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.


83: Which light characteristics does Catfish Point Lower Light (mile 572.2 AHP) have?


249: At 0005, on 26 January, your position is LAT 41°11.8'N, LONG 72°20.5'W. From this position, you plot a course to steer to Mattituck Breakwater Light "MI" with an engine speed of 9.0 knots. If there are no set and drift, what course should you steer?


250: At 0045, you obtain the following information:

Radar range to Inlet Point is 1.4 miles;
Radar range to Rocky Point is 2.8 miles.
Radar range to Horton Point is 2.8 miles.

What were the set and drift between 0005 and 0045?


299: At 1930, your vessel is between York River Entrance Channel Lighted Buoys "1YR" and "2". From this position, you change course to 142°pgc at an engine speed of 8.0 knots. At 2001, you obtain the following information:

Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light - 131°pgc; Thimble Shoal Light - 248°pgc

What were the set and drift between 1930 and 2001?

    Y a. 127° at 0.5 knot
    N b. 127° at 1.1 knot
    N c. 307° at 1.1 knot
    N d. 307° at 0.5 knot

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

523: At what time will you cross the 60 foot curve if you make good 12 knots?

    N a. 0544
    N b. 0541
    N c. 0534
    Y d. 0528

634: You have orders to drop off the empties at the fleeting area at Cairo Point and add five loaded tank barges to your tow. If you are turning for 9 mph and estimate the current at 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at Cairo?

    N a. 1031, 22 June
    Y b. 1423, 22 June
    N c. 1741, 22 June
    N d. 2210, 22 June

703: In high water conditions, which publication would you consult for the latest information on buoys between Baton Rouge and Cairo?

    N a. List of Buoys and Daymarks
    N b. U.S.C.G. Light List
    N c. Army Corps. of Engineers Navigation Map
    Y d. None of the above

1188: On 9 February , your 0830 zone time DR position is LAT 22°19.0'N, LONG 64°37.0'E. Your vessel is on course 128°
T at a speed of 19.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    Y a. 1152
    N b. 1156
    N c. 1201
    N d. 1205

1268: On 25 December , your 0330 ZT DR position is LAT 25°15.0'N, LONG 32°16.0'W. You are on course 145°T at a speed of 20 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel?

    N a. 0623
    N b. 0635
    N c. 0641
    Y d. 0647

1278: On 17 April , your vessel is enroute from the Panama Canal to Kobe, Japan. Your 0400 zone time DR position is LAT 26°12.0'N, LONG 126°12.0'W. Your vessel is on course 285°T at a speed of 18 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel?

    N a. 0535
    N b. 0541
    N c. 0552
    Y d. 0602

1468: On 17 April , your 1516 zone time DR position is LAT 27°24.0'N, LONG 115°24.0'E. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 247°psc. The chronometer reads 07h 16m 26s, and the chronometer error is 00m 32s slow. The variation is 4.5°E. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    N a. 4.5°W
    Y b. 5.4°E
    N c. 6.2°E
    N d. 6.2°W

1501: On 3 October , your 0330 zone time (ZD + 5) DR position is LAT 47°41'N, LONG 86°49'W. At that time, you observe Polaris bearing 357.5°pgc. The chronometer time of the observation is 08h 32m 04s, and the chronometer is 0m 27s slow. The variation is 5.5°W. What is the gyro error?

    N a. 7.5°E
    N b. 5.0°E
    N c. 3.5°E
    Y d. 2.0°E

1537: What is your clearance as you pass under the Vicksburg Highway 80 Bridge (mile 437.8 AHP). if the Vicksburg Gage reads 14.8 feet and the highest point on your tow boat is 44.5 feet?

    N a. 36 feet
    N b. 42 feet
    N c. 48 feet
    Y d. 57 feet

1760: The area between Island 67 Upper Light (mile 623.1 AHP) and Sunflower Cut-off Foot Light (mile 624.8 AHP) is known as a __________.

    N a. transit
    Y b. crossing
    N c. chute
    N d. slough

2206: What is the distance in river miles, from the new mouth of the White River to the RR and Hwy bridge at Baton Rouge, LA?

    N a. 338 miles
    Y b. 365 miles
    N c. 400 miles
    N d. 454 miles

2211: Your engine speed is 9.8 mph and you estimate the current at 1.6 mph. What is your speed over the ground?

    N a. 11.0 mph
    N b. 9.8 mph
    N c. 8.6 mph
    Y d. 8.2 mph

2233: You have orders to drop off the empties at the fleeting area at Cairo Point and add five loaded tank barges to your tow. If you are turning for 9 mph and estimate the current at 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at Cairo?

    N a. 1031, 22 June
    Y b. 1423, 22 June
    N c. 1741, 22 June
    N d. 2210, 22 June

2325: Which publication contains specific information on the characteristics of Chesapeake Bay entrance?

    N a. Sailing Directions
    Y b. Coast Pilot
    N c. Chesapeake Bay Harbor-master's Manual
    N d. Navigator's Manual - Chesapeake Bay

2534: 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.?

    N a. 0557, April 19th
    N b. 1045, April 19th
    Y c. 1242, April 19th
    N d. 1733, April 19th

2672: While on a course of 283°pgc, a light bears 10° on the port bow at a distance of 8.3 miles. What course should you steer to pass 3.5 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port?

    N a. 289°pgc
    N b. 294°pgc
    Y c. 298°pgc
    N d. 302°pgc

2675: At 1423 you are on course 072 T° at 12.2 knots, when you sight a rock awash bearing 070°T at a range of 3.6 miles. If you change course at 1427, what course would you steer to leave the rock 1.0 mile abeam to port?

    N a. 049°
    N b. 054°
    N c. 086°
    Y d. 091°

2787: What is the length of the trip?

    Y a. 1088.5 miles
    N b. 1332.2 miles
    N c. 1334.6 miles
    N d. 1566.4 miles

3258: You have steamed 525 miles at 16.0 knots, and consumed 105 tons of fuel. If you have 308 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 19 knots?

    N a. 920 miles
    Y b. 1092 miles
    N c. 1297 miles
    N d. 2172 miles

3469: You are underway on course 315°T at 14 knots. The current is 135°T at 1.9 knots. What is the speed being made good?

    Y a. 12.1 knots
    N b. 13.5 knots
    N c. 14.0 knots
    N d. 15.9 knots

3753: Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line dead ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 343°T, and the variation is 5° west. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 344° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation?

    N a. 1°E
    N b. 1°W
    Y c. 4°E
    N d. 4°W

4017: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°E. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a gyro heading of 196°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 350° 122.5° - 110° 239.5° - 230°
030.5° - 020° 152.0° - 140° 269.0° - 260°
061.5° - 050° 181.0° - 170° 298.0° - 290°
092.0° - 080° 210.0° - 200° 327.5° - 320°

    N a. 2.0°E
    N b. 2.0°W
    N c. 1.0°W
    Y d. 0.0°

12708: You are on course 302° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Little Gull Island Light 283°psc Race Rock Light 311°psc Latimer Reef Light 027°psc What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41°12.2'N, LONG 71°57.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 71°57.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 71°57.9'W
    Y d. LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 71°57.6'W

13402: You are planning to anchor in Orient Harbor at LAT 41°07.9'N, LONG 72°18.5'W. What type of bottom should you expect?

    N a. Sticky
    Y b. Soft
    N c. Stiff
    N d. Streaky

13905: The Ruins (LAT 41°08.5'N, L0NG 72°08.8'W) is __________.

    N a. a classic example of 18th century military fortifications
    N b. in an area of unpredictable, treacherous currents
    N c. restricted to surface navigation due to fishery conservation projects nearby
    Y d. prohibited to the public

14401: You are underway and steaming in an easterly direction on the Columbia River. Your vessel is positioned in the middle half of Cape Horn Channel and is abeam of Cape Horn Light. What should your fathometer read at this position, if the staff gauge at Portland reads 0 feet?

    N a. 16 feet
    N b. 18 feet
    Y c. 22 feet
    N d. 24 feet

15042: From your 0741 position, you wish to change course in order to pass 2.2 miles easterly of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14". Your engine speed is now 14.0 knots. You estimate the current to be 240° true at 1.8 knots. What is the true course to steer to make good the desired course?

    N a. 179°true
    N b. 185°true
    Y c. 190° true
    N d. 197°true

15164: From your 1920 position, you change course to enter Chesapeake Channel between buoys 9 and 10. What is the course per gyrocompass?

    N a. 271°pgc
    N b. 274°pgc
    Y c. 277°pgc
    N d. 280°pgc

15258: Which structure should you look for while trying to locate Stratford Point Light?

    Y a. White conical tower with a brown band midway of height
    N b. White octagonal house on a cylindrical pier
    N c. Conical tower, upper half white, lower half brown
    N d. Black skeleton tower on a granite dwelling

15263: What do the dotted lines around Goose Island and Kimberly Reef represent?

    N a. Danger soundings
    N b. Breakers
    N c. Tide rips
    Y d. Depth contours

15343: At 1844 Watch Hill Point bears 323° true and Block Island North Light bears 084° true

Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Your fathometer reads 97 feet
    N b. You are governed by the Inland Rules of the Road.
    N c. You are to the left (north) of your desired course line.
    Y d. Your vessel is approximately 8.7 miles off Sandy Point.

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

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.

15738: At 1830 you obtained the following Loran-C readings:

9960-W-14820.0
9960-X-26097.0
9960-Y-43713.5

What is your vessel's position?

    N a. LAT 40°41.0'N, LONG 72°06.0'W
    N b. LAT 40°41.0'N, LONG 72°10.6'W
    Y c. LAT 40°42.5'N, LONG 72°07.1'W
    N d. LAT 40°47.5'N, LONG 72°02.9'W

15817: The south coast of Long Island Sound between Mattituck Inlet and Port Jefferson is __________.

    N a. composed of high rocky bluffs
    N b. a high, flat plateau with sheer cliffs
    Y c. fringed by rocky shoals
    N d. low and marshy with isolated beaches

15861: At 0125, Mattituck Inlet Light bears 203°pgc at 2.1 miles.
What is the approximate depth of the water under the keel?

    N a. 46 fathoms (83.6 meters)
    N b. 44 fathoms (80.0 meters)
    N c. 43 feet (13.0 meters)
    Y d. 38 feet (11.5 meters)

16106: At 0410, you take the following bearings:
New Point Comfort Light "2" 242°T
Wolf Trap Light 313°T
Horn Harbor Entrance Light "HH" 262°T

What is your 0410 position?

    Y a. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°08.1'W
    N b. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°08.8'W
    N c. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°07.9'W
    N d. LAT 37°21.2'N, LONG 76°08.2'W

16318: What true course and speed did you make good between 0730 and 0900?

    N a. 273°T, 8.7 knots
    Y b. 277°T, 8.4 knots
    N c. 279°T, 8.0 knots
    N d. 284°T, 7.5 knots

16410: By 1015, visibility has increased to 5.0 miles and you can see Fishers Island. Fishers Island has __________.

    N a. low and sandy beaches with salt ponds and marsh grass
    N b. sheer cliffs rising from the sea to a high, flat plateau
    N c. barren, rocky hills with prominent sandy beaches
    Y d. sparsely wooded hills and is fringed with shoals to the south

16417: You are encountering heavy weather. What action should you take based on your 1430 fix?

    Y a. Alter course to the right, to pass well clear of Southwest Ledge.
    N b. Continue on the same course at the same speed.
    N c. Slow to 8.3 knots to compensate for the current.
    N d. Continue on the same course but increase speed.

16419: 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?

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

16438: Chesapeake Channel is temporarily closed to traffic.
At 2215 you anchor on the following bearings:

Wolf Trap Light 358°pgc
Light "HH" 301°pgc
New Point Comfort Light "2" 263°pgc

What is your 2215 position?

    Y a. LAT 37°18.3'N, LONG 76°10.9'W
    N b. LAT 37°18.2'N, LONG 76°11.2'W
    N c. LAT 37°18.1'N, LONG 76°10.8'W
    N d. LAT 37°18.0'N, LONG 76°11.2'W