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.

70: What is the vertical clearance of the Natchez-Vidalia Highway Bridge (westbound) when the river level is the same as the Low Water Reference Plane (6.5 feet)?
121: As you approach Casting Yard Dock Lt. (mile 265.4 AHP) you notice on the map a circle with 2 black sectors. This symbol indicates a __________.
175: At 2118, you obtain the following bearings:

Cape Henry Light - 148°pgc
Cape Charles Light - 033°pgc
Thimble Shoal Light - 291°pgc

From this position, you proceed to Norfolk, VA, a distance of approximately 26.0 miles. To arrive at Norfolk by 0200 the next day, what is the speed to make good from your 2118 position to arrive at this time?
188: At 2020, what is the course to steer to enter the inbound lane of North Chesapeake Entrance traffic separation scheme if a northwesterly wind causes 3° of leeway? 

    N a. 227°pgc
    Y b. 221°pgc
    N c. 218°pgc
    N d. 215°pgc
321: At 2200, you are in position LAT 36°57.5'N, LONG 76°02.5'W. You intend to travel up the Thimble Shoals auxiliary Channel to Hampton Roads. According to the Coast Pilot, what is the depth of the auxiliary channel on either side of the main channel? 

    N a. 45 feet (13.7 meters)
    N b. 36 feet (11.0 meters)
    Y c. 32 feet (9.8 meters)
    N d. 28 feet (8.5 meters)
447: You are encountering heavy weather. What action should you take based on your 1430 fix? 

    N a. Continue on the same course but increase speed.
    N b. Continue on the same course at the same speed.
    N c. Slow to 8.3 knots to compensate for the current.
    Y d. Alter course to the right, to pass well clear of Southwest Ledge
453: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 08°36.0'N, LONG 126°17.0'E to LAT 02°12.0'S, LONG 81°53.0'W. 

    N a. 9015 miles, 067°T
    N b. 9076 miles, 067°T
    N c. 9105 miles, 079°T
    Y d. 9076 miles, 079°T
497: At 0845, Montauk Pt. Light is bearing 205°T at a radar distance of 6.6 miles. What is your speed made good from your 0815 position? 

    N a. 10.5 knots
    N b. 10.0 knots
    N c. 9.2 knots
    Y d. 8.4 knots
538: Determine the distance from LAT 23°24'S, LONG 13°54'E to LAT 23°24'S, LONG 42°48'W. by parallel sailing. 

    N a. 3119.3 miles
    Y b. 3122.2 miles
    N c. 3124.5 miles
    N d. 3126.6 miles
685: What company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Madison Parish (mile 457.0 AHP)? 

    N a. Complex Chemical Co.
    N b. Delta Southern Railroads
    Y c. Baxter Wilson Steam
    N d. Farm Chemical
701: 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
    N c. 2218, 27 May
    Y d. 2339, 27 May
733: On 12 March , your 1846 zone time DR position is LONG 129°16.5'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 28°01.5'. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 44m 10s, and the chronometer error is 01m 55s slow. The index error is 2.2' off the arc, and the height of eye is 59.8 feet (18.2 m). What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    Y a. 27°33.7'N
    N b. 27°40.9'N
    N c. 27°54.4'N
    N d. 28°06.9'N
745: On 13 October , at 1847 ZT, your vessel's DR position is LAT 42°17.4'N, LONG 138°46.2'W. At approximately this time, you obtain a sextant altitude (hs) of Polaris reading 42°16.8', with an index error of 3.2' on the arc. Your chronometer reads 03h 45m 20s and is 1m 32s slow. What is your latitude by Polaris, given a height of eye of 44 feet? 

    Y a. 42°09.1'N
    N b. 42°12.5'N
    N c. 42°16.0'N
    N d. 42°19.5'N
813: On 7 November , your 0830 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 27°36.0'N, LONG 162°19.0'W. Your vessel is on course 289°T and your speed is 19.0 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1138 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 45°35.0'. What is the latitude at 1200 ZT? 

    N a. 27°55.1'N
    N b. 27°57.2'N
    Y c. 27°59.5'N
    N d. 28°01.9'N
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.
1235: You are turning for 10 mph and passing Hog Point, LA. (mile 297.5 AHP). Angola reports that the current at Red River Landing is 4.5 mph. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. The main channel lies on the south side of the island you see ahead.
    N b. You are making 14.5 mph over the ground.
    Y c. An underwater stone dike has been constructed 0.5 miles upstream of Miles Bar Towhead.
    N d. You would expect to find the more favorable current near the broken red line in the river.
1254: On 19 July , your 1500 ZT DR position is LAT 28°25.0'N, LONG 120°28.0'W. You are on course 233°T at a speed of 10 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1842
    N b. 1853
    Y c. 1901
    N d. 1909
1454: On 4 October , your 0734 zone time DR position is LAT 24°11.0'N, LONG 162°34.0'E. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 105.5°psc. The chronometer reads 08h 36m 11s, and the chronometer error is 01m 46s fast. The variation is 7°W. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    N a. 1.2°W
    N b. 1.9°E
    N c. 5.3°W
    Y d. 5.8°E
1463: On 26 May , your 0723 zone time DR position is LAT 24°50.0'N, LONG 38°11.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 076.5°psc. The chronometer reads 10h 25m 43s, and the chronometer error is 02m 57s fast. The variation is 7°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 3.3°E
    N b. 3.7°W
    N c. 8.3°W
    Y d. 10.7°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
1492: On 22 February , your 2045 ZT position is LAT 33°19'N,
LONG 52°06'W. You observe Polaris bearing 358.1°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 048°pgc and 065°psc. The variation is 19°W. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    N a. 1°E
    Y b. 3°E
    N c. 1°W
    N d. 3°W
1669: On 19 June , your vessel's 0523 ZT DR position is LAT 25°12.0'N, LONG 123°14.0'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 052.0° per standard compass. Variation in the area is 15°E. The chronometer reads 01h 21m 58s and is 01m 18s slow. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    N a. 1.4°E
    N b. 1.4°W
    N c. 1.7°W
    Y d. 3.3°W
1726: The highest point on your towboat is 57 feet above water. The Natchez Gage (mile 363.3 AHP) reads 16.7 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Natchez - Vidalia (westbound) Hwy. Bridge? 

    Y a. 52.3 feet
    N b. 59.9 feet
    N c. 61.0 feet
    N d. 68.6 feet
1751: 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
1877: On 2 October , your 1845 DR position is 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 63°29.1' bearing 237.5°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 0m 51s fast. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Kappa Scorpii
    N b. Beta Ophiuchi
    N c. Alpha Arae
    N d. Beta Draconis
1898: On 22 May , your 0437 DR position is LAT 25°18.5'N, LONG 51°18.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 142°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 23°10.2'. The chronometer reads 07h 40m 40s, and is 03m 24s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Markab
    N b. Diphda
    N c. Sabik
    Y d. Fomalhaut
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
1986: You are in charge of a vessel that damages an aid to navigation established and maintained by the United States. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. You must take the aid in tow and deliver it to the nearest Coast Guard, Marine Safety Office.
    N b. You must report the allision to the nearest Army Corps.. of
    
Engineers Office.
    N c. You may wait until you reach your destination before reporting the allision to the U.S. Coast Guard.
    Y d. You must report the accident to the nearest Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.
2123: At 0410, you take the following bearings:
New Point Comfort Light "2" 244°pgc Wolf Trap Light 315°pgc What is your 0410 position? 

    N a. LAT 37°21.2'N, LONG 76°08.3'W
    N b. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°08.8'W
    N c. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°07.9'W
    Y d. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°08.1'W
2158: On 26 May , your vessel's 1906 zone time position is LAT 27°16.0'N, LONG 24°37.0'W. At that time, a sextant observation of the planet Jupiter was made. The sextant altitude is 63°27.6', and the chronometer reads 09h 05m 16s. The index error is 5.2' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 25s slow. Your height of eye is determined to be 52.6 feet. What is the (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 011.3°T
    Y b. 168.7°T
    N c. 191.3°T
    N d. 348.7°T
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
2216: If your vessel is making turns for 7.5 mph with an estimated average current of 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at the dock in Angelina, LA? 

    N a. 0516, 28 Dec
    Y b. 1621, 28 Dec
    N c. 0516, 29 Dec
    N d. 1621, 29 Dec
2371: Which of the following statements are TRUE? 

    N a. Oil well structures are listed in the Light List.
    N b. All aids to navigation with lights have lateral significance.
    Y c. On the Western Rivers, crossing marks may exhibit white lights.
    N d. None of the above.
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
2651: You are steering 246°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 14 miles at 1037. You change course to pass the light 2.5 miles off abeam to port. If you are making 12 knots, what is your ETA at the position 2.5 miles off the light? 

    N a. 1143
    Y b. 1146
    N c. 1149
    N d. 1152
2655: You are steering 078°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 15.6 miles at 2316. You change course to pass the light 4.5 miles off abeam to port. If you are making 17 knots, what is your ETA at the position 4.5 miles off the light? 

    N a. 0006
    Y b. 0009
    N c. 0012
    N d. 0015
2788: The solid lines extending into the channel at mile 948 AHP are __________. 

    Y a. dikes
    N b. revetments
    N c. spoil areas
    N d. Meadwestvaco pipeline
3288: While steaming at 13.5 knots, your vessel consumes 251 barrels of fuel oil per day. In order to reduce consumption to 129 barrels of fuel oil per day, what is the maximum speed the vessel can turn for? 

    N a. 6.9 knots
    N b. 9.7 knots
    Y c. 10.8 knots
    N d. 12.7 knots
3319: You are taking a time tick using the 2000 signal from Kekaha-Kauai, Hawaii (WWVH). You hear a series of 1 second dashes followed by a 9 second silent period, then a long 1.3 second dash. At the beginning of the long dash, your comparing watch reads 08h 00m 12s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 08h 01m 22s, and the chronometer reads 07h 59m 39s. What is the chronometer error? 

    N a. 0m 12s fast
    N b. 1m 10s fast
    N c. 0m 21s slow
    Y d. 1m 31s slow
10200: YourGPS position is LAT 41°10.0'N, LONG 72°52.5'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position one mile due south of Falkner Island Light? 

    N a. 065°psc
    N b. 081°psc
    Y c. 093°psc
    N d. 097°psc
11105: What is the height of the tide at Great Salt Pond on Block Island at the afternoon high water (daylight savings time) on 1 July 1983? 

    N a. 3.9 feet
    N b. 3.0 feet
    N c. 2.4 feet
    Y d. 2.1 feet
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
11503: At 1016 your GPS position is LAT 41°07.6'N, LONG 71°37.9'W. At 1104 your position is LAT 41°00.2'N, LONG 71°29.4'W. What was the true course made good between the two positions? 

    N a. 134°T
    Y b. 139°T
    N c. 143°T
    N d. 145°T
12203: Your vessel is steady on a heading of 310° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Stratford Point Light and Igor I. Sikorsky Airport Aero Beacon in line dead ahead. This information indicates that the __________. 

    N a. existing deviation table is correct for this heading
    N b. deviation is 1°E
    N c. variation is 18°W for this area
    Y d. compass error is 10°W
12601: You are on course 062° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Branford Reef Light 060°psc Stratford Point Light 272°psc New Haven Light 324°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°07.1'N, LONG 72°53.4'W
    Y b. LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 72°52.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°11.6'N, LONG 72°50.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°13.3'N, LONG 72°48.7'W
15364: At 0615, Stratford Point Light bears 292°pgc, Falkner Island Light bears 052°pgc, and Branford Reef Light bears 018°pgc. What was the current since 0530? 

    Y a. 083° at 1.2 knots
    N b. 083° at 0.9 knots
    N c. 263° at 1.2 knots
    N d. 263° at 0.9 knots
15406: At 1400, your position is LAT 37°14.7'N, LONG 76°22.3'W. From this position, you head for the York River Entrance Channel Buoy "17". What should you steer per standard magnetic compass for this heading? 

    N a. 108°psc
    N b. 119°psc
    N c. 122°psc
    Y d. 125°psc
15713: What do the dotted lines around Goose Island and Kimberly Reef represent? 

    N a. Limiting danger
    N b. Breakers
    Y c. Depth contours
    N d. Tide rips
15813: 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
15867: You anticipate a maximum flood current north of Stratford Shoal. You will be set in which general direction? 

    N a. Northerly
    N b. Easterly
    N c. Southerly
    Y d. Westerly
15906: As you enter the New Haven Outer Channel, you sight the range markers in line directly over the stern. Your heading at the time is 155.5° per gyrocompass. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 1.0°E
    N b. 1.0°W
    Y c. 2.0°W
    N d. 0°
15920: What chart should you use after you enter New London Harbor? 

    N a. 13211
    Y b. 13213
    N c. 13214
    N d. 13272