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.


71: 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?


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


141: Your vessel is making turns for 9.5 mph and you estimate the average current for the trip will be 2.5 mph. What will be your ETA Donaldsonville, LA?


165: Which company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Helena (mile 661 to 665 AHP)?

    Y a. Helena Grain, Inc.
    N b. Helena Bridge Terminal, Inc.
    N c. Quincy Soybean Co.
    N d. Texas Eastern Pipeline Co.

180: On 4 July you observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 25°29.8'. The index error is 3.1' off the arc. The height of eye is 48 feet (14.6 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 25°37.1'
    Y b. 25°40.2'
    N c. 25°42.8'
    N d. 25°44.3'

228: Your height of eye is 25 feet (7.6 meters). If the visibility is 5.5 nautical miles, what is the luminous range of Wolf Trap Light?

    N a. 17.0 miles
    N b. 16.0 miles
    N c. 12.0 miles
    Y d. 7.5 miles

279: At 1752, your position is LAT 37°04.3'N, LONG 76°06.4'W. On a flood current you should expect to be set to the __________.

    N a. south southeast
    N b. south southwest
    N c. east southeast
    Y d. north northwest

311: A vessel at LAT 20°10'N, LONG 122°00'E is to proceed to LAT 26°18'N, LONG 128°20'E. What are the course and distance by mid-latitude sailing?

    N a. 041.2°T, 501.0 miles
    N b. 041.9°T, 503.6 miles
    Y c. 043.5°T, 507.3 miles
    N d. 044.7°T, 509.7 miles

318: From your 1915 fix you come right and steer a course of 200°T. At 2000, your position is LAT 37°05.5'N, LONG 76°07.0'W. Your intention is to pass through Chesapeake Channel. If there are no set and drift, what course would you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 145°T?

    Y a. 156°
    N b. 151°
    N c. 139°
    N d. 134°

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

476: The great circle distance from LAT 35°08.0'S, LONG 19°26.0'E to LAT 33°16.0'S, LONG 115°36.0'E is 4559 miles and the initial course is 121°T. Determine the longitude of the vertex.

    N a. 26°50.9'E
    Y b. 65°45.9'E
    N c. 69°19.1'E
    N d. 72°18.3'E

535: You depart LAT 49°38'N, LONG 152°49'E, for LAT 49°38'N, LONG 176°12'E. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing?

    Y a. 090°T, 909 miles
    N b. 090°T, 1204 miles
    N c. 270°T, 909 miles
    N d. 270°T, 1204 miles

564: Horton Point Light __________.

    N a. is 14 feet above sea level
    N b. has a fixed green light
    Y c. is shown from a white square tower
    N d. is synchronized with a radio beacon

634: You have orders to drop off the empties at the fleeting area at Cairo Point and add five loaded tank barges to your tow. If you are turning for 9 mph and estimate the current at 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at Cairo?

    N a. 1031, 22 June
    Y b. 1423, 22 June
    N c. 1741, 22 June
    N d. 2210, 22 June

1086: On 15 July , your vessel is enroute from Portland, OR, to Singapore, Malaysia. You are steering course 243°T and making a speed of 16 knots. Your 1845 zone time DR is LAT 27°42.0'N, LONG 167°02.0'E. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1945 running fix. NP-0016

    Y a. LAT 27°31.1'N, LONG 166°43.0'E
    N b. LAT 27°38.5'N, LONG 166°45.1'E
    N c. LAT 27°45.3'N, LONG 166°32.2'E
    N d. LAT 28°18.1'N, LONG 166°39.8'E

1126: What are the dotted lines crossing at mile 529.7 AHP?

    Y a. submarine cables
    N b. power cables
    N c. gated dams
    N d. workboat crossings

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

1226: What are the dimensions of the Port Allen Lock at Baton Rouge, LA?

    N a. 75 feet x 1188 feet
    N b. 84 feet x 1180feet
    Y c. 84 feet x 1188 feet
    N d. 75 feet x 1180 feet

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

1493: On 11 July , your 0240 ZT position is LAT 14°52'N,
LONG 34°23'W. You observe Polaris bearing 359.8°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 279°pgc and 299°psc. The variation is 19°W.
What is the deviation for that heading?

    Y a. 0°
    N b. 1°E
    N c. 1°W
    N d. 3°W

1547: 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

1658: On 23 August , in DR position LAT 24°07.0'N, LONG 136°16.0'E, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 074.5°psc. The chronometer reads 08h 56m 19s and is 02m 34s fast. Variation in the area is 2°W. What is the deviation of the magnetic compass?

    N a. 2.5°E
    N b. 2.8°W
    Y c. 4.5°E
    N d. 4.8°W

1707: You are passing the Memphis Gage at 0405, 18 March. If you are turning for 8 mph and estimate the current at 2.3 mph,
what is your ETA at Cairo Point, IL (mile 954.5 AHP)?

    N a. 0447, 19 Mar
    N b. 1052, 19 Mar
    N c. 1518, 19 Mar
    Y d. 1839, 19 Mar

1730: What is the distance from Arkansas City, AR, to St. Louis, MO, on the Mississippi River System?

    Y a. 584 miles
    N b. 617 miles
    N c. 733 miles
    N d. 832 miles

1733: What are the dimensions of the channel maintained at Baton Rouge, LA?

    N a. 30 feet x 300 feet
    N b. 40 feet x 300 feet
    Y c. 45 feet x 500 feet
    N d. 30 feet x 500 feet

1861: On 22 February , your 1857 ZT DR position is LAT 23°46.0'S, LONG 93°16.5'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 159°T, at an observed altitude (Ho) of 34°30.0'. The chronometer reads 01h 00m 35s and is 03m 25s fast. What star did you observe?

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

1986: 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 Army Corps.. of
    Engineers Office.

    N c. You may wait until you reach your destination before reporting the allision to the U.S. Coast Guard.
    Y d. You must report the accident to the nearest Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.

2112: At 0130, you obtain the following bearings:

Horton Point Lighthouse 078°T
Mattituck Breakwater Light tower 196°T

What were the course and speed made good between 0100 and 0130?

    Y a. 246°T at 9.8 knots
    N b. 253°T at 9.4 knots
    N c. 259°T at 9.8 knots
    N d. 267°T at 9.4 knots

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

2244: At 1435 ZT, on 27 April , in DR position LAT 51° 56.8' N, LONG 150° 37.7' E, the Moon’s upper limb is observed on the visible horizon, bearing 242.2° psc. Variation is 2° W. What is the deviation?

    Y a. 2.2°W
    N b. 2.2°E
    N c. 6.2°E
    N d. 6.2°W

2282: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 42°44.0' on 22 June . The index error is 0.8' off the arc. The height of eye is 70 feet (21.3 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 42°19.8'
    N b. 42°21.7'
    Y c. 42°51.7'
    N d. 42°54.2'

2668: Your vessel is on a course of 255°T, at 14 knots. At 2116 a lighthouse is sighted dead ahead at a distance of 11 miles. You change course at this time to pass the lighthouse 3 miles abeam to port. What will be your ETA at this position off the lighthouse?

    N a. 2149
    Y b. 2201
    N c. 2212
    N d. 2228

2686: While on a course of 034°pgc, a light bears 8° on the port bow at a distance of 8.8 miles. What course should you steer to pass 2.5 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port?

    N a. 035°pgc
    Y b. 043°pgc
    N c. 051°pgc
    N d. 059°pgc

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

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

3263: You have steamed 1124 miles at 21 knots, and consumed 326 tons of fuel. If you have 210 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 17 knots?

    N a. 1096 miles
    Y b. 1105 miles
    N c. 1218 miles
    N d. 1304 miles

3282: While steaming at 16.3 knots, your vessel consumes 363 barrels of fuel oil per day. In order to reduce consumption to 298 barrels of fuel oil per day, what is the maximum speed the vessel can turn for?

    N a. 12.6 knots
    N b. 13.1 knots
    N c. 14.7 knots
    Y d. 15.3 knots

3753: 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 343°T, and the variation is 5° west. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 344° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation?

    N a. 1°E
    N b. 1°W
    Y c. 4°E
    N d. 4°W

10101: Your GPS position is LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 75°48.6'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position one mile east of Cape Charles Buoy "14" (LAT 37°07.4'N, LONG 75°41.0'W)?

    N a. 040°psc
    Y b. 045°psc
    N c. 049°psc
    N d. 053°psc

13806: The chart symbol surrounding Saybrook Breakwater Light warns mariners that the navigational light structure is __________.

    N a. no longer maintained
    Y b. protected by riprap
    N c. privately maintained
    N d. awash at high tide

13905: The Ruins (LAT 41°08.5'N, L0NG 72°08.8'W) is __________.

    N a. a classic example of 18th century military fortifications
    N b. in an area of unpredictable, treacherous currents
    N c. restricted to surface navigation due to fishery conservation projects nearby
    Y d. prohibited to the public

14201: The draw of the Burlington Northern railroad bridge across the Columbia River at mile 328.0 shall be opened on signal, without prior notice, from __________.

    N a. 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
    N b. 6:00 pm to 6:00 am
    N c. 8:00 pm to 4:00 am
    Y d. 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

15007: What course should you steer using the standard magnetic compass (psc) to make good the course of 192°pgc?

    N a. 188°psc
    N b. 195°psc
    Y c. 203°psc
    N d. 205°psc

15029: What type of daymark will you see as you approach Gold Dust Bar Light (mile 793.3 AHP) ?

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

15062: If there is no current, what is the course per standard magnetic compass from your 0802 fix to a position 1.1 miles north of Falkner Island Light?

    N a. 064°psc
    N b. 068°psc
    N c. 091°psc
    Y d. 095°psc

15167: Your height of eye is 25 feet (7.6 meters). If the visibility is 11 nautical miles, what is the luminous range of Wolf Trap Light?

    N a. 8.2 miles
    Y b. 12.0 miles
    N c. 16.0 miles
    N d. 17.0 miles

15719: On chart 12354, the datum from which heights of objects are taken is __________.

    Y a. mean high water
    N b. mean low water
    N c. lowest low water
    N d. mean lower low water

15865: From your 0200 position, you change course to 272°pgc. How far north of Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light does this track pass?

    Y a. 2.1 miles
    N b. 1.6 miles
    N c. 1.3 miles
    N d. 1.0 miles

15870: What is the approximate distance from a point three miles south of Stratford Point to Perth Amboy, NJ?

    N a. 53 miles
    N b. 62 miles
    Y c. 73 miles
    N d. 136 miles

16057: What is the maximum allowable speed of vessels underway up river from Tue Marshes Light?

    N a. 8 knots
    N b. 10 knots
    Y c. 12 knots
    N d. 14 knots

16408: You estimate that you are making 9.3 knots over the ground.
At what time will you enter waters governed by the COLREGS?

    N a. 0247
    Y b. 0251
    N c. 0255
    N d. 0258

16643: At 0520 your position is LAT 41°07.2'N, LONG 71°41.6'W. You set course to leave Race Rock Light abeam to starboard at 0.5 mile. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass? (Assume no current)

    N a. 301.5°
    N b. 305.0°
    Y c. 307.5°
    N d. 309.0°