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.


72: In order to determine what buoys, if any, are in place at Concordia Bar crossing (mile 596.0 AHP), what should you check?


77: You pass Morrison Towhead Light (mile 890.5 AHP) at 1723. What was your average speed since leaving Cairo?


84: What is the distance from the Amoco Docks at Baton Rouge, LA, to the mouth of the Ohio River?


143: At 1609, on October 5, you are abeam of Star Landing Lt. (mile 707.2 AHP) . You calculate your speed since you departed Sycamore Chute fleeting area. If you are turning for 9.5 mph what was the current?

    N a. 1.0 mph
    N b. 1.5 mph
    Y c. 2.0 mph
    N d. 2.5 mph

149: Your engines are turning for 8.2 mph. You estimate the current at 1.5 mph. What is your speed over the ground?

    Y a. 9.7 mph
    N b. 8.8 mph
    N c. 8.2 mph
    N d. 6.7 mph

434: As you enter the New Haven Outer Channel, you sight the outer range markers in line directly ahead. Your heading at this time is 347°psc. What is your compass deviation by observation?

    N a. 4.5°West
    N b. 3.5°West
    N c. 3.0°East
    Y d. 0.5°East

547: At 0705, you change course to head for The Race. You wish to leave Race Rock Light bearing due north at 0.4 mile. If the current is 100°T, at 2.8 knots, and you are turning for 12.0 knots, what course (pgc) should you steer?

    N a. 267°pgc
    Y b. 263°pgc
    N c. 255°pgc
    N d. 250°pgc

551: You are on course 092°T, and the engines are turning for 8 knots. At 0452, you take the following bearings:
Stratford Point Light 020°pgc Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light 141°pgc

What is your 0452 position?

    Y a. LAT 41°05.2'N, LONG 73°07.8'W
    N b. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 73°07.5'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 73°07.3'W
    N d. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°07.3'W

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

1123: What is the vertical clearance of the Vicksburg Highway 80 Bridge when the river level is the same as the Low Water Reference Plane?

    N a. 128.3 ft
    N b. 125.6 ft
    N c. 119.5 ft
    Y d. 116.3 ft

1243: What is the width of the widest span of the Cairo Highway Bridge (Upper Mississippi River mile 1.3)?

    N a. 800 feet
    Y b. 675 feet
    N c. 625 feet
    N d. 503 feet

1275: At 1730 zone time, on 3 March , your DR position is LAT 16°00'S, LONG 80°00'W. You are steering 000°T at a speed of 7.5 knots. What is the zone time of sunset?

    N a. 1829
    N b. 1834
    Y c. 1843
    N d. 1852

1279: At 0327 ZT, on 29 May , your DR position is LAT 25°00'N, LONG 64°15'W. You are steering 270°T at a speed of 13.6 knots. What is the zone time of sunrise?

    N a. 0521
    Y b. 0529
    N c. 0536
    N d. 0548

1622: Which of the following statements concerning the buoys on the Mississippi River is TRUE?

    N a. The position of river buoys can be determined by consulting the latest Light List - Vol. V.
    N b. A preferred channel mark is a lateral mark indicating a channel junction which must always be passed to starboard.
    N c. Buoys should be passed as close as possible.
    Y d. Setting a buoy is the act of placing a buoy on assigned position in the water.

1810: You are turning for 9 mph, approaching Fort Adams Lt. (mile 311.4 AHP) and it is reported that the current at Knox Landing is estimated at 4.5 MPH. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    Y a. Tows and other vessels should navigate as close to the left descending bank as safety will permit.
    N b. The inflow channel is a navigable channel for any vessel.
    N c. You are making 13.5 mph over the ground.
    N d. Old River Control Structure Light and Fort Adams Light may be used as range lights when entering the outflow channel.

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

1877: On 2 October , your 1845 DR position is LAT 28°09.2'S, LONG 167°48.1'E. You observe a faint star through a hole in the clouds at a sextant altitude (hs) of 63°29.1' bearing 237.5°T. The index error is 1.3' off the arc, and the height of eye is 42 feet. The chronometer reads 07h 46m 19s and is 0m 51s fast. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Kappa Scorpii
    N b. Beta Ophiuchi
    N c. Alpha Arae
    N d. Beta Draconis

1904: On 22 March , your 0519 DR position is LAT 27°20.6'N, LONG 69°25.6'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 115°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 54°52.8'. The chronometer reads 10h 16m 47s, and is 02m 15s slow. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Altair
    N b. Enif
    N c. Menkar
    N d. Rigel

1922: On 17 March , your 1845 DR position is LAT 25°10.0'N, LONG 66°48.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 320°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 50°02.9'. The chronometer reads 10h 47m 49s, and is 1m 54s fast. What star did you observe?

    N a. Capella
    Y b. Mirfak
    N c. Pollux
    N d. Rigel

2101: On 2 January , your 1759 zone time DR position is LONG 45°17.6'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 24°16.5'. The chronometer time of the sight is 08h 57m 10s, and the chronometer error is 02m 16s slow. The index error is 3.5' on the arc, and the height of eye is 42.5 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris?

    N a. 22°50.2'N
    Y b. 23°18.8N
    N c. 23°30.2N
    N d. 24°07.3'N

2157: On 25 May , your vessel's 1917 zone time position is LAT 24°16.0'N, LONG 017°26.0'W. At that time a sextant observation of the planet Saturn was made. The sextant altitude is 63°05.1', and the chronometer reads 08h 18m 24s. The index error is 4.5' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 05s fast. Your height of eye is determined to be 62.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    N a. 143.8°
    Y b. 147.3°
    N c. 148.7°
    N d. 149.9°

2371: Which of the following statements are TRUE?

    N a. Oil well structures are listed in the Light List.
    N b. All aids to navigation with lights have lateral significance.
    Y c. On the Western Rivers, crossing marks may exhibit white lights.
    N d. None of the above.

2442: Anchorage regulations for this area may be obtained from __________.

    N a. Office of Commander 2nd Coast Guard District
    Y b. District Engineer, Corps of Engineers, Norfolk, VA
    N c. Virginia - Maryland Pilots Association
    N d. Chesapeake Bay Port Authority, Hampton VA

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

2896: You are steaming on a course of 133°T at 16 knots. At 2216 you observe a lighthouse bearing 086°T. At 2223 the lighthouse bears 054°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing?

    N a. 1.7 miles
    N b. 2.0 miles
    N c. 2.3 miles
    Y d. 2.6 miles

3266: Your vessel has consumed 1087 bbls of fuel after steaming 2210 miles at a speed of 10.75 kts. What is the maximum speed you can steam for the last 1000 miles of the voyage on the remaining 725 bbls, if you estimate 3% of the fuel is not usable?

    N a. 11.43 knots
    N b. 11.76 knots
    Y c. 12.84 knots
    N d. 15.33 knots

3305: You have steamed 201 miles and consumed 18.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 482 miles?

    N a. 25.2 tons
    Y b. 43.2 tons
    N c. 52.6 tons
    N d. 103.5 tons

3472: You are taking a time tick using the 2000 signal from Kekaha-Kauai, Hawaii (WWVH). You hear a series of 1 second dashes followed by a 9 second silent period, then a long 1.3 second dash. At the beginning of the long dash, your comparing watch reads 08h 00m 49s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 08h 01m 33s, and the chronometer reads 08h 00m 56s. What is the chronometer error?

    Y a. 0m 12s fast
    N b. 0m 56s fast
    N c. 0m 44s slow
    N d. 1m 26s slow

3619: Your vessel is steering course 149°psc, variation for the area is 13°E, and deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the northeast, producing a 4° leeway. What true course are you making good?

    N a. 128°T
    N b. 136°T
    N c. 162°T
    Y d. 170°T

3635: You desire to make good a true course of 236°. The variation is 8°E, magnetic compass deviation is 1°E, and gyrocompass error is 3°W. A south-southeasterly wind produces a 1° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to make the true course good?

    Y a. 226°psc
    N b. 228°psc
    N c. 244°psc
    N d. 246°psc

3642: You are steering 154° per gyrocompass. The wind is northeast by east, causing 4° leeway. The gyro error is 3° east, variation is 11° west, and deviation is 7°E. What is the true course made good?

    N a. 151°T
    N b. 158°T
    Y c. 161°T
    N d. 164°T

3651: The true course between two points is 337°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 3°E and you make an allowance of 5° leeway for a west wind. Which gyro course should be steered to make the true course good?

    Y a. 329°pgc
    N b. 335°pgc
    N c. 339°pgc
    N d. 345°pgc

10307: You are 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position 0.5 mile due south of Race Rock Light?

    Y a. 324°psc
    N b. 328°psc
    N c. 331°psc
    N d. 339°psc

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

13101: At 1523 your position is LAT 41°08.2'N, LONG 71°34.4'W. You are turning for 8.7 knots. What is your ETA at Shagwong Reef Buoy "7SR"?

    N a. 1653
    N b. 1700
    Y c. 1711
    N d. 1718

14203: What is the vertical clearance of the fixed bridge across the entrance to Rock Creek at Stevenson, Washington?

    Y a. 18 feet
    N b. 36 feet
    N c. 54 feet
    N d. 70 feet

15028: At what time would you listen to VHF Channel 22 (157.1 MHz) for information concerning the stage of the river between Memphis and Cairo?

    N a. 1115
    N b. 1235
    Y c. 1300
    N d. 1815

15357: If the visibility is 10 miles, what is the earliest time you can expect to see New Haven Light?

    N a. The light is visible at 0452.
    N b. 0458
    N c. 0510
    Y d. You will not sight the light.

15612: At 1920, Cape Henry Light bears 225°pgc, and Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light bears 288°pgc. If your heading is 268°T, what is the relative bearing of Chesapeake Light?

    N a. 194°
    N b. 205°
    Y c. 213°
    N d. 220°

15628: The Natchez Gage reads 20.6 feet. The high point on your towboat is 47 feet above the water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Natchez Highway Bridge?

    Y a. 58.0 feet
    N b. 64.1 feet
    N c. 72.5 feet
    N d. 78.6 feet

15765: The wind is northerly, and you estimate 3° leeway. Allowing for leeway what is the course to steer per gyro compass from your 0745 position to pass 1 mile south of Watch Hill Buoy "WH"?

    Y a. 077°pgc
    N b. 082°pgc
    N c. 085°pgc
    N d. 087°pgc

15826: In high water conditions, which publication would you consult for the latest information on buoys between Baton Rouge and Cairo?

    Y a. U.S.C.G. Local Notice to Mariners
    N b. U.S.C.G. Light List
    N c. Army Corps. of Engineers Navigation Chart
    N d. List of Buoys and Daymarks

16059: At 1800, Tue Marshes Light bears 270°pgc, and York Spit Swash Channel Light "3" bears 007°pgc. Your position is __________.

    N a. LAT 37°14.0'N, LONG 76°19.8'W
    N b. LAT 37°14.2'N, LONG 76°20.3'W
    Y c. LAT 37°14.2'N, LONG 76°20.1'W
    N d. LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°20.0'W

16145: At 2054 Block Island Southeast Point Light bears 054°T at 6.9 miles and Southwest Ledge Lighted Bell Buoy 2 is 1.6 miles off to port. The set and drift from 2027 to 2054 is __________.

    Y a. 127°T at 3.1 knots
    N b. 127°T at 1.4 knots
    N c. 307°T at 3.1 knots
    N d. 307°T at 1.4 knots

16241: At 2129 Cape Charles Light bears 253°T, Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy "12" bears 351°T, and Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14" bears 230°T. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The fathometer reads about 62 feet (18.9 meters).
    N b. The bottom is hard sand and oysters.
    N c. You are to seaward of the contiguous zone.
    Y d. You are governed by the International Rules of the Road.

16319: As you enter the New Haven Outer Channel, you sight the outer range markers in line directly ahead. Your heading at this time is 347°psc. What is your compass deviation by observation?

    Y a. 0.5°East
    N b. 3.0°East
    N c. 3.5°West
    N d. 4.5°East

16445: At 1126 you take the following set of bearings:

Chesapeake Litght bears 142° true
Cape Henry Light bears 225° true.

What was the current encountered since your 1042 fix?

    N a. Set 276°, Drift 0.5 knot
    N b. Set 276°, Drift 0.7 knot
    N c. Set 096°, Drift 0.5 knot
    Y d. Set 096°, Drift 0.7 knot

16613: At 0112, you are on course 124°T and turning for 12.0 knots. What course will you make good if the current is 255°T at 1.2 knots?

    N a. 132°
    Y b. 129°
    N c. 120°
    N d. 118°

16718: At 0705, you change course to head for The Race. You wish to leave Race Rock Light bearing due north at 0.4 mile. If the current is 100°T, at 2.8 knots, and you are turning for 12.0 knots, what course (pgc) should you steer?

    N a. 250°pgc
    N b. 255°pgc
    Y c. 263°pgc
    N d. 267°pgc