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.


103: You are approaching the Old River Control Structure (mile 314.5 AHP). The structure is in operation. Which of the following statements is TRUE?


159: You are turning for 6.8 mph and estimate the current at 1.0 mph. What is your speed over the ground?


167: The Arkansas City Yellow Bend revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________.


183: At 1920, the buoy off your starboard bow is __________.

    Y a. Sand Shoal Inlet Lighted Buoy "A"
    N b. Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy
    N c. South Light Buoy
    N d. an interrupted quick flashing buoy

250: At 0045, you obtain the following information:

Radar range to Inlet Point is 1.4 miles;
Radar range to Rocky Point is 2.8 miles.
Radar range to Horton Point is 2.8 miles.

What were the set and drift between 0005 and 0045?

    N a. 275°true, 0.9 knot
    N b. 275°true, 1.4 knots
    Y c. 095°true, 1.4 knot
    N d. 095°True, 0.9 knots

280: Your 1752 position places you __________.

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

313: At 1400, your position is LAT 37°14.7'N, LONG 76°22.3'W. From this position, you head for the York River Entrance Channel Buoy "17". What should you steer per standard magnetic compass for this heading?

    Y a. 125°psc
    N b. 122°psc
    N c. 119°psc
    N d. 108°psc

338: You passed Cape Henry Light at 0730 outbound at maximum flood. What approximate current can you expect on entering Chesapeake Channel?

    N a. Slack before ebb
    N b. Slack before flood
    Y c. Flood current
    N d. Ebb current

358: From your 0410 fix, what is the course per standard magnetic compass to the entrance to York Spit Channel between buoys "37" and "38"?

    N a. 152°
    N b. 156°
    Y c. 176°
    N d. 178°

372: If you change course at 0610, what is the course to steer to a point where Little Gull Island Light bears 180°T at 0.7 mile (Point "A")?

    N a. 084°pgc
    Y b. 080°pgc
    N c. 076°pgc
    N d. 072°pgc

433: What true course and speed did you make good between 0730 and 0900?

    N a. 271°T, 8.9 knots
    N b. 273°T, 8.7 knots
    Y c. 277°T, 8.4 knots
    N d. 284°T, 7.5 knots

476: The great circle distance from LAT 35°08.0'S, LONG 19°26.0'E to LAT 33°16.0'S, LONG 115°36.0'E is 4559 miles and the initial course is 121°T. Determine the longitude of the vertex.

    N a. 26°50.9'E
    Y b. 65°45.9'E
    N c. 69°19.1'E
    N d. 72°18.3'E

840: On 29 October , in DR position LAT 41°12.0'N, LONG 50°18.9'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb, near upper transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 21m 12s, and the chronometer error is 01m 50s slow. The sextant altitude (hs) is 34°54.2'. The index error is 2.0' on the arc, and your height of eye is 45 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

    N a. 41°12.0'N
    Y b. 41°16.0'N
    N c. 41°20.2'N
    N d. 41°23.6'N

1091: On 10 August , your 0430 ZT position is LAT 29°56.7'S, LONG 139°11.0'E. Your course is 321°T, speed 18.2 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0500 running fix. NP-0021

    N a. LAT 29°46.0'S, LONG 138°54.0'E
    Y b. LAT 29°49.2'S, LONG 138°57.0'E
    N c. LAT 29°56.0'S, LONG 139°03.8'E
    N d. LAT 30°07.5'S, LONG 138°55.2'E

1184: On 8 April , your 0830 zone time DR position is LAT 22°49.0'N, LONG 84°37.0'W. Your vessel is on course 228°
T at a speed of 19.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    Y a. 1144
    N b. 1147
    N c. 1150
    N d. 1154

1190: On 12 February , your 0930 zone time DR position is LAT 25°20.0'N, LONG 30°40.0'W. Your vessel is on course 135°
T at a speed of 11.2 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1210
    Y b. 1215
    N c. 1220
    N d. 1224

1491: On 5 February , your 2320 ZT position is LAT 52°28'N, LONG 23°48'W. You observe Polaris bearing 000.2°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 224°pgc and 244°psc. The variation is 20°W. What is the deviation for that heading?

    N a. 0.0°
    Y b. 1.5°W
    N c. 3.0°W
    N d. 4.5°W

1622: Which of the following statements concerning the buoys on the Mississippi River is TRUE?

    N a. The position of river buoys can be determined by consulting the latest Light List - Vol. V.
    N b. A preferred channel mark is a lateral mark indicating a channel junction which must always be passed to starboard.
    N c. Buoys should be passed as close as possible.
    Y d. Setting a buoy is the act of placing a buoy on assigned position in the water.

1665: On 11 January , your vessel's 0655 zone time DR position is LAT 24°30'N, LONG 122°02'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 101.0° per standard compass. Variation in the area is 11.6°E. The chronometer reads 02h 52m 48s and is 02m 12s slow. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    Y a. 1.4°E
    N b. 1.4°W
    N c. 4.6°E
    N d. 4.6°W

1702: You are upbound approaching Springfield Bend Lt. (mile 244.8 AHP) downriver from Profit Island. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    Y a. Profit Island Chute is closed to navigation.
    N b. Tow length must not exceed 600 feet to use Profit Island Chute.
    N c. Tows must navigate toward left ascending bank when passing Profit Island Chute.
    N d. Profit Island Chute is open to navigation and is a shortcut for single barge tows.

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

1882: On 2 October , your 1845 DR position was LAT 28°09.2'S, LONG 167°48.1'E. You observe a faint star through a hole in the clouds at a sextant altitude (hs) of 20°45.6' T, bearing 201.5°T. The index error is 1.3' off the arc, and the height of eye is 42 feet. The chronometer reads 07h 46m 19s and is 00m 51s fast. What star did you observe?

    N a. Cor Caroli
    N b. Muhlifain
    Y c. Alpha Muscae
    N d. Beta Corvi

1895: On 22 June , your 0424 DR position is LAT 26°18.5'N, LONG 124°18.2'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 195°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 03°30.7'. The chronometer reads 00h 23m 24s, and is 01m 32s slow. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Peacock
    N b. Schedar
    N c. Ankaa
    N d. Alioth

2089: At your current speed of 18 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 316 miles. You must travel 731 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination?

    N a. 10.4
    Y b. 11.8
    N c. 13.2
    N d. 14.6

2114: At 0209, your position is LAT 41°01.8'N, LONG 72°40.8'W.
What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good 278° magnetic? (assume no set and drift)

    N a. 262.0°psc
    N b. 265.0°psc
    Y c. 275.5°psc
    N d. 280.5°psc

2207: As you pass under the Natchez-Vidalia Dual Bridge, the gage on the bridge reads 8.9 ft. If the highest point on your vessel is 54 ft. above the water, what is your vertical clearance?

    Y a. 63.1 feet
    N b. 65.3 feet
    N c. 67.2 feet
    N d. 122.0 feet

2275: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 24°00.7' on 10 January . The index error is 2.6' off the arc. The height of eye is 55 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 24°07.4'
    N b. 24°08.9'
    Y c. 24°10.2'
    N d. 24°11.8'

2404: At 0812, you are on course 132°T. The standard magnetic compass reads 135°. What should you conclude?

    N a. The deviation table is correct for that heading.
    Y b. Your compass may be influenced by a local magnetic disturbance.
    N c. You should adjust the magnetic compass.
    N d. The deviation is increasing as you go south.

2463: You have steamed 491 miles at 20 knots and burning 568 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 265 barrels per day with 313 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 10.9
    N b. 14.3
    Y c. 17.1
    N d. 18.2

2668: Your vessel is on a course of 255°T, at 14 knots. At 2116 a lighthouse is sighted dead ahead at a distance of 11 miles. You change course at this time to pass the lighthouse 3 miles abeam to port. What will be your ETA at this position off the lighthouse?

    N a. 2149
    Y b. 2201
    N c. 2212
    N d. 2228

2874: Your vessel is on a course of 207°T at 13 knots. At 0539 a light bears 180.5°T, and at 0620 the light bears 162°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light?

    N a. 0633, 5.9 miles
    N b. 0641, 6.5 miles
    N c. 0653, 7.6 miles
    Y d. 0701, 8.9 miles

3100: The pitch of the propeller on your vessel is 19'09". You estimate the slip at -3%. If you averaged 82 RPM for the day's run, how many miles did you steam?

    N a. 370.8
    N b. 373.6
    N c. 393.7
    Y d. 395.3

3292: Your vessel consumes 215 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 18.0 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 14.0 knots?

    N a. 67 bbls
    Y b. 101 bbls
    N c. 130 bbls
    N d. 167 bbls

3611: The track line on the chart is 274°T. Variation is 4°E, and deviation is 2°E. The gyro error is 1.5°E. What course would be steered by gyrocompass to make good the desired course?

    N a. 280.5°pgc
    N b. 278.0°pgc
    N c. 275.5°pgc
    Y d. 272.5°pgc

4007: 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 gyro heading of 166°.
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°

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

10304: Determine the course per standard magnetic compass from the entrance to Ninigret Pond (LAT 41°21.3'N, LONG 71°38.3'W) to the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island.

    N a. 192.0°psc
    Y b. 184.0°psc
    N c. 154.5°psc
    N d. 152.5°psc

12604: You are on course 082° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: New London Ledge Light - 036.5°psc Little Gull Island Light - 157.0°psc Saybrook Break Water Light - 294.5°psc What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41°02.3'N, LONG 72°04.5'W
    N b. LAT 41°09.5'N, LONG 72°07.1'W
    Y c. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 72°07.5'W
    N d. LAT 41°14.1'N, LONG 72°12.8'W

12701: You are on course 298° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Block Island Southeast Point Light - 058°psc Block Island Aero Beacon - 005°psc Montauk Point Light - 268°psc What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41°08.3'N, LONG 71°35.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°08.2'N, LONG 71°34.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°08.1'N, LONG 71°33.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°08.0'N, LONG 71°34.1'W

13409: You plan to anchor your vessel at LAT 41°00.5'N, LONG 73°02.8'W. What type of bottom should you expect at this position?

    N a. Gray sand
    Y b. Soft mud
    N c. Hard sand
    N d. Gray mud

13804: What is the significance of the broken magenta lines which roughly parallel the shore between Roanoke Point and Orient Point on Long Island?

    N a. They mark the limits of breakers in that area.
    N b. These lines warn the mariner of submerged rocks.
    Y c. They mark the boundary lines of fish trap areas.
    N d. These lines warn the mariner of submerged pipelines.

14704: At 0800 your vessel is at mile 110 on the Columbia River. Thirty minutes later your vessel is at mile 115. What is your speed in knots?

    N a. 4.3 knots
    N b. 5.7 knots
    N c. 7.8 knots
    Y d. 8.7 knots

15359: Based on your running fix, you __________.

    N a. have a head current
    Y b. have a following current
    N c. are being set to the north
    N d. are not affected by a current

15656: At 0630, Buoy "PI" is close abeam on the starboard side. You are steering 078°T and are headed directly toward Race Rock Light. At 0654, Little Gull Island Light is bearing 210°pgc and Race Rock Light is bearing 075°pgc. What is your 0654 position?

    N a. LAT 41°19.0'N, LONG 72°05.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°14.4'N, LONG 71°54.6'W
    N c. LAT 41°14.2'N, LONG 72°06.8'W
    Y d. LAT 41°14.0'N, LONG 72°05.3'W

15828: At 0305 on 18 April, you pass under the Greenville Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. Docks (mile 253.6 AHP)?

    N a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 6.5 mph
    Y c. 6.8 mph
    N d. 7.2 mph

15858: 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 a position one mile North of Mattituck Breakwater Light "MI". If there are no set and drift, what course should you steer per gyro compass?

    N a. 219°pgc
    Y b. 222°pgc
    N c. 225°pgc
    N d. 228°pgc

16141: The speed you can expect to make good over your course while steering to make 150°T is __________.

    N a. 11.0 knots
    Y b. 11.4 knots
    N c. 14.0 knots
    N d. 14.4 knots

16212: What is the course per standard magnetic compass between points "A" and "B"?

    N a. 094.5°
    N b. 095.5°
    Y c. 098.5°
    N d. 099.5°

16407: At 0227, you are on course 087°T at 10 knots. What course per standard magnetic compass should you steer to make good your true course?

    N a. 099°psc
    N b. 102°psc
    Y c. 105°psc
    N d. 109°psc

16413: At 1104, Watch Hill Point Light is in line with Stonington Outer Breakwater Light, the range to the south tip of Watch Hill Point is 2.6 miles and the range to the beach is 1.9 miles. You are steering to make good 075°T, speed 10.0 knots. At 1110, you change course to head for a position of LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 71°50.0'W. What is the true course?

    N a. 185°
    N b. 187°
    Y c. 190°
    N d. 193°

16440: What course per gyrocompass would you need to steer from the anchorage to York Spit Channel buoy "29"?

    Y a. 172° pgc
    N b. 175° pgc
    N c. 178° pgc
    N d. 181° pgc