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.


86: As you approach Shreves cut-off you see Red River Landing Gage (mile 302.4 AHP) which reads 6.2 feet. Which of the following statements is TRUE?


125: As you approach Ashland Light (mile 378.1 AHP) which daymark would you see?


165: Which company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Helena (mile 661 to 665 AHP)?


275: 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?

    Y a. 9960-Y-43980
    N b. 9960-X-26290
    N c. 9960-W-14730
    N d. 9960-W-14810

291: What is the height above water of Davis Creek Channel Light "1"?

    Y a. 15 feet (4.6 meters)
    N b. 17 feet (5.2 meters)
    N c. 19 feet (5.8 meters)
    N d. 24 feet (7.3 meters)

399: A vessel at LAT 11°22'S, LONG 009°18'E heads for a destination at LAT 06°52'N, LONG 57°23'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 296°T, 3,825.3 miles
    N b. 296°T, 4,154.2 miles
    N c. 285°T, 3,825.3 miles
    Y d. 285°T, 4,154.2 miles

510: You observe the star Deneb at a sextant altitude (hs) of 48°34.8' on 16 December . The index error is 4.0' off the arc. The height of eye is 58 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 48°02.9'
    Y b. 48°30.5'
    N c. 48°31.4'
    N d. 48°46.5'

672: What is the total length of the trip?

    Y a. 922.3 miles
    N b. 985.3 miles
    N c. 1155.8 miles
    N d. 1187.3 miles

744: On 22 May , at 0440 ZT, your vessel's DR position is LAT 23°24'N, LONG 110°24'W. At approximately this time, you obtain a sextant altitude (hs) of Polaris reading 23°40.9' with an index error of 1.6' on the arc. Your chronometer reads 11h 42m 14s, and is 2m 36s fast. What is your latitude by Polaris, given a height of eye of 24 feet?

    N a. 23°28.6'N
    N b. 23°30.0'N
    Y c. 23°31.2'N
    N d. 23°32.8'N

1128: How far is it to the Hernando Desoto Bridge in Memphis, TN?

    N a. 980.8 miles
    N b. 736.6 miles
    N c. 312.3 miles
    Y d. 218.1 miles

1178: On 27 August , your 0900 zone time DR position is LAT 24°25.0'N, LONG 94°20.0'W. Your vessel is on course 071°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    Y a. 1214
    N b. 1208
    N c. 1206
    N d. 1158

1211: It is 15 July and you are keeping +7 zone time. You are on course 095°, speed 16 knots. Your 0800 DR position is LAT 25°39.4'N, LONG 129°46.2'W. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks?

    N a. 13h 40m 17s
    Y b. 13h 38m 26s
    N c. 12h 42m 20s
    N d. 12h 38m 20s

1422: What organization has an installation at the uppermost end of Carthage Revetment?

    N a. U.S. Coast Guard
    Y b. River Cement Co.
    N c. U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers
    N d. International Paper Co.

1456: On 12 September , your 0736 zone time DR position is LAT 28°34.0'S, LONG 174°49.0'E. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 084° per standard magnetic compass (psc). The chronometer reads 07h 38m 11s, and the chronometer error is 01m 46s fast. The variation is 11°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 2.9°W
    Y b. 3.2°E
    N c. 3.9°E
    N d. 4.7°W

1547: At 0509, on 26 December, you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge (mile 661.7 AHP). What has been the average speed of the current since departing Memphis Harbor, McKellar Lake, if you have been making turns for 7.5 mph?

    N a. 5.6 mph
    Y b. 4.4 mph
    N c. 2.1 mph
    N d. 1.8 mph

1547: At 0509, on 26 December, you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge (mile 661.7 AHP). What has been the average speed of the current since departing Memphis Harbor, McKellar Lake, if you have been making turns for 7.5 mph?

    N a. 5.6 mph
    Y b. 4.4 mph
    N c. 2.1 mph
    N d. 1.8 mph

1658: On 23 August , in DR position LAT 24°07.0'N, LONG 136°16.0'E, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 074.5°psc. The chronometer reads 08h 56m 19s and is 02m 34s fast. Variation in the area is 2°W. What is the deviation of the magnetic compass?

    N a. 2.5°E
    N b. 2.8°W
    Y c. 4.5°E
    N d. 4.8°W

1869: On 12 June , your 1845 DR position is LAT 21°47'N, LONG 46°52'W when you observe a faint unidentifiable star through a break in the clouds. The star bears 282.5°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 14°22.3'. The index error is 0.5'
on the arc, and the height of eye is 45 feet. The chronometer reads 09h 43m 27s, and the chronometer error is 1m 46s slow. What star did you observe?

    N a. Wezen
    Y b. Alhena
    N c. Mirzam
    N d. Menkalinan

1950: The Greenville Gage reads 10.6 feet. The high point of your towboat is 54 feet above water. What is the vertical
clearance as you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge?

    N a. 44.4 feet
    N b. 54.2 feet
    Y c. 65.4 feet
    N d. 75.4 feet

2296: If your vessel is making turns for 7.5 mph with an estimated average current of 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at the dock in Angelina, LA?

    Y a. 1621, 28 Dec
    N b. 2203, 28 Dec
    N c. 0516, 29 Dec
    N d. 1621, 29 Dec

2461: You have steamed 540 miles at 22 knots and burning 618 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 372 barrels per day with 299 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    Y a. 16.5
    N b. 17.6
    N c. 19.1
    N d. 20.0

2658: You are steering 202°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 14.6 miles at 2234. You change course to pass the light 5 miles off abeam to starboard. If you are making 21 knots, what is your ETA at the position 5 miles off the light?

    N a. 2310
    Y b. 2313
    N c. 2316
    N d. 2319

2702: You are underway on course 241°T at a speed of 18.2 knots.
You sight a daymark bearing 241°T at a radar range of 3.9 miles at 1006. If you change course at 1009, what is the course to steer to leave the daymark abeam to starboard at 1.0 mile?

    N a. 218°T
    Y b. 222°T
    N c. 257°T
    N d. 260°T

3254: You have steamed 746 miles at 14.0 knots, and consumed 152 tons of fuel. If you have 201 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 10 knots?

    N a. 1381 miles
    Y b. 1934 miles
    N c. 2263 miles
    N d. 2707 miles

3293: Your vessel consumes 274 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 17.5 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 13.5 knots?

    Y a. 126 bbls
    N b. 163 bbls
    N c. 211 bbls
    N d. 253 bbls

3616: You desire to make good a true course of 046°. The variation is 6°E, magnetic compass deviation is 12°W, and the gyrocompass error is 3°W. A northerly wind produces a 5° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make good the true course?

    Y a. 047°psc
    N b. 049°psc
    N c. 052°psc
    N d. 057°psc

3618: Your vessel is steering course 027° per standard magnetic compass (psc), variation for the area is 19°W, and deviation is 2°E. The wind is from the north-northwest, producing a 5° leeway. What true course are you making good?

    N a. 005°T
    Y b. 015°T
    N c. 044°T
    N d. 049°T

3629: You desire to make good a true course of 129°. The variation is 7°E, magnetic compass deviation is 4°E, and gyrocompass error is 2°W. An easterly wind produces a 4° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good?

    Y a. 114°psc
    N b. 116°psc
    N c. 122°psc
    N d. 126°psc

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

11901: You are turning for 7.5 knots and a westerly wind is causing 2° of leeway. There is a current of 047°T at 1.2 knots. What course should you steer between the entrance to Quonochontaug Pond (LAT 41°19.8'N, LONG 71°43.2'W) and the entrance to Great Salt Pond (LAT 41°12.0'N,
LONG 71°35.6'W)?

    N a. 156°T
    Y b. 155°T
    N c. 144°T
    N d. 140°T

13807: The chart symbol depicted at LAT 40°58.5'N, LONG 72°43.4'W indicates a(n) __________.

    N a. abandoned lighthouse
    N b. light ship
    N c. wreck with only its mast visible
    Y d. wreck showing a portion of the hull above the sounding datum

13902: A vessel enroute to Long Island Sound from sea will enter waters governed by the Inland Rules of the Road __________.

    N a. when crossing the Territorial Sea boundary
    N b. between Montauk Point and Block Island
    N c. when north of latitude 41°10.0'N
    Y d. when passing through The Race

14304: What is a characteristic of light No. "41" on the Columbia River above Bonneville Lock?

    N a. The light shows an isophase characteristic.
    N b. The light is 3 meters above the water.
    Y c. The light is equipped with a radar reflector.
    N d. The light is red in color.

15070: As you enter New London Harbor, you are steering on the entrance range. The lights are in line over the bow as you are heading 352°pgc. What is the gyro error?

    Y a. 2°E
    N b. 0°
    N c. 1°W
    N d. 3°W

15538: At 2127 you take the following round of bearings:

Old Field Point Light 224.0°pgc
Middle Ground Light 320.5°pgc
Stratford Point Light 348.0°pgc

Based on the above fix, which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. At 2127, your fathometer reads about 17 fathoms.
    N b. You are south of Mt. Misery Shoal.
    N c. You will experience a 1 knot westward setting ebb current
    N d. You have lost sight of the red light at Old Field Point.

15562: The two wavy magenta lines running to Green Hill Point represent __________.

    N a. recommended approaches to Green Hill Point
    Y b. submarine cables
    N c. prohibited fishing areas
    N d. fish trap areas

15609: From your 1715 fix, you steer 214°T at 12 knots. At 1800,
you take the following bearings:

Cape Charles Light bearing 296° true
Cape Henry light bearing 242° true

Your 1800 position is __________.

    Y a. LAT 37°02.9'N, LONG 75°43.1'W
    N b. LAT 37°02.9'N, LONG 75°43.9'W
    N c. LAT 37°03.0'N, LONG 75°43.3'W
    N d. LAT 37°03.1'N, LONG 75°42.8'W

15625: The river will be temporarily closed to navigation at mile 531.3 AHP due to repairs to the bridge. This will occur at 1300, 5 January, and last for six hours. What minimum speed over the ground must you make from Red River Landing Gage in order not to be delayed?

    N a. 6.0 mph
    Y b. 6.4 mph
    N c. 6.8 mph
    N d. 7.3 mph

15641: You will pass through the Race at approximately the time of maximum ebb current. As you APPROACH the Race from New London, you will be set __________.

    Y a. to the left of the track line
    N b. to the right of the track line
    N c. forward along the track line
    N d. towards New London along the track line

15861: At 0125, Mattituck Inlet Light bears 203°pgc at 2.1 miles.
What is the approximate depth of the water under the keel?

    N a. 46 fathoms (83.6 meters)
    N b. 44 fathoms (80.0 meters)
    N c. 43 feet (13.0 meters)
    Y d. 38 feet (11.5 meters)

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.

16012: If you change course at 0420, what is the course to make good to leave Twenty Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy abeam to port at 1 mile?

    N a. 079°T
    N b. 082°T
    Y c. 084°T
    N d. 086°T

16056: At 1730, your position is LAT 37°13.9'N, LONG 76°26.4'W. What is your distance off Tue Marshes Light?

    N a. 2.2 miles
    Y b. 2.6 miles
    N c. 3.0 miles
    N d. 3.4 miles

16261: At 0400 you take the following bearings:

Sand Shoal Inlet South Light bearing 299°pgc
Cape Charles Light bearing 242°pgc

What is your 0400 position?

    N a. LAT 37°14.2'N, LONG 75°39.2'W
    Y b. LAT 37°14.4'N, LONG 75°39.3'W
    N c. LAT 37°14.4'N, LONG 75°39.0'W
    N d. LAT 37°14.6'N, LONG 75°39.2'W

16264: Which statement about your 0400 position is true?

    N a. You are governed by the Inland Rules of the Road.
    N b. Anchoring, trawling and fishing are prohibited.
    N c. The ocean floor is composed of shingle.
    Y d. You are within the Territorial Sea and the contiguous zone.

16320: Which course should you change to per standard magnetic compass as you pass SW Ledge Light to remain in the channel?

    N a. 007°psc
    N b. 014°psc
    Y c. 021°psc
    N d. 026°psc

16442: The area bounded by the buoys "C51" to "C47A" to "M6" to "M14", west of your anchorage, is __________.

    N a. a training area for naval small craft
    N b. restricted to oil and mineral exploration
    N c. an anchorage for ammunition barges
    Y d. a fish trap area

16509: At 0705, with your gyro again functioning properly, you change course to 096°T. At this time Race Rock Light is bearing 000°T at 0.35 mile. You are now governed by which Navigation Rules?

    N a. Inland Rules
    N b. Local Pilot Rules
    Y c. International Rules
    N d. Coastal Fishery Rules

16707: Point Judith Harbor of Refuge __________.

    N a. is used mostly by towing vessels
    N b. has a maximum depth of 14 feet at MHW
    N c. is easily accessible in heavy southerly seas
    Y d. is entered through the East Gap or the West Gap