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.

117: At 0645, on the 17th of April, you pass Hole in the Wall Lt. (mile 373.4 AHP). What has been your average speed since departing the Exxon Refinery?
246: The red sector of New London Harbor Light covers from __________.
285: At 1845, you plot the following bearing lines:

Old Plantation Flats Light bearing 251°true
New Point Comfort Light bearing 335°true

Your latitude is __________.
296: At 1800, Tue Marshes Light bears 264.5°pgc, York Spit Swash Channel Light "3" bears 007°pgc. Your position is __________. 

    N a. LAT 37°15.5'N,  LONG 76°19.8'W
    N b. LAT 37°15.2'N,  LONG 76°20.3'W
    Y c. LAT 37°14.5'N,  LONG 76°20.1'W
    N d. LAT 37°15.0'N,  LONG 76°20.4'W
313: At 1400, your position is LAT 37°14.7'N, LONG 76°22.3'W. From this position, you head for the York River Entrance Channel Buoy "17". What should you steer per standard magnetic compass for this heading? 

    Y a. 125°psc
    N b. 122°psc
    N c. 119°psc
    N d. 108°psc
423: At 0530, your position is LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 72°08.5'W. What is the color of New London Harbor Light? 

    N a. Green
    N b. White
    Y c. Red
    N d. Alternating white and green
442: Shortly after getting underway, you sight Stonington Outer Breakwater Light in line with Stonington Inner Breakwater Light bearing 000° per gyrocompass. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. The deviation is 2°W
    N b. The variation is 2°E.
    N c. The compass error is 16°W.
    Y d. The gyro error is 2.5°W
482: The great circle distance from LAT 25°50'N, LONG 77°00'W to LAT 35°56'N, LONG 06°15'W is 3616 miles, and the initial course is 061.7°T. Determine the longitude of the vertex, given the latitude of the vertex as 37°34.9'N. 

    N a. 25°49.8'W
    N b. 25°53.2'W
    Y c. 25°59.0'W
    N d. 26°03.4'W
520: On 29 June you observe the star Achernar at a sextant altitude (Hs) of 54°18.9'. The index error is 4.7' off the arc. The height of eye is 58 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 54°06.1'
    Y b. 54°15.5'
    N c. 54°31.5'
    N d. 54°43.7'
553: At 0507, Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light bears 208°pgc. What is the position of your 0507 running fix? 

    N a. LAT 41°04.6'N, LONG 73°04.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°04.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°04.9'W
    Y d. LAT 41°05.1'N, LONG 73°05.1'W
604: At 1820 zone time, on 21 March , you depart San Francisco, LAT 37°48.5'N, LONG 122°24.0'W (ZD +8). You are bound for Melbourne, LAT 37°49.2'S, LONG 144°56.0'E, and you estimate your speed of advance at 21 knots. The distance is 6,970 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Melbourne? 

    N a. 1214, 4 April
    N b. 2214, 4 April
    Y c. 0814, 5 April
    N d. 1314, 5 April
610: At 0820 zone time, on 10 April , you depart Yokohoma, LAT 35°27.0'N, LONG 139°39.0'E (ZD -9). You are bound for Honolulu, LAT 21°18.5'N, LONG 157°52.2'W (ZD +10) and you estimate your speed of advance at 17.5 knots. The distance is 3,397 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Honolulu? 

    N a. 0127, 17 April
    Y b. 1527, 17 April
    N c. 0127, 18 April
    N d. 0927, 18 April
707: What is the width of the widest span of the Cairo Highway Bridge (Upper Mississippi River mile 1.3)? 

    N a. 503 feet
    N b. 625 feet
    Y c. 675 feet
    N d. 800 feet
741: On 16 February , your 1845 ZT DR position is LAT 25°50.5'N, LONG 46°24.0'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 26°25.5'. The chronometer time of the sight is 09h 47m 30s and the chronometer error is 02m 16s fast. The index error is 2.5' off the arc, and the height of eye is 55.0 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    Y a. 25°38.0'N
    N b. 25°44.2'N
    N c. 26°00.1'N
    N d. 26°37.5'N
988: On 29 June , your 0800 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 26°16.0'S, LONG 61°04.0'E. Your vessel is steaming a course of 079°T at a speed of 15.5 knots. An observation of the Sun's upper limb is made at 0905 zone time, and the observed altitude (Ho) is 25°20.1. The chronometer reads 05h 08m 12s, and the chronometer error is 02m 27s fast. Local apparent noon occurs at 1154 zone time, and a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is made. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 40°44.2'. Determine the vessel's 1200 zone time position. 

    Y a. LAT 26°02.0'S, LONG 62°05.0'E
    N b. LAT 26°02.0'S, LONG 62°23.2'E
    N c. LAT 26°05.1'S, LONG 62°06.3'E
    N d. LAT 25°56.0'S, LONG 62°03.0'E
1082: On 20 Nov. , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 27°16.0'N, LONG 157°18.6'E. You are on course 060°T at a speed of 20 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1200 running fix. NP-0012

    N a. LAT 27°16.8'N, LONG 157°30.5'E
    N b. LAT 27°22.6'N, LONG 157°37.8'E
    Y c. LAT 27°29.7'N, LONG 157°43.0'E
    N d. LAT 27°33.4'N, LONG 157°48.2'E
1096: On 24 October , your 0100 DR position is LAT 27°42'N, LONG 158°35'E. You are on course 085°T at a speed of 12 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0700 running fix. NP-0026

    N a. LAT 27°48.8'N, LONG 160°12.5'E
    N b. LAT 27°52.5'N, LONG 160°18.2'E
    Y c. LAT 27°56.0'N, LONG 159°47.3'E
    N d. LAT 27°58.4'N, LONG 159°43.5'E
1138: After you get underway, what is the first river gage you will pass? 

    Y a. Donaldsonville
    N b. Head of Passes
    N c. Baton Rouge
    N d. Red River Landing
1176: On 24 January , your 0700 zone time DR position is LAT 22°25.0'N, LONG 46°10.0'W. Your vessel is on course 110°T at a speed of 12.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1203
    N b. 1208
    Y c. 1212
    N d. 1215
1200: On 26 September , your 0830 DR position is LAT 26°04.0'N, LONG 129°16.0'W. Your vessel is on a course of 119°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    Y a. 1124
    N b. 1128
    N c. 1142
    N d. 1146
1495: On 9 September , your 2043 ZT position is LAT 24°18'N, LONG 66°46'W. You observe Polaris bearing 001°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 031°pgc and 040°psc. The variation is 11°W. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    N a. 0°
    N b. 1°W
    N c. 3°W
    Y d. 2°E
1707: You are passing the Memphis Gage at 0405, 18 March. If you are turning for 8 mph and estimate the current at 2.3 mph,
what is your ETA at Cairo Point, IL (mile 954.5 AHP)? 

    N a. 0447, 19 Mar
    N b. 1052, 19 Mar
    N c. 1518, 19 Mar
    Y d. 1839, 19 Mar
1730: What is the distance from Arkansas City, AR, to St. Louis, MO, on the Mississippi River System? 

    Y a. 584 miles
    N b. 617 miles
    N c. 733 miles
    N d. 832 miles
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
2425: You are taking a time tick using the 2100 signal from Callao, Peru. 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 09h 00m 07s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 09h 01m 12s, and the chronometer reads 08h 59m 32s. What is the chronometer error? 

    Y a. 1m 33s slow
    N b. 0m 28s slow
    N c. 1m 05s fast
    N d. 0m 07s fast
2707: You are underway on course 128°T at a speed of 17.6 knots. You sight a daymark bearing 126°T at a radar range of 4.3 miles at 1649. If you change course at 1654, what is the course to steer to leave the daymark abeam to starboard at 0.5 mile? 

    Y a. 113°T
    N b. 116°T
    N c. 119°T
    N d. 136°T
2863: Your vessel is underway on a course of 115°T at 18 knots. At 1850 a lighthouse bears 137.5°T. At 1920, the same lighthouse bears 160°T. What time will the lighthouse pass abeam to starboard? 

    N a. 1929
    Y b. 1941
    N c. 1949
    N d. 1955
2863: Your vessel is underway on a course of 115°T at 18 knots. At 1850 a lighthouse bears 137.5°T. At 1920, the same lighthouse bears 160°T. What time will the lighthouse pass abeam to starboard? 

    N a. 1929
    Y b. 1941
    N c. 1949
    N d. 1955
2874: Your vessel is on a course of 207°T at 13 knots. At 0539 a light bears 180.5°T, and at 0620 the light bears 162°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0633, 5.9 miles
    N b. 0641, 6.5 miles
    N c. 0653, 7.6 miles
    Y d. 0701, 8.9 miles
3256: You have steamed 918 miles at 15.0 knots, and consumed 183 tons of fuel. If you have 200 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 12 knots? 

    N a. 1021 miles
    N b. 1261 miles
    Y c. 1568 miles
    N d. 1960 miles
3318: While steaming at 12 knots, your vessel burns 45 tons of fuel per day. What will be the rate of fuel consumption if you decrease speed to 11.5 knots? 

    N a. 31 tons/day
    N b. 36 tons/day
    Y c. 40 tons/day
    N d. 43 tons/day
4001: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°E. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a magnetic compass heading of 143°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 350° 122.5° - 110° 239.5° - 230°
030.5° - 020° 152.0° - 140° 269.0° - 260°
061.5° - 050° 181.0° - 170° 298.0° - 290°
092.0° - 080° 210.0° - 200° 327.5° - 320° 

    Y a. 2.0°W
    N b. 1.5°W
    N c. 0.5°W
    N d. 0.0°
4008: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°E. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a gyro heading of 037°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 350° 122.5° - 110° 239.5° - 230°
030.5° - 020° 152.0° - 140° 269.0° - 260°
061.5° - 050° 181.0° - 170° 298.0° - 290°
092.0° - 080° 210.0° - 200° 327.5° - 320° 

    Y a. 1.0°W
    N b. 1.5°W
    N c. 1.5°E
    N d. 2.0°E
10105: What is the course psc from Chesapeake Light to North Chesapeake Entrance Buoy NCA? 

    N a. 313°psc
    N b. 317°psc
    Y c. 321°psc
    N d. 325°psc
11302: At 1614 your GPS position is LAT 37°01.6'N, LONG 75°31.7'W. At 1703 your position is LAT 36°57.0'N, LONG 75°41.0'W. What was the course made good between the fixes? 

    Y a. 238°T
    N b. 242°T
    N c. 247°T
    N d. 250°T
12500: You are on course 135° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings per standard magnetic compass: Cape Henry Light 266° Cape Charles Light 353°Chesapeake Light 124° What is your position? 

    Y a. LAT 36°57.3'N, LONG 75°50.9'W
    N b. LAT 36°57.5'N, LONG 75°50.1'W
    N c. LAT 36°57.6'N, LONG 75°51.6'W
    N d. LAT 35°57.9'N, LONG 75°50.8'W
14002: At 1630 your vessel exits Bonneville Lock steaming in a westerly direction. What speed must you average to arrive at the Interstate 5 highway bridge with an ETA of 2120? 

    N a. 6 mph
    N b. 7 mph
    Y c. 8 mph
    N d. 9 mph
14004: At 1745 Lady Island Upper Range is in line dead astern and Washougal Lower Range is in line on the starboard bow. You are steaming in an easterly direction. What speed must you average to arrive abeam of Cape Horn Light No. 67 at 1839? 

    N a. 9.3 mph
    N b. 9.8 mph
    Y c. 10.2 mph
    N d. 10.8 mph
14401: You are underway and steaming in an easterly direction on the Columbia River. Your vessel is positioned in the middle half of Cape Horn Channel and is abeam of Cape Horn Light. What should your fathometer read at this position, if the staff gauge at Portland reads 0 feet? 

    N a. 16 feet
    N b. 18 feet
    Y c. 22 feet
    N d. 24 feet
15144: At 2310 Buoy "MP" bears 305° true with a radar range of 2.5 miles. From this position you change course to 005° true. Without any set and drift, what would be your predicted distance off Southwest Ledge Buoy "2" when it is on your starboard beam? 

    N a. 0.9 mile
    N b. 1.1 miles
    Y c. 1.5 miles
    N d. 1.9 miles
15440: Your ETA at Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel between trestles B + C is 2300. If your engine speed is 9.8 knots,
what will be your approximate speed over the ground, at that time, allowing for the predicted current? 

    N a. 7.0 knots
    N b. 8.2 knots
    N c. 11.4 knots
    Y d. 12.5 knots
15516: If you were to head into Fishers Island Sound, which of the following charts would you switch to for better detail of Mystic and Mystic Harbor? 

    N a. 13209
    N b. 13212
    N c. 13213
    Y d. 13214
15608: At 1630, you reach point A and come right to 204°T. Your engine speed is 12 knots. Your 1715, position is LAT 37°09.8'N, LONG 75°37.4'W. The current was __________. 

    N a. 067°T at 1.1 knots
    N b. 246°T at 1.1 knots
    Y c. 067°T at 1.5 knots
    N d. 246°T at 1.5 knots
15640: At which point in the voyage is your vessel bound by the International Rules of the Roads (COLREGS)? 

    N a. At the mouth of New London Harbor
    Y b. Upon entering Block Island Sound
    N c. After crossing the line of the Territorial Sea
    N d. After passing between Montauk Point and Lewis Point on Block Island
15861: At 0125, Mattituck Inlet Light bears 203°pgc at 2.1 miles.
What is the approximate depth of the water under the keel? 

    N a. 46 fathoms (83.6 meters)
    N b. 44 fathoms (80.0 meters)
    N c. 43 feet (13.0 meters)
    Y d. 38 feet (11.5 meters)
16008: While on a heading of 082°T, you sight Middle Ground Light in line with Old Field Point Light bearing 206° per standard magnetic compass. From this you can determine the __________. 

    N a. variation
    Y b. deviation table is correct for that heading
    N c. compass error is 17.5°E
    N d. deviation is 3.5°E for a bearing of 206° per standard magnetic compass
16067: At 2118, you obtain the following information:
Cape Henry Light 151°pgc;
Cape Charles Light 033°pgc;
Thimble Shoal Light 291°pgc

What is your 2118 position? 

    Y a. LAT 36°57.4'N,  LONG 76°01.9'W
    N b. LAT 36°57.5'N,  LONG 76°01.4'W
    N c. LAT 36°57.6'N,  LONG 76°01.8'W
    N d. LAT 36°57.6'N,  LONG 76°02.2'W
16214: 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
    Y c. Set 070°T, drift 0.6 knot
    N d. Set 238°T, drift 1.0 knot
16469: As you pass between trestle "B" and trestle "C" of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel, you sight along the trestle "C" when it is in line. The trestle bears 057° per standard magnetic compass while the vessel is heading 320°T. From this you know the __________. 

    Y a. vessel should be swung to check the deviation table
    N b. compass error is 12°W
    N c. deviation table is correct for that bearing
    N d. deviation is 10°W