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.

92: A stretch where the channel changes from one side of the river to the other is called a __________.
116: At which of the following times would you be able to listen to lower Mississippi River conditions on VHF Channel 22?
210: During evening twilight on 28 December , the sextant altitude (hs) of the planet Venus was 29°43.2'. The height of eye was 40 feet, and the index error was 2.0' on the arc. What was the observed altitude (Ho)?
245: On chart 12354, the datum from which heights of objects are taken is __________. 

    N a. lowest low water
    N b. mean low water
    Y c. mean high water
    N d. mean lower low water
293: At 1730, your position is LAT 37°13.9'N, LONG 76°26.4'W. You are steering course 088° per standard magnetic compass (psc) at an engine speed of 8.0 knots. What is your distance off Tue Marshes Light at 1730? 

    N a. 3.2 miles
    N b. 3.0 miles
    N c. 2.8 miles
    Y d. 2.6 miles
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
402: A vessel at LAT 38°36'N, LONG 11°36'W, heads for a destination at LAT 24°16'N, LONG 71°52'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing. 

    N a. 236.4°T, 2,916.9 miles
    N b. 254.4°T, 2,916.9 miles
    Y c. 254.4°T, 3,203.6 miles
    N d. 285.6°T, 3,203.6 miles
482: 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. Determine the longitude of the vertex, given the latitude of the vertex as 37°34.9'N. 

    N a. 25°49.8'W
    N b. 25°53.2'W
    Y c. 25°59.0'W
    N d. 26°03.4'W
633: The Linwood Bend revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________. 

    N a. 828.1-823.1 RDB
    N b. 831.7-829.4 RDB
    Y c. 841.3-838.7 LDB
    N d. 845.4-842.5 LDB
1021: On 30 March , your 0145 DR position is LAT 29°30'S, LONG 122°45'E. You are on course 055°T at a speed of 22 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. 

    N a. LAT 28°24.6'S, LONG 124°21.4'E
    Y b. LAT 28°39.9'S, LONG 124°18.6'E
    N c. LAT 28°41.5'S, LONG 124°41.5'E
    N d. LAT 29°20.1'S, LONG 123°41.0'E
1107: On 16 April , your 0200 zone time DR position is LAT 17°18'S, LONG 168°46'E. You are on course 236°T at a speed of 16 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. 

    N a. LAT 17°54.9'S, LONG 167°48.7'E
    N b. LAT 17°55.6'S, LONG 167°45.1'E
    N c. LAT 17°56.8'S, LONG 167°52.4'E
    Y d. LAT 18°00.4'S, LONG 167°49.2'E
1163: What is the mile point of the Fulton Gage? 

    N a. 598 AHP
    N b. 632 AHP
    N c. 687 AHP
    Y d. 778 AHP
1288: What is NOT true about the yellow square at mile 227.3 AHP? 

    N a. Yellow in color
    N b. Square in shape
    Y c. Lighted
    N d. Part of Intracoastal Waterway System
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
1460: On 27 June , your 1905 ZT DR position is LAT 24°35.0'N, LONG 50°15.0'W. At that time, you observe Saturn bearing 211°pgc. The chronometer reads 10h 04m 26s and the chronometer error is 01m 20s slow. The variation is 4.5°E. What is the gyro error? 

    Y a. 1.1°W
    N b. 3.4°E
    N c. 3.4°W
    N d. 5.6°W
1491: On 5 February , your 2320 ZT position is LAT 52°28'N, LONG 23°48'W. You observe Polaris bearing 000.2°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 224°pgc and 244°psc. The variation is 20°W. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    N a. 0.0°
    Y b. 1.5°W
    N c. 3.0°W
    N d. 4.5°W
1498: On 7 December , your 0350 ZT position is LAT 35°42'N, LONG 17°38'E. You observe Polaris bearing 359.7°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 016°pgc and 014°psc. The variation is 1°E. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    Y a. 0.3°E
    N b. 1.5°E
    N c. 0.3°W
    N d. 1.5°W
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
1853: On 8 April , while taking observations for an evening fix, you observe an unidentified star bearing 250.7°T at an observed altitude of 51°44.8'. Your DR position at the time of the sight was LAT 22°16.0'N, LONG 157°58.3'W. The chronometer reads 05h 09m 57s and is 01m 23s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Betelgeuse
    N b. Aldebaran
    N c. Alnilam
    Y d. Bellatrix
1897: On 22 June , your 0424 DR position is LAT 26°18.5'N, LONG 124°18.2'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 249°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 52°50.7'. The chronometer reads 00h 23m 24s, and is 01m 32s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Peacock
    N b. Schedar
    N c. Ankaa
    Y d. Altair
1903: On 22 April , your 1852 DR position is LAT 23°54.5'N, LONG 117°36.8'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 259°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 41°15.2'. The chronometer reads 02h 54m 53s, and is 02m 51s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Diphda
    Y b. Betelgeuse
    N c. Gienah
    N d. Arcturus
1910: On 22 February , your 1857 DR position is LAT 23°46.0'S, LONG 93°16.5'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 126°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 40°21.5'. The chronometer reads 01h 00m 35s and is 03m 25s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Adhara
    N b. Miaplacidus
    N c. Avior
    Y d. Suhail
2091: At your current speed of 22 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 422 miles. You must travel 844 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination? 

    N a. 19.8
    N b. 18.4
    N c. 17.0
    Y d. 15.6
2120: At 1502 ZT, on 4 August , in DR position LAT 11° 21.6' S, LONG 088° 14.3' E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The upper limb of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 289° psc. The variation is 15° W. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 1.1°E
    Y b. 1.1°W
    N c. 1.9°E
    N d. 1.9°W
2209: The Helena Gage reads 9.4 feet. The high point on your towboat is 42 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge? 

    N a. 53.0 feet
    N b. 62.6 feet
    N c. 64.2 feet
    Y d. 68.0 feet
2240: At 1542 ZT, on 23 October , in DR position LAT 37° 28.5'N, LONG 156° 17.3'E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 282.5°psc. The variation is 0.0°. What is the deviation? 

    Y a. 2.2°E
    N b. 2.2°W
    N c. 1.2°E
    N d. 1.2°W
2331: What is the coastwise distance from your 0731 fix to Wilmington, DE (LAT 39°43.2'N, LONG 75°31.5'W)? 

    N a. 339 miles
    N b. 309 miles
    N c. 245 miles
    Y d. 221 miles
2858: Your vessel is on a course of 082°T at 19 knots. At 0255 a light bears 059.5°T, and at 0312 the light bears 037°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0333, 5.1 miles
    N b. 0321, 4.7 miles
    N c. 0327, 4.3 miles
    Y d. 0324, 3.8 miles
2860: Your vessel is on a course of 144°T at 16 knots. At 0126 a light bears 166.5°T, and at 0152 the light bears 189°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0205, 4.1 miles
    Y b. 0210, 4.8 miles
    N c. 0215, 6.0 miles
    N d. 0220, 6.4 miles
2868: Your vessel is on a course of 358°T at 19 knots. At 0316 a light bears 024.5°T, and at 0334 the light bears 043°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    Y a. 0352, 5.7 miles
    N b. 0355, 6.2 miles
    N c. 0359, 7.1 miles
    N d. 0403, 8.0 miles
3061: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 20.2 feet and a pitch of 19.0 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 367 miles in a 24 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 84? 

    Y a. +2.9%
    N b. -2.9%
    N c. +5.2%
    N d. -5.2%
3468: You are underway on course 215°T at 12 knots. The current is 000°T at 2.3 knots. What is the speed being made good? 

    N a. 8.5 knots
    Y b. 10.2 knots
    N c. 10.9 knots
    N d. 11.2 knots
3606: You are steering 154°pgc. The wind is southwest causing 4° leeway. The gyro error is 3°E, variation is 11°W and deviation is 7°E. What is the true course made good? 

    Y a. 153°T
    N b. 158°T
    N c. 161°T
    N d. 164°T
11504: At 1016 your position is LAT 41°07.6'N, LONG 71°38.5'W. At 1116 your position is LAT 41°01.4'N, LONG 71°29.4'W. What was the course made good between the two positions? 

    Y a. 132°T
    N b. 135°T
    N c. 140°T
    N d. 143°T
12608: You are on course 083° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Branford Reef Light 344.5°psc Falkner Island Light 053.5°psc Mattituck Inlet Light 141.5°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°10.4'N, LONG 72°43.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°09.6'N, LONG 72°44.9'W
    N c. LAT 41°08.4'N, LONG 72°43.7'W
    Y d. LAT 41°08.0'N, LONG 72°44.8'W
12612: You are on course 242° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: Stratford Point Light 325°psc Old Field Point Light 239°psc Middle Ground Light 270°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°04.4'N, LONG 72°59.5'W
    Y b. LAT 41°05.1'N, LONG 72°59.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 73°00.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°59.3'W
14303: What is the height above the water of light No. 84 on the Columbia River below Bonneville lock & dam? 

    N a. 10 feet
    Y b. 14 feet
    N c. 18 feet
    N d. 24 feet
14501: You are proceeding in an easterly direction on the Columbia River. The pool level of the Bonneville Reservoir stands at 65 feet above MSL. If the highest point on your vessel is 54 feet above the water, what will be the vertical clearance as you pass under the overhead power cables at mile 186.2? 

    N a. 94 feet
    N b. 101 feet
    Y c. 108 feet
    N d. 117 feet
15243: At 1245 the GPS shows your position to be LAT 41°10.3'N, LONG 72°44.2'W. You are steering a course of 284°T at an engine speed of 13.0 knots. At what time would you expect the New Haven Harbor Outer Range to be in line if you have a current setting 112°T at 1.2 knots? 

    N a. 1318
    Y b. 1323
    N c. 1328
    N d. 1343
15456: On 25 February, your vessel is berthed near Lamberts Point in Norfolk. You are preparing to sail for Baltimore and wish to be transiting York Spit Channel while the morning flood current is at its maximum speed. At what time should you be between buoys "33" and "34"? And, what will be the speed of the flood at this time? 

    N a. 0513, 0.8 k
    Y b. 0810, 1.2 k
    N c. 0810, 1.5 k
    N d. 1124, 1.2 k
15615: At 2000, your position is LAT 37°04.1'N, LONG 76°05.6'W. You change course for the Eastern Shore. At 2037, Old Plantation Flats Light bears 033°pgc, and York Spit Light bears 282°pgc. The course made good from your 2000 position is __________. 

    Y a. 359°T
    N b. 006°T
    N c. 014°T
    N d. 020°T
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
15710: From your 0830 position, you wish to make good 097°T. There is no current, but a southerly wind is producing 3°
leeway. What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass in order to make good your true course? 

    N a. 118°psc
    Y b. 115°psc
    N c. 112°psc
    N d. 109°psc
16112: At 0530, the Coast Guard announces that Chesapeake Channel is closed indefinitely due to a collision occurring in the channel between Trestle "B" and "C" of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. You exit York Spit Channel, leaving buoy "20" abeam to port at 0.1 mile, and alter course to leave Horseshoe Crossing Lighted Bell Buoy abeam to port at 0.2 mile. What is the course per gyrocompass? 

    N a. 185°pgc
    N b. 187°pgc
    N c. 190°pgc
    Y d. 193°pgc
16246: From your 2259 fix, you alter course to 250°T. At 2300 Cape Henry Light bears 250°T. At 2326 Cape Henry Light bears 252°T. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. You are being set to the right.
    N b. The bearing change should be expected as you transit the inbound lane.
    Y c. You should alter course to starboard.
    N d. You should slow to reduce the effect of the current.
16310: At 0730, your position is LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 72°32.2'W. From this position you steer course 286°psc with an engine speed of 9.0 knots. What is the approximate depth of water under your keel? 

    Y a. 52 feet (15.8 meters)
    N b. 57 feet (17.3 meters)
    N c. 62 feet (18.8 meters)
    N d. 67 feet (20.3 meters)
16419: You estimate the current to be 160°T at 1.2 knots. What should your course and speed be in order to make good 000°
T at 10 knots? 

    Y a. 358°T at 11.1 knots
    N b. 358°T at 09.8 knots
    N c. 002°T at 11.2 knots
    N d. 002°T at 09.9 knots
16465: At 0600, you are entering the inbound leg of the traffic separation scheme at position LAT 36°59.2'N, LONG 75°47.6'
W. Course is 250°T. At 0605, Cape Henry Light bears 249°
T. At 0610, it bears 248°T. At 0625, it bears 247°T. Based on this, you know you are __________. 

    N a. meeting a current from dead ahead
    N b. running with a current from dead ahead
    Y c. being set to the north
    N d. being set to the south
16617: At 0200, you take the following bearings:

Falkner Island Light 004.5°T
Kelsey Pt. Breakwater Lt. 054.0°T
Horton Point Light 115.0°T

What were the set and drift from 0130? 

    N a. 260° at 0.5 knot
    N b. 080° at 1.0 knot
    Y c. 260° at 1.0 knot
    N d. There is no current.
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
16843: At what time will you enter the inbound traffic lane with Buoy "NCA" (LL #375) bearing 180°T at 0.3 mile? 

    N a. 1003
    Y b. 0957
    N c. 0951
    N d. 0948