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.

181: You are on course 192°pgc at 12 knots. At 1900 you fix your position using the following information:

Sand Shoal Inlet South Light bearing 244°true @ 11 nm


What is your latitude and longitude at 1900?
214: From your 1930 position, you plot a course to pass 0.5 mile due south of Race Rock Light. If your vessel's speed is 10.0 knots, the current's set and drift are 040°T at 1.8 knots, and a north wind produces a 3° leeway, what true course should you steer to make good your desired course?
238: At 0910, your DR position is LAT 41°11.9'N, LONG 72°47.8'W. Your vessel is on course 097°T at 9.5 knots, and the weather is foggy. At 0915, Branford Reef Light is sighted through a break in the fog bearing 318°T. At 0945, Falkner Island Light is sighted bearing 042°T. What is your 0945 running fix position?
238: At 0910, your DR position is LAT 41°11.9'N, LONG 72°47.8'W. Your vessel is on course 097°T at 9.5 knots, and the weather is foggy. At 0915, Branford Reef Light is sighted through a break in the fog bearing 318°T. At 0945, Falkner Island Light is sighted bearing 042°T. What is your 0945 running fix position? 

    N a. LAT 41°11.1'N, LONG 72°41.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°41.3'W
    Y c. LAT 41°11.5'N, LONG 72°40.7'W
    N d. LAT 41°11.8'N, LONG 72°40.2'W
363: After you enter Thimble Shoal Channel, you will alter course to pass between Trestle "A" and "B". Which channel should you use? 

    N a. Thimble Shoal Main Channel or the South Auxiliary Channel
    N b. Any of the channels but keep to the right hand side
    N c. Thimble Shoal Main Channel
    Y d. The South Auxiliary Channel
407: You depart LAT 34°22'S, LONG 18°23'E, and steam 3174 miles on course 282°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    Y a. LONG 40°33.5'W
    N b. LONG 40°19.5'W
    N c. LONG 40°18.2'W
    N d. LONG 40°17.3'W
420: At 0930, your position is LAT 41°16.5'N, LONG 71°41.4'W, and you are turning for 7 knots. Allowing 3° leeway for southerly winds and estimating the current as 035° at 0.3 knot, what is the course to steer (pgc) to point "B"? 

    Y a. 096°pgc
    N b. 094°pgc
    N c. 091°pgc
    N d. 089°pgc
432: Which chart would you use for more detailed information on New Haven Harbor? 

    Y a. 12371
    N b. 12370
    N c. 12372
    N d. 12373
465: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 34°51.0'N, LONG 115°01.2'E to LAT 10°16.0'S, LONG 51°42.6'E. 

    N a. 4436 miles, 245.3°T
    N b. 4598 miles, 245.6°T
    Y c. 4493 miles, 245.6°T
    N d. 4582 miles, 245.6°T
548: You are bound for New London. Where will you cross the demarcation line and be governed by the Inland Rules of the Road? 

    N a. You are already governed by the Inland Rules.
    N b. Above the Thames River Bridge
    Y c. In the Race
    N d. You will not be governed by the Rules.
732: On 3 January , your 1759 zone time DR position is LONG 60°53.2'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 22°55.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 09h 57m 10s, and the chronometer error is 02m 26s slow. The index error is 2.9' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52.5 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    N a. 21°35.2'N
    N b. 21°52.5'N
    Y c. 22°03.6'N
    N d. 22°22.6'N
817: On 15 December , in DR position LAT 23°24.0'N, LONG 55°36.0'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 45m 19s, and the chronometer error is 00m 00s. The sextant altitude (hs) is 43°02.3'. The index error is 2.6' on the arc, and your height of eye is 65.0 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit? 

    Y a. LAT 23°33.5'N
    N b. LAT 23°35.8'N
    N c. LAT 23°38.1'N
    N d. LAT 23°40.6'N
1143: Which town is located at mile 663.5 AHP? 

    N a. Friers Point
    Y b. Helena
    N c. St. Francis
    N d. Rodney
1271: At 0400 zone time, on 24 June , your DR position is LAT 23°10.0'N, LONG 085°33'W. You are steering 295°T at a speed of 10.0 knots. What is the zone time of sunrise? 

    N a. 0452
    Y b. 0458
    N c. 0504
    N d. 0510
1411: After you get underway, what is the first river gage you will pass? 

    N a. Head of Passes
    N b. Baton Rouge
    Y c. Bayou Sara
    N d. Red River Landing
1423: You pass Ratcliff Light (mile 289.8) at 1650. What was your average speed since leaving Baton Rouge? 

    N a. 7.3 mph
    Y b. 7.6 mph
    N c. 8.0 mph
    N d. 8.3 mph
1503: On 30 July , your 0200 zone time (ZD +4) DR position is LAT 43°48'N, LONG 78°00 W. At that time, you observe Polaris bearing 008.7°psc. The chronometer time of the observation is 05h 58m 07s, and the chronometer is 0m 23s slow. The variation is 10.5°W. What is the deviation of the magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.5°E
    Y b. 3.0°E
    N c. 7.5°W
    N d. 18.0°W
1981: Where can scheduled broadcast times of river stages be found? 

    N a. Sailing Directions
    Y b. Light List
    N c. List of Lights
    N d. Coast Pilot
2107: At 0045, you obtain the following bearings:

Rocky Point lookout tower 072°T
Horton Point lighthouse 213°T

What were the set and drift between 0005 and 0045? 

    N a. 272°true, 0.9 knot
    N b. 272°true, 1.4 knots
    N c. 092°true, 0.9 knot
    Y d. 092°True, 1.4 knots
2292: In addition to those found in the Coast Pilot, information concerning anchorage regulations for this area may be obtained from __________. 

    N a. Chesapeake Bay Port Authority, Hampton VA
    N b. Virginia - Maryland Pilots Association
    N c. Commanding General, Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.
    Y d. Office of the Commander 5th Coast Guard District
2341: You have steamed 1175 miles at 19 knots, and consumed 257 tons of fuel. If you have to steam 1341 miles to complete the voyage, how many tons of fuel will be consumed while steaming at 18 knots? 

    N a. 293 tons
    Y b. 263 tons
    N c. 202 tons
    N d. 172 tons
2534: Your company wants to know at what time you will be arriving at the fleeting area at Sycamore Chute Light (mile 740.3 AHP) in Memphis, TN You are making turns for 9.0 mph and you estimate the average current at 2.2 mph. Figuring the distance and time from Hole in the Wall Lt. (mile 373.4 AHP), what is your ETA at Sycamore Chute Lt.? 

    N a. 0557, April 19th
    N b. 1045, April 19th
    Y c. 1242, April 19th
    N d. 1733, April 19th
2867: Your vessel is on a course of 144°T at 20 knots. At 0022 a light bears 117.5°T, and at 0035 the light bears 099°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0044, 3.2 miles
    Y b. 0048, 4.3 miles
    N c. 0052, 5.1 miles
    N d. 0056, 6.0 miles
2911: What is indicated by the two light gray shaded areas that cross the river above False River Lt. (mile 251.0 AHP)? 

    N a. Ferry crossings
    Y b. Utility crossings
    N c. Aerial cable crossings
    N d. Bridge construction
3068: Your vessel's propeller has a pitch of 22'06". From 0530, 19 March, to 1930, 20 March, the average RPM was 82. The distance run by observation was 721.5 miles. What was the slip? 

    N a. +4%
    Y b. -4%
    N c. +7%
    N d. -7%
3071: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 20.7 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 23.8 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 3% negative slip? 

    N a. 74
    N b. 79
    Y c. 86
    N d. 98
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
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
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
3293: Your vessel consumes 274 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 17.5 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 13.5 knots? 

    Y a. 126 bbls
    N b. 163 bbls
    N c. 211 bbls
    N d. 253 bbls
3293: Your vessel consumes 274 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 17.5 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 13.5 knots? 

    Y a. 126 bbls
    N b. 163 bbls
    N c. 211 bbls
    N d. 253 bbls
3615: You want to make good a true course of 137°. A north-northeast wind produces a 3° leeway. The variation is 11° west, deviation is 5° east, and gyrocompass error is 2° east. What course must you steer per gyrocompass to make the true course good? 

    Y a. 132°pgc
    N b. 134°pgc
    N c. 136°pgc
    N d. 138°pgc
3654: You are taking a time tick using the 2000 signal from Kekaha-Kauai, Hawaii (WWVH). You hear a series of 1 second dashes followed by a 9 second silent period, then a long 1.3 second dash. At the beginning of the long dash, your comparing watch reads 07h 59m 54s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 08h 00m 00s, and the chronometer reads 08h 00m 06s. What is the chronometer error? 

    N a. 0m 06s slow
    N b. 0m 06s fast
    N c. 0m 12s fast
    Y d. No error
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
10509: At 0919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. You are on course 270°T at 7.8 knots. At 1035 your position is LAT 37°00.5'N, LONG 75°43.8'W. What was the set and driftt? 

    N a. 281° at 0.7 knot
    Y b. 292° at 1.0 knot
    N c. 305° at 1.3 knots
    N d. 113° at 1.2 knots
11811: What is the true course to steer between Horton Pt. Light and a position 2 miles due south of Branford Reef Light, if the set and drift of the current are 40°T at 1.5 knots, and an easterly wind will cause 3° of leeway? Your engines are making turns for 12 knots. 

    N a. 277°T
    N b. 283°T
    Y c. 287°T
    N d. 291°T
13007: Your 1600 position is LAT 41°08.0'N, LONG 72°44.8'W. You are making turns for 10 knots. What is your ETA at Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy "TE" (LAT 41°09.3'N LONG 72°30.5'W)? 

    N a. 1647
    N b. 1651
    N c. 1702
    Y d. 1706
13104: At 0242 your position is LAT 41°16.8'N, LONG 71°39.9'W. You are turning for 9.3 knots. What is your ETA at the West Gap of Pt. Judith Harbor of Refuge? 

    N a. 0319
    N b. 0325
    N c. 0329
    Y d. 0336
13402: You are planning to anchor in Orient Harbor at LAT 41°07.9'N, LONG 72°18.5'W. What type of bottom should you expect? 

    N a. Sticky
    Y b. Soft
    N c. Stiff
    N d. Streaky
13902: A vessel enroute to Long Island Sound from sea will enter waters governed by the Inland Rules of the Road __________. 

    N a. when crossing the Territorial Sea boundary
    N b. between Montauk Point and Block Island
    N c. when north of latitude 41°10.0'N
    Y d. when passing through The Race
13904: On the south and the east coasts of Block Island are circles with a dot in the center and labeled CUP. This is a __________. 

    N a. conspicuous object
    N b. steep depression in the surrounding hills that resembles a cup
    Y c. domed structure useful for navigation
    N d. calling-up-point used for traffic control
15338: At 1705 Race Rock Light bears 099°True; Orient Point Light bears 176°True; Bartlett Reef Light bears 083°True. What is your vessel's position? 

    N a. LAT 41°15.0'N, LONG 72°14.3'W
    N b. LAT 41°15.4'N, LONG 72°16.6'W
    Y c. LAT 41°15.9'N, LONG 72°14.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°16.4'N, LONG 72°14.2'W
15340: At 1718, Bartlett Reef Light bears 050°T at a distance of 1.5 miles. From this position, you change course to 128°
T. At 1750 Race Rock Light bears 336°T, Little Gull Island Light bears 285°T, and Montauk Point Light bears 134°T. What were the set and drift of the current you encountered since 1718? 

    N a. 245°T at 0.9 knots
    N b. 245°T at 1.7 knots
    Y c. 065°T at 1.7 knots
    N d. 065°T at 0.9 knots
15517: From your 1915 position, you come left and set a course for Gardiners Point. At 1930, your position is LAT 41°12.7'N,
LONG 71°56.8'W. What type of bottom is charted at this position? 

    N a. Blue mud, gritty shells
    N b. Buried mussels, gritty shells
    Y c. Blue mud, gray sand
    N d. Bumpy muck with grainy surface
15938: At 1910 you obtain the following bearings:

Bartlett Reef Light 268°T
Race Rock Light 147°T
Little Gull Island Light 198°T

Which of the following is your position at 1910? 

    N a. LAT 41°17.4'N, LONG 72°05.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°17.0'N, LONG 72°07.1'W
    Y c. LAT 41°16.6'N, LONG 72°04.6'W
    N d. LAT 41°16.2'N, LONG 72°06.4'W
16056: At 1730, your position is LAT 37°13.9'N, LONG 76°26.4'W. What is your distance off Tue Marshes Light? 

    N a. 2.2 miles
    Y b. 2.6 miles
    N c. 3.0 miles
    N d. 3.4 miles
16507: What is your speed from your 0630 position, with Buoy "PI"
close abeam, to your 0654 position? 

    N a. 8.2 knots
    N b. 9.3 knots
    Y c. 10.5 knots
    N d. 11.4 knots
16515: What action should you take to compensate for the above current? 

    N a. Continue on the same course and speed.
    Y b. Alter your course to the left.
    N c. Slow to 8.5 knots.
    N d. Alter your course to the right.
16562: At 1850, you obtain the following bearings and distance:

Block Island North Light 085°T
Watch Hill Light 342°T 5.8 miles

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

    N a. 2.9 knots
    N b. 5.7 knots
    Y c. 8.0 knots
    N d. 8.7 knots
16638: At 0400 your position is:

Latitude 40° 50.2' North
Longitude 071° 36.2' West

From your 0400 fix, you steer a course to make good 347°T at 12.5 knots. Visibility is good. What is the earliest time you can expect to raise Montauk Point Light? (Nominal range - 24 miles, height above water - 168 feet) 

    Y a. The light is visible at 0400.
    N b. 0426
    N c. 0435
    N d. 0442
16743: At 0040 you are south of Lewis Point when you receive word that the distress is terminated. You alter course to head for The Race. At 0052 you take the following relative bearings because the starboard gyro repeater is inoperative. Your heading at each bearing was 285°pgc. What is your 0052 position?

Race Rock Light 002°
Watch Hill Light 034°
Block Island North Light 122° 

    N a. LAT 41°08.8'N, LONG 71°41.4'W
    N b. LAT 41°09.0'N, LONG 71°42.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°09.0'N, LONG 71°41.1'W
    Y d. LAT 41°09.1'N, LONG 71°41.7'W