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.


36: You pass Springfield Bend Lt. (mile 244.8 AHP) at 1242, on 17 October, 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 10.5 mph?


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?


157: At 1710 on 27 November, you are abeam of Kings Point Lt. (mile 439.8 AHP). At this time you receive a message that there will no be space for you at the Redneb Services Dock until after 1200 on the 29 November. What speed over the ground will you have to slow to so as not to arrive before this time?


160: How far is it to the Hernando Desoto Bridge in Memphis, TN?

    N a. 980.8 miles
    N b. 736.6 miles
    Y c. 218.1 miles
    N d. 202.4 miles

190: On 2 January you observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 35°50.4'. The index error is 0.8' on the arc. The height of eye is 24 feet (7.3 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 35°50.3'
    N b. 35°54.7'
    Y c. 35°59.7'
    N d. 36°05.6'

209: At 0705, you take the following bearings:

Watch Hill Light 034.5°pgc
Latimer Reef Light 338.0°pgc
Race Rock Light 268.0°pgc

What was the true course made good between 0645 and 0705?

    Y a. 253°T
    N b. 256°T
    N c. 263°T
    N d. 266°T

242: At 1210, you are in position LAT 41°14.3'N, LONG 72°16.5'W. What is the depth of water below your keel?

    N a. 92 feet (28.0 meters)
    Y b. 97 feet (29.4 meters)
    N c. 108 feet (32.7 meters)
    N d. 115 feet (35.0 meters)

252: At 0100, you obtain the following radar ranges:

Inlet Point - 2.7 miles,
Rocky Point - 4.5 miles,
Horton Point - 1.0 mile.

What was the speed made good between 0045 and 0100?

    N a. 6.7 knots
    Y b. 7.2 knots
    N c. 8.0 knots
    N d. 8.7 knots

253: 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. 1.8 mile
    N b. 1.3 mile
    Y c. 0.8 mile
    N d. 0.2 miles

294: What is the maximum allowable speed of vessels underway up river from Tue Marshes Light?

    Y a. 12 knots
    N b. 10 knots
    N c. 8 knots
    N d. 6 knots

324: The mean high water level at Old Point Comfort is __________.

    N a. 3.3 feet (1.1 meters)
    Y b. 2.6 feet (0.8 meters)
    N c. 1.2 feet (0.4 meters)
    N d. 0.0

366: At 0731, approximately how much water is under your keel?

    N a. 26 feet (7.9 meters)
    Y b. 31 feet (9.4 meters)
    N c. 48 feet (14.5 meters)
    N d. 54 feet (16.4 meters)

376: You depart LAT 40°42.0'N, LONG 74°01.0'W, and steam 3365.6 miles on course 118°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing?

    N a. 24°29.0'W
    N b. 22°58.0'W
    Y c. 17°41.0'W
    N d. 10°46.0'W

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?

    N a. LAT 49°30.0'N, LONG 06°22.0'W
    N b. LAT 49°33.0'N, LONG 06°25.0'W
    Y c. LAT 49°36.0'N, LONG 06°28.0'W
    N d. LAT 49°39.0'N, LONG 06°31.0'W

474: You are on a great circle track departing from LAT 25°50.0'N, LONG 77°00.0'W and your initial course is 061.7°T. The position of the vertex is LAT 37°35.6'N, LONG 25°57.8'W.

What is the distance along the great circle track between the point of departure and the vertex?

    N a. 2735.1 miles
    Y b. 2664.9 miles
    N c. 2583.2 miles
    N d. 2420.0 miles

625: You are on a voyage from Boston, MA, to the South Pass, LA. The distance is 1870 miles, and the speed of advance is 13.6 knots. You estimate 16.5 hours for bunkering enroute at Port Everglades, FL. If you sailed at 0836 hours (ZD +5), 26 February , what was your ETA (ZD +6) at the South Pass?

    N a. 2336, 3 March
    N b. 1136, 4 March
    N c. 1236, 4 March
    Y d. 1736, 4 March

651: You are planning a voyage by great circle from Reykjavik (LAT 63°30'N, LONG 24°00'W) to the Azores (LAT 39°30'N, LONG 29°00'W). Which statement is TRUE? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5274)

    N a. The distance is measured in sixty-mile segments based on the length of a degree of latitude at the mid-latitude and mid-longitude position.
    N b. The Northern Hemisphere vertex lies south of Reykjavik.
    Y c. The great circle track is not appreciably shorter than a rhumb line track.
    N d. When plotted on a Mercator chart, the great circle track will be convex to the British Isles.

807: On 12 February your 0542 zone time (ZT) fix gives you a position of LAT 26°42.0'N, LONG 60°18.0'W. Your vessel is on course 300°T, and your speed is 9.8 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1220 ZT at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 49°10.0'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN?

    N a. 27°13.5'N
    Y b. 27°16.3'N
    N c. 27°17.6'N
    N d. 27°19.2'N

812: On 28 July , your 0800 zone time (ZT) fix gives you a position of LAT 25°16.0'N, LONG 71°19.0'W. Your vessel is on course 026°T, and your speed is 17.5 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1150 ZT, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 82°28.7'. What is the latitude at 1200 ZT?

    N a. 26°25.0'N
    Y b. 26°27.6'N
    N c. 26°29.8'N
    N d. 26°32.0'N

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.

1237: At 1118, on 24 May, you pass Natchez Gage and estimate the current will average 3.0 mph for the remainder of the time on the Mississippi River. What is your ETA at Cairo, IL if you continue to turn for 10 mph?

    N a. 0840, 26 May
    N b. 2218, 26 May
    Y c. 2339, 27 May
    N d. 0339, 28 May

1252: On 13 August , your 0345 ZT DR position is LAT 21°35.0'
N, LONG 135°26.0'W. You are on course 052°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel?

    N a. 0443
    N b. 0449
    Y c. 0536
    N d. 0540

1298: 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.?

    Y a. 1242, April 19th
    N b. 1645, April 19th
    N c. 2242, April 19th
    N d. 2333, April 19th

1392: On 3 February , your 0550 zone time DR position is LAT 26°16.0'N, LONG 112°05.0'W. Considering their magnitude,
azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time?

    N a. Spica, Antares, Saturn
    N b. Vega, Antares, Dubhe
    N c. Venus, Regulus, Vega
    Y d. Spica, Kochab, Rasalhague

1455: On 4 October , your 1907 zone time DR position is LAT 25°15.0'S, LONG 105°44.0'E. At that time, you observe Deneb bearing 011.5°psc. The chronometer reads 00h 07m 42s, and the chronometer error is 00m 36s fast. The variation is 7.5°W. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    Y a. 3.2°E
    N b. 4.3°W
    N c. 2.1°E
    N d. 2.1°W

1474: On 14 January , your 0746 zone time DR position is LAT 26°37.0'N, LONG 153°19.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 123°psc. The chronometer reads 05h 49m 16s, and the chronometer error is 02m 29s fast. The variation is 3°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    Y a. 1.4°W
    N b. 1.6°E
    N c. 3.4°E
    N d. 4.4°W

1486: On 1 September , your 1115 zone time DR position is LAT 25°20.0'N, LONG 28°24.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 160.5°psc. The chronometer reads 01h 14m 58s, and the chronometer error is 01m 17s fast. The variation is 13.5°W. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    Y a. 2.1°E
    N b. 4.1°E
    N c. 11.0°W
    N d. 11.0°E

1754: At 0715, on 24 May, you are abreast the St. Catherine Bar Lt. (mile 348.6 AHP). If you are turning for 8.0 mph, what has been the average current since you left Baton Rouge?

    N a. 1.0 mph
    N b. 1.4 mph
    Y c. 3.8 mph
    N d. 4.4 mph

1777: At 2232 ZT, on 14 July , in DR position LAT 33°52'S, LONG 150°03'W you observe an amplitude of Jupiter. The planet is about one Sun's diameter above the visible horizon and bears 268.5°pgc. The variation is 15°E. What is the gyro error?

    Y a. 1.0°E
    N b. 0.5°E
    N c. 0.0°
    N d. 0.5°W

2119: At 1622 ZT, on 15 June , in DR position LAT 10° 15.2' N, LONG 135° 10' W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon, bearing 101.2°psc. The variation is 5° E. What is the deviation?

    Y a. 1.5°E
    N b. 1.5°W
    N c. 0.5°E
    N d. 0.5°W

2185: At 1000 ZT, on 21 October , your DR position is LAT 29°00'N, LONG 134°40'E. Determine the computed altitude (Hc) of the Sun for the assumed position (AP) nearest to the above given latitude and longitude, given a chronometer time of 01h 00m 00s.

    N a. Hc 42°30.6'
    N b. Hc 42°32.1'
    N c. Hc 42°34.2'
    Y d. Hc 42°35.7'

2284: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 35°26.3' on 25 June . The index error is 1.5' on the arc. The height of eye is 58 feet (17.6 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 35°28.2'
    N b. 35°29.9'
    Y c. 35°32.1'
    N d. 35°36.7'

2293: As you pass under the Baton Rouge R.R. and Hwy 190 Bridge C233.9 AHP), you find that the Kinder Morgan Bulk Terminals are indicated by which numbered box?

    Y a. 10
    N b. 9
    N c. 8
    N d. 7

2500: You are underway and intend to make good a course of 227°T. You experience a current with a set and drift of 350°T at 2.1 knots, and a northwest wind produces a leeway of 5°. You adjust your course to compensate for the current and leeway, while maintaining an engine speed of 11 knots. What will be your speed made good over your intended course of 227°T?

    N a. 18.5 knots
    N b. 18.1 knots
    N c. 17.6 knots
    Y d. 17.2 knots

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

2678: You are running coastwise on a course of 323°T, and you have a buoy bearing 11° on your port bow at a distance of 7 miles. You desire to leave the buoy abeam to port at a distance of 2.5 miles. What course should you steer?

    N a. 291°T
    N b. 312°T
    Y c. 333°T
    N d. 344°T

3085: You must average 16.25 knots to reach port at a designated time. Your propeller has a pitch of 21'08", and you estimate 4% negative slip. How many RPM's must you average to arrive on time?

    Y a. 73 RPM
    N b. 77 RPM
    N c. 82 RPM
    N d. 88 RPM

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

3762: Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 196°T, and the variation is 7°E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 192° per standard magnetic compass, what is the deviation?

    N a. 3°E
    Y b. 3°W
    N c. 4°E
    N d. 4°W

4006: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°W. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a true heading of 236°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 354° 122.5° - 114° 239.5° - 234°
030.5° - 024° 152.0° - 144° 269.0° - 264°
061.5° - 054° 181.0° - 174° 298.0° - 294°
092.0° - 084° 210.0° - 204° 327.5° - 324°

    N a. 1.0°W
    Y b. 0.5°E
    N c. 1.5°E
    N d. 0.0°

10502: At 1239 your GPS indicates a position of LAT 36°55.2'N, LONG 75°33.1'W. You are on course 281° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 9.2 knots. At 1318 your GPS indicates your position as LAT 36°54.8'N, LONG 75°39.8'W. What were the set and drift?

    Y a. 130°T at 1.2 knots
    N b. 156°T at 0.6 knot
    N c. 352°T at 1.3 knots
    N d. 335°T at 1.0 knot

11103: Point Judith Harbor of Refuge (LAT 41°22'N, LONG 71°30'W) __________.

    N a. is used only by tows
    N b. has moorings for small craft along the breakwater
    N c. is easily entered in all sea conditions
    Y d. is entered through either the East Gap or the West Gap

14100: Your vessel is awaiting lockage at Bonneville Lock. The staff gauge on the guide wall reads 18'-06". What is the maximum vessel draft allowed to enter the lock?

    N a. 17'-00"
    Y b. 17'-06"
    N c. 18'-00"
    N d. 18'-06"

14302: What are the characteristics of the upper light of Government Island Lower Range, on the Columbia River?

    Y a. Equal interval red, 6 seconds
    N b. Green group flashing, 6 seconds
    N c. Quick flashing red, 6 seconds
    N d. Equal interval green, 6 seconds

15709: At 0830, you obtained the following radar informations:

Branford Reef Light bearing 259° true @ 4.2 nm


What is your vessel's position?

    N a. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 73°56.0'W
    N b. LAT 40°17.4'N, LONG 73°54.0'W
    N c. LAT 41°12.0'N, LONG 72°53.8'W
    Y d. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 72°53.8'W

15766: From your 0745 fix, you change course to pass 1.0 mile south of buoy "WH" and estimate your speed at 7 knots. If the visibility clears, what is the earliest time you can expect to see Block Island North Light tower?

    N a. The tower is in sight at 0745.
    N b. 0750
    Y c. 0806
    N d. 0838

16063: At 2013, you sight Thimble Shoal Light in line with Old Point Comfort Light bearing 258°pgc. At the time of the bearing, the vessel was headed 142°pgc and 151°psc. Based on this, you __________.

    N a. know the gyro error is 2°E
    N b. should adjust the magnetic compass
    N c. verified that the variation is 10°W
    Y d. have checked the deviation table for a magnetic heading of 150°

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

16546: At 0100 you notice that the wind has become SSW'ly and has freshened. At 0200 you sight Stratford Point Lighted Bell Buoy "18" bearing 268°pgc. At 0215 the buoy bears 269°pgc. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. You should alter course to the right to increase the rate of the bearing change.
    N b. You are making more speed over the ground than you estimated.
    Y c. You should alter course to decrease the distance that you will pass off Middle Ground Shoal.
    N d. You can hold the present course and safely pass buoy "18".