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.

139: What is the distance to Caruthersville Gage from Cape Girardeau?
162: At 1923, you decrease speed to make good 9.2 mph. What is the first Gage you will pass after your speed change?
184: At 1930, your position is LAT 37°16.7'N, LONG 75°37.7'W. The depth of water is approximately __________.
198: While navigating inbound Thimble Shoal Channel system you must __________. 

    N a. navigate in the main channel when between Trestles A & B
    Y b. use the north auxiliary channel
    N c. remain 1500 yards (1360 meters) from large naval vessels
    N d. maintain a speed of six knots
296: At 1800, Tue Marshes Light bears 264.5°pgc, York Spit Swash Channel Light "3" bears 007°pgc. Your position is __________. 

    N a. LAT 37°15.5'N,  LONG 76°19.8'W
    N b. LAT 37°15.2'N,  LONG 76°20.3'W
    Y c. LAT 37°14.5'N,  LONG 76°20.1'W
    N d. LAT 37°15.0'N,  LONG 76°20.4'W
384: What is the course per standard magnetic compass between points "A" and "B"? 

    N a. 099.5°
    Y b. 098.5°
    N c. 095.5°
    N d. 094.5°
401: Your vessel receives a distress call from a vessel reporting her position as LAT 35°01'S, LONG 18°51'W. Your position is LAT 30°18'S, LONG 21°42'W. Determine the true course from your vessel to the vessel in distress by Mercator sailing. 

    N a. 135°T
    N b. 149°T
    Y c. 153°T
    N d. 160°T
405: You depart LAT 33°45.0'N, LONG 118°30.0'W, and steam 2216 miles on course 250°T. What is the longitude of your arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    N a. LONG 156°08.0'W
    N b. LONG 156°36.0'W
    N c. LONG 157°21.0'W
    Y d. LONG 157°31.0'W
411: A vessel steams 3312 miles on course 282°T from LAT 34°24'S, LONG 18°18'E. What is the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    N a. LAT 22°39'S, LONG 43°17'W
    N b. LAT 22°42'S, LONG 43°14'W
    N c. LAT 22°47'S, LONG 43°10'W
    Y d. LAT 22°55'S, LONG 43°05'W
464: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 33°53.3'S, LONG 18°23.1'E to LAT 40°27.0'N, LONG 73°49.4'W. 

    N a. 6648.0 miles, 298.7°T
    N b. 6743.5 miles, 302.7°T
    N c. 6750.8 miles, 235.5°T
    Y d. 6763.0 miles, 304.5°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
628: You are on a voyage from Valdez, AK, to the Panama Canal. The distance from pilot to pilot is 4950 miles. The speed of advance is 15.0 knots. You estimate a layover in San Francisco, CA, of 36.0 hours. If you take departure at 0800 (ZD +10), 29 October, what is your ETA (ZD +5) at the Panama Canal? 

    Y a. 1900, 13 November
    N b. 1400, 13 November
    N c. 1400, 14 November
    N d. 0900, 13 November
980: On 29 April , your 0530 zone time position was LAT 23°04.0'S, LONG 162°12.0'E. Your vessel was steaming on course 120°T at a speed of 9.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's upper limb was made at 0830 ZT. The chronometer read 09h 27m 32s and was slow 02m 24s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 24°58.0'. LAN occurred at 1205 zone time. The observed altitude (Ho) was 52°04.0'. What was the longitude of your 1200 zone time running fix? 

    N a. LONG 163°02.1'E
    Y b. LONG 163°06.0'E
    N c. LONG 163°09.5'E
    N d. LONG 163°11.3'E
997: On 20 November , your 0612 zone time (ZT) position was LAT 25°38.0'N, LONG 166°54.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 126°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0854 ZT. The chronometer read 07h 51m 14s and was slow 02m 52s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 27°58.3'. LAN occurred at 1147 ZT. The observed altitude (Ho) was 45°35.0'. What was the longitude of your 1147 ZT running fix? 

    N a. 165°20.2'W
    N b. 165°18.4'W
    N c. 165°15.8'W
    Y d. 165°12.5'W
1011: On 6 December , your 0800 zone time DR position was LAT 21°48.0'N, LONG 124°30.0'E. Your vessel was steaming on course 045°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 1012 ZT. The chronometer read 02h 10m 42s and was slow 01m 02s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 41°17.1'. LAN occurred at 1129 zone time.
The observed altitude (Ho) was 44°53.7'. What was the longitude of your 1200 zone time running fix? 

    N a. LONG 125°25.0'E
    N b. LONG 125°28.9'E
    N c. LONG 125°32.5'E
    Y d. LONG 125°35.2'E
1187: On 17 March , your 0800 zone time DR position is LAT 21°27.0'N, LONG 65°25.0'W. Your vessel is on course 105°T at a speed of 17.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1210
    N b. 1218
    Y c. 1225
    N d. 1231
1210: It is 19 October and you are keeping +4 zone time. You are on course 275°, speed 16 knots. Your 0800 DR position is LAT 25°34.0'N, LONG 74°36.0'W. What is the second estimate of the time of LAN by ship's clocks? 

    N a. 11h 48m 38s
    N b. 12h 04m 49s
    Y c. 12h 49m 10s
    N d. 13h 48m 36s
1257: On 5 May , your 1300 ZT DR position is LAT 25°16.0'S, LONG 12°30.0'W. You are on course 012°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1702
    Y b. 1719
    N c. 1730
    N d. 1741
1453: On 15 October , your 0325 zone time DR position is LAT 26°51.0'N, LONG 138°17.0'W. At that time, you observe Canopus bearing 167°pgc. The chronometer reads 00h 25m 36s, and the chronometer error is 00m 20s slow. The variation is 2°E. What is the gyro error? 

    Y a. 1.3°W
    N b. 3.2°W
    N c. 3.2°E
    N d. 4.1°W
1480: On 28 November , your vessel's 0712 zone time DR position is LAT 26°54'S, LONG 45°18'W, when you take an azimuth of the Sun. Determine the gyro error using the azimuth information.
Chronometer time: 10h 09m 18s Chronometer error: slow 02m 54s Gyro bearing: 102° 

    N a. 1.7°W
    Y b. 0.6°W
    N c. 1.1°E
    N d. 0.8°E
1548: As you approach Buckridge Light (mile 412.5 AHP),
which type of daymark would you see on the light structure? 

    N a. Red diamond
    N b. Red triangle
    N c. Green diamond
    Y d. Green square
1643: Which facility is located on the right descending bank at mile 363.6 AHP? 

    N a. River Cement Corps..
    N b. Bunge Corps..
    N c. T.L. James
    Y d. Vidalia Dock and Storage Co.
1701: The latest available information on the channel conditions above Baton Rouge that includes the latest buoy information, as well as recommended courses, is found in the __________. 

    N a. Corps. of Engineers maps
    N b. Waterways Journal
    Y c. Local Notice to Mariners
    N d. Sailing Directions
1805: What is the vertical clearance between the highest point of your towboat, if it is 48 feet above the water, and if the Natchez Gage reads 20.1 feet when passing under the Natchez Upper Highway Bridge? 

    N a. 35.9 feet
    N b. 43.2 feet
    N c. 49.3 feet
    Y d. 57.9 feet
1868: On 12 June , your 1945 DR position is LAT 21°47.0'N, LONG 46°52.0'W when you observe a faint unidentifiable star through a break in the clouds. The star bears 130°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 45°21.2'. The index error is 0.5' on the arc, and the height of eye is 45 feet. The chronometer reads 10h 43m 27s, and the chronometer error is 1m 46s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Theta Carinae
    N b. Epsilon Leonis
    Y c. Beta Librae
    N d. Zeta Puppis
1954: You have received orders to proceed to the Amoco Pipeline Co. (mile 253.6 AHP) above Baton Rouge. If your vessel is making turns for 9 mph with an estimated average current of 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at the Amoco docks? 

    Y a. 1444, 27 Aug
    N b. 2214, 27 Aug
    N c. 0844, 28 Aug
    N d. 1454, 28 Aug
2060: The highest point on your towboat is 67 feet above the water, and the Helena Gage reads +22.3 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the A-span of the Helena Highway Bridge? 

    Y a. 30.1 feet
    N b. 49.8 feet
    N c. 52.4 feet
    N d. 74.7 feet
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
2289: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 38°07.5' on 8 August . The index error is 5.2' off the arc. The height of eye is 72 feet (22 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 38°08.4'
    N b. 38°13.3'
    Y c. 38°19.2'
    N d. 38°23.4'
3265: You have steamed 1587 miles at 11.2 knots, and have consumed one-half of your total fuel capacity of 2840 bbls. What is the maximum speed you can steam to complete the remaining 1951 miles? 

    N a. 9.1 knots
    N b. 9.9 knots
    Y c. 10.1 knots
    N d. 11.6 knots
3279: While steaming at 15.0 knots, your vessel consumes 326 barrels of fuel oil per day. In order to reduce consumption to 178 barrels of fuel oil per day, what is the maximum speed the vessel can turn for? 

    N a. 8.1 knots
    N b. 8.5 knots
    N c. 11.1 knots
    Y d. 12.2 knots
3646: The true course between two points is 041°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 1°W. You make an allowance of 2° leeway for a east-southeast wind. What gyro course should be steered to make the true course good? 

    N a. 040°pgc
    N b. 042°pgc
    N c. 043°pgc
    Y d. 044°pgc
3649: The true course between two points is 078°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 2°E. You make an allowance of 3° leeway for a north wind. What gyro course should be steered to make the true course good? 

    Y a. 073°pgc
    N b. 075°pgc
    N c. 077°pgc
    N d. 079°pgc
3771: Two beacons form a range in the direction of 221.5°T. The range is seen in line from your vessel bearing 223° per gyro compass. The variation in the area is 4°E. What is the error of your gyro compass? 

    Y a. 1.5°W
    N b. 2.5°W
    N c. 5.5°W
    N d. 2.5°E
4005: 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 magnetic compass heading of 022°.
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. 1.5°E
    N b. 0.5°E
    Y c. 0.0°
    N d. 0.5°W
10309: You are 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to LAT 41°00.0'N, LONG 71°30.0'W? 

    N a. 108°psc
    Y b. 122°psc
    N c. 124°psc
    N d. 130°psc
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
12203: Your vessel is steady on a heading of 310° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Stratford Point Light and Igor I. Sikorsky Airport Aero Beacon in line dead ahead. This information indicates that the __________. 

    N a. existing deviation table is correct for this heading
    N b. deviation is 1°E
    N c. variation is 18°W for this area
    Y d. compass error is 10°W
12508: You are on course 319° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: New Point Comfort Light "2" 244°psc Horn Harbor Entrance Light "HH" 267°psc Wolf Trap Light 335°°psc What is the position of the fix? 

    N a. LAT 37°20.9'N, LONG 76°09.7'W
    N b. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°09.2'W
    N c. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°09.9'W
    Y d. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°09.5'W
15044: At 0841 Chesapeake Light bears 164° true, Cape Charles Light bears 312° true, and Cape Henry Light bears 247°
true. What was your course made good since 0811? 

    Y a. 226°true
    N b. 230°true
    N c. 233° true
    N d. 237°true
15063: At 0830, you want the latest weather forecasts for the Falkner Island area. On what frequency do you set your FM radio for this information? 

    N a. 2182 kHz
    N b. 162.80 Mhz
    N c. 156.65 Mhz
    Y d. 162.55 Mhz
15306: Your 0200 position is LAT 37°23.5'N, LONG 76°09.2'W. Your speed is 8 knots, and your course is 095°T. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. The depth of the water in your vicinity is about 38 to 40 fathoms (69.1 meters to 72.7 meters).
    Y b. You are less than a mile from a sunken wreck which could interfere with your tow.
    N c. The closest major aid to navigation is New Point Comfort Light.
    N d. You will pass through a disposal area on your present course.
15345: You are making good a course of 060°T at a speed of 13.5 knots. At 1855 Block Island North Light bears 086°T; at 1910 Block Island North Light bears 108°T; and at 1930 the same light bears 184°T. Which statement is TRUE about your 1930 running fix position? 

    Y a. You are on the edge of a cable area.
    N b. The bottom is mud, sand, and clay.
    N c. The wavy magenta lines to the north through east of your position are designated lobstering areas.
    N d. You are inside the 120 fathom curve
15538: At 2127 you take the following round of bearings:

Old Field Point Light 224.0°pgc
Middle Ground Light 320.5°pgc
Stratford Point Light 348.0°pgc

Based on the above fix, which statement is TRUE? 

    Y a. At 2127, your fathometer reads about 17 fathoms.
    N b. You are south of Mt. Misery Shoal.
    N c. You will experience a 1 knot westward setting ebb current
    N d. You have lost sight of the red light at Old Field Point.
15659: At 0705, 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. COLREGS
    N b. Local Pilot Rules
    N c. Inland Rules
    N d. Coastal Fishery Rules
15820: You are northwest of Port Jefferson Harbor steering 242° per standard magnetic compass. As you continue westward, you see that the Port Jefferson Range Front Light and Rear Light come into line. If the deviation table is correct, the bearing of the range should be __________. 

    N a. 140°psc
    N b. 146°psc
    Y c. 157°psc
    N d. 160°psc
15864: At 0200, you take the following bearingss:

Mattituck Inlet Light bearing 125°pgc
Falkner Island Light bearing 355°pgc

What is the position of your 0200 fix? 

    Y a. LAT 41°03.9'N, LONG 72°38.9'W
    N b. LAT 41°03.8'N, LONG 72°39.1'W
    N c. LAT 41°03.7'N, LONG 72°38.5'W
    N d. LAT 41°03.5'N, LONG 72°38.8'W
15869: After you raise Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light, how will the bearings change if you pass to the north of the light? 

    Y a. The bearings will change to the left.
    N b. The bearings will remain steady.
    N c. The bearings will change to the right.
    N d. Magnetic compass bearings will change to the left and gyro compass bearings will change to the right.
15913: At 0830, you wish to get the latest weather forecasts for the Falkner Island area. On what frequency would you set your FM radio for this information? 

    N a. 2181 kHz
    N b. 156.65 Mhz
    N c. 156.80 Mhz
    Y d. 162.40 Mhz
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
16059: At 1800, Tue Marshes Light bears 270°pgc, and York Spit Swash Channel Light "3" bears 007°pgc. Your position is __________. 

    N a. LAT 37°14.0'N, LONG 76°19.8'W
    N b. LAT 37°14.2'N, LONG 76°20.3'W
    Y c. LAT 37°14.2'N, LONG 76°20.1'W
    N d. LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°20.0'W
16064: At 2015, your vessel is at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel midway between buoys "13" and "14". If the height of tide is -1 foot (-.3 meter). What is the approximate depth under the keel? 

    N a. 51 feet (15.5 meters)
    Y b. 45 feet (13.6 meters)
    N c. 40 feet (12.1 meters)
    N d. 35 feet (10.6 meters)
16109: You are turning for 9 knots, a westerly wind is causing 3° of leeway, and the current is 320°T at 1.2 knots. What true course should you steer to remain in the northern leg of York Spit Channel? 

    N a. 191°T
    Y b. 194°T
    N c. 197°T
    N d. 203°T
16363: At 0405, you increase speed and at 0500 your position is LAT 37°06.0'N, LONG 75°41.1'W. What is the approximate depth of water? 

    N a. 46 feet (13.9 meters)
    Y b. 54 feet (16.4 meters)
    N c. 62 feet (18.8 meters)
    N d. 66 feet (20.0 meters)
16412: Shortly after getting underway, your heading is 097° per standard magnetic compass, and you sight Stonington Outer Breakwater Light in line with Stonington Inner Breakwater Light bearing 000° per gyrocompass. Which statement is TRUE? 

    Y a. The gyro error is 2.5°W.
    N b. The variation is 2°E.
    N c. The compass error is 16°W.
    N d. The deviation is 2°W.
16466: The abandoned lighthouse at Cape Henry is a(n) __________. 

    Y a. gray, pyramidal tower
    N b. mound of broken rubble
    N c. octagonal, black and white tower
    N d. black, skeleton structure
16512: At 0748, you take the following bearings:

Watch Hill Point Light bearing 020.5°pgc
Race Point Light Light bearing 269.5°pgc

What is the approximate depth of water at this position? 

    N a. 325 feet
    N b. 175 feet
    Y c. 130 feet
    N d. 104 feet