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.


191: If you make good 12 knots, what is the ETA at North Chesapeake Channel Entrance Buoy "NCA" (LL #375)?


204: From your 1800 position you steer a course of 350°psc at a speed of 10.0 knots. At 1830, your position is LAT 41°11.7'N, LONG 71°45.8'W. What are the set and drift of the current?


274: At what approximate distance would you expect Bartlett Reef Light to break the horizon, if the visibility is 27 nautical miles?


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

289: At 1930, you take a fix using the following radar ranges:
York Spit Light - 3.6 miles;
New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" - 2.0 miles;
York Spit Swash Channel Light "3" - 2.5 miles.

Your longitude is __________.

    N a. 76°16.2'W
    N b. 76°16.5'W
    Y c. 76°16.8'W
    N d. 76°17.2'W

374: You calculate that the current will be ebbing at the Race at 0700. You should expect to be set in which general direction at the Race?

    N a. West
    Y b. East
    N c. Northeast
    N d. North

421: At 0345, you set a course to depart New London Harbor. Assuming no set and drift, which standard magnetic compass course must you steer to stay in the middle of the channel?

    N a. 192°psc
    N b. 190°psc
    Y c. 187°psc
    N d. 175°psc

516: You sight Bartlett Reef Light in line with New London Harbor Light bearing 043°pgc. You are heading 088°pgc and 098.5° per standard magnetic compass at the time of the observation. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The true heading at the observation was 090°.
    N b. The gyro error is 2°E.
    N c. The magnetic compass error is 9.5°W.
    Y d. The deviation is 1.5°E by observation.

654: In planning a North Pacific voyage, you wish to steam the minimum distance from LAT 48°30'N, LONG 124°45'W to LAT 44°00'N, LONG 150°00'E, while remaining south of 51°N latitude. Which track meets these requirements? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5270)

    N a. A Mercator sailing from departure to the mid-longitude at 51°N, thence great circle to arrival
    N b. A great circle between departure and arrival with parallel sailing between the longitudes where the great circle intersects 51°N
    N c. A great circle tangent to 51°N from departure to the mid-longitude then a great circle to arrival
    Y d. A great circle from departure to LAT 51°N, LONG 148°W, parallel sailing to LAT 51°N, LONG 171°W, then a great circle to arrival

755: You are taking a time tick using the 1400 signal from Buenos Aires, Argentina. You hear a 0.4 second dash followed by a series of dots, noting that the 29th and the 56th to 59th dots are omitted. At the start of the following 0.4 second dash (which is followed by an 8 second pulse), the comparing watch reads 01h 59m 57s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 02h 00m 38s, and the chronometer reads 02h 01m 33s. What is the chronometer error?

    N a. 0m 03s slow
    N b. 0m 4ls slow
    Y c. 0m 52s fast
    N d. 1m 36s fast

1080: On 20 Feb. , your 0530 ZT DR position is LAT 24°15.0'N, LONG 137°33.0'W. You are on course 033°T at a speed of 18 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. NP-0010

    N a. LAT 24°23.3'N, LONG 137°35.5'W
    N b. LAT 24°26.0'N, LONG 137°25.8'W
    Y c. LAT 24°27.5'N, LONG 137°31.8'W
    N d. LAT 24°30.1'N, LONG 137°24.5'W

1094: On 12 Oct. , your vessel is on course 081°T, speed 20 knots. Your 1800 zone time DR position is LAT 26°11.0'S, LONG 77°18.0'E. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1835 running fix. NP-0024

    N a. LAT 26°05.5'S, LONG 77°14.5'E
    N b. LAT 26°07.5'S, LONG 77°34.0'E
    N c. LAT 26°09.0'S, LONG 77°27.5'E
    Y d. LAT 26°12.0'S, LONG 77°31.0'E

1139: You are passing the Bayou Sara Gage which reads 3.9 feet. The low water reference plane for Bayo Sara is 5.25 feet. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    N a. The river level is above the Low Water Reference Plane.
    N b. Red Store Landing Revetment is ahead on your starboard side
    N c. This gage reading is at a lower elevation than the same reading on the Gage at Head of Passes.
    Y d. None of the above.

1185: On 31 January , your 0920 zone time DR position is LAT 24°16.0'S, LONG 151°33.0'E. Your vessel is on course 258°T at a speed of 18.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1202
    N b. 1207
    Y c. 1211
    N d. 1215

1192: On 3 October , your 0830 ZT position is LAT 26°15.0'S, LONG 73°16.0'E. Your vessel is on course 280°T at a speed of 19.0 knots. What is the ZT of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1151
    N b. 1154
    N c. 1158
    Y d. 1201

1208: On 12 July , your 0800 ZT DR position is LAT 24°15.0'N, LONG 132°30.0'W. Your vessel is on course 045°T at a speed of 15.0 knots. What is the ZT of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1146
    N b. 1148
    Y c. 1152
    N d. 1159

1244: 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

1251: On 16 August , your 1600 ZT DR position is LAT 26°17.0'N, LONG 165°17.0'E. You are on course 301°T at a speed of 15 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    N a. 1827
    N b. 1832
    Y c. 1838
    N d. 1845

1265: On 22 November , your 1400 ZT DR position is LAT 22°16.0'N, LONG 136°37.0'E. You are on course 038°T at a speed of 22 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    Y a. 1705
    N b. 1710
    N c. 1714
    N d. 1718

1293: What is indicated by the two light gray shaded areas that cross the river above False River Lt. (mile 251.0 AHP)?

    Y a. Utility crossings
    N b. Ferry crossings
    N c. Aerial cable crossings
    N d. Bridge construction

1301: As you approach Casting Yard Dock Lt. (mile 265.4 AHP) you notice on the map a circle with 2 black sectors. This symbol indicates a __________.

    N a. lock
    N b. warning sign
    Y c. river gage
    N d. mooring buoy

1667: On Sunday, 8 November, your ship is enroute from Texas City, TX, to Portland, ME. At 0632 ZT, you fix your position at LAT 27°06'N, LONG 90°36'W. When the lower limb of the Sun was two-thirds of a diameter above the visible horizon, the Sun bore 105° per standard magnetic compass. At this time the chronometer read 12h 39m 20s and is 3m 20s slow. If the variation is 3°E, determine the deviation of the standard compass.

    Y a. 0.8°E
    N b. 0.8°W
    N c. 3.8°E
    N d. 3.8°W

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

1729: Which light characteristics does Coggins Lt. (mile 429.5) have?

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

1778: At 2234 ZT, on 14 July , in DR position LAT 34°03'N, LONG 150°16'W you observe an amplitude of Saturn. The planet is about one Sun's diameter above the visible horizon and bears 272.1°pgc. The variation is 14°E. What is the gyro error?

    N a. 0.5°W
    N b. 0.5°E
    Y c. 1.5°W
    N d. 2.5°E

1879: 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 351.5°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 62°05.6'. The chronometer read 11h 24m 39s and is 5m 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. Alpha Herculis
    N b. Kappa Scorpii
    N c. Alpha Arae
    Y d. Beta Ophiuchi

2001: On 3 February , your 0451 zone time DR position is LAT 24°15.0'S, LONG 124°24.0'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time?

    Y a. Alphard, Denebola, Acrux
    N b. Spica, Venus, Procyon
    N c. Jupiter, Dubhe, Antares
    N d. Mars, Arcturus, Spica

2093: At your current speed of 21 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 435 miles. You must travel 755 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination?

    Y a. 15.9
    N b. 17.1
    N c. 18.3
    N d. 19.5

2859: Your vessel is on a course of 307°T at 20 knots. At 0914 a light bears 284.5°T, and at 0937 the light bears 262°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light?

    N a. 0950, 4.4 miles
    Y b. 0953, 5.4 miles
    N c. 0957, 6.6 miles
    N d. 1002, 7.1 miles

2898: You are steaming on a course of 267°T at 22 knots. At 0433 you observe a lighthouse bearing 290°T. At 0452 the lighthouse bears 328°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing?

    Y a. 4.5 nm
    N b. 5.9 nm
    N c. 6.6 nm
    N d. 7.2 nm

3250: You are taking a time tick using the 1200 signal from Valparaiso, Chile. You hear a series of 1 second dashes followed by a 9 second silent period, then a long 1.3 second dash. At the beginning of the long dash, your comparing watch reads 12h 00m 18s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 12h 01m 23s, and the chronometer reads 11h 59m 35s. What is the chronometer error?

    N a. 0m 18s fast
    N b. 1m 05s fast
    N c. 0m 25s slow
    Y d. 1m 30s slow

3258: You have steamed 525 miles at 16.0 knots, and consumed 105 tons of fuel. If you have 308 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 19 knots?

    N a. 920 miles
    Y b. 1092 miles
    N c. 1297 miles
    N d. 2172 miles

3276: While steaming at 15 knots, your vessel burns 326 bbls of fuel per day. What will be the rate of fuel consumption if you decrease speed to 12.2 knots?

    Y a. 175 bbls/day
    N b. 215 bbls/day
    N c. 277 bbls/day
    N d. 300 bbls/day

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

3305: You have steamed 201 miles and consumed 18.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 482 miles?

    N a. 25.2 tons
    Y b. 43.2 tons
    N c. 52.6 tons
    N d. 103.5 tons

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

12610: You are on course 061° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Bartlett Reef Light 070°psc Saybrook Breakwater Light 010°psc Horton Pt. Light 218°psc What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41°10.4'N, LONG 72°19.6'W
    Y b. LAT 41°11.2'N, LONG 72°20.6'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.7'N, LONG 72°23.9'W
    N d. LAT 41°15.4'N, LONG 72°24.3'W

13003: At 2102 your position is LAT 41°02.9'N, LONG 72°57.4'W. You are making turns for 16 knots. What is your ETA at a position 5 miles due south of Falkner Island Light?

    N a. 2149
    Y b. 2155
    N c. 2159
    N d. 2204

13504: A vessel anchoring in the middle of Cherry Harbor, 1 mile off Gardiner's Island, will find what type of bottom?

    N a. Rocky
    N b. Shells
    Y c. Mud
    N d. Silt

14602: Where would you tune your radio to receive a VHF-FM weather broadcast for the Columbia River in the vicinity of Government Island?

    N a. KIH-32 - 162.40 MHz
    N b. KBA-99 - 162.40 MHz
    Y c. KEB-97 - 162.55 MHz
    N d. KEC-62 - 162.55 MHz

15268: Your vessel is proceeding up New London Harbor Channel, and you are in line with the range. What would be your course per standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 352°
    N b. 354°
    N c. 002°
    Y d. 007°

15310: Which chart could you use for greater detail of the area at the south end of York Spit Channel?

    Y a. 12222
    N b. 12224
    N c. 12226
    N d. 12254

15509: At 1800, your position is LAT 41°06.5'N, LONG 71°43.5'W. How would the buoy which bears approximately 040°T from your position at a range of half a mile be painted?

    Y a. Horizontally banded, green over red, with a green buoyancy chamber
    N b. Horizontally banded, red over green, with a red buoyancy chamber
    N c. Vertically striped, red and green
    N d. Solid green with red letters "BIS"

15540: At 2200 Middle Ground Light is bearing 270° true at 9 nm

Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The current is flooding.
    Y b. You are being set to the left of the track.
    N c. The set is towards the southwest.
    N d. The drift is 0.6 knot.

15720: The red sector of New London Harbor Light covers from __________.

    N a. 040° - 310°
    Y b. 000° - 041°
    N c. 208° - 220°
    N d. 204° - 239°

15738: At 1830 you obtained the following Loran-C readings:

9960-W-14820.0
9960-X-26097.0
9960-Y-43713.5

What is your vessel's position?

    N a. LAT 40°41.0'N, LONG 72°06.0'W
    N b. LAT 40°41.0'N, LONG 72°10.6'W
    Y c. LAT 40°42.5'N, LONG 72°07.1'W
    N d. LAT 40°47.5'N, LONG 72°02.9'W

15821: What is the distance from the Amoco Pipeline Co. Docks at Baton Rouge, LA, to the mouth of the Ohio River?

    Y a. 700.2 miles
    N b. 727.9 miles
    N c. 953.5 miles
    N d. 981.5 miles

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

16065: If you steer 143°pgc at an engine speed of 8.0 knots from your 2015 position, at what time would you reach a point midway between buoys "11" and "12" (ignore set and drift)?

    N a. 2020
    Y b. 2029
    N c. 2032
    N d. 2039

16408: You estimate that you are making 9.3 knots over the ground.
At what time will you enter waters governed by the COLREGS?

    N a. 0247
    Y b. 0251
    N c. 0255
    N d. 0258

16564: If your height of eye is 45 feet (13.7 meters), what is the approximate geographic range of Block Island North Light?

    N a. 7.8 nm
    N b. 8.9 nm
    N c. 13.0 nm
    Y d. 16.7 nm

16566: If you were to head into New London Harbor, which chart should you switch to for the best detail?

    N a. 13209
    N b. 13212
    Y c. 13213
    N d. 13214

16716: At 0645, Watch Hill Point (left tangent) bears 314.5°T at 2.75 miles. What was the speed made good between 0600 and 0645?

    N a. 8.1 knots
    N b. 9.8 knots
    Y c. 10.7 knots
    N d. 11.4 knots

16741: At 2346 Montauk Point Light bears 285°pgc, and the radar range to Montauk Point is 5.9 miles. You are steering to make good 034°T. In order to remain westward of Southwest Ledge you should __________.

    Y a. come left when South East Point Light bears 057° true
    N b. remain on your present course and you will clear Southwest Ledge
    N c. keep Block Island North Light bearing 033°T or less
    N d. alter course to the right when Block Island Aerobeacon bears 055°T