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.

15: The Vicksburg Gage reads 31.9 feet. The high point on your towboat is 43 feet above the water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Vicksburg Highway 80 Bridge?
163: Which light will you be passing at 0059, on 22 September, if you make good 9.2 mph?
218: If there is no current, what is the course per gyro compass from your 1600 position to point A located 0.5 mile due east of Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy "12"?
246: The red sector of New London Harbor Light covers from __________. 

    N a. 040° - 310°
    N b. 000° - 031°
    N c. 208° - 220°
    Y d. 000° - 041°
306: A vessel steams 640 miles on course 047°T from LAT 34°45'N, LONG 140°00'E. What are the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by mid-latitude sailing? 

    N a. LAT 41°57'N, LONG 150°02'E
    Y b. LAT 42°01'N, LONG 149°57'E
    N c. LAT 42°06'N, LONG 149°53'E
    N d. LAT 42°09'N, LONG 149°50'E
394: A vessel at LAT 38°03.0'S, LONG 49°38.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 41°26.0'S, LONG 38°32.0'W. Determine the true course by Mercator sailing. 

    Y a. 111.5°T
    N b. 113.5°T
    N c. 158.5°T
    N d. 160.5°T
433: What true course and speed did you make good between 0730 and 0900? 

    N a. 271°T, 8.9 knots
    N b. 273°T, 8.7 knots
    Y c. 277°T, 8.4 knots
    N d. 284°T, 7.5 knots
484: You are on a great circle track departing from position LAT 25°50'N, LONG 77°00'W. The position of the vertex is LAT 37°35.6'N, LONG 25°57.8'W. The distance along the great circle track from the vertex to a point (X) is 600 miles westward. Determine the position of point (X) on the great circle track. 

    N a. LAT 36°47.5'N, LONG 38°21.8'W
    N b. LAT 36°50.4'N, LONG 38°25.6'W
    Y c. LAT 36°55.6'N, LONG 38°30.0'W
    N d. LAT 37°02.3'N, LONG 38°34.4'W
661: Your voyage commences off Cape May, NJ, at LAT 38°40'N, LONG 74°00'W, for LAT 44°00'N, LONG 10°00'W. Sea ice is north of 45°N and west of 45°W. Extensive naval exercises will be conducted within a 150-mile radius of LAT 50°00'N,
LONG 35°00'W. Which statement about a direct great circle route is TRUE? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5274.) 

    N a. The latitude of the great circle vertex is above 50°N.
    Y b. You must plot a composite sailing to remain south of the ice limits.
    N c. The naval exercises will interfere with the direct great circle route.
    N d. The shifting shoals northwest of Sable Island will be a navigational hazard on the track line.
680: On which voyage would a great circle track provide a significant savings in distance to steam, when compared to a rhumb line track? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5270.) 

    N a. Valdez, AK, to the Marquesas Islands (LAT 8°00'S, LONG 140°00'W)
    N b. San Francisco to Kodiak, AK
    N c. Christmas Island (LAT 2°00'N, LONG 157°30'W) to Singapore via LAT 3°00'N, LONG 126°00'E
    Y d. Guam (LAT 14°00'N, LONG 145°00'E) to Seattle via LAT 47°30'N, LONG 125°30'W
811: On 1 July , your 0515 ZT fix gives you a position of LAT 24°36.0'S, LONG 151°42.0'W. Your vessel is on course 300°T, and your speed is 10.0 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1215 ZT, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 42°55.0'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN? 

    N a. 24°03.6'S
    N b. 24°02.5'S
    Y c. 24°01.0'S
    N d. 24°00.0'S
977: On 8 February , your 0800 zone time (ZT) position was LAT 28°55.0'S, LONG 52°27.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 036°T at a speed of 19.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0938 ZT. The chronometer read 12h 37m 23s and was slow 01m 24s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 45°29.2'. Local Apparent Noon (LAN) occurred at 1240 ZT. The observed altitude (Ho) was 77°10.5'. What was the longitude of your 1200 ZT running fix? 

    N a. 51°29.6'W
    N b. 51°31.4'W
    N c. 51°33.1'W
    Y d. 51°35.4'W
1000: On 18 May , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 18°30'N, LONG 62°31'W. You are on course 286°T, speed 24 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.
ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1204 61°54.6' N 19°37.6' 88°39.7'
1210 63°24.6' N 19°37.7' 88°59.2' 

    N a. LAT 18°33.6'N, LONG 62°54.3'W
    N b. LAT 18°35.2'N, LONG 62°49.7'W
    N c. LAT 18°38.7'N, LONG 62°59.2'W
    Y d. LAT 18°41.1'N, LONG 62°53.9'W
1296: At which of the following times would you be able to listen to lower Mississippi River conditions on VHF Channel 22? 

    N a. 0900 hours
    N b. 1100 hours
    N c. 1200 hours
    Y d. 1300 hours
1298: Your company wants to know at what time you will be arriving at the fleeting area at Sycamore Chute Light (mile 740.3 AHP) in Memphis, TN You are making turns for 9.0 mph and you estimate the average current at 2.2 mph. Figuring the distance and time from Hole in the Wall Lt. (mile 373.4 AHP), what is your ETA at Sycamore Chute Lt.? 

    Y a. 1242, April 19th
    N b. 1645, April 19th
    N c. 2242, April 19th
    N d. 2333, April 19th
1729: Which light characteristics does Coggins Lt. (mile 429.5) have? 

    N a. 1 red flash every 4 seconds
    Y b. 1 white flash every 4 seconds
    N c. 1white flash every  5 seconds
    N d. 2 white flashes every 4 seconds
2022: On 24 August , your vessel is enroute from Perth, Australia, to Bombay, India. Evening twilight will occur at 1807 zone time, and your vessel's DR position for this time will be LAT 27°17.0'S, LONG 83°17.0'E. Considering their magnitude and location, what are the three stars best suited to observe for a fix at star time? 

    N a. Arcturus, Antares, Atria
    Y b. Spica, Altair, Acrux
    N c. Pollux, Canopus, Hamal
    N d. Rasalhague, Spica, Kochab
2082: From your 0100 position, you change course to 258° per standard magnetic compass. Your engine speed is 10.0 knots. A short time later, your fathometer reads 51 feet (15.5 meters) under the keel. What is the water depth? 

    N a. 42.5 feet  (12.9 meters)
    N b. 51.0 feet  (15.5 meters)
    Y c. 59.5 feet  (18.0 meters)
    N d. 60.4 feet  (18.4 meters)
2086: Ar your current speed of 22 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 440 miles. You must travel 618 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination? 

    N a. 17.8
    Y b. 18.6
    N c. 19.4
    N d. 20.2
2158: On 26 May , your vessel's 1906 zone time position is LAT 27°16.0'N, LONG 24°37.0'W. At that time, a sextant observation of the planet Jupiter was made. The sextant altitude is 63°27.6', and the chronometer reads 09h 05m 16s. The index error is 5.2' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 25s slow. Your height of eye is determined to be 52.6 feet. What is the (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 011.3°T
    Y b. 168.7°T
    N c. 191.3°T
    N d. 348.7°T
2339: You have steamed 1260 miles at 18 knots, and consumed 205 tons of fuel. If you have to steam 1423 miles to complete the voyage, how many tons of fuel will be consumed while steaming at 16 knots? 

    N a. 143 tons
    N b. 183 tons
    Y c. 293 tons
    N d. 333 tons
2535: What is the mile point of Hickman, KY Gage? 

    N a. 846.4 AHP
    N b. 889.0 AHP
    Y c. 922.0 AHP
    N d. 937.2 AHP
2669: You are steering 143°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 18.2 miles at 2006. You change course to pass the light 5.5 miles off abeam to port. If you are making 14.5 knots, what is your ETA at a position 5.5 miles off the light? 

    N a. 2115
    Y b. 2118
    N c. 2121
    N d. 2124
2864: You are steering a course of 316°T, and a light bears 34° on the port bow at 2053. At 2126 the same light bears 68° on the port bow, and you have run 5 miles since the first bearing. What is the ETA when the lighthouse is abeam? 

    Y a. 2139
    N b. 2143
    N c. 2149
    N d. 2159
2909: You are running coastwise at 14 knots. You sight a lighthouse abeam at 0912. At 0939 the lighthouse is 4 points abaft the beam. What is your distance off at the second bearing? 

    N a. 5.5 miles
    N b. 6.3 miles
    N c. 7.8 miles
    Y d. 8.9 miles
3084: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 18.6 knots, and the pitch of the propeller is 26.2 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 4% negative slip? 

    Y a. 69
    N b. 72
    N c. 75
    N d. 78
3273: Your vessel arrives in port with sufficient fuel to steam 1175 miles at 19 knots. If you are unable to take on bunkers, at what speed must you proceed to reach your next port, 1341 miles distant? 

    N a. 16.7 knots
    N b. 17.3 knots
    Y c. 17.8 knots
    N d. 19.4 knots
3452: You wish to make good a course of 035°T while turning for an engine speed of 12 knots. The set is 340°T, and the drift is 2 knots. What course should you steer? 

    N a. 027°T
    N b. 037°T
    Y c. 044°T
    N d. 054°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
3766: Your vessel is proceeding down a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line dead ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 229°T, and variation is 6°W. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 232° per standard magnetic compass, what is the deviation? 

    Y a. 3°E
    N b. 9°E
    N c. 3°W
    N d. 9°W
10100: Your GPS position is LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 75°48.6'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position one mile south of Cape Charles Buoy "14" (which is positioned at LAT 37°07.4'N, LONG 75°41.0'W)? 

    Y a. 045°psc
    N b. 049°psc
    N c. 053°psc
    N d. 057°psc
10206: Your 2230 position is LAT 41°07.4'N, LONG 72°44.0'W. Assuming that there are no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to leave Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy (LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°30.4'W) 1 mile abeam to port? 

    N a. 084°psc
    N b. 091°psc
    N c. 094°psc
    Y d. 098°psc
11307: At 1919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. At 2031 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°44.9'W. What was the speed made good? 

    N a. 8.2 knots
    N b. 9.3 knots
    Y c. 10.0 knots
    N d. 10.9 knots
11503: At 1016 your GPS position is LAT 41°07.6'N, LONG 71°37.9'W. At 1104 your position is LAT 41°00.2'N, LONG 71°29.4'W. What was the true course made good between the two positions? 

    N a. 134°T
    Y b. 139°T
    N c. 143°T
    N d. 145°T
11507: 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 1222 your position is LAT 41°20.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W. What is the speed made good? 

    N a. 8.4 knots
    N b. 8.6 knots
    Y c. 9.2 knots
    N d. 9.6 knots
12208: You sight Stratford Pt. Light in line with the Igor I. Sikorsky Airport Aero Beacon bearing 319° per standard magnetic compass. What is the compass error? 

    N a. 4°E
    N b. 10°W
    N c. 14°E
    Y d. 18°W
13102: At 2330 your position is LAT 41°16.9'N, LONG 71°38.2'W. You are turning for 9.3 knots. What is your ETA at the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island? 

    N a. 2355
    Y b. 0005
    N c. 0012
    N d. 0019
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
15160: At 1815, your position is LAT 37°01.0'N, LONG 75°42.7'W. If there is no current, what is the course per standard magnetic compass to arrive at a point 0.3 mile due north of North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy "NCA"? 

    N a. 249.0°psc
    N b. 251.5°psc
    N c. 255.0°psc
    Y d. 257.0°psc
15164: From your 1920 position, you change course to enter Chesapeake Channel between buoys 9 and 10. What is the course per gyrocompass? 

    N a. 271°pgc
    N b. 274°pgc
    Y c. 277°pgc
    N d. 280°pgc
15340: At 1718, Bartlett Reef Light bears 050°T at a distance of 1.5 miles. From this position, you change course to 128°
T. At 1750 Race Rock Light bears 336°T, Little Gull Island Light bears 285°T, and Montauk Point Light bears 134°T. What were the set and drift of the current you encountered since 1718? 

    N a. 245°T at 0.9 knots
    N b. 245°T at 1.7 knots
    Y c. 065°T at 1.7 knots
    N d. 065°T at 0.9 knots
15460: At 0845, you are approaching the entrances to Thimble Shoal Channel. What channel must you use? 

    Y a. The South Auxiliary Channel since your draft is less than 25 feet (7.6 meters), and you are not a passenger vessel.
    N b. The South Auxiliary Channel or Thimble Shoal Channel, but you must remain on the right hand side of the main channel.
    N c. The North Auxiliary Channel since you are going to turn to a northerly heading near buoy "12".
    N d. You are not permitted to use any of the channels, but must remain outside the buoyed channel line.
15623: At 2126, you pass Morganza Bend Light (mile 278.4 AHP).
At 0122, 4 January, you pass Red River Landing Gage (302.4 AHP). You have been turning for 7.5 mph. What is the current? 

    Y a. 1.4 MPH
    N b. 1.8 MPH
    N c. 2.7 MPH
    N d. 6.2 MPH
15623: At 2126, you pass Morganza Bend Light (mile 278.4 AHP).
At 0122, 4 January, you pass Red River Landing Gage (302.4 AHP). You have been turning for 7.5 mph. What is the current? 

    Y a. 1.4 MPH
    N b. 1.8 MPH
    N c. 2.7 MPH
    N d. 6.2 MPH
15713: What do the dotted lines around Goose Island and Kimberly Reef represent? 

    N a. Limiting danger
    N b. Breakers
    Y c. Depth contours
    N d. Tide rips
15826: In high water conditions, which publication would you consult for the latest information on buoys between Baton Rouge and Cairo? 

    Y a. U.S.C.G. Local Notice to Mariners
    N b. U.S.C.G. Light List
    N c. Army Corps. of Engineers Navigation Chart
    N d. List of Buoys and Daymarks
15827: As you approach Giles Bend Cutoff Light (mile 367.7 AHP), what type of daymark would you see on the light structure? 

    N a. Green diamond
    N b. Green triangle
    Y c. Red triangle
    N d. Red diamond
15829: A stretch where the channel changes from one side of the river to the other is called a __________. 

    N a. passing
    N b. transit
    N c. transfer
    Y d. crossing
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
16207: If you change course at 0610, what is the course to steer to a point where Little Gull Island Light bears 180°T at 0.7 mile (Point "A")? 

    N a. 072°pgc
    N b. 076°pgc
    Y c. 080°pgc
    N d. 084°pgc
16213: At 0715 you take the following bearings:

Race Rock Light 328°pgc
Little Gull Island Light 249°pgc
Mt. Prospect Antenna 036°pgc

Based on your 0715 fix, which statement is TRUE? 

    Y a. You are to the left of your track line.
    N b. Your fathometer reads about 265 fathoms.
    N c. You are in a cable area.
    N d. You are governed by the Inland Rules.
16313: At 0730, visibility is 5.5 miles. At what time will you lose sight of Horton Point Light? 

    N a. It is not visible at 0730
    Y b. 0751
    N c. 0812
    N d. 0825
16368: Why should mariners use extreme care when navigating within the precautionary area centered on Chesapeake Bay Entrance Junction Lighted Gong Buoy CBJ? 

    N a. There are numerous underwater obstructions that are a hazard to vessels with drafts exceeding 2 meters (6.5 feet).
    N b. Fishing vessels of limited maneuverability routinely operate in this area when hunting oyster and crabs.
    Y c. Vessels may approach from different directions from the inbound separation lanes and from Chesapeake and Thimble Shoal Channel.
    N d. Large naval vessels having the right of way often enter the area when bound to or from the Norfolk Naval Base.
16839: At 0800 you reduce speed from sea speed. Speed was reduced by the time you passed abeam of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "12" at 0814. At this time Buoy "12" was abeam on your starboard side at a distance of 0.65 mile. Assuming you continue to make good your course of 202°T, what is your new speed if you pass abeam of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14" at a distance of 1.5 miles at 0907? 

    N a. 13.6 knots
    Y b. 12.9 knots
    N c. 12.3 knots
    N d. 12.0 knots