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.


166: If the Bayou Sara Gage reads -0.5 feet, the Low Water Reference Plane is 5.25. What is the water level in relation to the low water reference plane?


224: Which statement concerning your 1920 position is TRUE?


335: At 1810, you obtain the following bearings:

Cape Charles Light bearing 005° pgc
Cape Henry Light bearing 251.5° pgc

What is your position?


446: At 1345, you depart from a position 1 mile due east of Montauk Point Light and set course for Block Island Southeast Light at 9 knots. At 1430, your position is:

Latitude 41° 06.3' North
Longitude 071° 41.9' West

What was the current encountered since 1345?

    N a. Set 015°, drift 0.5 knot
    N b. Set 195°, drift 0.7 knot
    N c. Set 015°, drift 0.7 knot
    Y d. Set 195°, drift 0.5 knot

495: At 0815, visibility is excellent and you can see Montauk Point. Montauk Point is __________.

    N a. low and rocky with scattered small pine trees
    N b. a low lying wetland
    Y c. a high sandy bluff
    N d. a flat wooded plain

502: At 2142, you take the following bearings:

Stratford Point Light 331°T
Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light 280°T
Old Field Point Light 223°T

What is your 2142 position?

    N a. LAT 41°02.7'N, LONG 73°01.2'W
    Y b. LAT 41°03.0'N, LONG 73°01.7'W
    N c. LAT 41°03.1'N, LONG 73°01.3'W
    N d. LAT 41°03.3'N, LONG 73°01.9'W

562: At 0700, Falkner Island Light bears 023°pgc, and the range to the south tip of Falkner Island is 7.1 miles. What was the course made good since 0615?

    N a. 087°T
    N b. 084°T
    Y c. 081°T
    N d. 078°T

640: Which of the following statements concerning the buoys on the Mississippi River is TRUE?

    N a. The position of river buoys can be determined by consulting the latest Light List - Vol. V.
    N b. A preferred channel mark is a lateral mark indicating a channel junction which must always be passed to starboard.
    Y c. Setting a buoy is the act of placing a buoy on assigned position in the water.
    N d. None of the above.

642: Where can scheduled broadcast times of river stages be found?

    N a. Sailing Directions
    Y b. Light List
    N c. List of Lights
    N d. Coast Pilot

1009: On 22 February , your 0800 zone time position is LAT 24°16'S, LONG 95°37'E. Your vessel is on course 126°T at a speed of 14 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0945 zone time. The chronometer reads 03h 47m 22s, and the chronometer error is 02m 37s fast. The observed altitude (Ho) is 57°02.1'. LAN occurs at 1148 zone time, and a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is made. The observed meridian altitude (Ho) is 75°22.3'.
Determine the vessel's 1200 zone time position.

    N a. LAT 24°49.3'S, LONG 96°24.0'E
    N b. LAT 24°49.3'S, LONG 96°27.2'E
    Y c. LAT 24°52.2'S, LONG 96°24.0'E
    N d. LAT 24°52.2'S, LONG 96°27.2'E

1105: On 28 May , your 0200 DR position is LAT 19°16.5'S , LONG 119°24.0'W. You are on course 107°T at a speed of 18 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. NP-0034

    Y a. LAT 19°43.0'S, LONG 117°54.0'W
    N b. LAT 19°48.2'S, LONG 118°04.5'W
    N c. LAT 20°07.5'S, LONG 117°32.0'W
    N d. LAT 20°17.1'S, LONG 118°06.0'W

1109: On 5 May , your 1600 zone time DR position is LAT 17°28'S, LONG 143°39'E. You are on course 316°T at a speed of 17 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1800 running fix.

    Y a. LAT 17°05.2'S, LONG 143°11.4'E
    N b. LAT 17°07.8'S, LONG 143°17.5'E
    N c. LAT 17°08.2'S, LONG 143°07.9'E
    N d. LAT 17°09.7'S, LONG 143°10.1'E

1188: On 9 February , your 0830 zone time DR position is LAT 22°19.0'N, LONG 64°37.0'E. Your vessel is on course 128°
T at a speed of 19.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    Y a. 1152
    N b. 1156
    N c. 1201
    N d. 1205

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

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

1539: As you approach Vaucluse Bend Light (mile 533.8 AHP),
which type of daymark would you see on the light structure?

    N a. Red diamond
    N b. Red triangle
    Y c. Green square
    N d. Green diamond

1545: You are downbound, passing by Warfield Point Lt. (mile 537 AHP), when you observe on your Mississippi River map several black lines extending into the river from the bank. These indicate __________.

    N a. revetments
    N b. weirs
    N c. fleeting areas
    Y d. dikes

1744: At 1727, on 24 August, you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge (mile 661.7 AHP). What has been the average speed of the current since departing Memphis Harbor, McKellar Lake, if you have been making turns for 9 mph?

    N a. 1.8 mph
    Y b. 2.3 mph
    N c. 2.8 mph
    N d. 3.6 mph

1838: What is the distance from Baton Rouge, LA, to St. Louis, MO, on the Mississippi River System?

    N a. 1038 miles
    Y b. 916 miles
    N c. 690 miles
    N d. 352 miles

1901: On 22 April , your 1852 DR position is LAT 23°54.5'N, LONG 117°36.8'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 248°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 25°00.9'. The chronometer reads 02h 54m 53s, and is 02m 51s fast. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Rigel
    N b. Betelgeuse
    N c. Gienah
    N d. Arcturus

1927: 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 (253.6 AHP)?

    N a. 6.9 mph
    Y b. 6.2 mph
    N c. 4.8 mph
    N d. 4.3 mph

2294: You are passing Eastwood Lt. (mile 849.3 AHP) and the map indicates that Bunge Grain facility would be located at the square with number __________.

    N a. 4
    N b. 6
    N c. 8
    Y d. 10

2330: At 0731, what is the approximate depth of water?

    N a. 31 feet (9.4 meters)
    Y b. 41 feet (12.5 meters)
    N c. 52 feet (15.7 meters)
    N d. 58 feet (17.6 meters)

3108: You are turning 105 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 17 feet, and an estimated slip of -1%. What is the speed of advance?

    N a. 15.3 knots
    N b. 16.9 knots
    N c. 17.4 knots
    Y d. 17.8 knots

3298: Your vessel consumes 216 barrels of fuel per day at a speed of 15.0 knots. What will be the fuel consumption of your vessel at 17.5 knots?

    N a. 232 bbls
    N b. 252 bbls
    N c. 294 bbls
    Y d. 343 bbls

3452: You wish to make good a course of 035°T while turning for an engine speed of 12 knots. The set is 340°T, and the drift is 2 knots. What course should you steer?

    N a. 027°T
    N b. 037°T
    Y c. 044°T
    N d. 054°T

3453: You wish to make good a course of 350°T while turning for an engine speed of 10 knots. The set is 070°T, and the drift is 1.5 knots. What course should you steer?

    N a. 332°T
    Y b. 341°T
    N c. 345°T
    N d. 359°T

3608: You are steering 125°pgc. The wind is southwest by south causing a 3° leeway. The variation is 6°E, the deviation is 2°W, and the gyro error is 1°W. What is the true course made good?

    Y a. 121°T
    N b. 123°T
    N c. 127°T
    N d. 129°T

3760: Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 352°T, and the variation is 4°W. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 359° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation?

    Y a. 3°W
    N b. 7°E
    N c. 11°E
    N d. 11°W

3766: Your vessel is proceeding down a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line dead ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 229°T, and variation is 6°W. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 232° per standard magnetic compass, what is the deviation?

    Y a. 3°E
    N b. 9°E
    N c. 3°W
    N d. 9°W

10600: At 1620 your GPS indicates a position of LAT 41°09.0'N, LONG 72°40.0'W. You are on course 134° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 10 knots. At 1700 your GPS indicates your position as LAT 41°05.3'N, LONG 72°33.7'W. What were the set and drift?

    N a. 067°T at 1.7 knots
    N b. 078°T at 1.1 knots
    N c. 243°T at 1.0 knot
    Y d. 249°T at 1.6 knots

11501: At 2016 your GPS position is LAT 41°07.6'N, LONG 71°33.8'W. At 2128 your position is LAT 41°00.4'N, LONG 71°29.4'W. What was the speed made good between the two positions?

    N a. 11.9 knots
    N b. 10.2 knots
    N c. 8.9 knots
    Y d. 6.7 knots

12706: You are on course 053° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Little Gull Island Light 275°psc Race Rock Light 296°psc Latimer Reef Light 011°psc What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41°12.9'N, LONG 71°56.3'W
    Y b. LAT 41°13.2'N, LONG 71°56.0'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.4'N, LONG 71°55.5'W
    N d. LAT 41°13.8'N, LONG 71°56.1'W

13806: The chart symbol surrounding Saybrook Breakwater Light warns mariners that the navigational light structure is __________.

    N a. no longer maintained
    Y b. protected by riprap
    N c. privately maintained
    N d. awash at high tide

14403: You are underway and steaming in an easterly direction on the Columbia River. After bringing Fisher Quarry Channel Range in line over your bow, you move to the left outside quarter of the channel. What should your fathometer read at this position, if the staff gauge at Portland reads +12.5 feet?

    N a. 7.5 feet
    Y b. 32.5 feet
    N c. 41.5 feet
    N d. 51.5 feet

15068: Long Sand Shoal __________.

    N a. shoals gradually on the north and south sides
    Y b. is hard and lumpy
    N c. shows breakers when northerly winds exceed 10 knots
    N d. has gray sand with scattered shells

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

15163: Which statement concerning your 1920 position is TRUE?

    Y a. You are entering a restricted area.
    N b. You are governed by the Inland Rules of the Road.
    N c. You are within the Chesapeake Bay Entrance traffic separation scheme.
    N d. On your present course Trestle "C" of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel is dead ahead.

15166: At 2037, you change course and wish to make good a course of 016°T. There is no current, but an easterly wind is causing 3° leeway. What course per standard magnetic compass should you steer to make good the course 016°T?

    N a. 022°psc
    N b. 025°psc
    Y c. 028°psc
    N d. 031°psc

15269: New London Harbor is __________.

    Y a. limited to vessels drawing less than 36 feet (10.8 meters)
    N b. closed during the winter season
    N c. subject to dangerous freshets in the fall
    N d. difficult to enter at night

15313: From your noon position, if there is no set and drift, what is your course per standard magnetic compass to the "NCA"
(LL #375) buoy?

    N a. 215°psc
    Y b. 217°psc
    N c. 219°psc
    N d. 221°psc

15314: Your gyro and electronic gear are again operating. At 1710, Chesapeake Light bears 137°pgc at 6.6 miles. The current is setting 160°T at 2 knots. At your speed of 6 knots, what is your true course to steer to remain in the inbound traffic lane?

    Y a. 269°
    N b. 265°
    N c. 261°
    N d. 250°

16110: If you are making 8.3 knots over the ground, what is your ETA at the first turning point in York Spit Channel between buoys "29" and "30"?

    N a. 0444
    N b. 0456
    N c. 0508
    Y d. 0522

16146: From your 2054 position, you change course to 066°T. Maintaining course and speed of 18 knots, at what time can you expect to first cross the 90-foot curve if you experience no set and drift?

    Y a. 2105
    N b. 2111
    N c. 2117
    N d. 2125

16262: What was the speed made good from 0240 to 0400?

    N a. 5.2 knots
    N b. 5.6 knots
    Y c. 6.0 knots
    N d. 6.4 knots

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°

16707: Point Judith Harbor of Refuge __________.

    N a. is used mostly by towing vessels
    N b. has a maximum depth of 14 feet at MHW
    N c. is easily accessible in heavy southerly seas
    Y d. is entered through the East Gap or the West Gap

16840: Visibility is exceptionally clear. At approximately what distance did Chesapeake Light become visible?

    N a. 19.2 miles
    Y b. 21.0 miles
    N c. 22.7 miles
    N d. 24.0 miles