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.

35: What are the dimensions of the channel maintained at Baton Rouge, LA?
96: As you approach Kate Aubrey Towhead Light (mile 789.5 AHP), your searchlight will show what type of marking at the light?
178: If the Old Point Comfort main light was inoperative what emergency light would be shown?
262: You are northwest of Port Jefferson Harbor steering 242° per standard magnetic compass. As you continue westward, you see that the Port Jefferson Range Front Light and Rear Light come into line. If the deviation table is correct, the bearing of the range should be __________. 

    Y a. 157°psc
    N b. 160°psc
    N c. 163°psc
    N d. 166°psc
309: A vessel at LAT 14°10'N, LONG 61°00'W is to proceed to LAT 10°00'N, LONG 53°23'W. What is the course and distance by mid-latitude sailing? 

    N a. 117.3°T, 503.0 miles
    N b. 117.9°T, 504.0 miles
    N c. 118.6°T, 508.0 miles
    Y d. 119.2°T, 512.0 miles
317: Determine your 1915 position using the following information obtained at 1915.
Visual bearings
Cape Charles Light 107°pgc
Cape Henry Light 172°pgc

Radar Bearing and Range
Chesapeake Channel Tunnel South Light 189°pgc at 7.2 miles 

    N a. LAT 37°03.5'N, LONG 76°05.9'W
    N b. LAT 37°03.5'N, LONG 76°09.3'W
    Y c. LAT 37°09.3'N, LONG 76°03.1'W
    N d. LAT 37°09.8'N, LONG 76°04.1'W
448: At 2100, you set course of 000°T, speed 10 knots from LAT 41°07.0'N, LONG 71°30.0'W. Visibility is 5.5 n.m. What is the earliest time you can expect to sight Point Judith Light? (Use charted range of 20 miles as nominal range.) 

    N a. The light is visible at 2100.
    N b. 2106
    Y c. 2111
    N d. 2123
460: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 35°27.0'N, LONG 140°20.5'E to LAT 47°51.0'N, LONG 122°51.0'W. 

    N a. 4087 miles, 036°T
    Y b. 4115 miles, 045°T
    N c. 4122 miles. 076°T
    N d. 4136 miles, 076°T
477: The great circle distance from LAT 08°50.0'N, LONG 80°21.0'W to LAT 12°36.0'N, LONG 128°16.0'E is 8664 miles, and the initial course is 306.6°T. Determine the latitude of the vertex. 

    Y a. 37°30.2'N
    N b. 37°39.6'N
    N c. 37°48.2'N
    N d. 37°53.6'N
493: At 0815, Montauk Pt. Light House is bearing 167°T, Shagwong Pt. has a radar range of 4.5 miles, and Cerberus Shoal "9" Buoy is bearing 284°T. If the engine is making turns for 10 knots, what was the set and drift of the current since 0748? 

    N a. Set 065°T, drift 1.1 knots
    N b. Set 065°T, drift 2.4 knots
    Y c. Set 245°T, drift 2.4 knots
    N d. Set 245°T, drift 1.1 knots
540: Determine the distance from LAT 34°18'S, LONG 172°40'E to LAT 34°18'S, LONG 152°38'E, by parallel sailing. 

    Y a. 993.0 miles
    N b. 995.2 miles
    N c. 996.4 miles
    N d. 998.6 miles
741: On 16 February , your 1845 ZT DR position is LAT 25°50.5'N, LONG 46°24.0'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 26°25.5'. The chronometer time of the sight is 09h 47m 30s and the chronometer error is 02m 16s fast. The index error is 2.5' off the arc, and the height of eye is 55.0 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    Y a. 25°38.0'N
    N b. 25°44.2'N
    N c. 26°00.1'N
    N d. 26°37.5'N
746: On 16 January , at 1804 zone time, you take a sextant observation of Polaris. Your vessel's DR position is LAT 36°12'N, LONG 124°36'W, and your sextant reads (hs) 37°16.4'. Your chronometer reads 02h 02m 12s, and is 01m 36s slow. Your height of eye is 60 feet, and the index error is 1.5' on the arc. From your observation of Polaris, what is the latitude of your vessel? 

    N a. 36°12.6'N
    N b. 36°14.4'N
    Y c. 36°17.9'N
    N d. 36°20.2'N
1005: On 18 May , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 20°41'N, LONG 63°32'W. You are on course 106°T, speed 24 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.

ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1204 61°54.6' N 19°37.6' 88°39.7'
1210 63°24.6' N 19°37.7' 88°59.2' 

    Y a. LAT 20°32.6'N, LONG 62°57.5'W
    N b. LAT 20°30.1'N, LONG 63°01.9'W
    N c. LAT 20°27.6'N, LONG 62°52.4'W
    N d. LAT 20°25.2'N, LONG 62°56.9'W
1254: On 19 July , your 1500 ZT DR position is LAT 28°25.0'N, LONG 120°28.0'W. You are on course 233°T at a speed of 10 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1842
    N b. 1853
    Y c. 1901
    N d. 1909
1261: On 16 February , your 0300 ZT DR position is LAT 28°32.0'S, LONG 176°49.0'E. You are on course 082°T at a speed of 21 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel? 

    N a. 0534
    Y b. 0552
    N c. 0631
    N d. 0645
1308: At Filter Point Light (mile 475 AHP) there are 2 close straight dashed lines on the map passing through the black dots. What do these lines represent? 

    N a. Submerged oil pipelines
    N b. Submerged gas pipelines
    N c. Submerged telephone cables
    Y d. Aerial power cables
1418: 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
1539: As you approach Vaucluse Bend Light (mile 533.8 AHP),
which type of daymark would you see on the light structure? 

    N a. Red diamond
    N b. Red triangle
    Y c. Green square
    N d. Green diamond
1662: On 5 September , in DR position LAT 23°17.0'S, LONG 154°35.0'E, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 275° per standard magnetic compass. The chronometer reads 07h 49m 26s and is 01m 52s fast. Variation in the area is 3°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 2.1°E
    N b. 2.4°W
    Y c. 5.1°E
    N d. 5.4°W
1703: At 1218, on 16 March, you are passing the Vicksburg Gage (mile 437.0 AHP). What has been the average current since 0630, 15 March, if you have been making turns for 8.0 mph? 

    N a. 0.2 mph
    N b. 0.5 mph
    N c. 0.8 mph
    Y d. 1.2 mph
1720: As you approach mile 427.6 AHP, you see on the right side a white buoy with orange bands and open face diamond. This buoy shows __________. 

    N a. safe water
    N b. preferred channel
    Y c. danger
    N d. special marks
1783: At 2048 ZT, on 13 October , in DR position LAT 44°02.8'S, LONG 146°58.3'E, you observe an amplitude of Venus. The planet is about one Sun's diameter above the visible horizon and bears 222.2°psc. The variation is 15°E. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 0.0°
    N b. 1.1°E
    Y c. 1.0°W
    N d. 1.5°W
1872: 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 031°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 70°10.3'. 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. Sheratan
    N b. Ruchbah
    N c. Mimosa
    Y d. Cor Caroli
1873: 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 174.0°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 18°58.6'. 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? 

    Y a. Muhlifain
    N b. Alpha Hydri
    N c. Almak
    N d. Alpha Muscae
1908: On 22 March , your 1834 DR position is LAT 26°13.5'S, LONG 108°36.5'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 315°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 66°01.2'. The chronometer reads 01h 32m 37s, and is 01m 50s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Regulus
    N b. Menkar
    Y c. Rigel
    N d. Alphard
2240: At 1542 ZT, on 23 October , in DR position LAT 37° 28.5'N, LONG 156° 17.3'E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 282.5°psc. The variation is 0.0°. What is the deviation? 

    Y a. 2.2°E
    N b. 2.2°W
    N c. 1.2°E
    N d. 1.2°W
2287: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 34°51.4' on 18 October . The index error is 2.0' off the arc. The height of eye is 54 feet (16.5 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    Y a. 35°01.2'
    N b. 35°03.6'
    N c. 35°05.2'
    N d. 35°07.4'
2577: On 23 July, you take a time tick using the 0900 GMT Cape Town broadcast. You hear a repeating series of 59 dots followed by a dash. At the beginning of the fifth dash you start your stopwatch. The chronometer reads 08h 39m 16s at the time the stopwatch reads 01m 42s. The chronometer error at 0900 GMT, 22 July, was 22m 24s slow. What is the chronometer rate? 

    Y a. 00m 02s losing
    N b. 01m 02s gaining
    N c. 22m 24s losing
    N d. 22m 26s slow
2707: You are underway on course 128°T at a speed of 17.6 knots. You sight a daymark bearing 126°T at a radar range of 4.3 miles at 1649. If you change course at 1654, what is the course to steer to leave the daymark abeam to starboard at 0.5 mile? 

    Y a. 113°T
    N b. 116°T
    N c. 119°T
    N d. 136°T
3071: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 20.7 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 23.8 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 3% negative slip? 

    N a. 74
    N b. 79
    Y c. 86
    N d. 98
3091: If the pitch of the propeller is 25.1 feet, and the revolutions per day are 91,591, calculate the day's run allowing 7% positive slip. 

    Y a. 351.6 miles
    N b. 378.1 miles
    N c. 390.0 miles
    N d. 404.6 miles
3253: You have steamed 925 miles at 13.5 knots, and consumed 181 tons of fuel. If you have 259 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 16 knots? 

    N a. 795 miles
    Y b. 942 miles
    N c. 1117 miles
    N d. 1409 miles
3291: While steaming at 19.5 knots, your vessel burns 297 bbls of fuel per day. What will be the rate of fuel consumption if you decrease speed to 15 knots? 

    Y a. 135 bbls
    N b. 176 bbls
    N c. 229 bbls
    N d. 243 bbls
3621: Your vessel is steering course 216° per standard magnetic compass, variation for the area is 9°W, and deviation is 2°E. The wind is from the east, producing a 5° leeway. What true course are you making good? 

    N a. 204°T
    Y b. 214°T
    N c. 223°T
    N d. 227°T
3627: Your vessel is steering course 243°psc. Variation for the area is 5°E, and deviation is 2°W. The wind is from the south-southeast, producing a 2° leeway. What true course are you making good? 

    N a. 242°T
    N b. 244°T
    N c. 246°T
    Y d. 248°T
3767: You are on course 251°pgc and 241° per magnetic compass, when you observe a range in line bearing 192°pgc. The chart indicates that the range is in line on a bearing of 194°T. The variation is 16°E. What is the deviation of the magnetic compass? 

    N a. 2°E
    N b. 2°W
    Y c. 4°W
    N d. 10°W
3767: You are on course 251°pgc and 241° per magnetic compass, when you observe a range in line bearing 192°pgc. The chart indicates that the range is in line on a bearing of 194°T. The variation is 16°E. What is the deviation of the magnetic compass? 

    N a. 2°E
    N b. 2°W
    Y c. 4°W
    N d. 10°W
10301: Determine the course per standard magnetic compass from Cerberus Shoal Buoy 9 (LAT 41°10.4'N, LONG 71°57.1'W) to the entrance to Quonochontaug Pond (LAT 41°19.8'N, LONG 71°43.2'W). 

    N a. 030°psc
    N b. 036°psc
    Y c. 059°psc
    N d. 067°psc
11401: At 1520 your GPS position is LAT 41°13.1'N, LONG 72°16.1'W. At 1630 your position is LAT 41°17.5'N, LONG 72°04.7'W. What were your true course and speed made good? 

    N a. 344° at 8.2 knots
    N b. 077° at 9.5 knots
    Y c. 063° at 8.3 knots
    N d. 059° at 8.1 knots
11706: Your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to arrive at LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 75°48.5'W, if you are turning for 8.7 knots, the current is 039°T at 1.3 knots, and a northwesterly wind is causing 3° of leeway? 

    N a. 264.0°
    N b. 267.5°
    N c. 270.0°
    Y d. 273.0°
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
12103: You sight Wolf Trap Light in line with New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" bearing 048° per standard magnetic compass. You are on course 203°psc. Based on this, you know __________. 

    N a. the compass error is 12°W
    N b. the deviation is 9°W
    Y c. that the deviation table is in error
    N d. the deviation is 3°E for bearings of 048° per standard magnetic compass
12107: You sight Tue Marshes Light (LAT 37°14.1'N, LONG 76°23.2'W) in line with Goodwin Thorofare Light "16" (LAT 37°13.7'N, LONG 76°25.0'W) bearing 267° per standard magnetic compass. What is TRUE if your vessel's heading is 056°psc? 

    N a. The compass error is 13°E.
    Y b. The deviation table is in error and should be corrected.
    N c. The deviation is 4°E.
    N d. The deviation table is correct for a heading of 056°psc.
12907: At 0914 you are in Chesapeake Channel between Trestle B and Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. What is your ETA at North Chesapeake Entrance Buoy NCA if you are making good 10.9 knots (Use the buoyed channel and appropriate sea lane)? 

    Y a. 1038
    N b. 1044
    N c. 1049
    N d. 1055
15057: At 0720, you are in the outer channel between buoy "1" and buoy "2" and change course to pass Townshend Ledge Lighted Gong Buoy "10A" abeam to port at 0.1 miles. What is the course to steer per gyro compass if a northerly wind causes 2° of leeway? 

    N a. 120°pgc
    N b. 118°pgc
    N c. 116°pgc
    Y d. 114°pgc
15143: From your 2146 position, with a new engine speed of 12 knots, you wish to change course in order to pass southeast of Buoy "MP" at a distance of 2 miles. With a reported set of 320° true and a drift of 2 knots, which course should you steer to make good your desired course? 

    N a. 055°true
    Y b. 061°true
    N c. 066° true
    N d. 071°true
15206: At 1730, your position is LAT 37°13.9'N, LONG 76°26.4'W. You are steering course 088° per standard magnetic compass (psc) at an engine speed of 8.0 knots. What is your distance off Tue Marshes Light at 1730? 

    Y a. 2.6 miles
    N b. 2.8 miles
    N c. 3.0 miles
    N d. 3.2 miles
15342: At 1756 you determined your vessel's position to be 41°10.4'N, 71°59.2'W. From this position, you wish to change course to head for a point 5 miles west of Block Island North Light. With a reported set of 050°T, a drift of 2.0 knots and turning RPM's for 14 knots, which course should you steer to make good your desired course? 

    N a. 070°T
    N b. 075°T
    Y c. 080°T
    N d. 085°T
15470: At 1119, Wolf Trap Light bears 268°T at 4.4 miles by radar. What were the set and drift since your 1037 fix? 

    N a. 178°, 0.5 knot
    N b. 358°, 0.5 knot
    N c. 178°, 0.7 knot
    Y d. 358°, 0.7 knot
15546: At 2350 the gyro is restored to service. At 0016 the visibility improves. At 0028 you sight Bartlett Reef Light in line with New London Harbor Light bearing 039°pgc. What is the gyro error? 

    Y a. 2°E
    N b. 0°
    N c. 2°W
    N d. 4°W
15621: What is the length of the trip? 

    N a. 899.6 miles
    N b. 878.9 miles
    Y c. 851.9 miles
    N d. 726.0 miles
15638: At 2009 you are leaving New London Harbor with buoy "2"
close abeam to port. What is the true course to the Race that will leave Race Rock Light 0.5 mile abeam to port? 

    N a. 156°
    N b. 160°
    Y c. 164°
    N d. 168°
15763: At 0715, you take the following bearings:

Race Rock Light 324°pgc
Little Gull Island Light 245°pgc
Mt. Prospect Antenna 034°pgc

Based on your 0715 fix, which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. You are to the right of your track line.
    Y b. The charted depth is about 265 feet (80.3 meters).
    N c. You are in a cable area.
    N d. You are governed by the Inland Rules.
16338: At 2209 your position is latitude 40 47.7'N, longitude 71 35.5'W. There is a strong WSW'ly wind causing an estimated 3° leeway. What course will you steer by standard magnetic compass from your 2209 position to make good 340°T? 

    N a. 322°
    N b. 348°
    Y c. 356°
    N d. 002°