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.


156: What are the dimensions of the Old River Lock?


193: If the visibility is 3 miles, at what range will you lose sight of Chesapeake Light?


231: 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?


240: 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?

    N a. A bearing to Little Gull Island Light of not less than 090°
    N b. Maintaining a 7nm range off Orient point
    Y c. Danger bearing to Black Point of not more than 064°T
    N d. A distance to Saybrook Breakwater Light of not less than 1.3 miles

409: A vessel steams 1082 miles on course 047°T from LAT 37°18.0'N, LONG 24°40.0'W. What is the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by Mercator sailing?

    N a. LAT 49°30.0'N, LONG 06°22.0'W
    N b. LAT 49°33.0'N, LONG 06°25.0'W
    Y c. LAT 49°36.0'N, LONG 06°28.0'W
    N d. LAT 49°39.0'N, LONG 06°31.0'W

432: Which chart would you use for more detailed information on New Haven Harbor?

    Y a. 12371
    N b. 12370
    N c. 12372
    N d. 12373

434: As you enter the New Haven Outer Channel, you sight the outer range markers in line directly ahead. Your heading at this time is 347°psc. What is your compass deviation by observation?

    N a. 4.5°West
    N b. 3.5°West
    N c. 3.0°East
    Y d. 0.5°East

460: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 35°27.0'N, LONG 140°20.5'E to LAT 47°51.0'N, LONG 122°51.0'W.

    N a. 4087 miles, 036°T
    Y b. 4115 miles, 045°T
    N c. 4122 miles. 076°T
    N d. 4136 miles, 076°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

508: Branford Reef is __________.

    N a. a hard sand shoal marked with a light
    Y b. completely submerged at all stages of the tide
    N c. surrounded by rocks awash at low water spring tides
    N d. a small, low, sandy islet surrounded by shoal water

611: At 0600 zone time, on 22 October , you depart Manila, LAT 14°35.0'N, LONG 120°58.0'E (ZD -8). You are bound for Los Angeles, LAT 33°46.0'N, LONG 118°11.0'W, and you estimate your speed of advance at 20.2 knots. The distance is 6,385.9 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Los Angeles?

    Y a. 1808, 3 November
    N b. 0208, 4 November
    N c. 1008, 4 November
    N d. 0208, 5 November

659: You are planning a voyage from LAT 48°30'N, LONG 125°00'W to Korea via LAT 48°30'N, LONG 153°00'E. Which of the following track lines would you select for the safest and most direct route? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5270)

    N a. Parallel sailing along 48°30'N
    N b. Great circle track line between the two points
    Y c. Great circle to LAT 51°00'N, LONG 178°00'W, parallel sailing for 80 miles, then great circle to the via point
    N d. Rhumb line track between the two points

705: At 1554, on 25 May, you pass Huntington Point Light (mile 555.2 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. DockS (mile 253.6 AHP)?

    Y a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 5.2 mph
    N c. 4.8 mph
    N d. 4.3 mph

1117: What is the length of the trip?

    N a. 720.8 miles
    N b. 777.4 miles
    Y c. 897.2 miles
    N d. 906.3 miles

1266: On 1 December , your 1600 ZT DR position is LAT 22°48.0'S, LONG 91°26.0'E. You are on course 327°T at a speed of 16 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel?

    N a. 1823
    Y b. 1827
    N c. 1831
    N d. 1847

1273: At 1544 zone time, on 5 October , your DR position is LAT 25°00'N, LONG 60°15'W. You are steering 270°T at a speed of 6.8 knots. What is the zone time of sunset?

    N a. 1728
    N b. 1737
    N c. 1741
    Y d. 1745

1294: What are the light characteristics of Greenwood Light (mile 288.6 AHP)?

    N a. Fixed red light
    Y b. 2 red flashes every 5 seconds
    N c. 1 red flash every 4 seconds
    N d. 2 white flashes every 4 seconds

1425: At 1227, on 19 October, you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What speed must you average to arrive at Jimmy Hawken Light (mile 663.5 AHP) at 0930 the following day?

    N a. 5.2 mph
    N b. 5.6 mph
    N c. 5.9 mph
    Y d. 6.3 mph

1486: On 1 September , your 1115 zone time DR position is LAT 25°20.0'N, LONG 28°24.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 160.5°psc. The chronometer reads 01h 14m 58s, and the chronometer error is 01m 17s fast. The variation is 13.5°W. What is the deviation of the standard compass?

    Y a. 2.1°E
    N b. 4.1°E
    N c. 11.0°W
    N d. 11.0°E

1853: On 8 April , while taking observations for an evening fix, you observe an unidentified star bearing 250.7°T at an observed altitude of 51°44.8'. Your DR position at the time of the sight was LAT 22°16.0'N, LONG 157°58.3'W. The chronometer reads 05h 09m 57s and is 01m 23s slow. What star did you observe?

    N a. Betelgeuse
    N b. Aldebaran
    N c. Alnilam
    Y d. Bellatrix

1870: 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 313°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 14°56.3'. 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?

    Y a. Menkalinan
    N b. Mirzam
    N c. Theta Aurigae
    N d. Alnitak

1952: As you approach Dean Island Light (mile 754.8 AHP), which type of daymark will be observed at the light?

    N a. Green triangle
    Y b. Green diamond
    N c. Green square
    N d. Red-and-green banded square

1959: The charts show two dashed lines crossing the river just south of St. Catherine Bar Light. What does this indicate?

    N a. Overhead power lines
    N b. Louisiana-Mississippi ferry crossings
    N c. Two railroad trestles
    Y d. Two submerged oil pipelines

2243: At 1444 ZT, on 28 July , in DR position LAT 40° 56.8' N, LONG 167° 12.4' E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The upper limb of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 299.3° psc. The variation is 1° E. What is the deviation?

    Y a. 3.1°W
    N b. 3.1°E
    N c. 2.1°W
    N d. 2.1°E

2276: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 46°20.3' on 1 April . The index error is 4.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 57 feet (17.4 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 46°24.2'
    N b. 46°27.9'
    N c. 46°30.1'
    Y d. 46°32.6'

2283: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 22°58.6' on 16 June . The index error is 2.0' off the arc. The height of eye is 61 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    Y a. 23°06.7'
    N b. 23°09.9'
    N c. 23°15.4'
    N d. 23°22.2'

2716: The charts show two dashed lines crossing the river just south of St. Catherine Bar Light. What does this indicate?

    N a. Overhead power lines
    N b. Louisiana-Mississippi ferry crossings
    N c. Two railroad trestles
    Y d. Two submerged oil pipelines

3071: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 20.7 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 23.8 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 3% negative slip?

    N a. 74
    N b. 79
    Y c. 86
    N d. 98

4000: 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 magnetic compass heading of 057°.
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. 1.0°E
    N b. 1.5°E
    Y c. 1.5°W
    N d. 0.5°W

6143: At 2027 you obtain a radar range to Shagwong Point of 3.4 miles and a tangent bearing to the east end of Long Island of 172°T. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. You are to the left of your DR track.
    N b. You are inside a precautionary area.
    N c. Your speed made good from 1949 to 2027 is 14.0 knots.
    N d. Your course made good from 1949 to 2027 is 111°T.

11706: Your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to arrive at LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 75°48.5'W, if you are turning for 8.7 knots, the current is 039°T at 1.3 knots, and a northwesterly wind is causing 3° of leeway?

    N a. 264.0°
    N b. 267.5°
    N c. 270.0°
    Y d. 273.0°

12205: Your vessel is steady on a heading of 160° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Southwest Ledge Light and New Haven Outer Channel Range Rear Light in line dead astern. What is the deviation of the compass based on this observation?

    Y a. 2°E
    N b. 2°W
    N c. 5°E
    N d. 5°W

12309: You sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light (LAT 41°18.2'N, LONG 71°56.0'W) bearing 089° per standard magnetic compass. If your vessel was heading 297° per standard magnetic compass at the time, which of the following is TRUE?

    N a. The deviation table is correct for that heading.
    N b. The deviation equals the variation.
    Y c. You should swing your vessel to check the deviation table.
    N d. The compass error is 13°W for all bearings of 089°psc.

12509: You are on course 027° per magnetic compass when you take the following bearings per magnetic compass: New Point Comfort Light "2" 253°
Horn Harbor Entrance Light HH 282°
Wolf Trap Light 348°
What is the position of the fix?

    N a. LAT 37°19.4'N, LONG 76°09.5'W
    N b. LAT 37°19.4'N, LONG 76°09.8'W
    N c. LAT 37°19.7'N, LONG 76°10.3'W
    Y d. LAT 37°19.7'N, LONG 76°09.9'W

12611: You are on course 262° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Saybrook Breakwater Light - 338.5°psc Little Gull Island Light - 107.5°psc Horton Point Light - 240.0°psc What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41°11.9'N, LONG 72°16.7'N
    Y b. LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 72°17.2'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.0'N, LONG 72°17.7'W
    N d. LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°17.3'W

15069: During extreme low water, the soundings near Saybrook may require corrections up to __________.

    N a. 1 foot (+.3 meters)
    N b. -2 feet (-.6 meters)
    Y c. -3.5 feet (-1.1 meters)
    N d. The sounding datum is based on extreme low water and no correction is necessary

15106: The National Weather Service provides 24 hour weather broadcasts to vessels transiting the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area on which frequency?

    N a. 147.45 MHz
    Y b. 162.55 MHz
    N c. 181.15 MHz
    N d. 202.35 MHz

15119: What is the height above water of Davis Creek Channel Light "1"?

    N a. 6 feet (1.8 meters)
    Y b. 15 feet (4.6 meters)
    N c. 17 feet (5.2 meters)
    N d. 24 feet (7.3 meters)

15156: Your 1600 position is LAT 37°22.5'N, LONG 75°32.3'W. The depth of water is about __________.

    N a. 38 feet (11.5 meters)
    N b. 45 feet (13.6 meters)
    Y c. 52 feet (15.8 meters)
    N d. 59 feet (17.3 meters)

15520: NOAA VHF-FM weather broadcasts from New London, CT are on __________.

    N a. 162.25 MHz
    N b. 162.30 MHz
    N c. 162.40 MHz
    Y d. 162.55 MHz

15619: At 2123, your position is LAT 37°20.0'N, LONG 76°03.0'W. What is your distance offshore of Savage Neck?

    N a. 4.3 miles
    N b. 3.4 miles
    N c. 2.6 miles
    Y d. 1.7 miles

15710: From your 0830 position, you wish to make good 097°T. There is no current, but a southerly wind is producing 3°
leeway. What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass in order to make good your true course?

    N a. 118°psc
    Y b. 115°psc
    N c. 112°psc
    N d. 109°psc

15738: At 1830 you obtained the following Loran-C readings:

9960-W-14820.0
9960-X-26097.0
9960-Y-43713.5

What is your vessel's position?

    N a. LAT 40°41.0'N, LONG 72°06.0'W
    N b. LAT 40°41.0'N, LONG 72°10.6'W
    Y c. LAT 40°42.5'N, LONG 72°07.1'W
    N d. LAT 40°47.5'N, LONG 72°02.9'W

15741: At 2050 Montauk Point Light is bearing 337° true at a range of 8 nm, From this position, you change course in order to pass 1 mile due east of Montauk Point Lighted Whistle Buoy "MP". If there are no set and drift, what course must you steer?

    Y a. 024°T
    N b. 028°T
    N c. 032°T
    N d. 036°T

16207: If you change course at 0610, what is the course to steer to a point where Little Gull Island Light bears 180°T at 0.7 mile (Point "A")?

    N a. 072°pgc
    N b. 076°pgc
    Y c. 080°pgc
    N d. 084°pgc

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.

16443: As you transit the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel, you take a gyro bearing of trestle C when it is in line. The gyro bearing was 050°. At that time, the helmsman noted that he was heading 139°pgc and 146° per standard magnetic compass. What is the deviation?

    Y a. 2°E
    N b. 0°
    N c. 2°W
    N d. 4°W

16556: You are underway in the vicinity of Block Island and obtain the following lines of position:

Montauk Point Light 267°pgc
Block Island Southeast Light 030°pgc
Radar Bearing to Block Island
Southwest Point (tangent) 352°pgc

What is your position at the time of these sightings?

    N a. LAT 41°05.2'N, LONG 71°36.2'W
    Y b. LAT 41°05.3'N, LONG 71°35.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 71°36.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 71°35.9'W

16611: At 0109 you get underway, and at 0112 you take the following set of bearings:

Branford Reef Light bearing 051°true
Stratford Point Light bearing 258°true

What is your 0112 position?

    N a. LAT 41°11.2'N, LONG 72°51.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.4'N, LONG 72°50.5'W
    Y c. LAT 41°11.4'N, LONG 72°51.3'W
    N d. LAT 41°11.8'N, LONG 72°51.5'W

20107: You are steaming at 19 knots and burning 440 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 137 barrels per day. What must you reduce your speed to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 18.2
    N b. 14.8
    Y c. 12.9
    N d. 11.1