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.


105: On 19 January , your 0300 zone time DR position is LAT 22°13'N, LONG 40°19'W. You are on course 297°T at a speed of 17 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0545 running fix?


115: 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 __________.


142: As you approach West Memphis Lt. (mile 727.4 AHP) you notice on the map a dashed line crossing the river. This line indicates a __________.


162: At 1923, you decrease speed to make good 9.2 mph. What is the first Gage you will pass after your speed change?

    Y a. Cottonwood Point
    N b. New Madrid
    N c. Fulton
    N d. Tiptonville

164: The Helena Gage reads 9.4 feet. The high point on your towboat is 42 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge?

    N a. 53.0 feet
    N b. 64.2 feet
    Y c. 68.0 feet
    N d. 110.0 feet

189: At 0645, Watch Hill Point (left tangent) bears 316.5°pgc at 2.75 miles. What was the speed made good between 0600 and 0645?

    N a. 8.1 knots
    N b. 9.8 knots
    Y c. 10.3 knots
    N d. 11.4 knots

206: At 1850, you obtain the following bearings and distances:

Montauk Point 189°pgc 8.7 miles
Watch Hill Light 340°pgc 5.7 miles

What true course did you make good between 1830 and 1850?

    Y a. 293°T
    N b. 297°T
    N c. 299°T
    N d. 305°T

224: Which statement concerning your 1920 position is TRUE?

    N a. You are governed by the Inland Rules of the Road.
    Y b. You are entering a restricted area.
    N c. You are within the Chesapeake Bay Entrance traffic separation scheme.
    N d. You can expect differences of as much as 6° from the normal magnetic variation of the area.

248: You are southeast of Saybrook Breakwater Light passing Saybrook Bar Lighted Bell Buoy "8". This buoy marks __________.

    N a. a sunken wreck
    N b. a bifurcation
    N c. the junction with the Connecticut River
    Y d. shoal water

267: At 0802, Branford Reef Light bears 348°T at 0.75 mile, and the north point of Falkner Island bears 088°T at 6.7 miles. What were the set and drift since 0740?

    N a. Set 040°T, drift .2 knot
    N b. Set 220°T, drift .2 knot
    Y c. Set 220°T, drift .6 knot
    N d. You are making good your intended course and speed.

341: You are on course 082°T, and the engines are turning for 8 knots. At 0352, you take the following bearings:
Stratford Point Light 016°pgc Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light 137°pgc

What is your 0352 position?

    Y a. LAT 41°05.2'N, LONG 73°07.8'W
    N b. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 73°07.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.3'N, LONG 73°07.5'W
    N d. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 73°07.7'W

402: A vessel at LAT 38°36'N, LONG 11°36'W, heads for a destination at LAT 24°16'N, LONG 71°52'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 236.4°T, 2,916.9 miles
    N b. 254.4°T, 2,916.9 miles
    Y c. 254.4°T, 3,203.6 miles
    N d. 285.6°T, 3,203.6 miles

412: A vessel steams 1650 miles on course 077°T from LAT 12°47'N, LONG 45°10'E. What is the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by Mercator sailing?

    N a. LAT 18°54'N, LONG 72°58'E
    Y b. LAT 18°58'N, LONG 72°52'E
    N c. LAT 19°02'N, LONG 72°44'E
    N d. LAT 19°06'N, LONG 72°36'E

533: You depart LAT 38°14'N, LONG 12°42'W, for LAT 38°14'N, LONG 46°09'W. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing?

    N a. 090°T, 1576.5 miles
    N b. 090°T, 2879.0 miles
    Y c. 270°T, 1576.5 miles
    N d. 270°T, 2868.5 miles

726: On 16 December , your 1810 zone time DR position is LONG 129°46.5'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 23°56.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 12m 31s, and the chronometer error is 02m 16s fast. The index error is 2.5' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52.6 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris?

    Y a. 23°07.8'N
    N b. 23°12.3'N
    N c. 24°11.9'N
    N d. 24°18.6'N

732: On 3 January , your 1759 zone time DR position is LONG 60°53.2'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 22°55.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 09h 57m 10s, and the chronometer error is 02m 26s slow. The index error is 2.9' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52.5 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris?

    N a. 21°35.2'N
    N b. 21°52.5'N
    Y c. 22°03.6'N
    N d. 22°22.6'N

1021: On 30 March , your 0145 DR position is LAT 29°30'S, LONG 122°45'E. You are on course 055°T at a speed of 22 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix.

    N a. LAT 28°24.6'S, LONG 124°21.4'E
    Y b. LAT 28°39.9'S, LONG 124°18.6'E
    N c. LAT 28°41.5'S, LONG 124°41.5'E
    N d. LAT 29°20.1'S, LONG 123°41.0'E

1088: On 9 June , your 0000 DR position is LAT 26°14.0'S, LONG 176°38.1'E. You are on course 223°T, speed 17.8 knots. You observed 4 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0630 running fix.

    Y a. LAT 27°44.7'S, LONG 174°57.1'E
    N b. LAT 27°46.2'S, LONG 175°03.0'E
    N c. LAT 27°41.2'S, LONG 175°01.2'E
    N d. LAT 27°38.5'S, LONG 175°06.3'E

1098: On 19 September , your 0300 zone time DR position is LAT 24°35'N, LONG 88°40'W. You are on course 288°T at a speed of 14 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. NP-0028

    N a. LAT 24°47.4'N, LONG 89°15.0'W
    Y b. LAT 24°52.5'N, LONG 89°22.4'W
    N c. LAT 24°59.5'N, LONG 89°28.6'W
    N d. LAT 25°06.0'N, LONG 90°37.0'W

1117: What is the length of the trip?

    N a. 720.8 miles
    N b. 777.4 miles
    Y c. 897.2 miles
    N d. 906.3 miles

1143: Which town is located at mile 663.5 AHP?

    N a. Friers Point
    Y b. Helena
    N c. St. Francis
    N d. Rodney

1260: On 16 March , your 0330 ZT DR position is LAT 22°36.0'S, LONG 76°16.0'E. You are on course 098°T at a speed of 16 knots. What will be the ZT of sunrise at your vessel?

    N a. 0545
    Y b. 0553
    N c. 0600
    N d. 0608

1275: At 1730 zone time, on 3 March , your DR position is LAT 16°00'S, LONG 80°00'W. You are steering 000°T at a speed of 7.5 knots. What is the zone time of sunset?

    N a. 1829
    N b. 1834
    Y c. 1843
    N d. 1852

1501: On 3 October , your 0330 zone time (ZD + 5) DR position is LAT 47°41'N, LONG 86°49'W. At that time, you observe Polaris bearing 357.5°pgc. The chronometer time of the observation is 08h 32m 04s, and the chronometer is 0m 27s slow. The variation is 5.5°W. What is the gyro error?

    N a. 7.5°E
    N b. 5.0°E
    N c. 3.5°E
    Y d. 2.0°E

1705: What is the mile point of the Rosedale, MS Gage?

    N a. 554.2 AHP
    Y b. 592.2 AHP
    N c. 632.5 AHP
    N d. 663.0 AHP

1756: You pass Hole in Wall Light at 1200, 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
    N c. 1128, 26 May
    Y d. 1221, 26 May

2105: You are southeast of Saybrook Breakwater Light passing Saybrook Bar Lighted Bell Buoy "8". This buoy marks __________.

    Y a. shoal water
    N b. a tide rips area
    N c. the junction with the Connecticut River
    N d. a sunken wreck

2152: On 25 June , at 0612 zone time, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 28°13.0'S, LONG 49°34.0'E. Your vessel is steaming at 17.0 knots on a course of 066°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 1022 zone time. The chronometer reads 07h 19m 17s, and the sextant altitude is 35°26.3'. The index error is 1.5' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 02m 51s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 58.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    Y a. 021.5°T
    N b. 157.5°T
    N c. 201.5°T
    N d. 338.5°T

2881: Your vessel is steering 049°T at 15 knots. At 1914 a light bears 078°T, and at 1951 the same light bears 116°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    Y a. 6.7 miles
    N b. 7.1 miles
    N c. 7.5 miles
    N d. 8.3 miles

3069: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 18.5 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 21.7 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 4% negative slip?

    Y a. 83
    N b. 90
    N c. 97
    N d. 114

4002: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°E. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a true heading of 258°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 350° 122.5° - 110° 239.5° - 230°
030.5° - 020° 152.0° - 140° 269.0° - 260°
061.5° - 050° 181.0° - 170° 298.0° - 290°
092.0° - 080° 210.0° - 200° 327.5° - 320°

    N a. 0.5°W
    N b. 0.0°
    N c. 0.5°E
    Y d. 1.0°E

10612: You are taking a time tick using the 2000 signal from Kekaha-Kauai, Hawaii (WWVH). 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 08h 00m 08s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 08h 01m 15s, and the chronometer reads 07h 59m 55s. What is the chronometer error?

    N a. 0m 08s fast
    N b. 1m 07s fast
    Y c. 1m 12s slow
    N d. 1m 28s slow

11003: What best describes the condition of the tidal current at New London Harbor Entrance, at 0945 on 3 March 1983?

    N a. It is slack water.
    Y b. The current has reached its maximum flood velocity.
    N c. It has reached its maximum ebb velocity.
    N d. The current is approaching slack water.

11405: At 2125 your GPS position is LAT 41°05.7'N, LONG 72°46.5'W. At 2208 your position is LAT 41°03.3'N, LONG 72°37.9'W. What was your course made good by standard magnetic compass?

    Y a. 123°psc
    N b. 287°psc
    N c. 303°psc
    N d. 326°psc

11803: What is the true course to steer between Falkner Island Light and Horton Point Light, if the set and drift of the current are 041° at 2.4 knots, and a northeasterly wind will cause 4° of leeway? Your engines are making turns for 15 knots.

    N a. 116°T
    N b. 124°T
    Y c. 134°T
    N d. 142°T

11908: Your position is 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course to steer to arrive at LAT 41°00.0'N, LONG 71°30.0'W, if you are turning for 7.8 knots, the current is 330° at 1.2 knots, and a southerly wind causes 3° of leeway?

    Y a. 117°T
    N b. 112°T
    N c. 104°T
    N d. 102°T

12608: You are on course 083° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Branford Reef Light 344.5°psc Falkner Island Light 053.5°psc Mattituck Inlet Light 141.5°psc What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41°10.4'N, LONG 72°43.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°09.6'N, LONG 72°44.9'W
    N c. LAT 41°08.4'N, LONG 72°43.7'W
    Y d. LAT 41°08.0'N, LONG 72°44.8'W

13403: Your vessel has become disabled and is dead in the water. Your GPS set fixes your position at LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°43.5'W. You decide to anchor at this position. Which type of bottom should you expect?

    N a. Soft clay and sand
    Y b. Soft mud and shell
    N c. Hard sand and rocks
    N d. Blue mud and gray sand

15013: At 2020, what is the course to steer to enter the inbound lane of North Chesapeake Entrance traffic separation scheme if a northwesterly wind causes 3° of leeway?

    N a. 227°pgc
    N b. 224°pgc
    Y c. 221°pgc
    N d. 215°pgc

15108: Your 1752 position places you __________.

    Y a. less than 0.5 mile westward of York Spit Channel
    N b. less than 0.5 mile eastward of York Spit Channel
    N c. greater than 0.5 mile westward of York Spit Channel
    N d. greater than 0.5 mile eastward of York Spit Channel

15115: If the visibility is 11 miles, what is the luminous range of New Point Comfort Spit Light "4"?

    N a. 0.5 mile
    N b. 3.8 miles
    N c. 4.3 miles
    Y d. 5.0 miles

15357: If the visibility is 10 miles, what is the earliest time you can expect to see New Haven Light?

    N a. The light is visible at 0452.
    N b. 0458
    N c. 0510
    Y d. You will not sight the light.

15366: At 0615 you change course to 078°T. If there is no current, when will Falkner Island Light be abeam?

    N a. 0750
    N b. 0743
    N c. 0735
    Y d. 0730

15666: At 0815, visibility is excellent and you can see Montauk Point. Montauk Point Light is __________.

    N a. shown from a brown tower
    N b. equipped with a fog diaphone
    Y c. lighted 24 hours
    N d. is 79 feet (24 meters) high

15840: You should expect to pass how far off buoy "12"?

    Y a. 0.8 mile
    N b. 1.2 miles
    N c. 1.7 miles
    N d. 2.1 miles

16368: Why should mariners use extreme care when navigating within the precautionary area centered on Chesapeake Bay Entrance Junction Lighted Gong Buoy CBJ?

    N a. There are numerous underwater obstructions that are a hazard to vessels with drafts exceeding 2 meters (6.5 feet).
    N b. Fishing vessels of limited maneuverability routinely operate in this area when hunting oyster and crabs.
    Y c. Vessels may approach from different directions from the inbound separation lanes and from Chesapeake and Thimble Shoal Channel.
    N d. Large naval vessels having the right of way often enter the area when bound to or from the Norfolk Naval Base.

16369: As you pass between Trestle B and Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel, you sight along Trestle C when it is in line. The gyro bearing is 051°. What is the gyro error by observation?

    N a. 4°E
    N b. 2°E
    N c. 0°
    Y d. 2°W

16713: At 0600 you take the following bearings:

Point Judith Light bearing 063°pgc
Block Island North Reef Light bearing 144°pgc

What is your 0600 position?

    N a. LAT 41°18.1'N, LONG 71°38.3'W
    Y b. LAT 41°18.3'N, LONG 71°38.7'W
    N c. LAT 41°18.4'N, LONG 72°38.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°18.5'N, LONG 71°38.9'W