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.

214: From your 1930 position, you plot a course to pass 0.5 mile due south of Race Rock Light. If your vessel's speed is 10.0 knots, the current's set and drift are 040°T at 1.8 knots, and a north wind produces a 3° leeway, what true course should you steer to make good your desired course?
221: At 1815, your position is LAT 37°01.0'N, LONG 75°42.7'W. If there is no current, what is the course per standard magnetic compass to arrive at a point 0.3 mile due north of North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy "NCA" (LL#375)?
390: A vessel at LAT 29°38.0'N, LONG 93°49.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 24°38.0'N, LONG 82°55.2'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.
418: At 0830, Watch Hill Point bears 343°T at 3.5 miles by radar. What was the speed made good since 0745? 

    Y a. 7.1 knots
    N b. 6.7 knots
    N c. 5.8 knots
    N d. 5.4 knots
450: If you want to put into Point Judith Harbor of Refuge, what chart should you use? 

    Y a. 13219
    N b. 13217
    N c. 13209
    N d. 13205
452: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 35°17.6'N, LONG 144°23.0'E to LAT 47°36.0'N, LONG 124°22.0'W. 

    N a. 3946 miles, 312°T
    Y b. 3931 miles, 048°T
    N c. 3881 miles, 042°T
    N d. 3718 miles, 318°T
472: The great circle distance from LAT 38°17.0'N, LONG 123°16.0'W to LAT 35°01.0'N, LONG 142°21.0'E is 4330 miles and the initial course is 300.9°T. The latitude of the vertex is 47°40.5'N. What is the longitude of the vertex? 

    N a. 173°04.6'E
    N b. 167°18.0'E
    N c. 173°04.6'W
    Y d. 167°18.5'W
489: At 0728, Race Rock Light is bearing 282°T at 3.8 miles, and the closest point on Fishers Island is at a radar range of 2.1 miles. What speed have you been making since you changed course at 0705? 

    N a. 11.4 knots
    N b. 10.6 knots
    Y c. 9.9 knots
    N d. 9.2 knots
515: You depart LAT 50°06.0'N, LONG 153°06.0'E and steam 879 miles on course 090°. What is the LONG of arrival? 

    Y a. 175°56.0'E
    N b. 177°24.0'E
    N c. 178°36.0'W
    N d. 175°04.0'W
517: At 0520, you take the following observations:

Point Judith Light 032°pgc
Point Judith Harbor of Refuge
Main Breakwater Center Light 308°pgc

What is the position of your 0520 fix? 

    Y a. LAT 41°20.8'N, Long 71°29.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°20.6'N, Long 71°30.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°20.6'N, Long 71°30.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°20.5'N, Long 71°29.4'W
704: As you approach Giles Bend Cut-off Light (mile 367.7 AHP), what type of daymark would you see on the light structure? 

    N a. Green square
    N b. Green diamond
    Y c. Red triangle
    N d. Red diamond
756: Anchorage regulations for this area may be obtained from __________. 

    N a. Commanding General, Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.
    Y b. Office of the Commander 5th Coast Guard District
    N c. Virginia - Maryland Pilots Association
    N d. Chesapeake Bay Port Authority, Hampton VA
820: On 15 March , in DR position LAT 21°42.0'N, LONG 55°26.0'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 04h 02m 40s, and the chronometer error is 02m 24s fast. The sextant altitude (hs) is 66°15.6'. The index error is 2.8' on the arc, and your height of eye is 56 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit? 

    N a. 21°12.0'N
    N b. 21°18.0'N
    N c. 21°24.4'N
    Y d. 21°32.0'N
846: On 22 February , your 0612 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 27°16.2'S, LONG 37°41.6'W. Your vessel is on course 298°T, and your speed is 14.2 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1147 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 73°33.3'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN? 

    Y a. 26°31.4'S
    N b. 26°29.5'S
    N c. 26°27.1'S
    N d. 26°24.8'S
1126: What are the dotted lines crossing at mile 529.7 AHP? 

    Y a. submarine cables
    N b. power cables
    N c. gated dams
    N d. workboat crossings
1128: How far is it to the Hernando Desoto Bridge in Memphis, TN? 

    N a. 980.8 miles
    N b. 736.6 miles
    N c. 312.3 miles
    Y d. 218.1 miles
1411: After you get underway, what is the first river gage you will pass? 

    N a. Head of Passes
    N b. Baton Rouge
    Y c. Bayou Sara
    N d. Red River Landing
1418: How far is it to the Hernando Desoto Bridge in Memphis, TN? 

    N a. 980.8 miles
    N b. 736.6 miles
    N c. 312.3 miles
    Y d. 218.1 miles
1490: On 11 January , your 0450 ZT position is LAT 38°42'N, LONG 14°16'W. You observe Polaris bearing 358.5°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 160°pgc and 173°psc. The variation is 9°W. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    N a. 1°E
    N b. 1°W
    Y c. 3°W
    N d. 13°W
1501: On 3 October , your 0330 zone time (ZD + 5) DR position is LAT 47°41'N, LONG 86°49'W. At that time, you observe Polaris bearing 357.5°pgc. The chronometer time of the observation is 08h 32m 04s, and the chronometer is 0m 27s slow. The variation is 5.5°W. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 7.5°E
    N b. 5.0°E
    N c. 3.5°E
    Y d. 2.0°E
1677: On 23 August , at 0604 ZT, in DR position LAT 16°42.3'S, LONG 28°19.3'W, you observed an amplitude of the Sun. The lower limb was a little above the horizon, and the Sun bore 076.0°pgc. At the time of the observation, the helmsman reported that he was heading 143°pgc and 167°
per standard magnetic compass. The variation in the area was 23°W. What were the gyro error and deviation for that heading? 

    N a. 1°W  GE,  2°W  DEV
    N b. 1°E  GE,  1°E  DEV
    N c. 2°W  GE,  1°E  DEV
    Y d. 2°E  GE,  1°E  DEV
1903: On 22 April , your 1852 DR position is LAT 23°54.5'N, LONG 117°36.8'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 259°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 41°15.2'. The chronometer reads 02h 54m 53s, and is 02m 51s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Diphda
    Y b. Betelgeuse
    N c. Gienah
    N d. Arcturus
1909: On 22 March , your 1834 DR position is LAT 26°13.5'S, LONG 108°36.5'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 294°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 33°02.7'. The chronometer reads 01h 32m 37s, and is 01m 50s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Regulus
    Y b. Menkar
    N c. Rigel
    N d. Alphard
1912: On 22 February , your 1857 DR position is LAT 23°46.0'S, LONG 93°16.5'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 108°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 67°53.9'. The chronometer reads 01h 00m 35s, and is 03m 25s fast. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Adhara
    N b. Miaplacidus
    N c. Avior
    N d. Suhail
1919: On 17 March , your 0520 DR position is LAT 27°23.0'N, LONG 39°42.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 110°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 50°47.2'. The chronometer reads 08h 22m 15s, and is 01m 45s fast. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Altair
    N b. Alkaid
    N c. Arcturus
    N d. Deneb
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)
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
2182: On 18 August , at 0600 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 19°48'N, LONG 108° 34'W. Your vessel is steaming on course 166°T at a speed of 16 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 1036 ZT. The chronometer reads 05h 34m 48s and is slow 01m 24s. What is the computed altitude (Hc) and azimuth (Zn) for this 1036 ZT observation using the assumed position method? 

    N a. Hc 65°18.5', Zn 102.1°
    Y b. Hc 65°14.8', Zn 100.4°
    N c. Hc 65°11.3', Zn 099.4°
    N d. Hc 65°07.2', Zn 101.2°
2240: At 1542 ZT, on 23 October , in DR position LAT 37° 28.5'N, LONG 156° 17.3'E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 282.5°psc. The variation is 0.0°. What is the deviation? 

    Y a. 2.2°E
    N b. 2.2°W
    N c. 1.2°E
    N d. 1.2°W
2667: Your vessel is on a course of 255°T, at 14 knots. At 2126 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
    N b. 2201
    Y c. 2211
    N d. 2228
3072: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 17.4 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 25.6 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 3% positive slip? 

    N a. 63
    N b. 67
    Y c. 71
    N d. 75
12204: You sight Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light and Old Field Pt. Light in line and bearing 200° per standard magnetic compass. What is the deviation of the compass? 

    N a. 7°E
    N b. 7°W
    Y c. 3°E
    N d. 3°W
12206: You sight Bartlett Reef Light (LAT 41°16.5'N, LONG 72°08.2'W) in line with New London Harbor Light (LAT 41°19.0'N, LONG 72°05.4'W) and bearing 059° per standard magnetic compass. What is the compass deviation? 

    N a. 4°E
    Y b. 4°W
    N c. 10°E
    N d. 10°W
12300: You are on course 244° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Block Island Southeast Point Light in line with Block Island Aero Beacon bearing 326° per standard magnetic compass. Based on this you __________. 

    N a. should swing your vessel to check the deviation table
    N b. know the compass error is 12°W
    N c. should suspect that there is a local magnetic disturbance
    Y d. should apply 3°W deviation to any bearing (psc) while on a heading of 244°psc
13107: At 1103 your position is LAT 41°12.5 N, LONG 71°37.4 W. What is your ETA at the west gap of Point Judith Harbor of Refuge if you make good 11.3 knots? 

    N a. 1144
    N b. 1154
    Y c. 1159
    N d. 1205
13210: At 0943, your position is LAT 41°14.8'N, LONG 71°54.3'W. You are turning for 12.2 knots. What is your ETA at the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island? 

    Y a. 1054
    N b. 1048
    N c. 1040
    N d. 1032
15015: At 2100, Cape Charles Light bears 321°pgc, and Cape Henry Light bears 247°pgc. Your latitude is __________. 

    N a. 37°00.0'N
    N b. 36°59.7'N
    Y c. 36°59.4'N
    N d. 36°59.1'N
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
15267: From your 1210 position, you are making good a course of 083°
T. Your engines are turning RPMs for 10 knots. The set and drift of the current are 310° at 1.7 knots. At what time should you expect to enter the red sector of New London Harbor Light? 

    Y a. 1243
    N b. 1249
    N c. 1253
    N d. 1301
15340: At 1718, Bartlett Reef Light bears 050°T at a distance of 1.5 miles. From this position, you change course to 128°
T. At 1750 Race Rock Light bears 336°T, Little Gull Island Light bears 285°T, and Montauk Point Light bears 134°T. What were the set and drift of the current you encountered since 1718? 

    N a. 245°T at 0.9 knots
    N b. 245°T at 1.7 knots
    Y c. 065°T at 1.7 knots
    N d. 065°T at 0.9 knots
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
15807: You are southeast of Saybrook Breakwater Light passing Saybrook Bar Lighted Bell Buoy "8". This buoy marks __________. 

    Y a. shoal water
    N b. a tide rips area
    N c. the junction with the Connecticut River
    N d. a sunken wreck
15942: At 1959 Watch Hill Point Light bears 030°T, Montauk Point Light bears 146°T, and Little Gull Light bears 283°T. What is the approximate fathometer reading? 

    Y a. 51 feet
    N b. 73 feet
    N c. 95 feet
    N d. 111 feet
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
16142: At 1949 Little Gull Island Light bears 270°T and is 1.7 miles off. From this position, you change course to 118°T and increase engine speed to 18 knots. If you make good your course and speed, at what time should Shagwong Reef Lighted Bell Buoy "7SR" bear 180°T? 

    Y a. 2016
    N b. 2019
    N c. 2022
    N d. 2025
16257: If your engines turn for 6.5 knots, and you encounter a 0.5 knot southerly current after weighing anchor. What is your ETA at point A? 

    N a. 0511
    N b. 0501
    Y c. 0450
    N d. 0440
16307: Which statement regarding the wreck 0.2 mile south of buoys "1" and "2" at the entrance to New London Harbor is TRUE? 

    N a. The wreck presents a danger to all vessels with drafts in excess of 30 feet (9.1 meters).
    N b. The wreck is visible above the sounding datum between the months of March and June.
    Y c. The wreck is shown on the chart, but its actual existence is doubtful.
    N d. The wreck was cleared by wire drag in 1982 and will not appear on future charts.
16570: NOAA VHF-FM weather broadcasts from Providence, RI are on __________. 

    N a. 162.25 MHz
    N b. 162.30 MHz
    Y c. 162.40 MHz
    N d. 162.55 MHz
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