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.


42: What is the distance from Greenville, MS, to St. Louis, MO, on the Mississippi River System?


87: You pass Red River Gage at 2015 on 16 April and estimate the current will average 3.5 mph for the remainder of the time on the Mississippi River. What is your ETA at the mouth of the Ohio River if you continue to turn for 10 mph?


123: On which map would you find Redman Point, Arkansas?


157: At 1710 on 27 November, you are abeam of Kings Point Lt. (mile 439.8 AHP). At this time you receive a message that there will no be space for you at the Redneb Services Dock until after 1200 on the 29 November. What speed over the ground will you have to slow to so as not to arrive before this time?

    N a. 5.4 mph
    N b. 6.1 mph
    N c. 6.9 mph
    Y d. 7.9 mph

180: On 4 July you observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 25°29.8'. The index error is 3.1' off the arc. The height of eye is 48 feet (14.6 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 25°37.1'
    Y b. 25°40.2'
    N c. 25°42.8'
    N d. 25°44.3'

191: If you make good 12 knots, what is the ETA at North Chesapeake Channel Entrance Buoy "NCA" (LL #375)?

    N a. 2121
    N b. 2116
    Y c. 2111
    N d. 2101

197: At 2215, Cape Henry Light bears 242°pgc, Cape Charles Light bears 010.5°pgc, and Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light bears 319°pgc. You are heading 271°pgc. What is the relative bearing of Thimble Shoal Light?

    Y a. 014°
    N b. 017°
    N c. 280°
    N d. 332°

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)

324: The mean high water level at Old Point Comfort is __________.

    N a. 3.3 feet (1.1 meters)
    Y b. 2.6 feet (0.8 meters)
    N c. 1.2 feet (0.4 meters)
    N d. 0.0

351: At 0430, you change course and speed to make good 090°T at 10 knots. At 0433, you slow due to an engineering casualty and estimate you are making good 5.5 knots. At what time will Branford Reef Light bear 000°T?

    N a. 0624
    N b. 0620
    Y c. 0609
    N d. 0601

513: What is the distance from your 0200 position to the point where Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal lighted buoy is abeam to starboard?

    N a. 7.3 miles
    N b. 7.1 miles
    Y c. 6.9 miles
    N d. 6.6 miles

564: Horton Point Light __________.

    N a. is 14 feet above sea level
    N b. has a fixed green light
    Y c. is shown from a white square tower
    N d. is synchronized with a radio beacon

614: Your vessel departs Arkhangel'sk, from position LAT 64°32'N, LONG 40°31'E at 0236 zone time, on 19 August. It is bound for New York, at position LAT 40°42'N, LONG 74°01'W. The distance is determined to be 4,216 miles, and you estimate that you will average 13.0 knots. What is your estimated zone time of arrival?

    N a. 1155, 31 August
    N b. 1755, 31 August
    Y c. 0655, 1 September
    N d. 1155, 1 September

705: At 1554, on 25 May, you pass Huntington Point Light (mile 555.2 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. DockS (mile 253.6 AHP)?

    Y a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 5.2 mph
    N c. 4.8 mph
    N d. 4.3 mph

748: On 7 May , you observe Polaris for latitude at 0303 ZT. Your DR position is LAT 56°35.4'N, LONG 05°38.9'W. The sextant altitude is 56°11.1'. The height of eye is 36', and the index error is 3.3' off the arc. What is the latitude at the time of the sight?

    N a. 56°24.6'N
    N b. 56°32.6'N
    N c. 56°35.0'N
    Y d. 56°38.7'N

811: On 1 July , your 0515 ZT fix gives you a position of LAT 24°36.0'S, LONG 151°42.0'W. Your vessel is on course 300°T, and your speed is 10.0 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1215 ZT, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 42°55.0'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN?

    N a. 24°03.6'S
    N b. 24°02.5'S
    Y c. 24°01.0'S
    N d. 24°00.0'S

832: On 19 November , in DR position LAT 20°03.5'N, LONG 129°48.0'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the planet Venus at upper transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 11h 29m 44s, and the chronometer error is 01m 23s slow. The sextant altitude (hs) is 43°54.3'. The index error is 2.0' off the arc, and your height of eye is 48 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

    N a. 20°08.2'N
    Y b. 19°58.0'N
    N c. 19°53.2'N
    N d. 19°50.6'N

997: On 20 November , your 0612 zone time (ZT) position was LAT 25°38.0'N, LONG 166°54.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 126°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0854 ZT. The chronometer read 07h 51m 14s and was slow 02m 52s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 27°58.3'. LAN occurred at 1147 ZT. The observed altitude (Ho) was 45°35.0'. What was the longitude of your 1147 ZT running fix?

    N a. 165°20.2'W
    N b. 165°18.4'W
    N c. 165°15.8'W
    Y d. 165°12.5'W

1010: On 8 February , your 0800 zone time position is LAT 21°55'S, LONG 52°27'W. Your vessel is on course 056°T at a speed of 17.5 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0938 zone time, and the observed altitude (Ho) is 46°06.5'. The chronometer reads 12h 37m 23s, and the chronometer error is 1m 24s slow. LAN occurs at 1243 zone time, and a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is made. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 83°56.1'. Determine the vessel's 1200 zone time position.

    N a. LAT 20°57.0'S, LONG 51°21.5'W
    N b. LAT 20°58.0'S, LONG 51°25.5'W
    N c. LAT 21°04.0'S, LONG 51°12.0'W
    Y d. LAT 21°04.0'S, LONG 51°21.5'W

1194: On 16 January your 0930 ZT DR position is LAT 26°07.0'S, LONG 51°43.0'E. Your vessel is on course 238°T at a speed of 17.0 knots. What is the ZT of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    Y a. 1145
    N b. 1148
    N c. 1152
    N d. 1156

1197: On 16 November , your 0800 ZT DR position is LAT 25°11.0'N, LONG 117°41.0'W. Your vessel is on a course of 252°T at a speed of 14.5 knots. What is the ZT of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1135
    Y b. 1139
    N c. 1143
    N d. 1146

1295: After passing Wilkinson Lt. you see a flashing amber light on the right descending bank ahead. The flashing light indicates that you should __________.

    N a. stay in the deepest water
    N b. slow down due to dredging operations
    Y c. keep as close to the left descending bank as safety permits
    N d. keep as close to the right descending bank as safety permits

1690: The locations of locks and dams can be found in the __________.

    N a. Army Corps. of Engineers maps
    Y b. Light List
    N c. Local Notice to Mariners
    N d. Channel Report

1708: At 0300 on 19 April, you pass under the Greenville Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. Docks (mile 253.6 AHP)?

    N a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 5.2 mph
    N c. 4.8 mph
    Y d. 4.3 mph

1867: On 12 June , your 1845 DR position is LAT 21°47'N, LONG 46°52'W when you observe a faint unidentifiable star through a break in the clouds. The star bears 162°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 28°36.5'. The index error is 0.5'
on the arc, and the height of eye is 45 feet. The chronometer reads 09h 43m 27s, and the chronometer error is 1m 46s slow. What star did you observe?

    N a. Gamma Virginis
    Y b. Iota Centauri
    N c. Spica
    N d. Mimosa

1964: The Platte River empties into which river?

    N a. Mississippi
    Y b. Missouri
    N c. Ohio
    N d. Tennessee

2004: On 28 February , your 1850 zone time DR position is LAT 27°49.0'N, LONG 159°24.0'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three stars best suited for a fix at star time?

    Y a. Rigel, Schedar, Regulus
    N b. Sirius, Mirfak, Elnath
    N c. Hamal, Alkaid, Canopus
    N d. Bellatrix, Vega, Regulus

2027: At 0645, on the 17th of April, you pass Hole in the Wall Lt. (mile 373.4 AHP). What has been your average speed since departing the Exxon Refinery?

    N a. 5.8 mph
    Y b. 6.3 mph
    N c. 6.7 mph
    N d. 7.1 mph

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

2242: At 1620 ZT, on 10 September , in DR position LAT 34° 03.8' N, LONG 050° 28.4' W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The Moon’s upper limb is observed on the visible horizon and bears 110.2° psc. The variation is 2° E. What is the deviation?

    N a. 2.0°E
    N b. 2.0°W
    Y c. 1.2°E
    N d. 1.2°W

2292: In addition to those found in the Coast Pilot, information concerning anchorage regulations for this area may be obtained from __________.

    N a. Chesapeake Bay Port Authority, Hampton VA
    N b. Virginia - Maryland Pilots Association
    N c. Commanding General, Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.
    Y d. Office of the Commander 5th Coast Guard District

2460: You have steamed 499 miles at 21 knots and burning 462 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 221 barrels per day with 311 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 17.3
    Y b. 18.4
    N c. 19.1
    N d. 20.0

2464: You have steamed 449 miles at 19 knots and burning 476 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 185 barrels per day with 362 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    Y a. 13.2
    N b. 14.3
    N c. 17.1
    N d. 18.2

2653: You are steering 019°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 11.6 miles at 0216. You change course to pass the light 3 miles off abeam to port. If you are making 14 knots, what is your ETA at the position 3 miles off the light?

    N a. 0258
    N b. 0301
    Y c. 0304
    N d. 0307

2705: While on a course of 192°T, a light bears 11° on the starboard bow at a distance of 12.7 miles. What course should you steer to pass 3 miles abeam of the light leaving it to starboard?

    N a. 167°T
    N b. 173°T
    N c. 185°T
    Y d. 189°T

3070: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 19.6 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 24.6 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 5% positive slip?

    N a. 76
    Y b. 85
    N c. 97
    N d. 106

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

10303: Determine the course per standard magnetic compass from 0.2 mile south of Race Rock Light (LAT 41°14.6'N, LONG 72°02.8'W) to the entrance of the channel to Lake Montauk (west of Montauk Point).

    N a. 137.0°psc
    N b. 152.0°psc
    N c. 165.5°psc
    Y d. 168.5°psc

12609: You are on course 239° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Falkner Island Light 314°psc Duck Island West Breakwater Light 2DI 039°psc Horton Point Light 157°psc What is your position?

    Y a. LAT 41°09.9'N, LONG 72°32.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°33.0'W
    N c. LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 72°32.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°11.6'N, LONG 72°33.6'W

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

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)

15262: At 0910, your DR position is LAT 41°11.9'N, LONG 72°47.8'W. Your vessel is on course 097°T at 9.5 knots, and the weather is foggy. At 0915, Branford Reef Light is sighted through a break in the fog bearing 318°T. At 0945,
Falkner Island Light is sighted bearing 042°T. What is your 0945 running fix position?

    N a. LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°41.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°41.0'W
    Y c. LAT 41°11.5'N, LONG 72°40.7'W
    N d. LAT 41°11.6'N, LONG 72°41.0'W

15412: Determine your 1915 position using the following information obtained at 1915.

Visual bearings
Cape Charles Light 107°pgc
Cape Henry Light 172°pgc

Radar Bearing and Range
Chesapeake Channel Tunnel South Light 189°pgc at 7.2 miles

    N a. LAT 37°03.5'N, LONG 76°05.9'W
    N b. LAT 37°03.5'N, LONG 76°09.3'W
    N c. LAT 37°05.9'N, LONG 76°03.5'W
    Y d. LAT 37°09.3'N, LONG 76°03.1'W

15515: You decide to use the 9960-Y and 9960-W rates. At 1915,
you obtain the following readings:

9960-Y-43936.0
9960-W-14653.3

What is your 1915 position?

    N a. LAT 41°13.0'N, LONG 71°54.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°13.1'N, LONG 71°53.9'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.2'N, LONG 71°54.3'W
    Y d. LAT 41°13.2'N, LONG 71°53.7'W

15569: The coastline between Point Judith and Watch Hill is __________.

    N a. marked by waterfalls from the highland ponds
    N b. low and marshy
    Y c. sandy and broken by rocky points
    N d. heavily forested

15817: The south coast of Long Island Sound between Mattituck Inlet and Port Jefferson is __________.

    N a. composed of high rocky bluffs
    N b. a high, flat plateau with sheer cliffs
    Y c. fringed by rocky shoals
    N d. low and marshy with isolated beaches

15818: At 0300, your position is LAT 41°01.7'N, LONG 72°55.1'W. From this position you steer a course of 289° per standard magnetic compass at an engine speed of 10.0 knots. At what time can you first expect to see Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light if the luminous range is 8.0 miles?

    Y a. 0303
    N b. 0309
    N c. 0312
    N d. 0318

16319: As you enter the New Haven Outer Channel, you sight the outer range markers in line directly ahead. Your heading at this time is 347°psc. What is your compass deviation by observation?

    Y a. 0.5°East
    N b. 3.0°East
    N c. 3.5°West
    N d. 4.5°East

16342: At 2302 you fix your position at LAT 40°57.8'N, LONG 71°39.3'W. What current have you experienced since your 2209 fix?

    Y a. 105°T at 1.0 knot
    N b. 105°T at 0.9 knot
    N c. 285°T at 1.0 knot
    N d. 285°T at 0.9 knot

16356: What is the course per standard magnetic compass from the anchorage to point "A" located 0.5 mile east of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy 14?

    N a. 185°
    N b. 188°
    N c. 191°
    Y d. 194°

16440: What course per gyrocompass would you need to steer from the anchorage to York Spit Channel buoy "29"?

    Y a. 172° pgc
    N b. 175° pgc
    N c. 178° pgc
    N d. 181° pgc

16512: At 0748, you take the following bearings:

Watch Hill Point Light bearing 020.5°pgc
Race Point Light Light bearing 269.5°pgc

What is the approximate depth of water at this position?

    N a. 325 feet
    N b. 175 feet
    Y c. 130 feet
    N d. 104 feet

16543: Based on the information in the previous question, what is your ETA at the distress scene?

    N a. 0006
    N b. 0010
    Y c. 0016
    N d. 0021