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.

64: What is the length of the trip?
152: How long will it take you to go from the Memphis Gage to your destination in New Orleans, LA, if you estimate the average current on this segment of the route to be 2.0 mph and you increase the engine turns to 8.5 mph.
180: On 4 July you observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 25°29.8'. The index error is 3.1' off the arc. The height of eye is 48 feet (14.6 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
500: Your position is LAT 40°59.0'N, LONG 73°06.2'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to New Haven Harbor Lighted Whistle Buoy "NH"? 

    Y a. 052°
    N b. 049°
    N c. 046°
    N d. 035°
543: What was the current between 0520 and 0600? 

    N a. 201° at 1.0 knot
    N b. 201° at 1.5 knot
    Y c. 021° at 1.5 knot
    N d. 021° at 1.0 knots
683: Which type of daymark would you see on the Belle Island Corner Lt. at mile 458.6 AHP? 

    N a. Green - Diamond
    N b. Green - Square
    N c. Red - Triangle
    Y d. Red - Diamond
730: On 18 November , your 1750 zone time DR position is LONG 110°16.0'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 21°29.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 00h 52m 43s, and the chronometer error is 02m 18s fast. The index error is 3.2' on the arc, and the height of eye is 49.5 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    Y a. 21°03.4'N
    N b. 21°13.4'N
    N c. 21°28.1'N
    N d. 21°35.1'N
825: On 15 August , an ex-meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb at upper transit was observed at 1130 ZT. Your DR position is LAT 26°24.0'S, LONG 155°02.0'E, and your sextant altitude (hs) is 48°45.9'. The index error is 2.6' on the arc, and your height of eye is 51.5 feet. The chronometer time of the observation is 01h 27m 38s, and the chronometer error is 02m 14s slow. Find the latitude at meridian transit from the ex-meridian observation. 

    N a. LAT 26°32.6'S
    Y b. LAT 26°51.6'S
    N c. LAT 26°57.0'S
    N d. LAT 27°09.9'S
981: On 20 September , your 0730 zone time position was LAT 28°58.0'N, LONG 152°26.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 225°T at a speed of 19.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0931 ZT. The chronometer read 07h 29m 20s and was slow 02m 22s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 44°14.4'. LAN occurred at 1206 zone time. The observed altitude (Ho) was 62°49.5'. What was the longitude of your 1200 zone time running fix? 

    N a. LONG 153°32.5'W
    N b. LONG 153°27.2'W
    Y c. LONG 153°23.5'W
    N d. LONG 153°20.0'W
1076: On 25 Mar , your 0500 ZT DR position is LAT 28°14.0'S, LONG 93°17.0'E. You are on course 291°T at a speed of 16.0 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0550 running fix. NP-0006

    Y a. LAT 28°15.9'S, LONG 92°56.9'E
    N b. LAT 28°19.3'S, LONG 92°59.0'E
    N c. LAT 28°06.4'S, LONG 93°02.5'E
    N d. LAT 27°53.2'S, LONG 93°17.6'E
1084: On 4 Dec. , your 1500 ZT DR position is LAT 18°06.0'N, LONG 75°42.0'W. You are on course 020°T at a speed of 15.0 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1548 running fix. 

    N a. LAT 18°10.3'N, LONG 75°34.5'W
    N b. LAT 18°12.6'N, LONG 75°42.0'W
    N c. LAT 18°14.0'N, LONG 75°40.0'W
    Y d. LAT 18°17.3'N, LONG 75°37.7'W
1091: On 10 August , your 0430 ZT position is LAT 29°56.7'S, LONG 139°11.0'E. Your course is 321°T, speed 18.2 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0500 running fix. NP-0021

    N a. LAT 29°46.0'S, LONG 138°54.0'E
    Y b. LAT 29°49.2'S, LONG 138°57.0'E
    N c. LAT 29°56.0'S, LONG 139°03.8'E
    N d. LAT 30°07.5'S, LONG 138°55.2'E
1289: The horizontal clearance of the center span on the Baton Rouge RR and Highway 190 Bridge is __________. 

    N a. 443
    N b. 500
    N c. 575
    Y d. 623
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
1856: On 22 June , your 0424 ZT DR position is LAT 26°18.5'N,
LONG 124°18.2'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 031°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 49°26.0'. The chronometer reads 00h 23m 24s and is 01m 32s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Peacock
    Y b. Schedar
    N c. Ankaa
    N d. Alioth
1928: On 17 March , your 0520 DR position is LAT 27°23.0'N, LONG 39°42.0'W. At this time you observe an unidentified star bearing 270°T with an observed altitude of 46°30.2'. The chronometer reads 08h 22m 15s, and is 01m 45s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Altair
    N b. Alkaid
    Y c. Arcturus
    N d. Deneb
1950: The Greenville Gage reads 10.6 feet. The high point of your towboat is 54 feet above water. What is the vertical
clearance as you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge? 

    N a. 44.4 feet
    N b. 54.2 feet
    Y c. 65.4 feet
    N d. 75.4 feet
2002: On 16 July , your 1810 zone time DR position is LAT 24°16.5'S, LONG 162°52.0'E. Considering their magnitude,
azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time? 

    N a. Arcturus, Spica, Antares
    Y b. Jupiter, Alphard, Alphecca
    N c. Pollux, Mars, Deneb
    N d. Vega, Hadar, Venus
2454: 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
2587: What VHF frequency would you use to listen to a weather forecast for the eastern part of Long Island Sound? 

    N a. 156.65 MHz
    N b. 156.85 MHz
    Y c. 162.475 MHz
    N d. 162.775 MHz
2853: Your vessel is on a course of 343°T at 14 knots. At 2156 a light bears 320.5°T, and at 2217 the light bears 298°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    Y a. 2232, 3.4 miles
    N b. 2235, 4.3 miles
    N c. 2228, 4.9 miles
    N d. 2241, 6.9 miles
2854: Your vessel is on a course of 221°T at 15 knots. At 0319 a light bears 198.5°T, and at 0353 the light bears 176°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0407, 4.3 miles
    N b. 0410, 5.2 miles
    Y c. 0417, 6.0 miles
    N d. 0427, 7.4 miles
2909: You are running coastwise at 14 knots. You sight a lighthouse abeam at 0912. At 0939 the lighthouse is 4 points abaft the beam. What is your distance off at the second bearing? 

    N a. 5.5 miles
    N b. 6.3 miles
    N c. 7.8 miles
    Y d. 8.9 miles
3096: If the pitch of the propeller is 20.1 feet, and the revolutions per day are 118,178, calculate the day's run allowing 6% negative slip. 

    N a. 367.2 miles
    N b. 381.6 miles
    N c. 398.4 miles
    Y d. 414.1 miles
3292: Your vessel consumes 215 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 18.0 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 14.0 knots? 

    N a. 67 bbls
    Y b. 101 bbls
    N c. 130 bbls
    N d. 167 bbls
3462: You are underway on course 160°T at 10 knots. The current is 210°T at 0.9 knots. What is the course made good? 

    N a. 156°T
    N b. 160°T
    Y c. 164°T
    N d. 169°T
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
3614: The true course between two points is 057°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 3° east and you make an allowance of 1° leeway for a north-northwest wind. Which gyro course should be steered to make the true course good? 

    Y a. 053°pgc
    N b. 056°pgc
    N c. 059°pgc
    N d. 060°pgc
3630: You desire to make good a true course of 203°. The variation is 19°E, magnetic compass deviation is 2°W, and gyrocompass error is 1°E. A westerly wind produces a 3° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good? 

    N a. 183°psc
    Y b. 189°psc
    N c. 210°psc
    N d. 223°psc
10104: Your GPS position is LAT 36°55.2'N, LONG 75°33.1'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to Rudee Inlet (LAT 36°49.8'N, LONG 75°58.0'W)? 

    N a. 246.0°psc
    N b. 254.5°psc
    N c. 261.0°psc
    Y d. 265.5°psc
10504: At 1354 your GPS indicates a position of LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°45.8'W. You are on course 088° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 9.5 knots. At 1500 your GPS indicates your position as LAT 37°01.6'N, LONG 75°31.7'W. What were the set and drift? 

    N a. 273°T at 0.8 knot
    N b. 241°T at 1.1 knots
    N c. 061°T at 1.3 knots
    Y d. 092°T at 0.9 knot
10706: At 0726 you depart Lake Montauk with light 1 close aboard and set course 310.5° per standard magnetic compass at 7.6 knots. At 0812 your GPS position is LAT 41°08.1'N, LONG 72°03.7'W. What is the current? 

    N a. 151°T at 1.0 knot
    N b. 164°T at 0.7 knot
    Y c. 334°T at 1.4 knot
    N d. 321°T at 0.8 knot
11104: What is the time of the first PM (Daylight Savings Time) maximum ebb current at Plum Gut on 10 August 1983? 

    N a. 1231
    N b. 1249
    N c. 1340
    Y d. 1445
13004: At 1815 your position is LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°47.3'W. You are making turns for 12.6 knots. What is your ETA at Plum Island Mid Channel Buoy PI (LAT 41°13.3'N, LONG 72°10.8'W)? 

    N a. 2019
    N b. 2028
    Y c. 2032
    N d. 2038
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
15260: From your 0830 position, you wish to make good 097°T. There is no current, but a southerly wind is producing 4°
leeway. What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass in order to make good your true course? 

    N a. 101°psc
    N b. 108°psc
    N c. 110°psc
    Y d. 115°psc
15315: At 1810, you obtain the following radar reading:

Cape Henry Light bearing 252.5° true @4.0 nm


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
    N c. LAT 36°54.9'N, LONG 75°53.8'W
    Y d. LAT 36°56.8'N, LONG 75°55.6'W
15627: What is the vertical clearance of the Natchez Highway Bridge (westbound) when the river level is the same as the Low Water Reference Plane (6.1 ft)? 

    N a. 102.2 ft
    N b. 108.3 ft
    Y c. 119.4 ft
    N d. 125.6 ft
15815: From your 0130 position, you take the following radar ranges:

Mattituck Inlet Light @ 4.6 nm
Falkner Island Light @ 10.75


What is the latitude and longitude of the fix? 

    N a. LAT 41°00.8'N,  LONG 72°40.8'W
    N b. LAT 41°01.2'N,  LONG 72°40.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°01.6'N,  LONG 72°40.0'W
    Y d. LAT 41°02.0'N,  LONG 72°39.5'W
15828: At 0305 on 18 April, you pass under the Greenville Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. Docks (mile 253.6 AHP)? 

    N a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 6.5 mph
    Y c. 6.8 mph
    N d. 7.2 mph
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
15961: At 1810, a red buoy bears 010° relative. This buoy marks __________. 

    N a. the side of York Spit Channel
    N b. the visibility limit of the red sector of Cape Henry Light
    N c. a submerged obstruction in York Spit Channel
    Y d. the York River Entrance Channel
16117: What is the distance from your 0731 fix to Wilmington, N.C.
(LAT 34°14.0'N, LONG 77°57.0'W)? 

    Y a. 339 miles
    N b. 363 miles
    N c. 402 miles
    N d. 486 miles
16208: What is your ETA at point "A"? 

    N a. 0640
    Y b. 0651
    N c. 0655
    N d. 0702
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
16542: At 2308 your position is LAT 41°12.7'N, LONG 72°22.8'W.
You steer a course to make good 255°T from this position. At 2310 you receive a distress call from a vessel anchored 2.1 miles due north of Mattituck Inlet Light. If you change course at 2314, what is the course to steer per gyrocompass to arrive at the distress site if you allow 2°
leeway for northerly winds, 3°E gyro error and correct your course for a current of 073°T at 1.3 knots? 

    N a. 208°pgc
    N b. 212°pgc
    N c. 216°pgc
    Y d. 220°pgc