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.


122: From Baton Rouge to Cairo, what is the maintained minimum channel depth during low water?


179: In order to check your compasses, you sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light bearing 077°pgc. The helmsman was steering 307°pgc and 320° per standard magnetic compass at the time. Which statement is TRUE?


202: Which statement concerning Montauk Point Light is TRUE?


228: Your height of eye is 25 feet (7.6 meters). If the visibility is 5.5 nautical miles, what is the luminous range of Wolf Trap Light?

    N a. 17.0 miles
    N b. 16.0 miles
    N c. 12.0 miles
    Y d. 7.5 miles

248: You are southeast of Saybrook Breakwater Light passing Saybrook Bar Lighted Bell Buoy "8". This buoy marks __________.

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

291: What is the height above water of Davis Creek Channel Light "1"?

    Y a. 15 feet (4.6 meters)
    N b. 17 feet (5.2 meters)
    N c. 19 feet (5.8 meters)
    N d. 24 feet (7.3 meters)

314: At 1430, your position is LAT 37°12.8'N, LONG 76°17.7'W. At this time, you come left and steer 045°T. This course will lead you through a channel bordered by yellow buoys. The dashed magenta lines between the buoys mark __________.

    N a. York River Entrance Channel
    Y b. Fish trap areas
    N c. the piloting channel for Mobjack Bay
    N d. New Point Comfort shoal area

316: From your 1830 fix, you continue south on a course of 150°T turning RPMs for 6 knots. You encounter a flood current in the direction of 330°T at 2 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, which course would you steer to make good a course of 150°T while turning RPMs for 6 knots?

    N a. 162°T
    N b. 158°T
    Y c. 150°T
    N d. 144°T

332: You arrive at the rendezvous point, secure the tow, and head back southward. At 1200, you take the following bearings:

Sand Shoal Inlet South Light bearing 289° pgc
Cape Charles Light bearing 240° pgc

What is your 1200 position?

    Y a. LAT 37°15.0'N, LONG 75°37.5'W
    N b. LAT 37°16.0'N, LONG 75°38.0'W
    N c. LAT 37°17.0'N, LONG 75°39.5'W
    N d. LAT 37°19.0'N, LONG 75°40.5'W

348: At 0430, you take the following radar ranges:

Stratford Point Light @ 5.25 nm
Middle Ground Light @ 4.55 nm

What is your 0430 position?

    N a. LAT 41°08.9'N, LONG 73°00.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 73°01.1'W
    Y c. LAT 41°05.8'N, LONG 73°00.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°06.5'N, LONG 73°01.4'W

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

397: Your vessel departs LAT 32°45'N, LONG 79°50'W, and is bound for LAT 34°21'S, LONG 18°29'E. Determine the distance by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 5,021 miles
    Y b. 6,884 miles
    N c. 6,954 miles
    N d. 7,002 miles

473: The great circle distance from LAT 08°50.0'N, LONG 80°21.0'W to LAT 22°36.0'N, LONG 128°16.0'E is 7801 miles and the initial course is 318°45' T. The latitude of the vertex is 49°20.6'N. What is the longitude of the vertex?

    N a. 156°43'W
    Y b. 162°41'W
    N c. 159°32'W
    N d. 161°18'W

578: At 1008, you are entering York Spit Channel and buoy "19" is abeam to your starboard. What speed are you making good?

    N a. 9.9 knots
    N b. 9.7 knots
    Y c. 9.0 knots
    N d. 8.4 knots

657: You are planning a voyage by great circle from the mouth of the Delaware River (LAT 38°40'N, LONG 75°00'W) to Lisbon, Portugal. Which statement is TRUE? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5274.)

    Y a. You will reach the northernmost latitude of the voyage in the vicinity of LONG 42°30'W.
    N b. The Northern Hemisphere vertex lies to the east of Lisbon.
    N c. You must plot a composite sailing to remain south of icebergs reported north of 44°N.
    N d. The distance is measured in 60-mile segments using the length of the degree of latitude crossed by the track line.

666: You are on a voyage via position LAT 44°00'N, LONG 150°00'E to LAT 46°15'N, LONG 124°00'W. Using gnomonic chart WOXZC 5270, determine which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. A composite sailing with a limiting latitude of 51°N will clear the Aleutian Islands.
    N b. The northern hemisphere vertex is east of the arrival position.
    N c. The Aleutian Islands are not a navigational hazard on the direct great circle track.
    N d. The final course angle lies in the northeast quadrant.

669: You are planning a voyage from Cape May (LAT 38°45'N, LONG 74°45'W) to Lisbon (LAT 38°37'N, LONG 09°45'W). Which of the following is TRUE? (Use gnomonic chart WOXZC 5274)

    N a. Because the latitudes are almost the same, a great circle track approximates a parallel sailing.
    Y b. The northern hemisphere vertex is approximately at longitude 42°26'W.
    N c. The distance is measured by using the length of one degree of the meridian at the position of the vertex.
    N d. A composite sailing must be plotted to remain south of a limiting latitude of 44°N.

680: On which voyage would a great circle track provide a significant savings in distance to steam, when compared to a rhumb line track? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5270.)

    N a. Valdez, AK, to the Marquesas Islands (LAT 8°00'S, LONG 140°00'W)
    N b. San Francisco to Kodiak, AK
    N c. Christmas Island (LAT 2°00'N, LONG 157°30'W) to Singapore via LAT 3°00'N, LONG 126°00'E
    Y d. Guam (LAT 14°00'N, LONG 145°00'E) to Seattle via LAT 47°30'N, LONG 125°30'W

839: On 22 August , in DR position LAT 29°41.8'N, LONG 33°15.5'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Moon's upper limb at upper transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 08h 00m 02s, and the chronometer error is 02m 20s slow. The sextant altitude (hs) is 74°32.4'. The index error is 1.5' off the arc, and your height of eye is 48 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

    N a. LAT 29°39.3'N
    N b. LAT 29°41.3'N
    Y c. LAT 29°47.8'N
    N d. LAT 29°49.7'N

1284: On 10 November , your 1630 zone time DR position is LAT 25°10.0'N, LONG 71°12.0'W. You are on course 335°T at a speed of 24 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    N a. 1650
    Y b. 1700
    N c. 1715
    N d. 1730

1670: On 10 August , your vessel's 0426 zone time DR position is LAT 52°07'N, LONG 142°16'E, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's lower limb is about 20 minutes of arc above the visible horizon and bears 074.5° per standard compass. Variation in the area is 12°W. The chronometer reads 07h 24m 19s and is 02m 34s fast. Which of the following is the deviation of the standard compass?

    N a. 0.0°
    N b. 1.3°W
    Y c. 1.3°E
    N d. 2.3°W

1722: You estimate the current as 2.0 mph. What is the speed over the ground?

    N a. 4.5 mph
    Y b. 5.5 mph
    N c. 7.5 mph
    N d. 9.5 mph

1926: On 23 September , your 1836 DR position is LAT 25°18'S, LONG 162°36'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 022°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 13°16'. The chronometer reads 07h 34m 12s, and is 01m 54s slow. What star did you observe?

    N a. Antares
    Y b. Deneb
    N c. Achernar
    N d. Sirius

2017: On 2 February , your 0400 zone time DR position is LAT 24°14.0'N, LONG 163°28.0'W. You are on course 322°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. Saturn, Antares, Rasalhague
    N b. Jupiter, Saturn, Polaris
    N c. Saturn, Polaris, Zubenelgenubi
    N d. Jupiter, Spica, Denebola

2028: You are turning for 10 mph and passing Hog Point, LA. (mile 297.5 AHP). Angola reports that the current at Red River Landing is 4.5 mph. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The main channel lies on the south side of the island you see ahead.
    N b. You are making 14.5 mph over the ground.
    Y c. An underwater stone dike has been constructed 0.5 miles upstream of Miles Bar Towhead.
    N d. You would expect to find the more favorable current near the broken red line in the river.

2055: You estimate the current at 3.0 mph. What is the speed over the ground?

    Y a. 3.5 mph
    N b. 4.5 mph
    N c. 7.5 mph
    N d. 9.5 mph

2324: At 1547 ZT, on 22 May , in DR position LAT 45° 12.8' N, LONG 028° 15.4' W, the Moon’s upper limb is observed on the visible horizon, bearing 120.0° psc. Variation is 2° W. What is the deviation?

    N a. 1.4°W
    Y b. 2.6°E
    N c. 1.4°E
    N d. 2.6°W

2581: At 1732, Bartlett Reef Lt bears 016°psc. Race Rock Lt bears 125.5°psc with a radar range of 4.4 miles. What is the set and drift?

    N a. 116°, 0.4 knot
    N b. 116°, 1.0 knot
    N c. 296°, 0.4 knot
    Y d. 296°, 1.0 knot

3060: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 24.0 feet and a pitch of 21.3 feet. What would be the slip if the vessel cruised 510 miles in a 24 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 86?

    N a. -12.2%
    N b. +12.2%
    Y c. -17.5%
    N d. +17.5%

3281: While steaming at 15.7 knots, your vessel consumes 329 barrels of fuel oil per day. In order to reduce consumption to 267 barrels of fuel oil per day, what is the maximum speed the vessel can turn for?

    N a. 12.7 knots
    N b. 13.5 knots
    Y c. 14.6 knots
    N d. 15.5 knots

3301: You have steamed 217 miles and consumed 23.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 362 miles?

    N a. 33.8 tons
    Y b. 38.4 tons
    N c. 42.6 tons
    N d. 45.7 tons

3318: While steaming at 12 knots, your vessel burns 45 tons of fuel per day. What will be the rate of fuel consumption if you decrease speed to 11.5 knots?

    N a. 31 tons/day
    N b. 36 tons/day
    Y c. 40 tons/day
    N d. 43 tons/day

4007: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°E. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a gyro heading of 166°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 350° 122.5° - 110° 239.5° - 230°
030.5° - 020° 152.0° - 140° 269.0° - 260°
061.5° - 050° 181.0° - 170° 298.0° - 290°
092.0° - 080° 210.0° - 200° 327.5° - 320°

    Y a. 1.0°W
    N b. 1.0°E
    N c. 0.5°W
    N d. 0.5°E

4009: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°E. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a true heading of 187°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 350° 122.5° - 110° 239.5° - 230°
030.5° - 020° 152.0° - 140° 269.0° - 260°
061.5° - 050° 181.0° - 170° 298.0° - 290°
092.0° - 080° 210.0° - 200° 327.5° - 320°

    N a. 1.5°W
    Y b. 0.5°W
    N c. 0.0°
    N d. 1.0°E

11507: 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 1222 your position is LAT 41°20.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W. What is the speed made good?

    N a. 8.4 knots
    N b. 8.6 knots
    Y c. 9.2 knots
    N d. 9.6 knots

11807: What course should you steer by your standard magnetic compass (psc) between Horton Pt. Light and a position 2 miles due south of Branford Reef Light, if the set and drift of the current are 111°T at 2.5 knots, and a southwesterly wind will cause 4° of leeway? (Your engines are turning for 18 knots.)

    N a. 306°psc
    Y b. 301°psc
    N c. 295°psc
    N d. 275°psc

12501: You are on course 056° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Cape Henry Light 262°psc Cape Charles Light 344°psc Chesapeake Light 125°psc What is your position?

    N a. LAT 36°58.4'N, LONG 75°49.1'W
    N b. LAT 36°58.1'N, LONG 75°50.0'W
    N c. LAT 36°57.8'N, LONG 75°49.2'W
    Y d. LAT 36°57.6'N, LONG 75°49.8'W

12905: At 0919 you are in Chesapeake Channel between Trestle B and Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. What is your ETA to a point between York Spit Channel Buoys "35" and "36" if you are making 11.3 knots and follow the buoyed channel?

    N a. 1025
    N b. 1028
    N c. 1033
    Y d. 1037

15138: At 2045 you obtained the following Loran readings:
9960-W-14844.0
9960-X-26128.0
9960-Y-43712.5
What is your vessel's position?

    N a. 40°41.1'N, 72°10.5'W
    N b. 40°41.4'N, 72°10.7'W
    Y c. 40°41.8'N, 72°10.8'W
    N d. 40°42.3'N, 72°11.3'W

15157: If there is no current, what is the course per gyro compass from your 1600 position to point "A" located 0.5 mile due east of Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy "12"?

    N a. 190°pgc
    N b. 193°pgc
    N c. 196°pgc
    Y d. 199°pgc

15208: At 1750, your position is LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°22.9'W. What was the course made good between 1730 and 1750?

    N a. 072°T
    N b. 075°T
    Y c. 078°T
    N d. 080°T

15209: At 1800, Tue Marshes Light bears 264.5°pgc, York Spit Swash Channel Light "3" bears 007°pgc. Your position is __________.

    N a. LAT 37°15.5'N, LONG 76°19.8'W
    N b. LAT 37°15.2'N, LONG 76°20.3'W
    N c. LAT 37°15.0'N, LONG 76°20.0'W
    Y d. LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°20.1'W

15256: At 0700, Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light bears 143°pgc at 1.8 miles. What is your 0700 position?

    N a. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°06.7'W
    Y b. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 73°07.6'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.1'N, LONG 73°06.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°05.3'N, LONG 73°07.9'W

15266: At 1210, you are in position LAT 41°14.3'N, LONG 72°16.5'W. What is the charted depth of water?

    N a. 97 feet (29.4 meters)
    Y b. 108 feet (32.7 meters)
    N c. 119 feet (36.1 meters)
    N d. 125 feet (37.9 meters)

15520: NOAA VHF-FM weather broadcasts from New London, CT are on __________.

    N a. 162.25 MHz
    N b. 162.30 MHz
    N c. 162.40 MHz
    Y d. 162.55 MHz

15659: At 0705, you change course to 096°T. At this time, Race Rock Light is bearing 000°T at 0.35 mile. You are now governed by which Navigation Rules?

    Y a. COLREGS
    N b. Local Pilot Rules
    N c. Inland Rules
    N d. Coastal Fishery Rules

16045: The north shore of Long Island, from Horton Point to Orient Point,
is __________.

    Y a. bluff and rocky
    N b. low and sparsely wooded
    N c. marked by long sandy beaches at low water
    N d. marshy and backed with sand dunes

16309: From your 0530 position, you set a course of 271°psc with an engine speed of 9 knots. At 0645, Cornfield Safe-Water Buoy "CF" is abeam to port. What speed have you averaged since 0530?

    N a. 7.5 knots
    Y b. 8.6 knots
    N c. 9.0 knots
    N d. 9.5 knots

16343: At 2302 you change course to compensate for an estimated current of 090°T, at 1.0 knot. What course per gyrocompass will you steer to leave Endeavor Shoals Lighted Gong Buoy "3" abeam to port at 1 mile?

    N a. 324°pgc
    Y b. 327°pgc
    N c. 330°pgc
    N d. 333°pgc

16442: The area bounded by the buoys "C51" to "C47A" to "M6" to "M14", west of your anchorage, is __________.

    N a. a training area for naval small craft
    N b. restricted to oil and mineral exploration
    N c. an anchorage for ammunition barges
    Y d. a fish trap area

16720: In order to check your compasses, you sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light bearing 074°
pgc. The helmsman was steering 303°pgc and 315° per standard magnetic compass at the time. Which of the following is TRUE?

    Y a. The gyro error is still 2°E.
    N b. The deviation based on the observation is 15°W.
    N c. The magnetic compass error is 12°W.
    N d. The true line of the range is 072°.