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.

162: At 1923, you decrease speed to make good 9.2 mph. What is the first Gage you will pass after your speed change?
204: From your 1800 position you steer a course of 350°psc at a speed of 10.0 knots. At 1830, your position is LAT 41°11.7'N, LONG 71°45.8'W. What are the set and drift of the current?
220: From your 1715 fix, you steer 214°T at 12 knots. At 1800,
you take the following bearings:

Chesapeake Light bearing 175°pgc
Cape Henry Light bearing 239°pgc
Cape Charles Light bearing 293°pgc

Your 1800 position is __________.
269: If there is no current, what is the course per standard magnetic compass from your 0802 fix to the position 1.1 miles north of Falkner Island Light? 

    N a. 099°
    Y b. 095°
    N c. 068°
    N d. 064°
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
275: At 1038, you are 0.4 mile south of Long Sand Shoal Buoy "8A" on course 090°T when visibility is reduced to 1 mile in rain and haze. You intend to stay on 090°T until your Loran shows a reading that you can safely follow to the approaches of New London. Which of the following Loran readings will you look for? 

    Y a. 9960-Y-43980
    N b. 9960-X-26290
    N c. 9960-W-14730
    N d. 9960-W-14810
350: By 0430, the wind has increased, and the visibility cleared due to passage of a front. You estimate 3° leeway due to NW'ly winds. What is the course per gyrocompass to pass 1.2 miles due south of Twenty-eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy "TE"? 

    N a. 090°
    N b. 086°
    N c. 083°
    Y d. 080°
468: Determine the great circle initial course from LAT 07°05.0'N, LONG 81°45.0'W to LAT 21°15.0'N, LONG 157°40.0'W. 

    N a. 128°T
    N b. 217°T
    Y c. 290°T
    N d. 326°T
502: At 2142, you take the following bearings:

Stratford Point Light 331°T
Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light 280°T
Old Field Point Light 223°T

What is your 2142 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°02.7'N, LONG 73°01.2'W
    Y b. LAT 41°03.0'N, LONG 73°01.7'W
    N c. LAT 41°03.1'N, LONG 73°01.3'W
    N d. LAT 41°03.3'N, LONG 73°01.9'W
535: You depart LAT 49°38'N, LONG 152°49'E, for LAT 49°38'N, LONG 176°12'E. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing? 

    Y a. 090°T, 909 miles
    N b. 090°T, 1204 miles
    N c. 270°T, 909 miles
    N d. 270°T, 1204 miles
545: At 0645, Watch Hill Point (left tangent) bears 314.5°T at 2.75 miles. What was the speed made good between 0600 and 0645? 

    N a. 11.4 knots
    Y b. 10.7 knots
    N c. 9.8 knots
    N d. 8.1 knots
557: The south shore of Long Island Sound near your position is __________. 

    N a. high with numerous cliffs
    Y b. fringed with rock shoals
    N c. backed by marshes and wooded uplands
    N d. low and marshy
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
811: On 1 July , your 0515 ZT fix gives you a position of LAT 24°36.0'S, LONG 151°42.0'W. Your vessel is on course 300°T, and your speed is 10.0 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1215 ZT, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 42°55.0'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN? 

    N a. 24°03.6'S
    N b. 24°02.5'S
    Y c. 24°01.0'S
    N d. 24°00.0'S
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
846: On 22 February , your 0612 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 27°16.2'S, LONG 37°41.6'W. Your vessel is on course 298°T, and your speed is 14.2 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1147 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 73°33.3'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN? 

    Y a. 26°31.4'S
    N b. 26°29.5'S
    N c. 26°27.1'S
    N d. 26°24.8'S
1001: On 26 July , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 18°25'N, LONG 51°15'W. You are on course 231°T, speed 15 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.

ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1228 50°23.5' N 19°21.9' 88°14.3'
1236 52°23.5' N 19°21.8' 88°29.0' 

    N a. LAT 18°00.9'N, LONG 51°31.9'W
    N b. LAT 18°03.5'N, LONG 51°36.2'W
    Y c. LAT 18°07.2'N, LONG 51°30.4'W
    N d. LAT 18°10.6'N, LONG 51°25.1'W
1095: On 25 Oct. , your 0430 ZT DR position is LAT 24°48'N, LONG 65°31'W. Your vessel is on course 030°T at a speed of 18 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0455 running fix. NP-0025

    Y a. LAT 24°53'N, LONG 65°28'W
    N b. LAT 24°53'N, LONG 65°12'W
    N c. LAT 24°54'N, LONG 65°17'W
    N d. LAT 25°03'N, LONG 65°18'W
1144: What is the brown colored tint shown at Bordeaux Point Dykes (mile 681.0 AHP)? 

    N a. river gage
    N b. fish hatchery
    Y c. dredge material
    N d. levee
1269: At 1400 zone time, on 11 April , your DR position is LAT 25°40'N, LONG 91°00'W. You are steering 180°T at a speed of 10.0 knots. What is your zone time of sunset? 

    N a. 1812
    N b. 1816
    N c. 1820
    Y d. 1825
1305: As you approach Ashland Light (mile 378.1 AHP) which daymark would you see? 

    Y a. Red triangle
    N b. Red diamond
    N c. Green square
    N d. Green diamond
1651: On 23 October , in DR position LAT 21°13.0'N, LONG 152°18.0'E, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 259°psc. The chronometer reads 07h 21m 46s and is 01m 32s slow. Variation in the area is 5°E. What is the deviation of the magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.9°E
    N b. 1.5°W
    Y c. 5.9°W
    N d. 6.5°E
1672: On 11 May , your vessel's 1839 ZT position is LAT 17°30'N, LONG 63°55'W, when an amplitude of the Sun's center is observed on the celestial horizon bearing 301° per standard magnetic compass. Variation for this area is 10.5°W. The chronometer reads 10h 37m 10s and is 02m 08s slow. What is the deviation of the compass? 

    N a. 2.5°W
    N b. 2.0°W
    Y c. 1.5°W
    N d. 2.0°E
1681: On 8 December , in DR position LAT 21°56.1'S, LONG 17°21.6'E you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 240.5°psc. The chronometer reads 05h 27m 21s and is 00m 47s fast. Variation in the area is 3.3°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 1.5°W
    N b. 0.3°W
    N c. 0.6°E
    Y d. 1.5°E
1737: At 1227, on 19 October, 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 1045 the following day? 

    N a. 5.2 mph
    N b. 5.6 mph
    Y c. 5.9 mph
    N d. 6.3 mph
1855: On 22 July , your 0442 ZT DR position is LAT 26°35.6'N, LONG 22°16.7'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 112°T, at an observed altitude (Ho) of 44°16.0'. The chronometer reads 05h 39m 03s and is 03m 14s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Hamal
    N b. Rigel
    Y c. Menkar
    N d. Acamar
1897: On 22 June , your 0424 DR position is LAT 26°18.5'N, LONG 124°18.2'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 249°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 52°50.7'. The chronometer reads 00h 23m 24s, and is 01m 32s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Peacock
    N b. Schedar
    N c. Ankaa
    Y d. Altair
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'
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
2296: 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? 

    Y a. 1621, 28 Dec
    N b. 2203, 28 Dec
    N c. 0516, 29 Dec
    N d. 1621, 29 Dec
2327: After you enter Thimble Shoal Channel, you will alter course to pass between Trestle "A" and "B". Based upon your present position, passing buoy "12" to port, what is TRUE? 

    N a. You are required to proceed outbound in the North Auxiliary Channel to avoid ferry traffic
    N b. You may proceed outbound in Thimble Shoal Channel
    Y c. You should cross the main channel and proceed outbound in the South Auxiliary Channel
    N d. Water depth is 38 feet.
2883: Your vessel is steering 157°T at 18 knots. At 2018 a light bears 208°T. At 2044 the same light bears 232°T. What will be your distance off when abeam? 

    N a. 12.8 miles
    Y b. 14.4 miles
    N c. 15.2 miles
    N d. 16.7 miles
3252: You have steamed 803 miles at 13 knots, and consumed 179 tons of fuel. If you have 371 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 16 knots? 

    Y a. 1099 miles
    N b. 1374 miles
    N c. 1833 miles
    N d. 2581 miles
3262: You have steamed 632 miles at 18.5 knots, and consumed 197 tons of fuel. If you have 278 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 15.0 knots? 

    N a. 681 miles
    N b. 892 miles
    N c. 1100 miles
    Y d. 1357 miles
3468: You are underway on course 215°T at 12 knots. The current is 000°T at 2.3 knots. What is the speed being made good? 

    N a. 8.5 knots
    Y b. 10.2 knots
    N c. 10.9 knots
    N d. 11.2 knots
3612: Your vessel is steering 195° per standard magnetic compass. Variation for the area is 13°W, and the deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the west-southwest, producing a 2° leeway. Which true course are you making good? 

    N a. 178°T
    N b. 180°T
    N c. 182°T
    Y d. 184°T
4002: 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 true heading of 258°.
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. 0.5°W
    N b. 0.0°
    N c. 0.5°E
    Y d. 1.0°E
10705: At 0726 you depart Lake Montauk with light 1 close aboard and set course 013.5° per standard magnetic compass at 7.6 knots. At 0812 your GPS position is LAT 41°10.0'N, LONG 71°55.9'W. What is the current? 

    N a. 151°T at 1.0 knot
    Y b. 164°T at 0.7 knot
    N c. 334°T at 1.1 knots
    N d. 321°T at 0.8 knot
12309: You sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light (LAT 41°18.2'N, LONG 71°56.0'W) bearing 089° per standard magnetic compass. If your vessel was heading 297° per standard magnetic compass at the time, which of the following is TRUE? 

    N a. The deviation table is correct for that heading.
    N b. The deviation equals the variation.
    Y c. You should swing your vessel to check the deviation table.
    N d. The compass error is 13°W for all bearings of 089°psc.
12904: Your 0916 position is LAT 37°10.9'N, LONG 75°29.6'W. You are turning for 12.3 knots. What is your ETA at North Chesapeake Bay Entrance Buoy NCA? 

    N a. 1035
    N b. 1043
    Y c. 1051
    N d. 1101
14001: At 1745 Lady Island Range is in line dead ahead and Government Island Upper Range is in line on your starboard bow. Your vessel is steaming in a westerly direction. At 1851 you pass under the Interstate 5 highway bridge. What speed have you averaged? 

    N a. 10 mph
    Y b. 11 mph
    N c. 12 mph
    N d. 13 mph
14604: Contour elevations on this chart refer to heights in feet above mean __________. 

    N a. lower low water
    N b. high water
    N c. low water
    Y d. sea level
15017: At 2100, you alter course to 250°T and reduce speed to 7 knots. You enter the traffic separation scheme on the inbound side. At 2200, your fix shows you crossing a broken purple line on the chart, and you observe North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Gong Buoy "NCD" to port. This area is __________. 

    Y a. a precautionary area centered on buoy "CBJ"
    N b. a pilotage area
    N c. an area with local magnetic disturbances
    N d. in inland waters
15146: At 0016 your position is 41°10.3'N, 71°53.0'W. You are steering a course of 296° true with no set and drift. At 0049 Race Rock Light is on your starboard beam. What was your speed made good from your 0016 position? 

    N a. 13.8 knots
    N b. 14.4 knots
    N c. 15.0 knots
    Y d. 15.6 knots
15160: 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"? 

    N a. 249.0°psc
    N b. 251.5°psc
    N c. 255.0°psc
    Y d. 257.0°psc
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
15664: At 0815, Montauk Pt. Light House is bearing 172°T,
Shagwong Pt. has a radar range of 4.5 miles. If the engine was making turns for 10 knots, what was the current since 0748? 

    N a. Set 040°T, drift 0.7 knots
    N b. Set 040°T, drift 1.6 knots
    Y c. Set 220°T, drift 1.6 knots
    N d. Set 220°T, drift 0.7 knots
15762: What is the course per standard magnetic compass between points "A" and "B"? 

    N a. 090.5°
    N b. 093.0°
    N c. 095.5°
    Y d. 098.5°
15811: At 0100, you obtain the following bearings:

Rocky Point Lookout Tower 062°T
Horton Point Lighthouse 189°T

What was the speed made good between 0045 and 0100? 

    Y a. 7.4 knots
    N b. 8.0 knots
    N c. 8.7 knots
    N d. 9.2 knots
15957: At 1752, your position is LAT 37°04.3'N, LONG 76°06.4'W. On an ebb current you should expect to be set to the __________. 

    N a. north northeast
    Y b. south southeast
    N c. south southwest
    N d. north northwest
16219: At 0900, you take the following radar ranges:

Watch Hill Point 5.4 miles
Block Island Grace Point 8.3 miles

Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. You are within 3 nautical miles of the coast.
    N b. The bottom in the area is sand and gravel.
    Y c. The fix is indeterminate.
    N d. You are governed by the Inland Rules.
16243: At 2207 Cape Charles Light bears 276°T, Chesapeake Light bears 194°T, and Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14" bears 312°T and is 2.0 miles off. What were the set and drift of the current acting on your vessel from 2129 to 2207? 

    N a. 258°T at 2.4 knots
    N b. 258°T at 1.5 knots
    N c. 078°T at 1.5 knots
    Y d. 078°T at 2.4 knots
16259: You are on track from the anchorage to point A. At 0250, Great Machipongo Inlet Light "5" (37°21.8'N, 75°43.7'W) bears 279°pgc. At 0320, the light bears 320°pgc. What is the position of your 0320 running fix if you are making good 6.5 knots? 

    Y a. LAT 37°18.10'N, LONG 75°39.55'W
    N b. LAT 37°18.10'N, LONG 75°39.30'W
    N c. LAT 37°18.00'N, LONG 75°39.75'W
    N d. LAT 37°17.95'N, LONG 75°39.95'W
16469: As you pass between trestle "B" and trestle "C" of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel, you sight along the trestle "C" when it is in line. The trestle bears 057° per standard magnetic compass while the vessel is heading 320°T. From this you know the __________. 

    Y a. vessel should be swung to check the deviation table
    N b. compass error is 12°W
    N c. deviation table is correct for that bearing
    N d. deviation is 10°W
16841: At 0907 you change course to 224°T, and your speed is now 13.0 knots. At 0939 Chesapeake Light is bearing 168°T at a distance of 7.1 miles, and Cape Henry Light is bearing 246°T. What were the set and drift since 0907? 

    N a. 326°T at 0.7 knot
    N b. 326°T at 1.4 knots
    Y c. 146°T at 1.4 knots
    N d. 146°T at 0.7 knots