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?


153: What is the minimum maintained depth of the channel from Cairo to Baton Rouge during low water?


198: While navigating inbound Thimble Shoal Channel system you must __________.


344: The maximum ebb current at a location 4.3 miles south of Stratford Point will occur at 0413. The predicted current will be 1.0 knot at 075°. What will be your course made good if you steer 082°T at 8 knots?

    N a. 087°T
    N b. 085°T
    N c. 083°T
    Y d. 081°T

413: A vessel steams 1106 miles on course 249°T from LAT 13°30.0'N, LONG 144°30.3'E. What is the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by Mercator sailing?

    N a. LAT 07°01.0'N, LONG 127°02.0'E
    Y b. LAT 06°54.0'N, LONG 127°08.0'E
    N c. LAT 06°50.0'N, LONG 127°13.0'E
    N d. LAT 06°46.0'N, LONG 127°17.0'E

492: At 0748, you change course to 160°T. What loran reading can you follow to remain on this course?

    N a. 9960-W-14660.0
    Y b. 9960-W-14651.0
    N c. 9960-Y-43943.8
    N d. 9960-Y-43852.0

514: The shoreline along Rocky Point should give a good radar return because __________.

    Y a. the shore is bluff and rocky
    N b. of offshore exposed rocks
    N c. submerged reefs cause prominent breakers
    N d. the lookout tower is marked with radar reflectors

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

810: On 13 October , your 0515 zone time (ZT) fix gives you a position of LAT 26°53.0'N, LONG 90°05.0'W. Your vessel is on course 068°T, and your speed is 7.8 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1145 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 54°51.5'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN?

    Y a. 27°12.6'N
    N b. 27°14.1'N
    N c. 27°15.7'N
    N d. 27°16.2'N

980: On 29 April , your 0530 zone time position was LAT 23°04.0'S, LONG 162°12.0'E. Your vessel was steaming on course 120°T at a speed of 9.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's upper limb was made at 0830 ZT. The chronometer read 09h 27m 32s and was slow 02m 24s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 24°58.0'. LAN occurred at 1205 zone time. The observed altitude (Ho) was 52°04.0'. What was the longitude of your 1200 zone time running fix?

    N a. LONG 163°02.1'E
    Y b. LONG 163°06.0'E
    N c. LONG 163°09.5'E
    N d. LONG 163°11.3'E

1127: You are turning for 6.8 mph and estimate the current at 1.0 mph. What is your speed over the ground?

    N a. 6.8 mph
    Y b. 7.8 mph
    N c. 8.8 mph
    N d. 9.4 mph

1188: On 9 February , your 0830 zone time DR position is LAT 22°19.0'N, LONG 64°37.0'E. Your vessel is on course 128°
T at a speed of 19.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    Y a. 1152
    N b. 1156
    N c. 1201
    N d. 1205

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

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

1239: In high water conditions, which publication would you consult for the latest information on buoys between Baton Rouge and Cairo?

    N a. List of Buoys and Daymarks
    N b. U.S.C.G. Light List
    N c. Army Corps. of Engineers Navigation Chart
    Y d. None of the above

1393: It is 15 July and you are keeping +7 zone time. You are on course 095°, speed 16 knots. Your 0800 DR position is LAT 25°39.4'N, LONG 129°46.2'W. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks?

    N a. 13h 40m 17s
    Y b. 13h 38m 19s
    N c. 12h 42m 20s
    N d. 12h 38m 20s

1424: You pass Springfield Bend Lt. (mile 244.8 AHP) at 1242, on 17 October, and estimate the current will average 2.5 mph for the remainder of your trip. What is your ETA at the mouth of the Ohio River if you are making turns for 10.5 mph?

    N a. 1905, 19 October
    N b. 2122, 19 October
    Y c. 0519, 21 October
    N d. 0847, 21 October

1489: On 23 July , your 2100 ZT position is LAT 36°43.0'N, LONG 16°09.8'W, when you observed an azimuth of Polaris to determine the compass error. Polaris bears 359.0° per gyrocompass. At the time of the observation, the helmsman noted that he was heading 319.0° per gyrocompass and 331.0° per standard compass. Variation is 12.0°W. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    N a. The gyro error is 0.7°E.
    N b. The gyro error is 1.7°W.
    Y c. The deviation is 1.7°E.
    N d. The compass error is 13.7°W

1774: You pass New Madrid, MO (mile 889.0 AHP) at 1412. What was your average speed since leaving Cairo?

    Y a. 8.0 mph
    N b. 7.8 mph
    N c. 7.6 mph
    N d. 7.3 mph

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

1866: 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 019.0°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 53°56.2'. 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. Phecda
    N b. Mimosa
    N c. Gamma Ursae Minoris
    Y d. Mizar

1871: 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 270°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 65°41.7'. 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. Epsilon Leonis
    N b. Scheat
    N c. Merak
    Y d. Algeiba

1886: On 8 April , your evening DR position is LAT 22°16'N, LONG 157°58.3'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 246°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 58°45.5'. The chronometer reads 05h 09m 57s, and is 01m 23s slow. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Betelgeuse
    N b. Aldebaran
    N c. Alnilam
    N d. Bellatrix

1916: On 14 January , your 1922 DR position is LAT 27°18.5'S, LONG 67°18.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 250°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 31°01.2'. The chronometer reads 03h 25m 43s, and is 03m 15s fast. Which star did you observe?

    N a. Elnath
    Y b. Fomalhaut
    N c. Pollux
    N d. Markab

2086: Ar your current speed of 22 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 440 miles. You must travel 618 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination?

    N a. 17.8
    Y b. 18.6
    N c. 19.4
    N d. 20.2

2170: On 22 July , at 0720 ZT, in DR position LAT 20°38.2'N, LONG 87°16.0'W, you observe the Moon's lower limb. The sextant altitude (hs) is 38°32.6, and the chronometer reads 01h 18m 14s. The chronometer is 01m 28s slow. The index error is 3.1' off the arc, and the height of eye is 68 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) and intercept (a) of this sight from the assumed position?

    N a. Zn 291.4°, a 5.2' A
    N b. Zn 111.4°, a 8.7' A
    Y c. Zn 248.6°, a 5.0' T
    N d. Zn 068.6°, a 6.5' T

2455: You are underway and intend to make good a course of 170°T. You experience a current with a set and drift of 050°T at 2.8 knots, and a easterly wind produces a leeway of 3°. You adjust your course to compensate for the current and leeway, while maintaining an engine speed of 18.5 knots. What will be your speed made good over your intended course of 170°T?

    N a. 18.5 knots
    N b. 18.1 knots
    N c. 17.6 knots
    Y d. 17.2 knots

2577: On 23 July, you take a time tick using the 0900 GMT Cape Town broadcast. You hear a repeating series of 59 dots followed by a dash. At the beginning of the fifth dash you start your stopwatch. The chronometer reads 08h 39m 16s at the time the stopwatch reads 01m 42s. The chronometer error at 0900 GMT, 22 July, was 22m 24s slow. What is the chronometer rate?

    Y a. 00m 02s losing
    N b. 01m 02s gaining
    N c. 22m 24s losing
    N d. 22m 26s slow

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

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

2703: You are underway on course 254°T at a speed of 16.5 knots. You sight a rock bearing 255°T at a radar range of 6.1 miles at 0916. If you change course at 0922, what is the course to steer to leave the rock abeam to starboard at 1.5 miles?

    N a. 268°T
    N b. 239°T
    Y c. 236°T
    N d. 233°T

2872: Your vessel is on a course of 272°T at 15 knots. At 2113 a light bears 245.5°T, and at 2120 the light bears 227°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light?

    N a. 2124, 1.3 miles
    Y b. 2127, 1.8 miles
    N c. 2131, 2.3 miles
    N d. 2135, 2.7 miles

2890: You are steaming on a course of 084°T at a speed of 13 knots. At 1919 a lighthouse bears 106.5°T. At 1957 the same lighthouse bears 129°T. What will be your distance off the lighthouse when abeam?

    N a. 4.3 miles
    Y b. 5.7 miles
    N c. 7.1 miles
    N d. 8.2 miles

3082: The speed of advance necessary to arrive in port at a designated time is 15.8 knots. The pitch of the propeller is 20.75 feet. You estimate 5% positive slip. How many RPM must you turn to make the necessary speed?

    N a. 73.5
    N b. 76.2
    N c. 79.9
    Y d. 81.2

3094: If the pitch of the propeller is 26.7 feet, and the revolutions per day are 131,717, calculate the day's run allowing 4% negative slip.

    N a. 555.2 miles
    N b. 578.4 miles
    Y c. 601.6 miles
    N d. 649.4 miles

3104: You are turning 84 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 22 feet, and an estimated slip of 0%. What is the speed of advance?

    N a. 16.8 knots
    N b. 17.7 knots
    N c. 18.0 knots
    Y d. 18.2 knots

3265: You have steamed 1587 miles at 11.2 knots, and have consumed one-half of your total fuel capacity of 2840 bbls. What is the maximum speed you can steam to complete the remaining 1951 miles?

    N a. 9.1 knots
    N b. 9.9 knots
    Y c. 10.1 knots
    N d. 11.6 knots

3295: Your vessel consumes 178 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 13.5 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 15.0 knots?

    N a. 172 bbls
    N b. 198 bbls
    N c. 219 bbls
    Y d. 244 bbls

3303: You have steamed 174 miles and consumed 18.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 416 miles?

    N a. 34.9 tons
    N b. 38.4 tons
    Y c. 43.0 tons
    N d. 46.2 tons

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°

10107: What is the first course per standard magnetic compass (psc) in the outbound southeasterly traffic lane of the Chesapeake Bay entrance traffic separation scheme?

    N a. 133°psc
    N b. 138°psc
    N c. 143°psc
    Y d. 148°psc

10704: At 2038 your position is LAT 41°09.2'N, LONG 71°40.6'W. You are on course 301° per standard magnetic compass at 7.2 knots. At 2152 your position is LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 71°48.6'W. What were the set and drift?

    N a. 080°T at 1.0 knot
    Y b. 096°T at 2.0 knots
    N c. 261°T at 1.2 knots
    N d. 277°T at 0.9 knot

11909: Your position is 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the true course to steer to arrive one mile due south of Block Island Southeast Point Light, if you are turning for 6.8 knots, the current is 330° at 1.2 knots, and a southerly wind causes 3° of leeway?

    N a. 081°T
    Y b. 084°T
    N c. 087°T
    N d. 090°T

12104: You sight Wolf Trap Light in line with New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" bearing 234° per standard magnetic compass. You are on course 329°psc. Based on this, you __________.

    N a. know the compass error is 8°W
    Y b. should swing the vessel to check the deviation table
    N c. know the deviation is 1°W
    N d. know the deviation table is accurate for that bearing

12106: While in the Back River, you sight the two tanks along the Northwest Branch (vicinity LAT 37°05.6'N, LONG 76°22.0'W) in line bearing 277° per standard magnetic compass. If your vessel is heading 243°psc, what is TRUE?

    N a. There is no deviation.
    N b. The deviation table is incorrect.
    Y c. The compass error is 12°W.
    N d. The deviation is 3°E for bearings of 277°psc.

14205: You are off the coast of Mexico and are taking a time tick for 1600. At approximately 1554, you hear the preparatory signal "VVVV de XDD" from the time signal station. Then you hear a series of 1 second dashes followed by a 9 second silent period and then a long 1.3 second dash. At the beginning of the long dash, your comparing watch reads 03h 59m 56s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 04h 01m 22s, and the chronometer reads 04h 02m 11s. What is the chronometer error?

    N a. 0m 04s slow
    N b. 2m 15s slow
    Y c. 0m 45s fast
    N d. 1m 26s fast

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.

15240: At 1130, Horton Point Light bears 172° true at a range of 3.45nm

The fathometer reads 81 ft. Your position is __________.

    N a. north of your intended track line
    N b. 41°09.4'N, 72°22.6'W
    N c. three miles southeast of Six Mile Reef Buoy "8A"
    Y d. 41°08.5'N, 72°27.3'W

15312: You arrive at the rendezvous point, secure the tow, and head back southward. At 1200, you take the following bearings:

Cape Charles Light bearing 240.5° true
Sand Shoal Inlet South Light bearing 289° true

What is your 1200 position?

    N a. LAT 37°10.5'N, LONG 75°33.0'W
    N b. LAT 37°12.0'N, LONG 75°35.0'W
    Y c. LAT 37°15.0'N, LONG 75°37.5'W
    N d. LAT 37°19.0'N, LONG 75°40.5'W

15517: From your 1915 position, you come left and set a course for Gardiners Point. At 1930, your position is LAT 41°12.7'N,
LONG 71°56.8'W. What type of bottom is charted at this position?

    N a. Blue mud, gritty shells
    N b. Buried mussels, gritty shells
    Y c. Blue mud, gray sand
    N d. Bumpy muck with grainy surface

15564: What was the current between 0520 and 0600?

    N a. 178° at 0.8 knot
    N b. 178° at 1.2 knot
    N c. 358° at 0.8 knot
    Y d. 358° at 1.2 knots

15961: At 1810, a red buoy bears 010° relative. This buoy marks __________.

    N a. the side of York Spit Channel
    N b. the visibility limit of the red sector of Cape Henry Light
    N c. a submerged obstruction in York Spit Channel
    Y d. the York River Entrance Channel

16008: While on a heading of 082°T, you sight Middle Ground Light in line with Old Field Point Light bearing 206° per standard magnetic compass. From this you can determine the __________.

    N a. variation
    Y b. deviation table is correct for that heading
    N c. compass error is 17.5°E
    N d. deviation is 3.5°E for a bearing of 206° per standard magnetic compass

16068: From your 2118 position, you proceed to Norfolk, VA, a distance of approximately 26.0 miles. To arrive at Norfolk by 0200 the next day, what is the minimum speed to make good from your 2118 position to arrive at this time?

    N a. 5.0 knots
    N b. 5.3 knots
    N c. 5.8 knots
    Y d. 5.5 knots

16140: Available information indicates that there is a set and drift in this area of 290°T at 2 knots. Allowing for this set and drift, what course must you steer to make good a true course of 150°, while maintaining an engine speed of 13 knots, from your 1930 position?

    N a. 141°T
    Y b. 145°T
    N c. 149°T
    N d. 153°T

16462: Which statement about your 0400 position is TRUE?

    Y a. You are within the territorial sea and contiguous zone.
    N b. You are governed by the Inland Rules of the Road.
    N c. The ocean floor is composed of shale.
    N d. Anchoring, trawling and fishing are prohibited.