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.

99: What is the mile point of the Rosedale Gage?
154: You see a buoy with red and green bands. This buoy marks __________.
189: At 0645, Watch Hill Point (left tangent) bears 316.5°pgc at 2.75 miles. What was the speed made good between 0600 and 0645?
207: If your height of eye is 35 feet (10.7 meters), what is the approximate geographic range of Block Island North Light? 

    N a. 7.4 nm
    N b. 13.0 nm
    Y c. 15.8 nm
    N d. 17.5 nm
294: What is the maximum allowable speed of vessels underway up river from Tue Marshes Light? 

    Y a. 12 knots
    N b. 10 knots
    N c. 8 knots
    N d. 6 knots
378: A vessel at LAT 37°24.0'N, LONG 178°15.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 34°18.0'N, LONG 178°25.0°E. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing. 

    N a. 041°T, 273.9 miles
    N b. 047°T, 273.9 miles
    Y c. 221°T, 247.2 miles
    N d. 227°T, 247.2 miles
431: At 0900, the current is flooding in a direction of 350°T at 1.2 knots. If your engines are turning RPMs for 9 knots, which course should you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 297° true? 

    N a. 319°psc
    N b. 317°psc
    N c. 311°psc
    Y d. 302°psc
485: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 08°53.0'N, LONG 79°31.0'W to LAT 33°51.5'S, LONG 151°13.0'E. 

    N a. 7809 miles, 247.0°T
    N b. 7763 miles, 247.0°T
    Y c. 7635 miles, 233.9°T
    N d. 7618 miles, 230.3°T
506: At 0112, what is the approximate depth under the keel? 

    N a. 57 feet (17.3 meters)
    N b. 51 feet (15.5 meters)
    N c. 47 feet (14.2 meters)
    Y d. 38 feet (11.5 meters)
510: You observe the star Deneb at a sextant altitude (hs) of 48°34.8' on 16 December . The index error is 4.0' off the arc. The height of eye is 58 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 48°02.9'
    Y b. 48°30.5'
    N c. 48°31.4'
    N d. 48°46.5'
515: You depart LAT 50°06.0'N, LONG 153°06.0'E and steam 879 miles on course 090°. What is the LONG of arrival? 

    Y a. 175°56.0'E
    N b. 177°24.0'E
    N c. 178°36.0'W
    N d. 175°04.0'W
595: You are passing the Bayou Sara Gage which reads 3.9 feet. The low water reference plane (LWRP) at Bayou Sara is 5.25 feet. Which of the following statements is TRUE? 

    N a. The river level is above the Low Water Reference Plane.
    N b. Red Store Landing Revetment is ahead on your starboard side
    N c. This gage reading is at a lower elevation than the same reading on the Gage at Head of Passes.
    Y d. None of the above.
624: You are on a voyage from San Diego, CA, to New York, NY. The distance from pilot to pilot is 4860 miles. The speed of advance is 15.0 knots. You estimate 18 hours for bunkering at Colon, and 14 hours for the Panama Canal transit. If you take departure at 0836 hours (ZD +7), 4 July, what is your ETA (ZD +4) at New York? 

    N a. 0336, 20 July
    N b. 0036, 19 July
    N c. 0336, 19 July
    Y d. 0736, 19 July
992: At 0100 zone time, on 23 September , your DR position is LAT 24°25.0'N, LONG 83°00.0'W. You are steering course 315°T. The speed over the ground is 10.0 knots. You observed 3 morning sun lines. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1100 running fix? NP-0002

    Y a. LAT 25°35.3'N, LONG 84°17.0'W
    N b. LAT 25°42.6'N, LONG 84°18.7'W
    N c. LAT 25°30.4'N, LONG 84°28.6'W
    N d. LAT 25°28.3'N, LONG 84°34.3'W
1109: On 5 May , your 1600 zone time DR position is LAT 17°28'S, LONG 143°39'E. You are on course 316°T at a speed of 17 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1800 running fix. 

    Y a. LAT 17°05.2'S, LONG 143°11.4'E
    N b. LAT 17°07.8'S, LONG 143°17.5'E
    N c. LAT 17°08.2'S, LONG 143°07.9'E
    N d. LAT 17°09.7'S, LONG 143°10.1'E
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
1193: On 26 September , your 0830 zone time DR position is LAT 23°04.0'N, LONG 129°16.0'E. Your vessel is on course 119°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1158
    N b. 1205
    Y c. 1210
    N d. 1214
1233: What is the distance from Greenville, MS, to Tiptonville, TN on the Mississippi River System? 

    N a. 95 miles
    N b. 136 miles
    Y c. 341 miles
    N d. 520 miles
1801: What is the distance from the Amoco Docks at Baton Rouge, LA, to the new mouth of the White River? 

    N a. 981.5 miles
    N b. 953.5 miles
    Y c. 345.3 miles
    N d. 700.2 miles
1854: On 22 July , your 1759 ZT DR position is LAT 24°50.2'S, LONG 05°16.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 231°T, at an observed altitude (Ho) of 26°10.0'. The chronometer reads 06h 01m 31s and is 02m 15s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Acamar
    N b. Capella
    N c. Miaplacidus
    Y d. Suhail
1893: On 22 July , your 0442 DR position is LAT 26°35.6'N, LONG 22°16.7'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 104°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 9°55.7'. The chronometer reads 05h 39m 03s, and is 03m 14s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Hamal
    Y b. Rigel
    N c. Menkar
    N d. Acamar
1900: On 22 May , your 0437 DR position is LAT 25°18.5'N, LONG 51°18.0'W. You observed an unidentified star bearing 233°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 29°42.3'. The chronometer reads 07h 40m 40s, and is 03m 24s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Markab
    N b. Diphda
    Y c. Sabik
    N d. Hamal
2094: At your current speed of 20 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 218 miles. You must travel 395 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination? 

    N a. 17.4
    N b. 16.2
    Y c. 14.9
    N d. 13.7
2172: On 11 October , at 0516 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 23°21.0'N, LONG 139°27.0'W. Your vessel is steaming at 14.0 knots on a course of 293°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0927 ZT. The chronometer reads 06h 30m 21s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 39°48.7'. The index error is 2.0' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 02m 56s fast. Your height of eye on the bridge is 63.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 116.2°T
    Y b. 123.4°T
    N c. 126.2°T
    N d. 128.4°T
2179: On 22 June , at 0906 EDT (ZD +4), your position is LAT 24°36'N, LONG 69°30'W. You are on course 165°pgc at a speed of 14.8 knots. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 42°44.0' with an index error of 0.8' off the arc. At this time the chronometer reads 01h 10m 12s, and is 2m 42s slow. If your height of eye is 70 feet, what is the azimuth (Zn) of the sight using the assumed position? 

    Y a. Zn 080.4°
    N b. Zn 081.6°
    N c. Zn 129.0°
    N d. Zn 130.5°
2686: While on a course of 034°pgc, a light bears 8° on the port bow at a distance of 8.8 miles. What course should you steer to pass 2.5 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port? 

    N a. 035°pgc
    Y b. 043°pgc
    N c. 051°pgc
    N d. 059°pgc
2712: What is the length of the trip? 

    N a. 720.8 miles
    N b. 777.4 miles
    Y c. 897.2 miles
    N d. 906.3 miles
2781: 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
2904: Your vessel is on course 093°T at 15 knots. At 1835 a light bears 136°T, and at 1857 the same light bears 170°T. What was your distance off the light at 1857? 

    N a. 6.0 miles
    N b. 6.4 miles
    Y c. 6.8 miles
    N d. 7.2 miles
3107: You are turning 68 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 18 feet, and an estimated slip of +2%. What is the speed of advance? 

    N a. 10.7 knots
    N b. 11.5 knots
    Y c. 11.8 knots
    N d. 12.3 knots
3284: While steaming at 18.9 knots, your vessel consumes 386 barrels of fuel oil per day. In order to reduce consumption to 251 barrels of fuel oil per day, what is the maximum speed the vessel can turn for? 

    N a. 11.6 knots
    N b. 12.3 knots
    N c. 15.2 knots
    Y d. 16.4 knots
3628: Your vessel is steering course 352°psc, variation for the area is 11°E, and deviation is 9°W. The wind is from the northeast, producing a 1° leeway. What true course are you making good? 

    N a. 349°T
    N b. 351°T
    Y c. 353°T
    N d. 355°T
4016: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°W. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a magnetic compass heading of 004°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 354° 122.5° - 114° 239.5° - 234°
030.5° - 024° 152.0° - 144° 269.0° - 264°
061.5° - 054° 181.0° - 174° 298.0° - 294°
092.0° - 084° 210.0° - 204° 327.5° - 324° 

    N a. 1.5°W
    N b. 0.5°W
    N c. 0.0°
    Y d. 1.0°E
10306: You are 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to LAT 41°00.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W? 

    N a. 145.5°psc
    Y b. 142.5°psc
    N c. 138.5°psc
    N d. 127.0°psc
10907: What is the time (DST ZD +4) of the AM high tide at York Point, Poquoson River on 8 September 1983? 

    N a. 0955
    Y b. 1048
    N c. 1055
    N d. 1102
12100: You sight Wolf Trap Light in line with New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" bearing 040° per standard magnetic compass. You are on course 319° per standard magnetic compass. Based on this, you __________. 

    Y a. know the compass error is 8°W
    N b. should apply 3°Easterly deviation to the bearing
    N c. know the deviation table is incorrect
    N d. should suspect the compass may be affected by a local magnetic disturbance
12209: You sight South West Ledge Light in line with New Haven Outer Channel Range Rear Light bearing 338.5° per standard magnetic compass. What is the deviation? 

    Y a. 3°E
    N b. 4°W
    N c. 6°E
    N d. 9°W
13003: At 2102 your position is LAT 41°02.9'N, LONG 72°57.4'W. You are making turns for 16 knots. What is your ETA at a position 5 miles due south of Falkner Island Light? 

    N a. 2149
    Y b. 2155
    N c. 2159
    N d. 2204
13802: Which chart would you use for more detailed information on the Connecticut River? 

    N a. 12354
    N b. 12370
    N c. 12371
    Y d. 12375
13900: The trapezoidal shaped areas enclosed by a thin broken magenta line and located along the south coast of Long Island are __________. 

    N a. designated training areas for Navy amphibious craft
    N b. disposal areas for unexploded munitions
    Y c. fish trap areas
    N d. anchorage areas for small craft
15008: At 1920, the buoy forward of your starboard beam is __________. 

    N a. an interrupted quick flashing buoy
    N b. Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy
    N c. South Light Buoy
    Y d. Sand Shoal Inlet Lighted Buoy "A"
15026: The highest point on your towboat is 53 feet above the water, and the Helena Gage (mile 663 AHP) reads 6.7 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge in Helena? 

    Y a. 59.9 feet
    N b. 62.5 feet
    N c. 64.1 feet
    N d. 65.5 feet
15269: New London Harbor is __________. 

    Y a. limited to vessels drawing less than 36 feet (10.8 meters)
    N b. closed during the winter season
    N c. subject to dangerous freshets in the fall
    N d. difficult to enter at night
15311: You leave York Spit Channel at buoy "14" at 0600 with an engine speed of 12 knots. You receive orders to rendezvous with the tug "Quicksilver" and her tow at Hog Island Bell Buoy "12". What is your ETA at the rendezvous point, if you pass through Chesapeake Channel to buoy "CBJ", through the outbound traffic separation lane to buoy "NCA"
(LL#375), and then to the rendezvous point? 

    N a. 0830
    N b. 0850
    Y c. 0910
    N d. 0935
15469: At 1037, you are on course 010°T at 10 knots, when you take the following bearings:

Old Plantation Flats Light bearing 125°pgc
Wolf Trap Light bearing 338°pgc
New Point Comfort Light bearing 286°pgc


What is your 1037 position? 

    N a. LAT 37°15.9'N, LONG 76°07.1'W
    Y b. LAT 37°16.1'N, LONG 76°07.4'W
    N c. LAT 37°16.2'N, LONG 76°07.8'W
    N d. LAT 37°16.3'N, LONG 76°07.2'W
16061: You have just passed York River Entrance Channel Lighted Buoys "13" and "14". The chart shows a light approximately 1.0 mile off your port beam with a light characteristic "Fl 6 sec". What is the name of this light? 

    N a. Mobjack Bay Entrance Light
    Y b. York Spit Light
    N c. New Point Comfort Light
    N d. York River Entrance Channel Light "1"
16309: From your 0530 position, you set a course of 271°psc with an engine speed of 9 knots. At 0645, Cornfield Safe-Water Buoy "CF" is abeam to port. What speed have you averaged since 0530? 

    N a. 7.5 knots
    Y b. 8.6 knots
    N c. 9.0 knots
    N d. 9.5 knots
16343: At 2302 you change course to compensate for an estimated current of 090°T, at 1.0 knot. What course per gyrocompass will you steer to leave Endeavor Shoals Lighted Gong Buoy "3" abeam to port at 1 mile? 

    N a. 324°pgc
    Y b. 327°pgc
    N c. 330°pgc
    N d. 333°pgc
16414: At 1110, you increase speed to 12 knots. What is your ETA at the new position? 

    N a. 1157
    N b. 1208
    Y c. 1215
    N d. 1219
16842: From your 0939 position, you wish to change course in order to pass 0.3 mile north of Buoy "NCA" (LL#375) in the inbound traffic lane. You estimate the current to be 150°
T at 2.0 knots. What course should you steer to make good the desired course? Your speed is still 13.0 knots. 

    N a. 232°T
    N b. 235°T
    Y c. 245°T
    N d. 249°T