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.


56: The Red River Landing Gage reads 5.2 feet. The Low Water Reference Plane for the Red River is 10.6 ft. Which of the following statements is TRUE?


60: What town is located at mile 389.8 AHP?


141: Your vessel is making turns for 9.5 mph and you estimate the average current for the trip will be 2.5 mph. What will be your ETA Donaldsonville, LA?


191: If you make good 12 knots, what is the ETA at North Chesapeake Channel Entrance Buoy "NCA" (LL #375)?

    N a. 2121
    N b. 2116
    Y c. 2111
    N d. 2101

192: At 2100, Cape Charles Light bears 321°pgc, and Cape Henry Light bears 247°pgc. Your latitude is __________.

    N a. 37°00.6'N
    N b. 37°00.0'N
    N c. 36°59.7'N
    Y d. 36°59.4'N

322: From your 2200 fix, you steer course 288°T to travel up the Thimble Shoal North Auxiliary Channel. If you are making good 6.0 knots, at what time would you expect to pass buoy "18" at the west end of the channel? (There are no set and drift.)

    N a. 2355
    Y b. 2344
    N c. 2335
    N d. 2324

324: The mean high water level at Old Point Comfort is __________.

    N a. 3.3 feet (1.1 meters)
    Y b. 2.6 feet (0.8 meters)
    N c. 1.2 feet (0.4 meters)
    N d. 0.0

502: 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?

    N a. LAT 41°02.7'N, LONG 73°01.2'W
    Y b. LAT 41°03.0'N, LONG 73°01.7'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

580: At 1037, you are on course 010°T at 10 knots, when you take the following lset of bearings:

Old Plantation Flats Light bearing 123° pgc
New Point Comfort Light bearing 285.8° pgc
Wolf Trap Light bearing 338° pgc

What is your 1037 position?

    N a. LAT 37°15.9'N, LONG 76°07.9'W
    N b. LAT 37°15.9'N, LONG 76°07.7'W
    Y c. LAT 37°16.1'N, LONG 76°07.4'W
    N d. LAT 37°16.3'N, LONG 76°07.2'W

810: On 13 October , your 0515 zone time (ZT) fix gives you a position of LAT 26°53.0'N, LONG 90°05.0'W. Your vessel is on course 068°T, and your speed is 7.8 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1145 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 54°51.5'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN?

    Y a. 27°12.6'N
    N b. 27°14.1'N
    N c. 27°15.7'N
    N d. 27°16.2'N

827: On 16 November , your 1200 ZT DR position is LAT 26°48.0'S, LONG 124°32.0'W. Your vessel is on course 078°T, speed 17.0 knots. You observe an ex-meridian of the Sun's lower limb. The sextant (hs) reads 81°41.3'. The index error is 1.5' off the arc, and your height of eye is 56 feet. The chronometer time of the observation is 08h 15m 32s, and the chronometer is 03m 06s fast. What is your latitude at meridian transit?

    Y a. 26°42.6'S
    N b. 26°47.1'S
    N c. 26°49.5'S
    N d. 26°52.3'S

840: On 29 October , in DR position LAT 41°12.0'N, LONG 50°18.9'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb, near upper transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 21m 12s, and the chronometer error is 01m 50s slow. The sextant altitude (hs) is 34°54.2'. The index error is 2.0' on the arc, and your height of eye is 45 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

    N a. 41°12.0'N
    Y b. 41°16.0'N
    N c. 41°20.2'N
    N d. 41°23.6'N

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

1167: Where can scheduled broadcast times of river stages be found?

    N a. Sailing Directions
    N b. List of Lights
    Y c. Light List
    N d. Coast Pilot

1288: What is NOT true about the yellow square at mile 227.3 AHP?

    N a. Yellow in color
    N b. Square in shape
    Y c. Lighted
    N d. Part of Intracoastal Waterway System

1835: The Vaucluse Trench fill revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________.

    N a. 524.3 - 522.6 RDB
    Y b. 535.6 - 532.9 RDB
    N c. 535.9 - 534.3 LDB
    N d. 534.3 - 532.6 LDB

1856: On 22 June , your 0424 ZT DR position is LAT 26°18.5'N,
LONG 124°18.2'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 031°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 49°26.0'. The chronometer reads 00h 23m 24s and is 01m 32s slow. What star did you observe?

    N a. Peacock
    Y b. Schedar
    N c. Ankaa
    N d. Alioth

1889: On 22 July , your 1759 DR position is LAT 24°50.2'S, LONG 05°16.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 293°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 17°52.8'. The chronometer reads 06h 01m 31s, and is 02m 15s fast. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Regulus
    N b. Antares
    N c. Miaplacidus
    N d. Suhail

2052: The highest point on your towboat is 48 feet above the water, and the Memphis Gage reads +7.5 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Hernando Desoto Bridge in Memphis?

    Y a. 53.2 feet
    N b. 58.1 feet
    N c. 68.2 feet
    N d. 96.3 feet

2155: On 17 May , at 0501 zone time, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 22°16.0'S, LONG 103°46.0'W. Your vessel is steaming at 24.0 knots on a course of 301°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0845 zone time. The chronometer reads 03h 43m 32s, and the sextant altitude is 28°24.7'. The index error is 1.5' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 02m 02s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 85.5 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    N a. 051.0°T
    Y b. 052.5°T
    N c. 054.2°T
    N d. 055.7°T

2163: On 1 April , at 0515 zone time, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 27°05.0'N, LONG 16°30.0'W. Your vessel is steaming at 19.0 knots on a course of 022°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0930 zone time. The chronometer reads 10h 28m 25s, and the sextant altitude is 46°20.3'. The index error is 4.5' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 02m 15s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 57.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    N a. 121.6°T
    N b. 117.9°T
    Y c. 115.0°T
    N d. 112.2°T

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

2781: Your engine speed is 9.8 mph and you estimate the current at 1.6 mph. What is your speed over the ground?

    N a. 11.0 mph
    N b. 9.8 mph
    N c. 8.6 mph
    Y d. 8.2 mph

3318: While steaming at 12 knots, your vessel burns 45 tons of fuel per day. What will be the rate of fuel consumption if you decrease speed to 11.5 knots?

    N a. 31 tons/day
    N b. 36 tons/day
    Y c. 40 tons/day
    N d. 43 tons/day

3616: You desire to make good a true course of 046°. The variation is 6°E, magnetic compass deviation is 12°W, and the gyrocompass error is 3°W. A northerly wind produces a 5° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make good the true course?

    Y a. 047°psc
    N b. 049°psc
    N c. 052°psc
    N d. 057°psc

3623: Your vessel is steering course 166°psc, variation for the area is 8°W, and deviation is 3°W. The wind is from the west-southwest, producing a 2° leeway. What true course are you making good?

    Y a. 153°T
    N b. 157°T
    N c. 175°T
    N d. 179°T

10305: You are 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position one mile due south of Block Island Southeast Point Light?

    N a. 070.0°
    N b. 076.5°
    Y c. 082.5°
    N d. 087.5°

11009: What best describes the structure from which Stratford Point Light is shown?

    N a. Brown conical tower with white horizontal band in center of light on black pier
    N b. Red conical tower on brown cylindrical pier
    N c. White octagonal house on brown cylindrical pier
    Y d. White conical tower, with brown band midway of height

12300: You are on course 244° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Block Island Southeast Point Light in line with Block Island Aero Beacon bearing 326° per standard magnetic compass. Based on this you __________.

    N a. should swing your vessel to check the deviation table
    N b. know the compass error is 12°W
    N c. should suspect that there is a local magnetic disturbance
    Y d. should apply 3°W deviation to any bearing (psc) while on a heading of 244°psc

12501: You are on course 056° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Cape Henry Light 262°psc Cape Charles Light 344°psc Chesapeake Light 125°psc What is your position?

    N a. LAT 36°58.4'N, LONG 75°49.1'W
    N b. LAT 36°58.1'N, LONG 75°50.0'W
    N c. LAT 36°57.8'N, LONG 75°49.2'W
    Y d. LAT 36°57.6'N, LONG 75°49.8'W

13508: The bottom approximately three miles to the ESE of Block Island Southeast Point has __________.

    Y a. gravel
    N b. shale
    N c. stones
    N d. grit

14302: What are the characteristics of the upper light of Government Island Lower Range, on the Columbia River?

    Y a. Equal interval red, 6 seconds
    N b. Green group flashing, 6 seconds
    N c. Quick flashing red, 6 seconds
    N d. Equal interval green, 6 seconds

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

15217: At 2118, you obtain the following bearings:

Cape Henry Light - 148°pgc
Cape Charles Light - 033°pgc
Thimble Shoal Light - 291°pgc

From this position, you proceed to Norfolk, VA, a distance of approximately 26.0 miles. To arrive at Norfolk at 0200 the next day, what is the speed to make good from your 2118 position to arrive at this time?

    N a. 5.0 knots
    Y b. 5.5 knots
    N c. 6.0 knots
    N d. 6.5 knots

15260: From your 0830 position, you wish to make good 097°T. There is no current, but a southerly wind is producing 4°
leeway. What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass in order to make good your true course?

    N a. 101°psc
    N b. 108°psc
    N c. 110°psc
    Y d. 115°psc

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

15507: What course should you steer by your standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 280°T?

    N a. 266°psc
    N b. 272°psc
    N c. 290°psc
    Y d. 294°psc

15629: In order to determine what buoys, if any, are in place at Concordia Bar crossing (mile 596.0 AHP), what should you check?

    N a. Bulletin board at the Rosedale Gage
    N b. Waterways Journal
    Y c. Notice to Mariners
    N d. Light List

15719: On chart 12354, the datum from which heights of objects are taken is __________.

    Y a. mean high water
    N b. mean low water
    N c. lowest low water
    N d. mean lower low water

15721: You are turning for 7.8 mph and estimate the current at 1.0 mph. What is your speed over the ground?

    Y a. 8.8 mph
    N b. 7.9 mph
    N c. 7.8 mph
    N d. 6.8 mph

15867: You anticipate a maximum flood current north of Stratford Shoal. You will be set in which general direction?

    N a. Northerly
    N b. Easterly
    N c. Southerly
    Y d. Westerly

15938: At 1910 you obtain the following bearings:

Bartlett Reef Light 268°T
Race Rock Light 147°T
Little Gull Island Light 198°T

Which of the following is your position at 1910?

    N a. LAT 41°17.4'N, LONG 72°05.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°17.0'N, LONG 72°07.1'W
    Y c. LAT 41°16.6'N, LONG 72°04.6'W
    N d. LAT 41°16.2'N, LONG 72°06.4'W

15957: At 1752, your position is LAT 37°04.3'N, LONG 76°06.4'W. On an ebb current you should expect to be set to the __________.

    N a. north northeast
    Y b. south southeast
    N c. south southwest
    N d. north northwest

16006: You are on course 082°T, and the engines are turning for 8 knots. At 0352, you take the following bearings:

Stratford Point Light 016°pgc
Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light 137°pgc

What is your 0352 position?

    N a. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 73°08.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°05.2'N, LONG 73°07.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.3'N, LONG 73°07.5'W
    N d. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 73°07.7'W

16059: At 1800, Tue Marshes Light bears 270°pgc, and York Spit Swash Channel Light "3" bears 007°pgc. Your position is __________.

    N a. LAT 37°14.0'N, LONG 76°19.8'W
    N b. LAT 37°14.2'N, LONG 76°20.3'W
    Y c. LAT 37°14.2'N, LONG 76°20.1'W
    N d. LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°20.0'W

16366: From your 0600 fix, you change course to 250°T. At 0605,
Cape Henry Light bears 250°T. At 0615, it bears 251°T. At 0625, it bears 252°T. Based on this you know you are __________.

    Y a. being set to the south
    N b. being set to the north
    N c. meeting a current from dead ahead
    N d. running with a current from dead astern

16417: You are encountering heavy weather. What action should you take based on your 1430 fix?

    Y a. Alter course to the right, to pass well clear of Southwest Ledge.
    N b. Continue on the same course at the same speed.
    N c. Slow to 8.3 knots to compensate for the current.
    N d. Continue on the same course but increase speed.