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.

59: You pass Warnicott Bar Lt. at 1146, 24 May. What is your ETA off the Mhoon Landing Gage if you average 6.5 mph?
182: What course should you steer using the standard magnetic compass (psc) to make good the course of 192°pgc?
191: If you make good 12 knots, what is the ETA at North Chesapeake Channel Entrance Buoy "NCA" (LL #375)?
253: According to the DR track line from your 0100 position, how far off Roanoke Point Shoal Buoy "5" should you be when the buoy is abeam? 

    N a. 1.8 mile
    N b. 1.3 mile
    Y c. 0.8 mile
    N d. 0.2 miles
260: At 0300, your position is LAT 41°01.7'N, LONG 72°55.1'W. From this position you steer a course of 289° per standard magnetic compass at an engine speed of 10.0 knots. At what time can you first expect to see Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light if the luminous range is 8.0 miles? 

    N a. 0318
    N b. 0312
    N c. 0309
    Y d. 0303
442: Shortly after getting underway, you sight Stonington Outer Breakwater Light in line with Stonington Inner Breakwater Light bearing 000° per gyrocompass. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. The deviation is 2°W
    N b. The variation is 2°E.
    N c. The compass error is 16°W.
    Y d. The gyro error is 2.5°W
453: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 08°36.0'N, LONG 126°17.0'E to LAT 02°12.0'S, LONG 81°53.0'W. 

    N a. 9015 miles, 067°T
    N b. 9076 miles, 067°T
    N c. 9105 miles, 079°T
    Y d. 9076 miles, 079°T
488: At 0705, with your gyro again functioning properly, you change course to 096°T. At this time Race Rock Light is bearing 000°T at 0.35 mile. You are now governed by which Navigation Rules? 

    Y a. International Rules
    N b. Local Pilot Rules
    N c. Inland Rules
    N d. Coastal Fishery Rules
513: What is the distance from your 0200 position to the point where Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal lighted buoy is abeam to starboard? 

    N a. 7.3 miles
    N b. 7.1 miles
    Y c. 6.9 miles
    N d. 6.6 miles
524: The two wavy magenta lines running to Green Hill Point represent __________. 

    N a. recommended approaches to Green Hill Point
    N b. a restricted anchorage area
    Y c. submarine cables
    N d. prohibited fishing areas
635: You complete changing out your tow and get underway enroute Ark City Tank Storage (mile 554.0 AHP) to deliver the tank barges. What is the distance you must travel from Cairo Point Light? 

    N a. 606.8 miles
    N b. 554.0 miles
    Y c. 399.8 miles
    N d. 202.1 miles
637: The highest point on your towboat is 48 feet above the water, and the Memphis Gage reads +7.5 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Hernando Desoto Bridge in Memphis? 

    N a. 48.0 feet
    Y b. 53.2 feet
    N c. 68.2 feet
    N d. 116.0 feet
745: On 13 October , at 1847 ZT, your vessel's DR position is LAT 42°17.4'N, LONG 138°46.2'W. At approximately this time, you obtain a sextant altitude (hs) of Polaris reading 42°16.8', with an index error of 3.2' on the arc. Your chronometer reads 03h 45m 20s and is 1m 32s slow. What is your latitude by Polaris, given a height of eye of 44 feet? 

    Y a. 42°09.1'N
    N b. 42°12.5'N
    N c. 42°16.0'N
    N d. 42°19.5'N
809: On 7 November , your 0830 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 27°36.0'N, LONG 163°19.0'W. Your vessel is on course 289°T, and your speed is 19.0 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1138 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 45°35.0'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN? 

    N a. 27°52.3'N
    N b. 27°53.4'N
    N c. 27°55.1'N
    Y d. 27°57.2'N
993: Your 0745 ZT, 15 July , position is LAT 29°04.0'N, LONG 71°17.5'W. You are on course 165°T, and your speed is 8.0 knots. You observed 3 morning sun lines. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1130 running fix? NP-0003

    Y a. LAT 28°35.0'N, LONG 71°08.5'W
    N b. LAT 28°39.8'N, LONG 71°04.0'W
    N c. LAT 28°40.5'N, LONG 71°13.0'W
    N d. LAT 28°43.3'N, LONG 71°02.5'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
1094: On 12 Oct. , your vessel is on course 081°T, speed 20 knots. Your 1800 zone time DR position is LAT 26°11.0'S, LONG 77°18.0'E. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1835 running fix. NP-0024

    N a. LAT 26°05.5'S, LONG 77°14.5'E
    N b. LAT 26°07.5'S, LONG 77°34.0'E
    N c. LAT 26°09.0'S, LONG 77°27.5'E
    Y d. LAT 26°12.0'S, LONG 77°31.0'E
1197: On 16 November , your 0800 ZT DR position is LAT 25°11.0'N, LONG 117°41.0'W. Your vessel is on a course of 252°T at a speed of 14.5 knots. What is the ZT of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1135
    Y b. 1139
    N c. 1143
    N d. 1146
1246: Which of the following statements are TRUE? 

    N a. Oil well structures are listed in the Light List.
    N b. All aids to navigation with lights have lateral significance.
    Y c. On the Western Rivers, crossing marks may exhibit white lights.
    N d. None of the above.
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
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
1539: As you approach Vaucluse Bend Light (mile 533.8 AHP),
which type of daymark would you see on the light structure? 

    N a. Red diamond
    N b. Red triangle
    Y c. Green square
    N d. Green diamond
1686: Which light characteristics does Ben Burman Lt. (mile 235.0 AHP) have? 

    N a. 1 red flash every 5 seconds
    N b. 2 white flashes every 5 seconds
    N c. 2 green flashes every 5 seconds
    Y d. 2 red flashes every 5 seconds
2008: On 24 July , your 1912 zone time DR position is LAT 24°28.0'N, LONG 73°46.5'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three stars best suited for a fix at star time? 

    N a. Fomalhaut, Rigel, Pollux
    N b. Arcturus, Acrux, Hadar
    Y c. Spica, Altair, Alioth
    N d. Vega, Deneb, Regulus
2021: On 29 April , your 0300 ZT DR position is LAT 28°39'N, LONG 168°03'E. You are on course 108°T at a speed of 22 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time? 

    Y a. Moon, Alpheratz, Polaris
    N b. Deneb, Dubhe, Zubenelgenubi
    N c. Venus, Polaris, Arcturus
    N d. Moon, Altair, Sabik
2122: At 1538 ZT, on 15 October , in DR LAT position LAT 18° 12.8' S, LONG 160° 48.4' E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 276.2°psc. Variation is 10° E. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 2.6°E
    N b. 2.6°W
    N c. 3.6°E
    Y d. 3.6°W
2669: You are steering 143°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 18.2 miles at 2006. You change course to pass the light 5.5 miles off abeam to port. If you are making 14.5 knots, what is your ETA at a position 5.5 miles off the light? 

    N a. 2115
    Y b. 2118
    N c. 2121
    N d. 2124
2675: At 1423 you are on course 072 T° at 12.2 knots, when you sight a rock awash bearing 070°T at a range of 3.6 miles. If you change course at 1427, what course would you steer to leave the rock 1.0 mile abeam to port? 

    N a. 049°
    N b. 054°
    N c. 086°
    Y d. 091°
2681: Your vessel is on course 312°pgc and you sight a lighthouse dead ahead at a range of 10 miles. The gyro error is 3°E. What course would you steer to leave the lighthouse 1.5 miles abeam to starboard? 

    N a. 309°pgc
    Y b. 304°pgc
    N c. 309°T
    N d. 304°T
2786: At 1030, 13 January, you are passing Columbus Point Lt. (mile 936.1 AHP). What has been your average speed since leaving St. Louis (mile 181 UMR) on the 12th of January at 1400 hours? 

    N a. 10.4 mph
    Y b. 9.7 mph
    N c. 9.4 mph
    N d. 9.1 mph
3454: You wish to make good a course of 300°T while turning for an engine speed of 11 knots. The set is 350°T, and the drift is 2.1 knots. Which course should you steer? 

    N a. 278°T
    N b. 288°T
    Y c. 292°T
    N d. 308°T
3604: You wish to make good a course of 258°T, allowing 4° leeway for northerly winds. The variation is 21°W. What should you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good 258°T?
DEVIATION TABLE
MAGNETIC HDG DEVIATION
285° 5°E
270° 3°E
255° 1°E
240° 1°W 

    N a. 242°psc
    N b. 271°psc
    Y c. 278°psc
    N d. 288°psc
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
3752: While your vessel is proceeding down a channel you notice a range of lights in line with your vessel's mast. If your vessel is on course 001° per gyro compass and the charted value of the range of lights is 359°T, what is the gyro compass error? 

    Y a. 2°W
    N b. 2°E
    N c. 1°E
    N d. 1°W
10507: At 0919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. You are on course 270°T at 10.5 knots. At 1020 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°44.9'W. What was the current? 

    N a. 026° at 0.7 knot
    N b. 046° at 1.0 knot
    N c. 226° at 0.8 knot
    Y d. 246° at 1.4 knots
10602: At 1815 your GPS position is LAT 41°09.2'N, LONG 72°36.9'W. You are steering course 285° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 16 knots. At 1909 you fix your position by plotting several compass bearings on nearby known fixed objects. These result in a position of LAT 41°08.5'N, LONG 72°53.7'W. What were your set and drift? 

    N a. 292°T at 1.8 knots
    N b. 243°T at 1.0 knot
    N c. 118°T at 1.9 knots
    Y d. 111°T at 2.1 knots
10702: At 1922 your position is LAT 41°09.2'N, LONG 71°40.6'W. You are on course 028° per standard magnetic compass at 6.4 knots. At 2046 your position is LAT 41°17.2'N, LONG 71°38.6'W. What were the set and drift? 

    Y a. 235°T at 0.8 knot
    N b. 247°T at 1.1 knots
    N c. 049°T at 0.7 knot
    N d. 062°T at 1.0 knots
10704: At 2038 your position is LAT 41°09.2'N, LONG 71°40.6'W. You are on course 301° per standard magnetic compass at 7.2 knots. At 2152 your position is LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 71°48.6'W. What were the set and drift? 

    N a. 080°T at 1.0 knot
    Y b. 096°T at 2.0 knots
    N c. 261°T at 1.2 knots
    N d. 277°T at 0.9 knot
10709: At 0726 you depart Lake Montauk with light 1 close aboard and set course 065° per standard magnetic compass at 6.7 knots. At 0912 your GPS position is LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 71°46.6'W. What is the current? 

    N a. 151°T at 1.2 knots
    N b. 164°T at 0.7 knot
    N c. 227°T at 0.9 knot
    Y d. 240°T at 1.4 knots
11406: At 2021 your position is LAT 41°09.7'N, LONG 72°59.8'W. At 2057 your position is LAT 41°00.5'N, LONG 72°49.5'W. What are your true course and speed made good? 

    Y a. 140° at 20 knots
    N b. 145° at 18 knots
    N c. 316° at 19 knots
    N d. 320° at 17 knots
12107: You sight Tue Marshes Light (LAT 37°14.1'N, LONG 76°23.2'W) in line with Goodwin Thorofare Light "16" (LAT 37°13.7'N, LONG 76°25.0'W) bearing 267° per standard magnetic compass. What is TRUE if your vessel's heading is 056°psc? 

    N a. The compass error is 13°E.
    Y b. The deviation table is in error and should be corrected.
    N c. The deviation is 4°E.
    N d. The deviation table is correct for a heading of 056°psc.
13101: At 1523 your position is LAT 41°08.2'N, LONG 71°34.4'W. You are turning for 8.7 knots. What is your ETA at Shagwong Reef Buoy "7SR"? 

    N a. 1653
    N b. 1700
    Y c. 1711
    N d. 1718
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
15444: At 2306, as you pass through Trestle "C", you take a gyro bearing of the trestle when it is in line. The bearing is 049.0°. What is the gyro error? 

    Y a. 0°
    N b. 1.5°E
    N c. 1.0°W
    N d. 2.5°W
15641: You will pass through the Race at approximately the time of maximum ebb current. As you APPROACH the Race from New London, you will be set __________. 

    Y a. to the left of the track line
    N b. to the right of the track line
    N c. forward along the track line
    N d. towards New London along the track line
15666: At 0815, visibility is excellent and you can see Montauk Point. Montauk Point Light is __________. 

    N a. shown from a brown tower
    N b. equipped with a fog diaphone
    Y c. lighted 24 hours
    N d. is 79 feet (24 meters) high
15714: At 1100, your position is LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°28.0'W. You are steering a course of 069°T to leave Black Point one mile off your port beam. It has been reported that the Long Sand Shoal Buoys and Hatchett Reef Buoys are off station. Which of the following will serve as a line marking the hazards and keep your vessel in safe water? 

    Y a. Danger bearing to Black Point of not more than 064°T
    N b. Maintaining a 7 nm range off Orient Point
    N c. A bearing to Little Gull Island Light of not less than 090°
    N d. A distance to Saybrook Breakwater Light of not less than 1.3 miles
15824: You pass Red River Gage at 2015 on 16 April and estimate the current will average 3.5 mph for the remainder of the time on the Mississippi River. What is your ETA at the mouth of the Ohio River if you continue to turn for 10 mph? 

    N a. 1445, 20 April
    N b. 1830, 20 April
    Y c. 0028, 21 April
    N d. 0821, 21 April
15906: As you enter the New Haven Outer Channel, you sight the range markers in line directly over the stern. Your heading at the time is 155.5° per gyrocompass. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 1.0°E
    N b. 1.0°W
    Y c. 2.0°W
    N d. 0°
16008: While on a heading of 082°T, you sight Middle Ground Light in line with Old Field Point Light bearing 206° per standard magnetic compass. From this you can determine the __________. 

    N a. variation
    Y b. deviation table is correct for that heading
    N c. compass error is 17.5°E
    N d. deviation is 3.5°E for a bearing of 206° per standard magnetic compass
16010: The characteristic of Branford Reef Light is __________. 

    N a. flashing red every 4 seconds
    N b. flashing red every 3 seconds
    Y c. flashing white every 6 seconds
    N d. flashing yellow every 4 seconds
16043: As you cross the New Haven Outer Channel range, you observe the range in line bearing 335.5° per gyrocompass. The helmsman reports that he was heading 100° per gyrocompass,
and that the standard magnetic compass read 109° at the time of the observation. What are the gyro error and
deviation of the standard magnetic compass on this heading? 

    N a. Gyro error 2°E, deviation 3°E
    N b. Gyro error 0°  , deviation 2°W
    N c. Gyro error 2°W, deviation 9°W
    Y d. Gyro error 2°W, deviation 3°E
16111: Which publication contains the specific information about navigating in York Spit Channel? 

    N a. Light List
    Y b. Coast Pilot
    N c. Chesapeake Bay Harbor- master's Regulations Manual
    N d. Navigator's Manual - Chesapeake Bay
16441: When you get underway, you will take the most direct route to buoy "CBJ", while remaining west of York Spit Channel. You will be turning for 9.7 knots and estimate an average ebb of 0.3 knot during the transit. How long will it take to steam from the anchor position to buoy "CBJ"? 

    N a. 2h 16m
    Y b. 2h 33m
    N c. 2h 42m
    N d. 2h 51m
16462: Which statement about your 0400 position is TRUE? 

    Y a. You are within the territorial sea and contiguous zone.
    N b. You are governed by the Inland Rules of the Road.
    N c. The ocean floor is composed of shale.
    N d. Anchoring, trawling and fishing are prohibited.
16557: Which course would you steer by your standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 275°T? 

    N a. 266°psc
    N b. 272°psc
    Y c. 289°psc
    N d. 294°psc
16714: What was the current between 0520 and 0600? 

    N a. 201° at 1.0 knot
    N b. 201° at 1.5 knot
    N c. 021° at 1.0 knot
    Y d. 021° at 1.5 knots