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.


38: What are the color and shape of Anconia Pt. Light at mile 528.6 AHP?


150: Which dayboard would you see on Puntney Light (mile 943.6 AHP)?


229: If you want a more detailed chart of the area at your 2115 DR position, which chart should you use?


231: From your 2123 position, you are approximately 42 miles from Crisfield, MD. If you are making good a speed of 13 knots, at what time should you arrive at Crisfield, MD?

    N a. 0148
    N b. 0112
    Y c. 0037
    N d. 2359

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

369: At 0812, you obtain the following radar information:


Cape Henry Light bearing 284°true @ 3.8 nm

What is your 0812 position?

    N a. LAT 36°53.7'N, LONG 75°56.0'W
    N b. LAT 36°53.8'N, LONG 75°56.1'W
    Y c. LAT 36°54.6'N, LONG 75°55.8'W
    N d. LAT 36°55.2'N, LONG 75°55.4'W

389: Which statement describes the shore between Watch Hill Point and Point Judith?

    N a. Low, rocky cliffs
    N b. Heavily wooded hills
    Y c. Sandy beaches broken by rocky points
    N d. Barren hills with prominent buildings

477: The great circle distance from LAT 08°50.0'N, LONG 80°21.0'W to LAT 12°36.0'N, LONG 128°16.0'E is 8664 miles, and the initial course is 306.6°T. Determine the latitude of the vertex.

    Y a. 37°30.2'N
    N b. 37°39.6'N
    N c. 37°48.2'N
    N d. 37°53.6'N

490: At 0728, you change course to 080°T. When steady on course, the standard magnetic compass reads 097°. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. The magnetic compass error is 17°W.
    N b. The magnetic heading is 090°.
    N c. The deviation is 1.0°E.
    N d. The gyro course is 083°pgc.

541: You depart LAT 16°24'S, LONG 169°38'W, for LAT 16°24'S, LONG 174°52'E. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing?

    N a. 090°T, 301 miles
    N b. 090°T, 892 miles
    N c. 270°T, 301 miles
    Y d. 270°T, 892 miles

558: At 0530, you change course to 090°T and increase speed to 8.5 knots. What is the course to steer per gyro compass if northerly winds are causing 2° of leeway?

    N a. 094°pgc
    N b. 092°pgc
    Y c. 090°pgc
    N d. 088°pgc

563: At 0705, the gyro loses power. At 0715, you are on course 092° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: Falkner Light bears 356°psc, Horton Point Light bears 123°psc, and Kelsey Point Breakwater Light bears 048°psc. What is the position of your 0715 fix?

    N a. LAT 41°06.7'N, LONG 72°36.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°07.0'N, LONG 72°36.2'W
    N c. LAT 41°07.2'N, LONG 72°36.4'W
    N d. LAT 41°07.4'N, LONG 72°36.4'W

618: Your vessel departs Seattle at 1010 zone time (ZD +8), on 28 May, bound for Apra, Guam (ZD -10). The distance by great circle is 4,948 miles, and you estimate that you will average 18.5 knots. What is your estimated zone time of arrival?

    Y a. 0737, 9 June
    N b. 1737, 9 June
    N c. 1937, 9 June
    N d. 0737, 10 June

632: The Memphis Gage reads 18.4 feet. The high point of your towboat is 48 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Memphis Highway Bridge?

    Y a. 46.4 feet
    N b. 53.8 feet
    N c. 66.4 feet
    N d. 75.4 feet

658: You are planning a voyage by great circle from LAT 59°00'N, LONG 07°00'W via LAT 38°00'N, LONG 61°30'W. Which of the following statements is TRUE? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5274)

    N a. You are to the east of the Northern Hemisphere vertex.
    N b. When plotted on a Mercator chart the track line will be concave to Cape Farwell (Kap Farvel).
    Y c. All courses are in the southwest quadrant of the compass.
    N d. Distance is measured by using the length of a degree of latitude at the midpoint of the track line.

752: On 5 May , at 1953 zone time, you take a sextant observation of Polaris. Your vessel's DR position is LAT 29°30.0'N, LONG 66°25.7'W, and your sextant reads 29°07.2'. Your chronometer reads 11h 51m 45s, and your chronometer error is 01m 36s slow. Your height of eye is 56 feet, and the index error for your sextant is 1.5' on the arc. What is the latitude of your vessel from your observation of Polaris?

    N a. 29°14.3'N
    Y b. 29°23.6'N
    N c. 29°32.3'N
    N d. 29°38.8'N

987: On 17 January , your 0730 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 22°26.0'S, LONG 152°17.0'E. Your vessel is steaming on a course of 116°T at a speed of 17 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 1015 zone time. The chronometer reads 00h 13m 23s, and the chronometer error is 01m 49s slow. The observed altitude (Ho) is 66°02.1'. LAN occurs at 1152 zone time and a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is made. The observed altitude (Ho) is 87°54.2'. Determine the vessel's 1200 zone time position.

    Y a. LAT 22°53.8'S, LONG 153°25.6'E
    N b. LAT 22°53.8'S, LONG 153°28.8'E
    N c. LAT 22°56.3'S, LONG 153°25.6'E
    N d. LAT 22°56.3'S, LONG 153°28.8'E

1215: It is 9 February and you are keeping zone time -6. You are on course 258°T, speed 19 knots. Your 0840 DR position is LAT 26°21.0'S, LONG 78°39.0'E. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks?

    N a. 12h 05m 21s
    N b. 12h 37m 12s
    N c. 13h 13m 40s
    Y d. 13h 05m 44s

1245: The highest point on your towboat is 67 feet above the water, and the Helena Gage reads +22.3 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the A-span of the Helena Highway Bridge?

    N a. 74.7 feet
    N b. 52.4 feet
    N c. 49.8 feet
    Y d. 30.1 feet

1246: 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.

1265: On 22 November , your 1400 ZT DR position is LAT 22°16.0'N, LONG 136°37.0'E. You are on course 038°T at a speed of 22 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    Y a. 1705
    N b. 1710
    N c. 1714
    N d. 1718

1339: At 1300, 5 January, the river will be temporarily closed to navigation for six hours at mile 531.3 AHP due to repairs to a bridge. What minimum speed over the ground must you make from Natchez Gage in order not to be delayed?

    N a. 5.7 mph
    Y b. 6.0 mph
    N c. 6.8 mph
    N d. 7.3 mph

1431: As you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge, you estimate the current as 4.5 mph. What is the speed over the ground, if your vessel is making turns for 9 mph?

    N a. 9.5 mph
    Y b. 13.5 mph
    N c. 14.5 mph
    N d. 16.5 mph

1501: On 3 October , your 0330 zone time (ZD + 5) DR position is LAT 47°41'N, LONG 86°49'W. At that time, you observe Polaris bearing 357.5°pgc. The chronometer time of the observation is 08h 32m 04s, and the chronometer is 0m 27s slow. The variation is 5.5°W. What is the gyro error?

    N a. 7.5°E
    N b. 5.0°E
    N c. 3.5°E
    Y d. 2.0°E

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

2103: On 24 August , in DR position LAT 26°49.4'N, LONG 146°19.4'E, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 084°psc. The chronometer reads 07h 55m 06s and is 01m 11s fast. Variation in the area is 15°W. What is the deviation of the magnetic compass?

    N a. 8.0°E
    Y b. 8.3°E
    N c. 8.5°E
    N d. 8.7°E

2174: On 18 October , at 0518 ZT, morning stars were observed and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 25°31.0'N, LONG 146°29.2'E. Your vessel is steaming at 19.0 knots on a course of 308°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0915 ZT. The chronometer reads 11h 17m 11s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 34°51.4'. The index error is 2.0' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 57s fast. Your height of eye on the bridge is 54.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    N a. 120.6°T
    N b. 121.9°T
    Y c. 125.5°T
    N d. 127.3°T

2332: If you are making 8.3 knots over the ground, what is your ETA at the turning point in York Spit Channel at buoy "29"?

    Y a. 0521
    N b. 0509
    N c. 0459
    N d. 0448

2456: You have steamed 520 miles at 22 knots and burning 319 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 137 barrels per day with 410 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 12.8
    N b. 14.8
    Y c. 16.2
    N d. 18.2

2702: You are underway on course 241°T at a speed of 18.2 knots.
You sight a daymark bearing 241°T at a radar range of 3.9 miles at 1006. If you change course at 1009, what is the course to steer to leave the daymark abeam to starboard at 1.0 mile?

    N a. 218°T
    Y b. 222°T
    N c. 257°T
    N d. 260°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

2716: The charts show two dashed lines crossing the river just south of St. Catherine Bar Light. What does this indicate?

    N a. Overhead power lines
    N b. Louisiana-Mississippi ferry crossings
    N c. Two railroad trestles
    Y d. Two submerged oil pipelines

2788: The solid lines extending into the channel at mile 948 AHP are __________.

    Y a. dikes
    N b. revetments
    N c. spoil areas
    N d. Meadwestvaco pipeline

2852: Your vessel is on a course of 129°T at 13 knots. At 1937 a light bears 151.5°T. At 2003 the light bears 174°T. At which time and distance off will your vessel be when abeam of this light?

    N a. 2016, 2.8 miles
    N b. 2016, 3.9 miles
    Y c. 2021, 3.9 miles
    N d. 2021, 2.8 miles

3296: Your vessel consumes 199 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 14.5 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 10.0 knots?

    Y a. 65 bbls
    N b. 95 bbls
    N c. 137 bbls
    N d. 148 bbls

3309: You have steamed 142 miles and consumed 15.0 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 472 miles?

    N a. 36.5 tons
    Y b. 49.9 tons
    N c. 53.8 tons
    N d. 61.4 tons

3465: You are underway on course 000°T at 9.5 knots. The current is 082°T at 1.1 knots. What is the course being made good?

    Y a. 007°T
    N b. 009°T
    N c. 021°T
    N d. 353°T

10102: Your GPS position is LAT 37°07.5'N, LONG 75°39.1'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass (psc) to a position 0.3 mile due north of North Chesapeake Entrance Buoy NCA (LL #375)?

    N a. 222°psc
    N b. 228°psc
    N c. 231°psc
    Y d. 234°psc

10308: You are 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position 1.5 miles due east of Watch Hill Point Light?

    N a. 341°psc
    N b. 337°psc
    N c. 011°psc
    Y d. 007°psc

10903: What is the distance from Norfolk to Philadelphia for a deep draft vessel via the Chesapeake Bay and C and D Canal ?

    N a. 209 miles
    Y b. 245 miles
    N c. 286 miles
    N d. 302 miles

13806: The chart symbol surrounding Saybrook Breakwater Light warns mariners that the navigational light structure is __________.

    N a. no longer maintained
    Y b. protected by riprap
    N c. privately maintained
    N d. awash at high tide

14103: You are approaching Bonneville Lock and Dam and desire lockage. Which call sign should you use to contact the lock?

    Y a. WUJ 33
    N b. WUJ 34
    N c. WUJ 41
    N d. WUJ 45

15113: At 1845, you obtain the following bearings:

Old Plantation Flats Light bearing 251° true
New Point Comfort Light bearing 334° true

Your latitude is __________.

    N a. 37°10.7'N
    N b. 37°10.9'N
    N c. 37°11.0'N
    Y d. 37°11.2'N

15344: From your 1850 position of 41°12.8'N, 71°44.1'W, you change course to 060°T. If you make the course good,
what will be your predicted distance off Point Judith Light when the Light bears 015°T?

    N a. 1.2 miles
    N b. 1.9 miles
    Y c. 2.7 miles
    N d. 3.4 miles

15567: Point Judith Harbor of Refuge __________.

    N a. is used mostly by towing vessels
    N b. has a maximum depth of 14 feet (4.3 meters) at MHW
    N c. West Gap has a controlling depth of 24 feet
    Y d. is entered through the East Gap or the West Gap

15662: At 0748, you take the following bearings:

Watch Hill Point Light bearing 026.5°pgc
Race Point Light bearing 275.5°pgc


What is the approximate depth of water under the keel at this position?

    N a. 325 feet (98.5 meters)
    N b. 175 feet (53.0 meters)
    N c. 130 feet (39.4 meters)
    Y d. 112 feet (33.9 meters)

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°

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

16340: If you make good your intended course and speed, at what time will you cross the 150-foot curve?

    N a. 2237
    N b. 2249
    Y c. 2256
    N d. 2301

16415: You can follow what loran reading between your two positions?

    N a. There is no loran reading to follow.
    N b. 9960-Y-43958
    N c. 9960-W-14655
    Y d. 9960-X-25982

16518: At 0845, Montauk Pt. Light is bearing 205°T at a radar distance of 6.6 miles. What is your speed made good from your 0815 position?

    Y a. 8.2knots
    N b. 9.2 knots
    N c. 10.0 knots
    N d. 10.5 knots

16713: At 0600 you take the following bearings:

Point Judith Light bearing 063°pgc
Block Island North Reef Light bearing 144°pgc

What is your 0600 position?

    N a. LAT 41°18.1'N, LONG 71°38.3'W
    Y b. LAT 41°18.3'N, LONG 71°38.7'W
    N c. LAT 41°18.4'N, LONG 72°38.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°18.5'N, LONG 71°38.9'W