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.


98: At 0230 on 13 August, you are at mile 610.5 AHP when you see about a mile ahead lights on the water near the left bank. What might you see when you come abreast of these lights?


123: On which map would you find Redman Point, Arkansas?


127: After entering Milliken Bend (mile 455 AHP) you wish to locate the river service in Madison Parish, Louisiana. The river service is indicated by the square containing which number?


197: At 2215, Cape Henry Light bears 242°pgc, Cape Charles Light bears 010.5°pgc, and Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light bears 319°pgc. You are heading 271°pgc. What is the relative bearing of Thimble Shoal Light?

    Y a. 014°
    N b. 017°
    N c. 280°
    N d. 332°

225: From your 1920 position, you change course to enter Chesapeake Channel between buoys 9 and 10. What is the course per standard magnetic compass (psc) ?

    N a. 274°psc
    N b. 280°psc
    Y c. 283°psc
    N d. 286°psc

229: If you want a more detailed chart of the area at your 2115 DR position, which chart should you use?

    N a. 12222
    N b. 12225
    Y c. 12224
    N d. 12222

236: From your 0830 position, you wish to make good 097°T. There is no current, but a southerly wind is producing 3° leeway. What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass in order to make good your true course?

    N a. 109°psc
    N b. 112°psc
    Y c. 115°psc
    N d. 118°psc

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.

    N a. 115°T, 637 miles
    Y b. 117°T, 658 miles
    N c. 122°T, 648 miles
    N d. 126°T, 665 miles

445: You can follow what loran reading between your two positions?

    N a. There is no loran reading to follow.
    N b. 9960-Y-43958
    Y c. 9960-X-25982
    N d. 9960-W-14655

456: At 0630, you pass Buoy "PI" close abeam on the starboard side. You are steering 078°T and are headed directly toward Race Rock Light. At 0654, Little Gull Island Light is bearing 207°T and Race Rock Light is bearing 072°T. What is your 0654 position?

    N a. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 72°03.3'W
    Y b. LAT 41°14.0'N, LONG 72°05.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°14.7'N, LONG 72°06.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°19.0'N, LONG 72°05.2'W

500: Your position is LAT 40°59.0'N, LONG 73°06.2'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to New Haven Harbor Lighted Whistle Buoy "NH"?

    Y a. 052°
    N b. 049°
    N c. 046°
    N d. 035°

636: As you approach Dean Island Light (mile 754.8 AHP), which type of daymark will be observed at the light?

    N a. Green triangle
    N b. Red and green banded square
    N c. Green square daymark
    Y d. Diamond-shaped green daymark

681: At 0119, on 10 September, you pass Springfield Bend Lt. (mile 244.8 AHP) and estimate the current will average 2.5 mph for the remainder of your trip. What is your ETA at the mouth of the Ohio River if you are making turns for 8.5 mph?

    N a. 1746, 12 September
    N b. 1244, 13 September
    N c. 1244, 14 September
    Y d. 2329, 14 September

705: At 1554, on 25 May, you pass Huntington Point Light (mile 555.2 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. DockS (mile 253.6 AHP)?

    Y a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 5.2 mph
    N c. 4.8 mph
    N d. 4.3 mph

1011: On 6 December , your 0800 zone time DR position was LAT 21°48.0'N, LONG 124°30.0'E. Your vessel was steaming on course 045°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 1012 ZT. The chronometer read 02h 10m 42s and was slow 01m 02s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 41°17.1'. LAN occurred at 1129 zone time.
The observed altitude (Ho) was 44°53.7'. What was the longitude of your 1200 zone time running fix?

    N a. LONG 125°25.0'E
    N b. LONG 125°28.9'E
    N c. LONG 125°32.5'E
    Y d. LONG 125°35.2'E

1122: Which type of daymark will you see as you approach Old Levee Light (mile 385.2 AHP)?

    N a. Green diamond
    N b. Red square
    Y c. Green square
    N d. Private aid - no daymark

1127: You are turning for 6.8 mph and estimate the current at 1.0 mph. What is your speed over the ground?

    N a. 6.8 mph
    Y b. 7.8 mph
    N c. 8.8 mph
    N d. 9.4 mph

1164: At 2350 on 23 June, you are at mile 610.5 AHP when you see about a mile ahead lights on the water near the left bank. What might you see when you come abreast of these lights?

    N a. Privately maintained buoys at a yacht club
    N b. Government buoys marking the Hurricane Point dikes
    Y c. Barges moored at the Dennis Landing Terminal
    N d. A pipeline discharging dredge spoil

1177: On 2 April , your 0900 zone time DR position is LAT 28°04.0'S, LONG 94°14.0'E. Your vessel is on course 316°T at a speed of 18.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1138
    N b. 1143
    N c. 1146
    Y d. 1149

1226: What are the dimensions of the Port Allen Lock at Baton Rouge, LA?

    N a. 75 feet x 1188 feet
    N b. 84 feet x 1180feet
    Y c. 84 feet x 1188 feet
    N d. 75 feet x 1180 feet

1286: As you pass under the Vicksburg Bridges, you estimate the current as 3.0 mph. What is the speed over the ground, if your vessel is making turns for 10.5 mph?

    N a. 16.5 mph
    Y b. 13.5 mph
    N c. 10.5 mph
    N d. 7.5 mph

1415: The highest point on your towboat is 52 feet above the water, and the Helena Gage reads +9.6 feet. What will be the vertical clearance when you pass under the A-span of the Helena Highway Bridge?

    N a. 49.8 feet
    N b. 53.9 feet
    Y c. 57.8 feet
    N d. 73.1 feet

1473: On 26 January , your 1615 ZT DR position is LAT 27°14.0'S, LONG 57°22.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 266°psc. The chronometer reads 08h 13m 19s, and the chronometer error is 01m 46s slow. The variation is 4°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 4.8°E
    N b. 4.9°W
    Y c. 5.9°W
    N d. 7.8°E

2112: At 0130, you obtain the following bearings:

Horton Point Lighthouse 078°T
Mattituck Breakwater Light tower 196°T

What were the course and speed made good between 0100 and 0130?

    Y a. 246°T at 9.8 knots
    N b. 253°T at 9.4 knots
    N c. 259°T at 9.8 knots
    N d. 267°T at 9.4 knots

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.

2886: Your vessel is steering 074°T at 12 knots. At 0214 a light bears 115°T, and at 0223 the same light bears 135°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    N a. 2.4 miles
    Y b. 3.0 miles
    N c. 3.5 miles
    N d. 4.2 miles

3077: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 23.7 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 20.8 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 7% negative slip?

    Y a. 108
    N b. 112
    N c. 116
    N d. 124

3615: You want to make good a true course of 137°. A north-northeast wind produces a 3° leeway. The variation is 11° west, deviation is 5° east, and gyrocompass error is 2° east. What course must you steer per gyrocompass to make the true course good?

    Y a. 132°pgc
    N b. 134°pgc
    N c. 136°pgc
    N d. 138°pgc

3637: You desire to make good a true course of 347°. The variation is 11°E, magnetic compass deviation is 7°W, and gyrocompass error is 4°W. A north by east wind produces a 4° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good?

    N a. 339°psc
    N b. 343°psc
    Y c. 347°psc
    N d. 351°psc

3708: 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?

    Y a. 1300
    N b. 1435
    N c. 1620
    N d. 1815

3708: 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?

    Y a. 1300
    N b. 1435
    N c. 1620
    N d. 1815

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

4005: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°W. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a magnetic compass heading of 022°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 354° 122.5° - 114° 239.5° - 234°
030.5° - 024° 152.0° - 144° 269.0° - 264°
061.5° - 054° 181.0° - 174° 298.0° - 294°
092.0° - 084° 210.0° - 204° 327.5° - 324°

    N a. 1.5°E
    N b. 0.5°E
    Y c. 0.0°
    N d. 0.5°W

10309: You are 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to LAT 41°00.0'N, LONG 71°30.0'W?

    N a. 108°psc
    Y b. 122°psc
    N c. 124°psc
    N d. 130°psc

10505: At 0919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. You are on course 270°T at 8.7 knots. At 1000 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°37.0'W. What was the current?

    N a. 137° at 0.6 knot
    Y b. 150° at 1.0 knot
    N c. 331° at 0.7 knot
    N d. 347° at 0.7 knot

11106: What is the height of the tide at Great Salt Pond, on Block Island, at the morning high water (daylight savings time) on 1 July 1983?

    N a. 1.3 feet
    Y b. 2.3 feet
    N c. 3.2 feet
    N d. There is no morning high water

12904: Your 0916 position is LAT 37°10.9'N, LONG 75°29.6'W. You are turning for 12.3 knots. What is your ETA at North Chesapeake Bay Entrance Buoy NCA?

    N a. 1035
    N b. 1043
    Y c. 1051
    N d. 1101

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

13810: Which chart would you use if you planned to continue westward beyond the coverage of this chart?

    Y a. 12363
    N b. 12373
    N c. 13205
    N d. 13218

14102: Your vessel is awaiting lockage at Bonneville Locks when you notice that the lock is displaying an amber signal light. What type of vessel is allowed to enter the chamber under this signal?

    N a. Vessels owned or operated by the United States
    N b. Passenger vessels
    Y c. Commercial freight and log-tow vessels
    N d. All vessels

14700: How many nautical miles are between mile 105 and mile 234 on the Columbia River?

    Y a. 112.1
    N b. 119.5
    N c. 129.0
    N d. 148.4

15114: Your 1900 position is LAT 37°12.9'N, LONG 76°13.5'W. You change course to 317°pgc and slow to 8.0 knots. What is the course per standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 331°psc
    Y b. 329°psc
    N c. 311°psc
    N d. 309°psc

15157: If there is no current, what is the course per gyro compass from your 1600 position to point "A" located 0.5 mile due east of Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy "12"?

    N a. 190°pgc
    N b. 193°pgc
    N c. 196°pgc
    Y d. 199°pgc

15318: You passed Cape Henry Light at 0730 outbound at maximum flood. What approximate current can you expect on entering Chesapeake Channel?

    N a. Slack before ebb
    N b. Slack before flood
    N c. Ebb current
    Y d. Flood current

15438: At 2038 you are on course 272°T when Chesapeake Light is bearing 348° true at a range of 5.3 nm

Based on this fix, which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. You are inside a ten fathom depth curve.
    N b. You are less than five miles from Chesapeake Light.
    N c. You are 0.6 mile north of a wreck.
    N d. You are inside the contiguous zone.

15768: 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

15806: What type of bottom is found at Long Sand Shoal?

    N a. Rocky
    N b. Muddy
    N c. Sandy
    Y d. Hard

15845: If you are going to head directly for Chesapeake Light from your 2111 fix, what is the course to make good?

    Y a. 190°T
    N b. 193°T
    N c. 196°T
    N d. 199°T

15856: What type of bottom is found at Long Sand Shoal?

    N a. Rocky
    Y b. Hard
    N c. Sandy
    N d. Muddy

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)

16360: What is the course to steer per gyro compass from the anchorage to point "A" if westerly winds are causing 3° of leeway?

    N a. 178°pgc
    N b. 182°pgc
    N c. 184°pgc
    Y d. 187°pgc

16541: At 2255 you take the following visual bearings.

Saybrook Breakwater Light 333°pgc
Little Gull Island Light 094°pgc
Horton Point Light 211°pgc

What is your position?

    Y a. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 72°19.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°13.8'N, LONG 72°19.6'W
    N c. LAT 41°14.0'N, LONG 72°19.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°14.2'N, LONG 72°19.7'W

16842: From your 0939 position, you wish to change course in order to pass 0.3 mile north of Buoy "NCA" (LL#375) in the inbound traffic lane. You estimate the current to be 150°
T at 2.0 knots. What course should you steer to make good the desired course? Your speed is still 13.0 knots.

    N a. 232°T
    N b. 235°T
    Y c. 245°T
    N d. 249°T