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.


57: At 0922, on 24 May, you are abreast the St. Catherine Bar Lt. (mile 348.6 AHP). If you are turning for 8.0 mph, what is the current?


112: Which of the following statements regarding buoys on the Mississippi River is TRUE?


221: At 1815, your position is LAT 37°01.0'N, LONG 75°42.7'W. If there is no current, what is the course per standard magnetic compass to arrive at a point 0.3 mile due north of North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy "NCA" (LL#375)?


272: At 0925, you plot the following bearings:

Falkner Island Light bearing 251°true
Kelsey Point BW Light bearing 075°true

If you correct for a current setting 215°T at 0.5 knot, what course will you steer from the 0925 position to arrive at a position 0.5 mile south of Long Sand Shoal West End Horn Buoy "W"?

    N a. 102°T
    N b. 096°T
    N c. 093°T
    Y d. 089°T

334: Your gyro and electronic gear are again operating. At 1710, Chesapeake Light bears 137°pgc at 6.6 miles. The current is setting 160°T at 2 knots. At your speed of 6 knots, what is your true course to steer to remain in the inbound traffic lane?

    N a. 250°
    N b. 261°
    N c. 265°
    Y d. 269°

379: A vessel at LAT 32°05.0'N, LONG 81°06.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 35°57.0'N, LONG 5°45.0'W. Determine the distance by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 3128.2 miles
    Y b. 3770.6 miles
    N c. 4126.1 miles
    N d. 4508.0 miles

414: A vessel at LAT 49°45'N, LONG 6°35'W, heads for a destination at LAT 25°50'N, LONG 77°00'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.

    Y a. 246.5°T, 3597 miles
    N b. 253.0°T, 3648 miles
    N c. 268.6°T, 3483 miles
    N d. 066.4°T, 3602 miles

452: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 35°17.6'N, LONG 144°23.0'E to LAT 47°36.0'N, LONG 124°22.0'W.

    N a. 3946 miles, 312°T
    Y b. 3931 miles, 048°T
    N c. 3881 miles, 042°T
    N d. 3718 miles, 318°T

518: Point Judith Harbor of Refuge __________.

    N a. is used mostly by towing vessels
    N b. has a maximum depth of 14 feet at MHW
    Y c. is entered through the East Gap or the West Gap
    N d. is easily accessible in heavy southerly seas

627: You are on a voyage from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Galveston, TX. The distance is 2138 miles, and the speed of advance is 12.5 knots. You estimate 18.0 hours for bunkering enroute at Port Everglades, FL. If you sail at 0648 hours (ZD +4), 12 June, what is your ETA (ZD +5) at Galveston?

    Y a. 0250, 20 June
    N b. 0350, 20 June
    N c. 0550, 20 June
    N d. 1350, 20 June

630: You are on a voyage from Corpus Christi, TX, to Fort de France, Martinique. The distance from pilot to pilot is 2190 miles (2521 statute miles). The speed of advance is 15.0 knots. You estimate a layover in Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands, of 16.0 hours. If you take departure at 0654 (ZD +6), 27 November, what is your ETA (ZD +4) at Fort de France?

    N a. 2054, 3 December
    N b. 2254, 3 December
    Y c. 0254, 4 December
    N d. 2054, 4 December

734: On 11 March , your 1846 zone time DR position is LAT 25°05.7'N, LONG 124°29.0'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 25°59.1'. The chronometer time of the sight is 02h 44m 01s, and the chronometer error is 02m 15s slow. The index error is 3.9' on the arc, and the height of eye is 42.7 feet (13.0 meters). What is your latitude by Polaris?

    N a. 25°14.2'N
    Y b. 25°17.9'N
    N c. 25°28.1'N
    N d. 26°15.2'N

753: On 10 June , your 2010 zone time DR position is LAT 41°10.0'N, LONG 61°15.0'W. At that time, you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 40°35.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 00h 08m 18s, and the chronometer error is 01m 54s slow. The index error is 2.0' on the arc, and the height of eye is 40 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris?

    N a. 41°10.6'N
    Y b. 41°15.0'N
    N c. 41°18.3'N
    N d. 41°21.2'N

806: On 15 November , your 0913 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 22°30.0'N, LONG 68°28.0'W. Your vessel is on course 164°T, and your speed is 13.5 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1118 zone time at which time meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 49°46.0'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN?

    N a. 21°36.1'N
    N b. 21°37.7'N
    Y c. 21°39.3'N
    N d. 21°40.9'N

808: On 28 July , your 0800 zone time 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 1149 zone time, 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 calculated latitude at LAN?

    N a. 26°21.9'N
    N b. 26°23.4'N
    Y c. 26°25.0'N
    N d. 26°27.7'N

999: On 16 February , your 0640 zone time (ZT) position was LAT 23°46.0'N, LONG 156°24.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 222°T at a speed of 18.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0910 ZT. The chronometer read 07h 08m 06s and was slow 01m 56s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 27°15.8'. LAN occurred at 1245 ZT (ZD +10). The observed altitude (Ho) was 55°25.3'. What was the longitude of your 1245 ZT running fix?

    N a. 157°37.2'W
    Y b. 157°42.0'W
    N c. 157°45.7'W
    N d. 157°47.2'W

1194: On 16 January your 0930 ZT DR position is LAT 26°07.0'S, LONG 51°43.0'E. Your vessel is on course 238°T at a speed of 17.0 knots. What is the ZT of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    Y a. 1145
    N b. 1148
    N c. 1152
    N d. 1156

1247: At 0509, on 26 December, 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 7.5 mph?

    N a. 5.6 mph
    Y b. 4.4 mph
    N c. 2.1 mph
    N d. 1.8 mph

1271: At 0400 zone time, on 24 June , your DR position is LAT 23°10.0'N, LONG 085°33'W. You are steering 295°T at a speed of 10.0 knots. What is the zone time of sunrise?

    N a. 0452
    Y b. 0458
    N c. 0504
    N d. 0510

1307: After entering Milliken Bend (mile 455 AHP) you wish to locate the river service in Madison Parish, Louisiana. The river service is indicated by the square containing which number?

    Y a. 5
    N b. 4
    N c. 3
    N d. 2

1667: On Sunday, 8 November, your ship is enroute from Texas City, TX, to Portland, ME. At 0632 ZT, you fix your position at LAT 27°06'N, LONG 90°36'W. When the lower limb of the Sun was two-thirds of a diameter above the visible horizon, the Sun bore 105° per standard magnetic compass. At this time the chronometer read 12h 39m 20s and is 3m 20s slow. If the variation is 3°E, determine the deviation of the standard compass.

    Y a. 0.8°E
    N b. 0.8°W
    N c. 3.8°E
    N d. 3.8°W

1675: On 28 November , your vessel's 0652 DR position is LAT 37°30'N, LONG 124°12'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 103° per standard magnetic compass. Variation in the area is 16.3°E. The chronometer reads 02h 54m 18s and is 02m 06s fast. What is the deviation of the compass?

    Y a. 2.5°W
    N b. 3.0°W
    N c. 2.0°E
    N d. 3.0°E

1704: Which of the following statements regarding buoys on the Mississippi River is TRUE?

    N a. The positions of river buoys can be found in the latest edition of Light List-Vol. V.
    N b. The buoys are maintained on station year round.
    Y c. Buoy positions on the chart are approximate.
    N d. The buoys do not shift positions due to permanent moorings.

1727: You pass under the Natchez bridge (mile 363.3 AHP) at 1300, on 27 March, and estimate the current to be 3.3 mph. What is your ETA at St. Louis if you continue to turn for 7.5 mph?

    N a. 0617, 4 April
    Y b. 0316, 4 April
    N c. 1153, 30 March
    N d. 1253, 31 April

1778: At 2234 ZT, on 14 July , in DR position LAT 34°03'N, LONG 150°16'W you observe an amplitude of Saturn. The planet is about one Sun's diameter above the visible horizon and bears 272.1°pgc. The variation is 14°E. What is the gyro error?

    N a. 0.5°W
    N b. 0.5°E
    Y c. 1.5°W
    N d. 2.5°E

1955: At 1814, on 11 September, you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What speed must you average to arrive at Jimmy Hawken Light (mile 663.5 AHP) at 0930 the following day?

    Y a. 8.7 mph
    N b. 7.7 mph
    N c. 6.3 mph
    N d. 5.6 mph

2019: On 15 October , your 0300 zone time DR position is LAT 27°14'S, LONG 99°46'E. You are on course 128°T at a speed of 19 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time?

    N a. Jupiter, Alphard, Betelgeuse
    N b. Mars, Regulus, Canopus
    N c. Achernar, Suhail, Alphard
    Y d. Achernar, Procyon, Aldebaran

2156: At 1300 ZT, on 9 May , your DR position is LAT 24°00'N, LONG 83°26'W. 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 07h 00m 00s.

    N a. Hc 68°22.8'
    N b. Hc 68°24.1'
    N c. Hc 68°25.2'
    Y d. Hc 68°26.6'

2685: You are steering 031°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 12.7 miles at 0017. You change course to pass the light 3.5 miles off abeam to starboard. If you are making 11 knots, what is your ETA at the position 3.5 miles off the light?

    N a. 0118
    N b. 0121
    Y c. 0124
    N d. 0127

2694: While on a course of 152°T, a light bears 9° on the port bow at a distance of 11.6 miles. What course should you steer to pass 3 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port?

    N a. 153°
    Y b. 158°
    N c. 163°
    N d. 167°

2864: You are steering a course of 316°T, and a light bears 34° on the port bow at 2053. At 2126 the same light bears 68° on the port bow, and you have run 5 miles since the first bearing. What is the ETA when the lighthouse is abeam?

    Y a. 2139
    N b. 2143
    N c. 2149
    N d. 2159

3063: The observed distance for a day's run was 302.7 miles. The propeller had a pitch of 20'06", and the average RPM was 67. What was the slip?

    N a. +0.7%
    N b. -0.7%
    Y c. +7.0%
    N d. -7.0%

3078: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 17.8 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 24.7 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 7% positive slip?

    N a. 67
    N b. 71
    N c. 75
    Y d. 79

3098: If the pitch of the propeller is 21.2 feet, and the revolutions per day are 93,660, calculate the day's run allowing 5% positive slip.

    N a. 163.3 miles
    N b. 217.8 miles
    Y c. 310.3 miles
    N d. 342.9 miles

3268: Your vessel arrives in port with sufficient fuel to steam 595 miles at 14 knots. If you are unable to take on bunkers, at what speed must you proceed to reach your next port, 707 miles distant?

    N a. 12.2 knots
    N b. 12.5 knots
    Y c. 12.8 knots
    N d. 14.4 knots

3275: You have steamed 989 miles at 16.5 knots, and consumed 215 tons of fuel. If you have 345 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 13 knots?

    N a. 1025 miles
    N b. 1993 miles
    Y c. 2557 miles
    N d. 3245 miles

3463: You are underway on course 215°T at 12 knots. The current is 000°T at 2.3 knots. What is the course made good?

    N a. 209°T
    N b. 217°T
    Y c. 222°T
    N d. 232°T

10102: Your GPS position is LAT 37°07.5'N, LONG 75°39.1'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass (psc) to a position 0.3 mile due north of North Chesapeake Entrance Buoy NCA (LL #375)?

    N a. 222°psc
    N b. 228°psc
    N c. 231°psc
    Y d. 234°psc

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

10707: At 0726 you depart Lake Montauk with light 1 close aboard and set course 065° per standard magnetic compass at 6.7 knots. At 0912 your GPS position is LAT 41°12.8'N, LONG 71°48.2'W. What is the current?

    N a. 151°T at 1.0 knot
    N b. 164°T at 0.7 knot
    Y c. 287°T at 2.0 knots
    N d. 321°T at 0.8 knot

11106: What is the height of the tide at Great Salt Pond, on Block Island, at the morning high water (daylight savings time) on 1 July 1983?

    N a. 1.3 feet
    Y b. 2.3 feet
    N c. 3.2 feet
    N d. There is no morning high water

11707: Your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to arrive at LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 75°48.5'W, if you are turning for 7.8 knots, the current is 139°T at 1.3 knots, and a northwesterly wind is causing 3° of leeway?

    N a. 290.0°psc
    Y b. 286.0°psc
    N c. 283.5°psc
    N d. 280.5°psc

15306: Your 0200 position is LAT 37°23.5'N, LONG 76°09.2'W. Your speed is 8 knots, and your course is 095°T. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The depth of the water in your vicinity is about 38 to 40 fathoms (69.1 meters to 72.7 meters).
    Y b. You are less than a mile from a sunken wreck which could interfere with your tow.
    N c. The closest major aid to navigation is New Point Comfort Light.
    N d. You will pass through a disposal area on your present course.

15367: At 0700, Falkner Island Light bears 023°pgc, and the range to the south tip of Falkner Island is 7.1 miles. What was the course made good since 0615?

    N a. 078°T
    Y b. 081°T
    N c. 084°T
    N d. 087°T

15514: From your 1850 fix, you come left to a course of 280°T,
while maintaining a speed of 10 knots. Which of the following combinations of available Loran-C lines would give the best cross for position determining?

    Y a. 9960-Y and 9960-W
    N b. 9960-X and 9960-Y
    N c. 9960-W and 9960-X
    N d. All are equally good.

15520: NOAA VHF-FM weather broadcasts from New London, CT are on __________.

    N a. 162.25 MHz
    N b. 162.30 MHz
    N c. 162.40 MHz
    Y d. 162.55 MHz

15665: Which action should you take to compensate for the above current?

    N a. Continue on the same course and speed.
    Y b. Alter your course to the left.
    N c. Slow to 8.5 knots.
    N d. Alter your course to the right.

15746: Which nautical chart would you use to navigate into New London, CT?

    N a. 13209
    N b. 13211
    Y c. 13212
    N d. 13214

15768: At 0830, Watch Hill Point bears 343°T at 3.5 miles by radar. What was the speed made good since 0745?

    Y a. 7.1 knots
    N b. 6.7 knots
    N c. 5.8 knots
    N d. 5.4 knots

15910: At 0802, Branford Reef Light bears 348°T at 0.75 mile,
and the north point of Falkner Island bears 088°T at 6.7 miles. What were the set and drift since 0740?

    N a. Set 040°T, drift .3 knot
    Y b. Set 220°T, drift .9 knot
    N c. Set 220°T, drift .3 knot
    N d. You are making good your intended course and speed.

16217: Which statement describes the shore between Watch Hill Point and Point Judith?

    N a. Low, rocky cliffs with heavily wooded hills inland
    Y b. Sandy beaches broken by rocky points
    N c. Sand dunes and beaches with a mud and sand bottom
    N d. Wooded, barren hills with isolated prominent buildings

16420: If you want to put into Point Judith Harbor of Refuge, what chart should you use?

    N a. 13205
    N b. 13209
    N c. 13217
    Y d. 13219

16557: Which course would you steer by your standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 275°T?

    N a. 266°psc
    N b. 272°psc
    Y c. 289°psc
    N d. 294°psc

16557: Which course would you steer by your standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 275°T?

    N a. 266°psc
    N b. 272°psc
    Y c. 289°psc
    N d. 294°psc