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.


47: What is the distance in river miles, from the new mouth of the White River to the RR and Hwy bridge at Baton Rouge, LA?


84: What is the distance from the Amoco Docks at Baton Rouge, LA, to the mouth of the Ohio River?


159: You are turning for 6.8 mph and estimate the current at 1.0 mph. What is your speed over the ground?


159: You are turning for 6.8 mph and estimate the current at 1.0 mph. What is your speed over the ground?

    N a. 8.8 mph
    N b. 8.2 mph
    Y c. 7.8 mph
    N d. 6.8 mph

258: During twilight on 28 December , about 1800 GMT, in DR position LAT 4°00'N, LONG 0°06'W, the sextant altitude (hs) of Venus was 30°46.8'. The height of eye was 36 feet, and the index error was 2.0' on the arc. The temperature was 68°F. The barometer read 1030 mb. Calculate the observed altitude (Ho).

    N a. Ho 30°35.2'
    N b. Ho 30°37.1'
    Y c. Ho 30°38.1'
    N d. Ho 30°40.3'

270: At 0830, you wish to get the latest weather forecasts for the Falkner Island area. On what frequency would you set your FM radio for this information?

    N a. 2181 kHz
    Y b. 162.40 Mhz
    N c. 156.80 Mhz
    N d. 156.65 Mhz

406: You depart LAT 49°45.0'N, LONG 06°35.0'W, and steam 3599 miles on course 246.5°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing?

    N a. LONG 76°36.2'W
    Y b. LONG 77°02.8'W
    N c. LONG 78°14.0'W
    N d. LONG 78°22.6'W

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

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

483: The great circle distance from LAT 25°50'N, LONG 77°00'W to LAT 35°56'N, LONG 06°15'W is 3616 miles, and the initial course is 061.7°T. The position of the vertex is LAT 37°34.9'N, LONG 25°59.0'W. The difference of longitude from the vertex to a point (X) on the great circle track is 10°W. Determine the latitude which intersects the great circle at point (X).

    N a. 37°02.5'N
    Y b. 37°09.5'N
    N c. 37°15.6'N
    N d. 37°21.2'N

499: Which chart should you use to enter Great Salt Pond?

    N a. 13205
    N b. 13207
    N c. 13214
    Y d. 13217

605: At 0915 ZT, on 26 July , 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 14 knots. The distance is 4,245 miles. What is your estimated ZT of arrival at Seattle?

    Y a. 0728, 7 August
    N b. 1528, 7 August
    N c. 0028, 8 August
    N d. 1528, 8 August

643: Which company does NOT have a marine facility in Rosedale harbor (mile 585 AHP)?

    N a. Sanders Elevator Corp
    N b. Rosedale-Boliver County Port Commission
    Y c. T.L. James
    N d. Cives Steel Company

845: On 16 September , your 0600 ZT fix gives you a position of LAT 29°47.2'N, LONG 65°28.4'W. Your vessel is on course 242°T and your speed is 13.5 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1227 ZT, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 63°25.3'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN?

    N a. 29°07.9'N
    N b. 29°06.1'N
    Y c. 29°04.7'N
    N d. 29°01.6'N

1081: On 14 Sept , your 1810 ZT DR position is LAT 27°12.0'S, LONG 71°10.0'E. You are on course 060°T at a speed of 15.0 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1822 running fix. NP-0011

    N a. LAT 27°04.5'S, LONG 71°22.4'E
    N b. LAT 27°07.5'S, LONG 71°18.6'E
    N c. LAT 27°09.2'S, LONG 71°11.3'E
    Y d. LAT 27°11.0'S, LONG 71°14.5'E

1117: What is the length of the trip?

    N a. 720.8 miles
    N b. 777.4 miles
    Y c. 897.2 miles
    N d. 906.3 miles

1207: On 10 July , your 0930 zone time DR position is LAT 26°31.0'S, LONG 4°41.0'E. Your vessel is on course 308°T at a speed of 22.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1144
    Y b. 1149
    N c. 1153
    N d. 1159

1215: It is 9 February and you are keeping zone time -6. You are on course 258°T, speed 19 knots. Your 0840 DR position is LAT 26°21.0'S, LONG 78°39.0'E. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks?

    N a. 12h 05m 21s
    N b. 12h 37m 12s
    N c. 13h 13m 40s
    Y d. 13h 05m 44s

1229: Which type of daymark would you see on the Belle Island Corner Lt. at mile 458.6 AHP?

    N a. Green - Diamond
    N b. Green - Square
    Y c. Red - Diamond
    N d. Red - Triangle

1249: What is the white/black within a circle symbol found at mile 592.1 AHP?

    N a. Terrence Landing Light
    N b. Daymark
    Y c. River Gage
    N d. Information Board

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

1662: On 5 September , in DR position LAT 23°17.0'S, LONG 154°35.0'E, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 275° per standard magnetic compass. The chronometer reads 07h 49m 26s and is 01m 52s fast. Variation in the area is 3°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 2.1°E
    N b. 2.4°W
    Y c. 5.1°E
    N d. 5.4°W

1675: On 28 November , your vessel's 0652 DR position is LAT 37°30'N, LONG 124°12'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 103° per standard magnetic compass. Variation in the area is 16.3°E. The chronometer reads 02h 54m 18s and is 02m 06s fast. What is the deviation of the compass?

    Y a. 2.5°W
    N b. 3.0°W
    N c. 2.0°E
    N d. 3.0°E

1834: Which type of daymark would you see on the Belle Island Corner Lt. at mile 458.6 AHP?

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

1877: On 2 October , your 1845 DR position is LAT 28°09.2'S, LONG 167°48.1'E. You observe a faint star through a hole in the clouds at a sextant altitude (hs) of 63°29.1' bearing 237.5°T. The index error is 1.3' off the arc, and the height of eye is 42 feet. The chronometer reads 07h 46m 19s and is 0m 51s fast. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Kappa Scorpii
    N b. Beta Ophiuchi
    N c. Alpha Arae
    N d. Beta Draconis

2187: At which of the following times would you be able to listen to lower Mississippi River conditions on VHF Channel 22?

    N a. 0900 hours
    N b. 1100 hours
    Y c. 1300 hours
    N d. 1600 hours

2283: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 22°58.6' on 16 June . The index error is 2.0' off the arc. The height of eye is 61 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    Y a. 23°06.7'
    N b. 23°09.9'
    N c. 23°15.4'
    N d. 23°22.2'

2458: You have steamed 560 miles at 23 knots and burning 524 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 260 barrels per day with 316 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 16.3
    N b. 18.6
    N c. 19.9
    Y d. 21.6

2886: Your vessel is steering 074°T at 12 knots. At 0214 a light bears 115°T, and at 0223 the same light bears 135°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    N a. 2.4 miles
    Y b. 3.0 miles
    N c. 3.5 miles
    N d. 4.2 miles

2897: You are steaming on a course of 327°T at 13 knots. At 0207 you observe a lighthouse bearing 020°T. At 0226 the lighthouse bears 042°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing?

    N a. 8.5 miles
    Y b. 8.9 miles
    N c. 9.2 miles
    N d. 9.7 miles

3257: You have steamed 824 miles at 15.5 knots, and consumed 179 tons of fuel. If you have 221 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 18 knots?

    N a. 495 miles
    N b. 650 miles
    Y c. 754 miles
    N d. 876 miles

3258: You have steamed 525 miles at 16.0 knots, and consumed 105 tons of fuel. If you have 308 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 19 knots?

    N a. 920 miles
    Y b. 1092 miles
    N c. 1297 miles
    N d. 2172 miles

3291: While steaming at 19.5 knots, your vessel burns 297 bbls of fuel per day. What will be the rate of fuel consumption if you decrease speed to 15 knots?

    Y a. 135 bbls
    N b. 176 bbls
    N c. 229 bbls
    N d. 243 bbls

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

3773: Which numbered box indicates the ExxonMobil Refining & Supply Co. in Baton Rouge?

    Y a. 1
    N b. 2
    N c. 3
    N d. 4

10104: Your GPS position is LAT 36°55.2'N, LONG 75°33.1'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to Rudee Inlet (LAT 36°49.8'N, LONG 75°58.0'W)?

    N a. 246.0°psc
    N b. 254.5°psc
    N c. 261.0°psc
    Y d. 265.5°psc

10606: At 0915 your GPS position is LAT 41°04.9'N, LONG 72°42.1'W. You are on course 085° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 6 knots. At 1030 your GPS position is 0.5 mile due south of Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy "TE". What were your set and drift?

    N a. 042°T at 2.4 knots
    Y b. 045°T at 1.9 knots
    N c. 221°T at 2.0 knots
    N d. 225°T at 2.3 knots

10608: At 1825 your GPS position is LAT 41°04.9'N, LONG 72°42.1'W. You are on course 085° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 10 knots. At 1910 your GPS position is 1 mile due south of Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy. What were your set and drift?

    N a. 233°T at 2.9 knots
    N b. 227°T at 2.5 knots
    Y c. 054°T at 2.8 knots
    N d. 051°T at 2.1 knots

10902: Fishermans Island (LAT 37°05.0'N, LONG 75°57.7'W) is __________.

    N a. privately owned
    N b. sparsely wooded and awash at spring tides
    N c. a high rocky promontory with marshy backwater
    Y d. a National Wildlife Refuge

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

12505: You are on course 056°psc, when you take the following bearings:
New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" 260°psc Horn Harbor Entrance Light "HH" 285°psc Wolf Trap Light 336°psc What is the position of the fix?

    Y a. LAT 37°19.3'N, LONG 76°08.5'W
    N b. LAT 37°19.3'N, LONG 76°08.8'W
    N c. LAT 37°19.2'N, LONG 76°08.2'W
    N d. LAT 37°19.2'N, LONG 76°08.7'W

13101: At 1523 your position is LAT 41°08.2'N, LONG 71°34.4'W. You are turning for 8.7 knots. What is your ETA at Shagwong Reef Buoy "7SR"?

    N a. 1653
    N b. 1700
    Y c. 1711
    N d. 1718

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.

14003: At 1430 your vessel passes under the Interstate 5 highway bridge east bound. Your engines are making RPM's for 12 mph. If the current is ebbing at 3 mph, what is your ETA at Bonneville Lock?

    N a. 1744
    N b. 1753
    N c. 1834
    Y d. 1848

14300: What is the height above the water of Government Island Upper Range, lower light?

    Y a. 20 feet
    N b. 24 feet
    N c. 38 feet
    N d. 42 feet

15065: At 0925, you plot the following:

Falkner Island Light bearing 252° true @ 1.8 nm

If you correct for a current setting 035°T at 0.5 knot,
what true 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"?

    N a. 089°T
    N b. 092°T
    Y c. 095°T
    N d. 102°T

15166: At 2037, you change course and wish to make good a course of 016°T. There is no current, but an easterly wind is causing 3° leeway. What course per standard magnetic compass should you steer to make good the course 016°T?

    N a. 022°psc
    N b. 025°psc
    Y c. 028°psc
    N d. 031°psc

15360: Your 0507 position is about 7 miles from Bridgeport, CT. What is the distance from this position to Newport, RI?

    Y a. 88 miles
    N b. 95 miles
    N c. 101 miles
    N d. 114 miles

15724: You pass Morrison Towhead Light (mile 890.5 AHP) at 1723. What was your average speed since leaving Cairo?

    N a. 7.5 mph
    N b. 7.8 mph
    Y c. 8.5 mph
    N d. 8.8 mph

15813: According to the DR track line from your 0100 position, how far off Roanoke Point Shoal Buoy "5" should you be when the buoy is abeam?

    N a. 0.2 mile
    Y b. 0.6 mile
    N c. 1.3 mile
    N d. 1.8 miles

15959: What is the average velocity of the maximum ebb current in the channel west of Middle Ground?

    N a. 0.8 knot
    N b. 1.0 knot
    Y c. 1.3 knots
    N d. 1.6 knots

16218: At 0830, Watch Hill Point bears 343°T at 3.5 miles by radar. What was the speed made good since 0745?

    N a. 5.4 knots
    N b. 5.8 knots
    N c. 6.7 knots
    Y d. 7.1 knots

16256: What is the course per gyro compass from the anchorage to point A located 0.5 mile east of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy 14?

    N a. 180°
    Y b. 184°
    N c. 198°
    N d. 199.5°

16506: At 0630, you pass Buoy "PI" close abeam on the starboard side. You are steering 078°T and are headed directly toward Race Rock Light. At 0654, Little Gull Island Light is bearing 207°T and Race Rock Light is bearing 072°T. What is your 0654 position?

    Y a. LAT 41°14.0'N, LONG 72°05.3'W
    N b. LAT 41°14.2'N, LONG 71°54.6'W
    N c. LAT 41°14.4'N, LONG 72°06.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°19.0'N, LONG 72°05.2'W

16740: At 2245 visibility improves and Montauk Point Light bears 355°pgc. At 2314 Montauk Point Light bears 331°pgc, and at 2329 the light bears 311°pgc. Based on your 2329 running fix which statement is TRUE?

    N a. You are shoreward of the 90 foot curve.
    N b. Your fathometer reads about 136 feet.
    Y c. You are being set to the left of the track.
    N d. You allowed too much leeway for the easterly winds.

16839: At 0800 you reduce speed from sea speed. Speed was reduced by the time you passed abeam of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "12" at 0814. At this time Buoy "12" was abeam on your starboard side at a distance of 0.65 mile. Assuming you continue to make good your course of 202°T, what is your new speed if you pass abeam of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14" at a distance of 1.5 miles at 0907?

    N a. 13.6 knots
    Y b. 12.9 knots
    N c. 12.3 knots
    N d. 12.0 knots