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.


93: Which light characteristics does Quaker Oats Light (mile 952.6) have?


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?


211: You decide to use the 9960-Y and 9960-W rates. At 1915,
you obtain the following readings:

9960-Y-43936.0
9960-W-14653.3

What is your 1915 position?


282: From your 1752 position, you steer 307°pgc at 9 knots. At 1805, you obtain the visual bearings. What are the latitude and longitude of your 1805 position? Old Pt. Comfort Light 232°pgc. Chesapeake Bay Tunnel North Light 130°pgc.

    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°05.9'N, LONG 76°07.7'W
    N d. LAT 37°06.1'N, LONG 76°07.5'W

323: At 2205, you are in Thimble Shoal North Auxiliary Channel abeam of lighted gong buoy "4". At this time the visibility decreases to 5 miles. You continue to turn RPMs for 6 knots and experience no set and drift. What time would you expect Old Point Comfort Light (white sector) to become visible?

    N a. 2258
    N b. 2246
    Y c. 2240
    N d. 2230

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

429: At 0820, you take the following bearings:

Falkner Island Light bearing 052°true
Branford Reef Light bearing 307°true

What are the set and drift since 0730?

    N a. Set 052°T, drift 1.1 knots
    N b. Set 052°T, drift 1.3 knots
    Y c. Set 232°T, drift 1.3 knot
    N d. Set 232°T, drift 1.1 knots

449: You estimate the current to be 160°T at 1.2 knots. What should your course and speed be in order to make good 000°T at 10 knots?

    N a. 358°T at 09.8 knots
    Y b. 358°T at 11.1 knots
    N c. 002°T at 11.2 knots
    N d. 002°T at 09.9 knots

485: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 08°53.0'N, LONG 79°31.0'W to LAT 33°51.5'S, LONG 151°13.0'E.

    N a. 7809 miles, 247.0°T
    N b. 7763 miles, 247.0°T
    Y c. 7635 miles, 233.9°T
    N d. 7618 miles, 230.3°T

488: At 0705, with your gyro again functioning properly, you change course to 096°T. At this time Race Rock Light is bearing 000°T at 0.35 mile. You are now governed by which Navigation Rules?

    Y a. International Rules
    N b. Local Pilot Rules
    N c. Inland Rules
    N d. Coastal Fishery Rules

492: At 0748, you change course to 160°T. What loran reading can you follow to remain on this course?

    N a. 9960-W-14660.0
    Y b. 9960-W-14651.0
    N c. 9960-Y-43943.8
    N d. 9960-Y-43852.0

514: The shoreline along Rocky Point should give a good radar return because __________.

    Y a. the shore is bluff and rocky
    N b. of offshore exposed rocks
    N c. submerged reefs cause prominent breakers
    N d. the lookout tower is marked with radar reflectors

702: If the highest point of your towboat is 54 feet above the water and the Natchez Gage reads 24.8 feet, what will be your vertical clearance when passing under the Natchez-Vidalia westbound Highway Bridge?

    N a. 35.9 feet
    N b. 43.2 feet
    Y c. 47.2 feet
    N d. 57.5 feet

1099: On 6 April , your 0300 DR position is LAT 27°42'S, LONG 128°58'W. You are on course 097°T at a speed of 18 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. NP-0029

    N a. LAT 27°15.5'S, LONG 128°12.4'W
    Y b. LAT 27°44.7'S, LONG 127°47.5'W
    N c. LAT 27°52.4'S, LONG 127°49.4'W
    N d. LAT 28°15.2'S, LONG 128°11.6'W

1181: On 4 January , your 0800 zone time DR position is LAT 25°25.0 S, LONG 16°09.0'W. Your vessel is on course 290°T at a speed of 13.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1157
    N b. 1205
    N c. 1209
    Y d. 1213

1236: Which facility is located on the right descending bank at mile 363.6 AHP?

    N a. River Cement Corps..
    N b. Bunge Corps..
    N c. T.L. James
    Y d. Vidalia Dock and Storage Co.

1236: Which facility is located on the right descending bank at mile 363.6 AHP?

    N a. River Cement Corps..
    N b. Bunge Corps..
    N c. T.L. James
    Y d. Vidalia Dock and Storage Co.

1302: From Baton Rouge to Cairo, what is the maintained minimum channel depth during low water?

    Y a. 9 feet
    N b. 12 feet
    N c. 15 feet
    N d. 30 feet

1303: On which map would you find Redman Point, Arkansas?

    Y a. 20
    N b. 38
    N c. 45
    N d. 60

1305: As you approach Ashland Light (mile 378.1 AHP) which daymark would you see?

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

1408: The horizontal clearance of the center span on the Baton Rouge RR and Highway 190 Bridge is __________.

    N a. 443
    N b. 500
    Y c. 623
    N d. 748

1412: At Filter Point Light (mile 475 AHP) there are 3 close straight dashed lines on the map passing through the black dot below the number 475. What do these lines represent?

    N a. Oil pipelines
    N b. Submerged gas pipelines
    Y c. Power Cables
    N d. Submerged fiber optic cable

1459: On 28 July , your 1937 zone time DR position is LAT 26°13.0'N, LONG 78°27.0'E. At that time, you observe Deneb bearing 048.7°pgc. The chronometer reads 02h 37m 42s, and the chronometer error is 00m 15s fast. The variation is 4°W. What is the gyro error?

    N a. 2.4°W
    Y b. 2.8°E
    N c. 3.6°W
    N d. 3.6°E

1478: On 12 June , at 0919 zone time, your position is LAT 26°52'N, LONG 84°34'W. The chronometer reads 03h 17m 00s. Chronometer error is 01m 40s slow. At that time, an azimuth of the Sun is obtained. The bearing is 089.5° per standard magnetic compass. Variation for this area is 4.5°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 9.5°E
    N b. 9.5°W
    N c. 5.2°E
    Y d. 5.2°W

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

2005: On 17 July , your 1951 zone time DR position is LAT 24°26.0'N, LONG 51°16.0'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time?

    N a. Hadar, Deneb, Alphard
    N b. Regulus, Venus, Antares
    N c. Mars, Vega, Dubhe
    Y d. Kochab, Jupiter, Rasalhague

2214: Which of the following statements regarding aids to navigation shown in the Corps. of Engineers map book is TRUE?

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

2459: You have steamed 432 miles at 18 knots and burning 406 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 221 barrels per day with 190 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 10.6
    N b. 12.8
    Y c. 16.5
    N d. 17.7

2461: You have steamed 540 miles at 22 knots and burning 618 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 372 barrels per day with 299 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    Y a. 16.5
    N b. 17.6
    N c. 19.1
    N d. 20.0

2463: You have steamed 491 miles at 20 knots and burning 568 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 265 barrels per day with 313 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 10.9
    N b. 14.3
    Y c. 17.1
    N d. 18.2

2535: What is the mile point of Hickman, KY Gage?

    N a. 846.4 AHP
    N b. 889.0 AHP
    Y c. 922.0 AHP
    N d. 937.2 AHP

2664: You are on course 061°T, at a speed of 12.4 knots. At 0839 you see a rock bearing 059°T at a range of 4.4 miles. If you change course at 0845 to leave the rock abeam to starboard at 1.5 mile, at what time will the rock be abeam?

    N a. 0854
    Y b. 0859
    N c. 0903
    N d. 0906

2666: You are on course 086°T, speed 11.7 knots. At 1013 you see a buoy bearing 088°T at a range of 4.8 miles. If you change course at 1019 to leave the buoy abeam to port at 1.0 mile, at what time will the buoy be abeam?

    Y a. 1037
    N b. 1040
    N c. 1043
    N d. 1052

2897: You are steaming on a course of 327°T at 13 knots. At 0207 you observe a lighthouse bearing 020°T. At 0226 the lighthouse bears 042°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing?

    N a. 8.5 miles
    Y b. 8.9 miles
    N c. 9.2 miles
    N d. 9.7 miles

3072: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 17.4 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 25.6 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 3% positive slip?

    N a. 63
    N b. 67
    Y c. 71
    N d. 75

3089: If the pitch of the propeller is 22.4 feet, and the revolutions per day are 103,690, calculate the day's run allowing 9% positive slip.

    N a. 321.7 miles
    Y b. 347.6 miles
    N c. 382.0 miles
    N d. 416.4 miles

3290: While steaming at 15.5 knots, your vessel consumes 333 barrels of fuel oil per day. In order to reduce consumption to 176 barrels of fuel oil per day, what is the maximum speed the vessel can turn for?

    N a. 11.3 knots
    Y b. 12.5 knots
    N c. 13.6 knots
    N d. 14.8 knots

3635: You desire to make good a true course of 236°. The variation is 8°E, magnetic compass deviation is 1°E, and gyrocompass error is 3°W. A south-southeasterly wind produces a 1° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to make the true course good?

    Y a. 226°psc
    N b. 228°psc
    N c. 244°psc
    N d. 246°psc

3638: You desire to make good a true course of 007°. The variation is 5°E, magnetic compass deviation is 3°W, and gyrocompass error is 2°E. A southwest by west wind produces a 2° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good?

    Y a. 003°psc
    N b. 005°psc
    N c. 007°psc
    N d. 009°psc

10204: Your present position is LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°38.0'W. Assuming that there is no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to arrive at a position 5 miles due south of Saybrook Breakwater Light?

    N a. 089°psc
    Y b. 080°psc
    N c. 077°psc
    N d. 066°psc

10309: You are 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to LAT 41°00.0'N, LONG 71°30.0'W?

    N a. 108°psc
    Y b. 122°psc
    N c. 124°psc
    N d. 130°psc

11904: 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 6.5 knots, allow for a current of 295°T at 0.9 knot, and an easterly wind is causing 4° of leeway?

    Y a. 196°T
    N b. 200°T
    N c. 213°T
    N d. 217°T

13505: What soundings are indicated by a blue tint on this chart?

    N a. 30 fathoms or more
    Y b. 30 feet or less
    N c. 30 feet or more
    N d. 30 fathoms or less

15009: At 1930, your position is LAT 37°16.7'N, LONG 75°37.7'W. The depth of water is approximately __________.

    N a. 30 feet ( 9.1 meters)
    N b. 40 feet (12.1 meters)
    Y c. 50 feet (15.1 meters)
    N d. 60 feet (18.1 meters)

15020: While navigating inbound in the Thimble Shoal Channel system you must __________.

    N a. navigate in the main channel when between Trestles A & B
    N b. maintain a minimum speed of 6 knots
    N c. remain 1500 yards (1360 meters) from large naval vessels
    Y d. use the north auxiliary channel

15157: If there is no current, what is the course per gyro compass from your 1600 position to point "A" located 0.5 mile due east of Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy "12"?

    N a. 190°pgc
    N b. 193°pgc
    N c. 196°pgc
    Y d. 199°pgc

15208: At 1750, your position is LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°22.9'W. What was the course made good between 1730 and 1750?

    N a. 072°T
    N b. 075°T
    Y c. 078°T
    N d. 080°T

15627: What is the vertical clearance of the Natchez Highway Bridge (westbound) when the river level is the same as the Low Water Reference Plane (6.1 ft)?

    N a. 102.2 ft
    N b. 108.3 ft
    Y c. 119.4 ft
    N d. 125.6 ft

15658: What course should you steer by the standard magnetic compass in order to maintain a heading of 081°pgc?

    N a. 062°psc
    N b. 080°psc
    N c. 090°psc
    Y d. 095°psc

16315: At 0820, you change course to 301°psc and reduce speed to 7.5 knots. At 0900, you take the following visual bearings:
Branford Reef Light 023°psc
New Haven Light 293°psc
Tweed Airport Aerobeacon 332°psc

Your 0900 position is __________.

    N a. LAT 41°11.9'N, LONG 72°50.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.9'N, LONG 72°49.5'W
    Y c. LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°48.6'W
    N d. LAT 41°12.5'N, LONG 72°44.3'W

16362: The visibility is about 5 miles. Which statement about Cape Charles Light is TRUE?

    N a. The light has been visible from the time you departed the anchorage.
    Y b. You should see Cape Charles Light at about 0400.
    N c. The light will become visible when you enter the inbound leg of the traffic separation scheme.
    N d. The light will not be visible until you are within 5 miles of the light.

16843: At what time will you enter the inbound traffic lane with Buoy "NCA" (LL #375) bearing 180°T at 0.3 mile?

    N a. 1003
    Y b. 0957
    N c. 0951
    N d. 0948