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.


119: What is the length of the trip?


244: Your vessel is entering New London Harbor Channel. If there is no current, what should you steer per gyro compass to stay on the range?


282: From your 1752 position, you steer 307°pgc at 9 knots. At 1805, you obtain the visual bearings. What are the latitude and longitude of your 1805 position? Old Pt. Comfort Light 232°pgc. Chesapeake Bay Tunnel North Light 130°pgc.


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

537: Determine the distance from LAT 19°54.0'N, LONG 166°36.0'E to LAT 19°54.0'N, LONG 157°54.0'W. by parallel sailing.

    N a. 2204.6 miles
    N b. 2006.9 miles
    Y c. 2002.8 miles
    N d. 1990.6 miles

544: From your 0600 position, what is the course per gyrocompass to leave Watch Hill Light abeam to starboard at 2.0 miles if a southerly wind is producing 3° of leeway?

    N a. 262°pgc
    N b. 258°pgc
    N c. 256°pgc
    Y d. 252°pgc

546: At 0705, you take the following bearings:

Watch Hill Light 030.5°pgc
Latimer Reef Light 329.0°pgc
Race Rock Light 262.0°pgc

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

    N a. 266°T
    N b. 263°T
    Y c. 256°T
    N d. 252°T

608: At 1200 zone time, on 10 October , you depart San Francisco, LAT 37°48.5'N, LONG 122°24.0'W (ZD +8). You are bound for Yokohama, LAT 35°27.0'N, LONG 139°39.0'E, and you estimate your speed of advance at 22 knots. The distance is 4,536 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Yokohama?

    N a. 0111, 19 October
    N b. 0211, 19 October
    N c. 1011, 19 October
    Y d. 1911, 19 October

631: 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. 38.5 feet (11.7 meters)
    N b. 43.5 feet (13.2 meters)
    N c. 51.0 feet (15.5 meters)
    Y d. 59.5 feet (18.0 meters)

654: In planning a North Pacific voyage, you wish to steam the minimum distance from LAT 48°30'N, LONG 124°45'W to LAT 44°00'N, LONG 150°00'E, while remaining south of 51°N latitude. Which track meets these requirements? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5270)

    N a. A Mercator sailing from departure to the mid-longitude at 51°N, thence great circle to arrival
    N b. A great circle between departure and arrival with parallel sailing between the longitudes where the great circle intersects 51°N
    N c. A great circle tangent to 51°N from departure to the mid-longitude then a great circle to arrival
    Y d. A great circle from departure to LAT 51°N, LONG 148°W, parallel sailing to LAT 51°N, LONG 171°W, then a great circle to arrival

672: What is the total length of the trip?

    Y a. 922.3 miles
    N b. 985.3 miles
    N c. 1155.8 miles
    N d. 1187.3 miles

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

1460: On 27 June , your 1905 ZT DR position is LAT 24°35.0'N, LONG 50°15.0'W. At that time, you observe Saturn bearing 211°pgc. The chronometer reads 10h 04m 26s and the chronometer error is 01m 20s slow. The variation is 4.5°E. What is the gyro error?

    Y a. 1.1°W
    N b. 3.4°E
    N c. 3.4°W
    N d. 5.6°W

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

1499: On 16 June , your 0430 zone time DR position is LAT 29°24.0'S, LONG 36°16.0'E. At that time, you observe Vega bearing 341.0°psc. The chronometer reads 02h 32m 06s, and the chronometer error is 01m 54s fast. The variation is 20.5°W. What is the deviation?

    N a. 3.2°E
    N b. 3.2°W
    Y c. 2.4°W
    N d. 2.8°E

1674: On 4 July , your vessel's 1722 zone time DR position is LAT 34°30'S, LONG 174°48'E, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 282° per standard magnetic compass. Variation in the area is 17.2°E. The chronometer reads 05h 21m 48s and is 02m 01s fast. What is the deviation of the compass?

    Y a. 1.5°W
    N b. 2.0°W
    N c. 1.5°E
    N d. 2.0°E

1682: On 11 May , in DR position LAT 37°06.0'N, LONG 45°45.0'W you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 089.0°psc. The chronometer reads 07h 57m 06s and is 01m 48s slow. Variation in the area is 20.0°W. What is the deviation?

    N a. 3.6°W
    Y b. 2.2°W
    N c. 1.4°W
    N d. 3.6°E

1861: On 22 February , your 1857 ZT DR position is LAT 23°46.0'S, LONG 93°16.5'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 159°T, at an observed altitude (Ho) of 34°30.0'. The chronometer reads 01h 00m 35s and is 03m 25s fast. What star did you observe?

    N a. Adhara
    Y b. Miaplacidus
    N c. Avior
    N d. Suhail

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

2340: You have steamed 775 miles at 17 knots, and consumed 145 tons of fuel. If you have to steam 977 miles to complete the voyage, how many tons of fuel will be consumed while steaming at 18 knots?

    Y a. 204 tons
    N b. 181 tons
    N c. 163 tons
    N d. 129 tons

2500: You are underway and intend to make good a course of 227°T. You experience a current with a set and drift of 350°T at 2.1 knots, and a northwest wind produces a leeway of 5°. You adjust your course to compensate for the current and leeway, while maintaining an engine speed of 11 knots. What will be your speed made good over your intended course of 227°T?

    N a. 18.5 knots
    N b. 18.1 knots
    N c. 17.6 knots
    Y d. 17.2 knots

2689: You are steering 107°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 11 miles at 0847. You change course to leave the light 3 miles off to starboard. If you are making 15.5 knots, what is your ETA at the position 3 miles off the light?

    Y a. 0928
    N b. 0931
    N c. 0934
    N d. 0937

2706: While on a course of 216°pgc, a light bears 12° on the port bow at a distance of 11.2 miles. Which course should you steer to pass 2 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port?

    N a. 208°pgc
    N b. 210°pgc
    N c. 212°pgc
    Y d. 214°pgc

2710: What does the circle with black and white quadrants across from Morgan Point Landing (769.0 miles AHP) represent?

    Y a. Gage reading
    N b. Day Beacon
    N c. Light Tower
    N d. Speed zone

2851: Your vessel is on a course of 297°T at 11 knots. At 0019 a light bears 274.5°T, and at 0048 the light bears 252°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light?

    N a. 0102, 2.6 miles
    Y b. 0108, 3.7 miles
    N c. 0057, 4.6 miles
    N d. 0117, 5.0 miles

3252: You have steamed 803 miles at 13 knots, and consumed 179 tons of fuel. If you have 371 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 16 knots?

    Y a. 1099 miles
    N b. 1374 miles
    N c. 1833 miles
    N d. 2581 miles

3287: While steaming at 16.5 knots, your vessel consumes 349 barrels of fuel oil per day. In order to reduce consumption to 189 barrels of fuel oil per day, what is the maximum speed the vessel can turn for?

    N a. 12.1 knots
    Y b. 13.5 knots
    N c. 14.6 knots
    N d. 15.4 knots

3651: The true course between two points is 337°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 3°E and you make an allowance of 5° leeway for a west wind. Which gyro course should be steered to make the true course good?

    Y a. 329°pgc
    N b. 335°pgc
    N c. 339°pgc
    N d. 345°pgc

4015: 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 true heading of 319°.
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. 0.5°E
    N b. 1.0°W
    Y c. 2.5°E
    N d. 2.5°W

11012: Which statement is FALSE with regard to Plum Island Harbor West Dolphin Light?

    N a. The light is maintained from sundown to 0130 daily.
    Y b. The light is white.
    N c. The light is maintained by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
    N d. The light is located on a dolphin.

12100: You sight Wolf Trap Light in line with New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" bearing 040° per standard magnetic compass. You are on course 319° per standard magnetic compass. Based on this, you __________.

    Y a. know the compass error is 8°W
    N b. should apply 3°Easterly deviation to the bearing
    N c. know the deviation table is incorrect
    N d. should suspect the compass may be affected by a local magnetic disturbance

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.

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.

12905: At 0919 you are in Chesapeake Channel between Trestle B and Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. What is your ETA to a point between York Spit Channel Buoys "35" and "36" if you are making 11.3 knots and follow the buoyed channel?

    N a. 1025
    N b. 1028
    N c. 1033
    Y d. 1037

13407: Your position is LAT 41°03.0'N, LONG 72°42.1'W. If your draft is 8 ft, what should your fathometer read at this position?

    Y a. 80 ft
    N b. 88 ft
    N c. 96 ft
    N d. 99 ft

13706: What is the horizontal clearance of the navigation opening of Trestle B of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel?

    N a. 21 feet
    Y b. 70 feet
    N c. 75 feet
    N d. 300 feet

13905: The Ruins (LAT 41°08.5'N, L0NG 72°08.8'W) is __________.

    N a. a classic example of 18th century military fortifications
    N b. in an area of unpredictable, treacherous currents
    N c. restricted to surface navigation due to fishery conservation projects nearby
    Y d. prohibited to the public

13905: The Ruins (LAT 41°08.5'N, L0NG 72°08.8'W) is __________.

    N a. a classic example of 18th century military fortifications
    N b. in an area of unpredictable, treacherous currents
    N c. restricted to surface navigation due to fishery conservation projects nearby
    Y d. prohibited to the public

15006: You are on course 192°pgc at 12 knots.
At 1900 your position is:
Latitude 37° 22.6' North
Longitude 075° 35.7' West

Which of the following is true?

    N a. if you maintain course and speed you will pass Hog Island Bell Buoy "2" to stbd
    N b. you are inside the 3 nm territorial sea
    Y c. your fathometer reads 30'
    N d. None of the above

15410: You arrive at Cape Charles City at 1700 and depart at 1800. You are underway in Chesapeake Bay and encounter heavy fog. At 1830, you obtain the following radar readings:

Old Plantation Flats Light @ 1.9 nm
New Point Comfort Light bearing 301° true @ 10.55 nm

What is your 1830 position?

    N a. LAT 37°10.3'N, LONG 76°04.5'W
    N b. LAT 37°10.3'N, LONG 76°06.5'W
    Y c. LAT 37°12.3'N, LONG 76°04.4'W
    N d. LAT 37°12.3'N, LONG 76°06.5'W

15413: From your 1915 fix you come right and steer a course of 200°T. At 2000, your position is LAT 37°05.5'N, LONG 76°07.0'W. Your intention is to pass through Chesapeake Channel. If there are no set and drift, what course would you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 145°T?

    N a. 134°
    N b. 139°
    N c. 151°
    Y d. 156°

15465: What is indicated by the dashed magenta line crossing York Spit Channel between buoys "20" and "22"?

    N a. You are crossing the demarcation line between the COLREGS and the Inland Rules.
    Y b. The line marks the limits of a regulated area.
    N c. The line indicates a submarine cable, and you should not anchor in the area.
    N d. It marks the range between Hampton Roads and Cherrystone Channel.

15509: At 1800, your position is LAT 41°06.5'N, LONG 71°43.5'W. How would the buoy which bears approximately 040°T from your position at a range of half a mile be painted?

    Y a. Horizontally banded, green over red, with a green buoyancy chamber
    N b. Horizontally banded, red over green, with a red buoyancy chamber
    N c. Vertically striped, red and green
    N d. Solid green with red letters "BIS"

15513: If your height of eye is 35 feet (10.7 meters), what is the approximate geographic range of Block Island North Light?

    N a. 7.4 nm
    N b. 13.0 nm
    N c. 14.3 nm
    Y d. 15.8 nm

15727: The Helena Gage reads 9.4 feet. The high point on your towboat is 46 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge?

    N a. 56.0 feet
    Y b. 64.2 feet
    N c. 79.5 feet
    N d. 106.1 feet

15728: What company does NOT have a marine facility along the river bank in Helena (mile 658 to 665 AHP)?

    Y a. Helena Grain Co.
    N b. Helena Port Terminal, Inc.
    N c. Arkansas Power & Light Co.
    N d. Texas Eastern Pipeline Co.

16041: From your 0847 fix, you change course to arrive at the rendezvous position and, correcting for current, you estimate your speed over the ground at 15 knots. What is your ETA at the rendezvous?

    N a. 0902
    N b. 0905
    Y c. 0908
    N d. 0911

16245: At 2259 Cape Henry Light bears 250°T, Chesapeake Light bears 122°T, and North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy "NCA" has a radar range of 1.8 miles. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The course made good is 226°T.
    N b. You are in the red sector of Cape Henry Light.
    N c. You are in a submerged submarine transit lane.
    Y d. Chesapeake Light is 7.6 miles off.

16520: Which chart should you use to enter Great Salt Pond?

    N a. 13214
    N b. 13205
    Y c. 13217
    N d. 13207

16606: 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"?

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