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.

233: At 0725, you are heading 054°T, and Stratford Point Light is abeam to port at 3.1 miles. The current is 135°T at 1.8 knots. If you make turns for an engine speed of 8 knots, which course must you steer to make good 048°T?
252: At 0100, you obtain the following radar ranges:

Inlet Point - 2.7 miles,
Rocky Point - 4.5 miles,
Horton Point - 1.0 mile.

What was the speed made good between 0045 and 0100?
278: The National Weather Service provides 24 hour weather broadcasts to vessels transiting the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area on which frequency?
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
319: At 2100, you have passed through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel and determine your position to be LAT 37°01.3'N, LONG 76°03.0'W. The current is flooding in a direction of 303°T at 2.5 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, which course would you steer while turning RPMs for 6 knots to make good a course of 175°T? 

    N a. 190°T
    N b. 183°T
    N c. 164°T
    Y d. 156°T
388: From your 0745 fix, you change course to pass 1.0 mile south of buoy "WH" and estimate your speed at 7 knots. If the visibility clears, what is the earliest time you can expect to see Block Island North Light tower? 

    N a. 0845
    N b. 0838
    Y c. 0807
    N d. 0750
405: You depart LAT 33°45.0'N, LONG 118°30.0'W, and steam 2216 miles on course 250°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    N a. LONG 156°08.0'W
    N b. LONG 156°36.0'W
    N c. LONG 157°21.0'W
    Y d. LONG 157°31.0'W
622: You are on a voyage from Limoy, Costa Rica, to Los Angeles, CA. The distance from departure to arrival is 3150 miles. The speed of advance is 14.0 knots. You estimate 24.0 hours for bunkering at Colon, and 12.0 hours for the Panama Canal transit. If you take departure at 1836 hours (ZD +6), 28 January, what is your ETA (ZD +8) at Los Angeles? 

    N a. 1736, 9 February
    N b. 1736, 8 February
    Y c. 1336, 8 February
    N d. 0536, 8 February
678: Using gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5270, determine which of the following statements about a voyage from Valdez, AK, to Hilo, HI, is TRUE. 

    Y a. A great circle track is not significantly shorter than a rhumb line track.
    N b. You will cross the Northern Hemisphere vertex where the track line crosses LAT 45°N.
    N c. Distance is measured by using the length of a degree of longitude at the mid-latitude line.
    N d. When plotted on a Mercator chart, the track line will be convex to San Francisco.
1214: It is 25 February and you are keeping zone time +4. You are on course 283°T, speed 22 knots. Your 0900 DR position is LAT 29°10.3'N, LONG 72°04.9'W. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks? 

    N a. 13h 08m 56s
    Y b. 13h 08m 02s
    N c. 12h 41m 36s
    N d. 12h 07m 56s
1240: As you approach Ashland Light (mile 378.1 AHP), which type of daymark would you see on the light structure? 

    N a. Green square
    N b. Green diamond
    N c. Red diamond
    Y d. Red triangle
1250: What facility is not found near La Grange Towhead Light (538.2 AHP) on Greenville Harbour? 

    N a. Mississippi Limestone
    N b. Ergon, Inc.
    N c. American Commercial Barge Lines
    Y d. Greenville Casino Wharf
1497: On 19 November , your 0146 ZT position is LAT 33°48'N, LONG 25°22'E. You observe Polaris bearing 359.8°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 224°pgc and 222.5°psc. The variation is 2°E. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    N a. 2.0°E
    N b. 0.5°E
    Y c. 1.0°W
    N d. 1.5°W
1746: The Crooked River empties into which river? 

    Y a. Missouri
    N b. Mississippi
    N c. Tennessee
    N d. Ohio
1746: The Crooked River empties into which river? 

    Y a. Missouri
    N b. Mississippi
    N c. Tennessee
    N d. Ohio
1893: On 22 July , your 0442 DR position is LAT 26°35.6'N, LONG 22°16.7'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 104°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 9°55.7'. The chronometer reads 05h 39m 03s, and is 03m 14s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Hamal
    Y b. Rigel
    N c. Menkar
    N d. Acamar
2019: On 15 October , your 0300 zone time DR position is LAT 27°14'S, LONG 99°46'E. You are on course 128°T at a speed of 19 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time? 

    N a. Jupiter, Alphard, Betelgeuse
    N b. Mars, Regulus, Canopus
    N c. Achernar, Suhail, Alphard
    Y d. Achernar, Procyon, Aldebaran
2020: On 23 July , your 1700 zone time DR position is LAT 27°29'N, LONG 129°26'W. You are on course 079°T at a speed of 20 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time? 

    N a. Arcturus, Jupiter, Denebola
    Y b. Spica, Sabik, Vega
    N c. Antares, Polaris, Altair
    N d. Jupiter, Saturn, Polaris
2050: From Baton Rouge to Cairo, what is the maintained minimum channel depth during low water? 

    Y a. 9 feet
    N b. 12 feet
    N c. 15 feet
    N d. 30 feet
2091: At your current speed of 22 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 422 miles. You must travel 844 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination? 

    N a. 19.8
    N b. 18.4
    N c. 17.0
    Y d. 15.6
2156: At 1300 ZT, on 9 May , your DR position is LAT 24°00'N, LONG 83°26'W. Determine the computed altitude (Hc) of the Sun for the assumed position (AP) nearest to the above given latitude and longitude, given a chronometer time of 07h 00m 00s. 

    N a. Hc 68°22.8'
    N b. Hc 68°24.1'
    N c. Hc 68°25.2'
    Y d. Hc 68°26.6'
2676: While on a course of 019°pgc, a light bears 14° on the port bow at a distance of 15.3 miles. What course should you steer to pass 1.5 miles abeam of the light, leaving it to port? 

    N a. 006°pgc
    Y b. 011°pgc
    N c. 013°pgc
    N d. 015°pgc
2676: While on a course of 019°pgc, a light bears 14° on the port bow at a distance of 15.3 miles. What course should you steer to pass 1.5 miles abeam of the light, leaving it to port? 

    N a. 006°pgc
    Y b. 011°pgc
    N c. 013°pgc
    N d. 015°pgc
2861: Your vessel is on a course of 196°T at 17 knots. At 0417 a light bears 218.5°T, and at 0442 the light bears 241°T. At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    Y a. 0500, 5.0 miles
    N b. 0504, 6.2 miles
    N c. 0500, 6.2 miles
    N d. 0504, 5.0 miles
2862: Your are on course 317°T at 13 knots. A light is bearing 22.5° relative at 0640. At 0659 the same light is bearing 45° relative. At what time should the light be abeam? 

    N a. 0709
    Y b. 0712
    N c. 0718
    N d. 0721
2868: Your vessel is on a course of 358°T at 19 knots. At 0316 a light bears 024.5°T, and at 0334 the light bears 043°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    Y a. 0352, 5.7 miles
    N b. 0355, 6.2 miles
    N c. 0359, 7.1 miles
    N d. 0403, 8.0 miles
2895: You are steaming on a course of 246°T at 17 knots. At 2107 you observe a lighthouse bearing 207°T. At 2119 the lighthouse bears 179°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing? 

    N a. 3.9 miles
    N b. 4.2 miles
    Y c. 4.6 miles
    N d. 5.1 miles
2900: You are steaming on a course of 167°T at 19.5 knots. At 1837 you observe a lighthouse bearing 224°T. At 1904 the lighthouse bears 268°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing? 

    N a. 8.8 miles
    N b. 9.5 miles
    Y c. 10.4 miles
    N d. 11.3 miles
3074: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 19.2 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 22.7 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 4% positive slip? 

    N a. 82
    Y b. 89
    N c. 96
    N d. 103
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
3464: You are underway on course 315°T at 14 knots. The current is 135°T at 1.9 knots. What is the course being made good? 

    N a. 130°T
    Y b. 315°T
    N c. 317°T
    N d. 322°T
3654: You are taking a time tick using the 2000 signal from Kekaha-Kauai, Hawaii (WWVH). 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 07h 59m 54s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 08h 00m 00s, and the chronometer reads 08h 00m 06s. What is the chronometer error? 

    N a. 0m 06s slow
    N b. 0m 06s fast
    N c. 0m 12s fast
    Y d. No error
10300: Determine the course per standard magnetic compass from the entrance to Quonochontaug Pond (LAT 41°19.8'N, LONG 71°43.2'W) to the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island. 

    N a. 129.5°psc
    N b. 134.0°psc
    N c. 156.0°psc
    Y d. 159.0°psc
10708: At 0726 you depart Lake Montauk with light 1 close aboard and set course 309° per standard magnetic compass at 6.7 knots. At 0818 your GPS position is LAT 41°07.1'N, LONG 72°02.6'W. What is the current? 

    Y a. 102°T at 0.6 knot
    N b. 164°T at 0.7 knot
    N c. 334°T at 0.9 knot
    N d. 321°T at 0.6 knot
11101: Great Salt Pond on Block Island is __________. 

    Y a. entered through a dredged cut
    N b. not accessible in easterly gales
    N c. available for vessels up to a maximum draft of 8 feet (2.4m)
    N d. not affected by the tide
11300: At 1256 your GPS position is LAT 36°57.0'N, LONG 75°41.0'W. At 1336 your position is LAT 37°07.5'N, LONG 75°39.1'W. What was the speed made good between the fixes? 

    N a. 14.6 knots
    N b. 15.2 knots
    Y c. 16.0 knots
    N d. 18.6 knots
11404: At 2115 your GPS position is LAT 41°03.3'N, LONG 72°37.9'W. At 0027 your position is LAT 41°14.4'N, LONG 72°07.2'W. What was your speed made good? 

    N a. 7.0 knots
    N b. 7.5 knots
    Y c. 8.0 knots
    N d. 8.5 knots
11701: What is the true heading to steer inbound in the York River Entrance Channel if your engines are turning for 9.5 knots, the current is 076°T at 1.2 knots, and a southwesterly wind causes 3° of leeway? 

    N a. 313°T
    N b. 308°T
    N c. 303°T
    Y d. 300°T
11804: Your engines are making turns for 8 knots and a northerly wind is causing 3° of leeway. There is a current of 220°T at 1.5 knots. What is the course to steer between Branford Reef Light and Faulkner Island Light? 

    Y a. 084°T
    N b. 095°T
    N c. 102°T
    N d. 108°T
11900: What is the true course to steer between the entrance to Great Salt Pond (LAT 41°12.0'N, LONG 71°35.6'W) and the entrance to Quonochontaug Pond (LAT 41°19.8'N, LONG 71°43.2'W), if you are turning for 8.5 knots, and you allow for a current of 247°T at 1.2 knots, and an easterly wind is causing 2° of leeway? 

    N a. 314°T
    N b. 320°T
    N c. 328°T
    Y d. 333°T
12200: You are on course 119°psc. You sight New Haven Outer Channel Range Rear Light in line with the Outer Channel Range Front Light bearing 346° per standard magnetic compass. This indicates that __________. 

    N a. you should swing the vessel to determine the deviation
    Y b. the existing deviation table is correct for that heading
    N c. your compass is affected by a local magnetic disturbance
    N d. the compass error is 16°W
12703: You are on course 025° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Point Judith Light - 072°psc Block Island North Point Light - 118°psc Watch Hill Light - 306°psc What s your position?) 

    N a. LAT 41°14.9'N, LONG 71°43.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°15.1'N, LONG 71°44.0'W
    Y c. LAT 41°15.4'N, LONG 71°43.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°15.6'N, LONG 71°42.8'W
12706: You are on course 053° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Little Gull Island Light 275°psc Race Rock Light 296°psc Latimer Reef Light 011°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°12.9'N, LONG 71°56.3'W
    Y b. LAT 41°13.2'N, LONG 71°56.0'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.4'N, LONG 71°55.5'W
    N d. LAT 41°13.8'N, LONG 71°56.1'W
13301: The approach channel to the town of Cape Charles (LAT 37°16'N, LONG 76°01'W) has what controlling depth? 

    N a. 9 feet
    Y b. 17 feet
    N c. 20 feet
    N d. 40 feet
13702: What chart should you use in Lynnhaven Bay (west of Cape Henry)? 

    N a. 12221
    N b. 12256
    N c. 12205
    Y d. 12254
13705: The broken magenta lines (long and short dashes) in and around Mobjack Bay (LAT 37°20'N, LONG 76°22'W) indicate __________. 

    N a. amphibious training areas
    N b. grounds for dredge spoil
    Y c. fish trap areas
    N d. gunnery exercise areas
15016: If the visibility is 3 miles, at what range will you lose sight of Chesapeake Light? 

    N a. The light has never been visible.
    N b. 6.4 miles
    Y c. 8.3 miles
    N d. 12.1 miles
15111: At 1810, you sight a buoy on your starboard side labeled "19".
This buoy marks __________. 

    N a. a submerged obstruction in York Spit Channel
    N b. the visibility limit of the red sector of Cape Henry Light
    Y c. the side of York Spit Channel
    N d. the junction of the York Spit and York River Entrance Channels
15112: Based on a DR, at approximately 1817 you would expect to __________. 

    N a. enter a traffic separation zone
    Y b. depart a regulated area
    N c. cross a submerged pipeline
    N d. depart a restricted area
15245: After departing the New Haven terminals, your 1800 position puts the New Haven Harbor Lighted Bell Buoy "NH" bearing 130°T at a range of 0.2 mile. From this position you set a course to leave Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light 1.0 mile off your starboard beam. Your speed is 12.5 knots. At 1845 you determine your position to be LAT 41°05.5'N,
LONG 73°03.1'W. What were the set and drift of the current? 

    N a. 294°T at 0.5 knot
    Y b. 294°T at 0.8 knot
    N c. 114°T at 0.5 knot
    N d. 114°T at 0.8 knot
15315: At 1810, you obtain the following radar reading:

Cape Henry Light bearing 252.5° true @4.0 nm


What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 36°56.0'N, LONG 75°58.5'W
    N b. LAT 36°55.4'N, LONG 75°56.0'W
    N c. LAT 36°54.9'N, LONG 75°53.8'W
    Y d. LAT 36°56.8'N, LONG 75°55.6'W
15319: The coastline by Cape Henry is best described as __________. 

    N a. rocky with pine scrubs
    Y b. sandy hills about eighty feet high
    N c. low wetlands
    N d. low and thinly wooded with many beach houses
15822: You are turning for 10 mph, approaching Angola, LA. Angola reports that the current at Red River Landing is estimated at 4.5 MPH. Which of the following statements is TRUE? 

    N a. You are making 14.5 mph over the ground.
    Y b. You should expect to encounter vessels crossing the river at mile 300.5 AHP.
    N c. You would expect to find a more favorable current near the broken red line in the river.
    N d. Hog Pt. Light and Hog Pt. Lower Light may be used as range lights when entering Shreves cut-off.
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
16839: At 0800 you reduce speed from sea speed. Speed was reduced by the time you passed abeam of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "12" at 0814. At this time Buoy "12" was abeam on your starboard side at a distance of 0.65 mile. Assuming you continue to make good your course of 202°T, what is your new speed if you pass abeam of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14" at a distance of 1.5 miles at 0907? 

    N a. 13.6 knots
    Y b. 12.9 knots
    N c. 12.3 knots
    N d. 12.0 knots