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?


63: In addition to the Army Corps. of Engineers maps, data on bridge clearances may be found in the __________.


175: At 2118, you obtain the following bearings:

Cape Henry Light - 148°pgc
Cape Charles Light - 033°pgc
Thimble Shoal Light - 291°pgc

From this 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 speed to make good from your 2118 position to arrive at this time?


320: At 2150, your position is LAT 36°57.2'N, LONG 76°01.3'W. In this position on the chart, you note a light magenta line running in a direction of 030°T. This line indicates the limits of __________.

    Y a. a pilotage area
    N b. a precautionary area
    N c. the Cape Henry Light red sector
    N d. chart 12222

428: At 0730, visibility is 5.5 miles. At what time will you lose sight of Horton Point Light?

    N a. It is not visible at 0730
    N b. 0733
    Y c. 0751
    N d. 0812

440: By 1015, visibility has increased to 5.0 miles and you can see Fishers Island. Fishers Island has __________.

    Y a. sparsely wooded hills and is fringed with shoals to the south
    N b. sheer cliffs rising from the sea to a high, flat plateau
    N c. barren, rocky hills with prominent sandy beaches
    N d. low and sandy beaches with salt ponds and marsh grass

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

489: At 0728, Race Rock Light is bearing 282°T at 3.8 miles, and the closest point on Fishers Island is at a radar range of 2.1 miles. What speed have you been making since you changed course at 0705?

    N a. 11.4 knots
    N b. 10.6 knots
    Y c. 9.9 knots
    N d. 9.2 knots

607: At 0915 zone time, on 6 March , you depart Sydney, LAT 33°51.5'S, LONG 151°13.0'E (ZD -10). You are bound for Kodiak, LAT 57°47.0'N, LONG 152°25.0'W, and you estimate your speed of advance at 21 knots. The distance is 6,222 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Kodiak?

    N a. 0732, 17 March
    Y b. 2132, 17 March
    N c. 0732, 18 March
    N d. 2132, 18 March

701: At 1118, on 24 May, you pass Natchez Gage and estimate the current will average 3.0 mph for the remainder of the time on the Mississippi River. What is your ETA at Cairo, IL if you continue to turn for 10 mph?

    N a. 0840, 26 May
    N b. 2218, 26 May
    N c. 2218, 27 May
    Y d. 2339, 27 May

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

1207: On 10 July , your 0930 zone time DR position is LAT 26°31.0'S, LONG 4°41.0'E. Your vessel is on course 308°T at a speed of 22.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1144
    Y b. 1149
    N c. 1153
    N d. 1159

1251: On 16 August , your 1600 ZT DR position is LAT 26°17.0'N, LONG 165°17.0'E. You are on course 301°T at a speed of 15 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    N a. 1827
    N b. 1832
    Y c. 1838
    N d. 1845

1282: On 1 November , your 1600 zone time DR position is LAT 27°48'S, LONG 91°26'E. Your vessel is on a course of 327°
T at a speed of 16 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    Y a. 1813
    N b. 1821
    N c. 1829
    N d. 1836

1666: On 23 October , your vessel's 1722 zone time DR position is LAT 27°36'S, LONG 96°16'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's lower limb is about 20 minutes of arc above the visible horizon and bears 246° per standard compass. Variation in the area is 14.0°E. The chronometer reads 11h 24m 19s and is 01m 43s fast. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    N a. 2.3°E
    N b. 2.7°E
    N c. 2.7°W
    Y d. 3.1°W

1703: At 1218, on 16 March, you are passing the Vicksburg Gage (mile 437.0 AHP). What has been the average current since 0630, 15 March, if you have been making turns for 8.0 mph?

    N a. 0.2 mph
    N b. 0.5 mph
    N c. 0.8 mph
    Y d. 1.2 mph

1737: At 1227, on 19 October, you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What speed must you average to arrive at Jimmy Hawken Light (mile 663.5 AHP) at 1045 the following day?

    N a. 5.2 mph
    N b. 5.6 mph
    Y c. 5.9 mph
    N d. 6.3 mph

1740: On what river is Ghent, Kentucky located?

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

1745: What is the distance in river miles, from the mouth of the Yazoo Diversion Canal to the RR and Hwy bridge at Baton Rouge, LA?

    N a. 365 miles
    N b. 310 miles
    N c. 265 miles
    Y d. 203 miles

1746: The Crooked River empties into which river?

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

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

1899: On 22 May , your 0437 DR position is LAT 25°18.5'N, LONG 51°18.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 116°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 11°27.8'. The chronometer reads 07h 40m 40s, and is 03m 24s fast. What star did you observe?

    N a. Markab
    Y b. Diphda
    N c. Sabik
    N d. Hamal

1917: On 14 January , your 1922 DR position is LAT 27°18.5'S, LONG 67°18.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 054°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 07°52.1'. The chronometer reads 03h 25m 43s, and is 03m 15s fast. What star did you observe?

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

2123: At 0410, you take the following bearings:
New Point Comfort Light "2" 244°pgc Wolf Trap Light 315°pgc What is your 0410 position?

    N a. LAT 37°21.2'N, LONG 76°08.3'W
    N b. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°08.8'W
    N c. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°07.9'W
    Y d. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°08.1'W

2329: You sighted Trestle "B" in line at 0706 and are steering 108°T. At 0731, Cape Henry Light bears 136°T; Cape Charles Light bears 032.5°T; and Thimble Shoal Tunnel South Light bears 282°T. What was the speed made good between 0706 and 0731?

    Y a. 8.3 knots
    N b. 8.8 knots
    N c. 9.2 knots
    N d. 9.4 knots

2402: You will enter waters governed by the International Rules when __________.

    N a. you cross the territorial sea boundary line
    N b. enter the pilotage area
    N c. you cross the boundary of the contiguous zone
    Y d. Cape Henry Light bears 202°T

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

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

2779: If the Fair Landing, AR. Gage reads -1.2 feet, what is the water level in relation to the low water reference plane? The low water reference plane (LWRP) for Fair Landing, AR. is -0.9 feet.

    N a. 2.1 foot above the plane
    N b. 0.3 foot above the plane
    Y c. 0.3 feet below the plane
    N d. 1.2 feet below the plane

2878: Your vessel is steering 143°T at 16 knots. At 2147 a light bears 106°T, and at 2206 the same light bears 078°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    N a. 5.1 miles
    N b. 5.4 miles
    Y c. 5.9 miles
    N d. 6.5 miles

3110: You are turning 78 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 21 feet, and an estimated slip of -7%. What is the speed of advance?

    N a. 14.9 knots
    N b. 15.7 knots
    Y c. 17.3 knots
    N d. 17.8 knots

3253: You have steamed 925 miles at 13.5 knots, and consumed 181 tons of fuel. If you have 259 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 16 knots?

    N a. 795 miles
    Y b. 942 miles
    N c. 1117 miles
    N d. 1409 miles

3273: Your vessel arrives in port with sufficient fuel to steam 1175 miles at 19 knots. If you are unable to take on bunkers, at what speed must you proceed to reach your next port, 1341 miles distant?

    N a. 16.7 knots
    N b. 17.3 knots
    Y c. 17.8 knots
    N d. 19.4 knots

3604: You wish to make good a course of 258°T, allowing 4° leeway for northerly winds. The variation is 21°W. What should you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good 258°T?
DEVIATION TABLE
MAGNETIC HDG DEVIATION
285° 5°E
270° 3°E
255° 1°E
240° 1°W

    N a. 242°psc
    N b. 271°psc
    Y c. 278°psc
    N d. 288°psc

10900: The abandoned lighthouse west of Cape Henry Light is __________.

    N a. painted black and white
    N b. a low mound of rubble
    Y c. a gray, pyramidal structure
    N d. a steel skeleton structure

11306: At 1919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. At 1950 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°37.0'W. What is the speed made good?

    N a. 5.6 knots
    N b. 8.2 knots
    N c. 9.1 knots
    Y d. 10.9 knots

11500: At 2016 your GPS position is LAT 41°07.6'N, LONG 71°37.8'W. At 2128 your GPS position is LAT 41°00.4'N, LONG 71°29.4'W. What was the speed made good between the two positions?

    N a. 11.9 knots
    N b. 10.2 knots
    Y c. 8.0 knots
    N d. 7.4 knots

12604: You are on course 082° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: New London Ledge Light - 036.5°psc Little Gull Island Light - 157.0°psc Saybrook Break Water Light - 294.5°psc What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41°02.3'N, LONG 72°04.5'W
    N b. LAT 41°09.5'N, LONG 72°07.1'W
    Y c. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 72°07.5'W
    N d. LAT 41°14.1'N, LONG 72°12.8'W

14104: You are approaching Bonneville Lock and Dam. Which FM-radio channel should be used to communicate with the lockmaster?

    N a. 13
    Y b. 14
    N c. 15
    N d. 16

14602: Where would you tune your radio to receive a VHF-FM weather broadcast for the Columbia River in the vicinity of Government Island?

    N a. KIH-32 - 162.40 MHz
    N b. KBA-99 - 162.40 MHz
    Y c. KEB-97 - 162.55 MHz
    N d. KEC-62 - 162.55 MHz

14602: Where would you tune your radio to receive a VHF-FM weather broadcast for the Columbia River in the vicinity of Government Island?

    N a. KIH-32 - 162.40 MHz
    N b. KBA-99 - 162.40 MHz
    Y c. KEB-97 - 162.55 MHz
    N d. KEC-62 - 162.55 MHz

15056: You are in New Haven Outer Channel and sight the range markers in line directly over the stern. Your heading at the time is 168° per standard magnetic compass. What is the magnetic compass error?

    Y a. 15°W
    N b. 1°W
    N c. 1°E
    N d. 0°

15107: At 1752, your position is LAT 37°04.3'N, LONG 76°06.4'W. On a flood current you should expect to be set to the __________.

    Y a. north northwest
    N b. south southwest
    N c. east southeast
    N d. east

15464: What is the course per standard magnetic compass on the southern leg of York Spit Channel between buoys "15" and "23"?

    N a. 319°
    N b. 322°
    Y c. 339°
    N d. 341°

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

15670: Which chart should you use to enter Great Salt Pond?

    N a. 13204
    N b. 13205
    N c. 13207
    Y d. 13217

15717: From your 1210 position, you are steering a course of 083°
T. Your engines are turning RPMs for 10 knots. The set and drift of the current are 310° at 1.7 knots. At what time should you expect to enter the red sector of New London Harbor Light?

    N a. 1241
    Y b. 1249
    N c. 1256
    N d. 1309

15868: Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light is __________.

    N a. 13 foot high
    N b. a fixed white light
    N c. shown from a white tower
    Y d. equipped with a HORN

15870: What is the approximate distance from a point three miles south of Stratford Point to Perth Amboy, NJ?

    N a. 53 miles
    N b. 62 miles
    Y c. 73 miles
    N d. 136 miles

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

16420: If you want to put into Point Judith Harbor of Refuge, what chart should you use?

    N a. 13205
    N b. 13209
    N c. 13217
    Y d. 13219

16511: At 0728, you change course to 080°T. When steady on course, the standard magnetic compass reads 097°. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The gyro course is 083°pgc.
    N b. The magnetic heading is 090°.
    N c. The deviation is 1.0°E.
    Y d. The magnetic compass error is 17°W.