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.


330: Which chart could you use for greater detail of the area at the south end of York Spit Channel?


384: What is the course per standard magnetic compass between points "A" and "B"?


408: You depart LAT 37°36'N, LONG 123°00'W, and steam 2022 miles on course 241°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing?


437: At 0227, you are on course 087°T at 10 knots. What course per standard magnetic compass should you steer to make good your true course?

    N a. 109°psc
    Y b. 105°psc
    N c. 102°psc
    N d. 099°psc

459: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 25°47.0'N, LONG 79°59.5'W to LAT 38°42.0'N, LONG 09°10.5'W.

    N a. 3341.0 miles, 063°T
    N b. 3347.0 miles, 063°T
    N c. 3427.8 miles, 061°T
    Y d. 3588.6 miles, 059°T

470: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 35°08.0'S, LONG 19°26.0'E to LAT 33°16.0'S, LONG 115°36.0'E.

    N a. 4457 miles, 126°T
    Y b. 4559 miles, 121°T
    N c. 4682 miles, 059°T
    N d. 4688 miles, 126°T

551: You are on course 092°T, and the engines are turning for 8 knots. At 0452, you take the following bearings:
Stratford Point Light 020°pgc Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light 141°pgc

What is your 0452 position?

    Y a. LAT 41°05.2'N, LONG 73°07.8'W
    N b. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 73°07.5'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 73°07.3'W
    N d. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°07.3'W

556: Your 0530 position is LAT 41°04.9'N, LONG 73°01.1'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position 1.0 mile south of Twenty Eight Foot Shoal "TE" buoy?

    Y a. 099.5°psc
    N b. 096.0°psc
    N c. 092.5°psc
    N d. 082.0°psc

558: At 0530, you change course to 090°T and increase speed to 8.5 knots. What is the course to steer per gyro compass if northerly winds are causing 2° of leeway?

    N a. 094°pgc
    N b. 092°pgc
    Y c. 090°pgc
    N d. 088°pgc

558: At 0530, you change course to 090°T and increase speed to 8.5 knots. What is the course to steer per gyro compass if northerly winds are causing 2° of leeway?

    N a. 094°pgc
    N b. 092°pgc
    Y c. 090°pgc
    N d. 088°pgc

609: At 0915 zone time, on 7 April , you depart San Francisco, LAT 37°48.5'N, LONG 122°24.0'W (ZD +8). You are bound for Kobe, LAT 34°40.0'N, LONG 135°12.0'E, and you estimate your speed of advance at 17 knots. The distance is 4,819 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Kobe?

    N a. 0343, 18 April
    N b. 1243, 19 April
    Y c. 2143, 19 April
    N d. 0443, 20 April

1270: At 0500 zone time, on 21 August , your DR position is LAT 47°00'N, LONG 125°15'W. You are steering 000°T at a speed of 9.8 knots. What is the zone time of sunrise?

    Y a. 0525
    N b. 0529
    N c. 0531
    N d. 0535

1472: On 9 February , your 0739 zone time DR position is LAT 23°31.0'N, LONG 143°41.0'E. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 104.5°psc. The chronometer reads 09h 37m 12s, and the chronometer error is 01m 52s slow. The variation is 3.5°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 1.6°E
    N b. 2.3°W
    N c. 5.1°W
    Y d. 8.6°E

1683: You are taking a time tick using the 1930 signal from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. You hear the preparatory signal "CQ DE PPE" repeated several times followed by a short dash (0.4 sec), 60 dots (0.1 sec each) and another short dash. At the beginning of the last dash, the comparing watch reads 07h 30m 08s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 07h 31m 48s, and the chronometer reads 07h 32m 16s. What is the chronometer error?

    N a. 0m 28s slow
    N b. 1m 40s slow
    N c. 0m 08s fast
    Y d. 0m 36s fast

1706: The highest point on your towboat is 53 feet above the water, and the Helena Gage (mile 663 AHP) reads 3.9 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the B-span of the Helena Highway Bridge in Helena?

    N a. 59.9 feet
    Y b. 62.5 feet
    N c. 64.1 feet
    N d. 65.5 feet

1708: At 0300 on 19 April, you pass under the Greenville Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. Docks (mile 253.6 AHP)?

    N a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 5.2 mph
    N c. 4.8 mph
    Y d. 4.3 mph

1741: 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?

    N a. 2044, 25 Aug
    N b. 0214, 26 Aug
    N c. 0745, 26 Aug
    Y d. 0845, 26 Aug

1763: At 2126, you pass Morganza Bend Light (mile 278.4 AHP).
At 0226, 4 January, you pass Red River Landing Gage (mile 302.4 AHP). You have been turning for 7.5 mph. What is the current?

    N a. 1.4 mph
    N b. 1.8 mph
    Y c. 2.7 mph
    N d. 6.2 mph

1902: On 22 April , your 1852 DR position is LAT 23°54.5'N, LONG 117°36.8'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 077°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 18°58.7'. The chronometer reads 02h 54m 53s, and is 02m 51s fast. What star did you observe?

    N a. Diphda
    N b. Betelgeuse
    N c. Gienah
    Y d. Arcturus

1912: On 22 February , your 1857 DR position is LAT 23°46.0'S, LONG 93°16.5'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 108°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 67°53.9'. The chronometer reads 01h 00m 35s, and is 03m 25s fast. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Adhara
    N b. Miaplacidus
    N c. Avior
    N d. Suhail

2126: At 2350 on 23 June, you are at mile 610.5 AHP when you see about a mile ahead lights on the water near the left bank. What might you see when you come abreast of these lights?

    N a. Privately maintained buoys at a yacht club
    N b. Government buoys marking the Hurricane Point dikes
    Y c. Barges moored at the Dennis Landing Terminal
    N d. A pipeline discharging dredge spoil

2171: On 8 August , at 0545 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 26°16.0'
S, LONG 94°16.0'E. Your vessel is steaming at 20.0 knots on a course of 346°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0905 ZT. The chronometer reads 03h 02m 52s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 38°07.5'. The index error is 5.2' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 2m 17s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 72 feet (22.0 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho) and azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    Y a. 38°19.4', 048.4°T
    N b. 38°19.4', 131.6°T
    N c. 38°54.9', 048.4°T
    N d. 38°54.9', 131.6°T

2242: At 1620 ZT, on 10 September , in DR position LAT 34° 03.8' N, LONG 050° 28.4' W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The Moon’s upper limb is observed on the visible horizon and bears 110.2° psc. The variation is 2° E. What is the deviation?

    N a. 2.0°E
    N b. 2.0°W
    Y c. 1.2°E
    N d. 1.2°W

2279: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 58°06.6' on 5 April . The index error is 1.0' off the arc. The height of eye is 55 feet (16.8 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 58°14.2'
    Y b. 58°15.8'
    N c. 58°16.9'
    N d. 58°18.1'

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

2324: At 1547 ZT, on 22 May , in DR position LAT 45° 12.8' N, LONG 028° 15.4' W, the Moon’s upper limb is observed on the visible horizon, bearing 120.0° psc. Variation is 2° W. What is the deviation?

    N a. 1.4°W
    Y b. 2.6°E
    N c. 1.4°E
    N d. 2.6°W

2333: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 37°47.2' on 11 October . The index error is 3.0' off the arc. The height of eye is 63 feet (19.2 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 37°25.2'
    N b. 37°42.5'
    N c. 37°51.5'
    Y d. 37°57.5'

2594: What will be the current at Port Jefferson entrance at 0130 on December 5, 1983?

    N a. 1.4 knots, flood
    N b. 1.4 knots, ebb
    N c. 0.8 knot, flood
    Y d. 0.8 knot, ebb

2706: While on a course of 216°pgc, a light bears 12° on the port bow at a distance of 11.2 miles. Which course should you steer to pass 2 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port?

    N a. 208°pgc
    N b. 210°pgc
    N c. 212°pgc
    Y d. 214°pgc

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

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

2871: Your vessel is on a course of 052°T at 16 knots. At 0916 a light bears 078.5°T, and at 0927 the light bears 097°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light?

    N a. 0929, 2.0 miles
    N b. 0932, 2.3 miles
    N c. 0935, 2.6 miles
    Y d. 0938, 2.9 miles

2879: Your vessel is steering 354°T at 14 knots. At 0317 a light bears 049°T, and at 0342 the same light bears 071°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    Y a. 12.4 miles
    N b. 12.7 miles
    N c. 13.0 miles
    N d. 13.3 miles

3075: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 15.7 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 23.4 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 6% negative slip?

    Y a. 64
    N b. 68
    N c. 72
    N d. 76

3103: You are turning 93 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 25 feet, and an estimated slip of 0%. What is the speed of advance?

    N a. 20.2 knots
    N b. 21.9 knots
    N c. 22.4 knots
    Y d. 22.9 knots

3268: Your vessel arrives in port with sufficient fuel to steam 595 miles at 14 knots. If you are unable to take on bunkers, at what speed must you proceed to reach your next port, 707 miles distant?

    N a. 12.2 knots
    N b. 12.5 knots
    Y c. 12.8 knots
    N d. 14.4 knots

3457: 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 speed will you make good along the track line?

    N a. 12.2 knots
    N b. 12.7 knots
    Y c. 13.0 knots
    N d. 13.3 knots

3761: 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 283°
T, and the variation is 13°E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 278° per standard compass, what is the deviation?

    N a. 5°E
    N b. 5°W
    N c. 8°E
    Y d. 8°W

11302: At 1614 your GPS position is LAT 37°01.6'N, LONG 75°31.7'W. At 1703 your position is LAT 36°57.0'N, LONG 75°41.0'W. What was the course made good between the fixes?

    Y a. 238°T
    N b. 242°T
    N c. 247°T
    N d. 250°T

11306: At 1919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. At 1950 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°37.0'W. What is the speed made good?

    N a. 5.6 knots
    N b. 8.2 knots
    N c. 9.1 knots
    Y d. 10.9 knots

11407: At 1930 your GPS position is LAT 41°00.5'N, LONG 72°49.5'W. At 2018 your position is LAT 41°08.6'N, LONG 72°41.6'W. What was your true course and speed made good?

    N a. 219° at 10.1 knots
    N b. 214° at 12.5 knots
    Y c. 036° at 12.6 knots
    N d. 039° at 11.2 knots

11807: What course should you steer by your standard magnetic compass (psc) between Horton Pt. Light and a position 2 miles due south of Branford Reef Light, if the set and drift of the current are 111°T at 2.5 knots, and a southwesterly wind will cause 4° of leeway? (Your engines are turning for 18 knots.)

    N a. 306°psc
    Y b. 301°psc
    N c. 295°psc
    N d. 275°psc

12909: At 0914 you are in Chesapeake Bay southeast inbound lane with buoy "CBJ" close aboard to port. What is your ETA at Thimble Shoal Channel Buoy "19" if you are making 10.9 knots?

    N a. 1034
    Y b. 1038
    N c. 1046
    N d. 1042

15063: At 0830, you want the latest weather forecasts for the Falkner Island area. On what frequency do you set your FM radio for this information?

    N a. 2182 kHz
    N b. 162.80 Mhz
    N c. 156.65 Mhz
    Y d. 162.55 Mhz

15269: New London Harbor is __________.

    Y a. limited to vessels drawing less than 36 feet (10.8 meters)
    N b. closed during the winter season
    N c. subject to dangerous freshets in the fall
    N d. difficult to enter at night

15365: Which loran line can you follow to remain clear of all danger until south of New London?

    N a. 9960-W-15000
    N b. 9960-W-14900
    N c. 9960-X-26450
    Y d. 9960-Y-43960

15370: If visibility permits, Little Gull Island Light will break the horizon at a range of approximately __________.

    N a. 11.1 miles
    N b. 12.8 miles
    Y c. 15.6 miles
    N d. 18.0 miles

15516: If you were to head into Fishers Island Sound, which of the following charts would you switch to for better detail of Mystic and Mystic Harbor?

    N a. 13209
    N b. 13212
    N c. 13213
    Y d. 13214

15545: At 2342 the gyro alarm sounds and you commence steering by standard magnetic compass. If you allow 3° leeway for southerly winds and do not correct for any existing current, what is the course to steer by standard magnetic compass to make good 068°T?

    N a. 054.0°
    N b. 079.5°
    N c. 081.0°
    Y d. 084.5°

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

15915: At 0925, you obtain the following radar information:

Falkner Island Light bearing 252° true @ 1.65 nm

If you correct for a current setting 215°T at 0.5 knot,
what course will you steer from the 0925 position to arrive at a position 0.5 mile south of Long Sand Shoal West End Horn Buoy "W"?

    Y a. 089°T
    N b. 093°T
    N c. 096°T
    N d. 102°T

16062: At 1930, your vessel is between York River Entrance Channel Lighted Buoys "1YR" and "2". From this position, you change course to 142°pgc at an engine speed of 8.0 knots. At 2000, you take the following bearings: Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light - 131°pgc Thimble Shoal Light - 247°pgc
What were the set and drift between 1930 and 2000?

    N a. 140°T at 0.2 knot
    Y b. 140°T at 0.4 knot
    N c. 320°T at 0.2 knot
    N d. 320°T at 0.4 knot

16208: What is your ETA at point "A"?

    N a. 0640
    Y b. 0651
    N c. 0655
    N d. 0702

16263: If you increase speed to 8 knots, and the current is 240°
at 0.7 knot. What course should you steer from your 0400 position to arrive at point A?

    N a. 178°T
    N b. 180°T
    Y c. 183°T
    N d. 186°T

16319: As you enter the New Haven Outer Channel, you sight the outer range markers in line directly ahead. Your heading at this time is 347°psc. What is your compass deviation by observation?

    Y a. 0.5°East
    N b. 3.0°East
    N c. 3.5°West
    N d. 4.5°East

16364: If you proceed from your 0500 position to Chesapeake Bay via the inbound traffic lane. What is the distance to Yorktown, VA?

    N a. 34.0 miles
    N b. 42.6 miles
    Y c. 51.7 miles
    N d. 62.1 miles

16513: At 0748, you change course to 160°T. What loran reading can you follow to remain on this course?

    Y a. 9960-W-14651.0
    N b. 9960-W-14660.0
    N c. 9960-Y-43852.0
    N d. 9960-Y-43943.8

16706: 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?

    N a. LAT 41°20.8'N, Long 71°30.3'W
    Y b. LAT 41°20.8'N, Long 71°29.7'W
    N c. LAT 41°20.6'N, Long 71°30.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°20.5'N, Long 71°29.8'W