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.

48: The Clinch River empties into which river?
173: At 2015, you alter course to 154°pgc. What is the course per standard magnetic compass (psc)?
205: From your 1830 fix, you come left to a course of 290°T. Which of the following statements concerning Watch Hill Light is FALSE?
241: Little Gull Island Light is __________. 

    N a. lighted only during daytime when the sound signal is in operation
    Y b. lighted throughout 24 hours
    N c. maintained only from May 1 to Oct 1
    N d. obscured by trees from 253° to 352°
242: At 1210, you are in position LAT 41°14.3'N, LONG 72°16.5'W. What is the depth of water below your keel? 

    N a. 92 feet (28.0 meters)
    Y b. 97 feet (29.4 meters)
    N c. 108 feet (32.7 meters)
    N d. 115 feet (35.0 meters)
249: At 0005, on 26 January, your position is LAT 41°11.8'N, LONG 72°20.5'W. From this position, you plot a course to steer to Mattituck Breakwater Light "MI" with an engine speed of 9.0 knots. If there are no set and drift, what course should you steer? 

    N a. 225.0°psc
    N b. 230.5°psc
    Y c. 233.0°psc
    N d. 236.0°psc
383: From point "A", you lay out an intended track line to a point where Block Island North Light bears 180°T at 2.9 miles (Point "B"). What is the length of this leg of the voyage? 

    Y a. 24.4 miles
    N b. 23.9 miles
    N c. 23.7 miles
    N d. 20.4 miles
394: A vessel at LAT 38°03.0'S, LONG 49°38.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 41°26.0'S, LONG 38°32.0'W. Determine the true course by Mercator sailing. 

    Y a. 111.5°T
    N b. 113.5°T
    N c. 158.5°T
    N d. 160.5°T
406: You depart LAT 49°45.0'N, LONG 06°35.0'W, and steam 3599 miles on course 246.5°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    N a. LONG 76°36.2'W
    Y b. LONG 77°02.8'W
    N c. LONG 78°14.0'W
    N d. LONG 78°22.6'W
493: 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
    Y c. Set 245°T, drift 2.4 knots
    N d. Set 245°T, drift 1.1 knots
496: At 0815, you change course to 079°T and head for the entrance of Great Salt Pond on Block Island. To compensate for a northerly wind, you estimate a 5° leeway is necessary. What course should you steer per gyrocompass to make good 079°T? 

    Y a. 071°pgc
    N b. 074°pgc
    N c. 076°pgc
    N d. 079°pgc
517: At 0520, you take the following observations:

Point Judith Light 032°pgc
Point Judith Harbor of Refuge
Main Breakwater Center Light 308°pgc

What is the position of your 0520 fix? 

    Y a. LAT 41°20.8'N, Long 71°29.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°20.6'N, Long 71°30.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°20.6'N, Long 71°30.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°20.5'N, Long 71°29.4'W
522: In clear weather, how far away will you sight Point Judith Light? (use charted range of 20 miles as nominal range) 

    Y a. 14.0 nm
    N b. 12.3 nm
    N c. 10.6 nm
    N d. 9.2 nm
578: At 1008, you are entering York Spit Channel and buoy "19" is abeam to your starboard. What speed are you making good? 

    N a. 9.9 knots
    N b. 9.7 knots
    Y c. 9.0 knots
    N d. 8.4 knots
844: On 12 September , your 0600 zone time (ZT) fix gives you a position of LAT 22°51.9'N, LONG 133°40.1'W. Your vessel is on course 062°T, and your speed is 12.3 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1142 ZT, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's upper limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 70°33.2'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN? 

    N a. 23°23.0'N
    Y b. 23°24.8'N
    N c. 23°26.5'N
    N d. 23°27.9'N
987: On 17 January , your 0730 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 22°26.0'S, LONG 152°17.0'E. Your vessel is steaming on a course of 116°T at a speed of 17 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 1015 zone time. The chronometer reads 00h 13m 23s, and the chronometer error is 01m 49s slow. The observed altitude (Ho) is 66°02.1'. LAN occurs at 1152 zone time and a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is made. The observed altitude (Ho) is 87°54.2'. Determine the vessel's 1200 zone time position. 

    Y a. LAT 22°53.8'S, LONG 153°25.6'E
    N b. LAT 22°53.8'S, LONG 153°28.8'E
    N c. LAT 22°56.3'S, LONG 153°25.6'E
    N d. LAT 22°56.3'S, LONG 153°28.8'E
1000: On 18 May , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 18°30'N, LONG 62°31'W. You are on course 286°T, speed 24 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.
ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1204 61°54.6' N 19°37.6' 88°39.7'
1210 63°24.6' N 19°37.7' 88°59.2' 

    N a. LAT 18°33.6'N, LONG 62°54.3'W
    N b. LAT 18°35.2'N, LONG 62°49.7'W
    N c. LAT 18°38.7'N, LONG 62°59.2'W
    Y d. LAT 18°41.1'N, LONG 62°53.9'W
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
1208: On 12 July , your 0800 ZT DR position is LAT 24°15.0'N, LONG 132°30.0'W. Your vessel is on course 045°T at a speed of 15.0 knots. What is the ZT of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1146
    N b. 1148
    Y c. 1152
    N d. 1159
1302: From Baton Rouge to Cairo, what is the maintained minimum channel depth during low water? 

    Y a. 9 feet
    N b. 12 feet
    N c. 15 feet
    N d. 30 feet
1622: Which of the following statements concerning the buoys on the Mississippi River is TRUE? 

    N a. The position of river buoys can be determined by consulting the latest Light List - Vol. V.
    N b. A preferred channel mark is a lateral mark indicating a channel junction which must always be passed to starboard.
    N c. Buoys should be passed as close as possible.
    Y d. Setting a buoy is the act of placing a buoy on assigned position in the water.
1782: At 2043 ZT, on 13 October , in DR position LAT 43°57.3'S, LONG 147°16.0'E, you observe an amplitude of Venus. The planet is about one Sun's diameter above the horizon and bears 236.2°pgc. The variation is 15°E. What is the gyro error? 

    Y a. 0.0°
    N b. 0.9°E
    N c. 1.8°E
    N d. 0.4°W
1893: On 22 July , your 0442 DR position is LAT 26°35.6'N, LONG 22°16.7'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 104°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 9°55.7'. The chronometer reads 05h 39m 03s, and is 03m 14s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Hamal
    Y b. Rigel
    N c. Menkar
    N d. Acamar
1906: On 22 March , your 0519 DR position is LAT 27°20.6'N, LONG 69°25.6'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 051°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 50°03.7'. The chronometer reads 10h 16m 47s, and is 02m 15s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Acamar
    N b. Enif
    N c. Menkar
    Y d. Deneb
1906: On 22 March , your 0519 DR position is LAT 27°20.6'N, LONG 69°25.6'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 051°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 50°03.7'. The chronometer reads 10h 16m 47s, and is 02m 15s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Acamar
    N b. Enif
    N c. Menkar
    Y d. Deneb
1954: You have received orders to proceed to the Amoco Pipeline Co. (mile 253.6 AHP) above Baton Rouge. If your vessel is making turns for 9 mph with an estimated average current of 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at the Amoco docks? 

    Y a. 1444, 27 Aug
    N b. 2214, 27 Aug
    N c. 0844, 28 Aug
    N d. 1454, 28 Aug
2055: You estimate the current at 3.0 mph. What is the speed over the ground? 

    Y a. 3.5 mph
    N b. 4.5 mph
    N c. 7.5 mph
    N d. 9.5 mph
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
2336: You have steamed 916 miles at 13 knots, and consumed 166 tons of fuel. If you have to steam 1325 miles to complete the voyage, how many tons of fuel will be consumed while steaming at 14 knots? 

    N a. 133 tons
    N b. 181 tons
    N c. 207 tons
    Y d. 278 tons
2351: What is the distance in river miles, from the new mouth of the White River to the Petroleum Fuel & Terminal Co. (mile 144.6 AHP)? 

    Y a. 454 miles
    N b. 427 miles
    N c. 384 miles
    N d. 370 miles
2536: You have steamed 463 miles at 19 knots and burning 440 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 200 barrels per day with 410 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel? 

    N a. 12.1
    Y b. 13.6
    N c. 15.2
    N d. 17.5
2684: You are steering 173°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 13.9 miles at 0054. You change course to pass the light 4.5 miles off abeam to port. If you are making 21 knots, what is your ETA at the position 4.5 miles off the light? 

    N a. 0122
    N b. 0125
    Y c. 0131
    N d. 0134
2684: You are steering 173°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 13.9 miles at 0054. You change course to pass the light 4.5 miles off abeam to port. If you are making 21 knots, what is your ETA at the position 4.5 miles off the light? 

    N a. 0122
    N b. 0125
    Y c. 0131
    N d. 0134
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°
2699: You are underway on course 137°T at a speed of 16.2 knots. You sight a rock bearing 134°T at a radar range of 4.6 miles at 1508. If you change course at 1514, what is the course to steer to leave the rock abeam to port at 1.5 miles? 

    Y a. 162°T
    N b. 158°T
    N c. 154°T
    N d. 151°T
3087: If the pitch of the propeller is 20.6 feet, and the revolutions per day are 107,341, calculate the day's run allowing 3% positive slip. 

    Y a. 352.7 miles
    N b. 363.6 miles
    N c. 374.5 miles
    N d. 389.1 miles
3454: You wish to make good a course of 300°T while turning for an engine speed of 11 knots. The set is 350°T, and the drift is 2.1 knots. Which course should you steer? 

    N a. 278°T
    N b. 288°T
    Y c. 292°T
    N d. 308°T
3759: 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 147°T, and the variation is 5°E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 148° per standard magnetic compass,
what is the correct deviation? 

    N a. 1°E
    N b. 1°W
    N c. 6°E
    Y d. 6°W
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
11103: Point Judith Harbor of Refuge (LAT 41°22'N, LONG 71°30'W) __________. 

    N a. is used only by tows
    N b. has moorings for small craft along the breakwater
    N c. is easily entered in all sea conditions
    Y d. is entered through either the East Gap or the West Gap
14100: Your vessel is awaiting lockage at Bonneville Lock. The staff gauge on the guide wall reads 18'-06". What is the maximum vessel draft allowed to enter the lock? 

    N a. 17'-00"
    Y b. 17'-06"
    N c. 18'-00"
    N d. 18'-06"
14101: What signal is given by air horn to indicate that Bonneville Lock is ready for entrance? 

    N a. two long blasts
    N b. two short blasts
    N c. one short blast
    Y d. one long blast
15067: At 0946, the radar range to Hammonasset Point is 2.5 miles.
The range to the eastern most point of Falkner Island is 3.3 miles, and the range to Horton Point is 10.1 miles. What is your position at 0946? 

    Y a. LAT  41°13.1'N,  LONG 72°34.8'W
    N b. LAT  41°13.0'N,  LONG 72°34.5'W
    N c. LAT  41°12.8'N,  LONG 72°35.1'W
    N d. LAT  41°12.8'N,  LONG 72°34.4'W
15207: What is the maximum allowable speed of vessels underway up river from Tue Marshes Light? 

    N a. 6 knots
    N b. 8 knots
    N c. 10 knots
    Y d. 12 knots
15462: Visibility has decreased to 1 mile in haze. At 0948, you take the following radar ranges. What course should you steer per gyrocompass from this fix to enter the 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 

    N a. 001°pgc
    N b. 004°pgc
    N c. 007°pgc
    Y d. 010°pgc
15466: At 1015, you estimate you have 139 miles to complete the voyage. If you average 9.5 knots, you will complete the voyage in __________. 

    N a. 14 hours 22 minutes
    N b. 14 hours 30 minutes
    Y c. 14 hours 38 minutes
    N d. 14 hours 44 minutes
15520: NOAA VHF-FM weather broadcasts from New London, CT are on __________. 

    N a. 162.25 MHz
    N b. 162.30 MHz
    N c. 162.40 MHz
    Y d. 162.55 MHz
15646: At 2229 the gyro fails. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make good 206°T, if you allow 3° leeway for southeasterly winds? 

    N a. 187°
    N b. 191°
    Y c. 217°
    N d. 220°
15846: At 2200, you alter course to 204°T, at 14 knots. You expect a current on this leg of the trip, setting 325° at 1.5 knots. Which course should you steer per gyro compass to make good the true course? 

    N a. 184°pgc
    N b. 190°pgc
    N c. 194°pgc
    Y d. 201°pgc
16067: At 2118, you obtain the following information:
Cape Henry Light 151°pgc;
Cape Charles Light 033°pgc;
Thimble Shoal Light 291°pgc

What is your 2118 position? 

    Y a. LAT 36°57.4'N,  LONG 76°01.9'W
    N b. LAT 36°57.5'N,  LONG 76°01.4'W
    N c. LAT 36°57.6'N,  LONG 76°01.8'W
    N d. LAT 36°57.6'N,  LONG 76°02.2'W
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
16361: At 0400, you take the following bearings:

Sand Shoal Inlet South Light bearing 305°pgc
Cape Charles Light bearing 241°pgc

What was the course made good since 0240? 

    N a. 182°T
    Y b. 185°T
    N c. 189°T
    N d. 192°T
16445: At 1126 you take the following set of bearings:

Chesapeake Litght bears 142° true
Cape Henry Light bears 225° true.

What was the current encountered since your 1042 fix? 

    N a. Set 276°, Drift 0.5 knot
    N b. Set 276°, Drift 0.7 knot
    N c. Set 096°, Drift 0.5 knot
    Y d. Set 096°, Drift 0.7 knot
16616: At 0130, your position is LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°46.9'W when you change course to 086°T. If you make good 086°T,
what is the closest point of approach to Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy? 

    N a. 0.7 mile
    Y b. 0.9 mile
    N c. 1.1 miles
    N d. 1.2 miles