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.

233: At 0725, you are heading 054°T, and Stratford Point Light is abeam to port at 3.1 miles. The current is 135°T at 1.8 knots. If you make turns for an engine speed of 8 knots, which course must you steer to make good 048°T?
248: You are southeast of Saybrook Breakwater Light passing Saybrook Bar Lighted Bell Buoy "8". This buoy marks __________.
304: A vessel steams 580 miles on course 083°T from LAT 13°12'N, LONG 71°12'W. What are the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by mid-latitude sailing?
307: A vessel at LAT 28°00'N, LONG 116°00'W is to proceed to LAT 34°00'N, LONG 123°40'W. What is the course and distance by mid-latitude sailing? 

    N a. 323°T, 428 miles
    N b. 324°T, 453 miles
    Y c. 312°T, 533 miles
    N d. 302°T, 539 miles
337: If you make good a speed of 6.0 knots from your 1810 position, what is your ETA at Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"? 

    N a. 1900
    N b. 1855
    N c. 1845
    Y d. 1833
444: At 1110, you increase speed to 12 knots. What is your ETA at the new position? 

    N a. 1220
    Y b. 1215
    N c. 1208
    N d. 1157
705: At 1554, on 25 May, you pass Huntington Point Light (mile 555.2 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. DockS (mile 253.6 AHP)? 

    Y a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 5.2 mph
    N c. 4.8 mph
    N d. 4.3 mph
1082: On 20 Nov. , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 27°16.0'N, LONG 157°18.6'E. You are on course 060°T at a speed of 20 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1200 running fix. NP-0012

    N a. LAT 27°16.8'N, LONG 157°30.5'E
    N b. LAT 27°22.6'N, LONG 157°37.8'E
    Y c. LAT 27°29.7'N, LONG 157°43.0'E
    N d. LAT 27°33.4'N, LONG 157°48.2'E
1095: On 25 Oct. , your 0430 ZT DR position is LAT 24°48'N, LONG 65°31'W. Your vessel is on course 030°T at a speed of 18 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0455 running fix. NP-0025

    Y a. LAT 24°53'N, LONG 65°28'W
    N b. LAT 24°53'N, LONG 65°12'W
    N c. LAT 24°54'N, LONG 65°17'W
    N d. LAT 25°03'N, LONG 65°18'W
1231: Which company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Madison Parish (mile 457.0 AHP)? 

    N a. Complex Chemical Co.
    N b. Delta Southern Railroads
    N c. Farm Chemical
    Y d. Baxter Wilson
1462: On 17 June , your 0815 zone time DR position is LAT 25°27.0'N, LONG 47°16.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 079.5°psc. The chronometer reads 11h 15m 03s, and the chronometer error is 01m 15s fast. The variation is 3°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.7°W
    Y b. 3.5°W
    N c. 3.7°E
    N d. 2.3°E
1726: The highest point on your towboat is 57 feet above water. The Natchez Gage (mile 363.3 AHP) reads 16.7 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Natchez - Vidalia (westbound) Hwy. Bridge? 

    Y a. 52.3 feet
    N b. 59.9 feet
    N c. 61.0 feet
    N d. 68.6 feet
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
1857: On 22 May , your 0437 ZT DR position is LAT 25°18.5'N, LONG 51°18.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 097°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 48°20.0'. The chronometer reads 07h 40m 40s and is 03m 24s fast. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Markab
    N b. Diphda
    N c. Sabik
    N d. Hamal
1875: On 2 October , your 1845 DR position is LAT 28°09.2'S, LONG 167°48.1'E. You observe a faint star through a hole in the clouds at a sextant altitude (hs) of 68°03.6' bearing 154°T. The index error is 1.3' off the arc, and the height of eye is 42 feet. The chronometer reads 07h 46m 19s and is 0m 51s fast. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Alpha Indi
    N b. Epsilon Cygni
    N c. Gamma Aquilae
    N d. Albireo
2019: On 15 October , your 0300 zone time DR position is LAT 27°14'S, LONG 99°46'E. You are on course 128°T at a speed of 19 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time? 

    N a. Jupiter, Alphard, Betelgeuse
    N b. Mars, Regulus, Canopus
    N c. Achernar, Suhail, Alphard
    Y d. Achernar, Procyon, Aldebaran
2117: 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
2119: At 1622 ZT, on 15 June , in DR position LAT 10° 15.2' N, LONG 135° 10' W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon, bearing 101.2°psc. The variation is 5° E. What is the deviation? 

    Y a. 1.5°E
    N b. 1.5°W
    N c. 0.5°E
    N d. 0.5°W
2121: At 1337 ZT, on July 17, , in DR position LAT 30° 56.8' S, LONG 039° 36.5' W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The upper limb of the moon is on the visible horizon, bearing 263.0°psc. The variation is 20°W. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 2.6°E
    N b. 2.6°W
    Y c. 3.6°E
    N d. 3.6°W
2589: From the 2130 position, you steer 236°T at 10 knots. A strong northerly wind is causing 4° of leeway. What course must you steer per standard compass, to make good 236°T? 

    N a. 232° psc
    N b. 240° psc
    N c. 244° psc
    Y d. 252° psc
2856: Your vessel is on a course of 034°T at 17 knots. At 0551 a light bears 056.5°T, and at 0623 the light bears 079°T. At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0636, 5.9 miles
    N b. 0646, 5.9 miles
    N c. 0636, 6.4 miles
    Y d. 0646, 6.4 miles
2913: You are turning for 7.5 mph and estimate the current at 3.0 mph. What is your ETA at the River Cement Co. in Natchez considering that you passed Cherokee Landing Lt. at 2100? 

    Y a. 1605 on 15 January
    N b. 0355 on 16 January
    N c. 1244 on 16 January
    N d. 1922 on 16 January
3081: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 12.6 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 13.6 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming no slip? 

    N a. 81
    N b. 85
    N c. 90
    Y d. 94
3092: If the pitch of the propeller is 24.8 feet, and the revolutions per day are 93,373, calculate the day's run allowing 11% positive slip. 

    N a. 307.3 miles
    Y b. 339.0 miles
    N c. 380.9 miles
    N d. 422.8 miles
3263: You have steamed 1124 miles at 21 knots, and consumed 326 tons of fuel. If you have 210 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 17 knots? 

    N a. 1096 miles
    Y b. 1105 miles
    N c. 1218 miles
    N d. 1304 miles
3319: You are taking a time tick using the 2000 signal from Kekaha-Kauai, Hawaii (WWVH). You hear a series of 1 second dashes followed by a 9 second silent period, then a long 1.3 second dash. At the beginning of the long dash, your comparing watch reads 08h 00m 12s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 08h 01m 22s, and the chronometer reads 07h 59m 39s. What is the chronometer error? 

    N a. 0m 12s fast
    N b. 1m 10s fast
    N c. 0m 21s slow
    Y d. 1m 31s slow
3632: You desire to make good a true course of 157°. The variation is 15°E, magnetic compass deviation is 9°W, and gyrocompass error is 3°E. A southwesterly wind produces a 2° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good? 

    N a. 145°psc
    N b. 147°psc
    N c. 150°psc
    Y d. 153°psc
3754: Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 014°T, and the variation is 11°E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 009° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation? 

    N a. 5°E
    N b. 5°W
    N c. 6°E
    Y d. 6°W
10701: At 0947 your position is LAT 41°15.9'N, LONG 71°41.7'W. You are on course 182° per magnetic compass at 11.3 knots. At 1020 your position is LAT 41°09.2'N, LONG 71°40.6'W. What were the set and drift? 

    N a. 211°T at 1.0 knot
    Y b. 229°T at 2.0 knots
    N c. 058°T at 1.8 knots
    N d. 043°T at 1.1 knots
11012: Which statement is FALSE with regard to Plum Island Harbor West Dolphin Light? 

    N a. The light is maintained from sundown to 0130 daily.
    Y b. The light is white.
    N c. The light is maintained by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
    N d. The light is located on a dolphin.
12707: You are on course 246° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Little Gull Island Light 286° Race Rock Light 308° Latimer Reef Light 018°What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 71°55.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 71°56.6'W
    Y c. LAT 41°12.7'N, LONG 71°56.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°13.1'N, LONG 71°56.1'W
13501: What type of bottom is found off the southern coast of Long Island? 

    N a. Blue Mud
    N b. Shingle
    Y c. Brown Sand
    N d. Shells
15008: At 1920, the buoy forward of your starboard beam is __________. 

    N a. an interrupted quick flashing buoy
    N b. Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy
    N c. South Light Buoy
    Y d. Sand Shoal Inlet Lighted Buoy "A"
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)
15269: New London Harbor is __________. 

    Y a. limited to vessels drawing less than 36 feet (10.8 meters)
    N b. closed during the winter season
    N c. subject to dangerous freshets in the fall
    N d. difficult to enter at night
15307: At 0315, you obtain the following bearings:

Old Plantation Flats Light bearing 179.5° true
Wolf Trap Light bearing 271° true

What is the true course from this position to the entrance of York Spit Channel? 

    N a. 203°
    Y b. 208°
    N c. 211°
    N d. 217°
15629: In order to determine what buoys, if any, are in place at Concordia Bar crossing (mile 596.0 AHP), what should you check? 

    N a. Bulletin board at the Rosedale Gage
    N b. Waterways Journal
    Y c. Notice to Mariners
    N d. Light List
15709: At 0830, you obtained the following radar informations:

Branford Reef Light bearing 259° true @ 4.2 nm


What is your vessel's position? 

    N a. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 73°56.0'W
    N b. LAT 40°17.4'N, LONG 73°54.0'W
    N c. LAT 41°12.0'N, LONG 72°53.8'W
    Y d. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 72°53.8'W
16014: From your 0430 position, what is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position where Twenty-eight foot Shoal lighted buoy "TE" is abeam to port at 1 mile? 

    N a. 082.5°
    N b. 086.0°
    N c. 098.0°
    Y d. 101.5°
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
16063: At 2013, you sight Thimble Shoal Light in line with Old Point Comfort Light bearing 258°pgc. At the time of the bearing, the vessel was headed 142°pgc and 151°psc. Based on this, you __________. 

    N a. know the gyro error is 2°E
    N b. should adjust the magnetic compass
    N c. verified that the variation is 10°W
    Y d. have checked the deviation table for a magnetic heading of 150°
16344: After changing course to allow for a current of 090°T at 1.0 knot, what time will Endeavor Shoals Lighted Gong Buoy "3" be abeam to port? 

    N a. 2340
    N b. 2345
    Y c. 2350
    N d. 2355
16463: The visibility is about 5 miles. Which statement about Cape Charles Light is TRUE? 

    N a. The light has been visible since you departed the anchorage.
    N b. You will not see the light until you are within 5 miles of the light.
    Y c. The light will become visible about 0400.
    N d. The light will not be visible until you enter the inbound leg of the traffic separation scheme.
16467: Weather broadcasts for the Norfolk area are broadcast on which frequency? 

    N a. 162.30 MHz
    N b. 162.35 MHz
    N c. 162.50 MHz
    Y d. 162.55 MHz
16558: From your position you observe a rotating white and green light to the north. This light is most likely __________. 

    Y a. at an airport
    N b. on a naval mine-countermeasures vessel
    N c. "Block Island North Light"
    N d. on a vessel engaged in public safety activity
16646: The Tidal Current Tables indicate the following for the Race:
SLACK WATER MAXIMUM CURRENT
0328 0642 3.9 F
0947 1301 3.2 E

What current should you expect when transiting the Race? 

    N a. 3.9 knots, flooding
    Y b. 3.5 knots, flooding
    N c. 3.3 knots, flooding
    N d. 3.0 knots, flooding
16845: After the pilot boards, he tells you the gyro has a 2°E error. If this is true, what should the bearing be along Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel as your vessel passes abeam of it? 

    N a. 052°pgc
    N b. 049°pgc
    Y c. 047°pgc
    N d. 045°pgc