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.

170: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 54°28.2' on 22 July . The index error is 1.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 56 feet (17.1 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
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?
362: At 0530, the Coast Guard announces that Chesapeake Channel is closed indefinitely due to a collision occurring in the channel between Trestle "B" and "C" of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. You exit York Spit Channel, leaving buoy "20" abeam to port at 0.1 mile, and alter course to leave Horseshoe Crossing Lighted Bell Buoy abeam to port at 0.2 mile. What is the course per gyrocompass?
362: At 0530, the Coast Guard announces that Chesapeake Channel is closed indefinitely due to a collision occurring in the channel between Trestle "B" and "C" of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. You exit York Spit Channel, leaving buoy "20" abeam to port at 0.1 mile, and alter course to leave Horseshoe Crossing Lighted Bell Buoy abeam to port at 0.2 mile. What is the course per gyrocompass? 

    Y a. 193°pgc
    N b. 190°pgc
    N c. 187°pgc
    N d. 185°pgc
374: You calculate that the current will be ebbing at the Race at 0700. You should expect to be set in which general direction at the Race? 

    N a. West
    Y b. East
    N c. Northeast
    N d. North
387: The wind is southerly, and you estimate 3° leeway. Allowing for leeway, what is the course to steer from your 0745 position to pass 1 mile south of Watch Hill Buoy "WH"? 

    Y a. 087°pgc
    N b. 085°pgc
    N c. 081°pgc
    N d. 079°pgc
469: Determine the great circle initial course from LAT 37°12.6'S, LONG 73°58.0'W to LAT 10°33.0'S, LONG 142°08.0'E. 

    Y a. 223°T
    N b. 253°T
    N c. 287°T
    N d. 317°T
486: What is your speed from your 0630 position, with Buoy "PI" close abeam, to your 0654 position? 

    N a. 11.4 knots
    Y b. 10.5 knots
    N c. 9.3 knots
    N d. 8.2 knots
523: At what time will you cross the 60 foot curve if you make good 12 knots? 

    N a. 0544
    N b. 0541
    N c. 0534
    Y d. 0528
1096: On 24 October , your 0100 DR position is LAT 27°42'N, LONG 158°35'E. You are on course 085°T at a speed of 12 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0700 running fix. NP-0026

    N a. LAT 27°48.8'N, LONG 160°12.5'E
    N b. LAT 27°52.5'N, LONG 160°18.2'E
    Y c. LAT 27°56.0'N, LONG 159°47.3'E
    N d. LAT 27°58.4'N, LONG 159°43.5'E
1124: The Vicksburg Gage reads 31.9 feet. The high point on your towboat is 43 feet above the water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Vicksburg Highway 80 Bridge? 

    N a. 36.2 feet
    Y b. 41.4 feet
    N c. 58.0 feet
    N d. 84.3 feet
1193: On 26 September , your 0830 zone time DR position is LAT 23°04.0'N, LONG 129°16.0'E. Your vessel is on course 119°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1158
    N b. 1205
    Y c. 1210
    N d. 1214
1279: At 0327 ZT, on 29 May , your DR position is LAT 25°00'N, LONG 64°15'W. You are steering 270°T at a speed of 13.6 knots. What is the zone time of sunrise? 

    N a. 0521
    Y b. 0529
    N c. 0536
    N d. 0548
1409: As you pass Solitude Lt. (mile 249.0 AHP) which dayboard would you see? 

    N a. Green square
    Y b. Green diamond
    N c. Red triangle
    N d. Red diamond
1479: On 6 November , your vessel's 0706 zone time DR position is LAT 25°30.0'N, LONG 85°35.0'W, when an azimuth of the Sun is observed. The chronometer time of the sight is 01h 03m 30s, and the Sun is bearing 114.0°pgc. The chronometer error is 02m 30s slow, and the variation in the area is 2°.
What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 0.8°E
    N b. 0.8°W
    N c. 2.0°W
    Y d. 2.0°E
1535: The Red River Landing Gage reads 5.2 feet. The low water reference plane (LWRP) for Red River is 10.6 feet. Which of the following statements is TRUE? 

    Y a. River level is below the Low Water Reference Plane.
    N b. The depth over revetment at Old River is 25.2 ft.
    N c. The depth over Old River Lock sill is greater than 11 ft.
    N d. This gage reading is at a higher elevation than the same reading on the Gage at Head of Passes.
1707: You are passing the Memphis Gage at 0405, 18 March. If you are turning for 8 mph and estimate the current at 2.3 mph,
what is your ETA at Cairo Point, IL (mile 954.5 AHP)? 

    N a. 0447, 19 Mar
    N b. 1052, 19 Mar
    N c. 1518, 19 Mar
    Y d. 1839, 19 Mar
1712: What is the distance from Cairo Point, IL, to Arkansas City? 

    N a. 28 miles
    N b. 110 miles
    N c. 218 miles
    Y d. 400 miles
2285: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 45°49.7' on 13 November . The index error is 1.0' on the arc. The height of eye is 61 feet (18.6 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 45°59.3'
    Y b. 45°56.4'
    N c. 45°52.9'
    N d. 45°49.8'
2290: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 75°12.3' on 6 August . The index error is 1.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 32 feet (9.8 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 75°18.6'
    Y b. 75°24.0'
    N c. 75°30.7'
    N d. 75°34.6'
2705: While on a course of 192°T, a light bears 11° on the starboard bow at a distance of 12.7 miles. What course should you steer to pass 3 miles abeam of the light leaving it to starboard? 

    N a. 167°T
    N b. 173°T
    N c. 185°T
    Y d. 189°T
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
3462: You are underway on course 160°T at 10 knots. The current is 210°T at 0.9 knots. What is the course made good? 

    N a. 156°T
    N b. 160°T
    Y c. 164°T
    N d. 169°T
3468: You are underway on course 215°T at 12 knots. The current is 000°T at 2.3 knots. What is the speed being made good? 

    N a. 8.5 knots
    Y b. 10.2 knots
    N c. 10.9 knots
    N d. 11.2 knots
3612: Your vessel is steering 195° per standard magnetic compass. Variation for the area is 13°W, and the deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the west-southwest, producing a 2° leeway. Which true course are you making good? 

    N a. 178°T
    N b. 180°T
    N c. 182°T
    Y d. 184°T
6144: What are the dimensions of the Old River Lock on the Lower Old River (mile 304 AHP)? 

    Y a. 1190 X 75 feet
    N b. 1185 X 84 feet
    N c. 1190 X 84 feet
    N d. 1185 X 75 feet
11504: At 1016 your position is LAT 41°07.6'N, LONG 71°38.5'W. At 1116 your position is LAT 41°01.4'N, LONG 71°29.4'W. What was the course made good between the two positions? 

    Y a. 132°T
    N b. 135°T
    N c. 140°T
    N d. 143°T
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
12306: You sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light (LAT 41°18.2'N, LONG 71°56.0'W) bearing 093° per standard magnetic compass. If your vessel was heading 185° per standard magnetic compass at the time, which of the following is TRUE? 

    N a. The compass error is 2°W.
    N b. The deviation is 17°W.
    N c. The deviation is 2°W for all bearings of 093°.
    Y d. The deviation table is correct for that heading.
13002: At 0829 your position is LAT 41°02.9'N, LONG 72°57.4'W. You are making turns for 8.5 knots. What is your ETA at a position midway between buoys "1" and "2" at the entrance of New Haven Outer Channel? 

    N a. 0925
    N b. 0931
    N c. 0938
    Y d. 0944
14003: At 1430 your vessel passes under the Interstate 5 highway bridge east bound. Your engines are making RPM's for 12 mph. If the current is ebbing at 3 mph, what is your ETA at Bonneville Lock? 

    N a. 1744
    N b. 1753
    N c. 1834
    Y d. 1848
15109: What is the average velocity of the maximum flood current at the Tail of the Horseshoe? 

    N a. 0.6 knot
    Y b. 0.9 knot
    N c. 1.3 knots
    N d. 1.6 knots
15420: You are entering Norfolk Harbor and have just passed Craney Island. Which chart should you use for your final approach into Norfolk Harbor? 

    N a. 12223
    N b. 12238
    N c. 12248
    Y d. 12253
15440: Your ETA at Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel between trestles B + C is 2300. If your engine speed is 9.8 knots,
what will be your approximate speed over the ground, at that time, allowing for the predicted current? 

    N a. 7.0 knots
    N b. 8.2 knots
    N c. 11.4 knots
    Y d. 12.5 knots
15507: What course should you steer by your standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 280°T? 

    N a. 266°psc
    N b. 272°psc
    N c. 290°psc
    Y d. 294°psc
15560: In clear weather, you will lose sight of Point Judith Light at what distance? (use charted range of 20 miles as nominal range) 

    Y a. 14.0 nm
    N b. 12.6 nm
    N c. 10.3 nm
    N d. 9.2 nm
15606: Your 1600 position is LAT 37°22.5'N, LONG 75°32.3'W. The depth of water under the keel is about __________. 

    Y a. 38 feet (11.5 meters)
    N b. 45 feet (13.6 meters)
    N c. 52 feet (15.8 meters)
    N d. 59 feet (17.3 meters)
15612: At 1920, Cape Henry Light bears 225°pgc, and Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light bears 288°pgc. If your heading is 268°T, what is the relative bearing of Chesapeake Light? 

    N a. 194°
    N b. 205°
    Y c. 213°
    N d. 220°
15738: At 1830 you obtained the following Loran-C readings:

9960-W-14820.0
9960-X-26097.0
9960-Y-43713.5

What is your vessel's position? 

    N a. LAT 40°41.0'N,  LONG 72°06.0'W
    N b. LAT 40°41.0'N,  LONG 72°10.6'W
    Y c. LAT 40°42.5'N,  LONG 72°07.1'W
    N d. LAT 40°47.5'N,  LONG 72°02.9'W
15757: If you change course at 0610, what is the course to steer per gyro compass to a point where Little Gull Island Light bears 180°T at 0.7 mile (Point "A")? 

    N a. 072°pgc
    Y b. 076°pgc
    N c. 080°pgc
    N d. 084°pgc
15769: At 0900, you take the following radar ranges:

Watch Hill Point 5.4 miles
Block Island Grace Point 8.3 miles

Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. You are to the right of the track line.
    N b. The bottom in the area is sand and gravel.
    N c. You are inside of the Territorial Sea.
    Y d. The fix is indeterminate.
16057: What is the maximum allowable speed of vessels underway up river from Tue Marshes Light? 

    N a. 8 knots
    N b. 10 knots
    Y c. 12 knots
    N d. 14 knots
16069: From your 2118 position, you steer a course of 288°T at an engine speed of 7.0 knots. Visibility is 2 miles. Height of eye is 12 feet (3.7 meters). At what time can you expect to see Old Point Comfort Light? 

    N a. The light is visible at 2118
    N b. 2139
    N c. 2201
    Y d. 2232
16107: If the visibility is 5 miles and you are in the red sector,
at what distance off should you sight Cape Henry Light? 

    N a. 15 miles
    N b. 13 miles
    N c. 11 miles
    Y d. 09 miles
16138: At 1930 Race Rock Light bears 111°T, and Little Gull Island Light bears 172°T. Which of the following is your position at 1930? 

    N a. LAT 41°15.6'N, LONG 72°09.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°16.1'N, LONG 72°08.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°15.3'N, LONG 72°12.9'W
    Y d. LAT 41°15.8'N, LONG 72°07.1'W
16313: At 0730, visibility is 5.5 miles. At what time will you lose sight of Horton Point Light? 

    N a. It is not visible at 0730
    Y b. 0751
    N c. 0812
    N d. 0825
16359: If your engines are turning for 6.5 knots and the estimated current is north at 0.5 knot. What is the ETA at point "A"? 

    Y a. 0511
    N b. 0501
    N c. 0450
    N d. 0440
16368: Why should mariners use extreme care when navigating within the precautionary area centered on Chesapeake Bay Entrance Junction Lighted Gong Buoy CBJ? 

    N a. There are numerous underwater obstructions that are a hazard to vessels with drafts exceeding 2 meters (6.5 feet).
    N b. Fishing vessels of limited maneuverability routinely operate in this area when hunting oyster and crabs.
    Y c. Vessels may approach from different directions from the inbound separation lanes and from Chesapeake and Thimble Shoal Channel.
    N d. Large naval vessels having the right of way often enter the area when bound to or from the Norfolk Naval Base.
16464: At 0405, you increase speed. At 0500, your position is LAT 37°06.0'N, LONG 75°41.1'W. What is the approximate depth of the water under the keel? 

    N a. 66 feet (20.0 meters)
    N b. 62 feet (18.8 meters)
    N c. 54 feet (16.4 meters)
    Y d. 46 feet (13.9 meters)
16843: At what time will you enter the inbound traffic lane with Buoy "NCA" (LL #375) bearing 180°T at 0.3 mile? 

    N a. 1003
    Y b. 0957
    N c. 0951
    N d. 0948