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.


117: At 0645, on the 17th of April, you pass Hole in the Wall Lt. (mile 373.4 AHP). What has been your average speed since departing the Exxon Refinery?


199: You are underway in the vicinity of Block Island and obtain the following lines of position:

Montauk Point Light 263°pgc
Block Island Southeast Light 026°pgc
Radar Bearing to Block Island Southwest Point 348°pgc

What is your position at the time of these sightings?


217: Your 1600 position is LAT 37°22.5'N, LONG 75°32.3'W. The depth of water under the keel is about __________.


226: At 2000, your position is LAT 37°04.1'N, LONG 76°05.6'W. You change course for the Eastern Shore. At 2037, Old Plantation Flats Light bears 033°pgc, and York Spit Light bears 282°pgc. The course made good from your 2000 position is __________.

    N a. 020°T
    N b. 014°T
    N c. 006°T
    Y d. 359°T

257: At 0705, you change course to head for The Race. You wish to leave Race Rock Light bearing due north at 0.4 mile. If the current is 110°T, at 2.8 knots, and you are turning for 12.0 knots, what course (pgc) should you steer?

    N a. 252°pgc
    N b. 257°pgc
    N c. 265°pgc
    Y d. 271°pgc

322: From your 2200 fix, you steer course 288°T to travel up the Thimble Shoal North Auxiliary Channel. If you are making good 6.0 knots, at what time would you expect to pass buoy "18" at the west end of the channel? (There are no set and drift.)

    N a. 2355
    Y b. 2344
    N c. 2335
    N d. 2324

368: You will enter waters governed by the International Rules when __________.

    N a. you cross the territorial sea boundary line
    N b. abeam of buoy "CBJ"
    Y c. Cape Charles Light bears 022°T
    N d. you cross the boundary of the contiguous zone

429: At 0820, you take the following bearings:

Falkner Island Light bearing 052°true
Branford Reef Light bearing 307°true

What are the set and drift since 0730?

    N a. Set 052°T, drift 1.1 knots
    N b. Set 052°T, drift 1.3 knots
    Y c. Set 232°T, drift 1.3 knot
    N d. Set 232°T, drift 1.1 knots

508: Branford Reef is __________.

    N a. a hard sand shoal marked with a light
    Y b. completely submerged at all stages of the tide
    N c. surrounded by rocks awash at low water spring tides
    N d. a small, low, sandy islet surrounded by shoal water

534: You depart LAT 52°01'N, LONG 176°09'E, for LAT 52°01'N, LONG 178°46'W. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing?

    N a. 090°T, 95 miles
    Y b. 090°T, 188 miles
    N c. 270°T, 95 miles
    N d. 270°T, 188 miles

574: If you are making 10 knots, what is your ETA at York Spit Channel Buoys "19" and "20"?

    N a. 0959
    N b. 1002
    N c. 1004
    Y d. 1006

577: At 1015, you estimate you have 139 miles to complete the voyage. If you average 9.5 knots, you will complete the voyage in __________.

    N a. 14 hours 44 minutes
    Y b. 14 hours 38 minutes
    N c. 14 hours 30 minutes
    N d. 14 hours 22 minutes

705: At 1554, on 25 May, you pass Huntington Point Light (mile 555.2 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. DockS (mile 253.6 AHP)?

    Y a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 5.2 mph
    N c. 4.8 mph
    N d. 4.3 mph

981: On 20 September , your 0730 zone time position was LAT 28°58.0'N, LONG 152°26.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 225°T at a speed of 19.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0931 ZT. The chronometer read 07h 29m 20s and was slow 02m 22s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 44°14.4'. LAN occurred at 1206 zone time. The observed altitude (Ho) was 62°49.5'. What was the longitude of your 1200 zone time running fix?

    N a. LONG 153°32.5'W
    N b. LONG 153°27.2'W
    Y c. LONG 153°23.5'W
    N d. LONG 153°20.0'W

1226: What are the dimensions of the Port Allen Lock at Baton Rouge, LA?

    N a. 75 feet x 1188 feet
    N b. 84 feet x 1180feet
    Y c. 84 feet x 1188 feet
    N d. 75 feet x 1180 feet

1241: At 1554, on 25 May, you pass Huntington Point Light (mile 555.2 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. DockS (253.6 AHP)?

    N a. 6.9 mph
    Y b. 6.2 mph
    N c. 4.8 mph
    N d. 4.3 mph

1257: On 5 May , your 1300 ZT DR position is LAT 25°16.0'S, LONG 12°30.0'W. You are on course 012°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    N a. 1702
    Y b. 1719
    N c. 1730
    N d. 1741

1277: On 22 June , your 0400 zone time DR position is LAT 23°00'N, LONG 81°45'W. You are steaming on course 110°T at a speed of 8.6 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel?

    N a. 0537
    Y b. 0541
    N c. 0545
    N d. 0547

1294: What are the light characteristics of Greenwood Light (mile 288.6 AHP)?

    N a. Fixed red light
    Y b. 2 red flashes every 5 seconds
    N c. 1 red flash every 4 seconds
    N d. 2 white flashes every 4 seconds

1484: On 7 December , your vessel's 0835 zone time DR position is LAT 28°30.0'N, LONG 125°39.3'W, when an azimuth of the Sun is observed. The chronometer time of the sight is 04h 34m 48s, and the Sun is bearing 113° per standard magnetic compass. The chronometer error is 01m 24s slow, and the variation in the area is 13.0°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 0.7°E
    N b. 1.0°W
    Y c. 2.3°E
    N d. 3.0°W

1489: On 23 July , your 2100 ZT position is LAT 36°43.0'N, LONG 16°09.8'W, when you observed an azimuth of Polaris to determine the compass error. Polaris bears 359.0° per gyrocompass. At the time of the observation, the helmsman noted that he was heading 319.0° per gyrocompass and 331.0° per standard compass. Variation is 12.0°W. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    N a. The gyro error is 0.7°E.
    N b. The gyro error is 1.7°W.
    Y c. The deviation is 1.7°E.
    N d. The compass error is 13.7°W

1684: You are passing Putney Lt. (mile 943.6 AHP). The gray shaded areas alongside the river represent __________.

    N a. levees
    N b. weirs
    N c. dikes
    Y d. revetments

1730: What is the distance from Arkansas City, AR, to St. Louis, MO, on the Mississippi River System?

    Y a. 584 miles
    N b. 617 miles
    N c. 733 miles
    N d. 832 miles

1881: On 13 September , your 1830 ZT DR position was LAT 23°03'S, LONG 105°16'E, when you observed a faint unidentifiable star through a hole in the clouds. The star bore 148.0°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 32°24.3'. The chronometer read 11h 24m 39s and is 05m 08s slow. The index error is 1.0' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52 feet. What star did you observe?

    N a. Beta Gruis
    Y b. Alpha Tucanae
    N c. Beta Aquarii
    N d. Alpha Indi

1897: On 22 June , your 0424 DR position is LAT 26°18.5'N, LONG 124°18.2'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 249°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 52°50.7'. The chronometer reads 00h 23m 24s, and is 01m 32s slow. What star did you observe?

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

1951: As you approach Ashland Light (mile 378.1 AHP) which daymark would you see?

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

2021: On 29 April , your 0300 ZT DR position is LAT 28°39'N, LONG 168°03'E. You are on course 108°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. Moon, Alpheratz, Polaris
    N b. Deneb, Dubhe, Zubenelgenubi
    N c. Venus, Polaris, Arcturus
    N d. Moon, Altair, Sabik

2117: You must arrive at your final destination by 0800. The distance from your 0300 position to the final destination is 40.5 miles. What minimum speed must be made good to arrive on time?

    Y a. 8.1 knots
    N b. 8.5 knots
    N c. 9.3 knots
    N d. 9.6 knots

2126: At 2350 on 23 June, you are at mile 610.5 AHP when you see about a mile ahead lights on the water near the left bank. What might you see when you come abreast of these lights?

    N a. Privately maintained buoys at a yacht club
    N b. Government buoys marking the Hurricane Point dikes
    Y c. Barges moored at the Dennis Landing Terminal
    N d. A pipeline discharging dredge spoil

2162: On 5 April , at 0509 zone time, morning stars were observed and the vessel's position was LAT 28°32'N, LONG 177°13.0'W. Your vessel is steaming at 19.0 knots on a course of 258°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 1021 zone time. The chronometer reads 10h 20m 09s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 58°06.6'. The index error is 1.0' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 00m 54s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 55.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    N a. 125.8°T
    N b. 128.8°T
    Y c. 129.2°T
    N d. 130.2°T

2247: At 1845 zone time, on 17 March , while taking stars for an evening fix, you observe an unidentified star bearing 200°T at an observed altitude of 53°45.0'. Your DR position at the time of the sight is LAT 25°10.0'N, LONG 66°48.0'W. The chronometer time of the sight is 10h 47m 49s, and the chronometer error is 1m 54s fast. Your vessel is steaming on a course of 290°T at a speed of 18.0 knots. What star did you observe?

    N a. Altair
    N b. Mirfak
    N c. Pollux
    Y d. Rigel

2248: 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

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

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

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

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

3099: The propellers on your twin screw vessel have a pitch of 16'04". What is the distance in a day's run if the average RPM is 94, and you estimate 7% positive slip?

    Y a. 338.3 miles
    N b. 389.3 miles
    N c. 676.6 miles
    N d. 778.6 miles

3284: While steaming at 18.9 knots, your vessel consumes 386 barrels of fuel oil per day. In order to reduce consumption to 251 barrels of fuel oil per day, what is the maximum speed the vessel can turn for?

    N a. 11.6 knots
    N b. 12.3 knots
    N c. 15.2 knots
    Y d. 16.4 knots

3297: Your vessel consumes 236 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 16.5 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 13.0 knots?

    N a. 102 bbls
    Y b. 115 bbls
    N c. 147 bbls
    N d. 186 bbls

3619: Your vessel is steering course 149°psc, variation for the area is 13°E, and deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the northeast, producing a 4° leeway. What true course are you making good?

    N a. 128°T
    N b. 136°T
    N c. 162°T
    Y d. 170°T

3635: You desire to make good a true course of 236°. The variation is 8°E, magnetic compass deviation is 1°E, and gyrocompass error is 3°W. A south-southeasterly wind produces a 1° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to make the true course good?

    Y a. 226°psc
    N b. 228°psc
    N c. 244°psc
    N d. 246°psc

11508: At 1014 you depart the entrance to Lake Montauk with light "1" close aboard. Your course is 066° per standard magnetic compass, and the speed is 8.6 knots. At 1232 your position is LAT 41°20.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W. What is the speed made good?

    N a. 8.2 knots
    Y b. 8.5 knots
    N c. 8.9 knots
    N d. 9.2 knots

11709: 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 making 7.8 knots, the current is 239°T at 1.3 knots, and a southeasterly wind is causing 3° of leeway?

    N a. 271°psc
    N b. 274°psc
    Y c. 278°psc
    N d. 282°psc

12500: You are on course 135° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings per standard magnetic compass: Cape Henry Light 266° Cape Charles Light 353°Chesapeake Light 124° What is your position?

    Y a. LAT 36°57.3'N, LONG 75°50.9'W
    N b. LAT 36°57.5'N, LONG 75°50.1'W
    N c. LAT 36°57.6'N, LONG 75°51.6'W
    N d. LAT 35°57.9'N, LONG 75°50.8'W

12908: At 0919 you are inbound, approximately 3.3 miles east of Cape Henry with buoy "15" close aboard to port. What is your ETA between Trestle B and Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel if you are making 11.3 knots?

    N a. 1010
    Y b. 1014
    N c. 1019
    N d. 1025

15167: Your height of eye is 25 feet (7.6 meters). If the visibility is 11 nautical miles, what is the luminous range of Wolf Trap Light?

    N a. 8.2 miles
    Y b. 12.0 miles
    N c. 16.0 miles
    N d. 17.0 miles

15358: At 0507, Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light bears 208°pgc. What is the position of your 0507 running fix?

    N a. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°05.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°04.9'N, LONG 73°04.8'W
    Y c. LAT 41°05.1'N, LONG 73°05.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°05.3'N, LONG 73°04.8'W

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°

15767: Which statement describes the shore between Watch Hill Point and Point Judith?

    N a. Low, rocky cliffs with heavily wooded hills inland
    Y b. Sandy beaches broken by rocky points
    N c. Sand dunes and beaches with a mud and sand bottom
    N d. Wooded, barren hills with isolated prominent buildings

15808: 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 steer to a point one half mile north of Mattituck Breakwater Light "MI" with an engine speed of 9.0 knots. If there are no set and drift, what course should you steer?

    N a. 207°psc
    N b. 213°psc
    N c. 220°psc
    Y d. 235°psc

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

16140: Available information indicates that there is a set and drift in this area of 290°T at 2 knots. Allowing for this set and drift, what course must you steer to make good a true course of 150°, while maintaining an engine speed of 13 knots, from your 1930 position?

    N a. 141°T
    Y b. 145°T
    N c. 149°T
    N d. 153°T

16606: Your position is LAT 40°59.0'N, LONG 73°06.2'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to New Haven Harbor Lighted Whistle Buoy "NH"?

    N a. 035°
    N b. 046°
    N c. 049°
    Y d. 052°