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.

153: What is the minimum maintained depth of the channel from Cairo to Baton Rouge during low water?
216: NOAA VHF-FM weather broadcasts from New London, CT are on __________.
238: At 0910, your DR position is LAT 41°11.9'N, LONG 72°47.8'W. Your vessel is on course 097°T at 9.5 knots, and the weather is foggy. At 0915, Branford Reef Light is sighted through a break in the fog bearing 318°T. At 0945, Falkner Island Light is sighted bearing 042°T. What is your 0945 running fix position?
355: Orient Point Light will break the horizon at a range of about __________. 

    N a. 9.3 miles
    N b. 10.8 miles
    N c. 12.1 miles
    Y d. 13.9 miles
614: Your vessel departs Arkhangel'sk, from position LAT 64°32'N, LONG 40°31'E at 0236 zone time, on 19 August. It is bound for New York, at position LAT 40°42'N, LONG 74°01'W. The distance is determined to be 4,216 miles, and you estimate that you will average 13.0 knots. What is your estimated zone time of arrival? 

    N a. 1155, 31 August
    N b. 1755, 31 August
    Y c. 0655, 1 September
    N d. 1155, 1 September
756: Anchorage regulations for this area may be obtained from __________. 

    N a. Commanding General, Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.
    Y b. Office of the Commander 5th Coast Guard District
    N c. Virginia - Maryland Pilots Association
    N d. Chesapeake Bay Port Authority, Hampton VA
1007: On 30 July , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 17°46'N, LONG 139°30'W. You are on course 129°T, speed 24 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.
ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1220 138°25.0' N 18°22.3' 88°43.3'
1226 139°55.0' N 18°22.2' 88°24.0' 

    N a. LAT 17°24.0'N, LONG 138°59.8'W
    N b. LAT 17°21.6'N, LONG 138°56.2'W
    N c. LAT 17°18.7'N, LONG 139°07.6'W
    Y d. LAT 17°15.1'N, LONG 139°00.0'W
1132: Which light will you be passing at 0059, on 22 September, if you make good 9.2 knots? 

    Y a. Obion Bar Lt.
    N b. Kate Aubrey Lt.
    N c. Trotter Lt.
    N d. Quaker Oats Lt.
1137: What is the length of the trip? 

    N a. 1195.4 miles
    N b. 1223.1 miles
    N c. 1464.8 miles
    Y d. 1520.1 miles
1194: On 16 January your 0930 ZT DR position is LAT 26°07.0'S, LONG 51°43.0'E. Your vessel is on course 238°T at a speed of 17.0 knots. What is the ZT of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    Y a. 1145
    N b. 1148
    N c. 1152
    N d. 1156
1343: At 1019, on 10 March, you pass under the Greenville Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What was your average speed since departing River Cement Co. Dock? 

    Y a. 7.2 mph
    N b. 6.8 mph
    N c. 6.5 mph
    N d. 6.2 mph
1411: After you get underway, what is the first river gage you will pass? 

    N a. Head of Passes
    N b. Baton Rouge
    Y c. Bayou Sara
    N d. Red River Landing
1412: At Filter Point Light (mile 475 AHP) there are 3 close straight dashed lines on the map passing through the black dot below the number 475. What do these lines represent? 

    N a. Oil pipelines
    N b. Submerged gas pipelines
    Y c. Power Cables
    N d. Submerged fiber optic cable
1453: On 15 October , your 0325 zone time DR position is LAT 26°51.0'N, LONG 138°17.0'W. At that time, you observe Canopus bearing 167°pgc. The chronometer reads 00h 25m 36s, and the chronometer error is 00m 20s slow. The variation is 2°E. What is the gyro error? 

    Y a. 1.3°W
    N b. 3.2°W
    N c. 3.2°E
    N d. 4.1°W
1541: At 0119, on 10 September, you pass Springfield Bend Lt. (mile 244.8 AHP) and estimate the current will average 2.5 mph for the remainder of your trip. What is your ETA at the mouth of the Ohio River if you are making turns for 8.5 mph? 

    N a. 1746, 12 September
    N b. 1244, 13 September
    Y c. 2329, 14 September
    N d. 0210, 15 September
1654: On 28 September , in DR position LAT 27°16.7'S, LONG 113°27.2'W, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 273°psc. The chronometer reads 01h 17m 26s and is 01m 49s slow. Variation in the area is 6°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.2°W
    Y b. 0.4°E
    N c. 0.6°W
    N d. 0.8°E
1743: You are in charge of a vessel that damages an aid to navigation established and maintained by the United States.
Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. You must take the aid in tow and deliver it to the nearest Coast Guard, Marine Safety Office.
    N b. You must report the allision to the nearest Corps.. of Engineers Office.
    Y c. You must report the accident to the nearest Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.
    N d. You may wait until you reach your destination before reporting the allision to the U.S. Coast Guard.
2281: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 62°22.2' on 6 June . The index error is 1.2' on the arc. The height of eye is 28 feet (8.5 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 62°24.8'
    N b. 62°26.9'
    Y c. 62°31.4'
    N d. 62°36.7'
2461: You have steamed 540 miles at 22 knots and burning 618 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 372 barrels per day with 299 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel? 

    Y a. 16.5
    N b. 17.6
    N c. 19.1
    N d. 20.0
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
2710: What does the circle with black and white quadrants across from Morgan Point Landing (769.0 miles AHP) represent? 

    Y a. Gage reading
    N b. Day Beacon
    N c. Light Tower
    N d. Speed zone
2853: Your vessel is on a course of 343°T at 14 knots. At 2156 a light bears 320.5°T, and at 2217 the light bears 298°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    Y a. 2232, 3.4 miles
    N b. 2235, 4.3 miles
    N c. 2228, 4.9 miles
    N d. 2241, 6.9 miles
2854: Your vessel is on a course of 221°T at 15 knots. At 0319 a light bears 198.5°T, and at 0353 the light bears 176°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0407, 4.3 miles
    N b. 0410, 5.2 miles
    Y c. 0417, 6.0 miles
    N d. 0427, 7.4 miles
2905: You are steaming on a course of 215°T at 14 knots. At 1841 you observe a lighthouse bearing 178°T. At 1904 the same lighthouse bears 156°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing? 

    N a. 5.4 miles
    N b. 6.6 miles
    N c. 7.5 miles
    Y d. 8.7 miles
3098: If the pitch of the propeller is 21.2 feet, and the revolutions per day are 93,660, calculate the day's run allowing 5% positive slip. 

    N a. 163.3 miles
    N b. 217.8 miles
    Y c. 310.3 miles
    N d. 342.9 miles
3451: You are underway and intend to make good a course of 040°T. You experience a current with a set and drift of 190°T at 1.4 knots, and a northwest wind produces a leeway of 3°. You adjust your course to compensate for the current and leeway, while maintaining an engine speed of 10 knots. What will be your speed made good over your intended course of 040°T? 

    N a. 7.8 knots
    Y b. 8.8 knots
    N c. 9.8 knots
    N d. 11.0 knots
3457: 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 speed will you make good along the track line? 

    N a. 12.2 knots
    N b. 12.7 knots
    Y c. 13.0 knots
    N d. 13.3 knots
3634: You desire to make good a true course of 038°. The variation is 5°E, magnetic compass deviation is 4°W, and gyrocompass error is 4°W. A southeasterly wind produces a 4° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good? 

    N a. 033°psc
    Y b. 041°psc
    N c. 043°psc
    N d. 047°psc
4000: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°E. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a magnetic compass heading of 057°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 350° 122.5° - 110° 239.5° - 230°
030.5° - 020° 152.0° - 140° 269.0° - 260°
061.5° - 050° 181.0° - 170° 298.0° - 290°
092.0° - 080° 210.0° - 200° 327.5° - 320° 

    N a. 1.0°E
    N b. 1.5°E
    Y c. 1.5°W
    N d. 0.5°W
6144: What are the dimensions of the Old River Lock on the Lower Old River (mile 304 AHP)? 

    Y a. 1190 X 75 feet
    N b. 1185 X 84 feet
    N c. 1190 X 84 feet
    N d. 1185 X 75 feet
6446: You continue on course from your 1126 fix. At 1131 Cape Charles Light bears 322°T. At 1135 you change course to 000°T. At 1149 Cape Henry Light bears 247°T. Which statement concerning your 1149 running fix is TRUE? 

    N a. Your fathometer reads 47 feet.
    Y b. You are in a danger area.
    N c. Chesapeake Light is due south of you.
    N d. You are north of Smith Island Shoal.
10106: What is the course per standard magnetic compass from Chesapeake Light to North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy NCA? 

    N a. 316°psc
    Y b. 321°psc
    N c. 323°psc
    N d. 326°psc
12105: While in the Back River, you sight the two tanks along the Northwest Branch (vicinity LAT 37°05.6'N, LONG 76°22.0'W) in line bearing 274°psc. If your vessel is heading 300°psc, what is TRUE? 

    Y a. There is no deviation.
    N b. The deviation is equal to the variation.
    N c. The deviation is 9°E.
    N d. The deviation is 0° only for a bearing of 274°psc.
12601: You are on course 062° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Branford Reef Light 060°psc Stratford Point Light 272°psc New Haven Light 324°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°07.1'N, LONG 72°53.4'W
    Y b. LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 72°52.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°11.6'N, LONG 72°50.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°13.3'N, LONG 72°48.7'W
12900: Your 1302 position is LAT 37°14.7'N, LONG 76°22.7'W. You are turning for 9.6 knots. What is your ETA at Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel if you follow York River Entrance Channel? 

    N a. 1516
    Y b. 1505
    N c. 1500
    N d. 1451
13003: At 2102 your position is LAT 41°02.9'N, LONG 72°57.4'W. You are making turns for 16 knots. What is your ETA at a position 5 miles due south of Falkner Island Light? 

    N a. 2149
    Y b. 2155
    N c. 2159
    N d. 2204
13806: The chart symbol surrounding Saybrook Breakwater Light warns mariners that the navigational light structure is __________. 

    N a. no longer maintained
    Y b. protected by riprap
    N c. privately maintained
    N d. awash at high tide
13807: The chart symbol depicted at LAT 40°58.5'N, LONG 72°43.4'W indicates a(n) __________. 

    N a. abandoned lighthouse
    N b. light ship
    N c. wreck with only its mast visible
    Y d. wreck showing a portion of the hull above the sounding datum
15006: You are on course 192°pgc at 12 knots.
At 1900 your position is:
Latitude 37° 22.6' North
Longitude 075° 35.7' West

Which of the following is true? 

    N a. if you maintain course and speed you will pass Hog Island Bell Buoy "2" to stbd
    N b. you are inside the 3 nm territorial sea
    Y c. your fathometer reads 30'
    N d. None of the above
15064: At 0844, the range to the north end of Falkner Island is 2.0 miles and the left tangent bearing is 102°T. If the height of the tide is +1.0 foot, what is the approximate depth of the water under the keel? 

    N a. 14 ft (4.2 meters)
    Y b. 19 ft (5.8 meters)
    N c. 22 ft (6.7 meters)
    N d. 29 ft (8.8 meters)
15240: At 1130, Horton Point Light bears 172° true at a range of 3.45nm

The fathometer reads 81 ft. Your position is __________. 

    N a. north of your intended track line
    N b. 41°09.4'N, 72°22.6'W
    N c. three miles southeast of Six Mile Reef Buoy "8A"
    Y d. 41°08.5'N, 72°27.3'W
15320: Inbound, the color of Cape Henry Light will __________. 

    Y a. change before you reach Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"
    N b. change after you reach Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"
    N c. remain the same
    N d. alternate regardless of your position
15868: Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light is __________. 

    N a. 13 foot high
    N b. a fixed white light
    N c. shown from a white tower
    Y d. equipped with a HORN
15869: After you raise Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light, how will the bearings change if you pass to the north of the light? 

    Y a. The bearings will change to the left.
    N b. The bearings will remain steady.
    N c. The bearings will change to the right.
    N d. Magnetic compass bearings will change to the left and gyro compass bearings will change to the right.
15967: At 1925, you take a fix using the following radar ranges:
York Spit Light - 3.4 miles away;
New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" - 2.1 miles away;
York Spit Swash Channel Light "3" - 2.7 miles away. Your longitude is __________. 

    Y a. 76°16.6'W
    N b. 76°16.8'W
    N c. 76°17.0'W
    N d. 76°17.2'W
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°
16058: At 1750, your position is LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°22.9'W. What was the speed made good between 1730 and 1750? 

    N a. 7.5 knots
    N b. 7.8 knots
    N c. 8.1 knots
    Y d. 8.4 knots
16312: Assuming no current, at what time can you expect to be abeam of Townshend Ledge Lighted Buoy? 

    N a. 0859
    N b. 0902
    N c. 0905
    Y d. 0910
16513: At 0748, you change course to 160°T. What loran reading can you follow to remain on this course? 

    Y a. 9960-W-14651.0
    N b. 9960-W-14660.0
    N c. 9960-Y-43852.0
    N d. 9960-Y-43943.8
16518: At 0845, Montauk Pt. Light is bearing 205°T at a radar distance of 6.6 miles. What is your speed made good from your 0815 position? 

    Y a. 8.2knots
    N b. 9.2 knots
    N c. 10.0 knots
    N d. 10.5 knots
16546: At 0100 you notice that the wind has become SSW'ly and has freshened. At 0200 you sight Stratford Point Lighted Bell Buoy "18" bearing 268°pgc. At 0215 the buoy bears 269°pgc. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. You should alter course to the right to increase the rate of the bearing change.
    N b. You are making more speed over the ground than you estimated.
    Y c. You should alter course to decrease the distance that you will pass off Middle Ground Shoal.
    N d. You can hold the present course and safely pass buoy "18".