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.

154: You see a buoy with red and green bands. This buoy marks __________.
353: At 0550, engineering repairs are complete and speed is increased to 9.6 knots. At 0630, Falkner Island Light bears 023°pgc and Horton Point Light bears 097°pgc. From your 0630 fix you steer to make good a course of 086°T while turning for 9.6 knots. At 0700, Falkner Island Light bears 336.0°pgc and Horton Point Light bears 105.5°pgc. The radar range to the south tip of Falkner Island is 5.7 miles. Which statement is TRUE?
438: You estimate that you are making 9.3 knots over the ground. At what time will you enter waters governed by the COLREGS?
468: Determine the great circle initial course from LAT 07°05.0'N, LONG 81°45.0'W to LAT 21°15.0'N, LONG 157°40.0'W. 

    N a. 128°T
    N b. 217°T
    Y c. 290°T
    N d. 326°T
472: The great circle distance from LAT 38°17.0'N, LONG 123°16.0'W to LAT 35°01.0'N, LONG 142°21.0'E is 4330 miles and the initial course is 300.9°T. The latitude of the vertex is 47°40.5'N. What is the longitude of the vertex? 

    N a. 173°04.6'E
    N b. 167°18.0'E
    N c. 173°04.6'W
    Y d. 167°18.5'W
480: The great circle distance from LAT 25°50'N, LONG 77°00'W to LAT 35°56'N, LONG 06°15'W is 3616 miles, and the initial course is 061.7°T. The position of the vertex is LAT 37°34.9'N, LONG 25°59.0'W. Determine the latitude intersecting the great circle track 600 miles west of the vertex, along the great circle track. 

    Y a. 36°54.9'N
    N b. 36°50.2'N
    N c. 36°45.9'N
    N d. 36°36.8'N
628: You are on a voyage from Valdez, AK, to the Panama Canal. The distance from pilot to pilot is 4950 miles. The speed of advance is 15.0 knots. You estimate a layover in San Francisco, CA, of 36.0 hours. If you take departure at 0800 (ZD +10), 29 October, what is your ETA (ZD +5) at the Panama Canal? 

    Y a. 1900, 13 November
    N b. 1400, 13 November
    N c. 1400, 14 November
    N d. 0900, 13 November
675: You are planning a voyage from Godthab, Greenland, to Cayenne, French Guiana. Using chart WOXZC 5274, determine which statement is TRUE. 

    N a. Godthab is located at the Northern Hemisphere vertex.
    Y b. The rhumb line track approximates a great circle track.
    N c. A great circle track will be considerably shorter due to the length of the voyage.
    N d. Distance is measured by using the length of meridian at the point of tangency.
1251: On 16 August , your 1600 ZT DR position is LAT 26°17.0'N, LONG 165°17.0'E. You are on course 301°T at a speed of 15 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1827
    N b. 1832
    Y c. 1838
    N d. 1845
1342: What is the vertical clearance between the highest point of your towboat, if it is 45 feet above the water, and if the Natchez Gage reads 23.4 feet when passing under the Natchez-Vidalia Westbound Highway Bridge? 

    N a. 67.5 feet
    Y b. 57.1 feet
    N c. 52.2 feet
    N d. 45.2 feet
1539: As you approach Vaucluse Bend Light (mile 533.8 AHP),
which type of daymark would you see on the light structure? 

    N a. Red diamond
    N b. Red triangle
    Y c. Green square
    N d. Green diamond
1643: Which facility is located on the right descending bank at mile 363.6 AHP? 

    N a. River Cement Corps..
    N b. Bunge Corps..
    N c. T.L. James
    Y d. Vidalia Dock and Storage Co.
1685: As you approach Buckridge Light (mile 412.5 AHP), which type of daymark would you see on the light structure? 

    N a. Red square
    N b. Green square
    N c. Red diamond
    Y d. Green diamond
1686: Which light characteristics does Ben Burman Lt. (mile 235.0 AHP) have? 

    N a. 1 red flash every 5 seconds
    N b. 2 white flashes every 5 seconds
    N c. 2 green flashes every 5 seconds
    Y d. 2 red flashes every 5 seconds
1761: What is the length of the trip? 

    Y a. 887.9 miles
    N b. 878.9 miles
    N c. 851.9 miles
    N d. 726.0 miles
1766: What type of daymark will you see as you approach Black Hills Light (mile 337.7 AHP)? 

    N a. Private aid - no daymark
    N b. Red square
    N c. Red diamond
    Y d. Red triangle
1779: At 2237 ZT, on 14 July , in DR position LAT 33°57'N, LONG 150°32'W you observe an amplitude of Saturn. The planet is about one Sun's diameter above the visible horizon and bears 258.6°psc. The variation is 14°E. What is the deviation? 

    Y a. 2.0°W
    N b. 1.0°W
    N c. 0.0°
    N d. 1.0°E
1835: The Vaucluse Trench fill revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________. 

    N a. 524.3 - 522.6 RDB
    Y b. 535.6 - 532.9 RDB
    N c. 535.9 - 534.3 LDB
    N d. 534.3 - 532.6 LDB
1874: 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 25°19.4' bearing 273°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? 

    N a. Alpha Serpentis
    Y b. Beta Librae
    N c. Beta Lupi
    N d. Epsilon Bootis
2027: 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. 5.8 mph
    Y b. 6.3 mph
    N c. 6.7 mph
    N d. 7.1 mph
2060: The highest point on your towboat is 67 feet above the water, and the Helena Gage reads +22.3 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the A-span of the Helena Highway Bridge? 

    Y a. 30.1 feet
    N b. 49.8 feet
    N c. 52.4 feet
    N d. 74.7 feet
2206: What is the distance in river miles, from the new mouth of the White River to the RR and Hwy bridge at Baton Rouge, LA? 

    N a. 338 miles
    Y b. 365 miles
    N c. 400 miles
    N d. 454 miles
2403: At 0812 you obtain the following information:

Chesapeake Light bearing 091° true @ a range of 10.5 nm

What is your 0812 position? 

    N a. LAT 36°53.7'N, LONG 75°56.0'W
    N b. LAT 36°53.8'N, LONG 75°56.1'W
    Y c. LAT 36°54.4'N, LONG 75°55.9'W
    N d. LAT 36°54.6'N, LONG 75°55.8'W
2676: While on a course of 019°pgc, a light bears 14° on the port bow at a distance of 15.3 miles. What course should you steer to pass 1.5 miles abeam of the light, leaving it to port? 

    N a. 006°pgc
    Y b. 011°pgc
    N c. 013°pgc
    N d. 015°pgc
2677: You sight a light 9° on your starboard bow at a distance of 21 miles. Assuming you make good your course, what will be your distance off the light when abeam? 

    Y a. 3.3 miles
    N b. 3.7 miles
    N c. 4.0 miles
    N d. 4.3 miles
2783: Which daymark would you see as you approach Red Store Light (mile 269.5 AHP)? 

    Y a. Green square
    N b. Green triangle
    N c. Green diamond
    N d. Red square
3105: You are turning 82 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 23 feet, and an estimated slip of +6%. What is the speed of advance? 

    Y a. 17.5 knots
    N b. 17.9 knots
    N c. 18.4 knots
    N d. 19.7 knots
3303: You have steamed 174 miles and consumed 18.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 416 miles? 

    N a. 34.9 tons
    N b. 38.4 tons
    Y c. 43.0 tons
    N d. 46.2 tons
3624: Your vessel is steering course 073°psc, variation for the area is 15°E, and deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the southeast, producing a 4° leeway. Which true course are you making good? 

    N a. 050°T
    N b. 058°T
    Y c. 088°T
    N d. 096°T
3638: You desire to make good a true course of 007°. The variation is 5°E, magnetic compass deviation is 3°W, and gyrocompass error is 2°E. A southwest by west wind produces a 2° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good? 

    Y a. 003°psc
    N b. 005°psc
    N c. 007°psc
    N d. 009°psc
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
10708: At 0726 you depart Lake Montauk with light 1 close aboard and set course 309° per standard magnetic compass at 6.7 knots. At 0818 your GPS position is LAT 41°07.1'N, LONG 72°02.6'W. What is the current? 

    Y a. 102°T at 0.6 knot
    N b. 164°T at 0.7 knot
    N c. 334°T at 0.9 knot
    N d. 321°T at 0.6 knot
11003: What best describes the condition of the tidal current at New London Harbor Entrance, at 0945 on 3 March 1983? 

    N a. It is slack water.
    Y b. The current has reached its maximum flood velocity.
    N c. It has reached its maximum ebb velocity.
    N d. The current is approaching slack water.
11901: You are turning for 7.5 knots and a westerly wind is causing 2° of leeway. There is a current of 047°T at 1.2 knots. What course should you steer between the entrance to Quonochontaug Pond (LAT 41°19.8'N, LONG 71°43.2'W) and the entrance to Great Salt Pond (LAT 41°12.0'N,
LONG 71°35.6'W)? 

    N a. 156°T
    Y b. 155°T
    N c. 144°T
    N d. 140°T
14500: Your vessel is at mile 170 on the Columbia River. You are proceeding in a westerly direction and are approaching the lift bridge at Hood River. The pool level of the Bonneville reservoir stands at 92 feet above MSL. If the highest point on your vessel is 52 feet above the water, which of the following statements is TRUE? 

    N a. You may pass under the lift bridge, in the "down" position  with a vertical clearance of 15 feet.
    N b. You may pass under the lift bridge in the "up" position with a clearance of 96 feet.
    N c. You may pass under the lift bridge, in the "down" position  with a vertical clearance of 25 feet.
    Y d. You may pass under the lift bridge, in the "up" position with a vertical clearance of 76 feet.
14600: What is the length of The Dalles Lock on the Columbia River? 

    N a. 475 feet
    N b. 500 feet
    Y c. 675 feet
    N d. 1200 feet
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
15016: If the visibility is 3 miles, at what range will you lose sight of Chesapeake Light? 

    N a. The light has never been visible.
    N b. 6.4 miles
    Y c. 8.3 miles
    N d. 12.1 miles
15157: 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"? 

    N a. 190°pgc
    N b. 193°pgc
    N c. 196°pgc
    Y d. 199°pgc
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
15360: Your 0507 position is about 7 miles from Bridgeport, CT. What is the distance from this position to Newport, RI? 

    Y a. 88 miles
    N b. 95 miles
    N c. 101 miles
    N d. 114 miles
15440: Your ETA at Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel between trestles B + C is 2300. If your engine speed is 9.8 knots,
what will be your approximate speed over the ground, at that time, allowing for the predicted current? 

    N a. 7.0 knots
    N b. 8.2 knots
    N c. 11.4 knots
    Y d. 12.5 knots
15515: You decide to use the 9960-Y and 9960-W rates. At 1915,
you obtain the following readings:

9960-Y-43936.0
9960-W-14653.3

What is your 1915 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°13.0'N, LONG 71°54.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°13.1'N, LONG 71°53.9'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.2'N, LONG 71°54.3'W
    Y d. LAT 41°13.2'N, LONG 71°53.7'W
15609: From your 1715 fix, you steer 214°T at 12 knots. At 1800,
you take the following bearings:

Cape Charles Light bearing 296° true
Cape Henry light bearing 242° true

Your 1800 position is __________. 

    Y a. LAT 37°02.9'N,  LONG 75°43.1'W
    N b. LAT 37°02.9'N,  LONG 75°43.9'W
    N c. LAT 37°03.0'N,  LONG 75°43.3'W
    N d. LAT 37°03.1'N,  LONG 75°42.8'W
15640: At which point in the voyage is your vessel bound by the International Rules of the Roads (COLREGS)? 

    N a. At the mouth of New London Harbor
    Y b. Upon entering Block Island Sound
    N c. After crossing the line of the Territorial Sea
    N d. After passing between Montauk Point and Lewis Point on Block Island
15813: According to the DR track line from your 0100 position, how far off Roanoke Point Shoal Buoy "5" should you be when the buoy is abeam? 

    N a. 0.2 mile
    Y b. 0.6 mile
    N c. 1.3 mile
    N d. 1.8 miles
15917: At what approximate distance would you expect Bartlett Reef Light to break the horizon, if the visibility is 27 nautical miles? 

    N a. 5.9 nm
    N b. 6.9 nm
    N c. 12.0 nm
    Y d. 12.8 nm
15945: At 2107 Southeast Point Light bears 062°T, and at 2112 this light bears 038°T. What is your distance off Southeast Point Light at 2112? (assume no set and drift) 

    N a. 2.1 miles
    Y b. 2.5 miles
    N c. 2.9 miles
    N d. 3.3 miles
16140: Available information indicates that there is a set and drift in this area of 290°T at 2 knots. Allowing for this set and drift, what course must you steer to make good a true course of 150°, while maintaining an engine speed of 13 knots, from your 1930 position? 

    N a. 141°T
    Y b. 145°T
    N c. 149°T
    N d. 153°T
16243: At 2207 Cape Charles Light bears 276°T, Chesapeake Light bears 194°T, and Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14" bears 312°T and is 2.0 miles off. What were the set and drift of the current acting on your vessel from 2129 to 2207? 

    N a. 258°T at 2.4 knots
    N b. 258°T at 1.5 knots
    N c. 078°T at 1.5 knots
    Y d. 078°T at 2.4 knots
16266: The abandoned lighthouse at Cape Henry is a(n) __________. 

    N a. octagonal, black and white tower
    N b. radio beacon station
    N c. emergency back up to Cape Henry Light
    Y d. gray, pyramidal tower
16520: Which chart should you use to enter Great Salt Pond? 

    N a. 13214
    N b. 13205
    Y c. 13217
    N d. 13207
16638: At 0400 your position is:

Latitude 40° 50.2' North
Longitude 071° 36.2' West

From your 0400 fix, you steer a course to make good 347°T at 12.5 knots. Visibility is good. What is the earliest time you can expect to raise Montauk Point Light? (Nominal range - 24 miles, height above water - 168 feet) 

    Y a. The light is visible at 0400.
    N b. 0426
    N c. 0435
    N d. 0442
16838: At 0800 you obtain the following Loran-C readings:

9960-X-27101
9960-Y-41612
9960-Z-58737

What is your vessel's position? 

    N a. LAT 37°20.9'N, LONG 75°29.5'W
    Y b. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 75°32.0'W
    N c. LAT 37°19.8'N, LONG 75°30.6'W
    N d. LAT 37°20.8'N, LONG 75°31.2'W
16842: From your 0939 position, you wish to change course in order to pass 0.3 mile north of Buoy "NCA" (LL#375) in the inbound traffic lane. You estimate the current to be 150°
T at 2.0 knots. What course should you steer to make good the desired course? Your speed is still 13.0 knots. 

    N a. 232°T
    N b. 235°T
    Y c. 245°T
    N d. 249°T
: 

    N a. 
    N b. 
    N c. 
    N d.