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.

58: What daymark will you see as you approach Warnicott Bar Lt. (mile 351.3 AHP)?
64: What is the length of the trip?
116: At which of the following times would you be able to listen to lower Mississippi River conditions on VHF Channel 22?
146: On which river is Dover, KY located? 

    N a. Mississippi
    N b. Tennessee
    Y c. Ohio
    N d. Missouri
217: Your 1600 position is LAT 37°22.5'N, LONG 75°32.3'W. The depth of water under the keel is about __________. 

    N a. 59 feet (17.3 meters)
    N b. 52 feet (15.8 meters)
    N c. 45 feet (13.6 meters)
    Y d. 38 feet (11.5 meters)
265: At 0740, you take the following Radar Ranges:

Branford Reef Light @ 2.5 nm
New Haven Light @ 3.9 nm

What is your position? 

    Y a. LAT 41°12.4'N, LONG 72°51.5'W
    N b. LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 72°51.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°12.7'N, LONG 72°51.9'W
    N d. LAT 41°12.2'N, LONG 72°52.0'W
513: What is the distance from your 0200 position to the point where Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal lighted buoy is abeam to starboard? 

    N a. 7.3 miles
    N b. 7.1 miles
    Y c. 6.9 miles
    N d. 6.6 miles
566: Your cargo vessel is berthed near Lamberts Point in Norfolk. You are on a voyage to Baltimore, Maryland. Which larger scale chart should you use to show the area from Lamberts Point to Hampton Roads? 

    N a. 12224
    N b. 12241
    Y c. 12245
    N d. 12256
657: You are planning a voyage by great circle from the mouth of the Delaware River (LAT 38°40'N, LONG 75°00'W) to Lisbon, Portugal. Which statement is TRUE? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5274.) 

    Y a. You will reach the northernmost latitude of the voyage in  the vicinity of LONG 42°30'W.
    N b. The Northern Hemisphere vertex lies to the east of Lisbon.
    N c. You must plot a composite sailing to remain south of icebergs reported north of 44°N.
    N d. The distance is measured in 60-mile segments using the length of the degree of latitude crossed by the track line.
818: On 30 December , in DR position LAT 28°24.0'S, LONG 32°15.0'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 02h 09m 16s, and the chronometer error is 00m 00s. The sextant altitude (hs) is 84°03.3'. The index error is 3.5' off the arc, and your height of eye is 62.0 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit? 

    N a. LAT 28°50.6'S
    Y b. LAT 28°51.9'S
    N c. LAT 28°54.2'S
    N d. LAT 28°56.6'S
824: On 30 October , an ex-meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb at upper transit was observed at 1144 ZT. Your DR position is LAT 22°42.0'S, LONG 137°16.0'W, and your sextant altitude (hs) is 80°59.4'. The index error is 2.5' off the arc, and your height of eye is 42.5 feet. The chronometer time of the observation is 08h 46m 15s, and the chronometer error is 02m 12s fast. Find the latitude at meridian transit from the ex-meridian observation. 

    Y a. LAT 22°31.4'S
    N b. LAT 22°42.3'S
    N c. LAT 22°46.2'S
    N d. LAT 23°00.9'S
1005: On 18 May , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 20°41'N, LONG 63°32'W. You are on course 106°T, speed 24 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.

ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1204 61°54.6' N 19°37.6' 88°39.7'
1210 63°24.6' N 19°37.7' 88°59.2' 

    Y a. LAT 20°32.6'N, LONG 62°57.5'W
    N b. LAT 20°30.1'N, LONG 63°01.9'W
    N c. LAT 20°27.6'N, LONG 62°52.4'W
    N d. LAT 20°25.2'N, LONG 62°56.9'W
1180: On 3 May , your 1009 zone time DR position is LAT 30°01.0'N, LONG 123°15.0'W. Your vessel is on course 330°T at a speed of 8.6 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1206
    N b. 1208
    Y c. 1211
    N d. 1214
1218: It is 22 February , and you are keeping zone time +12. You are on course 267°T, speed 22 knots. Your 0800 DR position is LAT 28°15.0'N, LONG 179°18.0'W. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks? 

    N a. 11h 17m 02s
    N b. 11h 50m 42s
    N c. 12h 16m 01s
    Y d. 12h 18m 00s
1493: On 11 July , your 0240 ZT position is LAT 14°52'N,
LONG 34°23'W. You observe Polaris bearing 359.8°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 279°pgc and 299°psc. The variation is 19°W.
What is the deviation for that heading? 

    Y a. 0°
    N b. 1°E
    N c. 1°W
    N d. 3°W
1642: From your 2129 position you reduce engine speed to 14 knots. What is the course to make good from your 2129 position to arrive 0.3 mile north of Lighted Whistle Buoy "NCA" (LL#375) assuming no set and drift? 

    N a. 216°T
    N b. 219°T
    Y c. 222°T
    N d. 225°T
1720: As you approach mile 427.6 AHP, you see on the right side a white buoy with orange bands and open face diamond. This buoy shows __________. 

    N a. safe water
    N b. preferred channel
    Y c. danger
    N d. special marks
1733: What are the dimensions of the channel maintained at Baton Rouge, LA? 

    N a. 30 feet x 300 feet
    N b. 40 feet x 300 feet
    Y c. 45 feet x 500 feet
    N d. 30 feet x 500 feet
1750: In addition to the Army Corps. of Engineers maps, data on bridge clearances may be found in the __________. 

    N a. Army Corps. of Engineers Regulations
    Y b. Light List
    N c. Waterways Journal
    N d. Channel Report
1776: At 2231 ZT, on 14 July , in DR position LAT 34°06'S, LONG 149°47'W you observe an amplitude of Jupiter. The planet is about one Sun's diameter above the visible horizon and bears 257.1°psc. The variation is 15°E. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 0.5°E
    N b. 0.5°W
    N c. 1.5°W
    Y d. 2.5°W
1902: On 22 April , your 1852 DR position is LAT 23°54.5'N, LONG 117°36.8'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 077°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 18°58.7'. The chronometer reads 02h 54m 53s, and is 02m 51s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Diphda
    N b. Betelgeuse
    N c. Gienah
    Y d. Arcturus
1915: On 14 January , your 0550 DR position is LAT 25°26.0'N, LONG 38°16.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 043°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 37°12.1'. The chronometer reads 08h 48m 51s, and is 01m 22s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Gienah
    N b. Kochab
    N c. Gacrux
    Y d. Eltanin
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
1952: As you approach Dean Island Light (mile 754.8 AHP), which type of daymark will be observed at the light? 

    N a. Green triangle
    Y b. Green diamond
    N c. Green square
    N d. Red-and-green banded square
2154: On 30 June , at 0630 zone time, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 25°15.0'S, LONG 175°36.0'E. Your vessel is steaming at 16.0 knots on a course of 302°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 1015 zone time. The chronometer reads 10h 14m 38s, and the sextant altitude is 32°07.9'. The index error is 4.5' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 25s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 58.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    Y a. 035.3°T
    N b. 144.7°T
    N c. 186.5°T
    N d. 248.5°T
2238: At 1430 ZT, on 16 April , in DR position LAT 34° 03.8' N, LONG 061° 02.5'W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 095.2°psc. The variation is 12°W. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 1.7°W
    N b. 1.7°E
    N c. 1.9°W
    Y d. 1.9°E
2668: Your vessel is on a course of 255°T, at 14 knots. At 2116 a lighthouse is sighted dead ahead at a distance of 11 miles. You change course at this time to pass the lighthouse 3 miles abeam to port. What will be your ETA at this position off the lighthouse? 

    N a. 2149
    Y b. 2201
    N c. 2212
    N d. 2228
2673: At 2221 your course is 222°pgc at a speed of 11.2 knots, when radar detects a buoy bearing 355° relative, at a range of 5.8 miles. The gyro error is 2°E. If you change course at 2226, what course should you steer to leave the buoy 1.0 mile abeam to port? 

    N a. 206°pgc
    N b. 210°pgc
    Y c. 228°pgc
    N d. 231°pgc
2689: You are steering 107°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 11 miles at 0847. You change course to leave the light 3 miles off to starboard. If you are making 15.5 knots, what is your ETA at the position 3 miles off the light? 

    Y a. 0928
    N b. 0931
    N c. 0934
    N d. 0937
2911: What is indicated by the two light gray shaded areas that cross the river above False River Lt. (mile 251.0 AHP)? 

    N a. Ferry crossings
    Y b. Utility crossings
    N c. Aerial cable crossings
    N d. Bridge construction
3061: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 20.2 feet and a pitch of 19.0 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 367 miles in a 24 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 84? 

    Y a. +2.9%
    N b. -2.9%
    N c. +5.2%
    N d. -5.2%
3082: The speed of advance necessary to arrive in port at a designated time is 15.8 knots. The pitch of the propeller is 20.75 feet. You estimate 5% positive slip. How many RPM must you turn to make the necessary speed? 

    N a. 73.5
    N b. 76.2
    N c. 79.9
    Y d. 81.2
10207: Your 2230 position is LAT 41°07.4'N, LONG 72°44.0'W. Assuming that there is no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass to leave Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy 1 mile abeam to starboard? 

    Y a. 086°psc
    N b. 091°psc
    N c. 094°psc
    N d. 098°psc
10503: At 0817 your GPS indicates a position of LAT 37°01.6'N, LONG 75°31.7'W. You are on course 182° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 9.2 knots. At 0913 your GPS indicates your position at LAT 36°52.3'N, LONG 75°30.8'W. What were the set and drift? 

    N a. 121°T at 0.8 knot
    N b. 139°T at 1.1 knots
    Y c. 219°T at 1.1 knots
    N d. 298°T at 0.7 knot
10707: At 0726 you depart Lake Montauk with light 1 close aboard and set course 065° per standard magnetic compass at 6.7 knots. At 0912 your GPS position is LAT 41°12.8'N, LONG 71°48.2'W. What is the current? 

    N a. 151°T at 1.0 knot
    N b. 164°T at 0.7 knot
    Y c. 287°T at 2.0 knots
    N d. 321°T at 0.8 knot
11100: Block Island is __________. 

    N a. surrounded by wide sandy beaches
    N b. a low, marshy island
    Y c. hilly with elevations to 200 feet (60.5 m)
    N d. a national bird sanctuary
11305: At 1919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. At 2000 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°37.0'W. What was the speed made good? 

    N a. 5.6 knots
    N b. 6.6 knots
    Y c. 8.2 knots
    N d. 9.1 knots
12602: You are on course 087° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: Falkner Island Light - 022.0°psc Horton Point Light - 111.5°psc Mt. Sinai Breakwater Light - 254.0°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 72°46.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 72°40.5'W
    N c. LAT 41°07.0'N, LONG 72°44.5'W
    Y d. LAT 41°06.8'N, LONG 72°40.7'W
12609: You are on course 239° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Falkner Island Light 314°psc Duck Island West Breakwater Light 2DI 039°psc Horton Point Light 157°psc What is your position? 

    Y a. LAT 41°09.9'N, LONG 72°32.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°33.0'W
    N c. LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 72°32.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°11.6'N, LONG 72°33.6'W
13108: At 1103 you are in the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island with buoy "5" close aboard. What is your ETA at light "1" at the mouth of the approaches to Lake Montauk if you make good 8.2 knots? 

    N a. 1249
    N b. 1254
    N c. 1259
    Y d. 1310
15238: At 0930 you obtain a position from the following information: Race Rock Light bears 110°T at a range of 1.4 miles, and Goshen Point bears 330°T at a range of 3.3 miles. What are your present latitude and longitude? 

    N a. 41°16.0'N, 72°09.5'W
    Y b. 41°15.1'N, 72°04.6'W
    N c. 41°17.4'N, 72°06.0'W
    N d. 41°14.6'N, 72°03.0'W
15257: At 0725, Stratford Point Light bears 327°pgc at 3.1 miles.
At this time, you wish to change course to 048°T. The current is 135°T at 1.8 knots. Your engine speed is 8 knots. What course must you steer to make good 048°T? 

    Y a. 035°T
    N b. 038°T
    N c. 041°T
    N d. 044°T
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
15663: At 0748, you change course to 160°T. Which loran reading will insure you clear Great Eastern Rock? 

    Y a. Nothing more than 9960-W-14645
    N b. Nothing more than 9960-X-25970
    N c. Nothing more than 9960-Y-43850
    N d. Nothing more than 9960-Y-43960
15770: At 0930, your position is LAT 41°16.5'N, LONG 71°41.4'W, and you are turning for 7 knots. Allowing 3° leeway for northerly winds and estimating the current as 035° at 0.3 knot, what is the course to steer (pgc) to point "B"? 

    N a. 084°pgc
    Y b. 086°pgc
    N c. 091°pgc
    N d. 094°pgc
15806: What type of bottom is found at Long Sand Shoal? 

    N a. Rocky
    N b. Muddy
    N c. Sandy
    Y d. Hard
15818: At 0300, your position is LAT 41°01.7'N, LONG 72°55.1'W. From this position you steer a course of 289° per standard magnetic compass at an engine speed of 10.0 knots. At what time can you first expect to see Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light if the luminous range is 8.0 miles? 

    Y a. 0303
    N b. 0309
    N c. 0312
    N d. 0318
15830: The black broken-line marking, across the river, that appears at mile 952.1 AHP represents a __________. 

    Y a. utility crossing
    N b. railroad
    N c. submarine crossing
    N d. revetment
16217: Which statement describes the shore between Watch Hill Point and Point Judith? 

    N a. Low, rocky cliffs with heavily wooded hills inland
    Y b. Sandy beaches broken by rocky points
    N c. Sand dunes and beaches with a mud and sand bottom
    N d. Wooded, barren hills with isolated prominent buildings
16239: From your 2045 position, you set a course to pass 1.5 miles due east of the charted position of Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy "12". The known set and drift in the area are 068°T at 3 knots. What is the course to steer, with no change in engine speed, to make good your desired course? 

    Y a. 200°T
    N b. 203°T
    N c. 206°T
    N d. 209°T
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
16406: 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? 

    Y a. LAT 41°14.1'N,  LONG 72°08.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°14.2'N,  LONG 72°08.4'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
16410: By 1015, visibility has increased to 5.0 miles and you can see Fishers Island. Fishers Island has __________. 

    N a. low and sandy beaches with salt ponds and marsh grass
    N b. sheer cliffs rising from the sea to a high, flat plateau
    N c. barren, rocky hills with prominent sandy beaches
    Y d. sparsely wooded hills and is fringed with shoals to the south
16417: You are encountering heavy weather. What action should you take based on your 1430 fix? 

    Y a. Alter course to the right, to pass well clear of Southwest Ledge.
    N b. Continue on the same course at the same speed.
    N c. Slow to 8.3 knots to compensate for the current.
    N d. Continue on the same course but increase speed.
16515: What action should you take to compensate for the above current? 

    N a. Continue on the same course and speed.
    Y b. Alter your course to the left.
    N c. Slow to 8.5 knots.
    N d. Alter your course to the right.
16607: You depart from the position in the previous question at 2114 and make good 12 knots on a course of 040°T. At what time will you sight New Haven Light if the visibility is 11 miles? 

    N a. The light is visible at 2114.
    N b. 2140
    N c. 2152
    Y d. 2159
16615: At 0112, the radar range to Branford Reef Light is 2.9 miles. At 0125, the range is 3.6 miles. What is the position of your 0125 running fix if you are steering 124°T at 12 knots? 

    Y a. LAT 41°09.7'N, LONG 72°48.1'W
    N b. LAT 41°09.7'N, LONG 72°48.7'W
    N c. LAT 41°09.8'N, LONG 72°47.2'W
    N d. LAT 41°10.2'N, LONG 72°47.7'W