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.

39: 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 0930 the following day?
172: If you steer 143°pgc from your 2015 position at an engine speed of 8.0 knots, at what time would you reach a point midway between buoys "11" and "12" (ignore set and drift)?
339: The coastline by Cape Henry is best described as __________.
350: By 0430, the wind has increased, and the visibility cleared due to passage of a front. You estimate 3° leeway due to NW'ly winds. What is the course per gyrocompass to pass 1.2 miles due south of Twenty-eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy "TE"? 

    N a. 090°
    N b. 086°
    N c. 083°
    Y d. 080°
376: You depart LAT 40°42.0'N, LONG 74°01.0'W, and steam 3365.6 miles on course 118°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    N a. 24°29.0'W
    N b. 22°58.0'W
    Y c. 17°41.0'W
    N d. 10°46.0'W
387: The wind is southerly, and you estimate 3° leeway. Allowing for leeway, what is the course to steer from your 0745 position to pass 1 mile south of Watch Hill Buoy "WH"? 

    Y a. 087°pgc
    N b. 085°pgc
    N c. 081°pgc
    N d. 079°pgc
398: You depart LAT 32°16.6'N, LONG 68°28.0'W. What is the course and distance as calculated by Mercator sailing to a position at LAT 43°12.2'N, LONG 55°39.0'W? 

    Y a. 042.8°T, 896.2 miles
    N b. 049.1°T, 955.1 miles
    N c. 132.8°T, 896.2 miles
    N d. 136.6°T, 955.1 miles
513: What is the distance from your 0200 position to the point where Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal lighted buoy is abeam to starboard? 

    N a. 7.3 miles
    N b. 7.1 miles
    Y c. 6.9 miles
    N d. 6.6 miles
596: At 0921, on 24 July, you are abreast the St. Catherine Bar Lt. (mile 348.6 AHP). If you are turning for 10.0 mph, what was the current since departure? 

    N a. 1.4 mph
    Y b. 1.7 mph
    N c. 2.0 mph
    N d. 7.0 mph
681: At 0119, on 10 September, you pass Springfield Bend Lt. (mile 244.8 AHP) 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 8.5 mph? 

    N a. 1746, 12 September
    N b. 1244, 13 September
    N c. 1244, 14 September
    Y d. 2329, 14 September
1110: On 19 November , your 0300 zone time DR position is LAT 19°23'N, LONG 151°37'E. You are on course 293°T at a speed of 17 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. NP-0039

    N a. LAT 19°38.5'N, LONG 150°41.6'E
    Y b. LAT 19°34.8'N, LONG 150°48.0'E
    N c. LAT 19°32.9'N, LONG 150°52.3'E
    N d. LAT 19°30.5'N, LONG 150°48.5'E
1257: On 5 May , your 1300 ZT DR position is LAT 25°16.0'S, LONG 12°30.0'W. You are on course 012°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1702
    Y b. 1719
    N c. 1730
    N d. 1741
1280: On 27 March , your 0330 zone time DR position is LAT 23°32'N, LONG 154°47'E. Your vessel is on a course of 105°T at a speed of 20 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel? 

    Y a. 0534
    N b. 0557
    N c. 0612
    N d. 0624
1421: What is your ETA at the Helena Highway Bridge? 

    Y a. 1335, 24 Sept
    N b. 1109, 24 Sept
    N c. 0926, 24 Sept
    N d. 0458, 24 Sept
1456: On 12 September , your 0736 zone time DR position is LAT 28°34.0'S, LONG 174°49.0'E. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 084° per standard magnetic compass (psc). The chronometer reads 07h 38m 11s, and the chronometer error is 01m 46s fast. The variation is 11°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 2.9°W
    Y b. 3.2°E
    N c. 3.9°E
    N d. 4.7°W
1667: On Sunday, 8 November, your ship is enroute from Texas City, TX, to Portland, ME. At 0632 ZT, you fix your position at LAT 27°06'N, LONG 90°36'W. When the lower limb of the Sun was two-thirds of a diameter above the visible horizon, the Sun bore 105° per standard magnetic compass. At this time the chronometer read 12h 39m 20s and is 3m 20s slow. If the variation is 3°E, determine the deviation of the standard compass. 

    Y a. 0.8°E
    N b. 0.8°W
    N c. 3.8°E
    N d. 3.8°W
1781: At 1524 ZT, on 14 June , in DR position LAT 30°51'N, LONG 30° 02'W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 103.9°pgc. The variation is 10°W. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 1.8°W
    N b. 2.4°E
    N c. 2.2°E
    Y d. 2.0°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
1887: On 8 April , your evening DR position is LAT 22°16.0'N, LONG 157°58.3'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 271°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 44°08.2'. The chronometer reads 05h 09m 57s, and is 01m 23s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Betelgeuse
    Y b. Aldebaran
    N c. Alnilam
    N d. Bellatrix
1925: On 23 September , your 1836 DR position is LAT 25°18'S, LONG 162°36'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 148°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 13°32'. The chronometer reads 07h 34m 12s, and is 01m 54s slow. Which star did you observe? 

    N a. Antares
    N b. Canopus
    Y c. Achernar
    N d. Sirius
2108: You alter course from your 0045 position to head for a point 0.5 mile north of Mattituck Breakwater Light "MI". If the visibility is 10 miles and you make good 9 knots, at approximately what time will you lose sight of Saybrook Breakwater Light? 

    N a. You have already lost sight at 0045
    Y b. 0055
    N c. 0120
    N d. The light is visible all the way to Mattituck Inlet
2275: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 24°00.7' on 10 January . The index error is 2.6' off the arc. The height of eye is 55 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 24°07.4'
    N b. 24°08.9'
    Y c. 24°10.2'
    N d. 24°11.8'
2296: If your vessel is making turns for 7.5 mph with an estimated average current of 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at the dock in Angelina, LA? 

    Y a. 1621, 28 Dec
    N b. 2203, 28 Dec
    N c. 0516, 29 Dec
    N d. 1621, 29 Dec
2592: What chart would you need to enter Port Jefferson Harbor? 

    Y a. 12362
    N b. 12364
    N c. 12369
    N d. 12370
2593: At 2315, you are notified that the Port Jefferson pilot will be delayed. Old Field Point Light bears 257°T, Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light bears 355°T and Port Jefferson East Breakwater Light bears 171°T. What is the depth under the keel at this time on December 4, 1983? 

    N a. 41 feet
    Y b. 47 feet
    N c. 51 feet
    N d. 57 feet
2784: You pass Ratcliff Light (mile 289.8) at 1650. What was your average speed since leaving Baton Rouge? 

    N a. 7.3 mph
    Y b. 7.6 mph
    N c. 8.0 mph
    N d. 8.3 mph
2853: Your vessel is on a course of 343°T at 14 knots. At 2156 a light bears 320.5°T, and at 2217 the light bears 298°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    Y a. 2232, 3.4 miles
    N b. 2235, 4.3 miles
    N c. 2228, 4.9 miles
    N d. 2241, 6.9 miles
2866: Your vessel is on a course of 311°T at 21 knots. At 1957 a light bears 337.5°T, and at 2018 the light bears 356°T. At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 2027, 5.2 miles
    N b. 2033, 6.8 miles
    Y c. 2039, 7.4 miles
    N d. 2043, 10.3 miles
3072: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 17.4 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 25.6 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 3% positive slip? 

    N a. 63
    N b. 67
    Y c. 71
    N d. 75
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
3314: You have steamed 150 miles and consumed 17 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 350 miles? 

    N a. 12.82 tons
    N b. 29.41 tons
    N c. 34.00 tons
    Y d. 39.66 tons
3613: You are steering a magnetic compass course of 075°. The variation for the area is 10°W, and the compass deviation is 5°E. What is the true course you are steering? 

    N a. 060°T
    Y b. 070°T
    N c. 080°T
    N d. 090°T
3619: Your vessel is steering course 149°psc, variation for the area is 13°E, and deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the northeast, producing a 4° leeway. What true course are you making good? 

    N a. 128°T
    N b. 136°T
    N c. 162°T
    Y d. 170°T
3638: You desire to make good a true course of 007°. The variation is 5°E, magnetic compass deviation is 3°W, and gyrocompass error is 2°E. A southwest by west wind produces a 2° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good? 

    Y a. 003°psc
    N b. 005°psc
    N c. 007°psc
    N d. 009°psc
10501: At 0939 your GPS position is LAT 36°57.0'N, LONG 75°41.0'W. You are on course 119° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 12.8 knots. At 1017 your GPS indicates your position as LAT 36°54.2'N, LONG 75°33.1'W. What were the set and drift? 

    N a. 280°T at 1.0 knot
    Y b. 275°T at 1.8 knots
    N c. 091°T at 1.6 knots
    N d. 103°T at 1.1 knots
11100: Block Island is __________. 

    N a. surrounded by wide sandy beaches
    N b. a low, marshy island
    Y c. hilly with elevations to 200 feet (60.5 m)
    N d. a national bird sanctuary
11102: What is the velocity of the first PM (Daylight Savings Time) maximum ebb current at Plum Gut on 10 August 1983? 

    N a. 3.3 knots
    N b. 4.0 knots
    N c. 4.5 knots
    Y d. 5.4 knots
11508: At 1014 you depart the entrance to Lake Montauk with light "1" close aboard. Your course is 066° per standard magnetic compass, and the speed is 8.6 knots. At 1232 your position is LAT 41°20.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W. What is the speed made good? 

    N a. 8.2 knots
    Y b. 8.5 knots
    N c. 8.9 knots
    N d. 9.2 knots
12204: You sight Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light and Old Field Pt. Light in line and bearing 200° per standard magnetic compass. What is the deviation of the compass? 

    N a. 7°E
    N b. 7°W
    Y c. 3°E
    N d. 3°W
12709: You are on course 157° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Little Gull Island Light 276°psc Race Rock Light 301°psc Latimer Reef Light 028°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°13.5'N, LONG 71°57.9'W
    Y b. LAT 41°13.5'N, LONG 71°57.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 71°57.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 71°57.8'W
13303: You are considering anchoring approximately three miles northeast of Chesapeake Light. After examining the chart you decide not to because of the __________. 

    N a. large number of wrecks
    N b. coral being designated as a special protected area
    Y c. danger of unexploded mines
    N d. area being designated as a National Marine Sanctuary
13502: The four soundings in the vicinity of LAT 41°12.2'N, LONG 71°33.0'W, that are underlined with a bracket indicate __________. 

    N a. that no bottom was found at the sounding depth indicated
    N b. a submerged rock not dangerous to surface navigation
    N c. the height a rock uncovers at low water springs
    Y d. a submerged danger that is cleared to the indicated depth by a wire drag
13706: What is the horizontal clearance of the navigation opening of Trestle B of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel? 

    N a. 21 feet
    Y b. 70 feet
    N c. 75 feet
    N d. 300 feet
15029: What type of daymark will you see as you approach Gold Dust Bar Light (mile 793.3 AHP) ? 

    Y a. Red diamond
    N b. Red triangle
    N c. Green square
    N d. Green diamond
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
15762: What is the course per standard magnetic compass between points "A" and "B"? 

    N a. 090.5°
    N b. 093.0°
    N c. 095.5°
    Y d. 098.5°
15799: At 0845, you are on a course of 097°T, and Townshend Ledge Buoy "10A" is close abeam to port. With a westerly current of 1.2 knots, what speed will you have to turn for from your 0845 position in order to arrive abeam of Six Mile Reef Buoy "8C" at 1030? 

    N a. 8.5 knots
    N b. 9.7 knots
    Y c. 10.9 knots
    N d. 12.1 knots
15938: At 1910 you obtain the following bearings:

Bartlett Reef Light 268°T
Race Rock Light 147°T
Little Gull Island Light 198°T

Which of the following is your position at 1910? 

    N a. LAT 41°17.4'N, LONG 72°05.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°17.0'N, LONG 72°07.1'W
    Y c. LAT 41°16.6'N, LONG 72°04.6'W
    N d. LAT 41°16.2'N, LONG 72°06.4'W
16215: The wind is southerly, and you estimate 3° leeway. Allowing for leeway, what is the course to steer from your 0745 position to pass 1 mile south of Watch Hill Buoy "WH"? 

    N a. 079°pgc
    N b. 081°pgc
    N c. 085°pgc
    Y d. 087°pgc
16406: At 0227, you take the following radar ranges and bearings:

Bartlett Reef Light 359°T at 2.4 miles
Race Rock Light 083°T at 4.1 miles

What is your 0227 position? 

    Y a. LAT 41°14.1'N,  LONG 72°08.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°14.2'N,  LONG 72°08.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°14.0'N,  LONG 72°08.5'W
    N d. LAT 41°14.3'N,  LONG 72°08.5'W
16415: You can follow what loran reading between your two positions? 

    N a. There is no loran reading to follow.
    N b. 9960-Y-43958
    N c. 9960-W-14655
    Y d. 9960-X-25982
16458: If your engines turn for 6.5 knots, and you encounter a 0.5 knot southerly current, what is your ETA at point A? 

    N a. 0400
    Y b. 0450
    N c. 0501
    N d. 0511
16568: From your 1930 position, you plot a course to pass 0.5 mile due south of Race Rock Light. If your vessel's speed is 8.0 knots, the current's set and drift are 040°T at 1.4 knots,
and a south wind produces a 3° leeway, what true course should you steer to make good your desired course? 

    Y a. 275°T
    N b. 280°T
    N c. 290°T
    N d. 294°T