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.


35: What are the dimensions of the channel maintained at Baton Rouge, LA?


90: As you approach Giles Bend Cutoff Light (mile 367.7 AHP), what type of daymark would you see on the light structure?


98: At 0230 on 13 August, you are at mile 610.5 AHP when you see about a mile ahead lights on the water near the left bank. What might you see when you come abreast of these lights?


229: If you want a more detailed chart of the area at your 2115 DR position, which chart should you use?

    N a. 12222
    N b. 12225
    Y c. 12224
    N d. 12222

269: If there is no current, what is the course per standard magnetic compass from your 0802 fix to the position 1.1 miles north of Falkner Island Light?

    N a. 099°
    Y b. 095°
    N c. 068°
    N d. 064°

301: You depart LAT 28°55.0'N, LONG 89°10.0'W, enroute to LAT 24°25.0'N, LONG 83°00.0'W. Determine the true course and distance by mid-latitude sailing?

    N a. 418 miles, 122°T
    Y b. 427 miles, 129°T
    N c. 436 miles, 133°T
    N d. 442 miles, 122°T

452: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 35°17.6'N, LONG 144°23.0'E to LAT 47°36.0'N, LONG 124°22.0'W.

    N a. 3946 miles, 312°T
    Y b. 3931 miles, 048°T
    N c. 3881 miles, 042°T
    N d. 3718 miles, 318°T

497: At 0845, 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. 10.5 knots
    N b. 10.0 knots
    N c. 9.2 knots
    Y d. 8.4 knots

534: You depart LAT 52°01'N, LONG 176°09'E, for LAT 52°01'N, LONG 178°46'W. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing?

    N a. 090°T, 95 miles
    Y b. 090°T, 188 miles
    N c. 270°T, 95 miles
    N d. 270°T, 188 miles

563: At 0705, the gyro loses power. At 0715, you are on course 092° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: Falkner Light bears 356°psc, Horton Point Light bears 123°psc, and Kelsey Point Breakwater Light bears 048°psc. What is the position of your 0715 fix?

    N a. LAT 41°06.7'N, LONG 72°36.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°07.0'N, LONG 72°36.2'W
    N c. LAT 41°07.2'N, LONG 72°36.4'W
    N d. LAT 41°07.4'N, LONG 72°36.4'W

617: Your vessel will sail from a position in LAT 8°51.0'N, LONG 81°31.0'W to a position at LAT 33°51.5'S, LONG 151°13.0'E. The distance by great circle is 7,635 miles, and you estimate an average speed of 15.0 knots. What is your estimated zone time of arrival if you depart at 1510 ZT, on 23 July?

    Y a. 1110, 14 August
    N b. 0110, 14 August
    N c. 1110, 13 August
    N d. 1510, 13 August

630: You are on a voyage from Corpus Christi, TX, to Fort de France, Martinique. The distance from pilot to pilot is 2190 miles (2521 statute miles). The speed of advance is 15.0 knots. You estimate a layover in Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands, of 16.0 hours. If you take departure at 0654 (ZD +6), 27 November, what is your ETA (ZD +4) at Fort de France?

    N a. 2054, 3 December
    N b. 2254, 3 December
    Y c. 0254, 4 December
    N d. 2054, 4 December

643: Which company does NOT have a marine facility in Rosedale harbor (mile 585 AHP)?

    N a. Sanders Elevator Corp
    N b. Rosedale-Boliver County Port Commission
    Y c. T.L. James
    N d. Cives Steel Company

1104: On 19 November , your 0200 zone time DR position is LAT 20°29.0'N, LONG 150°21.3'E. You are on course 136°T at a speed of 18 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. NP-0033

    N a. LAT 19°30.1'N, LONG 151°06.0'E
    N b. LAT 19°31.7'N, LONG 151°04.9'E
    Y c. LAT 19°33.0'N, LONG 151°10.0'E
    N d. LAT 19°35.8'N, LONG 151°13.6'E

1120: At 0850, 4 January, you pass the Gage at Natchez, MS which reads 26.8 feet. The low water reference plane (LWRP) for Natchez is 6.1 feet. What is the water level in relation to the low water reference plane?

    Y a. 20.7 ft above
    N b. 20.7 ft below
    N c. 32.9 ft above
    N d. 32.9 ft below

1185: On 31 January , your 0920 zone time DR position is LAT 24°16.0'S, LONG 151°33.0'E. Your vessel is on course 258°T at a speed of 18.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1202
    N b. 1207
    Y c. 1211
    N d. 1215

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

1189: On 7 February , your 0800 zone time DR position is LAT 22°16.0'N, LONG 92°26.0'W. Your vessel is on course 270°
T at a speed of 20.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1218
    N b. 1222
    N c. 1226
    Y d. 1230

1663: On 7 April , in DR position LAT 27°42.0'N, LONG 114°03.0'W, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 076°psc. The chronometer reads 02h 10m 17s and is 01m 52s slow. Variation in the area is 8°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    Y a. 1.8°W
    N b. 2.3°E
    N c. 6.2°E
    N d. 7.8°W

1678: On 2 January , your vessel's 1948 zone time position is LAT 21°42'S, LONG 39°12'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 260° per standard magnetic compass. Variation in the area is 19°W. The chronometer reads 10h 44m 36s and is 03m 24s slow. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    Y a. 4.3°E
    N b. 4.3°W
    N c. 5.1°E
    N d. 5.1°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

1727: You pass under the Natchez bridge (mile 363.3 AHP) at 1300, on 27 March, and estimate the current to be 3.3 mph. What is your ETA at St. Louis if you continue to turn for 7.5 mph?

    N a. 0617, 4 April
    Y b. 0316, 4 April
    N c. 1153, 30 March
    N d. 1253, 31 April

1852: On 26 November , at 0535 ZT, while taking sights for a morning fix, you observe an unidentified planet bearing 074°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 38°29.8'. Your DR position is LAT 27°18.9'S, LONG 30°18.4'E. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 33m 16s, and the chronometer is 01m 48s slow. What planet did you observe?

    Y a. Saturn
    N b. Jupiter
    N c. Mars
    N d. Venus

1922: On 17 March , your 1845 DR position is LAT 25°10.0'N, LONG 66°48.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 320°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 50°02.9'. The chronometer reads 10h 47m 49s, and is 1m 54s fast. What star did you observe?

    N a. Capella
    Y b. Mirfak
    N c. Pollux
    N d. Rigel

2014: On 16 October , evening twilight will occur at 1746 ZT, and your DR position will be LAT 28°43.2'N, LONG 60°29.8' W. Considering their magnitude and location, which of the following are the three best stars to select for a fix at star time?

    Y a. Antares, Arcturus, Polaris
    N b. Deneb, Polaris, Vega
    N c. Antares, Deneb, Vega
    N d. Vega, Polaris, Enif

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

2088: At your current speed of 19 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 265 miles. You must travel 731 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination?

    N a. 13.8
    N b. 12.6
    Y c. 11.4
    N d. 10.2

2187: At which of the following times would you be able to listen to lower Mississippi River conditions on VHF Channel 22?

    N a. 0900 hours
    N b. 1100 hours
    Y c. 1300 hours
    N d. 1600 hours

2208: 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

2328: As you pass through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel, you sight Trestle "B" in line bearing 018°pgc. What is the gyro error by observation?

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

3296: Your vessel consumes 199 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 14.5 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 10.0 knots?

    Y a. 65 bbls
    N b. 95 bbls
    N c. 137 bbls
    N d. 148 bbls

3639: You desire to make good a true course of 132°. The variation is 10°W, magnetic compass deviation is 5°E, and gyrocompass error is 5°W. A northeast by east wind produces a 5° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good?

    Y a. 132°psc
    N b. 135°psc
    N c. 137°psc
    N d. 142°psc

3756: Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line dead ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 093°T, and the variation is 6°E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 097° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation?

    N a. 5°E
    N b. 5°W
    N c. 10°E
    Y d. 10°W

10706: At 0726 you depart Lake Montauk with light 1 close aboard and set course 310.5° per standard magnetic compass at 7.6 knots. At 0812 your GPS position is LAT 41°08.1'N, LONG 72°03.7'W. What is the current?

    N a. 151°T at 1.0 knot
    N b. 164°T at 0.7 knot
    Y c. 334°T at 1.4 knot
    N d. 321°T at 0.8 knot

11906: Your position is 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course to steer to arrive at LAT 41°00.0'N, LONG 71°30.0'W, if you are turning for 8.7 knots, the current is 130° at 1.2 knots, and a northerly wind causes 3° of leeway?

    N a. 112°T
    N b. 108°T
    N c. 105°T
    Y d. 102°T

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

13403: Your vessel has become disabled and is dead in the water. Your GPS set fixes your position at LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°43.5'W. You decide to anchor at this position. Which type of bottom should you expect?

    N a. Soft clay and sand
    Y b. Soft mud and shell
    N c. Hard sand and rocks
    N d. Blue mud and gray sand

13708: A note on the chart indicates that currents in excess of how many knots can be expected in the vicinity of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel?

    Y a. 3.00 knots
    N b. 2.20 knots
    N c. 1.75 knots
    N d. 1.50 knots

15045: From your 0841 position, you are steering a course of 241°
true to the northeasterly inbound channel entrance, your speed is now 15 knots. What is your ETA abeam of buoy "NCA" (LL#375)?

    N a. 0850
    Y b. 0855
    N c. 0901
    N d. 0911

15118: What was the speed made good from 1845 to 1930?

    N a. 6.2 knots
    N b. 7.5 knots
    Y c. 8.3 knots
    N d. 9.4 knots

15246: From your 1845 position, you desire to leave Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light 1.0 mile off your starboard beam at 1900. Which course and speed would you order if you allow for a 2.0 knot current with a set of 180°T?

    N a. 205°T at 9.2 knots
    N b. 208°T at 11.4 knots
    Y c. 215°T at 9.2 knots
    N d. 225°T at 11.5 knots

15338: At 1705 Race Rock Light bears 099°True; Orient Point Light bears 176°True; Bartlett Reef Light bears 083°True. What is your vessel's position?

    N a. LAT 41°15.0'N, LONG 72°14.3'W
    N b. LAT 41°15.4'N, LONG 72°16.6'W
    Y c. LAT 41°15.9'N, LONG 72°14.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°16.4'N, LONG 72°14.2'W

15414: At 2100, you have passed through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel and determine your position to be LAT 37°01.3'
N, LONG 76°03.0'W. The current is flooding in a direction of 303°T at 2.5 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, which course would you steer while turning RPMs for 6 knots to make good a course of 175°T?

    Y a. 156°T
    N b. 164°T
    N c. 183°T
    N d. 190°T

15638: At 2009 you are leaving New London Harbor with buoy "2"
close abeam to port. What is the true course to the Race that will leave Race Rock Light 0.5 mile abeam to port?

    N a. 156°
    N b. 160°
    Y c. 164°
    N d. 168°

15658: What course should you steer by the standard magnetic compass in order to maintain a heading of 081°pgc?

    N a. 062°psc
    N b. 080°psc
    N c. 090°psc
    Y d. 095°psc

16246: From your 2259 fix, you alter course to 250°T. At 2300 Cape Henry Light bears 250°T. At 2326 Cape Henry Light bears 252°T. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. You are being set to the right.
    N b. The bearing change should be expected as you transit the inbound lane.
    Y c. You should alter course to starboard.
    N d. You should slow to reduce the effect of the current.

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

16518: At 0845, 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?

    Y a. 8.2knots
    N b. 9.2 knots
    N c. 10.0 knots
    N d. 10.5 knots

16840: Visibility is exceptionally clear. At approximately what distance did Chesapeake Light become visible?

    N a. 19.2 miles
    Y b. 21.0 miles
    N c. 22.7 miles
    N d. 24.0 miles