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.

54: What is the length of the trip?
167: The Arkansas City Yellow Bend revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________.
308: A vessel at LAT 20°00'N, LONG 107°30'W is to proceed to LAT 24°40'N, LONG 112°30 W. What is the course and distance by mid-latitude sailing?
443: At 1104, Watch Hill Point Light is in line with Stonington Outer Breakwater Light, the range to the south tip of Watch Hill Point is 2.6 miles and the range to the beach is 1.9 miles. You are steering to make good 075°T, speed 10.0 knots. At 1110, you change course to head for a position of LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 71°50.0'W. What is the true course? 

    N a. 193°
    Y b. 190°
    N c. 187°
    N d. 185°
555: Your 0507 position is about 7 miles from Bridgeport, CT. What is the distance from this position to Newport, RI? 

    N a. 114 miles
    N b. 101 miles
    N c. 95 miles
    Y d. 88 miles
593: What is the length of the trip? 

    N a. 1195.4 miles
    N b. 1223.1 miles
    Y c. 1520.1 miles
    N d. 1657.8 miles
613: On 21 November, at 2100 zone time, you depart LAT 32°12.0'N, LONG 69°26.0'W enroute to LAT 12°05.0'N, LONG 7°32.0'W. The distance is 3,519 miles, and the average speed will be 12.5 knots. What is the zone time of arrival? 

    N a. 1330, 3 December
    N b. 1530, 3 December
    Y c. 1830, 3 December
    N d. 1530, 4 December
637: The highest point on your towboat is 48 feet above the water, and the Memphis Gage reads +7.5 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Hernando Desoto Bridge in Memphis? 

    N a. 48.0 feet
    Y b. 53.2 feet
    N c. 68.2 feet
    N d. 116.0 feet
746: On 16 January , at 1804 zone time, you take a sextant observation of Polaris. Your vessel's DR position is LAT 36°12'N, LONG 124°36'W, and your sextant reads (hs) 37°16.4'. Your chronometer reads 02h 02m 12s, and is 01m 36s slow. Your height of eye is 60 feet, and the index error is 1.5' on the arc. From your observation of Polaris, what is the latitude of your vessel? 

    N a. 36°12.6'N
    N b. 36°14.4'N
    Y c. 36°17.9'N
    N d. 36°20.2'N
750: On 28 October , at 1754 ZT, your vessel's DR position is LAT 28°30'N, LONG 63°24'W. At this time, you obtain a sextant altitude (hs) of Polaris reading 28°42.6', with an index error of 2.4' on the arc. Your chronometer reads 09h 50m 00s, and is 4m 14s slow. What is your latitude by Polaris, given a height of eye of 28 feet (8.5 meters)? 

    N a. 28°25.2'N
    N b. 28°30.6'N
    Y c. 28°34.9'N
    N d. 28°41.3'N
751: On 16 July , at 2000 zone time, you take a sextant observation of Polaris. Your vessel's DR position is LAT 27°22.0'N, LONG 148°35.0'W, and your sextant reads 26°57.5'. Your chronometer reads 05h 59m 16s, and your chronometer error is 01m 28s slow. Your height of eye is 48 feet, and the index error for your sextant is 1.3' off the arc. What is the latitude of your vessel from your observation of Polaris? 

    N a. 26°52.1'N
    N b. 26°58.8'N
    Y c. 27°36.1'N
    N d. 27°43.4'N
756: Anchorage regulations for this area may be obtained from __________. 

    N a. Commanding General, Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.
    Y b. Office of the Commander 5th Coast Guard District
    N c. Virginia - Maryland Pilots Association
    N d. Chesapeake Bay Port Authority, Hampton VA
1132: Which light will you be passing at 0059, on 22 September, if you make good 9.2 knots? 

    Y a. Obion Bar Lt.
    N b. Kate Aubrey Lt.
    N c. Trotter Lt.
    N d. Quaker Oats Lt.
1181: On 4 January , your 0800 zone time DR position is LAT 25°25.0 S, LONG 16°09.0'W. Your vessel is on course 290°T at a speed of 13.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1157
    N b. 1205
    N c. 1209
    Y d. 1213
1193: On 26 September , your 0830 zone time DR position is LAT 23°04.0'N, LONG 129°16.0'E. Your vessel is on course 119°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1158
    N b. 1205
    Y c. 1210
    N d. 1214
1342: What is the vertical clearance between the highest point of your towboat, if it is 45 feet above the water, and if the Natchez Gage reads 23.4 feet when passing under the Natchez-Vidalia Westbound Highway Bridge? 

    N a. 67.5 feet
    Y b. 57.1 feet
    N c. 52.2 feet
    N d. 45.2 feet
1481: On 24 May , your vessel's 1000 ZT position is LAT 25°36.0'N, LONG 118°39.5'W, when you take an azimuth of the Sun. Determine the gyro error using the azimuth information.
Chronometer time: 06h 21m 48s Chronometer error: fast 01m 36s Gyro bearing: 099.4°
Variation: 11.1°E 

    N a. 0.3°W
    Y b. 1.3°W
    N c. 1.8°E
    N d. 2.4°E
1650: On 22 October , in DR position LAT 21°51.0'S, LONG 76°24.0'E, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 256°psc. The chronometer reads 01h 01m 25s and is 01m 15s fast. Variation for the area is 2°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.3°E
    Y b. 0.3°W
    N c. 2.0°E
    N d. 2.0°W
1684: You are passing Putney Lt. (mile 943.6 AHP). The gray shaded areas alongside the river represent __________. 

    N a. levees
    N b. weirs
    N c. dikes
    Y d. revetments
1745: What is the distance in river miles, from the mouth of the Yazoo Diversion Canal to the RR and Hwy bridge at Baton Rouge, LA? 

    N a. 365 miles
    N b. 310 miles
    N c. 265 miles
    Y d. 203 miles
1768: The Natchez Gage reads 14.5 feet. The high point on your towboat is 47 feet above the water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Natchez - Vidalia Highway Bridge? 

    N a. 58.0 feet
    Y b. 64.5 feet
    N c. 72.5 feet
    N d. 78.6 feet
1782: At 2043 ZT, on 13 October , in DR position LAT 43°57.3'S, LONG 147°16.0'E, you observe an amplitude of Venus. The planet is about one Sun's diameter above the horizon and bears 236.2°pgc. The variation is 15°E. What is the gyro error? 

    Y a. 0.0°
    N b. 0.9°E
    N c. 1.8°E
    N d. 0.4°W
1809: Which daymark would you see at Shields Bar Lt. (mile 882.2 AHP)? 

    N a. Red triangle
    N b. Green triangle
    Y c. Red diamond
    N d. Green square
2006: On 8 November , your 1731 zone time DR position is LAT 27°16.0'N, LONG 137°25.0'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three stars best suited for a fix at star time? 

    Y a. Alphecca, Fomalhaut, Schedar
    N b. Antares, Rasalhague, Altair
    N c. Sirius, Hamal, Dubhe
    N d. Peacock, Ankaa,  Al Na'ir
2053: At 2342, on 25 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? 

    Y a. 1.8 mph
    N b. 2.1 mph
    N c. 4.4 mph
    N d. 5.6 mph
2158: On 26 May , your vessel's 1906 zone time position is LAT 27°16.0'N, LONG 24°37.0'W. At that time, a sextant observation of the planet Jupiter was made. The sextant altitude is 63°27.6', and the chronometer reads 09h 05m 16s. The index error is 5.2' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 25s slow. Your height of eye is determined to be 52.6 feet. What is the (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 011.3°T
    Y b. 168.7°T
    N c. 191.3°T
    N d. 348.7°T
2168: On 22 July , at 0448 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 21°43.0'N, LONG 158°39.0'E. Your vessel is steaming at 21.0 knots on a course of 028°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0956 ZT. The chronometer reads 10h 54m 27s, and the sextant altitude is 54°28.2'. The index error is 1.5' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 38s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 56 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 080.9°T
    N b. 082.2°T
    N c. 084.2°T
    Y d. 086.9°T
2277: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 41°29.8' on 11 January . The index error is 2.4' off the arc. The height of eye is 68 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 41°36.4'
    Y b. 41°39.4'
    N c. 41°42.0'
    N d. 41°44.5'
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
3262: You have steamed 632 miles at 18.5 knots, and consumed 197 tons of fuel. If you have 278 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 15.0 knots? 

    N a. 681 miles
    N b. 892 miles
    N c. 1100 miles
    Y d. 1357 miles
3601: You are steering 142°pgc to make good your desired course. The gyro error is 1°E . The variation is 8°W. What should you steer by standard magnetic compass to make good the desired course?
DEVIATION TABLE MAGNETIC HEADING DEV.
120° 4°E 135° 2°E 150° 0° 

    N a. 133°psc
    N b. 146°psc
    N c. 148°psc
    Y d. 151°psc
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
4017: 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 196°.
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. 2.0°E
    N b. 2.0°W
    N c. 1.0°W
    Y d. 0.0°
6144: What are the dimensions of the Old River Lock on the Lower Old River (mile 304 AHP)? 

    Y a. 1190 X 75 feet
    N b. 1185 X 84 feet
    N c. 1190 X 84 feet
    N d. 1185 X 75 feet
10210: Your present position is LAT 41°07.4'N, LONG 72°44.0'W. Assuming that there is no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to a position of LAT 41°08.5'N, LONG 72°28.8'W? 

    N a. 073°psc
    N b. 084°psc
    N c. 091°psc
    Y d. 097°psc
10902: Fishermans Island (LAT 37°05.0'N, LONG 75°57.7'W) is __________. 

    N a. privately owned
    N b. sparsely wooded and awash at spring tides
    N c. a high rocky promontory with marshy backwater
    Y d. a National Wildlife Refuge
11801: What course should you steer by standard magnetic compass (psc) between Horton Pt. Light and Falkner Island Light, if the set and drift of the current are 040°T at 0.9 knot, and a westerly wind will cause 2° of leeway? Your engines are making turns for 10 knots. 

    Y a. 314.0°psc
    N b. 319.0°psc
    N c. 324.5°psc
    N d. 328.5°psc
11903: What is the true course to steer between the entrance to Winnapaug Pond (LAT 41°19.6'N, LONG 71°45.8'W) and the entrance to Lake Montauk (LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 71°56.3'W), if you are turning for 8.5 knots, allowing for a current of 095°T at 0.9 knot, and an easterly wind is causing 3° of leeway? 

    N a. 200°T
    N b. 208°T
    Y c. 211°T
    N d. 214°T
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
12700: You are on course 073° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Watch Hill Point Light 037°psc Montauk Point Light 179°psc Race Rock Light 289°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 71°54.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°13.7'N, LONG 71°53.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.7'N, LONG 71°54.9'W
    Y d. LAT 41°13.8'N, LONG 71°54.3'W
12908: At 0919 you are inbound, approximately 3.3 miles east of Cape Henry with buoy "15" close aboard to port. What is your ETA between Trestle B and Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel if you are making 11.3 knots? 

    N a. 1010
    Y b. 1014
    N c. 1019
    N d. 1025
13100: Your position is LAT 41°15.2'N, LONG 71°50.1'W at 1347. You are turning for 6.9 knots. What is your ETA at Shagwong Reef Buoy "7SR"? 

    Y a. 1506
    N b. 1515
    N c. 1521
    N d. 1527
13107: At 1103 your position is LAT 41°12.5 N, LONG 71°37.4 W. What is your ETA at the west gap of Point Judith Harbor of Refuge if you make good 11.3 knots? 

    N a. 1144
    N b. 1154
    Y c. 1159
    N d. 1205
13505: What soundings are indicated by a blue tint on this chart? 

    N a. 30 fathoms or more
    Y b. 30 feet or less
    N c. 30 feet or more
    N d. 30 fathoms or less
14703: At 0800 your vessel is at mile 110 proceeding in an easterly direction on the Columbia River. At 1030 Reed Island is abeam to port as you pass the 125 mile mark. What has been your average speed in knots? 

    N a. 4.3 knots
    Y b. 5.2 knots
    N c. 8.7 knots
    N d. 10.0 knots
15022: You are upbound approaching Springfield Bend Lt. (mile 244.8 AHP) downriver from Profit Island. Which of the following statements is TRUE? 

    N a. Profit Island Chute is open to navigation and is a shortcut for single-barge tows.
    N b. Tow length must not exceed 600 feet to use Profit Island Chute.
    Y c. Profit Island Chute is closed to navigation.
    N d. Tows must navigate towards right descending bank when passing Profit Island Chute.
15170: From your 2123 position, you are approximately 42 miles from Crisfield, MD. If you are making good a speed of 11 knots, at what time should you arrive at Crisfield, MD? 

    N a. 2359
    N b. 0037
    Y c. 0112
    N d. 0149
15307: At 0315, you obtain the following bearings:

Old Plantation Flats Light bearing 179.5° true
Wolf Trap Light bearing 271° true

What is the true course from this position to the entrance of York Spit Channel? 

    N a. 203°
    Y b. 208°
    N c. 211°
    N d. 217°
15316: What speed have you made good from 1710 to 1810? 

    N a. 4.2 knots
    N b. 4.9 knots
    N c. 5.5 knots
    Y d. 6.3 knots
15668: At 0839, Montauk Pt. Light is bearing 205°T at a radar distance of 6.6 miles. What is your speed made good from your 0815 position? 

    N a. 8.2 knots
    Y b. 9.2 knots
    N c. 10.0 knots
    N d. 10.5 knots
15956: The National Weather Service provides 24-hour weather broadcasts to vessels transiting the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The broadcasts may be found on __________. 

    N a. 202.35 MHz
    N b. 181.15 MHz
    Y c. 162.55 MHz
    N d. 147.45 MHz
15960: From your 1752 position, you steer 313°pgc at 9 knots. At 1805, you obtain the following visual bearings:
Old Pt. Comfort Light - 238°pgc.
Chesapeake Bay Tunnel North Light - 136°pgc.
What are the latitude and longitude of your 1805 position? 

    Y a. LAT 37°05.9'N,  LONG 76°08.0'W
    N b. LAT 37°06.0'N,  LONG 76°08.4'W
    N c. LAT 37°05.0'N,  LONG 76°08.7'W
    N d. LAT 37°06.1'N,  LONG 76°08.1'W
16561: From your 1830 fix, you come left to a course of 290°T.
Which statement concerning Watch Hill Light is TRUE? 

    N a. The nominal range of its white light is 16 miles.
    Y b. It displays both red and white lights.
    N c. Its horn blasts every 15 seconds in fog.
    N d. Its geographic range is 18.5 miles at a 35-foot (10.7 meters) height of eye.