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.

46: At 2342, on 25 August, you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge (mile 661.7 AHP). What has been the average speed of the current since departing Memphis Harbor, McKellar Lake, if you have been making turns for 9 mph?
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.
272: At 0925, you plot the following bearings:

Falkner Island Light bearing 251°true
Kelsey Point BW Light bearing 075°true

If you correct for a current setting 215°T at 0.5 knot, what course will you steer from the 0925 position to arrive at a position 0.5 mile south of Long Sand Shoal West End Horn Buoy "W"?
353: At 0550, engineering repairs are complete and speed is increased to 9.6 knots. At 0630, Falkner Island Light bears 023°pgc and Horton Point Light bears 097°pgc. From your 0630 fix you steer to make good a course of 086°T while turning for 9.6 knots. At 0700, Falkner Island Light bears 336.0°pgc and Horton Point Light bears 105.5°pgc. The radar range to the south tip of Falkner Island is 5.7 miles. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. Your course made good from 0630 to 0700 was 082°T.
    N b. The speed made good from 0630 to 0700 was 10.1 knots.
    Y c. You are making good your intended speed.
    N d. The current from 0630 to 0700 was 279°T at 0.6 knot.
407: You depart LAT 34°22'S, LONG 18°23'E, and steam 3174 miles on course 282°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    Y a. LONG 40°33.5'W
    N b. LONG 40°19.5'W
    N c. LONG 40°18.2'W
    N d. LONG 40°17.3'W
436: At 0227, you take the following radar ranges and bearings: Bartlett Reef Light 359°T at 2.4 miles, Race Rock Light 083°T at 4.1 miles. What is your 0227 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°14.5'N,  LONG 72°08.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°14.1'N,  LONG 72°08.2'W
    N c. LAT 41°14.0'N,  LONG 72°08.5'W
    N d. LAT 41°14.3'N,  LONG 72°08.5'W
437: At 0227, you are on course 087°T at 10 knots. What course per standard magnetic compass should you steer to make good your true course? 

    N a. 109°psc
    Y b. 105°psc
    N c. 102°psc
    N d. 099°psc
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
600: What is the brown colored tint shown at Bordeaux Point Dykes (mile 681.0 AHP)? 

    N a. river gage
    N b. fish hatchery
    N c. levee
    Y d. dredge material
742: On 15 July , at 0447 ZT, your vessel's DR position is LAT 22°42'N, LONG 126°36'E. At approximately this time, you obtain a sextant altitude (hs) of Polaris reading 23°46.2' with an index error of 1.6' off the arc. Your chronometer reads 08h 48m 28s, and is 1m 16s fast. What is your latitude by Polaris, given a height of eye of 33 feet? 

    N a. 22°44.1'N
    N b. 22°46.2'N
    N c. 22°50.2'N
    Y d. 22°54.1'N
976: On 7 November , your 0830 zone time position was LAT 27°36.0'N, LONG 162°19.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 289°T at a speed of 19.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0945 ZT. The chronometer read 08h 43m 11s and was slow 01m 51s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 38°21.1'. Local Apparent Noon (LAN) occurred at 1138 zone time. The observed altitude (Ho) was 45°35.0'. What was the longitude of your 1200 zone time running fix? 

    Y a. 163°38.8'W
    N b. 163°34.0'W
    N c. 163°30.2'W
    N d. 163°26.0'W
1139: You are passing the Bayou Sara Gage which reads 3.9 feet. The low water reference plane for Bayo 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.
1291: As you pass Solitude Lt. (mile 249.0 AHP) which dayboard would you see? 

    Y a. Green diamond
    N b. Green square
    N c. Red triangle
    N d. Red diamond
1684: You are passing Putney Lt. (mile 943.6 AHP). The gray shaded areas alongside the river represent __________. 

    N a. levees
    N b. weirs
    N c. dikes
    Y d. revetments
1778: At 2234 ZT, on 14 July , in DR position LAT 34°03'N, LONG 150°16'W you observe an amplitude of Saturn. The planet is about one Sun's diameter above the visible horizon and bears 272.1°pgc. The variation is 14°E. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 0.5°W
    N b. 0.5°E
    Y c. 1.5°W
    N d. 2.5°E
1914: On 14 January , your 0550 DR position is LAT 25°26.0'N, LONG 38°16.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 192°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 06°15.2'. The chronometer reads 08h 48m 51s, and is 01m 22s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Gienah
    N b. Kochab
    Y c. Gacrux
    N d. Eltanin
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
2155: On 17 May , at 0501 zone time, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 22°16.0'S, LONG 103°46.0'W. Your vessel is steaming at 24.0 knots on a course of 301°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0845 zone time. The chronometer reads 03h 43m 32s, and the sextant altitude is 28°24.7'. The index error is 1.5' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 02m 02s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 85.5 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 051.0°T
    Y b. 052.5°T
    N c. 054.2°T
    N d. 055.7°T
2167: On 4 July , at 0630 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 21°15.0'S, LONG 21°20.0'W. Your vessel is steaming at 13.0 knots on a course of 146°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0915 ZT. The chronometer reads 10h 14m 27s, and the sextant altitude is 25°29.8'. The index error is 3.1' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 0m 53s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 48.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    Y a. 049.5°T
    N b. 052.6°T
    N c. 054.3°T
    N d. 058.9°T
2339: You have steamed 1260 miles at 18 knots, and consumed 205 tons of fuel. If you have to steam 1423 miles to complete the voyage, how many tons of fuel will be consumed while steaming at 16 knots? 

    N a. 143 tons
    N b. 183 tons
    Y c. 293 tons
    N d. 333 tons
2581: At 1732, Bartlett Reef Lt bears 016°psc. Race Rock Lt bears 125.5°psc with a radar range of 4.4 miles. What is the set and drift? 

    N a. 116°,  0.4 knot
    N b. 116°,  1.0 knot
    N c. 296°,  0.4 knot
    Y d. 296°,  1.0 knot
2778: What company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Helena (mile 658 to 665 AHP)? 

    N a. Texas Eastern Pipeline Co.
    N b. Helena Port Terminal, Inc.
    N c. Arkansas Power & Light Co.
    Y d. Helena Grain Co.
3057: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 25.3 feet and a pitch of 23.2 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 515 miles in a 23 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 93? 

    N a. -3.6%
    N b. +3.6%
    Y c. -5.2%
    N d. +5.2%
3314: You have steamed 150 miles and consumed 17 tons of fuel. If you maintain the same speed, how many tons of fuel will you consume while steaming 350 miles? 

    N a. 12.82 tons
    N b. 29.41 tons
    N c. 34.00 tons
    Y d. 39.66 tons
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
3761: Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line dead ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 283°
T, and the variation is 13°E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 278° per standard compass, what is the deviation? 

    N a. 5°E
    N b. 5°W
    N c. 8°E
    Y d. 8°W
10602: At 1815 your GPS position is LAT 41°09.2'N, LONG 72°36.9'W. You are steering course 285° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 16 knots. At 1909 you fix your position by plotting several compass bearings on nearby known fixed objects. These result in a position of LAT 41°08.5'N, LONG 72°53.7'W. What were your set and drift? 

    N a. 292°T at 1.8 knots
    N b. 243°T at 1.0 knot
    N c. 118°T at 1.9 knots
    Y d. 111°T at 2.1 knots
12305: You sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light (LAT 41°18.2'N, LONG 71°56.0'W) bearing 095° per standard magnetic compass. If your vessel was heading 056° per standard magnetic compass at the time, which of the following is TRUE? 

    N a. You should subtract 15°Compass error for bearings of 095°.
    N b. The deviation table is correct for all bearings of 095°.
    Y c. The vessel should be swung, and the deviation table checked.
    N d. The compass error is 19°W for all headings.
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
13500: The soundings on this chart are measured in __________. 

    Y a. feet
    N b. yards
    N c. meters
    N d. fathoms
13708: A note on the chart indicates that currents in excess of how many knots can be expected in the vicinity of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel? 

    Y a. 3.00 knots
    N b. 2.20 knots
    N c. 1.75 knots
    N d. 1.50 knots
14302: What are the characteristics of the upper light of Government Island Lower Range, on the Columbia River? 

    Y a. Equal interval red, 6 seconds
    N b. Green group flashing, 6 seconds
    N c. Quick flashing red, 6 seconds
    N d. Equal interval green, 6 seconds
14500: Your vessel is at mile 170 on the Columbia River. You are proceeding in a westerly direction and are approaching the lift bridge at Hood River. The pool level of the Bonneville reservoir stands at 92 feet above MSL. If the highest point on your vessel is 52 feet above the water, which of the following statements is TRUE? 

    N a. You may pass under the lift bridge, in the "down" position  with a vertical clearance of 15 feet.
    N b. You may pass under the lift bridge in the "up" position with a clearance of 96 feet.
    N c. You may pass under the lift bridge, in the "down" position  with a vertical clearance of 25 feet.
    Y d. You may pass under the lift bridge, in the "up" position with a vertical clearance of 76 feet.
14515: At 2150, your position is LAT 36°57.2'N, LONG 76°01.3'W. In this position on the chart, you note a light magenta line running in a direction of 030°T. This line indicates the limits of __________. 

    N a. a precautionary area
    Y b. a pilotage area
    N c. the Cape Henry Light red sector
    N d. chart 12222
15161: From your 1815 position, you want to make good course 263°
T. Your engines are turning RPMs for 12 knots. The current is 050°T at 1.9 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, at what time should you expect to enter the red sector of Cape Henry Light? 

    N a. 1851
    N b. 1857
    Y c. 1904
    N d. 1911
15544: At 2310 your position is LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°33.7'W and you change course to make good 068°T. A radar speed check using Twenty Eight Foot Shoal Buoy indicates your speed over the ground is 13.6 knots. At 2325 Horton Point Light bears 129°T. At 2341 the same light bears 194°T. What is the position of your 2341 running fix? 

    N a. LAT 41°07.9'N, LONG 72°25.9'W
    N b. LAT 41°08.3'N, LONG 72°25.8'W
    Y c. LAT 41°08.5'N, LONG 72°25.6'W
    N d. LAT 41°08.8'N, LONG 72°25.2'W
15626: What type of daymark will you see as you approach Joe Pierce Light (mile 335.4 AHP)? 

    N a. Private aid - no daymark
    N b. Red square
    Y c. Red triangle
    N d. Red diamond
15745: Your 2239 position is LAT 41°08.5'N, LONG 71°53.3'W. You change course to 315°T, and you maintain RPM's for 9 knots. At 2329 Little Gull Island Light bears 253°T, Race Rock Light bears 309°T, and Watch Hill Point Light bears 058°T. What were the set and drift of the current you experienced from your 2239 position? 

    N a. 076°T at 0.75 knot
    N b. 076°T at 0.90 knot
    N c. 256°T at 0.75 knot
    Y d. 256°T at 0.90 knot
15762: What is the course per standard magnetic compass between points "A" and "B"? 

    N a. 090.5°
    N b. 093.0°
    N c. 095.5°
    Y d. 098.5°
15912: If there is no current, what is the course per standard magnetic compass from your 0802 fix to the position 1.1 miles north of Falkner Island Light? 

    N a. 064°
    N b. 068°
    Y c. 095°
    N d. 099°
15968: What was the speed made good from 1900 to 1925? 

    N a. 8.5 knots
    N b. 8.7 knots
    N c. 8.8 knots
    Y d. 9.1 knots
16019: The south shore of Long Island Sound from Horton Point to Orient Point is __________. 

    N a. low and marshy
    Y b. bluff and rocky
    N c. marked by sandy beaches and wooded uplands
    N d. bound by gradual shoaling
16042: At 1022 when you complete the evacuation, you get underway on course 098°T and order turns for 14.5 knots. You take the following round of bearings at that time:
Stratford Point Light - 260° per gyrocompass
New Haven Light - 326° per gyrocompass
SW Ledge Light - 358° per gyrocompass

Determine your ETA and distance off when abeam of Falkner Island Light, if there are no set and drift? 

    N a. 1102, 3.0 miles
    Y b. 1108, 3.3 miles
    N c. 1114, 3.1 miles
    N d. 1118, 3.3 miles
16308: At 0530, your position is LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 72°08.5'W. What is the color of New London Harbor Light? 

    Y a. Red
    N b. White
    N c. Green
    N d. Alternating white and green
16545: At 0030 you alter course and speed to make good 265°T at 10 knots. What is your ETA at a point where Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light is abeam? 

    N a. 0218
    N b. 0223
    N c. 0228
    Y d. 0233
16742: At 2352 you hear a MAYDAY call from a vessel reporting her position as 1.5 miles due east of Block Island Southeast Point Light. What is the course to steer, per gyrocompass to the distress site, if you change course at midnight and allow 1° leeway for easterly winds? 

    N a. 049.5°pgc
    N b. 052.5°pgc
    N c. 055.5°pgc
    Y d. 059.0°pgc