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?
82: If the Rosedale Gage reads -0.5 feet, what is the water level in relation to the low water reference plane? The low water reference plane (LWRP) for Rosedale, MS. is 3.0 feet.
223: At 1920, Cape Henry Light bears 225°pgc, and Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light bears 288°pgc. If your heading is 268°T, what is the relative bearing of Chesapeake Light?
251: You alter course from your 0045 position to head for Mattituck Breakwater Light "MI". If the visibility is 10 miles and you make good 9 knots, at what time will you lose sight of Saybrook Breakwater Light? 

    Y a. 0100
    N b. 0123
    N c. 0131
    N d. The light is visible all the way to Mattituck Inlet
354: The south shore of Long Island Sound from Horton Point to Orient Point is __________. 

    Y a. bluff and rocky
    N b. low and marshy
    N c. marked by sandy beaches and wooded uplands
    N d. bound by gradual shoaling
365: You sighted Trestle "A" in line at 0707 and are steering 108°T. At 0731, Cape Henry Light bears 136°T; Cape Charles Light bears 032.5°T; and Thimble Shoal Tunnel South Light bears 282°T. What was the speed made good between 0707 and 0731? 

    N a. 9.4 knots
    N b. 9.2 knots
    Y c. 8.8 knots
    N d. 8.3 knots
371: You are steering 087°pgc and turning for 6.8 knots. At 0600, you take the following bearings:

Little Gull Island Light bearing 089.5° pgc
Bartlett Reef Light bearing 047° pgc

What is your 0600 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°11.2'N, LONG 72°14.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.7'N, LONG 72°14.4'W
    Y c. LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°13.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°12.5'N, LONG 71°14.9'W
463: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 37°47.5'N, LONG 122°27.8'W to LAT 33°51.7'S, LONG 151°12.7'E. 

    N a. 6324.2 miles, 310.3°T
    N b. 6345.3 miles, 301.7°T
    N c. 6398.0 miles, 298.3°T
    Y d. 6445.2 miles, 240.3°T
550: You observe the star Antares at a sextant altitude (hs) of 38°18.7' on 28 February . The index error is 2.4' on the arc. The height of eye is 40 feet (12.2 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 38°07.5'
    Y b. 38°09.0'
    N c. 38°10.5'
    N d. 38°12.5'
621: You are on a voyage from New York, NY, to San Francisco, CA. The distance from pilot to pilot is 5132 miles. The speed of advance is 13.5 knots. You estimate 32 hours for bunkering at Colon, and 14 hours for the Panama Canal transit. If you take departure at 0600 hours (ZD +4), 16 May, what is your ETA (ZD +7) at San Francisco? 

    N a. 0609, 1 June
    Y b. 2109, 2 June
    N c. 0009, 3 June
    N d. 0409, 3 June
630: You are on a voyage from Corpus Christi, TX, to Fort de France, Martinique. The distance from pilot to pilot is 2190 miles (2521 statute miles). The speed of advance is 15.0 knots. You estimate a layover in Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands, of 16.0 hours. If you take departure at 0654 (ZD +6), 27 November, what is your ETA (ZD +4) at Fort de France? 

    N a. 2054, 3 December
    N b. 2254, 3 December
    Y c. 0254, 4 December
    N d. 2054, 4 December
652: On a voyage via the southern tip of Nova Scotia (LAT 43°20'N, LONG 65°35'W) you wish to sail the shortest route to La Coruna, Spain (LAT 43°20'N, LONG 8°24'W). Which of the following will require you to plot a composite sailing? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5274) 

    N a. Shoals extending 15 miles from Sable Island
    N b. Sea ice reported 68 miles ESE of St. John's, Newfoundland
    Y c. Icebergs reported extending west to west-northwest from  LAT 47°00'N, LONG 35°00'W
    N d. Naval exercises using live ammunition being conducted within a 150 mile radius of LAT 49°00'N, LONG 20°00'W
818: On 30 December , in DR position LAT 28°24.0'S, LONG 32°15.0'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 02h 09m 16s, and the chronometer error is 00m 00s. The sextant altitude (hs) is 84°03.3'. The index error is 3.5' off the arc, and your height of eye is 62.0 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit? 

    N a. LAT 28°50.6'S
    Y b. LAT 28°51.9'S
    N c. LAT 28°54.2'S
    N d. LAT 28°56.6'S
1006: On 30 July , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 19°02'N, LONG 138°12'W. You are on course 309°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 19°28.0'N, LONG 138°35.2'W
    Y b. LAT 19°29.7'N, LONG 138°42.0'W
    N c. LAT 19°32.6'N, LONG 138°49.4'W
    N d. LAT 19°34.5'N, LONG 138°40.9'W
1136: The Arkansas City Yellow Bend revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________. 

    Y a. 555.0-549.7 RDB
    N b. 549.0-548.5 RDB
    N c. 556.9-554.9 LDB
    N d. 548.5-546.5 LDB
1168: Which company does NOT have a marine facility in Rosedale harbor (mile 585 AHP)? 

    Y a. T.L. James
    N b. Rosedale-Boliver County Port Commission
    N c. Cives Steel Company
    N d. Sanders Elevator Corp
1184: On 8 April , your 0830 zone time DR position is LAT 22°49.0'N, LONG 84°37.0'W. Your vessel is on course 228°
T at a speed of 19.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    Y a. 1144
    N b. 1147
    N c. 1150
    N d. 1154
1228: As you pass under the Natchez-Vidalia Dual Bridge, the gage on the bridge reads 8.9 ft. If the highest point on your vessel is 54 ft. above the water, what is your vertical clearance? 

    Y a. 63.1 feet
    N b. 65.3 feet
    N c. 67.2 feet
    N d. 122.0 feet
1544: What is the distance in river miles, from the new mouth of the White River to the Petroleum Fuel & Terminal Co.(144.6 AHP)? 

    N a. 370 miles
    N b. 384 miles
    N c. 437 miles
    Y d. 454 miles
1687: What are the light characteristics of Greenwood Light (mile 288.6 AHP). 

    N a. Fixed red light
    N b. 1 red flash every 4 seconds
    Y c. 2 red flashes every 5 seconds
    N d. 2 white flashes every 4 seconds
1751: At 1118, on 24 May, you pass Natchez Gage and estimate the current will average 3.0 mph for the remainder of the time on the Mississippi River. What is your ETA at Cairo, IL if you continue to turn for 10 mph? 

    N a. 0840, 26 May
    N b. 2218, 26 May
    Y c. 2339, 27 May
    N d. 0339, 28 May
1751: At 1118, on 24 May, you pass Natchez Gage and estimate the current will average 3.0 mph for the remainder of the time on the Mississippi River. What is your ETA at Cairo, IL if you continue to turn for 10 mph? 

    N a. 0840, 26 May
    N b. 2218, 26 May
    Y c. 2339, 27 May
    N d. 0339, 28 May
2006: On 8 November , your 1731 zone time DR position is LAT 27°16.0'N, LONG 137°25.0'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three stars best suited for a fix at star time? 

    Y a. Alphecca, Fomalhaut, Schedar
    N b. Antares, Rasalhague, Altair
    N c. Sirius, Hamal, Dubhe
    N d. Peacock, Ankaa,  Al Na'ir
2014: On 16 October , evening twilight will occur at 1746 ZT, and your DR position will be LAT 28°43.2'N, LONG 60°29.8' W. Considering their magnitude and location, which of the following are the three best stars to select for a fix at star time? 

    Y a. Antares, Arcturus, Polaris
    N b. Deneb, Polaris, Vega
    N c. Antares, Deneb, Vega
    N d. Vega, Polaris, Enif
2060: The highest point on your towboat is 67 feet above the water, and the Helena Gage reads +22.3 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the A-span of the Helena Highway Bridge? 

    Y a. 30.1 feet
    N b. 49.8 feet
    N c. 52.4 feet
    N d. 74.7 feet
2076: What is the mile point of the Fulton Gage? 

    Y a. 778 AHP
    N b. 687 AHP
    N c. 632 AHP
    N d. 598 AHP
2320: 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? 

    N a. 48.0 feet
    Y b. 53.2 feet
    N c. 68.2 feet
    N d. 116.0 feet
2667: Your vessel is on a course of 255°T, at 14 knots. At 2126 a lighthouse is sighted dead ahead at a distance of 11 miles. You change course at this time to pass the lighthouse 3 miles abeam to port. What will be your ETA at this position off the lighthouse? 

    N a. 2149
    N b. 2201
    Y c. 2211
    N d. 2228
3300: You have steamed 156 miles and consumed 19 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 273 miles? 

    N a. 23.6 tons
    N b. 27.9 tons
    Y c. 33.3 tons
    N d. 37.2 tons
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
3651: The true course between two points is 337°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 3°E and you make an allowance of 5° leeway for a west wind. Which gyro course should be steered to make the true course good? 

    Y a. 329°pgc
    N b. 335°pgc
    N c. 339°pgc
    N d. 345°pgc
3753: 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 343°T, and the variation is 5° west. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 344° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation? 

    N a. 1°E
    N b. 1°W
    Y c. 4°E
    N d. 4°W
13407: Your position is LAT 41°03.0'N, LONG 72°42.1'W. If your draft is 8 ft, what should your fathometer read at this position? 

    Y a. 80 ft
    N b. 88 ft
    N c. 96 ft
    N d. 99 ft
13804: What is the significance of the broken magenta lines which roughly parallel the shore between Roanoke Point and Orient Point on Long Island? 

    N a. They mark the limits of breakers in that area.
    N b. These lines warn the mariner of submerged rocks.
    Y c. They mark the boundary lines of fish trap areas.
    N d. These lines warn the mariner of submerged pipelines.
14303: What is the height above the water of light No. 84 on the Columbia River below Bonneville lock & dam? 

    N a. 10 feet
    Y b. 14 feet
    N c. 18 feet
    N d. 24 feet
15160: At 1815, your position is LAT 37°01.0'N, LONG 75°42.7'W. If there is no current, what is the course per standard magnetic compass to arrive at a point 0.3 mile due north of North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy "NCA"? 

    N a. 249.0°psc
    N b. 251.5°psc
    N c. 255.0°psc
    Y d. 257.0°psc
15219: From your 2118 position, you steer a course of 288°T at an engine speed of 7.0 knots. At 2120 visibility is suddenly reduced to 2 miles. At what time can you expect to see Old Point Comfort Light? 

    N a. 2136
    N b. 2143
    N c. 2202
    Y d. 2228
15262: 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? 

    N a. LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°41.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°41.0'W
    Y c. LAT 41°11.5'N, LONG 72°40.7'W
    N d. LAT 41°11.6'N, LONG 72°41.0'W
15666: At 0815, visibility is excellent and you can see Montauk Point. Montauk Point Light is __________. 

    N a. shown from a brown tower
    N b. equipped with a fog diaphone
    Y c. lighted 24 hours
    N d. is 79 feet (24 meters) high
15818: 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
16007: If the visibility is 11 miles, what is the earliest time you can expect to see New Haven Light? 

    N a. The light is visible at 0352.
    N b. 0414
    Y c. 0443
    N d. You will not sight the light.
16070: When exiting Thimble Shoal Channel bound for Norfolk, the track line based on the lights of the Norfolk Entrance Reach Range is __________. 

    N a. 220°T
    N b. 222°T
    Y c. 224°T
    N d. 228°T
16311: The broken magenta line which runs parallel to the shore between Roanoke Point and Mattituck Inlet marks a __________. 

    N a. pipeline
    Y b. fish trap area
    N c. demarcation line
    N d. cable area
16340: If you make good your intended course and speed, at what time will you cross the 150-foot curve? 

    N a. 2237
    N b. 2249
    Y c. 2256
    N d. 2301
16357: The coast between Great Machipongo Inlet and Cape Charles is __________. 

    N a. composed of high rocky bluffs and wooded uplands
    N b. marked by prominent isolated barren hills
    N c. broken by the mouths of several major rivers
    Y d. low with sandy beaches bordered by marshes
16438: Chesapeake Channel is temporarily closed to traffic.
At 2215 you anchor on the following bearings:

Wolf Trap Light 358°pgc
Light "HH" 301°pgc
New Point Comfort Light "2" 263°pgc

What is your 2215 position? 

    Y a. LAT 37°18.3'N, LONG 76°10.9'W
    N b. LAT 37°18.2'N, LONG 76°11.2'W
    N c. LAT 37°18.1'N, LONG 76°10.8'W
    N d. LAT 37°18.0'N, LONG 76°11.2'W
16558: From your position you observe a rotating white and green light to the north. This light is most likely __________. 

    Y a. at an airport
    N b. on a naval mine-countermeasures vessel
    N c. "Block Island North Light"
    N d. on a vessel engaged in public safety activity
16712: The two wavy magenta lines running to Green Hill Point represent __________. 

    N a. recommended approaches to Green Hill Point
    N b. the red sector of Point Judith Light
    N c. prohibited fishing areas
    Y d. submarine cables
16717: At 0705, you take the following bearings:
Watch Hill Light 030.5°pgc
Latimer Reef Light 329.0°pgc
Race Rock Light 262.0°pgc

What was the true course made good between 0645 and 0705? 

    N a. 252°T
    Y b. 256°T
    N c. 263°T
    N d. 266°T