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.

33: What is the total length of the trip?
89: In high water conditions, which publication would you consult for the latest information on buoys between Baton Rouge and Cairo?
90: As you approach Giles Bend Cutoff Light (mile 367.7 AHP), what type of daymark would you see on the light structure?
382: You arrive at Cape Charles City at 1700 and depart at 1800. You are underway in Chesapeake Bay and encounter heavy fog. At 1830, you obtain the following radar information:

Old Plantation Flats Light bearing 041.5° true @ 1.9 nm

What is your 1830 position? 

    N a. LAT 37°10.3'N, LONG 76°04.5'W
    N b. LAT 37°10.3'N, LONG 76°06.5'W
    N c. LAT 37°12.3'N, LONG 76°06.5'W
    Y d. LAT 37°12.3'N, LONG 76°04.4'W
394: A vessel at LAT 38°03.0'S, LONG 49°38.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 41°26.0'S, LONG 38°32.0'W. Determine the true course by Mercator sailing. 

    Y a. 111.5°T
    N b. 113.5°T
    N c. 158.5°T
    N d. 160.5°T
525: At 0600 you take the following bearings:

Point Judith Light bearing 063° pgc
Block Island North Reef Light bearing 144° pgc

What is your 0600 position? 

    Y a. LAT 41°18.3'N, LONG 71°38.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°18.4'N, LONG 71°38.0'W
    N c. LAT 41°18.5'N, LONG 72°38.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°18.7'N, LONG 71°38.9'W
817: On 15 December , in DR position LAT 23°24.0'N, LONG 55°36.0'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 45m 19s, and the chronometer error is 00m 00s. The sextant altitude (hs) is 43°02.3'. The index error is 2.6' on the arc, and your height of eye is 65.0 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit? 

    Y a. LAT 23°33.5'N
    N b. LAT 23°35.8'N
    N c. LAT 23°38.1'N
    N d. LAT 23°40.6'N
1021: On 30 March , your 0145 DR position is LAT 29°30'S, LONG 122°45'E. You are on course 055°T at a speed of 22 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. 

    N a. LAT 28°24.6'S, LONG 124°21.4'E
    Y b. LAT 28°39.9'S, LONG 124°18.6'E
    N c. LAT 28°41.5'S, LONG 124°41.5'E
    N d. LAT 29°20.1'S, LONG 123°41.0'E
1196: On 14 October your 0800 zone time (ZT) dead reckoning position is LAT 28°22.0'N, LONG 161°17.0'E. Your vessel is on course 116°T at a speed of 17.5 knots. What is the ZT of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1148
    N b. 1151
    Y c. 1156
    N d. 1202
1229: Which type of daymark would you see on the Belle Island Corner Lt. at mile 458.6 AHP? 

    N a. Green - Diamond
    N b. Green - Square
    Y c. Red - Diamond
    N d. Red - Triangle
1459: On 28 July , your 1937 zone time DR position is LAT 26°13.0'N, LONG 78°27.0'E. At that time, you observe Deneb bearing 048.7°pgc. The chronometer reads 02h 37m 42s, and the chronometer error is 00m 15s fast. The variation is 4°W. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 2.4°W
    Y b. 2.8°E
    N c. 3.6°W
    N d. 3.6°E
1501: On 3 October , your 0330 zone time (ZD + 5) DR position is LAT 47°41'N, LONG 86°49'W. At that time, you observe Polaris bearing 357.5°pgc. The chronometer time of the observation is 08h 32m 04s, and the chronometer is 0m 27s slow. The variation is 5.5°W. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 7.5°E
    N b. 5.0°E
    N c. 3.5°E
    Y d. 2.0°E
1682: On 11 May , in DR position LAT 37°06.0'N, LONG 45°45.0'W you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 089.0°psc. The chronometer reads 07h 57m 06s and is 01m 48s slow. Variation in the area is 20.0°W. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 3.6°W
    Y b. 2.2°W
    N c. 1.4°W
    N d. 3.6°E
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
1723: You will pass the first gage at __________. 

    N a. Profit Island
    N b. Bayou Sara
    N c. Baton Rouge
    Y d. Red River Landing
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
1856: On 22 June , your 0424 ZT DR position is LAT 26°18.5'N,
LONG 124°18.2'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 031°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 49°26.0'. The chronometer reads 00h 23m 24s and is 01m 32s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Peacock
    Y b. Schedar
    N c. Ankaa
    N d. Alioth
1951: As you approach Ashland Light (mile 378.1 AHP) which daymark would you see? 

    Y a. Red triangle
    N b. Red diamond
    N c. Green square
    N d. Green diamond
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
2697: You are underway on course 106°T at a speed of 15.3 knots.
You sight a buoy bearing 109°T at a radar range of 3.6 miles at 1725. If you change course at 1728, what is the course to steer to leave the buoy abeam to port at 0.5 mile? 

    N a. 100°T
    N b. 117°T
    Y c. 120°T
    N d. 125°T
2851: Your vessel is on a course of 297°T at 11 knots. At 0019 a light bears 274.5°T, and at 0048 the light bears 252°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0102, 2.6 miles
    Y b. 0108, 3.7 miles
    N c. 0057, 4.6 miles
    N d. 0117, 5.0 miles
2862: Your are on course 317°T at 13 knots. A light is bearing 22.5° relative at 0640. At 0659 the same light is bearing 45° relative. At what time should the light be abeam? 

    N a. 0709
    Y b. 0712
    N c. 0718
    N d. 0721
2884: Your vessel is steering 238°T at 11 knots. At 2304 a light bears 176°T, and at 2323 the same light bears 155°T. What will be your distance off abeam? 

    N a. 7.5 miles
    N b. 8.0 miles
    Y c. 8.5 miles
    N d. 9.0 miles
3065: The propeller on your vessel has a pitch of 18'09". If the observed distance for a day's run was 399.4 miles and the average RPM was 86, which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. The slip is a positive 5%.
    N b. The day's run by engine RPM was 404.5 miles.
    Y c. The slip is a negative 5%.
    N d. The day's run by engine RPM was 390.6 miles.
3078: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 17.8 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 24.7 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 7% positive slip? 

    N a. 67
    N b. 71
    N c. 75
    Y d. 79
3307: You have steamed 182 miles and consumed 16.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 392 miles? 

    N a. 28.3 tons
    Y b. 34.5 tons
    N c. 49.6 tons
    N d. 74.2 tons
3636: You desire to make good a true course of 279°. The variation is 8°W, magnetic compass deviation is 3°E, and gyrocompass error is 1°E. A north-northwesterly wind produces 3° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to make the true course good? 

    N a. 281°psc
    N b. 284°psc
    Y c. 287°psc
    N d. 290°psc
10300: Determine the course per standard magnetic compass from the entrance to Quonochontaug Pond (LAT 41°19.8'N, LONG 71°43.2'W) to the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island. 

    N a. 129.5°psc
    N b. 134.0°psc
    N c. 156.0°psc
    Y d. 159.0°psc
10703: At 1516 your position is LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 71°48.6'W. You are on course 300° per standard magnetic compass at 9.4 knots. At 1600 your position is LAT 41°14.0'N, LONG 71°58.1'W. What were the set and drift? 

    N a. 142°T at 1.9 knots
    N b. 153°T at 1.4 knots
    Y c. 332°T at 1.5 knots
    N d. 347°T at 1.1 knots
11802: What course should you steer by your standard magnetic compass (psc), between New Haven Light and Stratford Pt. Light, if the set and drift of the current are 345°T at 3.0 knots, and a northerly wind will cause 1° of leeway? Your engines are making turns for 18.0 knots. 

    N a. 245.0°psc
    Y b. 247.0°psc
    N c. 264.0°psc
    N d. 266.5°psc
12605: You are on course 209° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: New Haven Light - 331.5°psc Branford Reef Light - 066.5°psc Old Field Point Light - 240.5°psc What is your position? 

    Y a. LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 72°52.8'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°49.9'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 72°53.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°14.5'N, LONG 72°48.8'W
12906: At 0919 you are in Chesapeake Channel between Trestle B and Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. What is your ETA between York River Entrance Channel Buoys "17" and "18" if you are making 11.3 knots? 

    N a. 1034
    N b. 1039
    Y c. 1044
    N d. 1049
13307: The soundings on the chart are based on the depth of water available at __________. 

    N a. mean low water
    Y b. mean lower low water
    N c. mean high water
    N d. mean high water springs
13901: The precautionary area southeast of Block Island refers to a __________. 

    Y a. recommended traffic lane
    N b. military exercise area
    N c. national marine refuge
    N d. dumping ground for hazardous wastes
15041: At 0741 you are still steering a course of 206° true, with a speed of 18 knots. At this time you observe Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14" bearing 222° true and Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy "12" bearing 015° true . What were the set and drift experienced since 0725? 

    Y a. 259°true at 3.2 knots
    N b. 049°true at 2.5 knots
    N c. 240° true at 1.9 knots
    N d. 042°true at 3.3 knots
15064: At 0844, the range to the north end of Falkner Island is 2.0 miles and the left tangent bearing is 102°T. If the height of the tide is +1.0 foot, what is the approximate depth of the water under the keel? 

    N a. 14 ft (4.2 meters)
    Y b. 19 ft (5.8 meters)
    N c. 22 ft (6.7 meters)
    N d. 29 ft (8.8 meters)
15509: At 1800, your position is LAT 41°06.5'N, LONG 71°43.5'W. How would the buoy which bears approximately 040°T from your position at a range of half a mile be painted? 

    Y a. Horizontally banded, green over red, with a green buoyancy chamber
    N b. Horizontally banded, red over green, with a red buoyancy chamber
    N c. Vertically striped, red and green
    N d. Solid green with red letters "BIS"
15544: At 2310 your position is LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°33.7'W and you change course to make good 068°T. A radar speed check using Twenty Eight Foot Shoal Buoy indicates your speed over the ground is 13.6 knots. At 2325 Horton Point Light bears 129°T. At 2341 the same light bears 194°T. What is the position of your 2341 running fix? 

    N a. LAT 41°07.9'N, LONG 72°25.9'W
    N b. LAT 41°08.3'N, LONG 72°25.8'W
    Y c. LAT 41°08.5'N, LONG 72°25.6'W
    N d. LAT 41°08.8'N, LONG 72°25.2'W
15606: Your 1600 position is LAT 37°22.5'N, LONG 75°32.3'W. The depth of water under the keel is about __________. 

    Y a. 38 feet (11.5 meters)
    N b. 45 feet (13.6 meters)
    N c. 52 feet (15.8 meters)
    N d. 59 feet (17.3 meters)
15626: What type of daymark will you see as you approach Joe Pierce Light (mile 335.4 AHP)? 

    N a. Private aid - no daymark
    N b. Red square
    Y c. Red triangle
    N d. Red diamond
15645: You round Montauk Point and steer to make good 206°T. Speed is increased to 13.0 knots. The current, if any, is unknown. The visibility has improved and is estimated to be 5 miles. At 2144 Montauk Point Light bears 273°T. At 2202 the same light bears 320°T. Which statement concerning your 2202 running fix is TRUE? 

    N a. You are inside the lobster pot area.
    Y b. The fathometer reads about 12 fathoms.
    N c. You are inside of the 90 foot curve.
    N d. You are outside the boundary of the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone.
15657: What was the course made good from 0630 to 0654? 

    N a. 078°T
    Y b. 082°T
    N c. 086°T
    N d. 090°T
15666: At 0815, visibility is excellent and you can see Montauk Point. Montauk Point Light is __________. 

    N a. shown from a brown tower
    N b. equipped with a fog diaphone
    Y c. lighted 24 hours
    N d. is 79 feet (24 meters) high
15706: At 0700, Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light bears 137°
pgc. From your radar, you get a bearing of 007°pgc to the south tip of Stratford Point with a range of 4.5 miles. What is your 0700 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°04.6'N, LONG 73°07.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°04.6'N, LONG 73°07.4'W
    Y c. LAT 41°04.7'N, LONG 73°07.2'W
    N d. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°07.0'W
15957: At 1752, your position is LAT 37°04.3'N, LONG 76°06.4'W. On an ebb current you should expect to be set to the __________. 

    N a. north northeast
    Y b. south southeast
    N c. south southwest
    N d. north northwest
16138: At 1930 Race Rock Light bears 111°T, and Little Gull Island Light bears 172°T. Which of the following is your position at 1930? 

    N a. LAT 41°15.6'N, LONG 72°09.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°16.1'N, LONG 72°08.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°15.3'N, LONG 72°12.9'W
    Y d. LAT 41°15.8'N, LONG 72°07.1'W
16208: What is your ETA at point "A"? 

    N a. 0640
    Y b. 0651
    N c. 0655
    N d. 0702
16315: At 0820, you change course to 301°psc and reduce speed to 7.5 knots. At 0900, you take the following visual bearings:
Branford Reef Light 023°psc
New Haven Light 293°psc
Tweed Airport Aerobeacon 332°psc

Your 0900 position is __________. 

    N a. LAT 41°11.9'N,  LONG 72°50.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.9'N,  LONG 72°49.5'W
    Y c. LAT 41°12.1'N,  LONG 72°48.6'W
    N d. LAT 41°12.5'N,  LONG 72°44.3'W
16444: At 1042 you take the following round of bearings:

Cape Henry Light 259°T
Chesapeake Light 101°T
Cape Charles Light 006°T
From this position, you set course 070°T at a speed of 9.5 knots.

What is the course per standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 069.5°psc
    N b. 060.5°psc
    Y c. 079.5°psc
    N d. 080.5°psc
16739: What is the earliest time you should sight Montauk Point Light (nominal range - 24 miles) if you are turning for 9.2 knots? Visibility is 5 nautical miles. 

    Y a. The light is visible at 2212
    N b. 2221
    N c. 2243
    N d. You will not sight the light on this course.
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