b. 1.0 mile
    N c. 0.5 mile
    N d. No distance is prescribed since any such activities in the area are prohibited.
15769: At 0900, you take the following radar ranges:

Watch Hill Point 5.4 miles
Block Island Grace Point 8.3 miles

Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. You are to the right of the track line.
    N b. The bottom in the area is sand and gravel.
    N c. You are inside of the Territorial Sea.
    Y d. The fix is indeterminate.
15918: At 1038, you are 0.4 mile south of Long Sand Shoal Buoy "8A" on course 090°T when visibility is reduced to 1 mile in rain and haze. You intend to stay on 090°T until your Loran shows a reading that you can safely follow to the approaches of New London. Which of the following Loran readings will you look for? 

    N a. 9960-W-14720
    N b. 9960-X-26290
    Y c. 9960-Y-43980
    N d. 9960-W-14810
15965: If the visibility is 5 miles, what is the luminous range of New Point Comfort Spit Light "4"? 

    N a. 0.5 mile
    Y b. 3.4 miles
    N c. 4.8 miles
    N d. 5.0 miles
16062: At 1930, your vessel is between York River Entrance Channel Lighted Buoys "1YR" and "2". From this position, you change course to 142°pgc at an engine speed of 8.0 knots. At 2000, you take the following bearings: Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light - 131°pgc Thimble Shoal Light - 247°pgc
What were the set and drift between 1930 and 2000? 

    N a. 140°T at 0.2 knot
    Y b. 140°T at 0.4 knot
    N c. 320°T at 0.2 knot
    N d. 320°T at 0.4 knot
16260: If your vessel draws 6.5 feet (2 meters), what is the approximate depth of water under your keel at 0320? 

    N a. 52 feet (15.8 meters)
    N b. 48 feet (14.5 meters)
    N c. 44 feet (13.3 meters)
    Y d. 40 feet (12.0 meters)