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.

118: 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.?
292: If you have 17.3 miles to reach your destination from your 2000 position and want to be there at 2230, what speed should you make good?
306: A vessel steams 640 miles on course 047°T from LAT 34°45'N, LONG 140°00'E. What are the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by mid-latitude sailing?
348: At 0430, you take the following radar ranges:

Stratford Point Light @ 5.25 nm
Middle Ground Light @ 4.55 nm

What is your 0430 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°08.9'N, LONG 73°00.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 73°01.1'W
    Y c. LAT 41°05.8'N, LONG 73°00.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°06.5'N, LONG 73°01.4'W
351: At 0430, you change course and speed to make good 090°T at 10 knots. At 0433, you slow due to an engineering casualty and estimate you are making good 5.5 knots. At what time will Branford Reef Light bear 000°T? 

    N a. 0624
    N b. 0620
    Y c. 0609
    N d. 0601
362: At 0530, the Coast Guard announces that Chesapeake Channel is closed indefinitely due to a collision occurring in the channel between Trestle "B" and "C" of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. You exit York Spit Channel, leaving buoy "20" abeam to port at 0.1 mile, and alter course to leave Horseshoe Crossing Lighted Bell Buoy abeam to port at 0.2 mile. What is the course per gyrocompass? 

    Y a. 193°pgc
    N b. 190°pgc
    N c. 187°pgc
    N d. 185°pgc
386: From your 0715 position, you set a course of 085°T. At 0745 you take the following bearings:

Race Rock Light 278°pgc
Watch Hill Light 049°pgc
Fisher's Island East Harbor Cupola 010°pgc

What was the current encountered between 0715 and 0745? 

    N a. Set 030°T, drift 0.4 knot
    N b. Set 216°T, drift 0.3 knot
    N c. Set 238°T, drift 0.9 knot
    Y d. Set 070°T, drift 0.6 knot
454: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 26°00.0'S, LONG 56°00.0'W to LAT 34°00.0'S, LONG 18°15.0'E. 

    N a. 3705 miles, 153°T
    N b. 3841 miles, 068°T
    N c. 3849 miles, 248°T
    Y d. 3805 miles, 117°T
490: At 0728, you change course to 080°T. When steady on course, the standard magnetic compass reads 097°. Which statement is TRUE? 

    Y a. The magnetic compass error is 17°W.
    N b. The magnetic heading is 090°.
    N c. The deviation is 1.0°E.
    N d. The gyro course is 083°pgc.
490: At 0728, you change course to 080°T. When steady on course, the standard magnetic compass reads 097°. Which statement is TRUE? 

    Y a. The magnetic compass error is 17°W.
    N b. The magnetic heading is 090°.
    N c. The deviation is 1.0°E.
    N d. The gyro course is 083°pgc.
517: At 0520, you take the following observations:

Point Judith Light 032°pgc
Point Judith Harbor of Refuge
Main Breakwater Center Light 308°pgc

What is the position of your 0520 fix? 

    Y a. LAT 41°20.8'N, Long 71°29.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°20.6'N, Long 71°30.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°20.6'N, Long 71°30.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°20.5'N, Long 71°29.4'W
533: You depart LAT 38°14'N, LONG 12°42'W, for LAT 38°14'N, LONG 46°09'W. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing? 

    N a. 090°T, 1576.5 miles
    N b. 090°T, 2879.0 miles
    Y c. 270°T, 1576.5 miles
    N d. 270°T, 2868.5 miles
571: At 0845, you are approaching the entrances to Thimble Shoal Channel. What channel must you use? 

    N a. The South Auxiliary Channel or Thimble Shoal Channel, but you must remain on the right hand side of the channel.
    Y b. The South Auxiliary Channel since your draft is less than 25 feet (7.6 meters) and you are not a passenger vessel.
    N c. The North Auxiliary Channel since you are going to turn to a northerly heading near buoy "12".
    N d. You are not permitted to use any of the channels, but must remain outside the buoyed channel line.
603: At 0915 zone time, on 7 November , you depart Seattle, LAT 47°36.0'N, LONG 122°22.0'W (ZD +8). You are bound for Kobe, LAT 34°40.0'N, LONG 135°12.0'E, and you estimate your speed of advance at 18.5 knots. The distance is 4,527 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Kobe? 

    N a. 1257, 17 November
    Y b. 0657, 18 November
    N c. 1857, 18 November
    N d. 0657, 19 November
822: On 10 March , in DR position LAT 21°42.0'S, LONG 57°28.0'E, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 08h 28m 17s, and the chronometer error is 00m 00s. The sextant altitude (hs) is 72°08.0'. The index error is 3.4' on the arc, and your height of eye is 52.7 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit? 

    N a. LAT 21°32.5'S
    N b. LAT 21°40.6'S
    Y c. LAT 21°45.5'S
    N d. LAT 21°50.2'S
836: On 16 June , in DR position LAT 50°57.0'S, LONG 53°03.9'W (ZD+4), you take an ex-meridian observation of Acrux at lower transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 10h 08m 18s, and the chronometer error is 02m 12s fast. The sextant altitude (hs) is 23°49.0'. The index error is 1.1' off the arc, and your height of eye is 26 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit? 

    Y a. 50°41.2'S
    N b. 51°02.2'S
    N c. 51°33.0'S
    N d. 51°41.2'S
987: On 17 January , your 0730 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 22°26.0'S, LONG 152°17.0'E. Your vessel is steaming on a course of 116°T at a speed of 17 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 1015 zone time. The chronometer reads 00h 13m 23s, and the chronometer error is 01m 49s slow. The observed altitude (Ho) is 66°02.1'. LAN occurs at 1152 zone time and a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is made. The observed altitude (Ho) is 87°54.2'. Determine the vessel's 1200 zone time position. 

    Y a. LAT 22°53.8'S, LONG 153°25.6'E
    N b. LAT 22°53.8'S, LONG 153°28.8'E
    N c. LAT 22°56.3'S, LONG 153°25.6'E
    N d. LAT 22°56.3'S, LONG 153°28.8'E
1134: 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.
1141: Which daymark will you see as you approach Natchez Beam Lt. (mile 364.8 AHP)? 

    Y a. Red triangle
    N b. White square
    N c. Green square
    N d. Red diamond
1190: On 12 February , your 0930 zone time DR position is LAT 25°20.0'N, LONG 30°40.0'W. Your vessel is on course 135°
T at a speed of 11.2 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1210
    Y b. 1215
    N c. 1220
    N d. 1224
1227: At 0119, on 10 September, you pass Springfield Bend Lt. (mile 244.8 AHP) and estimate the current will average 2.5 mph for the remainder of your trip. What is your ETA at the mouth of the Ohio River if you are making turns for 8.5 mph? 

    N a. 1746, 12 September
    N b. 1244, 13 September
    Y c. 2329, 14 September
    N d. 0210, 15 September
1245: The highest point on your towboat is 67 feet above the water, and the Helena Gage reads +22.3 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the A-span of the Helena Highway Bridge? 

    N a. 74.7 feet
    N b. 52.4 feet
    N c. 49.8 feet
    Y d. 30.1 feet
1300: You estimate the current as 2.5 mph. What is the speed over the ground? 

    N a. 11.0 mph
    N b. 8.0 mph
    Y c. 6.0 mph
    N d. 5.5 mph
1304: 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
1363: You are taking a time tick using the 1400 signal from Buenos Aires, Argentina. You hear a 0.4 second dash followed by a series of dots, noting that the 29th and the 56th to 59th dots are omitted. At the start of the following 0.4 second dash (which is followed by an 8 second pulse), the comparing watch reads 02h 00m 15s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 02h 01m 29s, and the chronometer reads 01h 59m 50s. What is the chronometer error? 

    N a. 0m 15s fast
    N b. 1m 14s fast
    Y c. 1m 24s slow
    N d. 1m 54s slow
1494: On 5 August , your 0310 ZT position is LAT 09°02'N, LONG 21°08'W. You observe Polaris bearing 002°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 316°pgc and 329°psc. The variation is 15°W. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    N a. 0.0°
    N b. 1.5°W
    N c. 3.0°W
    Y d. 0.5°E
1682: On 11 May , in DR position LAT 37°06.0'N, LONG 45°45.0'W you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 089.0°psc. The chronometer reads 07h 57m 06s and is 01m 48s slow. Variation in the area is 20.0°W. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 3.6°W
    Y b. 2.2°W
    N c. 1.4°W
    N d. 3.6°E
1833: 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
1868: On 12 June , your 1945 DR position is LAT 21°47.0'N, LONG 46°52.0'W when you observe a faint unidentifiable star through a break in the clouds. The star bears 130°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 45°21.2'. The index error is 0.5' on the arc, and the height of eye is 45 feet. The chronometer reads 10h 43m 27s, and the chronometer error is 1m 46s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Theta Carinae
    N b. Epsilon Leonis
    Y c. Beta Librae
    N d. Zeta Puppis
1881: On 13 September , your 1830 ZT DR position was LAT 23°03'S, LONG 105°16'E, when you observed a faint unidentifiable star through a hole in the clouds. The star bore 148.0°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 32°24.3'. The chronometer read 11h 24m 39s and is 05m 08s slow. The index error is 1.0' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52 feet. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Beta Gruis
    Y b. Alpha Tucanae
    N c. Beta Aquarii
    N d. Alpha Indi
1907: On 22 March , your 1834 DR position is LAT 26°13.5'S, LONG 108°36.5'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 062°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 23°22.0'. The chronometer reads 01h 32m 37s, and is 01m 50s slow. Which star did you observe? 

    Y a. Regulus
    N b. Menkar
    N c. Rigel
    N d. Alphard
1949: The circle with black and white quadrants located at mile 435.6 AHP is a __________. 

    N a. Daymark
    N b. Electrical Tower
    Y c. River Gage
    N d. Information Board
2012: On 24 March , your vessel is enroute from Cadiz to Norfolk. Evening twilight will occur at 1830 zone time, and your vessel's DR position will be LAT 35°06'N, LONG 60°48'
W. Considering their azimuth, altitude, and magnitude,
which group of stars is best suited for plotting a star fix at star time? 

    N a. Adhara, Rigel, Suhail
    N b. Regulus, Denebola, Alkaid
    N c. Adhara, Procyon, Alphard
    Y d. Sirius, Dubhe, Mirfak
2290: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 75°12.3' on 6 August . The index error is 1.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 32 feet (9.8 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 75°18.6'
    Y b. 75°24.0'
    N c. 75°30.7'
    N d. 75°34.6'
2852: Your vessel is on a course of 129°T at 13 knots. At 1937 a light bears 151.5°T. At 2003 the light bears 174°T. At which time and distance off will your vessel be when abeam of this light? 

    N a. 2016, 2.8 miles
    N b. 2016, 3.9 miles
    Y c. 2021, 3.9 miles
    N d. 2021, 2.8 miles
2907: You are running coastwise in hazy weather; the visibility improves just before you pass a lighthouse abeam. Your speed is 15 knots, and the lighthouse was abeam at 1015. At 1037 the lighthouse is 4 points abaft the beam. What is your distance off at the second bearing? 

    N a. 3.9 miles
    N b. 5.5 miles
    N c. 6.6 miles
    Y d. 7.8 miles
3276: While steaming at 15 knots, your vessel burns 326 bbls of fuel per day. What will be the rate of fuel consumption if you decrease speed to 12.2 knots? 

    Y a. 175 bbls/day
    N b. 215 bbls/day
    N c. 277 bbls/day
    N d. 300 bbls/day
3289: While steaming at 17.0 knots, your vessel consumes 382 barrels of fuel oil per day. In order to reduce consumption to 223 barrels of fuel oil per day, what is the maximum speed the vessel can turn for? 

    N a. 9.9 knots
    N b. 11.8 knots
    N c. 13.0 knots
    Y d. 14.2 knots
3311: You have steamed 162 miles and consumed 14.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 285 miles? 

    Y a. 24.6 tons
    N b. 34.7 tons
    N c. 43.3 tons
    N d. 54.8 tons
3608: You are steering 125°pgc. The wind is southwest by south causing a 3° leeway. The variation is 6°E, the deviation is 2°W, and the gyro error is 1°W. What is the true course made good? 

    Y a. 121°T
    N b. 123°T
    N c. 127°T
    N d. 129°T
3641: You desire to make good a true course of 174°. The variation is 17°W, magnetic compass deviation is 4°W, and gyrocompass error is 4°E. A west-southwest wind produces a 4° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good? 

    N a. 195°psc
    N b. 197°psc
    Y c. 199°psc
    N d. 203°psc
11500: At 2016 your GPS position is LAT 41°07.6'N, LONG 71°37.8'W. At 2128 your GPS position is LAT 41°00.4'N, LONG 71°29.4'W. What was the speed made good between the two positions? 

    N a. 11.9 knots
    N b. 10.2 knots
    Y c. 8.0 knots
    N d. 7.4 knots
11907: Your position is 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course to steer to arrive at LAT 41°00.0'N, LONG 71°30.0'W, if you are turning for 7.8 knots, the current is 130° at 1.2 knots, and a southerly wind causes 3° of leeway? 

    N a. 112°T
    Y b. 108°T
    N c. 105°T
    N d. 102°T
12106: While in the Back River, you sight the two tanks along the Northwest Branch (vicinity LAT 37°05.6'N, LONG 76°22.0'W) in line bearing 277° per standard magnetic compass. If your vessel is heading 243°psc, what is TRUE? 

    N a. There is no deviation.
    N b. The deviation table is incorrect.
    Y c. The compass error is 12°W.
    N d. The deviation is 3°E for bearings of 277°psc.
12507: You are on course 300° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" 240°psc Horn Harbor Entrance Light HH 268°psc Wolf Trap Light 003°psc What is the position of the fix? 

    N a. LAT 37°20.8'N, LONG 76°09.6'W
    Y b. LAT 37°20.8'N, LONG 76°11.0'W
    N c. LAT 37°20.9'N, LONG 76°11.5'W
    N d. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°08.2'W
12611: You are on course 262° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Saybrook Breakwater Light - 338.5°psc Little Gull Island Light - 107.5°psc Horton Point Light - 240.0°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°11.9'N, LONG 72°16.7'N
    Y b. LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 72°17.2'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.0'N, LONG 72°17.7'W
    N d. LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°17.3'W
14002: At 1630 your vessel exits Bonneville Lock steaming in a westerly direction. What speed must you average to arrive at the Interstate 5 highway bridge with an ETA of 2120? 

    N a. 6 mph
    N b. 7 mph
    Y c. 8 mph
    N d. 9 mph
14702: At 2200 your vessel is at mile 95 proceeding in an easterly direction on the Columbia River. At 0400 the following morning, you pass the 125 mile mark. How many nautical miles have you traveled since 2200? 

    N a. 22.6
    N b. 24.3
    Y c. 26.1
    N d. 34.5
15061: Falkner Island Light is shown __________. 

    N a. 46 feet (13.9 meters) above sea level
    N b. only from 1 June to 10 October
    Y c. from a white octagonal tower
    N d. with a six-second period
15617: 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? 

    Y a. 7.5 miles
    N b. 12.0 miles
    N c. 16.0 miles
    N d. 17.0 miles
15816: At 0209, your position is LAT 41°01.8'N, LONG 72°40.8'W.
What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good 278° magnetic? (assume no set and drift) 

    N a. 262.0°psc
    N b. 265.0°psc
    Y c. 275.5°psc
    N d. 280.5°psc
16110: If you are making 8.3 knots over the ground, what is your ETA at the first turning point in York Spit Channel between buoys "29" and "30"? 

    N a. 0444
    N b. 0456
    N c. 0508
    Y d. 0522
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
16540: You sight Bartlett Reef Light in range with New London Harbor Light bearing 038°pgc. At the time of the bearing,
the helmsman reports he was heading 253°pgc and 269° per standard magnetic compass. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    Y a. 1°E
    N b. 1°W
    N c. 4°E
    N d. 4°W
16639: You estimate the current to be 125° at 0.6 knot, and the wind is westerly causing 3° of leeway. What course should you steer per gyro compass to make good 347°T while turning for 12.5 knots? 

    Y a. 340°  pgc
    N b. 343°  pgc
    N c. 346°  pgc
    N d. 349°  pgc
16738: At 2212 your position is LAT 40° 51'N, LONG 71° 53.5'W.

What is the course to steer, per gyrocompass from your 2212 position, to leave Montauk Point Buoy "MP" abeam to port at 1 mile if easterly winds are causing 3° of leeway? 

    N a. 027°  pgc
    N b. 030°  pgc
    N c. 032°  pgc
    Y d. 035°  pgc