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.


69: Which type of daymark will you see as you approach Joe Pierce Light (mile 335.4 AHP)?


154: You see a buoy with red and green bands. This buoy marks __________.


160: How far is it to the Hernando Desoto Bridge in Memphis, TN?


193: 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. 4.6 miles
    N c. 6.4 miles
    Y d. 8.3 miles

215: As an option to heading into Long Island Sound, you consider anchoring in the vicinity of the Gardiners Point Ruins at the north end of Gardiners Island. What is the minimum recommended distance from the ruins for fishing, trawling, or anchoring?

    N a. 1.0 mile
    N b. 0.8 mile
    N c. 0.5 mile
    Y d. 300 yards (91 meters)

306: A vessel steams 640 miles on course 047°T from LAT 34°45'N, LONG 140°00'E. What are the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by mid-latitude sailing?

    N a. LAT 41°57'N, LONG 150°02'E
    Y b. LAT 42°01'N, LONG 149°57'E
    N c. LAT 42°06'N, LONG 149°53'E
    N d. LAT 42°09'N, LONG 149°50'E

340: Inbound, the color of Cape Henry Light will __________.

    N a. alternate regardless of your position
    N b. change after you reach Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"
    N c. remain the same
    Y d. change before you reach Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"

476: The great circle distance from LAT 35°08.0'S, LONG 19°26.0'E to LAT 33°16.0'S, LONG 115°36.0'E is 4559 miles and the initial course is 121°T. Determine the longitude of the vertex.

    N a. 26°50.9'E
    Y b. 65°45.9'E
    N c. 69°19.1'E
    N d. 72°18.3'E

535: You depart LAT 49°38'N, LONG 152°49'E, for LAT 49°38'N, LONG 176°12'E. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing?

    Y a. 090°T, 909 miles
    N b. 090°T, 1204 miles
    N c. 270°T, 909 miles
    N d. 270°T, 1204 miles

551: You are on course 092°T, and the engines are turning for 8 knots. At 0452, you take the following bearings:
Stratford Point Light 020°pgc Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light 141°pgc

What is your 0452 position?

    Y a. LAT 41°05.2'N, LONG 73°07.8'W
    N b. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 73°07.5'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 73°07.3'W
    N d. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°07.3'W

641: At 1032 on 24 June, you pass Carolina Landing Light(508.8 AHP). What has been the average current since 2350, 23 June, if you have been making turns for 9.0 mph?

    Y a. 0.5 mph
    N b. 1.5 mph
    N c. 5.7 mph
    N d. 8.5 mph

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

734: On 11 March , your 1846 zone time DR position is LAT 25°05.7'N, LONG 124°29.0'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 25°59.1'. The chronometer time of the sight is 02h 44m 01s, and the chronometer error is 02m 15s slow. The index error is 3.9' on the arc, and the height of eye is 42.7 feet (13.0 meters). What is your latitude by Polaris?

    N a. 25°14.2'N
    Y b. 25°17.9'N
    N c. 25°28.1'N
    N d. 26°15.2'N

1119: At 2142, on January 3, you pass Sebastapol Light (mile 283.3 AHP). At 0137, January 4, you pass Fort Adams Light(311.4 AHP). You have been turning for 9.0 mph. What was the current?

    N a. 4.2 mph
    N b. 3.3 mph
    N c. 2.7 mph
    Y d. 1.8 mph

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

1416: Which company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Madison Parish (mile 457.0 AHP)?

    N a. Complex Chemical Co.
    N b. Delta Southern Railroads
    N c. Mid-Delta Helena, LLC
    Y d. Baxter Wilson

1535: The Red River Landing Gage reads 5.2 feet. The low water reference plane (LWRP) for Red River is 10.6 feet. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    Y a. River level is below the Low Water Reference Plane.
    N b. The depth over revetment at Old River is 25.2 ft.
    N c. The depth over Old River Lock sill is greater than 11 ft.
    N d. This gage reading is at a higher elevation than the same reading on the Gage at Head of Passes.

1744: At 1727, on 24 August, you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge (mile 661.7 AHP). What has been the average speed of the current since departing Memphis Harbor, McKellar Lake, if you have been making turns for 9 mph?

    N a. 1.8 mph
    Y b. 2.3 mph
    N c. 2.8 mph
    N d. 3.6 mph

1836: Which daymark should you see as you approach French Point Light (mile 915.4 AHP)?

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

1958: Which daymark would you see as you approach Red Store Light (mile 269.5 AHP)?

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

2090: At your current speed of 17 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 316 miles. You must travel 622 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination?

    Y a. 12.1
    N b. 13.3
    N c. 14.5
    N d. 15.7

2161: On 28 April , your vessel's 0515 zone time position is LAT 23°26'S, LONG 95°30'E. At this time, the observed altitude (Ho) of the star Rigil Kentaurus is 24°51.4'. Your chronometer reads 11h 16m 36s and is 01m 18s fast. What is the intercept (a) based on the assumed position method?

    N a. 30.9 miles
    N b. 32.3 miles
    N c. 33.1 miles
    Y d. 34.4 miles

2287: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 34°51.4' on 18 October . The index error is 2.0' off the arc. The height of eye is 54 feet (16.5 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    Y a. 35°01.2'
    N b. 35°03.6'
    N c. 35°05.2'
    N d. 35°07.4'

2662: You are on course 006°T, speed 16.6 knots. At 0516 you see a light bearing 008°T at a range of 10.2. If you change course at 0528 to leave the light abeam to port at 1.0 mile,
at what time will the light be abeam?

    Y a. 0553
    N b. 0556
    N c. 0604
    N d. 0607

3460: You wish to make good a course of 230°T while turning for an engine speed of 12.5 knots. The set is 180°T, and the drift is 1.7 knots. What speed will you make good along the track line?

    N a. 11.5 knots
    N b. 12.5 knots
    Y c. 13.6 knots
    N d. 14.0 knots

3606: You are steering 154°pgc. The wind is southwest causing 4° leeway. The gyro error is 3°E, variation is 11°W and deviation is 7°E. What is the true course made good?

    Y a. 153°T
    N b. 158°T
    N c. 161°T
    N d. 164°T

3622: Your vessel is steering a course of 337°psc. Variation for the area is 13°W, and deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the south, producing a 3° leeway. Which true course are you making good?

    N a. 325°T
    N b. 328°T
    Y c. 331°T
    N d. 349°T

3758: 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 212°T, and the variation is 7°W. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 208° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation?

    N a. 4°E
    N b. 4°W
    Y c. 11°E
    N d. 11°W

3770: You wish to check the deviation of your standard magnetic compass. You find a natural range that you steer for and note that the gyrocompass heading is 034°, and the heading by standard magnetic compass is 026°. The gyro error is 1°W. Variation is 9°E. What is the deviation for that heading?

    Y a. 2°W
    N b. 0°
    N c. 2°E
    N d. 9°E

6844: At 1010 your vessel passes close abeam to Buoy "NCB" in the inbound traffic lane. At this time the Chesapeake Bay Pilot informs you that he will not board your vessel until 1100. The pilot boat is located 1.5 miles northeast of Cape Henry Light. What should you reduce your speed to in order to arrive at the pilot boat at this time?

    N a. 5.9 knots
    N b. 7.5 knots
    Y c. 8.2 knots
    N d. 9.8 knots

10507: At 0919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. You are on course 270°T at 10.5 knots. At 1020 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°44.9'W. What was the current?

    N a. 026° at 0.7 knot
    N b. 046° at 1.0 knot
    N c. 226° at 0.8 knot
    Y d. 246° at 1.4 knots

10508: At 0919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. You are on course 270°T at 8.7 knots. At 1000 your position is LAT 37°00.5'N, LONG 75°37.0'W. What was the set and drift?

    N a. 010° at 0.5 knot
    N b. 017° at 1.0 knot
    N c. 020° at 0.4 knot
    Y d. 032° at 0.9 knot

10601: At 1645 your GPS position is LAT 41°09.2'N, LONG 72°36.9'W. You are steering course 262° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 12 knots. At 1721 you fix your position by plotting several compass bearings on nearby known fixed objects. These result in a position of LAT 41°07.2'N, LONG 72°44.9'W. What were your set and drift?

    N a. 040°T at 0.8 knot
    Y b. 030°T at 1.7 knots
    N c. 225°T at 0.9 knot
    N d. 242°T at 1.1 knots

13306: In the northern quadrant of the circle surrounding Chesapeake Bay Entrance Junction Buoy CBJ the number 20 over a bracket appears 5 times. What do these indicate?

    N a. Markers or piles are 20 feet above mean low water.
    N b. The maximum draft permitted in this area is 20 feet.
    Y c. Obstructions have been cleared by a wire drag to 20 feet.
    N d. Bench marks used to measure channel depths while dredging.

14102: Your vessel is awaiting lockage at Bonneville Locks when you notice that the lock is displaying an amber signal light. What type of vessel is allowed to enter the chamber under this signal?

    N a. Vessels owned or operated by the United States
    N b. Passenger vessels
    Y c. Commercial freight and log-tow vessels
    N d. All vessels

14303: What is the height above the water of light No. 84 on the Columbia River below Bonneville lock & dam?

    N a. 10 feet
    Y b. 14 feet
    N c. 18 feet
    N d. 24 feet

14502: You are proceeding in an easterly direction on the Columbia River. The pool level of the Bonneville reservoir stands at 84 feet above MSL. If the highest point on your vessel is 49 feet above the water, what will be the vertical clearance as you pass under the center of the Bridge of the Gods?

    Y a. 74.0 feet
    N b. 86.0 feet
    N c. 97.5 feet
    N d. 123 feet

14601: Where would you look for information on the restricted areas shown on the chart immediately above and below the spillway at The Dalles Lock & Dam ?

    N a. Light List - Vol II
    Y b. Coast Pilot 7 - Chapter 2
    N c. Notice to Mariners
    N d. Sailing directions

15044: At 0841 Chesapeake Light bears 164° true, Cape Charles Light bears 312° true, and Cape Henry Light bears 247°
true. What was your course made good since 0811?

    Y a. 226°true
    N b. 230°true
    N c. 233° true
    N d. 237°true

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

15339: If there is no set or drift, at what time would you be abeam of Bartlett Reef Light?

    N a. 1719
    Y b. 1724
    N c. 1729
    N d. 1734

15363: At 0530, you change course to 090°T and increase speed to 8.5 knots. What is the course to steer per gyro compass if northerly winds are causing 2° of leeway?

    N a. 088°pgc
    Y b. 090°pgc
    N c. 092°pgc
    N d. 094°pgc

15510: 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?

    N a. 029°T, 0.7 knot
    Y b. 029°T, 1.4 knots
    N c. 209°T, 0.7 knot
    N d. 209°T, 1.4 knots

15622: What are the dimensions of the Old River Lock on the Lower Old River (304 AHP)?

    Y a. 1190 x 75 feet
    N b. 1195 x 75 feet
    N c. 1195 x 84 feet
    N d. 1202 x 84 feet

16117: What is the distance from your 0731 fix to Wilmington, N.C.
(LAT 34°14.0'N, LONG 77°57.0'W)?

    Y a. 339 miles
    N b. 363 miles
    N c. 402 miles
    N d. 486 miles

16219: At 0900, you take the following radar ranges:

Watch Hill Point 5.4 miles
Block Island Grace Point 8.3 miles

Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. You are within 3 nautical miles of the coast.
    N b. The bottom in the area is sand and gravel.
    Y c. The fix is indeterminate.
    N d. You are governed by the Inland Rules.

16538: At 2216 your position is LAT 41°16.0'N, LONG 72°08.0'W. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. You are in the red sector of New London Harbor Light.
    N b. Your fathometer reads approximately 40 feet.
    N c. You will cross the Colregs Demarcation Line if you continue on your present course.
    N d. Little Gull Island Light bears 339°T at 4.3 miles.

16544: At 2347 you are advised that your assistance is no longer needed. At 2350 you change course to make good 268°T. At 0015 you take the following round of bearings:
Kelsey Point Breakwater light 024°pgc
Horton Point Light 100°pgc
Falkner Island Light 333°pgc

At 0030 Falkner Island Lt. bears 000°T at 5.9 miles.

What is the course and speed made good between 0015 and 0030?

    N a. CMG 262°T, SMG 10.4 knots
    N b. CMG 268°T, SMG 10.8 knots
    N c. CMG 268°T, SMG 10.4 knots
    Y d. CMG 272°T, SMG 10.8 knots

16617: At 0200, you take the following bearings:

Falkner Island Light 004.5°T
Kelsey Pt. Breakwater Lt. 054.0°T
Horton Point Light 115.0°T

What were the set and drift from 0130?

    N a. 260° at 0.5 knot
    N b. 080° at 1.0 knot
    Y c. 260° at 1.0 knot
    N d. There is no current.