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.


43: You have received orders to proceed to the Amoco Pipeline Co. (mile 253.6 AHP) above Baton Rouge. If your vessel is making turns for 9 mph with an estimated average current of 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at the Amoco docks?


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?


99: What is the mile point of the Rosedale Gage?


102: The latest available information on the channel conditions above Baton Rouge that includes recommended course and the latest buoy information is found in the __________.

    Y a. Local Notice to Mariners
    N b. Waterways Journal
    N c. Sailing Directions
    N d. Corps. of Engineers maps

154: You see a buoy with red and green bands. This buoy marks __________.

    N a. the center of the channel
    Y b. the preferred channel
    N c. a channel crossing
    N d. an isolated danger

265: At 0740, you take the following Radar Ranges:

Branford Reef Light @ 2.5 nm
New Haven Light @ 3.9 nm

What is your position?

    Y a. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 72°51.5'W
    N b. LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 72°51.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°12.7'N, LONG 72°51.9'W
    N d. LAT 41°12.2'N, LONG 72°52.0'W

354: The south shore of Long Island Sound from Horton Point to Orient Point is __________.

    Y a. bluff and rocky
    N b. low and marshy
    N c. marked by sandy beaches and wooded uplands
    N d. bound by gradual shoaling

382: You arrive at Cape Charles City at 1700 and depart at 1800. You are underway in Chesapeake Bay and encounter heavy fog. At 1830, you obtain the following radar information:

Old Plantation Flats Light bearing 041.5° true @ 1.9 nm

What is your 1830 position?

    N a. LAT 37°10.3'N, LONG 76°04.5'W
    N b. LAT 37°10.3'N, LONG 76°06.5'W
    N c. LAT 37°12.3'N, LONG 76°06.5'W
    Y d. LAT 37°12.3'N, LONG 76°04.4'W

397: Your vessel departs LAT 32°45'N, LONG 79°50'W, and is bound for LAT 34°21'S, LONG 18°29'E. Determine the distance by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 5,021 miles
    Y b. 6,884 miles
    N c. 6,954 miles
    N d. 7,002 miles

399: A vessel at LAT 11°22'S, LONG 009°18'E heads for a destination at LAT 06°52'N, LONG 57°23'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 296°T, 3,825.3 miles
    N b. 296°T, 4,154.2 miles
    N c. 285°T, 3,825.3 miles
    Y d. 285°T, 4,154.2 miles

509: At 0112, the radar range to Branford Reef Light is 2.9 miles. At 0125, the range is 3.6 miles. What is the position of your 0125 running fix if you are steering 124°T at 12 knots?`

    N a. LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°48.7'W
    Y b. LAT 41°09.7'N, LONG 72°48.1'W
    N c. LAT 41°09.8'N, LONG 72°47.2'W
    N d. LAT 41°10.2'N, LONG 72°47.7'W

1130: At 1923, on September 21, you pass Bixby Towhead Light (mile 873.7 AHP). What was your average speed since leaving Cairo?

    N a. 9.2 mph
    N b. 8.8 mph
    Y c. 8.5 mph
    N d. 7.2 mph

1189: On 7 February , your 0800 zone time DR position is LAT 22°16.0'N, LONG 92°26.0'W. Your vessel is on course 270°
T at a speed of 20.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1218
    N b. 1222
    N c. 1226
    Y d. 1230

1217: It is 31 October , and you are keeping zone time -12. You are on course 095°T, speed 24 knots. Your 0730 DR position is LAT 29°20.0'N, LONG 178°54.0'E. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks?

    N a. 11h 24m 19s
    Y b. 11h 40m 55s
    N c. 12h 12m 16s
    N d. 12h 40m 02s

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

1293: What is indicated by the two light gray shaded areas that cross the river above False River Lt. (mile 251.0 AHP)?

    Y a. Utility crossings
    N b. Ferry crossings
    N c. Aerial cable crossings
    N d. Bridge construction

1420: What company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Helena (mile 661 to 665 AHP)?

    N a. Helena Port Terminal, Inc.
    Y b. Riceland Food Corps..
    N c. Quincy Soybean Co.
    N d. Texas Eastern Pipeline Co.

1453: On 15 October , your 0325 zone time DR position is LAT 26°51.0'N, LONG 138°17.0'W. At that time, you observe Canopus bearing 167°pgc. The chronometer reads 00h 25m 36s, and the chronometer error is 00m 20s slow. The variation is 2°E. What is the gyro error?

    Y a. 1.3°W
    N b. 3.2°W
    N c. 3.2°E
    N d. 4.1°W

1472: On 9 February , your 0739 zone time DR position is LAT 23°31.0'N, LONG 143°41.0'E. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 104.5°psc. The chronometer reads 09h 37m 12s, and the chronometer error is 01m 52s slow. The variation is 3.5°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 1.6°E
    N b. 2.3°W
    N c. 5.1°W
    Y d. 8.6°E

1701: The latest available information on the channel conditions above Baton Rouge that includes the latest buoy information, as well as recommended courses, is found in the __________.

    N a. Corps. of Engineers maps
    N b. Waterways Journal
    Y c. Local Notice to Mariners
    N d. Sailing Directions

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

1811: Where would you find out which buoys, if any, are in place at Concordia Bar crossing (mile 596.0 AHP)?

    Y a. Notice to Mariners
    N b. Bulletin board at the Rosedale Gage
    N c. Waterways Journal
    N d. None of the above

1832: Where can scheduled broadcast times of river stages be found?

    N a. Sailing Directions
    N b. List of Lights
    Y c. Light List
    N d. Coast Pilot

1882: On 2 October , your 1845 DR position was 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 20°45.6' T, bearing 201.5°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 00m 51s fast. What star did you observe?

    N a. Cor Caroli
    N b. Muhlifain
    Y c. Alpha Muscae
    N d. Beta Corvi

2111: 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

2201: At 1000, on May 11th, you are passing George Prince Lt. (mile 364.1 AHP) in Natchez, Mississippi and must send an ETA to the Monsanto Terminal in St. Louis (mile 178.0 UMR). Your engines are still turning for 8.5 mph and you estimate the current at 2.5 mph. What will be your arrival time in St. Louis?

    N a. 1919 on 15 May
    N b. 2344 on 15 May
    N c. 1113 on 16 May
    Y d. 1757 on 16 May

2392: 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

2672: While on a course of 283°pgc, a light bears 10° on the port bow at a distance of 8.3 miles. What course should you steer to pass 3.5 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port?

    N a. 289°pgc
    N b. 294°pgc
    Y c. 298°pgc
    N d. 302°pgc

2688: While on a course of 214°pgc, a light bears 9° on the port bow at a distance of 7.4 miles. What course should you steer to pass 2 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port?

    N a. 189°pgc
    N b. 209°pgc
    Y c. 221°pgc
    N d. 229°pgc

3095: If the pitch of the propeller is 21.3 feet, and the revolutions per day are 126,214, calculate the day's run allowing 4% positive slip.

    Y a. 424.5 miles
    N b. 442.1 miles
    N c. 459.9 miles
    N d. 477.3 miles

3305: You have steamed 201 miles and consumed 18.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 482 miles?

    N a. 25.2 tons
    Y b. 43.2 tons
    N c. 52.6 tons
    N d. 103.5 tons

3306: You have steamed 264 miles and consumed 22.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 521 miles?

    N a. 31.7 tons
    N b. 38.6 tons
    Y c. 43.4 tons
    N d. 85.7 tons

3640: You desire to make good a true course of 223°. The variation is 2°E, magnetic compass deviation is 2°E, and gyrocompass error is 1°W. An east-southeast wind produces 3° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good?

    N a. 213°psc
    Y b. 216°psc
    N c. 220°psc
    N d. 223°psc

11014: What will be the velocity of the tidal current outside the breakwater at New Haven Hbr. entrance on 26 May 1983 at 1045 DST (ZD +4)?

    N a. 0.0 knot
    N b. 0.3 knot
    Y c. 0.5 knot
    N d. 1.3 knots

11301: At 1256 your GPS position is LAT 36°57.0'N, LONG 75°41.0'W. At 1331 your position is LAT 37°07.5'N, LONG 75°39.1'W. What was the speed made good between the fixes?

    N a. 14.6 knots
    N b. 15.2 knots
    N c. 16.6 knots
    Y d. 18.3 knots

11309: At 1919 your position is LAT 37°00.5'N, LONG 75°43.8'W. At 2019 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. What is the course made good?

    N a. 090°T
    Y b. 093°T
    N c. 096°T
    N d. 099°T

11309: At 1919 your position is LAT 37°00.5'N, LONG 75°43.8'W. At 2019 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. What is the course made good?

    N a. 090°T
    Y b. 093°T
    N c. 096°T
    N d. 099°T

11402: At 1018 your position is LAT 41°14.4'N, LONG 72°07.2'W. At 1036 your vessels position is LAT 41°13.1'N, LONG 72°16.1'W. What was your true course and speed made good?

    Y a. 259° at 22.6 knots
    N b. 245° at 23.1 knots
    N c. 079° at 22.8 knots
    N d. 065° at 25.5 knots

11410: At 0647 a GPS fix places your vessel 1 mile due south of buoy "8C" (buoy position LAT 41°10.8'N, LONG 72°29.4'W). At 0753 another GPS fix places your vessel at LAT 41°08.6'N, LONG 72°41.6'W. What were your true course and speed made good?

    N a. 088° at 9.6 knots
    N b. 192° at 8.8 knots
    Y c. 263° at 8.5 knots
    N d. 268° at 9.1 knots

13100: Your position is LAT 41°15.2'N, LONG 71°50.1'W at 1347. You are turning for 6.9 knots. What is your ETA at Shagwong Reef Buoy "7SR"?

    Y a. 1506
    N b. 1515
    N c. 1521
    N d. 1527

13708: A note on the chart indicates that currents in excess of how many knots can be expected in the vicinity of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel?

    Y a. 3.00 knots
    N b. 2.20 knots
    N c. 1.75 knots
    N d. 1.50 knots

14005: At 0800 your vessel is at mile 110 on the Columbia River. You are steaming in an easterly direction. At 0854 Lady Island Range is in line dead astern and Government Island Upper Range is in line on your port quarter. What speed have you averaged?

    N a. 8.1 mph
    N b. 8.5 mph
    Y c. 9.4 mph
    N d. 10.2 mph

15028: At what time would you listen to VHF Channel 22 (157.1 MHz) for information concerning the stage of the river between Memphis and Cairo?

    N a. 1115
    N b. 1235
    Y c. 1300
    N d. 1815

15162: At 1920, Cape Henry Light bears 231°pgc, and Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light bears 294°pgc. If your heading is 268°T, what is the relative bearing of Chesapeake Light?

    Y a. 213°
    N b. 201°
    N c. 194°
    N d. 179°

15564: What was the current between 0520 and 0600?

    N a. 178° at 0.8 knot
    N b. 178° at 1.2 knot
    N c. 358° at 0.8 knot
    Y d. 358° at 1.2 knots

15629: In order to determine what buoys, if any, are in place at Concordia Bar crossing (mile 596.0 AHP), what should you check?

    N a. Bulletin board at the Rosedale Gage
    N b. Waterways Journal
    Y c. Notice to Mariners
    N d. Light List

15714: At 1100, your position is LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°28.0'W. You are steering a course of 069°T to leave Black Point one mile off your port beam. It has been reported that the Long Sand Shoal Buoys and Hatchett Reef Buoys are off station. Which of the following will serve as a line marking the hazards and keep your vessel in safe water?

    Y a. Danger bearing to Black Point of not more than 064°T
    N b. Maintaining a 7 nm range off Orient Point
    N c. A bearing to Little Gull Island Light of not less than 090°
    N d. A distance to Saybrook Breakwater Light of not less than 1.3 miles

15806: What type of bottom is found at Long Sand Shoal?

    N a. Rocky
    N b. Muddy
    N c. Sandy
    Y d. Hard

15811: At 0100, you obtain the following bearings:

Rocky Point Lookout Tower 062°T
Horton Point Lighthouse 189°T

What was the speed made good between 0045 and 0100?

    Y a. 7.4 knots
    N b. 8.0 knots
    N c. 8.7 knots
    N d. 9.2 knots

15907: At 0720, you are in the outer channel between buoy "1" and buoy "2" and change course to pass Townshend Ledge Lighted Gong Buoy "10A" abeam to port at 200 yards. What is your ETA off the buoy?

    N a. 0734
    Y b. 0738
    N c. 0741
    N d. 0745

15960: From your 1752 position, you steer 313°pgc at 9 knots. At 1805, you obtain the following visual bearings:
Old Pt. Comfort Light - 238°pgc.
Chesapeake Bay Tunnel North Light - 136°pgc.
What are the latitude and longitude of your 1805 position?

    Y a. LAT 37°05.9'N, LONG 76°08.0'W
    N b. LAT 37°06.0'N, LONG 76°08.4'W
    N c. LAT 37°05.0'N, LONG 76°08.7'W
    N d. LAT 37°06.1'N, LONG 76°08.1'W

16407: At 0227, you are on course 087°T at 10 knots. What course per standard magnetic compass should you steer to make good your true course?

    N a. 099°psc
    N b. 102°psc
    Y c. 105°psc
    N d. 109°psc

16444: At 1042 you take the following round of bearings:

Cape Henry Light 259°T
Chesapeake Light 101°T
Cape Charles Light 006°T
From this position, you set course 070°T at a speed of 9.5 knots.

What is the course per standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 069.5°psc
    N b. 060.5°psc
    Y c. 079.5°psc
    N d. 080.5°psc

16618: What is the distance from your 0200 position to the point where Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal lighted buoy is abeam to starboard?

    N a. 6.6 miles
    Y b. 6.9 miles
    N c. 7.1 miles
    N d. 7.3 miles