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.


115: After passing Wilkinson Lt. (mile 310.0 AHP) you see a flashing amber light on the right descending bank ahead. The flashing light indicates that you should __________.


176: What is your 2118 position?


298: You have just passed York River Entrance Channel Lighted Buoys "13" and "14". The chart shows a light approximately 1.0 mile off your port beam with a light characteristic "Fl 6 sec". What is the name of this light?


304: A vessel steams 580 miles on course 083°T from LAT 13°12'N, LONG 71°12'W. What are the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by mid-latitude sailing?

    N a. LAT 14°17'N, LONG 61°23'W
    N b. LAT 14°20'N, LONG 61°21'W
    Y c. LAT 14°23'N, LONG 61°19'W
    N d. LAT 14°25'N, LONG 61°17'W

361: Which publication contains the specific information about navigating in York Spit Channel?

    Y a. Coast Pilot
    N b. Light List
    N c. Chesapeake Bay Harbor- master's Regulations Manual
    N d. Navigator's Manual - Chesapeake Bay

573: Visibility has decreased to 1 mile in haze. At 0948, you take the following radar ranges. What course should you steer from this fix to the York Spit channel between buoys "19" and "20"?

Thimble Shoal Light - 5.9 miles South end of trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel - 3.8 miles South end of trestle B of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel - 5.4 miles

    Y a. 010°pgc
    N b. 008°pgc
    N c. 004°pgc
    N d. 001°pgc

826: On 5 May , in DR position LAT 38°34.5'N, LONG 124°20.7'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 07h 59m 10s, and the chronometer error is 01m 10s slow. The sextant altitude (hs) is 67°27.0'. The index error is 1.4' on the arc, and your height of eye is 30 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

    N a. LAT 38°26.4'N
    N b. LAT 38°30.2'N
    Y c. LAT 38°36.0'N
    N d. LAT 38°41.2'N

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

1096: On 24 October , your 0100 DR position is LAT 27°42'N, LONG 158°35'E. You are on course 085°T at a speed of 12 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0700 running fix. NP-0026

    N a. LAT 27°48.8'N, LONG 160°12.5'E
    N b. LAT 27°52.5'N, LONG 160°18.2'E
    Y c. LAT 27°56.0'N, LONG 159°47.3'E
    N d. LAT 27°58.4'N, LONG 159°43.5'E

1133: The Helena Gage reads 9.4 feet. The high point on your towboat is 42 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge?

    N a. 53.0 feet
    N b. 62.6 feet
    N c. 64.2 feet
    Y d. 68.0 feet

1168: Which company does NOT have a marine facility in Rosedale harbor (mile 585 AHP)?

    Y a. T.L. James
    N b. Rosedale-Boliver County Port Commission
    N c. Cives Steel Company
    N d. Sanders Elevator Corp

1262: On 27 September , your 0345 ZT DR position is LAT 26°18.0'S, LONG 4°18.0'W. You are on course 271°T at a speed of 15 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel?

    N a. 0525
    N b. 0545
    N c. 0555
    Y d. 0605

1650: On 22 October , in DR position LAT 21°51.0'S, LONG 76°24.0'E, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 256°psc. The chronometer reads 01h 01m 25s and is 01m 15s fast. Variation for the area is 2°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 0.3°E
    Y b. 0.3°W
    N c. 2.0°E
    N d. 2.0°W

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

1663: On 7 April , in DR position LAT 27°42.0'N, LONG 114°03.0'W, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 076°psc. The chronometer reads 02h 10m 17s and is 01m 52s slow. Variation in the area is 8°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    Y a. 1.8°W
    N b. 2.3°E
    N c. 6.2°E
    N d. 7.8°W

1735: As you pass under the Natchez-Vidalia Dual Bridge, the gage on the bridge reads 3.6 feet. If the highest point on your vessel is 62 ft. above the water, what is your vertical clearance?

    Y a. 60.4 feet
    N b. 63.6 feet
    N c. 67.2 feet
    N d. 122.0 feet

1758: As you approach mile 425 AHP, you see a brown shaded area along the left descending bank. This represents __________.

    N a. weirs
    Y b. a revetment
    N c. dikes
    N d. a fleeting area

1884: On 26 November , your 0535 DR position is LAT 27°18.9'S, LONG 30°18.4'E. You observe an unidentified planet bearing 085°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 32°15.2'. The chronometer reads 03h 33m 16s, and is 01m 48s slow. What planet did you observe?

    N a. Saturn
    Y b. Jupiter
    N c. Mars
    N d. Venus

1904: On 22 March , your 0519 DR position is LAT 27°20.6'N, LONG 69°25.6'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 115°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 54°52.8'. The chronometer reads 10h 16m 47s, and is 02m 15s slow. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Altair
    N b. Enif
    N c. Menkar
    N d. Rigel

2017: On 2 February , your 0400 zone time DR position is LAT 24°14.0'N, LONG 163°28.0'W. You are on course 322°T at a speed of 22 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time?

    Y a. Saturn, Antares, Rasalhague
    N b. Jupiter, Saturn, Polaris
    N c. Saturn, Polaris, Zubenelgenubi
    N d. Jupiter, Spica, Denebola

2151: On 16 June , 0612 zone time, morning stars were observed. The vessel's position was LAT 27°23.0'S, LONG 56°22.0'W. The vessel is steaming at 16.0 knots on a course of 212°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0850 zone time. The chronometer reads 00h 53m 19s, and the sextant altitude is 22°58.6'. The index error is 2.0' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 02m 43s fast. Your height of eye is 61.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    Y a. 044.3°
    N b. 052.6°
    N c. 136.1°
    N d. 148.4°

2180: On 12 April , at 0515 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 21°05'S, LONG 16°30'W. Your vessel is steaming at 19 knots on a course of 278°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0930 ZT. The chronometer reads 10h 28m 25s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 40°15.9'. The index error is 2.5' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 2m 15s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 57 feet. What are the intercept (a) and azimuth (Zn) from the assumed position of this sight?

    N a. Zn 057.7°, a 15.4' T
    Y b. Zn 057.0°, a 17.7' A
    N c. Zn 122.3°, a 17.7' A
    N d. Zn 123.0°, a 22.7' A

2282: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 42°44.0' on 22 June . The index error is 0.8' off the arc. The height of eye is 70 feet (21.3 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 42°19.8'
    N b. 42°21.7'
    Y c. 42°51.7'
    N d. 42°54.2'

2351: What is the distance in river miles, from the new mouth of the White River to the Petroleum Fuel & Terminal Co. (mile 144.6 AHP)?

    Y a. 454 miles
    N b. 427 miles
    N c. 384 miles
    N d. 370 miles

2654: You are steering 231°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 12.3 miles at 0338. You change course to pass the light 4 miles off abeam to starboard. If you are making 16.5 knots, what is your ETA at the position 4 miles off the light?

    Y a. 0420
    N b. 0423
    N c. 0426
    N d. 0429

2666: You are on course 086°T, speed 11.7 knots. At 1013 you see a buoy bearing 088°T at a range of 4.8 miles. If you change course at 1019 to leave the buoy abeam to port at 1.0 mile, at what time will the buoy be abeam?

    Y a. 1037
    N b. 1040
    N c. 1043
    N d. 1052

2673: At 2221 your course is 222°pgc at a speed of 11.2 knots, when radar detects a buoy bearing 355° relative, at a range of 5.8 miles. The gyro error is 2°E. If you change course at 2226, what course should you steer to leave the buoy 1.0 mile abeam to port?

    N a. 206°pgc
    N b. 210°pgc
    Y c. 228°pgc
    N d. 231°pgc

2699: You are underway on course 137°T at a speed of 16.2 knots. You sight a rock bearing 134°T at a radar range of 4.6 miles at 1508. If you change course at 1514, what is the course to steer to leave the rock abeam to port at 1.5 miles?

    Y a. 162°T
    N b. 158°T
    N c. 154°T
    N d. 151°T

2706: While on a course of 216°pgc, a light bears 12° on the port bow at a distance of 11.2 miles. Which course should you steer to pass 2 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port?

    N a. 208°pgc
    N b. 210°pgc
    N c. 212°pgc
    Y d. 214°pgc

2853: Your vessel is on a course of 343°T at 14 knots. At 2156 a light bears 320.5°T, and at 2217 the light bears 298°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light?

    Y a. 2232, 3.4 miles
    N b. 2235, 4.3 miles
    N c. 2228, 4.9 miles
    N d. 2241, 6.9 miles

2891: You are steaming on course 168°T at a speed of 18 knots. At 1426 you sight a buoy bearing 144°T. At 1435 you sight the same buoy bearing 116°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing and predicted distance when abeam?

    Y a. 2.3 miles 2nd bearing, 1.8 miles abeam
    N b. 2.5 miles 2nd bearing, 2.8 miles abeam
    N c. 2.8 miles 2nd bearing, 1.8 miles abeam
    N d. 3.3 miles 2nd bearing, 2.8 miles abeam

3109: You are turning 90 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 24 feet, and an estimated slip of -3%. What is the speed of advance?

    N a. 18.8 knots
    N b. 19.2 knots
    N c. 20.6 knots
    Y d. 21.9 knots

3280: While steaming at 14.5 knots, your vessel consumes 319 barrels of fuel oil per day. In order to reduce consumption to 217 barrels of fuel oil per day, what is the maximum speed the vessel can turn for?

    N a. 9.8 knots
    N b. 11.9 knots
    Y c. 12.8 knots
    N d. 13.5 knots

3605: The true course from point A to point B is 317°. A SSW wind causes a 4° leeway, variation is 6°W and deviation is 1°E. What is the magnetic compass course to steer to make good the true course?

    N a. 326°psc
    Y b. 318°psc
    N c. 313°psc
    N d. 308°psc

4008: 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 037°.
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. 1.5°W
    N c. 1.5°E
    N d. 2.0°E

4010: 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 magnetic compass heading of 104°.
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°

    N a. 1.8°E
    N b. 2.6°E
    Y c. 2.2°W
    N d. 2.7°W

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

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

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

13701: Why are there no buoys charted at the approach to Sand Shoal Inlet (LAT 37°16'N, LONG 75°46'W)?

    N a. No buoys are stationed there.
    N b. They frequently shift position due to heavy weather.
    Y c. They are frequently shifted to conform to the changing channel.
    N d. The buoys are being replaced with fixed lights.

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

15445: As you proceed up York Spit Channel, what are the three base courses that you must steer to conform to the channel,
if steering by standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 337.5°, 359.5°, 028.0°
    N b. 337.5°, 357.5°, 026.0°
    N c. 324.0°, 352.5°, 009.5°
    Y d. 340.0°, 000.5°, 025.0°

15459: At 0823, Old Point Comfort Light bears 000°T at 0.6 mile. What is your 0823 position?

    Y a. LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 76°18.4'W
    N b. LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 76°21.6'W
    N c. LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 76°19.6'W
    N d. LAT 36°55.5'N, LONG 76°18.6'W

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°

15728: What company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Helena (mile 658 to 665 AHP)?

    Y a. Helena Grain Co.
    N b. Helena Port Terminal, Inc.
    N c. Arkansas Power & Light Co.
    N d. Texas Eastern Pipeline Co.

15827: As you approach Giles Bend Cutoff Light (mile 367.7 AHP), what type of daymark would you see on the light structure?

    N a. Green diamond
    N b. Green triangle
    Y c. Red triangle
    N d. Red diamond

15911: What publication contains information on the navigational hazards in the vicinity of Falkner Island?

    N a. The navigational regulations in Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations
    N b. Inland Navigation Rules
    N c. U.S. Coast Guard Light List
    Y d. U.S. Coast Pilot

16558: From your position you observe a rotating white and green light to the north. This light is most likely __________.

    Y a. at an airport
    N b. on a naval mine-countermeasures vessel
    N c. "Block Island North Light"
    N d. on a vessel engaged in public safety activity

16843: At what time will you enter the inbound traffic lane with Buoy "NCA" (LL #375) bearing 180°T at 0.3 mile?

    N a. 1003
    Y b. 0957
    N c. 0951
    N d. 0948