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.

106: You are steaming at 22 knots and burning 319 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 137 barrels per day. What must you reduce your speed to in order to burn this amount of fuel?
270: 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?
324: The mean high water level at Old Point Comfort is __________.
333: From your noon position, if there is no set and drift, what is your course per standard magnetic compass to the "NCA" (LL #375) buoy? 

    N a. 221°psc
    N b. 219°psc
    Y c. 217°psc
    N d. 215°psc
409: A vessel steams 1082 miles on course 047°T from LAT 37°18.0'N, LONG 24°40.0'W. What is the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    N a. LAT 49°30.0'N, LONG 06°22.0'W
    N b. LAT 49°33.0'N, LONG 06°25.0'W
    Y c. LAT 49°36.0'N, LONG 06°28.0'W
    N d. LAT 49°39.0'N, LONG 06°31.0'W
426: The broken magenta line which runs parallel to the shore between Roanoke Point and Mattituck Inlet marks a __________. 

    Y a. fish trap area
    N b. pipeline
    N c. demarcation line
    N d. cable area
462: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 12°45.2'N, LONG 124°20.1'E to LAT 33°48.8'N, LONG 120°07.0'W. 

    Y a. 6185.9 miles, 050.3°T
    N b. 6231.3 miles, 309.7°T
    N c. 6248.0 miles, 048.3°T
    N d. 6382.0 miles, 311.7°T
556: Your 0530 position is LAT 41°04.9'N, LONG 73°01.1'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position 1.0 mile south of Twenty Eight Foot Shoal "TE" buoy? 

    Y a. 099.5°psc
    N b. 096.0°psc
    N c. 092.5°psc
    N d. 082.0°psc
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
997: On 20 November , your 0612 zone time (ZT) position was LAT 25°38.0'N, LONG 166°54.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 126°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0854 ZT. The chronometer read 07h 51m 14s and was slow 02m 52s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 27°58.3'. LAN occurred at 1147 ZT. The observed altitude (Ho) was 45°35.0'. What was the longitude of your 1147 ZT running fix? 

    N a. 165°20.2'W
    N b. 165°18.4'W
    N c. 165°15.8'W
    Y d. 165°12.5'W
1001: On 26 July , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 18°25'N, LONG 51°15'W. You are on course 231°T, speed 15 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.

ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1228 50°23.5' N 19°21.9' 88°14.3'
1236 52°23.5' N 19°21.8' 88°29.0' 

    N a. LAT 18°00.9'N, LONG 51°31.9'W
    N b. LAT 18°03.5'N, LONG 51°36.2'W
    Y c. LAT 18°07.2'N, LONG 51°30.4'W
    N d. LAT 18°10.6'N, LONG 51°25.1'W
1142: At 1132, 24 May, you pass Natchez Beam Lt. (mile 364.8 AHP). What is your ETA off the Memphis Gage if you average 8.0 mph? 

    N a. 2345, 25 May
    Y b. 0947, 26 May
    N c. 1525, 26 May
    N d. 2215, 26 May
1198: On 3 October , your 0830 zone time DR position is LAT 26°15.0'S, LONG 73°16.0'E. Your vessel is on course 280°T at a speed of 19.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    Y a. 1201
    N b. 1158
    N c. 1155
    N d. 1152
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
1297: At 0645, on the 17th of April, you pass Hole in the Wall Lt. (mile 373.4 AHP). What has been your average speed since departing the Exxon Refinery? 

    N a. 8.8 mph
    N b. 7.3 mph
    N c. 6.8 mph
    Y d. 6.3 mph
1669: On 19 June , your vessel's 0523 ZT DR position is LAT 25°12.0'N, LONG 123°14.0'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 052.0° per standard compass. Variation in the area is 15°E. The chronometer reads 01h 21m 58s and is 01m 18s slow. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    N a. 1.4°E
    N b. 1.4°W
    N c. 1.7°W
    Y d. 3.3°W
1674: On 4 July , your vessel's 1722 zone time DR position is LAT 34°30'S, LONG 174°48'E, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 282° per standard magnetic compass. Variation in the area is 17.2°E. The chronometer reads 05h 21m 48s and is 02m 01s fast. What is the deviation of the compass? 

    Y a. 1.5°W
    N b. 2.0°W
    N c. 1.5°E
    N d. 2.0°E
1765: The river will be temporarily closed to navigation at mile 531.3 AHP due to repairs to the bridge. This will occur at 1530, 5 January, and last for six hours. What minimum speed over the ground must you make from Red River Landing Gage in order not to be delayed? 

    Y a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 6.4 mph
    N c. 6.8 mph
    N d. 7.3 mph
1808: You are on map #4. What is the mile point of the facility known as Gulf Coast Grain Co.? 

    N a. mile 920 AHP
    N b. mile 921 AHP
    N c. mile 922 AHP
    Y d. mile 923 AHP
1910: On 22 February , your 1857 DR position is LAT 23°46.0'S, LONG 93°16.5'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 126°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 40°21.5'. The chronometer reads 01h 00m 35s and is 03m 25s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Adhara
    N b. Miaplacidus
    N c. Avior
    Y d. Suhail
1953: You are downbound when you observe on your Mississippi River map a circel with black and white quadrants on the left bank. This indicates a __________. 

    Y a. river gage
    N b. daymark
    N c. control tower
    N d. information board
1954: You have received orders to proceed to the Amoco Pipeline Co. (mile 253.6 AHP) above Baton Rouge. If your vessel is making turns for 9 mph with an estimated average current of 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at the Amoco docks? 

    Y a. 1444, 27 Aug
    N b. 2214, 27 Aug
    N c. 0844, 28 Aug
    N d. 1454, 28 Aug
2186: At 0922, on 24 May, you are abreast the St. Catherine Bar Lt. (mile 348.6 AHP). If you are turning for 8.0 mph, what is the current? 

    Y a. 1.0 mph
    N b. 1.4 mph
    N c. 2.0 mph
    N d. 7.0 mph
2287: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 34°51.4' on 18 October . The index error is 2.0' off the arc. The height of eye is 54 feet (16.5 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    Y a. 35°01.2'
    N b. 35°03.6'
    N c. 35°05.2'
    N d. 35°07.4'
2290: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 75°12.3' on 6 August . The index error is 1.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 32 feet (9.8 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 75°18.6'
    Y b. 75°24.0'
    N c. 75°30.7'
    N d. 75°34.6'
2533: In high water conditions, which publication would you consult for the latest information on buoys between Baton Rouge and Cairo? 

    N a. List of Buoys and Daymarks
    N b. Coast Pilot
    N c. Army Corps. of Engineers Navigation Chart
    Y d. U.S.C.G. Local Notice to Mariners
2583: You lose GPS and are navigating solely on LORAN. What LORAN line would you follow to leave Six Mile Reef buoy "8C" abeam to port at 1.0 mile? 

    N a. 9960-W-14885.0
    N b. 9960-Y-43980.5
    Y c. 9960-Y-43982.0
    N d. 9960-Y-43983.5
2664: You are on course 061°T, at a speed of 12.4 knots. At 0839 you see a rock bearing 059°T at a range of 4.4 miles. If you change course at 0845 to leave the rock abeam to starboard at 1.5 mile, at what time will the rock be abeam? 

    N a. 0854
    Y b. 0859
    N c. 0903
    N d. 0906
2699: You are underway on course 137°T at a speed of 16.2 knots. You sight a rock bearing 134°T at a radar range of 4.6 miles at 1508. If you change course at 1514, what is the course to steer to leave the rock abeam to port at 1.5 miles? 

    Y a. 162°T
    N b. 158°T
    N c. 154°T
    N d. 151°T
3612: Your vessel is steering 195° per standard magnetic compass. Variation for the area is 13°W, and the deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the west-southwest, producing a 2° leeway. Which true course are you making good? 

    N a. 178°T
    N b. 180°T
    N c. 182°T
    Y d. 184°T
3617: Your vessel is steering course 299°psc, variation for the area is 7°W, and deviation is 4°W. The wind is from the southwest, producing a 3° leeway. What true course are you making good? 

    Y a. 291°T
    N b. 296°T
    N c. 299°T
    N d. 313°T
3648: The true course between two points is 312°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 3°W. You make an allowance of 4° leeway for a west by south wind. What gyro course should be steered to make the true course good? 

    N a. 305°pgc
    Y b. 311°pgc
    N c. 315°pgc
    N d. 318°pgc
3649: The true course between two points is 078°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 2°E. You make an allowance of 3° leeway for a north wind. What gyro course should be steered to make the true course good? 

    Y a. 073°pgc
    N b. 075°pgc
    N c. 077°pgc
    N d. 079°pgc
10604: At 2245 your GPS position is LAT 41°01.75'N, LONG 72°48.40'W. You are steering course 086° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 6.0 knots. At 2400 you fix your position by plotting several compass bearings on nearby known fixed objects. These result in a position of LAT 41°04.20'N, LONG 72°38.85'W. What were your set and drift? 

    N a. 162°T at .2 knot
    N b. 180°T at .4 knot
    N c. 339°T at .5 knot
    Y d. 007°T at .4 knot
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
11002: What was the height of the high water at Saybrook Jetty on the afternoon of 18 February 1983? 

    N a. 1.4 ft.
    N b. 2.0 ft.
    N c. 2.4 ft.
    Y d. 2.9 ft.
13404: Your vessel has become disabled and is dead in the water. Your GPS position is LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°43.5'W. You decide to anchor at this position. Under normal conditions, how much anchor chain should you expect to put out? 

    N a. 80 to 190 feet
    N b. 190 to 240 feet
    Y c. 245 to 343 feet
    N d. 345 to 420 feet
13709: Anchorage regulations for this area may be obtained from __________. 

    Y a. Office of the Commander 5th Coast Guard District
    N b. Commanding General, Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC
    N c. Virginia - Maryland Pilots Association
    N d. Chesapeake Bay Port Authority, Hampton, VA
15042: From your 0741 position, you wish to change course in order to pass 2.2 miles easterly of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14". Your engine speed is now 14.0 knots. You estimate the current to be 240° true at 1.8 knots. What is the true course to steer to make good the desired course? 

    N a. 179°true
    N b. 185°true
    Y c. 190° true
    N d. 197°true
15109: What is the average velocity of the maximum flood current at the Tail of the Horseshoe? 

    N a. 0.6 knot
    Y b. 0.9 knot
    N c. 1.3 knots
    N d. 1.6 knots
15168: Which chart provides more detail of Cape Charles harbor and its approaches? 

    N a. 12238
    N b. 12225
    Y c. 12224
    N d. 12222
15318: You passed Cape Henry Light at 0730 outbound at maximum flood. What approximate current can you expect on entering Chesapeake Channel? 

    N a. Slack before ebb
    N b. Slack before flood
    N c. Ebb current
    Y d. Flood current
15407: At 1430, your position is LAT 37°12.8'N, LONG 76°17.7'W. At this time, you come left and steer 045°T. This course will lead you through a channel bordered by yellow buoys. The dashed magenta lines between the buoys mark __________. 

    N a. York River Entrance Channel
    N b. New Point Comfort shoal area
    N c. the piloting channel for Mobjack Bay
    Y d. the limits of fish trap areas
15408: From your 1430 fix, you order turns for 8 knots. You steer 045°T and experience no set and drift. At what time would you expect to have New Point Comfort Spit Light "4" abeam? 

    N a. 1452
    Y b. 1458
    N c. 1504
    N d. 1510
15461: At 0908, you change course to 010°T. What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 003°
    N b. 017°
    Y c. 021°
    N d. 359°
15630: The area between Island 67 Upper Light (mile 623.1 AHP) and Sunflower Cut-off Foot Light (mile 624.8 AHP) is known as a __________. 

    N a. transit
    N b. chute
    Y c. crossing
    N d. slough
15729: If the Rosedale Gage reads -0.5 feet, what is the water level if the low water reference plane for Rosedale is 3.0 feet? 

    N a. 0.5 foot below the plane
    N b. 0.5 foot above the plane
    N c. 2.5 feet above the plane
    Y d. 3.5 feet below the plane
15841: At 2030 you take the following bearings:

Sand Shoal Inlet South Light - 275°T
Cape Charles Light - 235°T



The set and drift from 2000 to 2030 are __________. 

    N a. 088° at 0.7 knot
    N b. 088° at 1.4 knots
    N c. 268° at 0.7 knot
    Y d. 268° at 1.4 knots
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
15939: From your 1910 position, you set a course of 162°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will serve as a definite warning that you are being set towards Race Rock Light? 

    N a. Decreasing bearings to Race Rock Light
    Y b. Decreasing loran readings on loran rate 9960-W
    N c. Increasing soundings
    N d. Decreasing radar ranges to Race Point
15956: The National Weather Service provides 24-hour weather broadcasts to vessels transiting the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The broadcasts may be found on __________. 

    N a. 202.35 MHz
    N b. 181.15 MHz
    Y c. 162.55 MHz
    N d. 147.45 MHz
16044: At 1038 Branford Reef Light bears 019°pgc, Falkner Island Light bears 075°pgc, and the radar range to Branford Reef Light is 3.0 miles. Which statement is TRUE of your 1038 position? 

    N a. You are required by regulation to change course to avoid steaming through the dumping ground.
    N b. You are making more speed over the ground, since your 1022 fix, than indicated by your engine RPM.
    N c. You are abeam of Townshend Ledge
    Y d. Your fathometer reads about 25 feet.
16062: At 1930, your vessel is between York River Entrance Channel Lighted Buoys "1YR" and "2". From this position, you change course to 142°pgc at an engine speed of 8.0 knots. At 2000, you take the following bearings: Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light - 131°pgc Thimble Shoal Light - 247°pgc
What were the set and drift between 1930 and 2000? 

    N a. 140°T at 0.2 knot
    Y b. 140°T at 0.4 knot
    N c. 320°T at 0.2 knot
    N d. 320°T at 0.4 knot
16120: At 0812, you are on course 132°T. The standard magnetic compass reads 135°. What should you conclude? 

    N a. The deviation table is correct for that heading.
    N b. You should adjust the magnetic compass.
    Y c. Your compass may be influenced by a local magnetic disturbance.
    N d. The deviation is increasing as you go south.
16412: Shortly after getting underway, your heading is 097° per standard magnetic compass, and you sight Stonington Outer Breakwater Light in line with Stonington Inner Breakwater Light bearing 000° per gyrocompass. Which statement is TRUE? 

    Y a. The gyro error is 2.5°W.
    N b. The variation is 2°E.
    N c. The compass error is 16°W.
    N d. The deviation is 2°W.