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.

46: At 2342, on 25 August, 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 9 mph?
145: As you approach Joseph Henry Light (mile 445.2 AHP) which daymark would you see?
178: If the Old Point Comfort main light was inoperative what emergency light would be shown?
272: At 0925, you plot the following bearings:

Falkner Island Light bearing 251°true
Kelsey Point BW Light bearing 075°true

If you correct for a current setting 215°T at 0.5 knot, what course will you steer from the 0925 position to arrive at a position 0.5 mile south of Long Sand Shoal West End Horn Buoy "W"? 

    N a. 102°T
    N b. 096°T
    N c. 093°T
    Y d. 089°T
297: What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass in order to navigate down the center of York River Entrance Channel (ignore set and drift)? 

    N a. 149°psc
    N b. 145°psc
    Y c. 141°psc
    N d. 139°psc
316: From your 1830 fix, you continue south on a course of 150°T turning RPMs for 6 knots. You encounter a flood current in the direction of 330°T at 2 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, which course would you steer to make good a course of 150°T while turning RPMs for 6 knots? 

    N a. 162°T
    N b. 158°T
    Y c. 150°T
    N d. 144°T
323: At 2205, you are in Thimble Shoal North Auxiliary Channel abeam of lighted gong buoy "4". At this time the visibility decreases to 5 miles. You continue to turn RPMs for 6 knots and experience no set and drift. What time would you expect Old Point Comfort Light (white sector) to become visible? 

    N a. 2258
    N b. 2246
    Y c. 2240
    N d. 2230
337: If you make good a speed of 6.0 knots from your 1810 position, what is your ETA at Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"? 

    N a. 1900
    N b. 1855
    N c. 1845
    Y d. 1833
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
389: Which statement describes the shore between Watch Hill Point and Point Judith? 

    N a. Low, rocky cliffs
    N b. Heavily wooded hills
    Y c. Sandy beaches broken by rocky points
    N d. Barren hills with prominent buildings
460: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 35°27.0'N, LONG 140°20.5'E to LAT 47°51.0'N, LONG 122°51.0'W. 

    N a. 4087 miles, 036°T
    Y b. 4115 miles, 045°T
    N c. 4122 miles. 076°T
    N d. 4136 miles, 076°T
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
996: On 30 August your 0554 zone time (ZT) position was LAT 25°39.0'S, LONG 31°51.0'E. Your vessel was steaming on course 325°T at a speed of 15.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0836 ZT. The chronometer read 06h 38m 36s and was fast 02m 24s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 30°49.2'. LAN occurred at 1157 ZT. The observed altitude (Ho) was 56°40.0'. What was the longitude of your 1157 ZT running fix? 

    N a. 30°59.8'E
    N b. 30°57.6'E
    N c. 30°55.9'E
    Y d. 30°52.5'E
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
1213: It is 23 November and you are keeping zone time +4. You are on course 262°T, speed 21 knots. Your 0800 DR position is LAT 24°30.0'N, LONG 48°40.0'W. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks? 

    Y a. 11h 05m 54s
    N b. 11h 34m 22s
    N c. 12h 06m 02s
    N d. 12h 08m 36s
1233: What is the distance from Greenville, MS, to Tiptonville, TN on the Mississippi River System? 

    N a. 95 miles
    N b. 136 miles
    Y c. 341 miles
    N d. 520 miles
1255: On 12 June , your 0400 ZT DR position is LAT 22°31.0'N, LONG 31°45.0'W. You are on course 240°T at a speed of 16.5 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel? 

    N a. 0507
    N b. 0515
    Y c. 0523
    N d. 0645
1266: On 1 December , your 1600 ZT DR position is LAT 22°48.0'S, LONG 91°26.0'E. You are on course 327°T at a speed of 16 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1823
    Y b. 1827
    N c. 1831
    N d. 1847
1417: What is the distance from Baton Rouge, LA, to Hickman, KY, on the Mississippi River System? 

    N a. 117 miles
    N b. 433 miles
    N c. 656 miles
    Y d. 692 miles
1689: What daymark will you see as you approach Warnicott Bar Lt. (mile 351.3 AHP)? 

    N a. Red diamond
    N b. Red triangle
    Y c. Green square
    N d. White square
1723: You will pass the first gage at __________. 

    N a. Profit Island
    N b. Bayou Sara
    N c. Baton Rouge
    Y d. Red River Landing
1732: You estimate the current at 2.0 mph. What is the speed over the ground? 

    N a. 3.5 mph
    Y b. 4.5 mph
    N c. 7.5 mph
    N d. 9.5 mph
1739: The Delta-Friar Point revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________. 

    N a. 645.6 - 641.4 RDB
    N b. 652.8 - 649.6 RDB
    N c. 648.5 - 645.5 LDB
    Y d. 657.3 - 652.2 LDB
1838: What is the distance from Baton Rouge, LA, to St. Louis, MO, on the Mississippi River System? 

    N a. 1038 miles
    Y b. 916 miles
    N c. 690 miles
    N d. 352 miles
1839: What are the dimensions of the channel maintained from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, LA? 

    N a. 30 feet x 300 feet
    N b. 40 feet x 300 feet
    N c. 30 feet x 500 feet
    Y d. 45 feet x 500 feet
1884: On 26 November , your 0535 DR position is LAT 27°18.9'S, LONG 30°18.4'E. You observe an unidentified planet bearing 085°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 32°15.2'. The chronometer reads 03h 33m 16s, and is 01m 48s slow. What planet did you observe? 

    N a. Saturn
    Y b. Jupiter
    N c. Mars
    N d. Venus
1920: On 17 March , your 0520 Dr position is LAT 27°23.0'N, LONG 39°42.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 313°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 43°03.8'. The chronometer reads 08h 22m 15s and is 01m 45s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Altair
    Y b. Alkaid
    N c. Arcturus
    N d. Deneb
1986: 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 Army Corps.. of
    
Engineers Office.
    N c. You may wait until you reach your destination before reporting the allision to the U.S. Coast Guard.
    Y d. You must report the accident to the nearest Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.
2116: At 0300, your position is LAT 41°01.7'N, LONG 72°55.1'W. From this position you steer a course of 289° per standard magnetic compass at an engine speed of 10.0 knots. At what time can you first expect to see Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light if the luminous range is 8.0 miles? 

    Y a. 0303
    N b. 0309
    N c. 0312
    N d. 0318
2122: At 1538 ZT, on 15 October , in DR LAT position LAT 18° 12.8' S, LONG 160° 48.4' E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 276.2°psc. Variation is 10° E. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 2.6°E
    N b. 2.6°W
    N c. 3.6°E
    Y d. 3.6°W
2244: At 1435 ZT, on 27 April , in DR position LAT 51° 56.8' N, LONG 150° 37.7' E, the Moon’s upper limb is observed on the visible horizon, bearing 242.2° psc. Variation is 2° W. What is the deviation? 

    Y a. 2.2°W
    N b. 2.2°E
    N c. 6.2°E
    N d. 6.2°W
2319: You complete changing out your tow and get underway enroute Ark City Tank Storage (mile 554.0 AHP) to deliver the tank barges. What is the distance you must travel from Cairo Point Light? 

    N a. 606.8 miles
    N b. 554.0 miles
    Y c. 399.8 miles
    N d. 202.1 miles
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
2692: While on a course of 097°pgc, a light bears 8° on the port bow at a distance of 11.7 miles. What course should you steer to pass 3 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port? 

    N a. 082°pgc
    N b. 091°pgc
    Y c. 104°pgc
    N d. 112°pgc
2779: If the Fair Landing, AR. Gage reads -1.2 feet, what is the water level in relation to the low water reference plane? The low water reference plane (LWRP) for Fair Landing, AR. is -0.9 feet. 

    N a. 2.1 foot above the plane
    N b. 0.3 foot above the plane
    Y c. 0.3 feet below the plane
    N d. 1.2 feet below the plane
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
3097: If the pitch of the propeller is 19.4 feet, and the revolutions per day are 96,713, calculate the day's run allowing 6% positive slip. 

    N a. 266.4 miles
    Y b. 290.1 miles
    N c. 308.6 miles
    N d. 327.1 miles
3258: You have steamed 525 miles at 16.0 knots, and consumed 105 tons of fuel. If you have 308 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 19 knots? 

    N a. 920 miles
    Y b. 1092 miles
    N c. 1297 miles
    N d. 2172 miles
3452: 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 course should you steer? 

    N a. 027°T
    N b. 037°T
    Y c. 044°T
    N d. 054°T
3642: You are steering 154° per gyrocompass. The wind is northeast by east, causing 4° leeway. The gyro error is 3° east, variation is 11° west, and deviation is 7°E. What is the true course made good? 

    N a. 151°T
    N b. 158°T
    Y c. 161°T
    N d. 164°T
10101: 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 east of Cape Charles Buoy "14" (LAT 37°07.4'N, LONG 75°41.0'W)? 

    N a. 040°psc
    Y b. 045°psc
    N c. 049°psc
    N d. 053°psc
11705: Your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to arrive at LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 75°48.5'W, if the current is 043°T at 1.3 knots, a south-southeasterly wind is causing 3° of leeway, and you are turning for 8.7 knots? 

    N a. 260.5°psc
    N b. 264.0°psc
    Y c. 268.0°psc
    N d. 271.5°psc
11804: Your engines are making turns for 8 knots and a northerly wind is causing 3° of leeway. There is a current of 220°T at 1.5 knots. What is the course to steer between Branford Reef Light and Faulkner Island Light? 

    Y a. 084°T
    N b. 095°T
    N c. 102°T
    N d. 108°T
12102: You sight Thimble Shoal Light in line with Old Point Comfort Light bearing 265° per standard magnetic compass. You are on course 135°psc. Based on this, you know __________. 

    N a. there is no compass error
    N b. there is a local magnetic disturbance
    N c. you should swing your vessel and check the deviation table
    Y d. the deviation is 0°
12306: You sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light (LAT 41°18.2'N, LONG 71°56.0'W) bearing 093° per standard magnetic compass. If your vessel was heading 185° per standard magnetic compass at the time, which of the following is TRUE? 

    N a. The compass error is 2°W.
    N b. The deviation is 17°W.
    N c. The deviation is 2°W for all bearings of 093°.
    Y d. The deviation table is correct for that heading.
13506: The broken magenta lines starting at Montauk Point and running generally ENE to Block Island indicate __________. 

    N a. recommended tracks to Block Island
    Y b. a submerged cable area
    N c. a military exercise area
    N d. demarcation lines for application of the COLREGS
14602: Where would you tune your radio to receive a VHF-FM weather broadcast for the Columbia River in the vicinity of Government Island? 

    N a. KIH-32 - 162.40 MHz
    N b. KBA-99 - 162.40 MHz
    Y c. KEB-97 - 162.55 MHz
    N d. KEC-62 - 162.55 MHz
15069: During extreme low water, the soundings near Saybrook may require corrections up to __________. 

    N a. 1 foot (+.3 meters)
    N b. -2 feet (-.6 meters)
    Y c. -3.5 feet (-1.1 meters)
    N d. The sounding datum is based on extreme low water and no correction is necessary
15120: If you have 17.3 miles to reach your destination from your 2000 position and want to be there at 2230, what speed should you make good? 

    N a. 5.7 knots
    N b. 6.1 knots
    N c. 6.5 knots
    Y d. 6.9 knots
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
15369: Horton Point Light __________. 

    Y a. is shown from a white square tower
    N b. has a fixed green light
    N c. is 14 feet above sea level
    N d. is synchronized with a radio beacon
15420: You are entering Norfolk Harbor and have just passed Craney Island. Which chart should you use for your final approach into Norfolk Harbor? 

    N a. 12223
    N b. 12238
    N c. 12248
    Y d. 12253
15545: At 2342 the gyro alarm sounds and you commence steering by standard magnetic compass. If you allow 3° leeway for southerly winds and do not correct for any existing current, what is the course to steer by standard magnetic compass to make good 068°T? 

    N a. 054.0°
    N b. 079.5°
    N c. 081.0°
    Y d. 084.5°
15809: At 0045, you obtain the following bearings:

Rocky Point lookout tower 072°T
Horton Point lighthouse 213°T

What were the set and drift between 0005 and 0045? 

    N a. 272°true, 0.9 knot
    N b. 272°true, 1.4 knots
    N c. 092°true, 0.9 knot
    Y d. 092°True, 1.4 knots
16362: The visibility is about 5 miles. Which statement about Cape Charles Light is TRUE? 

    N a. The light has been visible from the time you departed the anchorage.
    Y b. You should see Cape Charles Light at about 0400.
    N c. The light will become visible when you enter the inbound leg of the traffic separation scheme.
    N d. The light will not be visible until you are within 5 miles of the light.
16414: At 1110, you increase speed to 12 knots. What is your ETA at the new position? 

    N a. 1157
    N b. 1208
    Y c. 1215
    N d. 1219
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.