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.

89: In high water conditions, which publication would you consult for the latest information on buoys between Baton Rouge and Cairo?
120: You estimate the current as 2.5 mph. What is the speed over the ground?
170: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 54°28.2' on 22 July . The index error is 1.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 56 feet (17.1 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
234: Which structure should you look for while trying to locate Southwest Ledge Light? 

    Y a. White octagonal house on a cylindrical pier
    N b. White conical tower with a brown band midway of height
    N c. Conical tower, upper half white, lower half brown
    N d. Black skeleton tower on a granite dwelling
284: Based on a DR, at approximately 1817 you would expect to __________. 

    N a. enter a traffic separation zone
    N b. cross a submerged pipeline
    Y c. depart a regulated area
    N d. depart a restricted area
604: At 1820 zone time, on 21 March , you depart San Francisco, LAT 37°48.5'N, LONG 122°24.0'W (ZD +8). You are bound for Melbourne, LAT 37°49.2'S, LONG 144°56.0'E, and you estimate your speed of advance at 21 knots. The distance is 6,970 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Melbourne? 

    N a. 1214, 4 April
    N b. 2214, 4 April
    Y c. 0814, 5 April
    N d. 1314, 5 April
611: At 0600 zone time, on 22 October , you depart Manila, LAT 14°35.0'N, LONG 120°58.0'E (ZD -8). You are bound for Los Angeles, LAT 33°46.0'N, LONG 118°11.0'W, and you estimate your speed of advance at 20.2 knots. The distance is 6,385.9 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Los Angeles? 

    Y a. 1808, 3 November
    N b. 0208, 4 November
    N c. 1008, 4 November
    N d. 0208, 5 November
670: You are on a voyage from Cape May (LAT 39°50'N, LONG 74°45'W) to the English Channel (LAT 49°00'N, LONG 05°00'W). What will NOT prohibit the use of a great circle track from departure to arrival? (Use gnomonic chart WOXZC5274.) 

    N a. Newfoundland
    N b. Icebergs north of 48°N and west of 49°W
    N c. Islands approximately 50 miles south of Cape Cod
    Y d. The high latitude in which the vertex lies
1001: On 26 July , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 18°25'N, LONG 51°15'W. You are on course 231°T, speed 15 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.

ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1228 50°23.5' N 19°21.9' 88°14.3'
1236 52°23.5' N 19°21.8' 88°29.0' 

    N a. LAT 18°00.9'N, LONG 51°31.9'W
    N b. LAT 18°03.5'N, LONG 51°36.2'W
    Y c. LAT 18°07.2'N, LONG 51°30.4'W
    N d. LAT 18°10.6'N, LONG 51°25.1'W
1011: On 6 December , your 0800 zone time DR position was LAT 21°48.0'N, LONG 124°30.0'E. Your vessel was steaming on course 045°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 1012 ZT. The chronometer read 02h 10m 42s and was slow 01m 02s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 41°17.1'. LAN occurred at 1129 zone time.
The observed altitude (Ho) was 44°53.7'. What was the longitude of your 1200 zone time running fix? 

    N a. LONG 125°25.0'E
    N b. LONG 125°28.9'E
    N c. LONG 125°32.5'E
    Y d. LONG 125°35.2'E
1095: On 25 Oct. , your 0430 ZT DR position is LAT 24°48'N, LONG 65°31'W. Your vessel is on course 030°T at a speed of 18 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0455 running fix. NP-0025

    Y a. LAT 24°53'N, LONG 65°28'W
    N b. LAT 24°53'N, LONG 65°12'W
    N c. LAT 24°54'N, LONG 65°17'W
    N d. LAT 25°03'N, LONG 65°18'W
1095: On 25 Oct. , your 0430 ZT DR position is LAT 24°48'N, LONG 65°31'W. Your vessel is on course 030°T at a speed of 18 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0455 running fix. NP-0025

    Y a. LAT 24°53'N, LONG 65°28'W
    N b. LAT 24°53'N, LONG 65°12'W
    N c. LAT 24°54'N, LONG 65°17'W
    N d. LAT 25°03'N, LONG 65°18'W
1496: On 3 October , your 2122 ZT position is LAT 26°32'N, LONG 84°26'W. You observe Polaris bearing 359.8°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 106°pgc and 107°psc. The variation is 0°. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    N a. 1°E
    Y b. 0°
    N c. 1°W
    N d. 2°W
1670: On 10 August , your vessel's 0426 zone time DR position is LAT 52°07'N, LONG 142°16'E, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's lower limb is about 20 minutes of arc above the visible horizon and bears 074.5° per standard compass. Variation in the area is 12°W. The chronometer reads 07h 24m 19s and is 02m 34s fast. Which of the following is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    N a. 0.0°
    N b. 1.3°W
    Y c. 1.3°E
    N d. 2.3°W
1707: You are passing the Memphis Gage at 0405, 18 March. If you are turning for 8 mph and estimate the current at 2.3 mph,
what is your ETA at Cairo Point, IL (mile 954.5 AHP)? 

    N a. 0447, 19 Mar
    N b. 1052, 19 Mar
    N c. 1518, 19 Mar
    Y d. 1839, 19 Mar
1727: You pass under the Natchez bridge (mile 363.3 AHP) at 1300, on 27 March, and estimate the current to be 3.3 mph. What is your ETA at St. Louis if you continue to turn for 7.5 mph? 

    N a. 0617,  4 April
    Y b. 0316,  4 April
    N c. 1153, 30 March
    N d. 1253, 31 April
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.
1751: At 1118, on 24 May, you pass Natchez Gage and estimate the current will average 3.0 mph for the remainder of the time on the Mississippi River. What is your ETA at Cairo, IL if you continue to turn for 10 mph? 

    N a. 0840, 26 May
    N b. 2218, 26 May
    Y c. 2339, 27 May
    N d. 0339, 28 May
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
2187: At which of the following times would you be able to listen to lower Mississippi River conditions on VHF Channel 22? 

    N a. 0900 hours
    N b. 1100 hours
    Y c. 1300 hours
    N d. 1600 hours
2201: At 1000, on May 11th, you are passing George Prince Lt. (mile 364.1 AHP) in Natchez, Mississippi and must send an ETA to the Monsanto Terminal in St. Louis (mile 178.0 UMR). Your engines are still turning for 8.5 mph and you estimate the current at 2.5 mph. What will be your arrival time in St. Louis? 

    N a. 1919 on 15 May
    N b. 2344 on 15 May
    N c. 1113 on 16 May
    Y d. 1757 on 16 May
2233: You have orders to drop off the empties at the fleeting area at Cairo Point and add five loaded tank barges to your tow. If you are turning for 9 mph and estimate the current at 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at Cairo? 

    N a. 1031, 22 June
    Y b. 1423, 22 June
    N c. 1741, 22 June
    N d. 2210, 22 June
2285: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 45°49.7' on 13 November . The index error is 1.0' on the arc. The height of eye is 61 feet (18.6 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 45°59.3'
    Y b. 45°56.4'
    N c. 45°52.9'
    N d. 45°49.8'
2694: While on a course of 152°T, a light bears 9° on the port bow at a distance of 11.6 miles. What course should you steer to pass 3 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port? 

    N a. 153°
    Y b. 158°
    N c. 163°
    N d. 167°
2912: Your vessel is on a course of 079°T at 11 knots. At 0152 a light bears 105.5°T, and at 0209 the light bears 124°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0219, 2.3 miles
    Y b. 0226, 3.1 miles
    N c. 0233, 3.9 miles
    N d. 0242, 4.7 miles
3052: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 21.2 feet and a pitch of 20.0 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 391 miles in a 24 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 88? 

    N a. -11.5%
    N b. +11.5%
    N c. -6.2%
    Y d. +6.2%
3258: You have steamed 525 miles at 16.0 knots, and consumed 105 tons of fuel. If you have 308 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 19 knots? 

    N a. 920 miles
    Y b. 1092 miles
    N c. 1297 miles
    N d. 2172 miles
3313: You have steamed 300 miles and consumed 34 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 700 miles? 

    Y a. 79.3 tons
    N b. 74.3 tons
    N c. 68.4 tons
    N d. 66.2 tons
3319: 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 12s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 08h 01m 22s, and the chronometer reads 07h 59m 39s. What is the chronometer error? 

    N a. 0m 12s fast
    N b. 1m 10s fast
    N c. 0m 21s slow
    Y d. 1m 31s slow
3452: You wish to make good a course of 035°T while turning for an engine speed of 12 knots. The set is 340°T, and the drift is 2 knots. What course should you steer? 

    N a. 027°T
    N b. 037°T
    Y c. 044°T
    N d. 054°T
10107: What is the first course per standard magnetic compass (psc) in the outbound southeasterly traffic lane of the Chesapeake Bay entrance traffic separation scheme? 

    N a. 133°psc
    N b. 138°psc
    N c. 143°psc
    Y d. 148°psc
10606: At 0915 your GPS position is LAT 41°04.9'N, LONG 72°42.1'W. You are on course 085° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 6 knots. At 1030 your GPS position is 0.5 mile due south of Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy "TE". What were your set and drift? 

    N a. 042°T at 2.4 knots
    Y b. 045°T at 1.9 knots
    N c. 221°T at 2.0 knots
    N d. 225°T at 2.3 knots
10609: At 1922 your GPS position is LAT 41°04.9'N, LONG 72°42.1'W. You are on course 085° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 10 knots. At 2019 your GPS position is 1 mile due south of Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy "TE". What were your set and drift? 

    Y a. 343°T at 0.7 knot
    N b. 340°T at 1.2 knots
    N c. 164°T at 0.9 knot
    N d. 161°T at 1.1 knots
11014: What will be the velocity of the tidal current outside the breakwater at New Haven Hbr. entrance on 26 May 1983 at 1045 DST (ZD +4)? 

    N a. 0.0 knot
    N b. 0.3 knot
    Y c. 0.5 knot
    N d. 1.3 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.
12303: You are on course 056° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Block Island North Light in line with the Block Island Aero Beacon bearing 193° per standard magnetic compass. Based on this you __________. 

    N a. know the compass error is 4°E
    N b. should swing your vessel to check for deviation
    Y c. know the deviation table is correct for that heading
    N d. should use 3°W deviation on bearings of 193°psc
12602: You are on course 087° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: Falkner Island Light - 022.0°psc Horton Point Light - 111.5°psc Mt. Sinai Breakwater Light - 254.0°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 72°46.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 72°40.5'W
    N c. LAT 41°07.0'N, LONG 72°44.5'W
    Y d. LAT 41°06.8'N, LONG 72°40.7'W
12705: You are on course 087° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Little Gull Island Light 277°psc Race Rock Light 303°psc Latimer Reef Light 025°psc What is your position? 

    Y a. LAT 41°13.1'N, LONG 71°57.5'W
    N b. LAT 41°13.1'N, LONG 71°56.9'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.0'N, LONG 71°58.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°12.9'N, LONG 71°57.2'W
13004: At 1815 your position is LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°47.3'W. You are making turns for 12.6 knots. What is your ETA at Plum Island Mid Channel Buoy PI (LAT 41°13.3'N, LONG 72°10.8'W)? 

    N a. 2019
    N b. 2028
    Y c. 2032
    N d. 2038
13410: You plan to anchor your vessel at LAT 41°05.1'N, LONG 72°59.3'W. Assuming that normal conditions exist, how much anchor cable should you put out? 

    N a. 150 to 300 feet
    N b. 300 to 440 feet
    Y c. 440 to 600 feet
    N d. 640 to 750 feet
14001: At 1745 Lady Island Range is in line dead ahead and Government Island Upper Range is in line on your starboard bow. Your vessel is steaming in a westerly direction. At 1851 you pass under the Interstate 5 highway bridge. What speed have you averaged? 

    N a. 10 mph
    Y b. 11 mph
    N c. 12 mph
    N d. 13 mph
14103: You are approaching Bonneville Lock and Dam and desire lockage. Which call sign should you use to contact the lock? 

    Y a. WUJ 33
    N b. WUJ 34
    N c. WUJ 41
    N d. WUJ 45
15069: During extreme low water, the soundings near Saybrook may require corrections up to __________. 

    N a. 1 foot (+.3 meters)
    N b. -2 feet (-.6 meters)
    Y c. -3.5 feet (-1.1 meters)
    N d. The sounding datum is based on extreme low water and no correction is necessary
15164: From your 1920 position, you change course to enter Chesapeake Channel between buoys 9 and 10. What is the course per gyrocompass? 

    N a. 271°pgc
    N b. 274°pgc
    Y c. 277°pgc
    N d. 280°pgc
15319: The coastline by Cape Henry is best described as __________. 

    N a. rocky with pine scrubs
    Y b. sandy hills about eighty feet high
    N c. low wetlands
    N d. low and thinly wooded with many beach houses
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
15629: 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
    Y c. Notice to Mariners
    N d. Light List
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.
16040: At 0847 you take a round of bearings as follows:

Middle Ground Shoal Light - 237° pgc
Stratford Point Light - 289° pgc
New Haven Light - 019° pgc

What were the set and drift since your 0820 position? 

    N a. Set 180°T, drift 0.6 kt
    N b. Set 360°T, drift 0.3 kt
    N c. Set 180°T, drift 0.3 kt
    Y d. Set 360°T, drift 0.6 kt
16218: At 0830, Watch Hill Point bears 343°T at 3.5 miles by radar. What was the speed made good since 0745? 

    N a. 5.4 knots
    N b. 5.8 knots
    N c. 6.7 knots
    Y d. 7.1 knots
16642: Based on your 0500 fix, which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. You are seaward of the 120 fathom curve.
    N b. The course made good between 0445 and 0500 was 345°T.
    Y c. You should alter course to port to clear Southwest Ledge Shoal.
    N d. A radar contact bearing 020°T at 4.8 miles is buoy  "2A".
16714: What was the current between 0520 and 0600? 

    N a. 201° at 1.0 knot
    N b. 201° at 1.5 knot
    N c. 021° at 1.0 knot
    Y d. 021° at 1.5 knots