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.


60: What town is located at mile 389.8 AHP?


198: While navigating inbound Thimble Shoal Channel system you must __________.


303: A vessel steams 576 miles on course 260°T from LAT 40°36'N, LONG 50°24'W. What are the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by mid-latitude sailing?


340: Inbound, the color of Cape Henry Light will __________.

    N a. alternate regardless of your position
    N b. change after you reach Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"
    N c. remain the same
    Y d. change before you reach Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"

355: Orient Point Light will break the horizon at a range of about __________.

    N a. 9.3 miles
    N b. 10.8 miles
    N c. 12.1 miles
    Y d. 13.9 miles

357: If the visibility is 5 miles and you are in the red sector, at what distance off should you sight Cape Henry Light?

    Y a. 09 miles
    N b. 11 miles
    N c. 13 miles
    N d. 15 miles

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?

    N a. 24°29.0'W
    N b. 22°58.0'W
    Y c. 17°41.0'W
    N d. 10°46.0'W

389: Which statement describes the shore between Watch Hill Point and Point Judith?

    N a. Low, rocky cliffs
    N b. Heavily wooded hills
    Y c. Sandy beaches broken by rocky points
    N d. Barren hills with prominent buildings

426: The broken magenta line which runs parallel to the shore between Roanoke Point and Mattituck Inlet marks a __________.

    Y a. fish trap area
    N b. pipeline
    N c. demarcation line
    N d. cable area

445: You can follow what loran reading between your two positions?

    N a. There is no loran reading to follow.
    N b. 9960-Y-43958
    Y c. 9960-X-25982
    N d. 9960-W-14655

509: At 0112, the radar range to Branford Reef Light is 2.9 miles. At 0125, the range is 3.6 miles. What is the position of your 0125 running fix if you are steering 124°T at 12 knots?`

    N a. LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°48.7'W
    Y b. LAT 41°09.7'N, LONG 72°48.1'W
    N c. LAT 41°09.8'N, LONG 72°47.2'W
    N d. LAT 41°10.2'N, LONG 72°47.7'W

535: You depart LAT 49°38'N, LONG 152°49'E, for LAT 49°38'N, LONG 176°12'E. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing?

    Y a. 090°T, 909 miles
    N b. 090°T, 1204 miles
    N c. 270°T, 909 miles
    N d. 270°T, 1204 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

579: Which loran line of position will serve as a danger reading on the loran to keep you west of the submerged obstruction at LAT 37°24.2'N, LONG 76°03.7'W, after you leave York Spit Channel?

    Y a. Not less than 9960-X-27246
    N b. Not more than 9960-Y-41595
    N c. Not less than 9960-Y-41595
    N d. Not less than 9960-Z-58622

600: What is the brown colored tint shown at Bordeaux Point Dykes (mile 681.0 AHP)?

    N a. river gage
    N b. fish hatchery
    N c. levee
    Y d. dredge material

1246: Which of the following statements are TRUE?

    N a. Oil well structures are listed in the Light List.
    N b. All aids to navigation with lights have lateral significance.
    Y c. On the Western Rivers, crossing marks may exhibit white lights.
    N d. None of the above.

1298: Your company wants to know at what time you will be arriving at the fleeting area at Sycamore Chute Light (mile 740.3 AHP) in Memphis, TN You are making turns for 9.0 mph and you estimate the average current at 2.2 mph. Figuring the distance and time from Hole in the Wall Lt. (mile 373.4 AHP), what is your ETA at Sycamore Chute Lt.?

    Y a. 1242, April 19th
    N b. 1645, April 19th
    N c. 2242, April 19th
    N d. 2333, April 19th

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

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

1413: You complete changing out your tow and get underway enroute Ark City Tank Storage (mile 554.0 AHP) to deliver the tank barges. What is the distance you must travel from Cairo Point Light?

    N a. 202.1 miles
    Y b. 400.7 miles
    N c. 554.2 miles
    N d. 605.8 miles

1485: On 6 October , your 0416 zone time DR position is LAT 25°16.0'N, LONG 130°25.0'E. At that time, you observe Mars bearing 083°psc. The chronometer reads 07h 16m 22s, and the chronometer error is 00m 10s fast. The variation is 1.5°E. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    N a. 0.4°E
    Y b. 1.2°W
    N c. 3.5°E
    N d. 19.0°E

1778: At 2234 ZT, on 14 July , in DR position LAT 34°03'N, LONG 150°16'W you observe an amplitude of Saturn. The planet is about one Sun's diameter above the visible horizon and bears 272.1°pgc. The variation is 14°E. What is the gyro error?

    N a. 0.5°W
    N b. 0.5°E
    Y c. 1.5°W
    N d. 2.5°E

1955: 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

2004: On 28 February , your 1850 zone time DR position is LAT 27°49.0'N, LONG 159°24.0'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three stars best suited for a fix at star time?

    Y a. Rigel, Schedar, Regulus
    N b. Sirius, Mirfak, Elnath
    N c. Hamal, Alkaid, Canopus
    N d. Bellatrix, Vega, Regulus

2113: From your 0130 position, you change course to adjust for set and drift, and you later obtain the following bearings:


Mattituck Inlet Light bearing 104.5°true
Falkner Island Light bearing 001°true

What is the latitude and longitude of your fix?

    N a. LAT 41°00.8'N, LONG 72°40.8'W
    N b. LAT 41°01.2'N, LONG 72°40.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°01.6'N, LONG 72°40.0'W
    Y d. LAT 41°02.0'N, LONG 72°39.5'W

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

2877: Your vessel is steering 263°T at 22 knots. At 0413 a light bears 294°T, and at 0421 the same light bears 312°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    N a. 3.4 miles
    Y b. 3.7 miles
    N c. 4.3 miles
    N d. 4.9 miles

3051: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 20.6 feet and a pitch of 23.4 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 538 miles in a 24 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 87?

    Y a. -11.6%
    N b. +11.6%
    N c. -10.3%
    N d. +10.3%

3090: If the pitch of the propeller is 26.3 feet, and the revolutions per day are 87,421, calculate the day's run allowing 7% negative slip.

    N a. 351.7 miles
    N b. 378.1 miles
    Y c. 404.6 miles
    N d. 419.3 miles

3101: You are turning 100 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 25 feet, and an estimated slip of -5%. What is the speed of advance?

    N a. 24.7 knots
    N b. 23.5 knots
    Y c. 25.9 knots
    N d. 22.3 knots

3464: You are underway on course 315°T at 14 knots. The current is 135°T at 1.9 knots. What is the course being made good?

    N a. 130°T
    Y b. 315°T
    N c. 317°T
    N d. 322°T

10106: What is the course per standard magnetic compass from Chesapeake Light to North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy NCA?

    N a. 316°psc
    Y b. 321°psc
    N c. 323°psc
    N d. 326°psc

11307: At 1919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. At 2031 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°44.9'W. What was the speed made good?

    N a. 8.2 knots
    N b. 9.3 knots
    Y c. 10.0 knots
    N d. 10.9 knots

11902: What is the true course to steer between the entrance to Lake Montauk (LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 71°56.3'W) and Winnapaug Pond entrance) LAT 41°19.6'N, LONG 71°45.8'W), if you are turning for 9.5 knots, allow for a current of 075°T at 1.2 knots, and a westerly wind is causing 3° of leeway?

    Y a. 021°T
    N b. 024°T
    N c. 027°T
    N d. 029°T

13900: The trapezoidal shaped areas enclosed by a thin broken magenta line and located along the south coast of Long Island are __________.

    N a. designated training areas for Navy amphibious craft
    N b. disposal areas for unexploded munitions
    Y c. fish trap areas
    N d. anchorage areas for small craft

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.

15408: From your 1430 fix, you order turns for 8 knots. You steer 045°T and experience no set and drift. At what time would you expect to have New Point Comfort Spit Light "4" abeam?

    N a. 1452
    Y b. 1458
    N c. 1504
    N d. 1510

15467: At 1018, you are entering York Spit Channel and buoy "19" is abeam to starboard. At 1031, buoy "23" is abeam. What speed are you making good?

    N a. 8.4 knots
    Y b. 8.8 knots
    N c. 9.7 knots
    N d. 9.9 knots

15540: At 2200 Middle Ground Light is bearing 270° true at 9 nm

Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The current is flooding.
    Y b. You are being set to the left of the track.
    N c. The set is towards the southwest.
    N d. The drift is 0.6 knot.

15646: At 2229 the gyro fails. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make good 206°T, if you allow 3° leeway for southeasterly winds?

    N a. 187°
    N b. 191°
    Y c. 217°
    N d. 220°

15725: At 1723 you increase speed to make good 9.2 mph. At 1937 you have a daymark on your port beam. What daymark is this?

    N a. Tiptonville Ferry Landing Daymark
    N b. Tiptonville Light
    Y c. Merriwether Bend Light and Daymark
    N d. Alaska Light and Daymark

15841: At 2030 you take the following bearings:

Sand Shoal Inlet South Light - 275°T
Cape Charles Light - 235°T



The set and drift from 2000 to 2030 are __________.

    N a. 088° at 0.7 knot
    N b. 088° at 1.4 knots
    N c. 268° at 0.7 knot
    Y d. 268° at 1.4 knots

15958: Your 1752 position is __________.

    N a. less than 0.2 mile to the west of York Spit Channel
    N b. less than 0.2 mile to the east of York Spit Channel
    Y c. more than 0.2 mile to the west of York Spit Channel
    N d. more than 0.2 mile to the east of York Spit Channel

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

16116: At 0731, approximately how much water is under your keel?

    Y a. 31 feet (9.4 meters)
    N b. 45 feet (13.6 meters)
    N c. 48 feet (14.5 meters)
    N d. 54 feet (16.4 meters)

16243: At 2207 Cape Charles Light bears 276°T, Chesapeake Light bears 194°T, and Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14" bears 312°T and is 2.0 miles off. What were the set and drift of the current acting on your vessel from 2129 to 2207?

    N a. 258°T at 2.4 knots
    N b. 258°T at 1.5 knots
    N c. 078°T at 1.5 knots
    Y d. 078°T at 2.4 knots

16543: Based on the information in the previous question, what is your ETA at the distress scene?

    N a. 0006
    N b. 0010
    Y c. 0016
    N d. 0021