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.

37: As you pass under the Natchez-Vidalia Dual Bridge, the gage on the bridge reads -3.6 feet. If the highest point on your vessel is 62 ft. above the water, what is your vertical clearance?
62: The Greenville Gage reads 10.6 feet. The high point of your towboat is 54 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge?
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?
164: The Helena Gage reads 9.4 feet. The high point on your towboat is 42 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge? 

    N a. 53.0 feet
    N b. 64.2 feet
    Y c. 68.0 feet
    N d. 110.0 feet
209: At 0705, you take the following bearings:

Watch Hill Light 034.5°pgc
Latimer Reef Light 338.0°pgc
Race Rock Light 268.0°pgc

What was the true course made good between 0645 and 0705? 

    Y a. 253°T
    N b. 256°T
    N c. 263°T
    N d. 266°T
219: 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 __________. 

    Y a. 067°T at 1.4 knots
    N b. 246°T at 1.0 knots
    N c. 067°T at 1.0 knots
    N d. 246°T at 1.4 knots
272: At 0925, you plot the following bearings:

Falkner Island Light bearing 251°true
Kelsey Point BW Light bearing 075°true

If you correct for a current setting 215°T at 0.5 knot, what course will you steer from the 0925 position to arrive at a position 0.5 mile south of Long Sand Shoal West End Horn Buoy "W"? 

    N a. 102°T
    N b. 096°T
    N c. 093°T
    Y d. 089°T
373: What is your ETA at point "A"? 

    N a. 0702
    N b. 0655
    Y c. 0651
    N d. 0640
395: A vessel at LAT 45°36.0'N, LONG 11°36.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 24°16.0'N, LONG 73°52.0'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing. 

    Y a. 247°T, 3299.3 miles
    N b. 247°T, 3951.6 miles
    N c. 251°T, 3298.5 miles
    N d. 251°T, 3951.6 miles
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
612: At 0530 zone time, on 20 December , you depart Cape Town (ZD -1). You are bound for New York (ZD +5), and you estimate your speed of advance at 25 knots. The distance is 6,762 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at New York? 

    N a. 1200, 31 December
    N b. 1100, 31 December
    N c. 0700, 31 December
    Y d. 0600, 31 December
688: What is the distance from the Amoco Docks at Baton Rouge, LA, to Pittsburgh, PA? 

    N a. 727.9 miles
    N b. 981.5 miles
    N c. 1575.3 miles
    Y d. 1681.7 miles
738: On 24 September , your 1841 zone time DR position is LAT 25°15.0'N, LONG 129°34.5'E. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 25°20.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 09h 38m 12s, and the chronometer error is 03m 12s slow. The index error is 4.3' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52.0 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    N a. 24°28.4'N
    N b. 25°16.0'N
    Y c. 25°37.6'N
    N d. 25°42.3'N
1001: On 26 July , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 18°25'N, LONG 51°15'W. You are on course 231°T, speed 15 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.

ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1228 50°23.5' N 19°21.9' 88°14.3'
1236 52°23.5' N 19°21.8' 88°29.0' 

    N a. LAT 18°00.9'N, LONG 51°31.9'W
    N b. LAT 18°03.5'N, LONG 51°36.2'W
    Y c. LAT 18°07.2'N, LONG 51°30.4'W
    N d. LAT 18°10.6'N, LONG 51°25.1'W
1084: On 4 Dec. , your 1500 ZT DR position is LAT 18°06.0'N, LONG 75°42.0'W. You are on course 020°T at a speed of 15.0 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1548 running fix. 

    N a. LAT 18°10.3'N, LONG 75°34.5'W
    N b. LAT 18°12.6'N, LONG 75°42.0'W
    N c. LAT 18°14.0'N, LONG 75°40.0'W
    Y d. LAT 18°17.3'N, LONG 75°37.7'W
1165: Which of the following statements concerning the buoys on the Mississippi River is TRUE? 

    N a. The position of river buoys can be determined by consulting the latest Light List - Vol. V.
    N b. A preferred channel mark is a lateral mark indicating a channel junction which must always be passed to starboard.
    N c. Buoys should be passed as close as possible.
    Y d. Setting a buoy is the act of placing a buoy on assigned position in the water.
1276: Your 0000 zone time position on 13 June is LAT 24°35'N, LONG 142°26'E. Your vessel is on course 245°T, speed is 13.5 knots. What is the zone time of sunrise? 

    N a. 0440
    Y b. 0445
    N c. 0503
    N d. 0528
1503: On 30 July , your 0200 zone time (ZD +4) DR position is LAT 43°48'N, LONG 78°00 W. At that time, you observe Polaris bearing 008.7°psc. The chronometer time of the observation is 05h 58m 07s, and the chronometer is 0m 23s slow. The variation is 10.5°W. What is the deviation of the magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.5°E
    Y b. 3.0°E
    N c. 7.5°W
    N d. 18.0°W
1723: You will pass the first gage at __________. 

    N a. Profit Island
    N b. Bayou Sara
    N c. Baton Rouge
    Y d. Red River Landing
1767: What is the vertical clearance of the Natchez-Vidalia Highway Bridge when the Natchez-Vidalia Highway Bridge Gage reads 23.4 feet? 

    Y a. 102.6 ft
    N b. 108.3 ft
    N c. 119.5 ft
    N d. 125.6 ft
1806: In high water conditions, which publication would you consult for the latest information on buoys between Baton Rouge and Cairo? 

    N a. U.S.C.G. Light List
    Y b. U.S.C.G. Local  Notice to Mariners
    N c. Army Corps. of Engineers Navigation Chart
    N d. List of Buoys and Daymarks
1809: Which daymark would you see at Shields Bar Lt. (mile 882.2 AHP)? 

    N a. Red triangle
    N b. Green triangle
    Y c. Red diamond
    N d. Green square
1871: On 12 June , your 1845 DR position is LAT 21°47'N, LONG 46°52'W when you observe a faint unidentifiable star through a break in the clouds. The star bears 270°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 65°41.7'. The index error is 0.5' on the arc, and the height of eye is 45 feet. The chronometer reads 09h 43m 27s, and the chronometer error is 1m 46s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Epsilon Leonis
    N b. Scheat
    N c. Merak
    Y d. Algeiba
1880: On 13 September , your 1830 ZT DR position was LAT 23°03'S, LONG 105°16'E when you observed a faint unidentifiable star through a hole in the clouds. The star bore 265.0°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 62°25.4'. The chronometer read 11h 24m 39s and is 5m 08s slow. The index error is 1.0' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52 feet. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Sigma Ophiuchi
    N b. Alcyone
    Y c. Dschubba
    N d. Gamma Lupi
1889: On 22 July , your 1759 DR position is LAT 24°50.2'S, LONG 05°16.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 293°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 17°52.8'. The chronometer reads 06h 01m 31s, and is 02m 15s fast. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Regulus
    N b. Antares
    N c. Miaplacidus
    N d. Suhail
2004: On 28 February , your 1850 zone time DR position is LAT 27°49.0'N, LONG 159°24.0'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three stars best suited for a fix at star time? 

    Y a. Rigel, Schedar, Regulus
    N b. Sirius, Mirfak, Elnath
    N c. Hamal, Alkaid, Canopus
    N d. Bellatrix, Vega, Regulus
2026: On 10 June , your 1712 zone time DR position is LAT 25°10.0'S, LONG 06°58.0'E. You are on course 213°T at a speed of 9.0 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three stars best suited for a fix at star time? 

    N a. Procyon, Antares, Sirius
    N b. Sirius, Procyon, Regulus
    N c. Acrux, Canopus, Regulus
    Y d. Acrux, Procyon, Arcturus
2049: What is the length of the trip? 

    N a. 405.8 miles
    Y b. 904.0 miles
    N c. 1002.0 miles
    N d. 1136.8 miles
2119: At 1622 ZT, on 15 June , in DR position LAT 10° 15.2' N, LONG 135° 10' W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon, bearing 101.2°psc. The variation is 5° E. What is the deviation? 

    Y a. 1.5°E
    N b. 1.5°W
    N c. 0.5°E
    N d. 0.5°W
2174: On 18 October , at 0518 ZT, morning stars were observed and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 25°31.0'N, LONG 146°29.2'E. Your vessel is steaming at 19.0 knots on a course of 308°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0915 ZT. The chronometer reads 11h 17m 11s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 34°51.4'. The index error is 2.0' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 57s fast. Your height of eye on the bridge is 54.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 120.6°T
    N b. 121.9°T
    Y c. 125.5°T
    N d. 127.3°T
2247: At 1845 zone time, on 17 March , while taking stars for an evening fix, you observe an unidentified star bearing 200°T at an observed altitude of 53°45.0'. Your DR position at the time of the sight is LAT 25°10.0'N, LONG 66°48.0'W. The chronometer time of the sight is 10h 47m 49s, and the chronometer error is 1m 54s fast. Your vessel is steaming on a course of 290°T at a speed of 18.0 knots. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Altair
    N b. Mirfak
    N c. Pollux
    Y d. Rigel
2459: You have steamed 432 miles at 18 knots and burning 406 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 221 barrels per day with 190 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel? 

    N a. 10.6
    N b. 12.8
    Y c. 16.5
    N d. 17.7
2871: Your vessel is on a course of 052°T at 16 knots. At 0916 a light bears 078.5°T, and at 0927 the light bears 097°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0929, 2.0 miles
    N b. 0932, 2.3 miles
    N c. 0935, 2.6 miles
    Y d. 0938, 2.9 miles
3641: You desire to make good a true course of 174°. The variation is 17°W, magnetic compass deviation is 4°W, and gyrocompass error is 4°E. A west-southwest wind produces a 4° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good? 

    N a. 195°psc
    N b. 197°psc
    Y c. 199°psc
    N d. 203°psc
10501: At 0939 your GPS position is LAT 36°57.0'N, LONG 75°41.0'W. You are on course 119° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 12.8 knots. At 1017 your GPS indicates your position as LAT 36°54.2'N, LONG 75°33.1'W. What were the set and drift? 

    N a. 280°T at 1.0 knot
    Y b. 275°T at 1.8 knots
    N c. 091°T at 1.6 knots
    N d. 103°T at 1.1 knots
10603: At 1300 your GPS position is LAT 41°09.2' N, LONG 72°36.9'W. You are steering course 291° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 8 knots. At 1345 you fix your position by plotting several compass bearings on nearby known fixed objects. These result in a position of LAT 41°09.9'N, LONG 72°46.1'W. Which statement is TRUE with respect to the combined effects of wind and current experienced since 1300? 

    N a. There has been no set and drift.
    N b. Set and drift are westerly at approximately 0.9 knot.
    Y c. Your speed over the bottom is approximately 9.2 knots.
    N d. Set and drift are easterly at approximately 1.0 knot.
10609: At 1922 your GPS position is LAT 41°04.9'N, LONG 72°42.1'W. You are on course 085° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 10 knots. At 2019 your GPS position is 1 mile due south of Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy "TE". What were your set and drift? 

    Y a. 343°T at 0.7 knot
    N b. 340°T at 1.2 knots
    N c. 164°T at 0.9 knot
    N d. 161°T at 1.1 knots
11507: At 1014 you depart the entrance to Lake Montauk with light "1" close aboard. Your course is 066° per standard magnetic compass, and the speed is 8.6 knots. At 1222 your position is LAT 41°20.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W. What is the speed made good? 

    N a. 8.4 knots
    N b. 8.6 knots
    Y c. 9.2 knots
    N d. 9.6 knots
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
14602: Where would you tune your radio to receive a VHF-FM weather broadcast for the Columbia River in the vicinity of Government Island? 

    N a. KIH-32 - 162.40 MHz
    N b. KBA-99 - 162.40 MHz
    Y c. KEB-97 - 162.55 MHz
    N d. KEC-62 - 162.55 MHz
15116: According to your track line, how far off New Point Comfort Spit Light "4" will you be when abeam of this light? 

    Y a. 0.9 mile
    N b. 1.2 miles
    N c. 1.5 miles
    N d. 1.8 miles
15164: From your 1920 position, you change course to enter Chesapeake Channel between buoys 9 and 10. What is the course per gyrocompass? 

    N a. 271°pgc
    N b. 274°pgc
    Y c. 277°pgc
    N d. 280°pgc
15206: At 1730, your position is LAT 37°13.9'N, LONG 76°26.4'W. You are steering course 088° per standard magnetic compass (psc) at an engine speed of 8.0 knots. What is your distance off Tue Marshes Light at 1730? 

    Y a. 2.6 miles
    N b. 2.8 miles
    N c. 3.0 miles
    N d. 3.2 miles
15208: At 1750, your position is LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°22.9'W. What was the course made good between 1730 and 1750? 

    N a. 072°T
    N b. 075°T
    Y c. 078°T
    N d. 080°T
15243: At 1245 the GPS shows your position to be LAT 41°10.3'N, LONG 72°44.2'W. You are steering a course of 284°T at an engine speed of 13.0 knots. At what time would you expect the New Haven Harbor Outer Range to be in line if you have a current setting 112°T at 1.2 knots? 

    N a. 1318
    Y b. 1323
    N c. 1328
    N d. 1343
15809: At 0045, you obtain the following bearings:

Rocky Point lookout tower 072°T
Horton Point lighthouse 213°T

What were the set and drift between 0005 and 0045? 

    N a. 272°true, 0.9 knot
    N b. 272°true, 1.4 knots
    N c. 092°true, 0.9 knot
    Y d. 092°True, 1.4 knots
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
16146: From your 2054 position, you change course to 066°T. Maintaining course and speed of 18 knots, at what time can you expect to first cross the 90-foot curve if you experience no set and drift? 

    Y a. 2105
    N b. 2111
    N c. 2117
    N d. 2125
16346: After passing through the Race, enroute to Bridgeport, CN,
and Race Rock Light is 2 miles astern you notice an equal interval flashing red light on the starboard side. This light is __________. 

    N a. New London Airport Aerobeacon
    Y b. New London Harbor Light
    N c. New London Ledge Light
    N d. Bartlett Reef Light
16616: At 0130, your position is LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°46.9'W when you change course to 086°T. If you make good 086°T,
what is the closest point of approach to Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy? 

    N a. 0.7 mile
    Y b. 0.9 mile
    N c. 1.1 miles
    N d. 1.2 miles
16845: After the pilot boards, he tells you the gyro has a 2°E error. If this is true, what should the bearing be along Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel as your vessel passes abeam of it? 

    N a. 052°pgc
    N b. 049°pgc
    Y c. 047°pgc
    N d. 045°pgc