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.

99: What is the mile point of the Rosedale Gage?
110: As you pass under the Baton Rouge RR and Highway 190 bridge you receive a call from another tow upriver. What channel on the VHF should you be monitoring?
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?
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
544: From your 0600 position, what is the course per gyrocompass to leave Watch Hill Light abeam to starboard at 2.0 miles if a southerly wind is producing 3° of leeway? 

    N a. 262°pgc
    N b. 258°pgc
    N c. 256°pgc
    Y d. 252°pgc
545: At 0645, Watch Hill Point (left tangent) bears 314.5°T at 2.75 miles. What was the speed made good between 0600 and 0645? 

    N a. 11.4 knots
    Y b. 10.7 knots
    N c. 9.8 knots
    N d. 8.1 knots
744: On 22 May , at 0440 ZT, your vessel's DR position is LAT 23°24'N, LONG 110°24'W. At approximately this time, you obtain a sextant altitude (hs) of Polaris reading 23°40.9' with an index error of 1.6' on the arc. Your chronometer reads 11h 42m 14s, and is 2m 36s fast. What is your latitude by Polaris, given a height of eye of 24 feet? 

    N a. 23°28.6'N
    N b. 23°30.0'N
    Y c. 23°31.2'N
    N d. 23°32.8'N
992: At 0100 zone time, on 23 September , your DR position is LAT 24°25.0'N, LONG 83°00.0'W. You are steering course 315°T. The speed over the ground is 10.0 knots. You observed 3 morning sun lines. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1100 running fix? NP-0002

    Y a. LAT 25°35.3'N, LONG 84°17.0'W
    N b. LAT 25°42.6'N, LONG 84°18.7'W
    N c. LAT 25°30.4'N, LONG 84°28.6'W
    N d. LAT 25°28.3'N, LONG 84°34.3'W
1005: On 18 May , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 20°41'N, LONG 63°32'W. You are on course 106°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' 

    Y a. LAT 20°32.6'N, LONG 62°57.5'W
    N b. LAT 20°30.1'N, LONG 63°01.9'W
    N c. LAT 20°27.6'N, LONG 62°52.4'W
    N d. LAT 20°25.2'N, LONG 62°56.9'W
1095: On 25 Oct. , your 0430 ZT DR position is LAT 24°48'N, LONG 65°31'W. Your vessel is on course 030°T at a speed of 18 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0455 running fix. NP-0025

    Y a. LAT 24°53'N, LONG 65°28'W
    N b. LAT 24°53'N, LONG 65°12'W
    N c. LAT 24°54'N, LONG 65°17'W
    N d. LAT 25°03'N, LONG 65°18'W
1129: Which daymark should you see as you approach French Point Light (mile 915.4 AHP)? 

    N a. Red diamond
    N b. Green square
    Y c. Red triangle
    N d. Green diamond
1224: What is the total length of the trip? 

    N a. 906.3 miles
    Y b. 922.3 miles
    N c. 1155.8 miles
    N d. 1187.3 miles
1264: On 17 November , your 1530 ZT DR position is LAT 27°13.0'S, LONG 153°21.0'W. You are on course 261°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the ZT of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1813
    N b. 1828
    N c. 1834
    Y d. 1845
1364: In high water conditions, which publication would you consult for the latest information on buoys between Baton Rouge and Cairo? 

    N a. List of Buoys and Daymarks
    N b. U.S.C.G. Light List
    N c. Army Corps. of Engineers Navigation Chart
    Y d. None of the above
1425: At 1227, on 19 October, you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What speed must you average to arrive at Jimmy Hawken Light (mile 663.5 AHP) at 0930 the following day? 

    N a. 5.2 mph
    N b. 5.6 mph
    N c. 5.9 mph
    Y d. 6.3 mph
1772: What is your ETA at the Fulton Gage? 

    N a. 1405, 12 Sept
    N b. 1052, 12 Sept
    N c. 0828, 12 Sept
    Y d. 0204, 12 Sept
1859: On 22 March , your 0519 ZT DR position is LAT 27°20.6'N, LONG 69°25.6'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 094°T, at an observed altitude (Ho) of 30°15.0'. The chronometer reads 10h 16m 47s and is 02m 15s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Acamar
    Y b. Enif
    N c. Menkar
    N d. Rigel
1880: On 13 September , your 1830 ZT DR position was LAT 23°03'S, LONG 105°16'E when you observed a faint unidentifiable star through a hole in the clouds. The star bore 265.0°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 62°25.4'. The chronometer read 11h 24m 39s and is 5m 08s slow. The index error is 1.0' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52 feet. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Sigma Ophiuchi
    N b. Alcyone
    Y c. Dschubba
    N d. Gamma Lupi
1927: At 1554, on 25 May, you pass Huntington Point Light (mile 555.2 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. DockS (253.6 AHP)? 

    N a. 6.9 mph
    Y b. 6.2 mph
    N c. 4.8 mph
    N d. 4.3 mph
1960: The low water reference plane for Greenville Highway Bridge is 11.3 feet. If the Gage at the Greenville Highway Bridge reads 22.0 feet, what is the water level in relation to the low water reference plane (LWRP)? 

    N a. 22.1 feet below the LWRP
    N b. 10.7 feet below the LWRP
    Y c. 10.7 feet above the LWRP
    N d. 0.5  feet below the LWRP
2019: On 15 October , your 0300 zone time DR position is LAT 27°14'S, LONG 99°46'E. You are on course 128°T at a speed of 19 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time? 

    N a. Jupiter, Alphard, Betelgeuse
    N b. Mars, Regulus, Canopus
    N c. Achernar, Suhail, Alphard
    Y d. Achernar, Procyon, Aldebaran
2217: 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? 

    N a. 74.7 feet
    N b. 52.4 feet
    N c. 49.8 feet
    Y d. 30.1 feet
2326: The Coast Guard announces that Chesapeake Channel is closed indefinitely due to a collision in the channel between Trestle "B" and "C" of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. You exit York Spit Channel, leaving buoy "22"
close abeam to port at 0.1 mile, and alter course to leave Horseshoe Crossing Lighted Bell Buoy "HC" abeam to port at 0.2 mile. What is the course per gyrocompass? 

    Y a. 185°pgc
    N b. 188°pgc
    N c. 191°pgc
    N d. 194°pgc
2331: What is the coastwise distance from your 0731 fix to Wilmington, DE (LAT 39°43.2'N, LONG 75°31.5'W)? 

    N a. 339 miles
    N b. 309 miles
    N c. 245 miles
    Y d. 221 miles
2532: At 0715, on March 9, you pass Knox Landing GagE C313.8 AHP) and estimate the current will average 3.5 mph for the remainder of the time on the Mississippi River. What is your ETA at the mouth of the Ohio River if you increase speed to turn for 10 mph? 

    N a. 0640, 11 March
    N b. 0554, 12 March
    Y c. 0943, 13 March
    N d. 1242, 13 March
2901: You are steaming on a course of 198°T at 18.5 knots. At 0316 you observe a lighthouse bearing 235°T. At 0348 the lighthouse bears 259°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing? 

    Y a. 14.8 miles
    N b. 15.3 miles
    N c. 15.8 miles
    N d. 16.3 miles
3050: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 23.7 feet and a pitch of 24.8 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 442 miles in a 23 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 89? 

    N a. -7.6%
    N b. +7.6%
    N c. -11.8%
    Y d. +11.8%
3108: You are turning 105 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 17 feet, and an estimated slip of -1%. What is the speed of advance? 

    N a. 15.3 knots
    N b. 16.9 knots
    N c. 17.4 knots
    Y d. 17.8 knots
3602: You are heading 328°pgc to make good a course of 332°T, allowing 3° leeway for westerly winds and 1°E gyro error. The variation is 17°E. What should your heading be by standard magnetic compass to make good 332°T.
DEVIATION TABLE
MAGNETIC HEADING DEV.
345° 1°E
330° 1°W
315° 3°W 

    Y a. 315°psc
    N b. 318°psc
    N c. 343°psc
    N d. 345°psc
3622: Your vessel is steering a course of 337°psc. Variation for the area is 13°W, and deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the south, producing a 3° leeway. Which true course are you making good? 

    N a. 325°T
    N b. 328°T
    Y c. 331°T
    N d. 349°T
3624: Your vessel is steering course 073°psc, variation for the area is 15°E, and deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the southeast, producing a 4° leeway. Which true course are you making good? 

    N a. 050°T
    N b. 058°T
    Y c. 088°T
    N d. 096°T
3627: Your vessel is steering course 243°psc. Variation for the area is 5°E, and deviation is 2°W. The wind is from the south-southeast, producing a 2° leeway. What true course are you making good? 

    N a. 242°T
    N b. 244°T
    N c. 246°T
    Y d. 248°T
3772: Your ship is entering port from sea, and you sight a pair of range lights. When in line, they bear 315° per standard magnetic compass. The chart shows that the range bearing is 312°T, and that variation is 6°W. What is the deviation of your compass at the time of the sighting? 

    Y a. 3°E
    N b. 3°W
    N c. 9°E
    N d. 9°W
12106: While in the Back River, you sight the two tanks along the Northwest Branch (vicinity LAT 37°05.6'N, LONG 76°22.0'W) in line bearing 277° per standard magnetic compass. If your vessel is heading 243°psc, what is TRUE? 

    N a. There is no deviation.
    N b. The deviation table is incorrect.
    Y c. The compass error is 12°W.
    N d. The deviation is 3°E for bearings of 277°psc.
12609: You are on course 239° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Falkner Island Light 314°psc Duck Island West Breakwater Light 2DI 039°psc Horton Point Light 157°psc What is your position? 

    Y a. LAT 41°09.9'N, LONG 72°32.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°33.0'W
    N c. LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 72°32.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°11.6'N, LONG 72°33.6'W
13109: At 1113 you are in the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island with buoy "5" close aboard. What is your ETA at light "1" at the mouth of the approaches to Lake Montauk if you make good 9.6 knots? 

    N a. 1310
    Y b. 1301
    N c. 1254
    N d. 1249
14403: You are underway and steaming in an easterly direction on the Columbia River. After bringing Fisher Quarry Channel Range in line over your bow, you move to the left outside quarter of the channel. What should your fathometer read at this position, if the staff gauge at Portland reads +12.5 feet? 

    N a. 7.5 feet
    Y b. 32.5 feet
    N c. 41.5 feet
    N d. 51.5 feet
15039: At 0725 you determined your vessel's position to be 37°15.5'N, 75°33.2'W. Assuming that you make good your course of 206° true and a speed of 18 knots, at what time would you expect to be abeam of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14"? 

    N a. 0750
    N b. 0754
    Y c. 0758
    N d. 0802
15159: From your 1715, fix you steer 214°T at 12 knots. At 1800,
you take the following bearings:

Cape Charles Light bearing 296° true
Cape Henry light bearing 242° true

Your 1800 position is __________. 

    N a. LAT 37°02.8'N,  LONG 75°43.9'W
    Y b. LAT 37°02.9'N,  LONG 75°43.1'W
    N c. LAT 37°03.0'N,  LONG 75°43.3'W
    N d. LAT 37°03.1'N,  LONG 75°42.8'W
15314: Your gyro and electronic gear are again operating. At 1710, Chesapeake Light bears 137°pgc at 6.6 miles. The current is setting 160°T at 2 knots. At your speed of 6 knots, what is your true course to steer to remain in the inbound traffic lane? 

    Y a. 269°
    N b. 265°
    N c. 261°
    N d. 250°
15414: At 2100, you have passed through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel and determine your position to be LAT 37°01.3'
N, LONG 76°03.0'W. The current is flooding in a direction of 303°T at 2.5 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, which course would you steer while turning RPMs for 6 knots to make good a course of 175°T? 

    Y a. 156°T
    N b. 164°T
    N c. 183°T
    N d. 190°T
15441: At buoy "CB" you change course to follow the inbound
traffic lane. What is the course to steer per gyro compass if you correct your heading for a current of 315° at 1.0 knot and allow 3° leeway for northeasterly winds? 

    N a. 297°pgc
    N b. 299°pgc
    Y c. 302°pgc
    N d. 305°pgc
15509: At 1800, your position is LAT 41°06.5'N, LONG 71°43.5'W. How would the buoy which bears approximately 040°T from your position at a range of half a mile be painted? 

    Y a. Horizontally banded, green over red, with a green buoyancy chamber
    N b. Horizontally banded, red over green, with a red buoyancy chamber
    N c. Vertically striped, red and green
    N d. Solid green with red letters "BIS"
15717: From your 1210 position, you are steering a course of 083°
T. Your engines are turning RPMs for 10 knots. The set and drift of the current are 310° at 1.7 knots. At what time should you expect to enter the red sector of New London Harbor Light? 

    N a. 1241
    Y b. 1249
    N c. 1256
    N d. 1309
15738: At 1830 you obtained the following Loran-C readings:

9960-W-14820.0
9960-X-26097.0
9960-Y-43713.5

What is your vessel's position? 

    N a. LAT 40°41.0'N,  LONG 72°06.0'W
    N b. LAT 40°41.0'N,  LONG 72°10.6'W
    Y c. LAT 40°42.5'N,  LONG 72°07.1'W
    N d. LAT 40°47.5'N,  LONG 72°02.9'W
16314: At 0820, you take the following bearings:

Branford Reef Light bearing 307° true
Falkner Island Light bearing 052° true

What are the set and drift since 0730? 

    N a. Set 052°T, drift 1.1 knots
    N b. Set 052°T, drift 1.3 knots
    N c. Set 236°T, drift 1.1 knot
    Y d. Set 236°T, drift 1.3 knots
16845: After the pilot boards, he tells you the gyro has a 2°E error. If this is true, what should the bearing be along Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel as your vessel passes abeam of it? 

    N a. 052°pgc
    N b. 049°pgc
    Y c. 047°pgc
    N d. 045°pgc