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.

66: At 2126, you pass Morganza Bend Light (mile 278.4 AHP). At 0122, 4 January, you pass Red River Landing Gage (302.4 AHP). You have been turning for 7.5 mph. What is the current?
171: At 2015, your vessel is at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel midway between buoys "13" and "14". If the height of tide is -1 foot (-0.3 meters), what is the approximate depth of water?
409: A vessel steams 1082 miles on course 047°T from LAT 37°18.0'N, LONG 24°40.0'W. What is the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by Mercator sailing?
440: By 1015, visibility has increased to 5.0 miles and you can see Fishers Island. Fishers Island has __________. 

    Y a. sparsely wooded hills and is fringed with shoals to the south
    N b. sheer cliffs rising from the sea to a high, flat plateau
    N c. barren, rocky hills with prominent sandy beaches
    N d. low and sandy beaches with salt ponds and marsh grass
456: 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? 

    N a. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 72°03.3'W
    Y b. LAT 41°14.0'N, LONG 72°05.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°14.7'N, LONG 72°06.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°19.0'N, LONG 72°05.2'W
567: What is the distance from Lamberts Point to abeam of Thimble Shoal Lt. following the navigable channel? 

    Y a. 11.2 miles
    N b. 10.6 miles
    N c. 9.8 miles
    N d. 9.0 miles
631: From your 0100 position, you change course to 258° per standard magnetic compass. Your engine speed is 10.0 knots. A short time later, your fathometer reads 51 feet (15.5 meters) under the keel. What is the water depth? 

    N a. 38.5 feet (11.7 meters)
    N b. 43.5 feet (13.2 meters)
    N c. 51.0 feet (15.5 meters)
    Y d. 59.5 feet (18.0 meters)
1120: At 0850, 4 January, you pass the Gage at Natchez, MS which reads 26.8 feet. The low water reference plane (LWRP) for Natchez is 6.1 feet. What is the water level in relation to the low water reference plane? 

    Y a. 20.7 ft above
    N b. 20.7 ft below
    N c. 32.9 ft above
    N d. 32.9 ft below
1164: At 2350 on 23 June, you are at mile 610.5 AHP when you see about a mile ahead lights on the water near the left bank. What might you see when you come abreast of these lights? 

    N a. Privately maintained buoys at a yacht club
    N b. Government buoys marking the Hurricane Point dikes
    Y c. Barges moored at the Dennis Landing Terminal
    N d. A pipeline discharging dredge spoil
1276: Your 0000 zone time position on 13 June is LAT 24°35'N, LONG 142°26'E. Your vessel is on course 245°T, speed is 13.5 knots. What is the zone time of sunrise? 

    N a. 0440
    Y b. 0445
    N c. 0503
    N d. 0528
1284: On 10 November , your 1630 zone time DR position is LAT 25°10.0'N, LONG 71°12.0'W. You are on course 335°T at a speed of 24 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1650
    Y b. 1700
    N c. 1715
    N d. 1730
1431: As you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge, you estimate the current as 4.5 mph. What is the speed over the ground, if your vessel is making turns for 9 mph? 

    N a. 9.5 mph
    Y b. 13.5 mph
    N c. 14.5 mph
    N d. 16.5 mph
1738: Which of the following statements regarding aids to navigation shown in the Corps. of Engineers map book is TRUE? 

    Y a. Buoys should always be given as wide a berth in passing as possible.
    N b. The U.S. Army Corps.. of Engineers is responsible for placing and maintaining all aids to navigation.
    N c. Buoy positions as shown on the chart are exact.
    N d. Lights and daymarks are always shown in their exact location.
1744: At 1727, on 24 August, 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 9 mph? 

    N a. 1.8 mph
    Y b. 2.3 mph
    N c. 2.8 mph
    N d. 3.6 mph
1869: 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 282.5°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 14°22.3'. 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. Wezen
    Y b. Alhena
    N c. Mirzam
    N d. Menkalinan
1892: On 22 July , your 0442 DR position is LAT 26°35.6'N, LONG 22°16.7'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 091°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 64°35.2'. The chronometer reads 05h 39m 03s, and is 03m 14s slow. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Hamal
    N b. Rigel
    N c. Menkar
    N d. Acamar
1918: On 14 January , your 1922 DR position is LAT 27°18.5'S, LONG 67°18.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 295°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 13°50.7'. The chronometer reads 03h 25m 43s, and is 03m 15s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Elnath
    N b. Fomalhaut
    N c. Pollux
    Y d. Markab
1956: At 1923, you increase speed to make good 9.2 mph. What is the first gage you will pass after your speed change? 

    N a. Cottonwood Point
    Y b. Caruthersville
    N c. Fulton
    N d. New Madrid
2101: On 2 January , your 1759 zone time DR position is LONG 45°17.6'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 24°16.5'. The chronometer time of the sight is 08h 57m 10s, and the chronometer error is 02m 16s slow. The index error is 3.5' on the arc, and the height of eye is 42.5 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    N a. 22°50.2'N
    Y b. 23°18.8N
    N c. 23°30.2N
    N d. 24°07.3'N
2181: On 4 June , at 0630 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 26°15'S, LONG 121°20'W. Your vessel is steaming at 13.0 knots on a course of 246°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0915 ZT. The chronometer reads 05h 14m 27s, and the sextant altitude is 25°57.8'. The index error is 2.1' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 0m 53s slow. Your height of eye is 39.0 feet. What is the intercept (a) and azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position method? 

    N a. Zn 044.6°,  a 1.7' A
    Y b. Zn 044.6°,  a 2.5' T
    N c. Zn 135.1°,  a 1.7' A
    N d. Zn 135.1°,  a 2.5' T
2213: Controlling depth of a channel __________. 

    Y a. is the least depth within the limits of the channel
    N b. is the greatest depth within the limits of the channel
    N c. permits the safe use of the channel to drafts of more than that depth
    N d. is the designed dredging depth of a channel constructed by the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers
2287: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 34°51.4' on 18 October . The index error is 2.0' off the arc. The height of eye is 54 feet (16.5 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    Y a. 35°01.2'
    N b. 35°03.6'
    N c. 35°05.2'
    N d. 35°07.4'
2326: The Coast Guard announces that Chesapeake Channel is closed indefinitely due to a collision in the channel between Trestle "B" and "C" of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. You exit York Spit Channel, leaving buoy "22"
close abeam to port at 0.1 mile, and alter course to leave Horseshoe Crossing Lighted Bell Buoy "HC" abeam to port at 0.2 mile. What is the course per gyrocompass? 

    Y a. 185°pgc
    N b. 188°pgc
    N c. 191°pgc
    N d. 194°pgc
2404: At 0812, you are on course 132°T. The standard magnetic compass reads 135°. What should you conclude? 

    N a. The deviation table is correct for that heading.
    Y b. Your compass may be influenced by a local magnetic disturbance.
    N c. You should adjust the magnetic compass.
    N d. The deviation is increasing as you go south.
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
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
3307: You have steamed 182 miles and consumed 16.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 392 miles? 

    N a. 28.3 tons
    Y b. 34.5 tons
    N c. 49.6 tons
    N d. 74.2 tons
3453: You wish to make good a course of 350°T while turning for an engine speed of 10 knots. The set is 070°T, and the drift is 1.5 knots. What course should you steer? 

    N a. 332°T
    Y b. 341°T
    N c. 345°T
    N d. 359°T
3623: Your vessel is steering course 166°psc, variation for the area is 8°W, and deviation is 3°W. The wind is from the west-southwest, producing a 2° leeway. What true course are you making good? 

    Y a. 153°T
    N b. 157°T
    N c. 175°T
    N d. 179°T
3626: Your vessel is steering course 284°psc, variation for the area is 6°W, and deviation is 3°E. The wind is from the north-northeast, producing a 3° leeway. What true course are you making good? 

    N a. 275°T
    Y b. 278°T
    N c. 284°T
    N d. 290°T
3763: 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 178°T, and the variation is 9°W. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 180° per standard magnetic compass, what is the deviation? 

    N a. 2°E
    N b. 2°W
    Y c. 7°E
    N d. 7°W
4002: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°E. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a true heading of 258°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 350° 122.5° - 110° 239.5° - 230°
030.5° - 020° 152.0° - 140° 269.0° - 260°
061.5° - 050° 181.0° - 170° 298.0° - 290°
092.0° - 080° 210.0° - 200° 327.5° - 320° 

    N a. 0.5°W
    N b. 0.0°
    N c. 0.5°E
    Y d. 1.0°E
11803: What is the true course to steer between Falkner Island Light and Horton Point Light, if the set and drift of the current are 041° at 2.4 knots, and a northeasterly wind will cause 4° of leeway? Your engines are making turns for 15 knots. 

    N a. 116°T
    N b. 124°T
    Y c. 134°T
    N d. 142°T
11903: What is the true course to steer between the entrance to Winnapaug Pond (LAT 41°19.6'N, LONG 71°45.8'W) and the entrance to Lake Montauk (LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 71°56.3'W), if you are turning for 8.5 knots, allowing for a current of 095°T at 0.9 knot, and an easterly wind is causing 3° of leeway? 

    N a. 200°T
    N b. 208°T
    Y c. 211°T
    N d. 214°T
12208: You sight Stratford Pt. Light in line with the Igor I. Sikorsky Airport Aero Beacon bearing 319° per standard magnetic compass. What is the compass error? 

    N a. 4°E
    N b. 10°W
    N c. 14°E
    Y d. 18°W
15109: What is the average velocity of the maximum flood current at the Tail of the Horseshoe? 

    N a. 0.6 knot
    Y b. 0.9 knot
    N c. 1.3 knots
    N d. 1.6 knots
15165: At 2000, your position is LAT 37°04.1'N, LONG 76°05.6'W. You change course for the Eastern Shore. At 2037, Old Plantation Flats Light bears 033°pgc, and York Spit Light bears 282°pgc. The course made good from your 2000 position was __________. 

    Y a. 006°T
    N b. 014°T
    N c. 020°T
    N d. 028°T
15217: At 2118, you obtain the following bearings:

Cape Henry Light - 148°pgc
Cape Charles Light - 033°pgc
Thimble Shoal Light - 291°pgc

From this position, you proceed to Norfolk, VA, a distance of approximately 26.0 miles. To arrive at Norfolk at 0200 the next day, what is the speed to make good from your 2118 position to arrive at this time? 

    N a. 5.0 knots
    Y b. 5.5 knots
    N c. 6.0 knots
    N d. 6.5 knots
15364: At 0615, Stratford Point Light bears 292°pgc, Falkner Island Light bears 052°pgc, and Branford Reef Light bears 018°pgc. What was the current since 0530? 

    Y a. 083° at 1.2 knots
    N b. 083° at 0.9 knots
    N c. 263° at 1.2 knots
    N d. 263° at 0.9 knots
15411: From your 1830 fix, you continue south on a course of 150°T turning RPMs for 6 knots. You encounter a flood current in the direction of 330°T at 2 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, which course would you steer to make good a course of 150°T while turning RPMs for 6 knots? 

    N a. 144°T
    Y b. 150°T
    N c. 158°T
    N d. 162°T
15412: 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
    N c. LAT 37°05.9'N, LONG 76°03.5'W
    Y d. LAT 37°09.3'N, LONG 76°03.1'W
15513: If your height of eye is 35 feet (10.7 meters), what is the approximate geographic range of Block Island North Light? 

    N a. 7.4 nm
    N b. 13.0 nm
    N c. 14.3 nm
    Y d. 15.8 nm
15809: 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
16262: What was the speed made good from 0240 to 0400? 

    N a. 5.2 knots
    N b. 5.6 knots
    Y c. 6.0 knots
    N d. 6.4 knots
16320: Which course should you change to per standard magnetic compass as you pass SW Ledge Light to remain in the channel? 

    N a. 007°psc
    N b. 014°psc
    Y c. 021°psc
    N d. 026°psc
16417: You are encountering heavy weather. What action should you take based on your 1430 fix? 

    Y a. Alter course to the right, to pass well clear of Southwest Ledge.
    N b. Continue on the same course at the same speed.
    N c. Slow to 8.3 knots to compensate for the current.
    N d. Continue on the same course but increase speed.
16418: At 2100, you set course of 000°T, speed 10 knots from LAT 41°07.0'N, LONG 71°30.0'W. Visibility is 5.5 n.m. What is the earliest time you can expect to sight Point Judith Light? (Use charted range of 20 miles as nominal range.) 

    N a. The light is visible at 2100.
    Y b. 2114
    N c. 2123
    N d. 2131
16609: What was the speed made good between 2114 and 2142? 

    N a. 12.3 knots
    N b. 12.0 knots
    N c. 11.7 knots
    Y d. 11.4 knots
16720: In order to check your compasses, you sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light bearing 074°
pgc. The helmsman was steering 303°pgc and 315° per standard magnetic compass at the time. Which of the following is TRUE? 

    Y a. The gyro error is still 2°E.
    N b. The deviation based on the observation is 15°W.
    N c. The magnetic compass error is 12°W.
    N d. The true line of the range is 072°.