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.

116: At which of the following times would you be able to listen to lower Mississippi River conditions on VHF Channel 22?
327: At 0315, you obtain the following bearings:

Wolf Trap Light bearing 091° true
Old Plantation Flats Light bearing 179° true

What is the true course from this position to the entrance of York Spit Channel?
534: You depart LAT 52°01'N, LONG 176°09'E, for LAT 52°01'N, LONG 178°46'W. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing?
573: Visibility has decreased to 1 mile in haze. At 0948, you take the following radar ranges. What course should you steer from this fix to the York Spit channel between buoys "19" and "20"?

Thimble Shoal Light - 5.9 miles South end of trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel - 3.8 miles South end of trestle B of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel - 5.4 miles 

    Y a. 010°pgc
    N b. 008°pgc
    N c. 004°pgc
    N d. 001°pgc
612: At 0530 zone time, on 20 December , you depart Cape Town (ZD -1). You are bound for New York (ZD +5), and you estimate your speed of advance at 25 knots. The distance is 6,762 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at New York? 

    N a. 1200, 31 December
    N b. 1100, 31 December
    N c. 0700, 31 December
    Y d. 0600, 31 December
674: What are the dimensions of the Port Allen Lock at Baton Rouge, LA? 

    N a. 75 feet x 1188 feet
    Y b. 84 feet x 1188 feet
    N c. 84 feet x 1180 feet
    N d. 75 feet x 1180 feet
727: On 11 February , your 1832 zone time DR position is LONG 110°52.6'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 26°19.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 01h 34m 56s, and the chronometer error is 02m 16s fast. The index error is 2.7' off the arc, and the height of eye is 60.2 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    Y a. 25°27.2'N
    N b. 25°34.2'N
    N c. 26°27.2'N
    N d. 26°34.2'N
816: On 15 November , your 0813 zone time (ZT) fix gives you a position of LAT 22°30.0'N, LONG 67°28.0'W. Your vessel is on course 164°T, and your speed is 13.5 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 49°46.0'. What is the latitude at 1200 ZT? 

    Y a. 21°42.5'N
    N b. 21°39.3'N
    N c. 21°36.0'N
    N d. 21°32.8'N
1004: On 15 November , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 19°41'S, LONG 41°37'W. You are on course 239°T, speed 22 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.

ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1128 40°50.4' S 18°33.6' 88°18.4'
1133 42°05.4' S 18°33.6' 88°37.7' 

    Y a. LAT 20°01.0'S, LONG 42°05.9'W
    N b. LAT 20°04.3'S, LONG 42°09.8'W
    N c. LAT 20°06.7'S, LONG 42°06.1'W
    N d. LAT 20°08.1'S, LONG 42°00.7'W
1186: On 16 November , your 0800 zone time DR position is LAT 25°11.0'N, LONG 117°41.0'W. Your vessel is on course 252°T at a speed of 14.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1131
    N b. 1135
    Y c. 1139
    N d. 1144
1204: On 25 April , your 0930 zone time position is LAT 28°35'S, LONG 82°30'W. Your vessel is on course 300°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. Determine the time of LAN. 

    Y a. 1131
    N b. 1158
    N c. 1211
    N d. 1225
1209: It is 22 October and you are keeping zone time +4. You are on course 083°T, speed 24 knots. Your 0820 DR position is LAT 26°10.0'N, LONG 52°20.0'W. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks? 

    N a. 10h 04m 36s
    N b. 10h 04m 53s
    N c. 11h 04m 37s
    Y d. 11h 08m 54s
1244: If your vessel is making turns for 7.5 mph with an estimated average current of 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at the dock in Angelina, LA? 

    Y a. 1621, 28 Dec
    N b. 2203, 28 Dec
    N c. 0516, 29 Dec
    N d. 1621, 29 Dec
1484: On 7 December , your vessel's 0835 zone time DR position is LAT 28°30.0'N, LONG 125°39.3'W, when an azimuth of the Sun is observed. The chronometer time of the sight is 04h 34m 48s, and the Sun is bearing 113° per standard magnetic compass. The chronometer error is 01m 24s slow, and the variation in the area is 13.0°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.7°E
    N b. 1.0°W
    Y c. 2.3°E
    N d. 3.0°W
1484: On 7 December , your vessel's 0835 zone time DR position is LAT 28°30.0'N, LONG 125°39.3'W, when an azimuth of the Sun is observed. The chronometer time of the sight is 04h 34m 48s, and the Sun is bearing 113° per standard magnetic compass. The chronometer error is 01m 24s slow, and the variation in the area is 13.0°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.7°E
    N b. 1.0°W
    Y c. 2.3°E
    N d. 3.0°W
1496: On 3 October , your 2122 ZT position is LAT 26°32'N, LONG 84°26'W. You observe Polaris bearing 359.8°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 106°pgc and 107°psc. The variation is 0°. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    N a. 1°E
    Y b. 0°
    N c. 1°W
    N d. 2°W
1503: On 30 July , your 0200 zone time (ZD +4) DR position is LAT 43°48'N, LONG 78°00 W. At that time, you observe Polaris bearing 008.7°psc. The chronometer time of the observation is 05h 58m 07s, and the chronometer is 0m 23s slow. The variation is 10.5°W. What is the deviation of the magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.5°E
    Y b. 3.0°E
    N c. 7.5°W
    N d. 18.0°W
1666: On 23 October , your vessel's 1722 zone time DR position is LAT 27°36'S, LONG 96°16'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's lower limb is about 20 minutes of arc above the visible horizon and bears 246° per standard compass. Variation in the area is 14.0°E. The chronometer reads 11h 24m 19s and is 01m 43s fast. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    N a. 2.3°E
    N b. 2.7°E
    N c. 2.7°W
    Y d. 3.1°W
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
1764: The Gage at Red River Landing reads 43.4 feet. The low water reference plane (LWRP) for Red River Landing, LA. Is 10.6 ft. How many feet is this above the low water reference plane? 

    N a. 10.6 ft
    N b. 11.6 ft
    N c. 22.2 ft
    Y d. 32.8 ft
1841: 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. 1.8 mph
    N b. 2.1 mph
    Y c. 4.4 mph
    N d. 5.6 mph
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
1949: The circle with black and white quadrants located at mile 435.6 AHP is a __________. 

    N a. Daymark
    N b. Electrical Tower
    Y c. River Gage
    N d. Information Board
2008: On 24 July , your 1912 zone time DR position is LAT 24°28.0'N, LONG 73°46.5'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three stars best suited for a fix at star time? 

    N a. Fomalhaut, Rigel, Pollux
    N b. Arcturus, Acrux, Hadar
    Y c. Spica, Altair, Alioth
    N d. Vega, Deneb, Regulus
2181: On 4 June , at 0630 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 26°15'S, LONG 121°20'W. Your vessel is steaming at 13.0 knots on a course of 246°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0915 ZT. The chronometer reads 05h 14m 27s, and the sextant altitude is 25°57.8'. The index error is 2.1' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 0m 53s slow. Your height of eye is 39.0 feet. What is the intercept (a) and azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position method? 

    N a. Zn 044.6°,  a 1.7' A
    Y b. Zn 044.6°,  a 2.5' T
    N c. Zn 135.1°,  a 1.7' A
    N d. Zn 135.1°,  a 2.5' T
2534: 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.? 

    N a. 0557, April 19th
    N b. 1045, April 19th
    Y c. 1242, April 19th
    N d. 1733, April 19th
2665: You are on course 079°T, speed 11.2 knots. At 0904 you see a daymark bearing 078°T at a range of 4.6. If you change course at 0910 to leave the daymark abeam to starboard at 0.5 mile, at what time will the daymark be abeam? 

    N a. 0918
    N b. 0923
    Y c. 0928
    N d. 0935
2694: While on a course of 152°T, a light bears 9° on the port bow at a distance of 11.6 miles. What course should you steer to pass 3 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port? 

    N a. 153°
    Y b. 158°
    N c. 163°
    N d. 167°
2776: The charts show a circle with two black quadrants located at mile 846.0 AHP. What does this indicate? 

    N a. Hazardous chemical dock
    Y b. River Gage
    N c. Betz-Tipton Veneers Terminal
    N d. Bulletin Board
2897: You are steaming on a course of 327°T at 13 knots. At 0207 you observe a lighthouse bearing 020°T. At 0226 the lighthouse bears 042°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing? 

    N a. 8.5 miles
    Y b. 8.9 miles
    N c. 9.2 miles
    N d. 9.7 miles
3100: The pitch of the propeller on your vessel is 19'09". You estimate the slip at -3%. If you averaged 82 RPM for the day's run, how many miles did you steam? 

    N a. 370.8
    N b. 373.6
    N c. 393.7
    Y d. 395.3
3259: You have steamed 607 miles at 17.0 knots, and consumed 121 tons of fuel. If you have 479 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 14.5 knots? 

    N a. 1211 miles
    N b. 1748 miles
    N c. 2817 miles
    Y d. 3303 miles
3281: While steaming at 15.7 knots, your vessel consumes 329 barrels of fuel oil per day. In order to reduce consumption to 267 barrels of fuel oil per day, what is the maximum speed the vessel can turn for? 

    N a. 12.7 knots
    N b. 13.5 knots
    Y c. 14.6 knots
    N d. 15.5 knots
3610: While enroute from Sydney to the Panama Canal a vessel's true course is 071°. Variation is 14°E. Deviation is 4°W. A northerly breeze causes 2° leeway. What course would you steer psc in order to make good the true course? 

    Y a. 059°psc
    N b. 061°psc
    N c. 063°psc
    N d. 079°psc
3760: Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 352°T, and the variation is 4°W. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 359° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation? 

    Y a. 3°W
    N b. 7°E
    N c. 11°E
    N d. 11°W
11806: What course should you steer by standard magnetic compass between Mattituck Inlet and Branford Reef Light, if the set and drift of the current are 027° at 2.5 knots, and a northeasterly wind will cause 1° of leeway? Your engines are turning for 12 knots. 

    N a. 295°psc
    N b. 305°psc
    N c. 317°psc
    Y d. 320°psc
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
12908: At 0919 you are inbound, approximately 3.3 miles east of Cape Henry with buoy "15" close aboard to port. What is your ETA between Trestle B and Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel if you are making 11.3 knots? 

    N a. 1010
    Y b. 1014
    N c. 1019
    N d. 1025
13006: Your 1600 position is LAT 41°08.0'N, LONG 72°44.8'W. You are making turns for 14 knots. What is your ETA at Mattituck Inlet? 

    N a. 1636
    N b. 1643
    Y c. 1647
    N d. 1651
15109: What is the average velocity of the maximum flood current at the Tail of the Horseshoe? 

    N a. 0.6 knot
    Y b. 0.9 knot
    N c. 1.3 knots
    N d. 1.6 knots
15142: At 2146 if your fathometer is set on feet, what should be the approximate reading on your fathometer? 

    Y a. 88 feet
    N b. 105 feet
    N c. 121 feet
    N d. 166 feet
15144: At 2310 Buoy "MP" bears 305° true with a radar range of 2.5 miles. From this position you change course to 005° true. Without any set and drift, what would be your predicted distance off Southwest Ledge Buoy "2" when it is on your starboard beam? 

    N a. 0.9 mile
    N b. 1.1 miles
    Y c. 1.5 miles
    N d. 1.9 miles
15257: At 0725, Stratford Point Light bears 327°pgc at 3.1 miles.
At this time, you wish to change course to 048°T. The current is 135°T at 1.8 knots. Your engine speed is 8 knots. What course must you steer to make good 048°T? 

    Y a. 035°T
    N b. 038°T
    N c. 041°T
    N d. 044°T
15510: From your 1800 position you steer a course of 350°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? 

    N a. 029°T, 0.7 knot
    Y b. 029°T, 1.4 knots
    N c. 209°T, 0.7 knot
    N d. 209°T, 1.4 knots
15611: From your 1815 position, you want to make good a course of 263°T. Your engines are turning RPM's for 12 knots. The current is 050°T at 1.9 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, at what time should you expect to enter the red sector of Cape Henry Light? 

    N a. 1849
    N b. 1854
    N c. 1859
    Y d. 1904
15817: The south coast of Long Island Sound between Mattituck Inlet and Port Jefferson is __________. 

    N a. composed of high rocky bluffs
    N b. a high, flat plateau with sheer cliffs
    Y c. fringed by rocky shoals
    N d. low and marshy with isolated beaches
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
15857: You are southeast of Saybrook Breakwater Light passing a horizontally-banded buoy. This buoy marks __________. 

    N a. a sunken wreck
    N b. a tide rips area
    N c. the junction with the Connecticut River
    Y d. shoal water
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
16015: By 0430, the wind has increased, and the visibility cleared due to passage of a front. You estimate 3° leeway due to NW'ly winds. What is the course per gyrocompass to pass 1.2 miles due south of Twenty-eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy "TE"? 

    Y a. 080°
    N b. 083°
    N c. 086°
    N d. 090°
16358: What is the distance from the anchorage to point "A"? 

    N a. 13.9 miles
    Y b. 15.1 miles
    N c. 15.9 miles
    N d. 17.0 miles
16444: At 1042 you take the following round of bearings:

Cape Henry Light 259°T
Chesapeake Light 101°T
Cape Charles Light 006°T
From this position, you set course 070°T at a speed of 9.5 knots.

What is the course per standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 069.5°psc
    N b. 060.5°psc
    Y c. 079.5°psc
    N d. 080.5°psc
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
16608: At 2142, you take the following bearings:

Stratford Point Light 331°T
Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light 280°T
Old Field Point Light 223°T

What is your 2142 position? 

    Y a. LAT 41°03.0'N, LONG 73°01.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°03.1'N, LONG 73°02.1'W
    N c. LAT 41°03.1'N, LONG 73°01.3'W
    N d. LAT 41°03.3'N, LONG 73°01.9'W