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.

59: You pass Warnicott Bar Lt. at 1146, 24 May. What is your ETA off the Mhoon Landing Gage if you average 6.5 mph?
65: What are the dimensions of the Old River Lock on the Lower Old River (mile 304 AHP)?
83: Which light characteristics does Catfish Point Lower Light (mile 572.2 AHP) have?
149: Your engines are turning for 8.2 mph. You estimate the current at 1.5 mph. What is your speed over the ground? 

    Y a. 9.7 mph
    N b. 8.8 mph
    N c. 8.2 mph
    N d. 6.7 mph
158: Which daymark should you see as you approach French Point Light (mile 915.4 AHP)? 

    Y a. Red triangle
    N b. Green square
    N c. Red diamond
    N d. Green diamond
206: At 1850, you obtain the following bearings and distances:

Montauk Point 189°pgc 8.7 miles
Watch Hill Light 340°pgc 5.7 miles

What true course did you make good between 1830 and 1850? 

    Y a. 293°T
    N b. 297°T
    N c. 299°T
    N d. 305°T
317: Determine your 1915 position using the following information obtained at 1915.
Visual bearings
Cape Charles Light 107°pgc
Cape Henry Light 172°pgc

Radar Bearing and Range
Chesapeake Channel Tunnel South Light 189°pgc at 7.2 miles 

    N a. LAT 37°03.5'N, LONG 76°05.9'W
    N b. LAT 37°03.5'N, LONG 76°09.3'W
    Y c. LAT 37°09.3'N, LONG 76°03.1'W
    N d. LAT 37°09.8'N, LONG 76°04.1'W
339: The coastline by Cape Henry is best described as __________. 

    N a. rocky with pine scrubs
    N b. low wetlands
    Y c. sandy hills about eighty feet high
    N d. low and thinly wooded with many beach houses
388: From your 0745 fix, you change course to pass 1.0 mile south of buoy "WH" and estimate your speed at 7 knots. If the visibility clears, what is the earliest time you can expect to see Block Island North Light tower? 

    N a. 0845
    N b. 0838
    Y c. 0807
    N d. 0750
451: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 27°51.0'N, LONG 71°41.0'W to LAT 49°45.0'N, LONG 06°14.0'W. 

    N a. 3196 miles, 313.1°T
    Y b. 3214 miles, 046.9°T
    N c. 3219 miles, 042.5°T
    N d. 3231 miles, 041.4°T
491: At 0748, you take the following bearings:

Watch Hill Point Light bearing 020.5° pgc
Race Point Light bearing 267.5° pgc

What is the approximate depth of water at this position? 

    N a. 104 feet
    Y b. 130 feet
    N c. 175 feet
    N d. 325 feet
537: Determine the distance from LAT 19°54.0'N, LONG 166°36.0'E to LAT 19°54.0'N, LONG 157°54.0'W. by parallel sailing. 

    N a. 2204.6 miles
    N b. 2006.9 miles
    Y c. 2002.8 miles
    N d. 1990.6 miles
579: Which loran line of position will serve as a danger reading on the loran to keep you west of the submerged obstruction at LAT 37°24.2'N, LONG 76°03.7'W, after you leave York Spit Channel? 

    Y a. Not less than 9960-X-27246
    N b. Not more than 9960-Y-41595
    N c. Not less than 9960-Y-41595
    N d. Not less than 9960-Z-58622
636: As you approach Dean Island Light (mile 754.8 AHP), which type of daymark will be observed at the light? 

    N a. Green triangle
    N b. Red and green banded square
    N c. Green square daymark
    Y d. Diamond-shaped green daymark
667: You are planning a voyage from departure Seattle (LAT 48°30'N, LONG 125°00'W) to a position at LAT 44°00'N, LONG 161°00'E. Which statement is TRUE? (Use gnomonic chart WOXZC 5270.) 

    N a. You must plot a composite sailing to remain south of the Aleutians.
    N b. The northern hemisphere vertex lies to the west of your arrival position.
    Y c. Military exercises north of 53°N, between 150°W and 165°W, will not affect your voyage.
    N d. At your highest latitude, the sun will be visible at upper  and lower transit if the voyage occurs on 21 June.
742: On 15 July , at 0447 ZT, your vessel's DR position is LAT 22°42'N, LONG 126°36'E. At approximately this time, you obtain a sextant altitude (hs) of Polaris reading 23°46.2' with an index error of 1.6' off the arc. Your chronometer reads 08h 48m 28s, and is 1m 16s fast. What is your latitude by Polaris, given a height of eye of 33 feet? 

    N a. 22°44.1'N
    N b. 22°46.2'N
    N c. 22°50.2'N
    Y d. 22°54.1'N
1093: On 22 Nov. , your vessel is enroute from Accra, Ghana to Montevideo, Uruguay. You are on course 240°T and making a speed of 15.0 knots. Your 1129 DR position is LAT 28°25.0'S, LONG 42°40.0'W. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1137 running fix. NP-0023

    Y a. LAT 28°27.0'S, LONG 42°38.0'W
    N b. LAT 28°25.2'S, LONG 42°40.0'W
    N c. LAT 28°25.0'S, LONG 42°36.0'W
    N d. LAT 28°23.4'S, LONG 42°42.0'W
1104: On 19 November , your 0200 zone time DR position is LAT 20°29.0'N, LONG 150°21.3'E. You are on course 136°T at a speed of 18 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. NP-0033

    N a. LAT 19°30.1'N, LONG 151°06.0'E
    N b. LAT 19°31.7'N, LONG 151°04.9'E
    Y c. LAT 19°33.0'N, LONG 151°10.0'E
    N d. LAT 19°35.8'N, LONG 151°13.6'E
1186: On 16 November , your 0800 zone time DR position is LAT 25°11.0'N, LONG 117°41.0'W. Your vessel is on course 252°T at a speed of 14.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1131
    N b. 1135
    Y c. 1139
    N d. 1144
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
1477: On 27 June , your vessel's 0816 ZT DR position is LAT 22°14'S, LONG 53°52'W, when an azimuth of the Sun is observed. The chronometer time of the sight is 12h 15m 02s, and the Sun is bearing 047.5° per standard magnetic compass. The chronometer error is 00m 46s slow, and the variation in the area is 6.0°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 1.5°E
    N b. 1.9°W
    Y c. 3.0°W
    N d. 3.0°E
1650: On 22 October , in DR position LAT 21°51.0'S, LONG 76°24.0'E, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 256°psc. The chronometer reads 01h 01m 25s and is 01m 15s fast. Variation for the area is 2°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.3°E
    Y b. 0.3°W
    N c. 2.0°E
    N d. 2.0°W
1669: On 19 June , your vessel's 0523 ZT DR position is LAT 25°12.0'N, LONG 123°14.0'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 052.0° per standard compass. Variation in the area is 15°E. The chronometer reads 01h 21m 58s and is 01m 18s slow. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    N a. 1.4°E
    N b. 1.4°W
    N c. 1.7°W
    Y d. 3.3°W
1703: At 1218, on 16 March, you are passing the Vicksburg Gage (mile 437.0 AHP). What has been the average current since 0630, 15 March, if you have been making turns for 8.0 mph? 

    N a. 0.2 mph
    N b. 0.5 mph
    N c. 0.8 mph
    Y d. 1.2 mph
1743: You are in charge of a vessel that damages an aid to navigation established and maintained by the United States.
Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. You must take the aid in tow and deliver it to the nearest Coast Guard, Marine Safety Office.
    N b. You must report the allision to the nearest Corps.. of Engineers Office.
    Y c. You must report the accident to the nearest Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.
    N d. You may wait until you reach your destination before reporting the allision to the U.S. Coast Guard.
1780: At 1523 ZT, on 14 June , in DR position LAT 31°58'S, LONG 48°42'W you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 118.0°psc. The variation is 10°W. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 2.5°W
    Y b. 2.1°W
    N c. 1.7°W
    N d. 1.7°E
1802: You are turning for 10 mph and passing Hog Point ,LA. Angola reports that the current at Red River Landing is 4.5 mph. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. The main channel lies on the north side of the island you see ahead.
    N b. You are making 14.5 mph over the ground.
    N c. You would expect to find the more favorable current near the broken red line in the river.
    Y d. You should expect to encounter vessels crossing the river at mile 300.5 AHP.
2090: At your current speed of 17 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 316 miles. You must travel 622 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination? 

    Y a. 12.1
    N b. 13.3
    N c. 14.5
    N d. 15.7
2122: At 1538 ZT, on 15 October , in DR LAT position LAT 18° 12.8' S, LONG 160° 48.4' E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 276.2°psc. Variation is 10° E. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 2.6°E
    N b. 2.6°W
    N c. 3.6°E
    Y d. 3.6°W
2165: On 25 February , at 0622 ZT, you observe the upper limb of the Moon with a sextant altitude of 59°58.6'. Your DR position is LAT 30°28.3'S, LONG 102°39.3 E. The chronometer reading at the time of the sight is 11h 21m 18s and the chronometer is 48s slow. The height of eye is 59 feet and the index error is 2.5' on the arc. What are the azimuth (Zn) and intercept (a) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    Y a. Zn 305.4°, a 4.2°T
    N b. Zn 234.6°, a 4.2° A
    N c. Zn 305.4°, a 1.5°T
    N d. Zn 305.4°, a 9.2°T
2167: On 4 July , at 0630 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 21°15.0'S, LONG 21°20.0'W. Your vessel is steaming at 13.0 knots on a course of 146°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0915 ZT. The chronometer reads 10h 14m 27s, and the sextant altitude is 25°29.8'. The index error is 3.1' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 0m 53s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 48.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    Y a. 049.5°T
    N b. 052.6°T
    N c. 054.3°T
    N d. 058.9°T
2169: At 0600 ZT, on 24 July , your DR position is LAT 22°37'N, LONG 32°45'W. You are steering 185°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. Determine the computed altitude (Hc) and azimuth (Zn) for an observation of the Sun's lower limb taken at 1030 ZT. At this time the chronometer reads 00h 30m 16s and is 0m 31s slow. 

    N a. Hc 64°27.5'  Zn 092.3°
    N b. Hc 64°30.8'  Zn 090.1°
    Y c. Hc 64°41.7'  Zn 087.8°
    N d. Hc 64°44.2'  Zn 094.7°
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'
2536: You have steamed 463 miles at 19 knots and burning 440 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 200 barrels per day with 410 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel? 

    N a. 12.1
    Y b. 13.6
    N c. 15.2
    N d. 17.5
2589: From the 2130 position, you steer 236°T at 10 knots. A strong northerly wind is causing 4° of leeway. What course must you steer per standard compass, to make good 236°T? 

    N a. 232° psc
    N b. 240° psc
    N c. 244° psc
    Y d. 252° psc
2590: You have maneuvered for traffic and at 2215 you obtain the following radar information:

Middle Ground Light bearing 287° pgc @ 6.65 nm


What course must you steer to arrive at buoy "PJ", passing 0.5 nm off "Mt Misery Shoal"? 

    N a. 237° psc
    N b. 257° psc
    Y c. 261° psc
    N d. 265° psc
2669: You are steering 143°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 18.2 miles at 2006. You change course to pass the light 5.5 miles off abeam to port. If you are making 14.5 knots, what is your ETA at a position 5.5 miles off the light? 

    N a. 2115
    Y b. 2118
    N c. 2121
    N d. 2124
2873: Your vessel is on a course of 103°T at 14 knots. At 1918 a light bears 129.5°T, and at 1937 the light bears 148°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 1947, 2.8 miles
    N b. 1950, 3.2 miles
    N c. 1953, 3.8 miles
    Y d. 1956, 4.4 miles
3313: You have steamed 300 miles and consumed 34 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 700 miles? 

    Y a. 79.3 tons
    N b. 74.3 tons
    N c. 68.4 tons
    N d. 66.2 tons
3468: You are underway on course 215°T at 12 knots. The current is 000°T at 2.3 knots. What is the speed being made good? 

    N a. 8.5 knots
    Y b. 10.2 knots
    N c. 10.9 knots
    N d. 11.2 knots
3470: You are underway on course 000°Tat 9.5 knots. The current is 082°T at 1.1 knots. What is the speed being made good? 

    N a. 9.2 knots
    N b. 9.5 knots
    Y c. 9.8 knots
    N d. 10.1 knots
3620: Your vessel is steering course 197°psc, variation for the area is 7°E, and deviation is 4°W. The wind is from the west, producing a 2° leeway. Which true course are you making good? 

    N a. 192°T
    N b. 196°T
    Y c. 198°T
    N d. 202°T
3636: You desire to make good a true course of 279°. The variation is 8°W, magnetic compass deviation is 3°E, and gyrocompass error is 1°E. A north-northwesterly wind produces 3° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to make the true course good? 

    N a. 281°psc
    N b. 284°psc
    Y c. 287°psc
    N d. 290°psc
3751: While proceeding up a channel on course 010° per gyro compass, you notice a pair of range lights in alignment with the masts of your vessel when viewed forward. A check of the chart shows the range to be 009°T and the variation to be 15°W. If the ship's course is 026°psc, what is the deviation for the present heading? 

    Y a. 2°W
    N b. 2°E
    N c. 1°W
    N d. 1°E
10709: At 0726 you depart Lake Montauk with light 1 close aboard and set course 065° per standard magnetic compass at 6.7 knots. At 0912 your GPS position is LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 71°46.6'W. What is the current? 

    N a. 151°T at 1.2 knots
    N b. 164°T at 0.7 knot
    N c. 227°T at 0.9 knot
    Y d. 240°T at 1.4 knots
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
11707: Your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. What is the course to steer per standard 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 139°T at 1.3 knots, and a northwesterly wind is causing 3° of leeway? 

    N a. 290.0°psc
    Y b. 286.0°psc
    N c. 283.5°psc
    N d. 280.5°psc
11800: What is the course to steer between Port Jefferson Approach buoy "PJ" and New Haven Lighted Buoy "NH"? Your engine speed is 12 knots and you allow for a current of 93°T at 0.8 knot. A NW'ly wind causes 3° leeway. 

    Y a. 030°T
    N b. 034°T
    N c. 037°T
    N d. 044°T
15017: At 2100, you alter course to 250°T and reduce speed to 7 knots. You enter the traffic separation scheme on the inbound side. At 2200, your fix shows you crossing a broken purple line on the chart, and you observe North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Gong Buoy "NCD" to port. This area is __________. 

    Y a. a precautionary area centered on buoy "CBJ"
    N b. a pilotage area
    N c. an area with local magnetic disturbances
    N d. in inland waters
15211: You have just passed York River Entrance Channel Lighted Buoys "13" and "14". The chart shows a light approximately 1.0 mile off your port beam with a light characteristic "Fl 6 sec". What is the name of this light? 

    N a. Mobjack Bay Entrance Light
    N b. New Point Comfort Shoal Light
    Y c. York Spit Light
    N d. York River Entrance Channel Light "1"
15439: What is your ETA off Chesapeake Bay Entrance Buoy "CB" at the entrance to the inbound lane of the traffic separation scheme? 

    Y a. 2058
    N b. 2104
    N c. 2109
    N d. 2115
15510: From your 1800 position you steer a course of 350°psc at a speed of 10.0 knots. At 1830, your position is LAT 41°11.7'N, LONG 71°45.8'W. What are the set and drift of the current? 

    N a. 029°T, 0.7 knot
    Y b. 029°T, 1.4 knots
    N c. 209°T, 0.7 knot
    N d. 209°T, 1.4 knots
15606: Your 1600 position is LAT 37°22.5'N, LONG 75°32.3'W. The depth of water under the keel is about __________. 

    Y a. 38 feet (11.5 meters)
    N b. 45 feet (13.6 meters)
    N c. 52 feet (15.8 meters)
    N d. 59 feet (17.3 meters)
15619: At 2123, your position is LAT 37°20.0'N, LONG 76°03.0'W. What is your distance offshore of Savage Neck? 

    N a. 4.3 miles
    N b. 3.4 miles
    N c. 2.6 miles
    Y d. 1.7 miles
15628: The Natchez Gage reads 20.6 feet. The high point on your towboat is 47 feet above the water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Natchez Highway Bridge? 

    Y a. 58.0 feet
    N b. 64.1 feet
    N c. 72.5 feet
    N d. 78.6 feet
16707: Point Judith Harbor of Refuge __________. 

    N a. is used mostly by towing vessels
    N b. has a maximum depth of 14 feet at MHW
    N c. is easily accessible in heavy southerly seas
    Y d. is entered through the East Gap or the West Gap