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.

92: A stretch where the channel changes from one side of the river to the other is called a __________.
101: At 1430 on 13 August, you pass Carolina Landing Light (mile 508.8 AHP). What has been the average current since 0230, 13 August if you have been making turns for 8.0 mph?
105: On 19 January , your 0300 zone time DR position is LAT 22°13'N, LONG 40°19'W. You are on course 297°T at a speed of 17 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0545 running fix?
126: What is your clearance as you pass under the Vicksburg Highway 80 Bridge (mile 437.8 AHP). if the Vicksburg Gage reads 14.8 feet and the highest point on your tow boat is 44.5 feet? 

    N a. 36 feet
    N b. 42 feet
    Y c. 57 feet
    N d. 66 feet
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
264: At 0720, you are in the outer channel between buoy "1" and buoy "2" and change course to pass Townshend Ledge Lighted Bell Buoy "10A" abeam to port at 200 yards. What is your ETA off the buoy? 

    N a. 0745
    N b. 0741
    Y c. 0738
    N d. 0734
268: What publication contains information on the navigational hazards in the vicinity of Falkner Island? 

    N a. The navigational regulations in Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations
    Y b. U.S. Coast Pilot
    N c. U.S. Coast Guard Light List
    N d. Inland Navigation Rules
304: A vessel steams 580 miles on course 083°T from LAT 13°12'N, LONG 71°12'W. What are the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by mid-latitude sailing? 

    N a. LAT 14°17'N, LONG 61°23'W
    N b. LAT 14°20'N, LONG 61°21'W
    Y c. LAT 14°23'N, LONG 61°19'W
    N d. LAT 14°25'N, LONG 61°17'W
340: Inbound, the color of Cape Henry Light will __________. 

    N a. alternate regardless of your position
    N b. change after you reach Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"
    N c. remain the same
    Y d. change before you reach Chesapeake Channel Lighted Bell Buoy "2C"
372: 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. 084°pgc
    Y b. 080°pgc
    N c. 076°pgc
    N d. 072°pgc
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
744: On 22 May , at 0440 ZT, your vessel's DR position is LAT 23°24'N, LONG 110°24'W. At approximately this time, you obtain a sextant altitude (hs) of Polaris reading 23°40.9' with an index error of 1.6' on the arc. Your chronometer reads 11h 42m 14s, and is 2m 36s fast. What is your latitude by Polaris, given a height of eye of 24 feet? 

    N a. 23°28.6'N
    N b. 23°30.0'N
    Y c. 23°31.2'N
    N d. 23°32.8'N
1149: 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
1233: What is the distance from Greenville, MS, to Tiptonville, TN on the Mississippi River System? 

    N a. 95 miles
    N b. 136 miles
    Y c. 341 miles
    N d. 520 miles
1414: What is the mile point of the Fulton Gage? 

    N a. 598 AHP
    N b. 632 AHP
    N c. 687 AHP
    Y d. 778 AHP
1859: On 22 March , your 0519 ZT DR position is LAT 27°20.6'N, LONG 69°25.6'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 094°T, at an observed altitude (Ho) of 30°15.0'. The chronometer reads 10h 16m 47s and is 02m 15s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Acamar
    Y b. Enif
    N c. Menkar
    N d. Rigel
1889: On 22 July , your 1759 DR position is LAT 24°50.2'S, LONG 05°16.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 293°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 17°52.8'. The chronometer reads 06h 01m 31s, and is 02m 15s fast. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Regulus
    N b. Antares
    N c. Miaplacidus
    N d. Suhail
1911: On 22 February , your 1857 DR position is LAT 23°46.0'S, LONG 93°16.5'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 150°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 42°15.0'. The chronometer reads 01h 00m 35s, and is 03m 25s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Adhara
    N b. Miaplacidus
    Y c. Avior
    N d. Suhail
2100: From your 2118 position, you are steering 288°T at an engine speed of 7.0 knots. If visibility is suddenly reduced to 2 miles, at what time can you expect Old Point Comfort Light to become visible again? 

    N a. The light is visible at 2118.
    N b. 2155
    N c. 2220
    Y d. 2232
2175: On 13 November , at 0438 ZT, morning stars were observed and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 22°14.0'S, LONG 79°23.0'E. Your vessel is steaming at 13.0 knots on a course of 242°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0822 ZT. The chronometer reads 03h 20m 16s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 45°49.7'. The index error is 1.0' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 47s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 61.0 feet (18.6 meters). What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    Y a. 092.6°T
    N b. 096.2°T
    N c. 098.7°T
    N d. 099.7°T
2296: If your vessel is making turns for 7.5 mph with an estimated average current of 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at the dock in Angelina, LA? 

    Y a. 1621, 28 Dec
    N b. 2203, 28 Dec
    N c. 0516, 29 Dec
    N d. 1621, 29 Dec
2370: As you pass under the Vicksburg Bridges, you estimate the current as 3.0 mph. What is the speed over the ground, if your vessel is making turns for 10.5 mph? 

    N a. 16.5 mph
    Y b. 13.5 mph
    N c. 10.5 mph
    N d. 7.5 mph
2456: You have steamed 520 miles at 22 knots and burning 319 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 137 barrels per day with 410 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel? 

    N a. 12.8
    N b. 14.8
    Y c. 16.2
    N d. 18.2
2779: If the Fair Landing, AR. Gage reads -1.2 feet, what is the water level in relation to the low water reference plane? The low water reference plane (LWRP) for Fair Landing, AR. is -0.9 feet. 

    N a. 2.1 foot above the plane
    N b. 0.3 foot above the plane
    Y c. 0.3 feet below the plane
    N d. 1.2 feet below the plane
2856: Your vessel is on a course of 034°T at 17 knots. At 0551 a light bears 056.5°T, and at 0623 the light bears 079°T. At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0636, 5.9 miles
    N b. 0646, 5.9 miles
    N c. 0636, 6.4 miles
    Y d. 0646, 6.4 miles
2892: You are steaming on a course of 114°T at 17 knots. At 1122 you observe a lighthouse bearing 077°T. At 1133 the lighthouse bears 051°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing? 

    N a. 3.3 miles
    N b. 3.9 miles
    Y c. 4.3 miles
    N d. 4.9 miles
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
3611: The track line on the chart is 274°T. Variation is 4°E, and deviation is 2°E. The gyro error is 1.5°E. What course would be steered by gyrocompass to make good the desired course? 

    N a. 280.5°pgc
    N b. 278.0°pgc
    N c. 275.5°pgc
    Y d. 272.5°pgc
3624: Your vessel is steering course 073°psc, variation for the area is 15°E, and deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the southeast, producing a 4° leeway. Which true course are you making good? 

    N a. 050°T
    N b. 058°T
    Y c. 088°T
    N d. 096°T
3647: The true course between two points is 220°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 1°E. You make an allowance of 1° leeway for a north-northwest wind. What gyro course should be steered to make the true course good? 

    Y a. 220°pgc
    N b. 221°pgc
    N c. 222°pgc
    N d. 223°pgc
3708: At what time would you listen to VHF Channel 22 (157.1 MHz) for information concerning the stage of the river between Memphis and Cairo? 

    Y a. 1300
    N b. 1435
    N c. 1620
    N d. 1815
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
11001: What time will high water occur at Saybrook Jetty on the morning of 29 October 1983? 

    N a. 0145
    N b. 0255
    Y c. 0405
    N d. 0920
11306: At 1919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. At 1950 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°37.0'W. What is the speed made good? 

    N a. 5.6 knots
    N b. 8.2 knots
    N c. 9.1 knots
    Y d. 10.9 knots
11505: At 1014 you depart the entrance to Lake Montauk with light "1" close aboard. Your course is 066° per standard magnetic compass, and the speed is 8.6 knots. At 1230 your position is LAT 41°20.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W. What is the speed made good? 

    N a. 8.0 knots
    N b. 8.3 knots
    Y c. 8.6 knots
    N d. 8.9 knots
11800: What is the course to steer between Port Jefferson Approach buoy "PJ" and New Haven Lighted Buoy "NH"? Your engine speed is 12 knots and you allow for a current of 93°T at 0.8 knot. A NW'ly wind causes 3° leeway. 

    Y a. 030°T
    N b. 034°T
    N c. 037°T
    N d. 044°T
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
13004: At 1815 your position is LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°47.3'W. You are making turns for 12.6 knots. What is your ETA at Plum Island Mid Channel Buoy PI (LAT 41°13.3'N, LONG 72°10.8'W)? 

    N a. 2019
    N b. 2028
    Y c. 2032
    N d. 2038
13102: At 2330 your position is LAT 41°16.9'N, LONG 71°38.2'W. You are turning for 9.3 knots. What is your ETA at the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island? 

    N a. 2355
    Y b. 0005
    N c. 0012
    N d. 0019
13300: The soundings on this chart are measured in __________. 

    Y a. feet
    N b. yards
    N c. fathoms
    N d. meters
14200: What is the length of the city wharf at The Dalles on the Columbia River? 

    N a. 20 feet
    Y b. over 1000 feet
    N c. 800 feet
    N d. 600 feet
15109: What is the average velocity of the maximum flood current at the Tail of the Horseshoe? 

    N a. 0.6 knot
    Y b. 0.9 knot
    N c. 1.3 knots
    N d. 1.6 knots
15445: As you proceed up York Spit Channel, what are the three base courses that you must steer to conform to the channel,
if steering by standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 337.5°, 359.5°, 028.0°
    N b. 337.5°, 357.5°, 026.0°
    N c. 324.0°, 352.5°, 009.5°
    Y d. 340.0°, 000.5°, 025.0°
15621: What is the length of the trip? 

    N a. 899.6 miles
    N b. 878.9 miles
    Y c. 851.9 miles
    N d. 726.0 miles
15644: At 2045 You take the following set of bearings:

Watch Hill Point Light bears 005° true
Montauk Point Light bears 350° true

Determine your 2103 fix. 

    Y a. LAT 41°09.2'N, LONG 71°52.5'W
    N b. LAT 41°09.1'N, LONG 71°52.2'W
    N c. LAT 41°09.0'N, LONG 71°52.9'W
    N d. LAT 41°08.8'N, LONG 71°52.5'W
15813: 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. 0.2 mile
    Y b. 0.6 mile
    N c. 1.3 mile
    N d. 1.8 miles
15912: If there is no current, what is the course per standard magnetic compass from your 0802 fix to the position 1.1 miles north of Falkner Island Light? 

    N a. 064°
    N b. 068°
    Y c. 095°
    N d. 099°
15942: At 1959 Watch Hill Point Light bears 030°T, Montauk Point Light bears 146°T, and Little Gull Light bears 283°T. What is the approximate fathometer reading? 

    Y a. 51 feet
    N b. 73 feet
    N c. 95 feet
    N d. 111 feet
16506: At 0630, you pass Buoy "PI" close abeam on the starboard side. You are steering 078°T and are headed directly toward Race Rock Light. At 0654, Little Gull Island Light is bearing 207°T and Race Rock Light is bearing 072°T. What is your 0654 position? 

    Y a. LAT 41°14.0'N, LONG 72°05.3'W
    N b. LAT 41°14.2'N, LONG 71°54.6'W
    N c. LAT 41°14.4'N, LONG 72°06.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°19.0'N, LONG 72°05.2'W
16546: At 0100 you notice that the wind has become SSW'ly and has freshened. At 0200 you sight Stratford Point Lighted Bell Buoy "18" bearing 268°pgc. At 0215 the buoy bears 269°pgc. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. You should alter course to the right to increase the rate of the bearing change.
    N b. You are making more speed over the ground than you estimated.
    Y c. You should alter course to decrease the distance that you will pass off Middle Ground Shoal.
    N d. You can hold the present course and safely pass buoy "18".