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.


117: At 0645, on the 17th of April, you pass Hole in the Wall Lt. (mile 373.4 AHP). What has been your average speed since departing the Exxon Refinery?


166: If the Bayou Sara Gage reads -0.5 feet, the Low Water Reference Plane is 5.25. What is the water level in relation to the low water reference plane?


215: As an option to heading into Long Island Sound, you consider anchoring in the vicinity of the Gardiners Point Ruins at the north end of Gardiners Island. What is the minimum recommended distance from the ruins for fishing, trawling, or anchoring?


218: If there is no current, what is the course per gyro compass from your 1600 position to point A located 0.5 mile due east of Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy "12"?

    N a. 199°pgc
    N b. 196°pgc
    Y c. 193°pgc
    N d. 190°pgc

236: From your 0830 position, you wish to make good 097°T. There is no current, but a southerly wind is producing 3° leeway. What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass in order to make good your true course?

    N a. 109°psc
    N b. 112°psc
    Y c. 115°psc
    N d. 118°psc

340: Inbound, the color of Cape Henry Light will __________.

    N a. alternate regardless of your position
    N b. change after you reach Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"
    N c. remain the same
    Y d. change before you reach Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"

357: If the visibility is 5 miles and you are in the red sector, at what distance off should you sight Cape Henry Light?

    Y a. 09 miles
    N b. 11 miles
    N c. 13 miles
    N d. 15 miles

387: The wind is southerly, and you estimate 3° leeway. Allowing for leeway, what is the course to steer from your 0745 position to pass 1 mile south of Watch Hill Buoy "WH"?

    Y a. 087°pgc
    N b. 085°pgc
    N c. 081°pgc
    N d. 079°pgc

503: What was the speed made good between 2114 and 2142?

    Y a. 11.4 knots
    N b. 11.7 knots
    N c. 12.0 knots
    N d. 12.3 knots

678: Using gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5270, determine which of the following statements about a voyage from Valdez, AK, to Hilo, HI, is TRUE.

    Y a. A great circle track is not significantly shorter than a rhumb line track.
    N b. You will cross the Northern Hemisphere vertex where the track line crosses LAT 45°N.
    N c. Distance is measured by using the length of a degree of longitude at the mid-latitude line.
    N d. When plotted on a Mercator chart, the track line will be convex to San Francisco.

733: On 12 March , your 1846 zone time DR position is LONG 129°16.5'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 28°01.5'. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 44m 10s, and the chronometer error is 01m 55s slow. The index error is 2.2' off the arc, and the height of eye is 59.8 feet (18.2 m). What is your latitude by Polaris?

    Y a. 27°33.7'N
    N b. 27°40.9'N
    N c. 27°54.4'N
    N d. 28°06.9'N

997: On 20 November , your 0612 zone time (ZT) position was LAT 25°38.0'N, LONG 166°54.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 126°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0854 ZT. The chronometer read 07h 51m 14s and was slow 02m 52s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 27°58.3'. LAN occurred at 1147 ZT. The observed altitude (Ho) was 45°35.0'. What was the longitude of your 1147 ZT running fix?

    N a. 165°20.2'W
    N b. 165°18.4'W
    N c. 165°15.8'W
    Y d. 165°12.5'W

1142: At 1132, 24 May, you pass Natchez Beam Lt. (mile 364.8 AHP). What is your ETA off the Memphis Gage if you average 8.0 mph?

    N a. 2345, 25 May
    Y b. 0947, 26 May
    N c. 1525, 26 May
    N d. 2215, 26 May

1235: You are turning for 10 mph and passing Hog Point, LA. (mile 297.5 AHP). 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 south side of the island you see ahead.
    N b. You are making 14.5 mph over the ground.
    Y c. An underwater stone dike has been constructed 0.5 miles upstream of Miles Bar Towhead.
    N d. You would expect to find the more favorable current near the broken red line in the river.

1237: 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

1247: At 0509, on 26 December, 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 7.5 mph?

    N a. 5.6 mph
    Y b. 4.4 mph
    N c. 2.1 mph
    N d. 1.8 mph

1408: The horizontal clearance of the center span on the Baton Rouge RR and Highway 190 Bridge is __________.

    N a. 443
    N b. 500
    Y c. 623
    N d. 748

1759: The Greenville Gage reads 1.6 feet. The high point of your towboat is 54 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge?

    Y a. 74.5 feet
    N b. 64.2 feet
    N c. 55.5 feet
    N d. 44.4 feet

1866: On 12 June , your 1845 DR position is LAT 21°47'N, LONG 46°52'W when you observe a faint unidentifiable star through a break in the clouds. The star bears 019.0°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 53°56.2'. The index error is 0.5' on the arc, and the height of eye is 45 feet. The chronometer reads 09h 43m 27s, and the chronometer error is 1m 46s slow. What star did you observe?

    N a. Phecda
    N b. Mimosa
    N c. Gamma Ursae Minoris
    Y d. Mizar

1872: On 12 June , your 1845 DR position is LAT 21°47'N, LONG 46°52'W when you observe a faint unidentifiable star through a break in the clouds. The star bears 031°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 70°10.3'. The index error is 0.5' on the arc, and the height of eye is 45 feet. The chronometer reads 09h 43m 27s, and the chronometer error is 1m 46s slow. What star did you observe?

    N a. Sheratan
    N b. Ruchbah
    N c. Mimosa
    Y d. Cor Caroli

1906: On 22 March , your 0519 DR position is LAT 27°20.6'N, LONG 69°25.6'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 051°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 50°03.7'. The chronometer reads 10h 16m 47s, and is 02m 15s slow. What star did you observe?

    N a. Acamar
    N b. Enif
    N c. Menkar
    Y d. Deneb

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

2158: On 26 May , your vessel's 1906 zone time position is LAT 27°16.0'N, LONG 24°37.0'W. At that time, a sextant observation of the planet Jupiter was made. The sextant altitude is 63°27.6', and the chronometer reads 09h 05m 16s. The index error is 5.2' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 25s slow. Your height of eye is determined to be 52.6 feet. What is the (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    N a. 011.3°T
    Y b. 168.7°T
    N c. 191.3°T
    N d. 348.7°T

2178: On 26 July , your 1901 ZT position is LAT 28°28'N, LONG 157°16'E when you take an observation of Jupiter. The chronometer at the time of the sight reads 08h 54m 34s and is 06m 24s slow. The sextant altitude (hs) is 33°51.5'. The index error is 2.8'off the arc, and the height of eye is 48 feet. What are the azimuth (Zn) and intercept (a) for this sight using the assumed position?

    N a. Zn 110.8°, a 32.0' T
    N b. Zn 249.2°, a 32.0' A
    Y c. Zn 248.2°, a 34.2' T
    N d. Zn 290.8°, a 44.2' A

2179: On 22 June , at 0906 EDT (ZD +4), your position is LAT 24°36'N, LONG 69°30'W. You are on course 165°pgc at a speed of 14.8 knots. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 42°44.0' with an index error of 0.8' off the arc. At this time the chronometer reads 01h 10m 12s, and is 2m 42s slow. If your height of eye is 70 feet, what is the azimuth (Zn) of the sight using the assumed position?

    Y a. Zn 080.4°
    N b. Zn 081.6°
    N c. Zn 129.0°
    N d. Zn 130.5°

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'

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

2463: You have steamed 491 miles at 20 knots and burning 568 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 265 barrels per day with 313 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 10.9
    N b. 14.3
    Y c. 17.1
    N d. 18.2

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

2681: Your vessel is on course 312°pgc and you sight a lighthouse dead ahead at a range of 10 miles. The gyro error is 3°E. What course would you steer to leave the lighthouse 1.5 miles abeam to starboard?

    N a. 309°pgc
    Y b. 304°pgc
    N c. 309°T
    N d. 304°T

2691: While on a course of 159°T, a light bears 11° on the starboard bow at a distance of 10.6 miles. What course should you steer to pass 2 miles abeam of the light leaving it to starboard?

    Y a. 159°T
    N b. 163°T
    N c. 167°T
    N d. 171°T

2696: You are underway on course 059°T at a speed of 13.8 knots.
You sight a light bearing 064°T at a radar range of 5.1 miles at 1839. If you change course at 1845, what is the course to steer to leave the light abeam to starboard at 1.0 mile?

    N a. 047°T
    Y b. 050°T
    N c. 053°T
    N d. 058°T

2899: You are steaming on a course of 208°T at 21 knots. At 2019 you observe a lighthouse bearing 129°T. At 2030 the lighthouse bears 103°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing?

    N a. 8.2 miles
    Y b. 8.6 miles
    N c. 8.9 miles
    N d. 9.3 miles

3644: While enroute from Cape Town to Rio a vessel's course is 281°pgc. The variation for the locality is 24°W. The deviation is 4°E. The gyro error is 2°W. What is the true course made good?

    Y a. 279°T
    N b. 261°T
    N c. 301°T
    N d. 283°T

10501: At 0939 your GPS position is LAT 36°57.0'N, LONG 75°41.0'W. You are on course 119° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 12.8 knots. At 1017 your GPS indicates your position as LAT 36°54.2'N, LONG 75°33.1'W. What were the set and drift?

    N a. 280°T at 1.0 knot
    Y b. 275°T at 1.8 knots
    N c. 091°T at 1.6 knots
    N d. 103°T at 1.1 knots

11404: At 2115 your GPS position is LAT 41°03.3'N, LONG 72°37.9'W. At 0027 your position is LAT 41°14.4'N, LONG 72°07.2'W. What was your speed made good?

    N a. 7.0 knots
    N b. 7.5 knots
    Y c. 8.0 knots
    N d. 8.5 knots

11808: What is the true course to steer from a position 2 miles due south of Branford Reef Light to Horton Pt. Light, if the set and drift of the current are 247°T at 3 knots, and a southwesterly wind will cause 3° of leeway? (Your engines are making turns for 10 knots.)

    Y a. 104°T
    N b. 100°T
    N c. 095°T
    N d. 087°T

11901: You are turning for 7.5 knots and a westerly wind is causing 2° of leeway. There is a current of 047°T at 1.2 knots. What course should you steer between the entrance to Quonochontaug Pond (LAT 41°19.8'N, LONG 71°43.2'W) and the entrance to Great Salt Pond (LAT 41°12.0'N,
LONG 71°35.6'W)?

    N a. 156°T
    Y b. 155°T
    N c. 144°T
    N d. 140°T

14104: You are approaching Bonneville Lock and Dam. Which FM-radio channel should be used to communicate with the lockmaster?

    N a. 13
    Y b. 14
    N c. 15
    N d. 16

15012: At 2020, you obtain a fix using the following information:

9960-X-27112
9960-Y-41432

Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14" bears 333°pgc. Your longitude is __________.

    N a. 75°38.9'W
    N b. 75°39.1'W
    N c. 75°39.3'W
    Y d. 75°40.5'W

15064: At 0844, the range to the north end of Falkner Island is 2.0 miles and the left tangent bearing is 102°T. If the height of the tide is +1.0 foot, what is the approximate depth of the water under the keel?

    N a. 14 ft (4.2 meters)
    Y b. 19 ft (5.8 meters)
    N c. 22 ft (6.7 meters)
    N d. 29 ft (8.8 meters)

15106: The National Weather Service provides 24 hour weather broadcasts to vessels transiting the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area on which frequency?

    N a. 147.45 MHz
    Y b. 162.55 MHz
    N c. 181.15 MHz
    N d. 202.35 MHz

15158: At 1630, you reach point "A" and come right to 204°T. Your engine speed is 12 knots. Your 1715 position is LAT 37°09.8'N, LONG 75°37.4'W. The current was __________.

    N a. 067°T at 1.1 knots
    Y b. 067°T at 1.5 knots
    N c. 247°T at 1.1 knots
    N d. 247°T at 1.6 knots

15443: As you enter Chesapeake Bay, visibility improves. At 2235 you are between Chesapeake Channel Buoys "5" and "6" in the 41 foot dredged section of Chesapeake Channel. At that time, you change course to pass between buoys "9" and "10". If buoys "11" and "12" are extinguished, your best leading light to keep you in deep water in the Chesapeake Channel, as you approach the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel, would be __________.

    N a. fixed red light on trestle "C"
    Y b. fixed green light on trestle "B"
    N c. fixed red light on trestle "B"
    N d. Thimble Shoal Light

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"

15667: At 0815, you change course to 079°T. To compensate for a southerly wind, you estimate a 3° leeway is necessary. Which course should you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good 079°T?

    N a. 090°psc
    N b. 093°psc
    N c. 095°psc
    Y d. 099°psc

15909: From your 0740 position, you change course to pass 1.1 miles north of Falkner Island Light. What loran reading will ensure that you will remain clear of the 18' shoal located 1 mile NW of Falkner Island Light?

    N a. 9960 W: not less than 14942
    N b. 9960 X: not more than 26452
    Y c. 9960 Y: not less than 44013
    N d. None of the above

15942: At 1959 Watch Hill Point Light bears 030°T, Montauk Point Light bears 146°T, and Little Gull Light bears 283°T. What is the approximate fathometer reading?

    Y a. 51 feet
    N b. 73 feet
    N c. 95 feet
    N d. 111 feet

16307: Which statement regarding the wreck 0.2 mile south of buoys "1" and "2" at the entrance to New London Harbor is TRUE?

    N a. The wreck presents a danger to all vessels with drafts in excess of 30 feet (9.1 meters).
    N b. The wreck is visible above the sounding datum between the months of March and June.
    Y c. The wreck is shown on the chart, but its actual existence is doubtful.
    N d. The wreck was cleared by wire drag in 1982 and will not appear on future charts.

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

16420: If you want to put into Point Judith Harbor of Refuge, what chart should you use?

    N a. 13205
    N b. 13209
    N c. 13217
    Y d. 13219