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.


41: The Delta-Friar Point revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________.


95: You complete changing out your tow and get underway enroute Memphis, Tennessee to deliver 2 tank barges. What is the distance you must travel from Cairo Point Light to the Lion Oil Refining Co. Docks in Memphis?


190: On 2 January you observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 35°50.4'. The index error is 0.8' on the arc. The height of eye is 24 feet (7.3 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?


239: What do the dotted lines around Goose Island and Kimberly Reef represent?

    Y a. Depth contours
    N b. Breakers
    N c. Limiting danger
    N d. Tide rips

296: At 1800, Tue Marshes Light bears 264.5°pgc, York Spit Swash Channel Light "3" bears 007°pgc. Your position is __________.

    N a. LAT 37°15.5'N, LONG 76°19.8'W
    N b. LAT 37°15.2'N, LONG 76°20.3'W
    Y c. LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°20.1'W
    N d. LAT 37°15.0'N, LONG 76°20.4'W

498: As you head toward Great Salt Pond, visibility is unlimited. At what time will you lose sight of Montauk Pt. Light?

    N a. 0905
    N b. 0928
    N c. 0950
    Y d. It will remain visible to Great Salt Pond.

625: You are on a voyage from Boston, MA, to the South Pass, LA. The distance is 1870 miles, and the speed of advance is 13.6 knots. You estimate 16.5 hours for bunkering enroute at Port Everglades, FL. If you sailed at 0836 hours (ZD +5), 26 February , what was your ETA (ZD +6) at the South Pass?

    N a. 2336, 3 March
    N b. 1136, 4 March
    N c. 1236, 4 March
    Y d. 1736, 4 March

627: You are on a voyage from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Galveston, TX. The distance is 2138 miles, and the speed of advance is 12.5 knots. You estimate 18.0 hours for bunkering enroute at Port Everglades, FL. If you sail at 0648 hours (ZD +4), 12 June, what is your ETA (ZD +5) at Galveston?

    Y a. 0250, 20 June
    N b. 0350, 20 June
    N c. 0550, 20 June
    N d. 1350, 20 June

636: As you approach Dean Island Light (mile 754.8 AHP), which type of daymark will be observed at the light?

    N a. Green triangle
    N b. Red and green banded square
    N c. Green square daymark
    Y d. Diamond-shaped green daymark

726: On 16 December , your 1810 zone time DR position is LONG 129°46.5'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 23°56.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 12m 31s, and the chronometer error is 02m 16s fast. The index error is 2.5' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52.6 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris?

    Y a. 23°07.8'N
    N b. 23°12.3'N
    N c. 24°11.9'N
    N d. 24°18.6'N

1194: On 16 January your 0930 ZT DR position is LAT 26°07.0'S, LONG 51°43.0'E. Your vessel is on course 238°T at a speed of 17.0 knots. What is the ZT of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    Y a. 1145
    N b. 1148
    N c. 1152
    N d. 1156

1278: On 17 April , your vessel is enroute from the Panama Canal to Kobe, Japan. Your 0400 zone time DR position is LAT 26°12.0'N, LONG 126°12.0'W. Your vessel is on course 285°T at a speed of 18 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel?

    N a. 0535
    N b. 0541
    N c. 0552
    Y d. 0602

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

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

1735: As you pass under the Natchez-Vidalia Dual Bridge, the gage on the bridge reads 3.6 feet. If the highest point on your vessel is 62 ft. above the water, what is your vertical clearance?

    Y a. 60.4 feet
    N b. 63.6 feet
    N c. 67.2 feet
    N d. 122.0 feet

1759: The Greenville Gage reads 1.6 feet. The high point of your towboat is 54 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge?

    Y a. 74.5 feet
    N b. 64.2 feet
    N c. 55.5 feet
    N d. 44.4 feet

1782: At 2043 ZT, on 13 October , in DR position LAT 43°57.3'S, LONG 147°16.0'E, you observe an amplitude of Venus. The planet is about one Sun's diameter above the horizon and bears 236.2°pgc. The variation is 15°E. What is the gyro error?

    Y a. 0.0°
    N b. 0.9°E
    N c. 1.8°E
    N d. 0.4°W

1894: On 22 July , your 0442 DR position is LAT 26°35.6'N, LONG 22°16.7'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 149°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 12°55.0'. The chronometer reads 05h 39m 03s, and is 03m 14s slow. What star did you observe?

    N a. Hamal
    N b. Rigel
    N c. Menkar
    Y d. Acamar

1912: On 22 February , your 1857 DR position is LAT 23°46.0'S, LONG 93°16.5'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 108°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 67°53.9'. The chronometer reads 01h 00m 35s, and is 03m 25s fast. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Adhara
    N b. Miaplacidus
    N c. Avior
    N d. Suhail

1952: As you approach Dean Island Light (mile 754.8 AHP), which type of daymark will be observed at the light?

    N a. Green triangle
    Y b. Green diamond
    N c. Green square
    N d. Red-and-green banded square

2162: On 5 April , at 0509 zone time, morning stars were observed and the vessel's position was LAT 28°32'N, LONG 177°13.0'W. Your vessel is steaming at 19.0 knots on a course of 258°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 1021 zone time. The chronometer reads 10h 20m 09s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 58°06.6'. The index error is 1.0' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 00m 54s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 55.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    N a. 125.8°T
    N b. 128.8°T
    Y c. 129.2°T
    N d. 130.2°T

2202: After entering Milliken Bend (mile 455 AHP) you wish to locate the river service in Madison Parish, Louisiana. The river service is indicated by the square containing which number?

    N a. 5
    Y b. 4
    N c. 3
    N d. 2

2654: You are steering 231°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 12.3 miles at 0338. You change course to pass the light 4 miles off abeam to starboard. If you are making 16.5 knots, what is your ETA at the position 4 miles off the light?

    Y a. 0420
    N b. 0423
    N c. 0426
    N d. 0429

2778: What company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Helena (mile 658 to 665 AHP)?

    N a. Texas Eastern Pipeline Co.
    N b. Helena Port Terminal, Inc.
    N c. Arkansas Power & Light Co.
    Y d. Helena Grain Co.

3052: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 21.2 feet and a pitch of 20.0 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 391 miles in a 24 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 88?

    N a. -11.5%
    N b. +11.5%
    N c. -6.2%
    Y d. +6.2%

3062: The propeller on your vessel has a pitch of 22.8 feet. From 0800, 18 April, to 1020, 19 April, you steamed an observed distance of 403.6 miles. If your average RPM was 74, what was the slip?

    N a. +7.0%
    N b. -7.0%
    Y c. +8.0%
    N d. -8.0%

3297: Your vessel consumes 236 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 16.5 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 13.0 knots?

    N a. 102 bbls
    Y b. 115 bbls
    N c. 147 bbls
    N d. 186 bbls

3304: You have steamed 265 miles and consumed 25.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 346 miles?

    Y a. 32.6 tons
    N b. 37.4 tons
    N c. 42.6 tons
    N d. 49.5 tons

3629: You desire to make good a true course of 129°. The variation is 7°E, magnetic compass deviation is 4°E, and gyrocompass error is 2°W. An easterly wind produces a 4° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good?

    Y a. 114°psc
    N b. 116°psc
    N c. 122°psc
    N d. 126°psc

4003: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°W. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a gyro heading of 058°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 354° 122.5° - 114° 239.5° - 234°
030.5° - 024° 152.0° - 144° 269.0° - 264°
061.5° - 054° 181.0° - 174° 298.0° - 294°
092.0° - 084° 210.0° - 204° 327.5° - 324°

    Y a. 1.5°W
    N b. 1.0°W
    N c. 1.0°E
    N d. 0.5°W

4005: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°W. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a magnetic compass heading of 022°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 354° 122.5° - 114° 239.5° - 234°
030.5° - 024° 152.0° - 144° 269.0° - 264°
061.5° - 054° 181.0° - 174° 298.0° - 294°
092.0° - 084° 210.0° - 204° 327.5° - 324°

    N a. 1.5°E
    N b. 0.5°E
    Y c. 0.0°
    N d. 0.5°W

10502: At 1239 your GPS indicates a position of LAT 36°55.2'N, LONG 75°33.1'W. You are on course 281° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 9.2 knots. At 1318 your GPS indicates your position as LAT 36°54.8'N, LONG 75°39.8'W. What were the set and drift?

    Y a. 130°T at 1.2 knots
    N b. 156°T at 0.6 knot
    N c. 352°T at 1.3 knots
    N d. 335°T at 1.0 knot

11806: What course should you steer by standard magnetic compass between Mattituck Inlet and Branford Reef Light, if the set and drift of the current are 027° at 2.5 knots, and a northeasterly wind will cause 1° of leeway? Your engines are turning for 12 knots.

    N a. 295°psc
    N b. 305°psc
    N c. 317°psc
    Y d. 320°psc

15007: What course should you steer using the standard magnetic compass (psc) to make good the course of 192°pgc?

    N a. 188°psc
    N b. 195°psc
    Y c. 203°psc
    N d. 205°psc

15069: During extreme low water, the soundings near Saybrook may require corrections up to __________.

    N a. 1 foot (+.3 meters)
    N b. -2 feet (-.6 meters)
    Y c. -3.5 feet (-1.1 meters)
    N d. The sounding datum is based on extreme low water and no correction is necessary

15163: Which statement concerning your 1920 position is TRUE?

    Y a. You are entering a restricted area.
    N b. You are governed by the Inland Rules of the Road.
    N c. You are within the Chesapeake Bay Entrance traffic separation scheme.
    N d. On your present course Trestle "C" of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel is dead ahead.

15238: At 0930 you obtain a position from the following information: Race Rock Light bears 110°T at a range of 1.4 miles, and Goshen Point bears 330°T at a range of 3.3 miles. What are your present latitude and longitude?

    N a. 41°16.0'N, 72°09.5'W
    Y b. 41°15.1'N, 72°04.6'W
    N c. 41°17.4'N, 72°06.0'W
    N d. 41°14.6'N, 72°03.0'W

15306: Your 0200 position is LAT 37°23.5'N, LONG 76°09.2'W. Your speed is 8 knots, and your course is 095°T. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The depth of the water in your vicinity is about 38 to 40 fathoms (69.1 meters to 72.7 meters).
    Y b. You are less than a mile from a sunken wreck which could interfere with your tow.
    N c. The closest major aid to navigation is New Point Comfort Light.
    N d. You will pass through a disposal area on your present course.

15366: At 0615 you change course to 078°T. If there is no current, when will Falkner Island Light be abeam?

    N a. 0750
    N b. 0743
    N c. 0735
    Y d. 0730

15369: Horton Point Light __________.

    Y a. is shown from a white square tower
    N b. has a fixed green light
    N c. is 14 feet above sea level
    N d. is synchronized with a radio beacon

15370: If visibility permits, Little Gull Island Light will break the horizon at a range of approximately __________.

    N a. 11.1 miles
    N b. 12.8 miles
    Y c. 15.6 miles
    N d. 18.0 miles

15445: As you proceed up York Spit Channel, what are the three base courses that you must steer to conform to the channel,
if steering by standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 337.5°, 359.5°, 028.0°
    N b. 337.5°, 357.5°, 026.0°
    N c. 324.0°, 352.5°, 009.5°
    Y d. 340.0°, 000.5°, 025.0°

15565: From your 0600 position, what is the course per gyrocompass to leave Watch Hill Light abeam to starboard at 2.0 miles if a southerly wind is producing 3° of leeway?

    N a. 251°pgc
    N b. 254°pgc
    N c. 257°pgc
    Y d. 261°pgc

15665: Which action should you take to compensate for the above current?

    N a. Continue on the same course and speed.
    Y b. Alter your course to the left.
    N c. Slow to 8.5 knots.
    N d. Alter your course to the right.

15770: At 0930, your position is LAT 41°16.5'N, LONG 71°41.4'W, and you are turning for 7 knots. Allowing 3° leeway for northerly winds and estimating the current as 035° at 0.3 knot, what is the course to steer (pgc) to point "B"?

    N a. 084°pgc
    Y b. 086°pgc
    N c. 091°pgc
    N d. 094°pgc

15819: You must arrive at your final destination by 0800. The distance from your 0300 position to the final destination is 40.5 miles. What minimum speed must be made good to arrive on time?

    Y a. 8.1 knots
    N b. 8.5 knots
    N c. 9.3 knots
    N d. 9.6 knots

16040: At 0847 you take a round of bearings as follows:

Middle Ground Shoal Light - 237° pgc
Stratford Point Light - 289° pgc
New Haven Light - 019° pgc

What were the set and drift since your 0820 position?

    N a. Set 180°T, drift 0.6 kt
    N b. Set 360°T, drift 0.3 kt
    N c. Set 180°T, drift 0.3 kt
    Y d. Set 360°T, drift 0.6 kt

16068: From your 2118 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 minimum speed to make good from your 2118 position to arrive at this time?

    N a. 5.0 knots
    N b. 5.3 knots
    N c. 5.8 knots
    Y d. 5.5 knots

16139: From your 1930 position, you set a course of 150°T. Your engine speed is 13 knots. What will be your distance off Valiant Rock Bell Buoy "1A" when abeam, if you make good your true course of 150°?

    N a. 0.8 mile
    Y b. 1.0 miles
    N c. 1.2 miles
    N d. 1.4 miles

16316: At 0900, the current is flooding in a direction of 350°T at 1.2 knots. If your engines are turning RPMs for 9 knots, which course should you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 297° true?

    Y a. 302°psc
    N b. 311°psc
    N c. 317°psc
    N d. 319°psc

16618: What is the distance from your 0200 position to the point where Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal lighted buoy is abeam to starboard?

    N a. 6.6 miles
    Y b. 6.9 miles
    N c. 7.1 miles
    N d. 7.3 miles

16711: At what time will you cross the 60 foot curve if you make good 12 knots?

    Y a. 0528
    N b. 0534
    N c. 0541
    N d. 0544

16717: At 0705, you take the following bearings:
Watch Hill Light 030.5°pgc
Latimer Reef Light 329.0°pgc
Race Rock Light 262.0°pgc

What was the true course made good between 0645 and 0705?

    N a. 252°T
    Y b. 256°T
    N c. 263°T
    N d. 266°T