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.


35: What are the dimensions of the channel maintained at Baton Rouge, LA?


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?


113: What is indicated by the two light gray shaded areas that cross the river above False River Lt. (mile 251.0 AHP)?


145: As you approach Joseph Henry Light (mile 445.2 AHP) which daymark would you see?

    Y a. Red triangle
    N b. Red diamond
    N c. Green diamond
    N d. Green square

222: From your 1815 position, you want to make good a course of 263°T. Your engines are turning RPM's for 12 knots. The current is 050°T at 1.9 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, at what time should you expect to enter the red sector of Cape Henry Light?

    Y a. 1904
    N b. 1859
    N c. 1854
    N d. 1849

328: From your 0315 position, what time can you expect to reach York Spit Channel Buoys "37" and "38"?

    N a. 0423
    N b. 0417
    N c. 0412
    Y d. 0405

335: At 1810, you obtain the following bearings:

Cape Charles Light bearing 005° pgc
Cape Henry Light bearing 251.5° pgc

What is your position?

    N a. LAT 36°56.0'N, LONG 75°58.5'W
    N b. LAT 36°55.4'N, LONG 75°56.0'W
    Y c. LAT 36°56.8'N, LONG 75°55.6'W
    N d. LAT 36°57.4'N, LONG 75°54.6'W

337: If you make good a speed of 6.0 knots from your 1810 position, what is your ETA at Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"?

    N a. 1900
    N b. 1855
    N c. 1845
    Y d. 1833

386: From your 0715 position, you set a course of 085°T. At 0745 you take the following bearings:

Race Rock Light 278°pgc
Watch Hill Light 049°pgc
Fisher's Island East Harbor Cupola 010°pgc

What was the current encountered between 0715 and 0745?

    N a. Set 030°T, drift 0.4 knot
    N b. Set 216°T, drift 0.3 knot
    N c. Set 238°T, drift 0.9 knot
    Y d. Set 070°T, drift 0.6 knot

408: You depart LAT 37°36'N, LONG 123°00'W, and steam 2022 miles on course 241°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing?

    N a. LONG 163°28.2'W
    N b. LONG 163°18.2'W
    Y c. LONG 156°51.7'W
    N d. LONG 154°18.3'W

436: At 0227, you take the following radar ranges and bearings: Bartlett Reef Light 359°T at 2.4 miles, Race Rock Light 083°T at 4.1 miles. What is your 0227 position?

    N a. LAT 41°14.5'N, LONG 72°08.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°14.1'N, LONG 72°08.2'W
    N c. LAT 41°14.0'N, LONG 72°08.5'W
    N d. LAT 41°14.3'N, LONG 72°08.5'W

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

478: The great circle distance from LAT 38°17'N, LONG 123°16'W to LAT 35°01'N, LONG 142°21'E is 4330 miles, and the initial course is 300.9°T. Determine the latitude of the vertex.

    N a. 46°54.8'N
    N b. 47°24.7'N
    N c. 47°35.2'N
    Y d. 47°40.5'N

572: At 0908, you change course to 010°T. What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 359°
    Y b. 021°
    N c. 017°
    N d. 003°

642: Where can scheduled broadcast times of river stages be found?

    N a. Sailing Directions
    Y b. Light List
    N c. List of Lights
    N d. Coast Pilot

749: On 15 February at 0610 ZT, in DR position LAT 56°53.0'N, LONG 157°02.9'E, you observe Polaris at a sextant altitude (hs) of 56°10.4'. The index error is 2.5' on the arc, and the height of eye is 18 meters. What is the latitude?

    Y a. 56°41.8'N
    N b. 56°47.9'N
    N c. 56°48.1'N
    N d. 57°10.6'N

809: On 7 November , your 0830 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 27°36.0'N, LONG 163°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 calculated latitude at LAN?

    N a. 27°52.3'N
    N b. 27°53.4'N
    N c. 27°55.1'N
    Y d. 27°57.2'N

814: On 1 July , your 0515 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 23°24.0'S, LONG 151°42.0'W. Your vessel is on course 240°T, and your speed is 10.0 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1215 zone time, 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 latitude at 1200 ZT?

    N a. 24°02.5'S
    N b. 24°01.0'S
    Y c. 23°59.7'S
    N d. 23°58.6'S

1150: The highest point on your towboat is 48 feet above the water, and the Memphis Gage reads +7.5 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Hernando Desoto Bridge in Memphis?

    Y a. 53.2 feet
    N b. 58.1 feet
    N c. 68.2 feet
    N d. 96.3 feet

1183: On 25 June , your 0900 zone time DR position is LAT 24°10.0'S, LONG 148°30.0'W. Your vessel is on a course of 230°T at a speed of 18.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1154
    N b. 1156
    Y c. 1200
    N d. 1204

1250: What facility is not found near La Grange Towhead Light (538.2 AHP) on Greenville Harbour?

    N a. Mississippi Limestone
    N b. Ergon, Inc.
    N c. American Commercial Barge Lines
    Y d. Greenville Casino Wharf

1407: At 2350 hours on 23 June, you are at mile 610.5 AHP when you see about a mile ahead white lights on the water near the left bank. What might you see when you come abreast of these lights?

    N a. Privately maintained buoys at a yacht club
    N b. Government buoys marking the Hurricane Point dikes
    Y c. Barges moored at the Dennis Landing Terminal
    N d. A pipeline discharging dredge spoil

1451: On 11 December , your 1816 ZT DR position is LAT 26°30.0'N, LONG 140°35.0'E. At that time, you observe Venus bearing 230°pgc. The chronometer reads 09h 14m 52s and the chronometer error is 01m 02s slow. The variation is 3.5°E. What is the gyro error?

    N a. 2.2°E
    Y b. 3.3°E
    N c. 3.2°W
    N d. 4.2°W

1466: On 21 April , your 1542 zone time DR position is LAT 28°54.0'S, LONG 19°07.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 299°psc. The chronometer reads 04h 44m 11s, and the chronometer error is 01m 54s fast. The variation is 3°E. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    Y a. 0.3°W
    N b. 0.4°E
    N c. 2.7°W
    N d. 2.7°E

1665: On 11 January , your vessel's 0655 zone time DR position is LAT 24°30'N, LONG 122°02'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 101.0° per standard compass. Variation in the area is 11.6°E. The chronometer reads 02h 52m 48s and is 02m 12s slow. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    Y a. 1.4°E
    N b. 1.4°W
    N c. 4.6°E
    N d. 4.6°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

1885: On 26 November , your 0535 DR position is LAT 27°18.9'S, LONG 30°18.4'E. You observe an unidentified planet bearing 037°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 50°06.4'. The chronometer reads 03h 33m 16s and is 01m 48s slow. What planet did you observe?

    N a. Saturn
    N b. Jupiter
    Y c. Mars
    N d. Venus

2086: Ar your current speed of 22 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 440 miles. You must travel 618 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination?

    N a. 17.8
    Y b. 18.6
    N c. 19.4
    N d. 20.2

2210: The low water reference plane (LWRP) for Bayou Sara is 5.25 feet. If the Bayou Sara Gage reads -0.5 feet, what is the water level in relation to the low water reference plane?

    N a. 4.75 feet above the plane
    N b. 5.75 feet above the plane
    Y c. 5.75 feet below the plane
    N d. 4.75 feet below the plane

2214: Which of the following statements regarding aids to navigation shown in the Corps. of Engineers map book is TRUE?

    N a. The U.S. Army Corps.. of Engineers is responsible for placing and maintaining all aids to navigation.
    Y b. Buoys should always be given as wide a berth in passing as possible.
    N c. Buoy positions as shown on the chart are exact.
    N d. Lights and daymarks are always shown in their exact location.

2533: 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. Coast Pilot
    N c. Army Corps. of Engineers Navigation Chart
    Y d. U.S.C.G. Local Notice to Mariners

2588: At 2130 New Haven buoy "NH" bears 337° per gyro compass and Middle Ground Lt bears 254° per gyro compass. You must arrive 0.3 miles off Port Jefferson buoy "PJ" at 2300. What speed will you have to make good, for arrival at 2300?

    N a. 9.0 knots
    Y b. 9.3 knots
    N c. 9.6 knots
    N d. 10.7 knots

2671: While on a course of 349°T, a light bears 13° on the starboard bow at a distance of 10.8 miles. What course should you steer to pass 2.5 miles abeam of the light leaving it to starboard?

    N a. 346°T
    Y b. 349°T
    N c. 352°T
    N d. 355°T

2777: The Helena Gage reads 2.3 feet. The high point on your towboat is 26 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge?

    N a. 76.0 feet
    N b. 84.2 feet
    N c. 89.5 feet
    Y d. 90.7 feet

2856: Your vessel is on a course of 034°T at 17 knots. At 0551 a light bears 056.5°T, and at 0623 the light bears 079°T. At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light?

    N a. 0636, 5.9 miles
    N b. 0646, 5.9 miles
    N c. 0636, 6.4 miles
    Y d. 0646, 6.4 miles

2879: Your vessel is steering 354°T at 14 knots. At 0317 a light bears 049°T, and at 0342 the same light bears 071°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    Y a. 12.4 miles
    N b. 12.7 miles
    N c. 13.0 miles
    N d. 13.3 miles

2908: Your vessel is on a course of 223°T at 17 knots. At 1323 a lighthouse bears 318° relative. At 1341 the same lighthouse bears 287° relative. What is your distance off the lighthouse at 1341?

    N a. 4.3 miles
    N b. 5.1 miles
    Y c. 6.6 miles
    N d. 7.8 miles

3068: Your vessel's propeller has a pitch of 22'06". From 0530, 19 March, to 1930, 20 March, the average RPM was 82. The distance run by observation was 721.5 miles. What was the slip?

    N a. +4%
    Y b. -4%
    N c. +7%
    N d. -7%

3265: You have steamed 1587 miles at 11.2 knots, and have consumed one-half of your total fuel capacity of 2840 bbls. What is the maximum speed you can steam to complete the remaining 1951 miles?

    N a. 9.1 knots
    N b. 9.9 knots
    Y c. 10.1 knots
    N d. 11.6 knots

3602: You are heading 328°pgc to make good a course of 332°T, allowing 3° leeway for westerly winds and 1°E gyro error. The variation is 17°E. What should your heading be by standard magnetic compass to make good 332°T.
DEVIATION TABLE
MAGNETIC HEADING DEV.
345° 1°E
330° 1°W
315° 3°W

    Y a. 315°psc
    N b. 318°psc
    N c. 343°psc
    N d. 345°psc

10210: Your present position is LAT 41°07.4'N, LONG 72°44.0'W. Assuming that there is no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to a position of LAT 41°08.5'N, LONG 72°28.8'W?

    N a. 073°psc
    N b. 084°psc
    N c. 091°psc
    Y d. 097°psc

12207: You sight Stratford Pt. Light in line with the Igor I. Sikorsky Airport Aero Beacon bearing 319° per standard magnetic compass. What is the compass deviation?

    Y a. 4°W
    N b. 4°E
    N c. 18°W
    N d. 18°E

12502: You are on course 262° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Cape Henry Light 252°psc Cape Charles Light 003°psc Chesapeake Light 131°psc What is your position?

    Y a. LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 75°52.9'W
    N b. LAT 36°58.1'N, LONG 75°52.6'W
    N c. LAT 36°57.9'N, LONG 75°53.2'W
    N d. LAT 36°58.6'N, LONG 75°52.2'W

15023: At 1042, 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
    Y c. 0.8 mph
    N d. 1.2 mph

15138: At 2045 you obtained the following Loran readings:
9960-W-14844.0
9960-X-26128.0
9960-Y-43712.5
What is your vessel's position?

    N a. 40°41.1'N, 72°10.5'W
    N b. 40°41.4'N, 72°10.7'W
    Y c. 40°41.8'N, 72°10.8'W
    N d. 40°42.3'N, 72°11.3'W

15212: 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?

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

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

15342: At 1756 you determined your vessel's position to be 41°10.4'N, 71°59.2'W. From this position, you wish to change course to head for a point 5 miles west of Block Island North Light. With a reported set of 050°T, a drift of 2.0 knots and turning RPM's for 14 knots, which course should you steer to make good your desired course?

    N a. 070°T
    N b. 075°T
    Y c. 080°T
    N d. 085°T

15460: At 0845, you are approaching the entrances to Thimble Shoal Channel. What channel must you use?

    Y a. The South Auxiliary Channel since your draft is less than 25 feet (7.6 meters), and you are not a passenger vessel.
    N b. The South Auxiliary Channel or Thimble Shoal Channel, but you must remain on the right hand side of the main channel.
    N c. The North Auxiliary Channel since you are going to turn to a northerly heading near buoy "12".
    N d. You are not permitted to use any of the channels, but must remain outside the buoyed channel line.

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

15960: From your 1752 position, you steer 313°pgc at 9 knots. At 1805, you obtain the following visual bearings:
Old Pt. Comfort Light - 238°pgc.
Chesapeake Bay Tunnel North Light - 136°pgc.
What are the latitude and longitude of your 1805 position?

    Y a. LAT 37°05.9'N, LONG 76°08.0'W
    N b. LAT 37°06.0'N, LONG 76°08.4'W
    N c. LAT 37°05.0'N, LONG 76°08.7'W
    N d. LAT 37°06.1'N, LONG 76°08.1'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

16015: 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"?

    Y a. 080°
    N b. 083°
    N c. 086°
    N d. 090°

16017: What is the approximate distance to New Bedford, MA, from your 0530 DR position, if your 0352 position was 7 miles from Bridgeport, CT?

    N a. 77 miles
    N b. 91 miles
    Y c. 104 miles
    N d. 115 miles

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°

16715: From your 0600 position, what is the course per gyrocompass to leave Watch Hill Light abeam to starboard at 2.0 miles if a southerly wind is producing 3° of leeway?

    Y a. 252°pgc
    N b. 256°pgc
    N c. 258°pgc
    N d. 262°pgc