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.


36: You pass Springfield Bend Lt. (mile 244.8 AHP) at 1242, on 17 October, 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 10.5 mph?


62: The Greenville Gage reads 10.6 feet. The high point of your towboat is 54 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge?


154: You see a buoy with red and green bands. This buoy marks __________.


171: At 2015, your vessel is at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel midway between buoys "13" and "14". If the height of tide is -1 foot (-0.3 meters), what is the approximate depth of water?

    N a. 35 feet (10.6 meters)
    N b. 43 feet (13.1 meters)
    N c. 46 feet (13.9 meters)
    Y d. 53 feet (15.5 meters)

185: At 1950, your position is LAT 37°12.3'N, LONG 75°38.6'W. The set and drift from 1930 to 1950 were __________.

    Y a. 150°T at 1.6 knot
    N b. 150°T at 0.6 knots
    N c. 330°T at 0.6 knot
    N d. 330°T at 1.6 knots

310: A vessel at LAT 28°20'N, LONG 16°00'W is to proceed to LAT 21°00'N, LONG 18°00'W. What is the course and distance by mid-latitude sailing?

    Y a. 194.0°T, 453.0 miles
    N b. 195.2°T, 451.0 miles
    N c. 196.8°T, 450.0 miles
    N d. 197.3°T, 448.0 miles

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

390: A vessel at LAT 29°38.0'N, LONG 93°49.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 24°38.0'N, LONG 82°55.2'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 115°T, 637 miles
    Y b. 117°T, 658 miles
    N c. 122°T, 648 miles
    N d. 126°T, 665 miles

392: A vessel at LAT 32°14.7'N, LONG 66°28.9'W, heads for a destination at LAT 36°58.7'N, LONG 75°42.2'W. Determine the true course by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 058.2°T
    N b. 235.2°T
    Y c. 301.8°T
    N d. 348.3°T

407: You depart LAT 34°22'S, LONG 18°23'E, and steam 3174 miles on course 282°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing?

    Y a. LONG 40°33.5'W
    N b. LONG 40°19.5'W
    N c. LONG 40°18.2'W
    N d. LONG 40°17.3'W

445: You can follow what loran reading between your two positions?

    N a. There is no loran reading to follow.
    N b. 9960-Y-43958
    Y c. 9960-X-25982
    N d. 9960-W-14655

455: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 24°52.0'N, LONG 78°27.0'W to LAT 47°19.0'N, LONG 06°42.0'W.

    Y a. 3593 miles, 048.1°T
    N b. 3457 miles, 053.3°T
    N c. 3389 miles, 042.4°T
    N d. 3367 miles, 045.0°T

467: Determine the great circle initial course from LAT 29°46.0'S, LONG 30°26.0'E to LAT 31°52.0'S, LONG 115°22.0'E.

    N a. 074°T
    N b. 113°T
    Y c. 117°T
    N d. 121°T

606: At 0915 zone time, on 11 May , you depart Yokohama, LAT 35°27.0'N, LONG 139°39.0'E (ZD -9). You are bound for Seattle, LAT 47°36.0'N, LONG 122°22.0'W, and you estimate your speed of advance at 19.5 knots. The distance is 4,276 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Seattle?

    Y a. 1932, 19 May
    N b. 0332, 20 May
    N c. 1032, 20 May
    N d. 1232, 20 May

808: On 28 July , your 0800 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 25°16.0'N, LONG 71°19.0'W. Your vessel is on course 026°T, and your speed is 17.5 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1149 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 82°28.7'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN?

    N a. 26°21.9'N
    N b. 26°23.4'N
    Y c. 26°25.0'N
    N d. 26°27.7'N

1257: On 5 May , your 1300 ZT DR position is LAT 25°16.0'S, LONG 12°30.0'W. You are on course 012°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    N a. 1702
    Y b. 1719
    N c. 1730
    N d. 1741

1305: As you approach Ashland Light (mile 378.1 AHP) which daymark would you see?

    Y a. Red triangle
    N b. Red diamond
    N c. Green square
    N d. Green diamond

1413: 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. 202.1 miles
    Y b. 400.7 miles
    N c. 554.2 miles
    N d. 605.8 miles

1686: Which light characteristics does Ben Burman Lt. (mile 235.0 AHP) have?

    N a. 1 red flash every 5 seconds
    N b. 2 white flashes every 5 seconds
    N c. 2 green flashes every 5 seconds
    Y d. 2 red flashes every 5 seconds

1752: After you get underway, what is the fourth river gage you will pass?

    N a. Head of Passes
    Y b. Natchez
    N c. Bayou Sara
    N d. Red River Landing

1769: 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
    N c. Light List
    Y d. Notice to Mariners

2009: On 16 July , your 1920 ZT DR position is LAT 25°36.0'N, LONG 172°18.9'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time?

    N a. Rasalhague, Spica, Arcturus
    Y b. Venus, Antares, Vega
    N c. Vega, Mars, Antares
    N d. Saturn, Acrux, Spica

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

2170: On 22 July , at 0720 ZT, in DR position LAT 20°38.2'N, LONG 87°16.0'W, you observe the Moon's lower limb. The sextant altitude (hs) is 38°32.6, and the chronometer reads 01h 18m 14s. The chronometer is 01m 28s slow. The index error is 3.1' off the arc, and the height of eye is 68 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) and intercept (a) of this sight from the assumed position?

    N a. Zn 291.4°, a 5.2' A
    N b. Zn 111.4°, a 8.7' A
    Y c. Zn 248.6°, a 5.0' T
    N d. Zn 068.6°, a 6.5' T

2241: At 1318 ZT, on 10 September , in DR position LAT 24° 05.8' N, LONG 058° 08.3' E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The upper limb of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 254° psc. Variation is 2° W. What is the deviation?

    N a. 8.0°W
    N b. 8.0°E
    Y c. 4.0°W
    N d. 4.0°E

2285: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 45°49.7' on 13 November . The index error is 1.0' on the arc. The height of eye is 61 feet (18.6 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 45°59.3'
    Y b. 45°56.4'
    N c. 45°52.9'
    N d. 45°49.8'

2286: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 50°26.9' on 9 November . The index error is 1.5' on the arc. The height of eye is 56 feet (17 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 50°04.2'
    N b. 50°18.1'
    Y c. 50°33.5'
    N d. 50°41.4'

2591: Which statement best describes the shoreline at Mount Misery?

    N a. Wooded, barren hills with a rocky beach
    N b. Low, rocky cliffs with heavily wooded hills inland
    N c. Sand dunes and beaches with a mud and sand bottom
    Y d. Sand bluffs 60 feet high and banks dug out by sand and gravel companies

2690: While on a course of 066°pgc, a light bears 13° on the port bow at a distance of 12.3 miles. What course should you steer to pass 4 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port?

    N a. 067°pgc
    Y b. 072°pgc
    N c. 079°pgc
    N d. 085°pgc

2709: If the highest point of your towboat is 54 feet above the water and the Natchez Gage reads 24.8 feet, what will be your vertical clearance when passing under the Natchez-Vidalia westbound Highway Bridge?

    N a. 35.9 feet
    Y b. 47.2 feet
    N c. 49.6 feet
    N d. 57.5 feet

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

3085: You must average 16.25 knots to reach port at a designated time. Your propeller has a pitch of 21'08", and you estimate 4% negative slip. How many RPM's must you average to arrive on time?

    Y a. 73 RPM
    N b. 77 RPM
    N c. 82 RPM
    N d. 88 RPM

3089: If the pitch of the propeller is 22.4 feet, and the revolutions per day are 103,690, calculate the day's run allowing 9% positive slip.

    N a. 321.7 miles
    Y b. 347.6 miles
    N c. 382.0 miles
    N d. 416.4 miles

3107: You are turning 68 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 18 feet, and an estimated slip of +2%. What is the speed of advance?

    N a. 10.7 knots
    N b. 11.5 knots
    Y c. 11.8 knots
    N d. 12.3 knots

3276: While steaming at 15 knots, your vessel burns 326 bbls of fuel per day. What will be the rate of fuel consumption if you decrease speed to 12.2 knots?

    Y a. 175 bbls/day
    N b. 215 bbls/day
    N c. 277 bbls/day
    N d. 300 bbls/day

11702: You are eastbound in the Thimble Shoal Channel. What is the true heading to steer if the engines are turning for 9.5 knots, the current is 110°T at 1.2 knots, and a southerly wind causes 3° of leeway?

    Y a. 111°
    N b. 108°
    N c. 105°
    N d. 100°

11708: Your position is LAT 37°00.9'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. What is the course to steer per magnetic compass to arrive at LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 75°48.5'W, if you are turning for 7.8 knots the current is 339°T at 1.3 knots, and a northwesterly wind is causing 3° of leeway?

    Y a. 265°psc
    N b. 267°psc
    N c. 269°psc
    N d. 271°psc

12709: You are on course 157° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Little Gull Island Light 276°psc Race Rock Light 301°psc Latimer Reef Light 028°psc What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41°13.5'N, LONG 71°57.9'W
    Y b. LAT 41°13.5'N, LONG 71°57.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 71°57.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 71°57.8'W

13403: Your vessel has become disabled and is dead in the water. Your GPS set fixes your position at LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°43.5'W. You decide to anchor at this position. Which type of bottom should you expect?

    N a. Soft clay and sand
    Y b. Soft mud and shell
    N c. Hard sand and rocks
    N d. Blue mud and gray sand

14004: At 1745 Lady Island Upper Range is in line dead astern and Washougal Lower Range is in line on the starboard bow. You are steaming in an easterly direction. What speed must you average to arrive abeam of Cape Horn Light No. 67 at 1839?

    N a. 9.3 mph
    N b. 9.8 mph
    Y c. 10.2 mph
    N d. 10.8 mph

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

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

15246: From your 1845 position, you desire to leave Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light 1.0 mile off your starboard beam at 1900. Which course and speed would you order if you allow for a 2.0 knot current with a set of 180°T?

    N a. 205°T at 9.2 knots
    N b. 208°T at 11.4 knots
    Y c. 215°T at 9.2 knots
    N d. 225°T at 11.5 knots

15263: What do the dotted lines around Goose Island and Kimberly Reef represent?

    N a. Danger soundings
    N b. Breakers
    N c. Tide rips
    Y d. Depth contours

15366: At 0615 you change course to 078°T. If there is no current, when will Falkner Island Light be abeam?

    N a. 0750
    N b. 0743
    N c. 0735
    Y d. 0730

15608: At 1630, you reach point A and come right to 204°T. Your engine speed is 12 knots. Your 1715, position is LAT 37°09.8'N, LONG 75°37.4'W. The current was __________.

    N a. 067°T at 1.1 knots
    N b. 246°T at 1.1 knots
    Y c. 067°T at 1.5 knots
    N d. 246°T at 1.5 knots

16016: At 0430, you change course and speed to make good 090°T at 10 knots. At 0433, you slow due to an engineering casualty and estimate you are making good 5.5 knots. At what time will Branford Reef Light bear 000°T?

    N a. 0601
    Y b. 0609
    N c. 0620
    N d. 0624

16343: At 2302 you change course to compensate for an estimated current of 090°T, at 1.0 knot. What course per gyrocompass will you steer to leave Endeavor Shoals Lighted Gong Buoy "3" abeam to port at 1 mile?

    N a. 324°pgc
    Y b. 327°pgc
    N c. 330°pgc
    N d. 333°pgc

16539: If you estimate 3° leeway due to northerly winds, which course will you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc)
to make good 255°T?

    N a. 267°psc
    Y b. 270°psc
    N c. 272°psc
    N d. 274°psc