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.

97: The highest point on your towboat is 57 feet above the water, and the Memphis Gage reads +1.3 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Memphis Highway Bridge in Memphis?
102: The latest available information on the channel conditions above Baton Rouge that includes recommended course and the latest buoy information is found in the __________.
159: You are turning for 6.8 mph and estimate the current at 1.0 mph. What is your speed over the ground?
203: At 1800, your position is LAT 41°06.5'N, LONG 71°43.5'W. How would the buoy which bears 030°T from your position at a range of approximately 0.5 mile be painted? 

    N a. Horizontally banded, red over green
    Y b. Horizontally banded, green over red
    N c. Vertically striped, red and green
    N d. Solid green with red letters "BIS"
238: At 0910, your DR position is LAT 41°11.9'N, LONG 72°47.8'W. Your vessel is on course 097°T at 9.5 knots, and the weather is foggy. At 0915, Branford Reef Light is sighted through a break in the fog bearing 318°T. At 0945, Falkner Island Light is sighted bearing 042°T. What is your 0945 running fix position? 

    N a. LAT 41°11.1'N, LONG 72°41.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°41.3'W
    Y c. LAT 41°11.5'N, LONG 72°40.7'W
    N d. LAT 41°11.8'N, LONG 72°40.2'W
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
286: Your 1900 position is LAT 37°12.9'N, LONG 76°13.5'W. You change course to 317°pgc and slow to 8.0 knots. What is the course per standard magnetic compass? 

    Y a. 329°psc
    N b. 319°psc
    N c. 311°psc
    N d. 309°psc
305: A vessel steams 666 miles on course 295°T from LAT 24°24'N, LONG 83°00'W. What are the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by mid-latitude sailing? 

    N a. LAT 29°01'N, LONG 94°18'W
    Y b. LAT 29°06'N, LONG 94°16'W
    N c. LAT 29°10'N, LONG 94°10'W
    N d. LAT 29°13'N, LONG 94°06'W
603: At 0915 zone time, on 7 November , you depart Seattle, LAT 47°36.0'N, LONG 122°22.0'W (ZD +8). You are bound for Kobe, LAT 34°40.0'N, LONG 135°12.0'E, and you estimate your speed of advance at 18.5 knots. The distance is 4,527 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Kobe? 

    N a. 1257, 17 November
    Y b. 0657, 18 November
    N c. 1857, 18 November
    N d. 0657, 19 November
604: At 1820 zone time, on 21 March , you depart San Francisco, LAT 37°48.5'N, LONG 122°24.0'W (ZD +8). You are bound for Melbourne, LAT 37°49.2'S, LONG 144°56.0'E, and you estimate your speed of advance at 21 knots. The distance is 6,970 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Melbourne? 

    N a. 1214, 4 April
    N b. 2214, 4 April
    Y c. 0814, 5 April
    N d. 1314, 5 April
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
638: What is the mile point of the Fulton Gage? 

    Y a. 778 AHP
    N b. 687 AHP
    N c. 632 AHP
    N d. 598 AHP
655: On a North Pacific voyage, you wish to sail the shortest distance from LAT 46°05'N, LONG 124°00'W to LAT 44°00'N, LONG 150°00'E. You do not want to exceed 50°N latitude due to anticipated fog conditions. Which voyage plot meets these requirements? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5270) 

    N a. A great circle between departure and arrival with Mercator  legs north of the Aleutians
    N b. A great circle between departure and arrival with parallel  sailing where the track intersects the 50°N parallel
    Y c. A great circle to 50°N, 153°W, parallel sailing to 50°N, 173°W, then a great circle to arrival
    N d. A great circle from departure to the mid-longitude at 50°N, then another great circle to arrival
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
743: On 7 March , at 1838 ZT, in DR position LAT 34°26.9'N, LONG 58°16.2'W, you observe Polaris for latitude. The sextant altitude (hs) is 35°08.4'. The index error is 2.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 54 feet. What is the latitude at the time of the sight? 

    N a. 34°29.8'N
    Y b. 34°33.4'N
    N c. 34°34.8'N
    N d. 34°36.8'N
1089: At 1830 zone time, on 6 April , your DR position is LAT 26°33.0'N, LONG 64°31.0'W. You are steering course 082°T at a speed of 16.0 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1900 running fix. NP-0019

    N a. LAT 26°20.1'N, LONG 64°19.4'W
    N b. LAT 26°23.7'N, LONG 64°29.3'W
    N c. LAT 26°28.4'N, LONG 64°32.1'W
    Y d. LAT 26°32.5'N, LONG 64°27.1'W
1177: On 2 April , your 0900 zone time DR position is LAT 28°04.0'S, LONG 94°14.0'E. Your vessel is on course 316°T at a speed of 18.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1138
    N b. 1143
    N c. 1146
    Y d. 1149
1464: On 17 May , your 1554 zone time DR position is LAT 26°33.0'N, LONG 65°46.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 269°psc. The chronometer reads 07h 55m 47s, and the chronometer error is 01m 14s fast. The variation is 3°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.6°E
    N b. 1.6°W
    N c. 4.6°W
    Y d. 7.6°E
1703: At 1218, on 16 March, you are passing the Vicksburg Gage (mile 437.0 AHP). What has been the average current since 0630, 15 March, if you have been making turns for 8.0 mph? 

    N a. 0.2 mph
    N b. 0.5 mph
    N c. 0.8 mph
    Y d. 1.2 mph
1724: What is the mile point of the Natchez, MS Gage? 

    N a. 228.4 AHP
    N b. 265.4 AHP
    N c. 302.4 AHP
    Y d. 363.3 AHP
1728: As you approach Canon Point Light (mile 418.3 AHP), what daymark will you see on the light structure? 

    N a. Green square
    N b. Green diamond
    Y c. Red diamond
    N d. Red triangle
1750: In addition to the Army Corps. of Engineers maps, data on bridge clearances may be found in the __________. 

    N a. Army Corps. of Engineers Regulations
    Y b. Light List
    N c. Waterways Journal
    N d. Channel Report
1775: At 1412 you increase speed to make good 10.2 mph. At 1506 you have a daymark on your port beam. Which daymark is this? 

    N a. Bessie Daymark
    Y b. Nolan Light
    N c. Everetts Light
    N d. Marr Towhead Light
1908: On 22 March , your 1834 DR position is LAT 26°13.5'S, LONG 108°36.5'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 315°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 66°01.2'. The chronometer reads 01h 32m 37s, and is 01m 50s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Regulus
    N b. Menkar
    Y c. Rigel
    N d. Alphard
1925: On 23 September , your 1836 DR position is LAT 25°18'S, LONG 162°36'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 148°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 13°32'. The chronometer reads 07h 34m 12s, and is 01m 54s slow. Which star did you observe? 

    N a. Antares
    N b. Canopus
    Y c. Achernar
    N d. Sirius
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.
2009: On 16 July , your 1920 ZT DR position is LAT 25°36.0'N, LONG 172°18.9'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time? 

    N a. Rasalhague, Spica, Arcturus
    Y b. Venus, Antares, Vega
    N c. Vega, Mars, Antares
    N d. Saturn, Acrux, Spica
2175: On 13 November , at 0438 ZT, morning stars were observed and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 22°14.0'S, LONG 79°23.0'E. Your vessel is steaming at 13.0 knots on a course of 242°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0822 ZT. The chronometer reads 03h 20m 16s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 45°49.7'. The index error is 1.0' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 47s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 61.0 feet (18.6 meters). What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    Y a. 092.6°T
    N b. 096.2°T
    N c. 098.7°T
    N d. 099.7°T
2178: On 26 July , your 1901 ZT position is LAT 28°28'N, LONG 157°16'E when you take an observation of Jupiter. The chronometer at the time of the sight reads 08h 54m 34s and is 06m 24s slow. The sextant altitude (hs) is 33°51.5'. The index error is 2.8'off the arc, and the height of eye is 48 feet. What are the azimuth (Zn) and intercept (a) for this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. Zn 110.8°,  a 32.0' T
    N b. Zn 249.2°,  a 32.0' A
    Y c. Zn 248.2°,  a 34.2' T
    N d. Zn 290.8°,  a 44.2' A
2585: At 2000 you plot your position as: LAT 41°11'N, LONG 072°35'W. The set and drift is 095°T at 0.8 knot. What course must you steer, and what engine speed must you turn, in order to make good 255°T at 8.5 knots? 

    Y a. 257°T,  9.3 knots
    N b. 253°T,  9.3 knots
    N c. 257°T,  7.7 knots
    N d. 253°T,  7.7 knots
2699: You are underway on course 137°T at a speed of 16.2 knots. You sight a rock bearing 134°T at a radar range of 4.6 miles at 1508. If you change course at 1514, what is the course to steer to leave the rock abeam to port at 1.5 miles? 

    Y a. 162°T
    N b. 158°T
    N c. 154°T
    N d. 151°T
2703: You are underway on course 254°T at a speed of 16.5 knots. You sight a rock bearing 255°T at a radar range of 6.1 miles at 0916. If you change course at 0922, what is the course to steer to leave the rock abeam to starboard at 1.5 miles? 

    N a. 268°T
    N b. 239°T
    Y c. 236°T
    N d. 233°T
2865: You are steering a course of 240°T, and a lighthouse bears 025° on the starboard bow at 2116. At 2144 the same lighthouse bears 050° on the starboard bow, and you have run 6 miles since the first bearing. What is the ETA when the lighthouse is abeam? 

    N a. 2156
    N b. 2159
    Y c. 2202
    N d. 2205
3050: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 23.7 feet and a pitch of 24.8 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 442 miles in a 23 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 89? 

    N a. -7.6%
    N b. +7.6%
    N c. -11.8%
    Y d. +11.8%
3082: The speed of advance necessary to arrive in port at a designated time is 15.8 knots. The pitch of the propeller is 20.75 feet. You estimate 5% positive slip. How many RPM must you turn to make the necessary speed? 

    N a. 73.5
    N b. 76.2
    N c. 79.9
    Y d. 81.2
3294: Your vessel consumes 268 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 19.0 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 15.0 knots? 

    Y a. 132 bbls
    N b. 167 bbls
    N c. 212 bbls
    N d. 243 bbls
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
10305: You are 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position one mile due south of Block Island Southeast Point Light? 

    N a. 070.0°
    N b. 076.5°
    Y c. 082.5°
    N d. 087.5°
10904: What is the distance from Chesapeake Bay entrance to Baltimore? 

    Y a. 150 nm
    N b. 162 nm
    N c. 173 nm
    N d. 247 nm
13009: Your 1830 position is LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 72°59.4'W. You are making turns for 9 knots. What is your ETA at Mattituck Inlet? 

    Y a. 2044
    N b. 2052
    N c. 2059
    N d. 2106
13406: You are planning to anchor your vessel at LAT 41°01.1'N, LONG 73°02.8'W. What type of bottom should you expect at this position? 

    N a. Gray sand
    N b. Soft mud
    Y c. Gray mud
    N d. Hard sand
13701: Why are there no buoys charted at the approach to Sand Shoal Inlet (LAT 37°16'N, LONG 75°46'W)? 

    N a. No buoys are stationed there.
    N b. They frequently shift position due to heavy weather.
    Y c. They are frequently shifted to conform to the changing channel.
    N d. The buoys are being replaced with fixed lights.
15607: 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
    Y b. 193°pgc
    N c. 196°pgc
    N d. 199°pgc
15656: At 0630, Buoy "PI" is close abeam on the starboard side. You are steering 078°T and are headed directly toward Race Rock Light. At 0654, Little Gull Island Light is bearing 210°pgc and Race Rock Light is bearing 075°pgc. What is your 0654 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°19.0'N, LONG 72°05.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°14.4'N, LONG 71°54.6'W
    N c. LAT 41°14.2'N, LONG 72°06.8'W
    Y d. LAT 41°14.0'N, LONG 72°05.3'W
15968: What was the speed made good from 1900 to 1925? 

    N a. 8.5 knots
    N b. 8.7 knots
    N c. 8.8 knots
    Y d. 9.1 knots
16069: From your 2118 position, you steer a course of 288°T at an engine speed of 7.0 knots. Visibility is 2 miles. Height of eye is 12 feet (3.7 meters). At what time can you expect to see Old Point Comfort Light? 

    N a. The light is visible at 2118
    N b. 2139
    N c. 2201
    Y d. 2232
16356: What is the course per standard magnetic compass from the anchorage to point "A" located 0.5 mile east of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy 14? 

    N a. 185°
    N b. 188°
    N c. 191°
    Y d. 194°
16370: The wind is westerly and will cause 2° of leeway. The current is 180° at 0.5 knot. If your engines are turning for 8.0 knots, what should you steer to remain in York River Entrance Channel? 

    N a. 304°T
    N b. 307°T
    Y c. 311°T
    N d. 314°T
16465: At 0600, you are entering the inbound leg of the traffic separation scheme at position LAT 36°59.2'N, LONG 75°47.6'
W. Course is 250°T. At 0605, Cape Henry Light bears 249°
T. At 0610, it bears 248°T. At 0625, it bears 247°T. Based on this, you know you are __________. 

    N a. meeting a current from dead ahead
    N b. running with a current from dead ahead
    Y c. being set to the north
    N d. being set to the south
16467: Weather broadcasts for the Norfolk area are broadcast on which frequency? 

    N a. 162.30 MHz
    N b. 162.35 MHz
    N c. 162.50 MHz
    Y d. 162.55 MHz
16619: The shoreline along Rocky Point should give a good radar return because __________. 

    N a. the lookout tower is marked with radar reflectors
    N b. of offshore exposed rocks
    N c. submerged reefs cause prominent breakers
    Y d. the shore is bluff and rocky
16643: At 0520 your position is LAT 41°07.2'N, LONG 71°41.6'W. You set course to leave Race Rock Light abeam to starboard at 0.5 mile. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass? (Assume no current) 

    N a. 301.5°
    N b. 305.0°
    Y c. 307.5°
    N d. 309.0°