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.

73: The area between Island 67 Upper Light (mile 623.1 AHP) and Sunflower Cut-off Foot Light (mile 624.8 AHP) is known as a __________.
92: A stretch where the channel changes from one side of the river to the other is called a __________.
229: If you want a more detailed chart of the area at your 2115 DR position, which chart should you use?
257: At 0705, you change course to head for The Race. You wish to leave Race Rock Light bearing due north at 0.4 mile. If the current is 110°T, at 2.8 knots, and you are turning for 12.0 knots, what course (pgc) should you steer? 

    N a. 252°pgc
    N b. 257°pgc
    N c. 265°pgc
    Y d. 271°pgc
300: You are bound for New London. Where will you cross the demarcation line and be governed by the Inland Rules of the Road? 

    N a. You are already governed by the Inland Rules.
    N b. Above the Thames River Bridge
    Y c. In the Race
    N d. You will not be governed by the Inland Rules.
303: A vessel steams 576 miles on course 260°T from LAT 40°36'N, LONG 50°24'W. What are the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by mid-latitude sailing? 

    N a. LAT 39°12'N, LONG 62°28'W
    N b. LAT 39°06'N, LONG 62°34'W
    N c. LAT 39°02'N, LONG 62°37'W
    Y d. LAT 38°56'N, LONG 62°42'W
348: At 0430, you take the following radar ranges:

Stratford Point Light @ 5.25 nm
Middle Ground Light @ 4.55 nm

What is your 0430 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°08.9'N, LONG 73°00.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 73°01.1'W
    Y c. LAT 41°05.8'N, LONG 73°00.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°06.5'N, LONG 73°01.4'W
459: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 25°47.0'N, LONG 79°59.5'W to LAT 38°42.0'N, LONG 09°10.5'W. 

    N a. 3341.0 miles, 063°T
    N b. 3347.0 miles, 063°T
    N c. 3427.8 miles, 061°T
    Y d. 3588.6 miles, 059°T
505: At 0109 you get underway, and at 0112 you take the following bearings:

Branford Reef Light bearing 051° true
Stratford Point Light bearing 258° true

What is your 0112 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°11.0'N, LONG 72°51.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°11.4'N, LONG 72°51.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°11.6'N, LONG 72°51.6'W
    N d. LAT 41°11.8'N, LONG 72°51.8'W
617: Your vessel will sail from a position in LAT 8°51.0'N, LONG 81°31.0'W to a position at LAT 33°51.5'S, LONG 151°13.0'E. The distance by great circle is 7,635 miles, and you estimate an average speed of 15.0 knots. What is your estimated zone time of arrival if you depart at 1510 ZT, on 23 July? 

    Y a. 1110, 14 August
    N b. 0110, 14 August
    N c. 1110, 13 August
    N d. 1510, 13 August
732: On 3 January , your 1759 zone time DR position is LONG 60°53.2'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 22°55.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 09h 57m 10s, and the chronometer error is 02m 26s slow. The index error is 2.9' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52.5 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    N a. 21°35.2'N
    N b. 21°52.5'N
    Y c. 22°03.6'N
    N d. 22°22.6'N
747: On 14 March , at 1845 ZT, you take a sextant observation of Polaris. Your DR position is LAT 29°10'N, LONG 154°30'W, and your sextant reads 29°53.5'. Your chronometer reads 04h 42m 36s, and the chronometer error is 02m 24s slow. Your height of eye is 24 feet, and the index error is 1.3' off the arc. Determine the latitude by Polaris. 

    N a. 29°11.7'N
    N b. 29°15.5'N
    N c. 29°18.0'N
    Y d. 29°21.3'N
831: On 30 March , in DR position LAT 20°26.2'N, LONG 131°17.9'E, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Moon's lower limb at upper transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 10h 36m 02s, and the chronometer error is 02m 06s slow. The sextant altitude (hs) is 48°21.4'. The index error is 2.0' on the arc, and your height of eye is 40 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit? 

    N a. LAT 20°44.8'N
    Y b. LAT 20°31.9'N
    N c. LAT 20Z°23.7'N
    N d. LAT 20°15.6'N
836: On 16 June , in DR position LAT 50°57.0'S, LONG 53°03.9'W (ZD+4), you take an ex-meridian observation of Acrux at lower transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 10h 08m 18s, and the chronometer error is 02m 12s fast. The sextant altitude (hs) is 23°49.0'. The index error is 1.1' off the arc, and your height of eye is 26 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit? 

    Y a. 50°41.2'S
    N b. 51°02.2'S
    N c. 51°33.0'S
    N d. 51°41.2'S
1253: On 8 August , your 0400 ZT DR position is LAT 23°16.0'S, LONG 105°33.0'W. You are on course 295°T at a speed of 25 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel? 

    N a. 0623
    N b. 0629
    Y c. 0636
    N d. 0654
1417: What is the distance from Baton Rouge, LA, to Hickman, KY, on the Mississippi River System? 

    N a. 117 miles
    N b. 433 miles
    N c. 656 miles
    Y d. 692 miles
1665: On 11 January , your vessel's 0655 zone time DR position is LAT 24°30'N, LONG 122°02'W, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 101.0° per standard compass. Variation in the area is 11.6°E. The chronometer reads 02h 52m 48s and is 02m 12s slow. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    Y a. 1.4°E
    N b. 1.4°W
    N c. 4.6°E
    N d. 4.6°W
1868: On 12 June , your 1945 DR position is LAT 21°47.0'N, LONG 46°52.0'W when you observe a faint unidentifiable star through a break in the clouds. The star bears 130°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 45°21.2'. The index error is 0.5' on the arc, and the height of eye is 45 feet. The chronometer reads 10h 43m 27s, and the chronometer error is 1m 46s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Theta Carinae
    N b. Epsilon Leonis
    Y c. Beta Librae
    N d. Zeta Puppis
1882: On 2 October , your 1845 DR position was LAT 28°09.2'S, LONG 167°48.1'E. You observe a faint star through a hole in the clouds at a sextant altitude (hs) of 20°45.6' T, bearing 201.5°T. The index error is 1.3' off the arc, and the height of eye is 42 feet. The chronometer reads 07h 46m 19s and is 00m 51s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Cor Caroli
    N b. Muhlifain
    Y c. Alpha Muscae
    N d. Beta Corvi
1981: Where can scheduled broadcast times of river stages be found? 

    N a. Sailing Directions
    Y b. Light List
    N c. List of Lights
    N d. Coast Pilot
2005: On 17 July , your 1951 zone time DR position is LAT 24°26.0'N, LONG 51°16.0'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time? 

    N a. Hadar, Deneb, Alphard
    N b. Regulus, Venus, Antares
    N c. Mars, Vega, Dubhe
    Y d. Kochab, Jupiter, Rasalhague
2082: From your 0100 position, you change course to 258° per standard magnetic compass. Your engine speed is 10.0 knots. A short time later, your fathometer reads 51 feet (15.5 meters) under the keel. What is the water depth? 

    N a. 42.5 feet  (12.9 meters)
    N b. 51.0 feet  (15.5 meters)
    Y c. 59.5 feet  (18.0 meters)
    N d. 60.4 feet  (18.4 meters)
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
2718: What organization has an installation at the uppermost end of Carthage Revetment? 

    N a. City of Natchez (waterfront)
    Y b. River Cement Co.
    N c. J.M. Jones Lumber
    N d. International Paper Co.
3063: The observed distance for a day's run was 302.7 miles. The propeller had a pitch of 20'06", and the average RPM was 67. What was the slip? 

    N a. +0.7%
    N b. -0.7%
    Y c. +7.0%
    N d. -7.0%
3076: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 16.4 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 23.8 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 6% positive slip? 

    N a. 66
    Y b. 74
    N c. 82
    N d. 90
3076: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 16.4 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 23.8 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 6% positive slip? 

    N a. 66
    Y b. 74
    N c. 82
    N d. 90
3260: You have steamed 726 miles at 17.5 knots, and consumed 138 tons of fuel. If you have 252 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 13.5 knots? 

    N a. 789 miles
    N b. 1326 miles
    N c. 1719 miles
    Y d. 2228 miles
3269: Your vessel arrives in port with sufficient fuel to steam 812 miles at 15 knots. If you are unable to take on bunkers, at what speed must you proceed to reach your next port, 928 miles distant? 

    N a. 13.6 knots
    Y b. 14.0 knots
    N c. 15.3 knots
    N d. 15.7 knots
3291: While steaming at 19.5 knots, your vessel burns 297 bbls of fuel per day. What will be the rate of fuel consumption if you decrease speed to 15 knots? 

    Y a. 135 bbls
    N b. 176 bbls
    N c. 229 bbls
    N d. 243 bbls
3455: You wish to make good a course of 230°T while turning for an engine speed of 12.5 knots. The set is 180°T, and the drift is 1.7 knots. What course should you steer? 

    N a. 244°T
    Y b. 236°T
    N c. 231°T
    N d. 222°T
3654: You are taking a time tick using the 2000 signal from Kekaha-Kauai, Hawaii (WWVH). 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 07h 59m 54s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 08h 00m 00s, and the chronometer reads 08h 00m 06s. What is the chronometer error? 

    N a. 0m 06s slow
    N b. 0m 06s fast
    N c. 0m 12s fast
    Y d. No error
3768: While entering a harbor on a course of 225° per gyrocompass, you take a bearing on a pair of range lights and get 220° per gyrocompass. The bearing on the chart is 217°T. The variation for the area is 6°W, and deviation is 2°W. What course would you steer per gyrocompass to make good a true course of 232°? 

    N a. 229°pgc
    N b. 231°pgc
    N c. 233°pgc
    Y d. 235°pgc
6844: At 1010 your vessel passes close abeam to Buoy "NCB" in the inbound traffic lane. At this time the Chesapeake Bay Pilot informs you that he will not board your vessel until 1100. The pilot boat is located 1.5 miles northeast of Cape Henry Light. What should you reduce your speed to in order to arrive at the pilot boat at this time? 

    N a. 5.9 knots
    N b. 7.5 knots
    Y c. 8.2 knots
    N d. 9.8 knots
10109: What is the base course (psc) in the inbound northeasterly traffic lane of the Chesapeake Bay entrance traffic separation scheme? 

    Y a. 261°psc
    N b. 258°psc
    N c. 250°psc
    N d. 244°psc
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
10906: What correction should be applied to the charted depths of the Poquoson River at York Point at the PM low water on 18 December 1983? 

    N a. +1.9 feet
    N b. -0.1 feet
    Y c. -0.4 feet
    N d. No correction is necessary
11705: Your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to arrive at LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 75°48.5'W, if the current is 043°T at 1.3 knots, a south-southeasterly wind is causing 3° of leeway, and you are turning for 8.7 knots? 

    N a. 260.5°psc
    N b. 264.0°psc
    Y c. 268.0°psc
    N d. 271.5°psc
13401: You are planning to anchor in Orient Harbor at LAT 41°07.9'N, LONG 72°18.5'W. Assuming that normal conditions exist, how much anchor cable should you put out? 

    N a. 16 to  18 feet
    N b. 40 to  60 feet
    Y c. 80 to 112 feet
    N d. 120 to 140 feet
13402: You are planning to anchor in Orient Harbor at LAT 41°07.9'N, LONG 72°18.5'W. What type of bottom should you expect? 

    N a. Sticky
    Y b. Soft
    N c. Stiff
    N d. Streaky
15006: You are on course 192°pgc at 12 knots.
At 1900 your position is:
Latitude 37° 22.6' North
Longitude 075° 35.7' West

Which of the following is true? 

    N a. if you maintain course and speed you will pass Hog Island Bell Buoy "2" to stbd
    N b. you are inside the 3 nm territorial sea
    Y c. your fathometer reads 30'
    N d. None of the above
15010: At 1950, your position is LAT 37°12.3'N, LONG 75°38.6'W. The set and drift from 1930 to 1950 were __________. 

    N a. 150°T at 0.6 knot
    Y b. 150°T at 1.6 knots
    N c. 330°T at 0.6 knot
    N d. 330°T at 1.6 knots
15028: At what time would you listen to VHF Channel 22 (157.1 MHz) for information concerning the stage of the river between Memphis and Cairo? 

    N a. 1115
    N b. 1235
    Y c. 1300
    N d. 1815
15042: From your 0741 position, you wish to change course in order to pass 2.2 miles easterly of Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14". Your engine speed is now 14.0 knots. You estimate the current to be 240° true at 1.8 knots. What is the true course to steer to make good the desired course? 

    N a. 179°true
    N b. 185°true
    Y c. 190° true
    N d. 197°true
15057: At 0720, you are in the outer channel between buoy "1" and buoy "2" and change course to pass Townshend Ledge Lighted Gong Buoy "10A" abeam to port at 0.1 miles. What is the course to steer per gyro compass if a northerly wind causes 2° of leeway? 

    N a. 120°pgc
    N b. 118°pgc
    N c. 116°pgc
    Y d. 114°pgc
15508: From your position you observe a rotating white and green light to the north. This light is most likely __________. 

    N a. from a submarine on the surface
    N b. the light at Southeast Point
    Y c. at an airport
    N d. on a coastal patrol vessel
15660: At 0728, Race Rock Light is bearing 282°T at 3.8 miles,
and the closest point on Fishers Island has a radar range of 2.1 miles. What speed have you been making since you changed course at 0705? 

    N a. 11.2 knots
    N b. 10.8 knots
    Y c. 9.6 knots
    N d. 9.1 knots
15758: What is your ETA at point "A"? 

    N a. 0637
    N b. 0643
    Y c. 0649
    N d. 0700
16058: At 1750, your position is LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°22.9'W. What was the speed made good between 1730 and 1750? 

    N a. 7.5 knots
    N b. 7.8 knots
    N c. 8.1 knots
    Y d. 8.4 knots
16108: From your 0410 fix, what is the course per standard magnetic compass to the entrance to York Spit Channel between buoys "37" and "38"? 

    N a. 178°
    Y b. 176°
    N c. 156°
    N d. 152°
16110: If you are making 8.3 knots over the ground, what is your ETA at the first turning point in York Spit Channel between buoys "29" and "30"? 

    N a. 0444
    N b. 0456
    N c. 0508
    Y d. 0522
16310: At 0730, your position is LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 72°32.2'W. From this position you steer course 286°psc with an engine speed of 9.0 knots. What is the approximate depth of water under your keel? 

    Y a. 52 feet (15.8 meters)
    N b. 57 feet (17.3 meters)
    N c. 62 feet (18.8 meters)
    N d. 67 feet (20.3 meters)
16338: At 2209 your position is latitude 40 47.7'N, longitude 71 35.5'W. There is a strong WSW'ly wind causing an estimated 3° leeway. What course will you steer by standard magnetic compass from your 2209 position to make good 340°T? 

    N a. 322°
    N b. 348°
    Y c. 356°
    N d. 002°