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.

48: The Clinch River empties into which river?
53: What are the dimensions of Old River Lock, on the Lower Mississippi River?
191: If you make good 12 knots, what is the ETA at North Chesapeake Channel Entrance Buoy "NCA" (LL #375)?
247: What type of bottom is found at Long Sand Shoal? 

    N a. Rocky
    N b. Muddy
    Y c. Hard
    N d. Sandy
261: You must arrive at your final destination by 0800. The distance from your 0300 position to the final destination is 40.5 miles. What minimum speed must be made good to arrive on time? 

    N a. 9.6 knots
    N b. 9.3 knots
    N c. 8.5 knots
    Y d. 8.1 knots
276: At 1200, your position is 2.0 miles southwest of Bartlett Reef Light. Your heading is 075°T. Visibility is less than 0.2 mile in fog and rain. Which of the following signals is most likely to be from another vessel? 

    N a. Whistle from 125° relative
    N b. Bell from 350° relative
    Y c. Whistle from 075° relative
    N d. Horn from 330° relative
398: You depart LAT 32°16.6'N, LONG 68°28.0'W. What is the course and distance as calculated by Mercator sailing to a position at LAT 43°12.2'N, LONG 55°39.0'W? 

    Y a. 042.8°T, 896.2 miles
    N b. 049.1°T, 955.1 miles
    N c. 132.8°T, 896.2 miles
    N d. 136.6°T, 955.1 miles
448: At 2100, you set course of 000°T, speed 10 knots from LAT 41°07.0'N, LONG 71°30.0'W. Visibility is 5.5 n.m. What is the earliest time you can expect to sight Point Judith Light? (Use charted range of 20 miles as nominal range.) 

    N a. The light is visible at 2100.
    N b. 2106
    Y c. 2111
    N d. 2123
463: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 37°47.5'N, LONG 122°27.8'W to LAT 33°51.7'S, LONG 151°12.7'E. 

    N a. 6324.2 miles, 310.3°T
    N b. 6345.3 miles, 301.7°T
    N c. 6398.0 miles, 298.3°T
    Y d. 6445.2 miles, 240.3°T
490: At 0728, you change course to 080°T. When steady on course, the standard magnetic compass reads 097°. Which statement is TRUE? 

    Y a. The magnetic compass error is 17°W.
    N b. The magnetic heading is 090°.
    N c. The deviation is 1.0°E.
    N d. The gyro course is 083°pgc.
569: At 0823, Old Point Comfort Light bears 000°T at 0.6 mile. What is your 0823 position? 

    N a. LAT 36°59.8'N, LONG 76°18.0'W
    Y b. LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 76°18.4'W
    N c. LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 76°19.6'W
    N d. LAT 36°55.5'N, LONG 76°18.6'W
727: On 11 February , your 1832 zone time DR position is LONG 110°52.6'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 26°19.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 01h 34m 56s, and the chronometer error is 02m 16s fast. The index error is 2.7' off the arc, and the height of eye is 60.2 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    Y a. 25°27.2'N
    N b. 25°34.2'N
    N c. 26°27.2'N
    N d. 26°34.2'N
740: On 14 March , your 1846 ZT DR position is LAT 21°57.6'N, LONG 132°16.2'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 22°16.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 45m 10s, and the chronometer error is 01m 32s slow. The index error is 3.2' off the arc, and the height of eye is 44.9 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    N a. 21°32.4'N
    Y b. 21°49.8'N
    N c. 21°51.0'N
    N d. 21°53.1'N
742: On 15 July , at 0447 ZT, your vessel's DR position is LAT 22°42'N, LONG 126°36'E. At approximately this time, you obtain a sextant altitude (hs) of Polaris reading 23°46.2' with an index error of 1.6' off the arc. Your chronometer reads 08h 48m 28s, and is 1m 16s fast. What is your latitude by Polaris, given a height of eye of 33 feet? 

    N a. 22°44.1'N
    N b. 22°46.2'N
    N c. 22°50.2'N
    Y d. 22°54.1'N
823: On 15 October , an ex-meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb at upper transit was observed at 1146 ZT. Your DR position is LAT 22°42.0'N, LONG 139°52.0'E, and your sextant altitude (hs) is 58°30.4'. The index error is 3.4' on the arc, and your height of eye is 56.7 feet. The chronometer time of the observation is 02h 45m 06s, and the chronometer error is 01m 06s slow. Find the latitude at meridian transit from the ex-meridian observation. 

    N a. LAT 22°29.1'N
    Y b. LAT 22°35.2'N
    N c. LAT 22°58.1'N
    N d. LAT 23°20.6'N
1212: It is 21 November and you are keeping zone time +8. You are on course 082°T, speed 19 knots. Your 0830 DR position is LAT 24°14.8'N, LONG 133°35.5'W. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks? 

    N a. 13h 35m 02s
    N b. 13h 03m 20s
    N c. 12h 35m 59s
    Y d. 12h 34m 51s
1249: What is the white/black within a circle symbol found at mile 592.1 AHP? 

    N a. Terrence Landing Light
    N b. Daymark
    Y c. River Gage
    N d. Information Board
1260: On 16 March , your 0330 ZT DR position is LAT 22°36.0'S, LONG 76°16.0'E. You are on course 098°T at a speed of 16 knots. What will be the ZT of sunrise at your vessel? 

    N a. 0545
    Y b. 0553
    N c. 0600
    N d. 0608
1301: As you approach Casting Yard Dock Lt. (mile 265.4 AHP) you notice on the map a circle with 2 black sectors. This symbol indicates a __________. 

    N a. lock
    N b. warning sign
    Y c. river gage
    N d. mooring buoy
1339: At 1300, 5 January, the river will be temporarily closed to navigation for six hours at mile 531.3 AHP due to repairs to a bridge. What minimum speed over the ground must you make from Natchez Gage in order not to be delayed? 

    N a. 5.7 mph
    Y b. 6.0 mph
    N c. 6.8 mph
    N d. 7.3 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
1452: On 6 November , your 0752 zone time DR position is LAT 25°11.0'N, LONG 76°07.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 119°psc. The chronometer reads 12h 53m 07s, and the chronometer error is 01m 19s fast. The variation is 3°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 2.2°W
    N b. 3.8°W
    N c. 2.8°E
    Y d. 3.2°E
1501: On 3 October , your 0330 zone time (ZD + 5) DR position is LAT 47°41'N, LONG 86°49'W. At that time, you observe Polaris bearing 357.5°pgc. The chronometer time of the observation is 08h 32m 04s, and the chronometer is 0m 27s slow. The variation is 5.5°W. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 7.5°E
    N b. 5.0°E
    N c. 3.5°E
    Y d. 2.0°E
1501: On 3 October , your 0330 zone time (ZD + 5) DR position is LAT 47°41'N, LONG 86°49'W. At that time, you observe Polaris bearing 357.5°pgc. The chronometer time of the observation is 08h 32m 04s, and the chronometer is 0m 27s slow. The variation is 5.5°W. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 7.5°E
    N b. 5.0°E
    N c. 3.5°E
    Y d. 2.0°E
1913: On 14 January , your 0550 DR position is LAT 25°26.0'N, LONG 38°16.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 212°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 41°42.3'. The chronometer reads 08h 48m 51s, and is 01m 22s slow. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Gienah
    N b. Kochab
    N c. Gacrux
    N d. Eltanin
2654: You are steering 231°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 12.3 miles at 0338. You change course to pass the light 4 miles off abeam to starboard. If you are making 16.5 knots, what is your ETA at the position 4 miles off the light? 

    Y a. 0420
    N b. 0423
    N c. 0426
    N d. 0429
2665: You are on course 079°T, speed 11.2 knots. At 0904 you see a daymark bearing 078°T at a range of 4.6. If you change course at 0910 to leave the daymark abeam to starboard at 0.5 mile, at what time will the daymark be abeam? 

    N a. 0918
    N b. 0923
    Y c. 0928
    N d. 0935
2692: While on a course of 097°pgc, a light bears 8° on the port bow at a distance of 11.7 miles. What course should you steer to pass 3 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port? 

    N a. 082°pgc
    N b. 091°pgc
    Y c. 104°pgc
    N d. 112°pgc
2692: While on a course of 097°pgc, a light bears 8° on the port bow at a distance of 11.7 miles. What course should you steer to pass 3 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port? 

    N a. 082°pgc
    N b. 091°pgc
    Y c. 104°pgc
    N d. 112°pgc
3083: The speed necessary to reach port at a designated time is 18.7 knots. The propeller pitch is 24'03", and you estimate 3% positive slip. How many RPM's will the shaft have to turn? 

    Y a. 81 RPM
    N b. 87 RPM
    N c. 98 RPM
    N d. 104 RPM
3092: If the pitch of the propeller is 24.8 feet, and the revolutions per day are 93,373, calculate the day's run allowing 11% positive slip. 

    N a. 307.3 miles
    Y b. 339.0 miles
    N c. 380.9 miles
    N d. 422.8 miles
4002: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°E. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a true heading of 258°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 350° 122.5° - 110° 239.5° - 230°
030.5° - 020° 152.0° - 140° 269.0° - 260°
061.5° - 050° 181.0° - 170° 298.0° - 290°
092.0° - 080° 210.0° - 200° 327.5° - 320° 

    N a. 0.5°W
    N b. 0.0°
    N c. 0.5°E
    Y d. 1.0°E
10610: At 1645 your GPS position is LAT 41°04.9' N, LONG 72°42.1'W. You are on course 072° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 14 knots. At 1727 another GPS fix places your vessel 1 mile due north of Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy TE. What were your set and drift? 

    N a. 032°T at 1.2 knot
    Y b. 026°T at 1.1 knot
    N c. 207°T at 0.9 knot
    N d. 212°T at 1.2 knots
12102: You sight Thimble Shoal Light in line with Old Point Comfort Light bearing 265° per standard magnetic compass. You are on course 135°psc. Based on this, you know __________. 

    N a. there is no compass error
    N b. there is a local magnetic disturbance
    N c. you should swing your vessel and check the deviation table
    Y d. the deviation is 0°
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.
13808: The chart symbol depicted at LAT 41°13.5'N, LONG 72°29.7'W indicates __________. 

    N a. the exact position of a dangerous wreck
    Y b. the approximate position of a wreck dangerous to surface navigation
    N c. a wreck cleared by wire drag to a depth of 39 feet
    N d. a wreck not dangerous to surface navigation
15343: At 1844 Watch Hill Point bears 323° true and Block Island North Light bears 084° true

Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. Your fathometer reads 97 feet
    N b. You are governed by the Inland Rules of the Road.
    N c. You are to the left (north) of your desired course line.
    Y d. Your vessel is approximately 8.7 miles off Sandy Point.
15346: At 1942 Point Judith bears 030°T and has a range of 3.6 miles and Sandy Point has a range of 5.3 miles. What was your speed made good from your 1850 position? 

    N a. 12.5 knots
    Y b. 13.0 knots
    N c. 13.5 knots
    N d. 14.0 knots
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"
15620: From your 2123 position, you are approximately 42 miles from Crisfield, MD. If you are making good a speed of 13 knots, at what time should you arrive at Crisfield, MD? 

    N a. 2359
    Y b. 0037
    N c. 0112
    N d. 0148
15706: At 0700, Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light bears 137°
pgc. From your radar, you get a bearing of 007°pgc to the south tip of Stratford Point with a range of 4.5 miles. What is your 0700 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°04.6'N, LONG 73°07.0'W
    N b. LAT 41°04.6'N, LONG 73°07.4'W
    Y c. LAT 41°04.7'N, LONG 73°07.2'W
    N d. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°07.0'W
15729: If the Rosedale Gage reads -0.5 feet, what is the water level if the low water reference plane for Rosedale is 3.0 feet? 

    N a. 0.5 foot below the plane
    N b. 0.5 foot above the plane
    N c. 2.5 feet above the plane
    Y d. 3.5 feet below the plane
15842: From your 2030 fix you change course to 195°T, and leave the engine speed at 14 knots.
At 2045, Your position is L 37° 13.50'N Long 075° 38.05' W


Which statement is TRUE? 

    Y a. Cape Charles Light bears 050° relative.
    N b. Chesapeake Light bears 190° relative.
    N c. Your fathometer reading is approximately 40 fathoms.
    N d. Your vessel is located in a restricted area.
15946: At 2132 you sight Block Island Southest Point Light in line with the Aerobeacon (rotating white and green) bearing 308.5°pgc. The helmsman reports he was heading 106°pgc and 119°psc. What is the deviation on that heading? 

    N a. 4°W
    N b. 2°W
    Y c. 2°E
    N d. 4°E
16039: From your 0820 position you change course to your rendezvous position, one mile due south of buoy "NH", speed 14.5 knots. You estimate the current to be 260°T at 0.5 knot. The wind is northwesterly at 20 knots and you estimate 2° leeway. What is your course per gyrocompass (pgc) to the rendezvous position, if you correct your heading for current and leeway? 

    N a. 039°
    N b. 041°
    N c. 043°
    Y d. 045°
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
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
16362: The visibility is about 5 miles. Which statement about Cape Charles Light is TRUE? 

    N a. The light has been visible from the time you departed the anchorage.
    Y b. You should see Cape Charles Light at about 0400.
    N c. The light will become visible when you enter the inbound leg of the traffic separation scheme.
    N d. The light will not be visible until you are within 5 miles of the light.
16510: At 0728, Race Rock Light is bearing 282°T at 3.8 miles,
and the closest point on Fishers Island is at a radar range of 2.0 miles. What speed have you been making since you changed course at 0705? 

    N a. 9.2 knots
    Y b. 9.8 knots
    N c. 10.6 knots
    N d. 11.4 knots
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
16545: At 0030 you alter course and speed to make good 265°T at 10 knots. What is your ETA at a point where Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light is abeam? 

    N a. 0218
    N b. 0223
    N c. 0228
    Y d. 0233
16612: At 0112, what is the approximate depth under the keel? 

    Y a. 38 feet (11.5 meters)
    N b. 47 feet (14.2 meters)
    N c. 51 feet (15.5 meters)
    N d. 57 feet (17.3 meters)