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.

34: You estimate the current at 3.0 mph. What is the speed over the ground?
105: On 19 January , your 0300 zone time DR position is LAT 22°13'N, LONG 40°19'W. You are on course 297°T at a speed of 17 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0545 running fix?
194: At 2100, you alter course to 250°T and reduce speed to 7 knots. You enter the traffic separation scheme on the inbound side. At 2200, your fix shows you crossing a broken purple line on the chart, and you observe North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Gong Buoy "NCD" to port. This area is __________.
223: At 1920, Cape Henry Light bears 225°pgc, and Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light bears 288°pgc. If your heading is 268°T, what is the relative bearing of Chesapeake Light? 

    N a. 206°
    Y b. 213°
    N c. 215°
    N d. 220°
308: A vessel at LAT 20°00'N, LONG 107°30'W is to proceed to LAT 24°40'N, LONG 112°30 W. What is the course and distance by mid-latitude sailing? 

    N a. 314.0°T, 389.0 miles
    Y b. 315.3°T, 394.0 miles
    N c. 317.2°T, 397.0 miles
    N d. 318.3°T, 399.0 miles
332: You arrive at the rendezvous point, secure the tow, and head back southward. At 1200, you take the following bearings:

Sand Shoal Inlet South Light bearing 289° pgc
Cape Charles Light bearing 240° pgc

What is your 1200 position? 

    Y a. LAT 37°15.0'N, LONG 75°37.5'W
    N b. LAT 37°16.0'N, LONG 75°38.0'W
    N c. LAT 37°17.0'N, LONG 75°39.5'W
    N d. LAT 37°19.0'N, LONG 75°40.5'W
340: Inbound, the color of Cape Henry Light will __________. 

    N a. alternate regardless of your position
    N b. change after you reach Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"
    N c. remain the same
    Y d. change before you reach Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"
363: After you enter Thimble Shoal Channel, you will alter course to pass between Trestle "A" and "B". Which channel should you use? 

    N a. Thimble Shoal Main Channel or the South Auxiliary Channel
    N b. Any of the channels but keep to the right hand side
    N c. Thimble Shoal Main Channel
    Y d. The South Auxiliary Channel
379: A vessel at LAT 32°05.0'N, LONG 81°06.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 35°57.0'N, LONG 5°45.0'W. Determine the distance by Mercator sailing. 

    N a. 3128.2 miles
    Y b. 3770.6 miles
    N c. 4126.1 miles
    N d. 4508.0 miles
416: A vessel at LAT 18°54'N, LONG 73°00'E, heads for a destination at LAT 13°12'N, LONG 54°00'E. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing. 

    N a. 247°T, 1161 miles
    N b. 250°T, 1172 miles
    Y c. 253°T, 1154 miles
    N d. 256°T, 1136 miles
441: You get underway at 1030. The wind is out of the SSE and you estimate 3° leeway. What course should you steer per gyrocompass to make good a desired course of 075°T? 

    Y a. 080°pgc
    N b. 078°pgc
    N c. 076°pgc
    N d. 074°pgc
466: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 25°50.0'N, LONG 77°00.0'W to LAT 35°56.0'N, LONG 06°15.0'W. 

    N a. 3470 miles, 298°T
    N b. 3518 miles, 028°T
    Y c. 3616 miles, 062°T
    N d. 3718 miles, 118°T
475: The great circle distance from LAT 35°08.0'S, LONG 19°26.0'E to LAT 33°16.0'S, LONG 115°36.0'E is 4559 miles and the initial course is 121°T. Determine the latitude of the vertex. 

    N a. 44°29.1'S
    Y b. 45°30.9'S
    N c. 46°18.2'S
    N d. 43°41.8'S
595: You are passing the Bayou Sara Gage which reads 3.9 feet. The low water reference plane (LWRP) at Bayou Sara is 5.25 feet. Which of the following statements is TRUE? 

    N a. The river level is above the Low Water Reference Plane.
    N b. Red Store Landing Revetment is ahead on your starboard side
    N c. This gage reading is at a lower elevation than the same reading on the Gage at Head of Passes.
    Y d. None of the above.
608: At 1200 zone time, on 10 October , you depart San Francisco, LAT 37°48.5'N, LONG 122°24.0'W (ZD +8). You are bound for Yokohama, LAT 35°27.0'N, LONG 139°39.0'E, and you estimate your speed of advance at 22 knots. The distance is 4,536 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Yokohama? 

    N a. 0111, 19 October
    N b. 0211, 19 October
    N c. 1011, 19 October
    Y d. 1911, 19 October
611: At 0600 zone time, on 22 October , you depart Manila, LAT 14°35.0'N, LONG 120°58.0'E (ZD -8). You are bound for Los Angeles, LAT 33°46.0'N, LONG 118°11.0'W, and you estimate your speed of advance at 20.2 knots. The distance is 6,385.9 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Los Angeles? 

    Y a. 1808, 3 November
    N b. 0208, 4 November
    N c. 1008, 4 November
    N d. 0208, 5 November
623: You are on a voyage from Baltimore, MD, to Seattle, WA. The distance from pilot to pilot is 5960 miles. The speed of advance is 16.0 knots. You estimate 16 hours for bunkering at Colon, and 12.0 hours for the Panama Canal transit. If you take departure at 0824 hours (ZD +5), 18 November, what is your ETA (ZD +8) at Seattle? 

    N a. 1654, 5 December
    N b. 1354, 5 December
    Y c. 2154, 4 December
    N d. 1354, 4 December
707: What is the width of the widest span of the Cairo Highway Bridge (Upper Mississippi River mile 1.3)? 

    N a. 503 feet
    N b. 625 feet
    Y c. 675 feet
    N d. 800 feet
729: On 24 September , your 1841 zone time DR position is LONG 129°34.5'E. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 25°20.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 09h 38m 12s, and the chronometer error is 03m 12s slow. The index error is 4.3' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52 feet (15.9 meters). What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    N a. 24°28.1'N
    N b. 25°16.0'N
    Y c. 25°37.6'N
    N d. 25°42.3'N
752: On 5 May , at 1953 zone time, you take a sextant observation of Polaris. Your vessel's DR position is LAT 29°30.0'N, LONG 66°25.7'W, and your sextant reads 29°07.2'. Your chronometer reads 11h 51m 45s, and your chronometer error is 01m 36s slow. Your height of eye is 56 feet, and the index error for your sextant is 1.5' on the arc. What is the latitude of your vessel from your observation of Polaris? 

    N a. 29°14.3'N
    Y b. 29°23.6'N
    N c. 29°32.3'N
    N d. 29°38.8'N
1180: On 3 May , your 1009 zone time DR position is LAT 30°01.0'N, LONG 123°15.0'W. Your vessel is on course 330°T at a speed of 8.6 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1206
    N b. 1208
    Y c. 1211
    N d. 1214
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
1252: On 13 August , your 0345 ZT DR position is LAT 21°35.0'
N, LONG 135°26.0'W. You are on course 052°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel? 

    N a. 0443
    N b. 0449
    Y c. 0536
    N d. 0540
1259: On 10 April , your 1630 ZT DR position is LAT 21°03.0'N, LONG 63°11.0'W. You are on course 324°T at a speed of 22 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1805
    N b. 1814
    N c. 1818
    Y d. 1833
1272: At 1800 zone time, on 7 December , your DR position is LAT 22°48'S, LONG 91°26'W. You are steering 320°T at a speed of 14.0 knots. What is the zone time of sunset? 

    N a. 1830
    N b. 1836
    Y c. 1842
    N d. 1852
1300: You estimate the current as 2.5 mph. What is the speed over the ground? 

    N a. 11.0 mph
    N b. 8.0 mph
    Y c. 6.0 mph
    N d. 5.5 mph
1535: The Red River Landing Gage reads 5.2 feet. The low water reference plane (LWRP) for Red River is 10.6 feet. Which of the following statements is TRUE? 

    Y a. River level is below the Low Water Reference Plane.
    N b. The depth over revetment at Old River is 25.2 ft.
    N c. The depth over Old River Lock sill is greater than 11 ft.
    N d. This gage reading is at a higher elevation than the same reading on the Gage at Head of Passes.
1869: On 12 June , your 1845 DR position is LAT 21°47'N, LONG 46°52'W when you observe a faint unidentifiable star through a break in the clouds. The star bears 282.5°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 14°22.3'. The index error is 0.5'
on the arc, and the height of eye is 45 feet. The chronometer reads 09h 43m 27s, and the chronometer error is 1m 46s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Wezen
    Y b. Alhena
    N c. Mirzam
    N d. Menkalinan
1884: On 26 November , your 0535 DR position is LAT 27°18.9'S, LONG 30°18.4'E. You observe an unidentified planet bearing 085°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 32°15.2'. The chronometer reads 03h 33m 16s, and is 01m 48s slow. What planet did you observe? 

    N a. Saturn
    Y b. Jupiter
    N c. Mars
    N d. Venus
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
1923: On 17 March , your 1845 DR position is LAT 25°10.0'N, LONG 66°48.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 077°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 67°04.4'. The chronometer reads 10h 47m 49s, and is 1m 54s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Capella
    N b. Mirfak
    Y c. Pollux
    N d. Rigel
2087: At your current speed of 21 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 404 miles. You must travel 731 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination? 

    N a. 18.9
    N b. 17.8
    N c. 16.7
    Y d. 15.6
2116: At 0300, your position is LAT 41°01.7'N, LONG 72°55.1'W. From this position you steer a course of 289° per standard magnetic compass at an engine speed of 10.0 knots. At what time can you first expect to see Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light if the luminous range is 8.0 miles? 

    Y a. 0303
    N b. 0309
    N c. 0312
    N d. 0318
2212: At 1650 you decrease speed to make good 7.1 mph. At 2020 you are __________. 

    Y a. abeam of Old River Control Structure Light
    N b. entering the Vicksburg District of the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers
    N c. at Palmetto Point
    N d. at Latitude 31°10'N
2239: At 1610 ZT, on 14 August , in DR position LAT 33° 24.6' S, LONG 028°15.4'W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 111.0° psc. The variation is 2° E. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 1.1°E
    Y b. 1.1°W
    N c. 2.1°E
    N d. 2.1°W
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
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.
2885: Your vessel is steering 194°T at 13 knots. At 0116 a light bears 243°T, and at 0147 the same light bears 267°T. What will be your distance off abeam? 

    N a. 11.2 miles
    N b. 11.6 miles
    Y c. 12.0 miles
    N d. 12.5 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
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
3108: You are turning 105 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 17 feet, and an estimated slip of -1%. What is the speed of advance? 

    N a. 15.3 knots
    N b. 16.9 knots
    N c. 17.4 knots
    Y d. 17.8 knots
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
10607: At 0912 your GPS position is LAT 41°04.9'N, LONG 72°42.1'W. You are on course 085° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 6 knots. At 1052 your GPS position is 0.5 mile due south of Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy "TE". What were your set and drift? 

    N a. 145°T at 1.2 knots
    N b. 148°T at 0.9 knot
    N c. 320°T at 1.3 knots
    Y d. 325°T at 0.7 knot
10702: At 1922 your position is LAT 41°09.2'N, LONG 71°40.6'W. You are on course 028° per standard magnetic compass at 6.4 knots. At 2046 your position is LAT 41°17.2'N, LONG 71°38.6'W. What were the set and drift? 

    Y a. 235°T at 0.8 knot
    N b. 247°T at 1.1 knots
    N c. 049°T at 0.7 knot
    N d. 062°T at 1.0 knots
11506: 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 1238 your position is LAT 41°20.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W. What is the speed made good? 

    Y a. 8.2 knots
    N b. 8.6 knots
    N c. 8.9 knots
    N d. 9.2 knots
12101: You sight Thimble Shoal Light in line with Old Point Comfort Light bearing 267° per standard magnetic compass. You are on course 182°psc. Based on this, you know __________. 

    Y a. the existing deviation is correct for that heading
    N b. you should adjust your compass
    N c. the compass error is 2°W
    N d. the variation is 11°W
13004: At 1815 your position is LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°47.3'W. You are making turns for 12.6 knots. What is your ETA at Plum Island Mid Channel Buoy PI (LAT 41°13.3'N, LONG 72°10.8'W)? 

    N a. 2019
    N b. 2028
    Y c. 2032
    N d. 2038
13106: At 1048 you are in the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island with buoy "5" close aboard. What is your ETA at the west gap of Point Judith Harbor of Refuge if you make good 11.3 knots? 

    Y a. 1144
    N b. 1154
    N c. 1159
    N d. 1205
14101: What signal is given by air horn to indicate that Bonneville Lock is ready for entrance? 

    N a. two long blasts
    N b. two short blasts
    N c. one short blast
    Y d. one long blast
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"
15520: NOAA VHF-FM weather broadcasts from New London, CT are on __________. 

    N a. 162.25 MHz
    N b. 162.30 MHz
    N c. 162.40 MHz
    Y d. 162.55 MHz
15822: You are turning for 10 mph, approaching Angola, LA. Angola reports that the current at Red River Landing is estimated at 4.5 MPH. Which of the following statements is TRUE? 

    N a. You are making 14.5 mph over the ground.
    Y b. You should expect to encounter vessels crossing the river at mile 300.5 AHP.
    N c. You would expect to find a more favorable current near the broken red line in the river.
    N d. Hog Pt. Light and Hog Pt. Lower Light may be used as range lights when entering Shreves cut-off.
16269: On either side of York River Entrance Channel, there are areas bounded by short - long magenta lines and marked by yellow buoys. These areas are __________. 

    Y a. fish trap areas
    N b. designated anchorages
    N c. spoil areas
    N d. naval exercise areas
16742: At 2352 you hear a MAYDAY call from a vessel reporting her position as 1.5 miles due east of Block Island Southeast Point Light. What is the course to steer, per gyrocompass to the distress site, if you change course at midnight and allow 1° leeway for easterly winds? 

    N a. 049.5°pgc
    N b. 052.5°pgc
    N c. 055.5°pgc
    Y d. 059.0°pgc