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.


57: At 0922, on 24 May, you are abreast the St. Catherine Bar Lt. (mile 348.6 AHP). If you are turning for 8.0 mph, what is the current?


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?


398: You depart LAT 32°16.6'N, LONG 68°28.0'W. What is the course and distance as calculated by Mercator sailing to a position at LAT 43°12.2'N, LONG 55°39.0'W?


505: At 0109 you get underway, and at 0112 you take the following bearings:

Branford Reef Light bearing 051° true
Stratford Point Light bearing 258° true

What is your 0112 position?

    N a. LAT 41°11.0'N, LONG 72°51.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°11.4'N, LONG 72°51.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°11.6'N, LONG 72°51.6'W
    N d. LAT 41°11.8'N, LONG 72°51.8'W

571: At 0845, you are approaching the entrances to Thimble Shoal Channel. What channel must you use?

    N a. The South Auxiliary Channel or Thimble Shoal Channel, but you must remain on the right hand side of the channel.
    Y b. The South Auxiliary Channel since your draft is less than 25 feet (7.6 meters) and you are not a passenger vessel.
    N c. The North Auxiliary Channel since you are going to turn to a northerly heading near buoy "12".
    N d. You are not permitted to use any of the channels, but must remain outside the buoyed channel line.

604: At 1820 zone time, on 21 March , you depart San Francisco, LAT 37°48.5'N, LONG 122°24.0'W (ZD +8). You are bound for Melbourne, LAT 37°49.2'S, LONG 144°56.0'E, and you estimate your speed of advance at 21 knots. The distance is 6,970 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Melbourne?

    N a. 1214, 4 April
    N b. 2214, 4 April
    Y c. 0814, 5 April
    N d. 1314, 5 April

670: You are on a voyage from Cape May (LAT 39°50'N, LONG 74°45'W) to the English Channel (LAT 49°00'N, LONG 05°00'W). What will NOT prohibit the use of a great circle track from departure to arrival? (Use gnomonic chart WOXZC5274.)

    N a. Newfoundland
    N b. Icebergs north of 48°N and west of 49°W
    N c. Islands approximately 50 miles south of Cape Cod
    Y d. The high latitude in which the vertex lies

671: You are on a voyage from Nome to Honolulu via Unimak Pass (LAT 54°30'N, LONG 164°30'W). The great circle track passes through a point at LAT 38°00'N, LONG 161°40'W. Using gnomonic chart WOXZC5270, determine which answer is TRUE. (The great circle distance, Unimak Pass to Honolulu, is 2013 miles.)

    N a. A great circle track results in a significant savings in distance when compared to a rhumb line.
    N b. The northern vertex of the great circle track would lie between Unimak Pass and Nome.
    N c. Distance of the great circle track is measured by using the length of degree of latitude at the mid-latitude of the track.
    Y d. A great circle course would offer no significant advantage because the rhumb line course is close to 180°.

726: On 16 December , your 1810 zone time DR position is LONG 129°46.5'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 23°56.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 12m 31s, and the chronometer error is 02m 16s fast. The index error is 2.5' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52.6 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris?

    Y a. 23°07.8'N
    N b. 23°12.3'N
    N c. 24°11.9'N
    N d. 24°18.6'N

833: On 17 November , in DR position LAT 01°14.4'S, LONG 148°45.5'E, you take an ex-meridian observation of the planet Venus at upper transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 05h 31m 42s, and the chronometer error is 01m 50s fast. The sextant altitude (hs) is 64°41.1'. The index error is 1.8' off the arc, and your height of eye is 50 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

    N a. LAT 01°14.4'S
    N b. LAT 01°16.3'S
    Y c. LAT 01°18.0'S
    N d. LAT 01°20.2'S

986: At 0900 zone time, on 23 September , your DR position is LAT 28°48.0'N, LONG 153°11.5'W. You are steering course 257°T at a speed of 18.0 knots. You observed 3 morning sun lines. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1020 running fix? NP-0001

    N a. 28°43.3'N, 153°32.1'W
    N b. 28°46.4'N, 153°34.6'W
    Y c. 28°49.1'N, 153°37.0'W
    N d. 28°52.8'N, 153°30.6'W

1165: Which of the following statements concerning the buoys on the Mississippi River is TRUE?

    N a. The position of river buoys can be determined by consulting the latest Light List - Vol. V.
    N b. A preferred channel mark is a lateral mark indicating a channel junction which must always be passed to starboard.
    N c. Buoys should be passed as close as possible.
    Y d. Setting a buoy is the act of placing a buoy on assigned position in the water.

1204: On 25 April , your 0930 zone time position is LAT 28°35'S, LONG 82°30'W. Your vessel is on course 300°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. Determine the time of LAN.

    Y a. 1131
    N b. 1158
    N c. 1211
    N d. 1225

1209: It is 22 October and you are keeping zone time +4. You are on course 083°T, speed 24 knots. Your 0820 DR position is LAT 26°10.0'N, LONG 52°20.0'W. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks?

    N a. 10h 04m 36s
    N b. 10h 04m 53s
    N c. 11h 04m 37s
    Y d. 11h 08m 54s

1224: What is the total length of the trip?

    N a. 906.3 miles
    Y b. 922.3 miles
    N c. 1155.8 miles
    N d. 1187.3 miles

1267: On 10 December , your 1300 zone time (ZT) DR position is LAT 26°27.0'S, LONG 79°04.0'E. You are on course 068°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    Y a. 1824
    N b. 1846
    N c. 1854
    N d. 1908

1278: On 17 April , your vessel is enroute from the Panama Canal to Kobe, Japan. Your 0400 zone time DR position is LAT 26°12.0'N, LONG 126°12.0'W. Your vessel is on course 285°T at a speed of 18 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel?

    N a. 0535
    N b. 0541
    N c. 0552
    Y d. 0602

1421: What is your ETA at the Helena Highway Bridge?

    Y a. 1335, 24 Sept
    N b. 1109, 24 Sept
    N c. 0926, 24 Sept
    N d. 0458, 24 Sept

1465: On 22 April , your 0344 zone time DR position is LAT 21°16.0'N, LONG 107°32.0'W. At that time, you observe Spica bearing 236°psc. The chronometer reads 10h 45m 16s,
and the chronometer error is 00m 25s fast. The variation is 7.5°E. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    N a. 1.1°W
    Y b. 5.2°E
    N c. 5.2°W
    N d. 6.1°W

1502: On May 20 , you are keeping ZD +4, and your 2300 (ZD +4) DR position is LAT 42°07'N, LONG 81°02'W. At that time, you observe Polaris bearing 012°psc. The chronometer time of the observation is 03h 02m 23s, and the chronometer is 1m 17s fast. The variation is 9.5°W. What is the deviation of the magnetic compass?

    Y a. 2.7°W
    N b. 12.2°W
    N c. 6.8°E
    N d. 12.2°E

1543: 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?

    N a. 60.0 feet
    N b. 63.6 feet
    Y c. 67.6 feet
    N d. 122.0 feet

1883: On 13 June , your 0445 DR position is LAT 20°12.0'N, LONG 44°45.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 168°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 38°56.0'. The chronometer reads 07h 43m 20s, and is 01m 39s slow. Which star did you observe?

    N a. Peacock
    N b. Ankaa
    N c. Al Na'ir
    Y d. Fomalhaut

2202: After entering Milliken Bend (mile 455 AHP) you wish to locate the river service in Madison Parish, Louisiana. The river service is indicated by the square containing which number?

    N a. 5
    Y b. 4
    N c. 3
    N d. 2

2245: You are entering the channel at buoy 29 and turning for 9 knots. An easterly wind is causing 3°
of leeway and the current is 320°T at 1.2 knots. What true course should you steer to remain in the middle leg of York Spit Channel?

    N a. 162°T
    Y b. 165°T
    N c. 168°T
    N d. 171°T

2458: You have steamed 560 miles at 23 knots and burning 524 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 260 barrels per day with 316 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 16.3
    N b. 18.6
    N c. 19.9
    Y d. 21.6

2578: On 12 November, you are taking a time tick using the 1600 GMT BBC Broadcast. You hear five pulses followed by a longer pulse. At the start of the longer pulse you start a stopwatch. You stop the stopwatch at the same time reading the chronometer with the following results: stopwatch 03m 19s, chronometer 15h 59m 46s. What is the chronometer error?

    N a. 01m 14s slow
    N b. 03m 19s fast
    Y c. 03m 33s slow
    N d. 06m 54s slow

2667: Your vessel is on a course of 255°T, at 14 knots. At 2126 a lighthouse is sighted dead ahead at a distance of 11 miles. You change course at this time to pass the lighthouse 3 miles abeam to port. What will be your ETA at this position off the lighthouse?

    N a. 2149
    N b. 2201
    Y c. 2211
    N d. 2228

2681: Your vessel is on course 312°pgc and you sight a lighthouse dead ahead at a range of 10 miles. The gyro error is 3°E. What course would you steer to leave the lighthouse 1.5 miles abeam to starboard?

    N a. 309°pgc
    Y b. 304°pgc
    N c. 309°T
    N d. 304°T

2781: Your engine speed is 9.8 mph and you estimate the current at 1.6 mph. What is your speed over the ground?

    N a. 11.0 mph
    N b. 9.8 mph
    N c. 8.6 mph
    Y d. 8.2 mph

2880: Your vessel is steering 218°T at 19 knots. At 2223 a light bears 261°T, and at 2234 the same light bears 289°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    N a. 4.5 miles
    Y b. 4.9 miles
    N c. 5.3 miles
    N d. 5.7 miles

3051: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 20.6 feet and a pitch of 23.4 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 538 miles in a 24 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 87?

    Y a. -11.6%
    N b. +11.6%
    N c. -10.3%
    N d. +10.3%

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

3755: Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 186°T, and the variation is 11°W. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 193° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation?

    Y a. 4°E
    N b. 4°W
    N c. 7°E
    N d. 7°W

4004: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°W. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a magnetic compass heading of 166°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 354° 122.5° - 114° 239.5° - 234°
030.5° - 024° 152.0° - 144° 269.0° - 264°
061.5° - 054° 181.0° - 174° 298.0° - 294°
092.0° - 084° 210.0° - 204° 327.5° - 324°

    N a. 2.0°W
    Y b. 1.5°W
    N c. 1.0°W
    N d. 0.5°W

6143: At 2027 you obtain a radar range to Shagwong Point of 3.4 miles and a tangent bearing to the east end of Long Island of 172°T. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. You are to the left of your DR track.
    N b. You are inside a precautionary area.
    N c. Your speed made good from 1949 to 2027 is 14.0 knots.
    N d. Your course made good from 1949 to 2027 is 111°T.

11001: What time will high water occur at Saybrook Jetty on the morning of 29 October 1983?

    N a. 0145
    N b. 0255
    Y c. 0405
    N d. 0920

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°

12903: Your 1426 position is LAT 37°10.9'N, LONG 75°29.6'W. You are turning for 9.3 knots. What is your ETA at Chesapeake Light?

    N a. 1616
    N b. 1621
    N c. 1626
    Y d. 1633

13102: At 2330 your position is LAT 41°16.9'N, LONG 71°38.2'W. You are turning for 9.3 knots. What is your ETA at the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island?

    N a. 2355
    Y b. 0005
    N c. 0012
    N d. 0019

13108: At 1103 you are in the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island with buoy "5" close aboard. What is your ETA at light "1" at the mouth of the approaches to Lake Montauk if you make good 8.2 knots?

    N a. 1249
    N b. 1254
    N c. 1259
    Y d. 1310

15213: At 2015, your vessel is at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel midway between buoys "13" and "14". If the height of tide is -1 foot (-0.3 meters), what is the approximate depth of water?

    Y a. 53 feet (15.5 meters)
    N b. 46 feet (13.9 meters)
    N c. 40 feet (12.1 meters)
    N d. 35 feet (10.6 meters)

15669: The area between Block Island and Montauk Point that is bounded by dashed magenta lines is a __________.

    N a. naval exercise area
    N b. fish trap area
    Y c. submerged cable area
    N d. restricted navigation area

15857: You are southeast of Saybrook Breakwater Light passing a horizontally-banded buoy. This buoy marks __________.

    N a. a sunken wreck
    N b. a tide rips area
    N c. the junction with the Connecticut River
    Y d. shoal water

15864: At 0200, you take the following bearingss:

Mattituck Inlet Light bearing 125°pgc
Falkner Island Light bearing 355°pgc

What is the position of your 0200 fix?

    Y a. LAT 41°03.9'N, LONG 72°38.9'W
    N b. LAT 41°03.8'N, LONG 72°39.1'W
    N c. LAT 41°03.7'N, LONG 72°38.5'W
    N d. LAT 41°03.5'N, LONG 72°38.8'W

16208: What is your ETA at point "A"?

    N a. 0640
    Y b. 0651
    N c. 0655
    N d. 0702

16240: The speed that you can expect to make good, while steering to make good your desired course, is __________.

    N a. 13.5 knots
    Y b. 14.3 knots
    N c. 15.1 knots
    N d. 15.9 knots

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°

16407: At 0227, you are on course 087°T at 10 knots. What course per standard magnetic compass should you steer to make good your true course?

    N a. 099°psc
    N b. 102°psc
    Y c. 105°psc
    N d. 109°psc

16414: At 1110, you increase speed to 12 knots. What is your ETA at the new position?

    N a. 1157
    N b. 1208
    Y c. 1215
    N d. 1219

16520: Which chart should you use to enter Great Salt Pond?

    N a. 13214
    N b. 13205
    Y c. 13217
    N d. 13207

16608: At 2142, you take the following bearings:

Stratford Point Light 331°T
Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light 280°T
Old Field Point Light 223°T

What is your 2142 position?

    Y a. LAT 41°03.0'N, LONG 73°01.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°03.1'N, LONG 73°02.1'W
    N c. LAT 41°03.1'N, LONG 73°01.3'W
    N d. LAT 41°03.3'N, LONG 73°01.9'W