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?


155: As you approach Old River Control Structure Light you see a flashing amber light. You should __________.


187: At 2020, you obtain a fix using the following information:
9960-X-27112
9960-Y-41432

Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14" bears 333°pgc. Your longitude is __________.


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

294: What is the maximum allowable speed of vessels underway up river from Tue Marshes Light?

    Y a. 12 knots
    N b. 10 knots
    N c. 8 knots
    N d. 6 knots

328: From your 0315 position, what time can you expect to reach York Spit Channel Buoys "37" and "38"?

    N a. 0423
    N b. 0417
    N c. 0412
    Y d. 0405

336: What speed have you made good from 1710 to 1810?

    Y a. 6.3 knots
    N b. 5.5 knots
    N c. 4.9 knots
    N d. 4.2 knots

418: At 0830, Watch Hill Point bears 343°T at 3.5 miles by radar. What was the speed made good since 0745?

    Y a. 7.1 knots
    N b. 6.7 knots
    N c. 5.8 knots
    N d. 5.4 knots

447: You are encountering heavy weather. What action should you take based on your 1430 fix?

    N a. Continue on the same course but increase speed.
    N b. Continue on the same course at the same speed.
    N c. Slow to 8.3 knots to compensate for the current.
    Y d. Alter course to the right, to pass well clear of Southwest Ledge

477: The great circle distance from LAT 08°50.0'N, LONG 80°21.0'W to LAT 12°36.0'N, LONG 128°16.0'E is 8664 miles, and the initial course is 306.6°T. Determine the latitude of the vertex.

    Y a. 37°30.2'N
    N b. 37°39.6'N
    N c. 37°48.2'N
    N d. 37°53.6'N

481: The great circle distance from LAT 25°50'N, LONG 77°00'W to LAT 35°56'N, LONG 06°15'W is 3616 miles, and the initial course is 061.7°T. Determine the latitude of the vertex.

    N a. 37°32.2'N
    Y b. 37°34.9'N
    N c. 37°41.6'N
    N d. 37°45.2'N

528: You depart LAT 38°12'S, LONG 12°06'W and steam 1543 miles on course 270°. What is the Longitude of arrival?

    Y a. 44°49'W
    N b. 45°12'W
    N c. 45°37'W
    N d. 45°42'W

561: At 0615 you change course to 078°T. If there is no current, when will Falkner Island Light be abeam?

    Y a. 0730
    N b. 0735
    N c. 0743
    N d. 0750

736: On 6 March , your 1854 zone time DR position is LAT 23°51.5'N, LONG 73°14.0'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 24°16.5'. The chronometer time of the sight is 11h 52m 40s, and the chronometer error is 01m 56s slow. The index error is 5.0' on the arc, and the height of eye is 43.5 feet (13.3 meters.) What is your latitude by Polaris?

    N a. 23°29.5'N
    Y b. 23°36.3'N
    N c. 23°49.9'N
    N d. 24°02.9'N

745: On 13 October , at 1847 ZT, your vessel's DR position is LAT 42°17.4'N, LONG 138°46.2'W. At approximately this time, you obtain a sextant altitude (hs) of Polaris reading 42°16.8', with an index error of 3.2' on the arc. Your chronometer reads 03h 45m 20s and is 1m 32s slow. What is your latitude by Polaris, given a height of eye of 44 feet?

    Y a. 42°09.1'N
    N b. 42°12.5'N
    N c. 42°16.0'N
    N d. 42°19.5'N

1086: On 15 July , your vessel is enroute from Portland, OR, to Singapore, Malaysia. You are steering course 243°T and making a speed of 16 knots. Your 1845 zone time DR is LAT 27°42.0'N, LONG 167°02.0'E. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1945 running fix. NP-0016

    Y a. LAT 27°31.1'N, LONG 166°43.0'E
    N b. LAT 27°38.5'N, LONG 166°45.1'E
    N c. LAT 27°45.3'N, LONG 166°32.2'E
    N d. LAT 28°18.1'N, LONG 166°39.8'E

1093: On 22 Nov. , your vessel is enroute from Accra, Ghana to Montevideo, Uruguay. You are on course 240°T and making a speed of 15.0 knots. Your 1129 DR position is LAT 28°25.0'S, LONG 42°40.0'W. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1137 running fix. NP-0023

    Y a. LAT 28°27.0'S, LONG 42°38.0'W
    N b. LAT 28°25.2'S, LONG 42°40.0'W
    N c. LAT 28°25.0'S, LONG 42°36.0'W
    N d. LAT 28°23.4'S, LONG 42°42.0'W

1260: On 16 March , your 0330 ZT DR position is LAT 22°36.0'S, LONG 76°16.0'E. You are on course 098°T at a speed of 16 knots. What will be the ZT of sunrise at your vessel?

    N a. 0545
    Y b. 0553
    N c. 0600
    N d. 0608

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

1494: On 5 August , your 0310 ZT position is LAT 09°02'N, LONG 21°08'W. You observe Polaris bearing 002°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 316°pgc and 329°psc. The variation is 15°W. What is the deviation for that heading?

    N a. 0.0°
    N b. 1.5°W
    N c. 3.0°W
    Y d. 0.5°E

1854: On 22 July , your 1759 ZT DR position is LAT 24°50.2'S, LONG 05°16.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 231°T, at an observed altitude (Ho) of 26°10.0'. The chronometer reads 06h 01m 31s and is 02m 15s fast. What star did you observe?

    N a. Acamar
    N b. Capella
    N c. Miaplacidus
    Y d. Suhail

2085: At your current speed of 20 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 360 miles. You must travel 440 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination?

    Y a. 18.1
    N b. 17.5
    N c. 16.9
    N d. 16.3

2105: You are southeast of Saybrook Breakwater Light passing Saybrook Bar Lighted Bell Buoy "8". This buoy marks __________.

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

2115: 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

2902: You are steaming on a course of 058°T at 11.5 knots. At 0209 you observe a lighthouse bearing 129°T. At 0252 the lighthouse bears 173°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing?

    N a. 9.4 miles
    N b. 10.7 miles
    Y c. 11.2 miles
    N d. 12.8 miles

3053: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 19.9 feet and a pitch of 21.6 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 395 miles in a 23 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 78?

    Y a. -3.2%
    N b. +3.2%
    N c. -12.0%
    N d. +12.0%

3071: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 20.7 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 23.8 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 3% negative slip?

    N a. 74
    N b. 79
    Y c. 86
    N d. 98

3085: You must average 16.25 knots to reach port at a designated time. Your propeller has a pitch of 21'08", and you estimate 4% negative slip. How many RPM's must you average to arrive on time?

    Y a. 73 RPM
    N b. 77 RPM
    N c. 82 RPM
    N d. 88 RPM

3298: Your vessel consumes 216 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 15.0 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 17.5 knots?

    N a. 232 bbls
    N b. 252 bbls
    N c. 294 bbls
    Y d. 343 bbls

3310: You have steamed 216 miles and consumed 19.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 315 miles?

    Y a. 27.7 tons
    N b. 32.3 tons
    N c. 36.9 tons
    N d. 40.4 tons

3607: You desire to make good 152°T. The magnetic compass deviation is 4°E, the variation is 5°E, and the gyro error is 3°E. A southwesterly wind produces a 4° leeway. Which course would you steer per standard compass to make good the true course?

    N a. 137°psc
    N b. 141°psc
    N c. 143°psc
    Y d. 147°psc

3652: The true course between two points is 023°T. Your gyrocompass has an error of 1°W and you make an allowance of 4° leeway for an east wind. What gyro course should be steered to make the true course good?

    N a. 020°pgc
    N b. 021°pgc
    N c. 026°pgc
    Y d. 028°pgc

3653: The true course between two points is 106°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 2°E and you make an allowance of 2° leeway for a south wind. What gyro course should be steered to make the true course good?

    N a. 102°pgc
    N b. 104°pgc
    Y c. 106°pgc
    N d. 108°pgc

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

3773: Which numbered box indicates the ExxonMobil Refining & Supply Co. in Baton Rouge?

    Y a. 1
    N b. 2
    N c. 3
    N d. 4

4014: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°W. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a true heading of 157°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 354° 122.5° - 114° 239.5° - 234°
030.5° - 024° 152.0° - 144° 269.0° - 264°
061.5° - 054° 181.0° - 174° 298.0° - 294°
092.0° - 084° 210.0° - 204° 327.5° - 324°`

    N a. 2.0°W
    Y b. 1.5°W
    N c. 1.0°W
    N d. 0.0°

10205: Your present position is LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°38.0'W. Assuming that there is no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to arrive at a position 2 miles due west of Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy (LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°30.5'W)?

    Y a. 055°psc
    N b. 059°psc
    N c. 064°psc
    N d. 069°psc

12304: You are on course 302° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Block Island Southeast Point Light in line with the Block Island Aero Beacon bearing 323° per standard magnetic compass. Based on this you __________.

    Y a. know the deviation table is correct for that heading
    N b. know the deviation is 15°E
    N c. should swing your vessel to check the deviation table
    N d. know the deviation is equal to the variation

12612: You are on course 242° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: Stratford Point Light 325°psc Old Field Point Light 239°psc Middle Ground Light 270°psc What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41°04.4'N, LONG 72°59.5'W
    Y b. LAT 41°05.1'N, LONG 72°59.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 73°00.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°59.3'W

15019: 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?

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

15319: The coastline by Cape Henry is best described as __________.

    N a. rocky with pine scrubs
    Y b. sandy hills about eighty feet high
    N c. low wetlands
    N d. low and thinly wooded with many beach houses

15443: As you enter Chesapeake Bay, visibility improves. At 2235 you are between Chesapeake Channel Buoys "5" and "6" in the 41 foot dredged section of Chesapeake Channel. At that time, you change course to pass between buoys "9" and "10". If buoys "11" and "12" are extinguished, your best leading light to keep you in deep water in the Chesapeake Channel, as you approach the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel, would be __________.

    N a. fixed red light on trestle "C"
    Y b. fixed green light on trestle "B"
    N c. fixed red light on trestle "B"
    N d. Thimble Shoal Light

15507: What course should you steer by your standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 280°T?

    N a. 266°psc
    N b. 272°psc
    N c. 290°psc
    Y d. 294°psc

15512: At 1850, you obtain the following bearings and distances:

Montauk Point 189°pgc 8.7 miles
Watch Hill Light 340°pgc 5.7 miles

What true course did you make good between 1830 and 1850?

    N a. 289°T
    Y b. 294°T
    N c. 299°T
    N d. 307°T

15913: At 0830, you wish to get the latest weather forecasts for the Falkner Island area. On what frequency would you set your FM radio for this information?

    N a. 2181 kHz
    N b. 156.65 Mhz
    N c. 156.80 Mhz
    Y d. 162.40 Mhz

16067: At 2118, you obtain the following information:
Cape Henry Light 151°pgc;
Cape Charles Light 033°pgc;
Thimble Shoal Light 291°pgc

What is your 2118 position?

    Y a. LAT 36°57.4'N, LONG 76°01.9'W
    N b. LAT 36°57.5'N, LONG 76°01.4'W
    N c. LAT 36°57.6'N, LONG 76°01.8'W
    N d. LAT 36°57.6'N, LONG 76°02.2'W

16340: If you make good your intended course and speed, at what time will you cross the 150-foot curve?

    N a. 2237
    N b. 2249
    Y c. 2256
    N d. 2301

16369: As you pass between Trestle B and Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel, you sight along Trestle C when it is in line. The gyro bearing is 051°. What is the gyro error by observation?

    N a. 4°E
    N b. 2°E
    N c. 0°
    Y d. 2°W

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

16715: From your 0600 position, what is the course per gyrocompass to leave Watch Hill Light abeam to starboard at 2.0 miles if a southerly wind is producing 3° of leeway?

    Y a. 252°pgc
    N b. 256°pgc
    N c. 258°pgc
    N d. 262°pgc