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.


158: Which daymark should you see as you approach French Point Light (mile 915.4 AHP)?


437: At 0227, you are on course 087°T at 10 knots. What course per standard magnetic compass should you steer to make good your true course?


491: At 0748, you take the following bearings:

Watch Hill Point Light bearing 020.5° pgc
Race Point Light bearing 267.5° pgc

What is the approximate depth of water at this position?


520: On 29 June you observe the star Achernar at a sextant altitude (Hs) of 54°18.9'. The index error is 4.7' off the arc. The height of eye is 58 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 54°06.1'
    Y b. 54°15.5'
    N c. 54°31.5'
    N d. 54°43.7'

548: You are bound for New London. Where will you cross the demarcation line and be governed by the Inland Rules of the Road?

    N a. You are already governed by the Inland Rules.
    N b. Above the Thames River Bridge
    Y c. In the Race
    N d. You will not be governed by the Rules.

613: On 21 November, at 2100 zone time, you depart LAT 32°12.0'N, LONG 69°26.0'W enroute to LAT 12°05.0'N, LONG 7°32.0'W. The distance is 3,519 miles, and the average speed will be 12.5 knots. What is the zone time of arrival?

    N a. 1330, 3 December
    N b. 1530, 3 December
    Y c. 1830, 3 December
    N d. 1530, 4 December

1010: On 8 February , your 0800 zone time position is LAT 21°55'S, LONG 52°27'W. Your vessel is on course 056°T at a speed of 17.5 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0938 zone time, and the observed altitude (Ho) is 46°06.5'. The chronometer reads 12h 37m 23s, and the chronometer error is 1m 24s slow. LAN occurs at 1243 zone time, and a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is made. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 83°56.1'. Determine the vessel's 1200 zone time position.

    N a. LAT 20°57.0'S, LONG 51°21.5'W
    N b. LAT 20°58.0'S, LONG 51°25.5'W
    N c. LAT 21°04.0'S, LONG 51°12.0'W
    Y d. LAT 21°04.0'S, LONG 51°21.5'W

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

1206: Your 0900 DR position is LAT 23°16'N, LONG 146°12'E. Your vessel is on a course of 286°T, at a speed of 14.5 knots. Determine the zone time of LAN on 14 March .

    N a. 1151
    N b. 1209
    N c. 1223
    Y d. 1228

1452: On 6 November , your 0752 zone time DR position is LAT 25°11.0'N, LONG 76°07.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 119°psc. The chronometer reads 12h 53m 07s, and the chronometer error is 01m 19s fast. The variation is 3°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 2.2°W
    N b. 3.8°W
    N c. 2.8°E
    Y d. 3.2°E

1500: On September 9 , your 2130 zone time (ZD +5) DR position is LAT 45°08'N, LONG 82°38'W. At that time, you observe Polaris bearing 000.5°pgc. The chronometer time of the observation is 02h 26m 09s, and the chronometer is 1m 43s slow. The variation is 8.7°W. What is the gyro error?

    Y a. 0.7°E
    N b. 1.2°E
    N c. 0.8°W
    N d. 9.4°W

1547: At 0509, on 26 December, you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge (mile 661.7 AHP). What has been the average speed of the current since departing Memphis Harbor, McKellar Lake, if you have been making turns for 7.5 mph?

    N a. 5.6 mph
    Y b. 4.4 mph
    N c. 2.1 mph
    N d. 1.8 mph

1870: 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 313°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 14°56.3'. 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?

    Y a. Menkalinan
    N b. Mirzam
    N c. Theta Aurigae
    N d. Alnitak

1959: The charts show two dashed lines crossing the river just south of St. Catherine Bar Light. What does this indicate?

    N a. Overhead power lines
    N b. Louisiana-Mississippi ferry crossings
    N c. Two railroad trestles
    Y d. Two submerged oil pipelines

2007: On 4 September , your 1813 zone time DR position is LAT 24°18.0'S, LONG 95°16.0'E. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three stars best suited for a fix at star time?

    N a. Enif, Miaplacidus, Alkaid
    N b. Betelgeuse, Acrux, Hamal
    Y c. Rasalhague, Fomalhaut, Spica
    N d. Deneb, Altair, Vega

2017: On 2 February , your 0400 zone time DR position is LAT 24°14.0'N, LONG 163°28.0'W. You are on course 322°T at a speed of 22 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time?

    Y a. Saturn, Antares, Rasalhague
    N b. Jupiter, Saturn, Polaris
    N c. Saturn, Polaris, Zubenelgenubi
    N d. Jupiter, Spica, Denebola

2111: 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

2207: As you pass under the Natchez-Vidalia Dual Bridge, the gage on the bridge reads 8.9 ft. If the highest point on your vessel is 54 ft. above the water, what is your vertical clearance?

    Y a. 63.1 feet
    N b. 65.3 feet
    N c. 67.2 feet
    N d. 122.0 feet

2280: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 28°24.7' on 17 May . The index error is 1.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 86 feet (26 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 28°29.7'
    N b. 28°30.6'
    Y c. 28°31.5'
    N d. 28°32.9'

2463: You have steamed 491 miles at 20 knots and burning 568 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 265 barrels per day with 313 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 10.9
    N b. 14.3
    Y c. 17.1
    N d. 18.2

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

2877: Your vessel is steering 263°T at 22 knots. At 0413 a light bears 294°T, and at 0421 the same light bears 312°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    N a. 3.4 miles
    Y b. 3.7 miles
    N c. 4.3 miles
    N d. 4.9 miles

2881: Your vessel is steering 049°T at 15 knots. At 1914 a light bears 078°T, and at 1951 the same light bears 116°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    Y a. 6.7 miles
    N b. 7.1 miles
    N c. 7.5 miles
    N d. 8.3 miles

3111: You are turning 100 RPM, with propeller pitch of 25 feet, and an estimated negative slip of 5%. What is the speed of advance?

    N a. 23.4 knots
    N b. 24.7 knots
    Y c. 25.9 knots
    N d. 26.3 knots

3285: While steaming at 19.4 knots, your vessel consumes 392 barrels of fuel oil per day. In order to reduce consumption to 182 barrels of fuel oil per day, what is the maximum speed the vessel can turn for?

    N a. 13.2 knots
    Y b. 15.0 knots
    N c. 17.4 knots
    N d. 18.2 knots

3308: You have steamed 142 miles and consumed 21.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 465 miles?

    N a. 43.4 tons
    N b. 57.6 tons
    Y c. 68.8 tons
    N d. 72.8 tons

3471: You are underway on course 172°T at 18.5 knots. The current is 078°T at 2.8 knots. What is the speed being made good?

    Y a. 18.5 knots
    N b. 19.0 knots
    N c. 19.5 knots
    N d. 20.0 knots

3763: Your vessel is proceeding up 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 178°T, and the variation is 9°W. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 180° per standard magnetic compass, what is the deviation?

    N a. 2°E
    N b. 2°W
    Y c. 7°E
    N d. 7°W

10103: Your GPS position is LAT 37°01.5'N, LONG 75°31.7'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to Chesapeake Light?

    Y a. 243°
    N b. 240°
    N c. 237°
    N d. 231°

11301: At 1256 your GPS position is LAT 36°57.0'N, LONG 75°41.0'W. At 1331 your position is LAT 37°07.5'N, LONG 75°39.1'W. What was the speed made good between the fixes?

    N a. 14.6 knots
    N b. 15.2 knots
    N c. 16.6 knots
    Y d. 18.3 knots

12305: You sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light (LAT 41°18.2'N, LONG 71°56.0'W) bearing 095° per standard magnetic compass. If your vessel was heading 056° per standard magnetic compass at the time, which of the following is TRUE?

    N a. You should subtract 15°Compass error for bearings of 095°.
    N b. The deviation table is correct for all bearings of 095°.
    Y c. The vessel should be swung, and the deviation table checked.
    N d. The compass error is 19°W for all headings.

12309: You sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light (LAT 41°18.2'N, LONG 71°56.0'W) bearing 089° per standard magnetic compass. If your vessel was heading 297° per standard magnetic compass at the time, which of the following is TRUE?

    N a. The deviation table is correct for that heading.
    N b. The deviation equals the variation.
    Y c. You should swing your vessel to check the deviation table.
    N d. The compass error is 13°W for all bearings of 089°psc.

13210: At 0943, your position is LAT 41°14.8'N, LONG 71°54.3'W. You are turning for 12.2 knots. What is your ETA at the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island?

    Y a. 1054
    N b. 1048
    N c. 1040
    N d. 1032

13302: The shoal spanned by Trestle B of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel is __________.

    N a. Chesapeake shoal
    N b. the Middle ground
    N c. Lynnhaven roads
    Y d. the Tail of the Horseshoe

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

15010: At 1950, your position is LAT 37°12.3'N, LONG 75°38.6'W. The set and drift from 1930 to 1950 were __________.

    N a. 150°T at 0.6 knot
    Y b. 150°T at 1.6 knots
    N c. 330°T at 0.6 knot
    N d. 330°T at 1.6 knots

15108: Your 1752 position places you __________.

    Y a. less than 0.5 mile westward of York Spit Channel
    N b. less than 0.5 mile eastward of York Spit Channel
    N c. greater than 0.5 mile westward of York Spit Channel
    N d. greater than 0.5 mile eastward of York Spit Channel

15117: At 1930, you take a fix using the following radar ranges:

York Spit Light - 3.6 miles
New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" - 2.0 miles
York Spit Swash Channel Light "3" - 2.5 miles

Your longitude is __________.

    N a. 76°16.5'W
    Y b. 76°16.8'W
    N c. 76°17.0'W
    N d. 76°17.2'W

15139: At what time would you expect to be abeam of Buoy "MP"?

    N a. 2240
    N b. 2244
    Y c. 2248
    N d. 2252

15209: At 1800, Tue Marshes Light bears 264.5°pgc, York Spit Swash Channel Light "3" bears 007°pgc. Your position is __________.

    N a. LAT 37°15.5'N, LONG 76°19.8'W
    N b. LAT 37°15.2'N, LONG 76°20.3'W
    N c. LAT 37°15.0'N, LONG 76°20.0'W
    Y d. LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°20.1'W

15514: From your 1850 fix, you come left to a course of 280°T,
while maintaining a speed of 10 knots. Which of the following combinations of available Loran-C lines would give the best cross for position determining?

    Y a. 9960-Y and 9960-W
    N b. 9960-X and 9960-Y
    N c. 9960-W and 9960-X
    N d. All are equally good.

15724: You pass Morrison Towhead Light (mile 890.5 AHP) at 1723. What was your average speed since leaving Cairo?

    N a. 7.5 mph
    N b. 7.8 mph
    Y c. 8.5 mph
    N d. 8.8 mph

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

15863: If the current is 050° at 0.9 knot, and a northerly wind causes 3° of leeway. What is the course to steer per gyro compass to make good 280°T if you are turning for 9 knots?

    N a. 284°pgc
    N b. 279°pgc
    Y c. 276°pgc
    N d. 273°pgc

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

16319: As you enter the New Haven Outer Channel, you sight the outer range markers in line directly ahead. Your heading at this time is 347°psc. What is your compass deviation by observation?

    Y a. 0.5°East
    N b. 3.0°East
    N c. 3.5°West
    N d. 4.5°East

16416: At 1345, you depart from a position 1 mile due east of Montauk Point Light and set course for Block Island Southeast Light at 9 knots. At 1430 your position is Latitude 41° 06.3' North Longitude 071° 41.9' West

What was the current encountered since 1345?

    N a. Set 015°, drift 0.5 knot
    Y b. Set 195°, drift 0.5 knot
    N c. Set 015°, drift 0.7 knot
    N d. Set 195°, drift 0.7 knot

16514: At 0815, Montauk Pt. Light House is bearing 167°T,
Shagwong Pt. has a radar range of 4.5 miles, and Cerberus Shoal "9" Buoy is bearing 284°T. If the engine is making turns for 10 knots, what was the set and drift of the current since 0748?

    N a. Set 065°T, drift 1.1 knots
    N b. Set 065°T, drift 2.4 knots
    N c. Set 245°T, drift 1.1 knots
    Y d. Set 245°T, drift 2.4 knots

16560: From your 1800 position, you steer a course of 355°psc at a speed of 10.0 knots. At 1830, your position is LAT 41°11.7'N, LONG 71°45.8'W. What are the set and drift of the current?

    Y a. 005°T, 1.0 knot
    N b. 005°T, 0.5 knots
    N c. 180°T, 0.5 knot
    N d. 208°T, 1.0 knots

:

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