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.


44: The highest point on your towboat is 52 feet above the water, and the Helena Gage reads +9.6 feet. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the A-span of the Helena Highway Bridge?


178: If the Old Point Comfort main light was inoperative what emergency light would be shown?


225: From your 1920 position, you change course to enter Chesapeake Channel between buoys 9 and 10. What is the course per standard magnetic compass (psc) ?


228: Your height of eye is 25 feet (7.6 meters). If the visibility is 5.5 nautical miles, what is the luminous range of Wolf Trap Light?

    N a. 17.0 miles
    N b. 16.0 miles
    N c. 12.0 miles
    Y d. 7.5 miles

243: From your 1210 position, you are making good a course of 083°T. Your engines are turning RPMs for 10 knots. The set and drift of the current are 310° at 1.7 knots. At what time should you expect to enter the red sector of New London Harbor Light?

    Y a. 1243
    N b. 1254
    N c. 1259
    N d. 1305

356: At 0410, you take the following bearings:

New Point Comfort Light "2" 242°T
Wolf Trap Light 313°T
Horn Harbor Entrance Light "HH" 262°T

What is your 0410 position?

    N a. LAT 37°20.9'N, LONG 76°07.7'W
    Y b. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°08.1'W
    N c. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°07.9'W
    N d. LAT 37°21.2'N, LONG 76°08.2'W

371: You are steering 087°pgc and turning for 6.8 knots. At 0600, you take the following bearings:

Little Gull Island Light bearing 089.5° pgc
Bartlett Reef Light bearing 047° pgc

What is your 0600 position?

    N a. LAT 41°11.2'N, LONG 72°14.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°11.7'N, LONG 72°14.4'W
    Y c. LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°13.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°12.5'N, LONG 71°14.9'W

454: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 26°00.0'S, LONG 56°00.0'W to LAT 34°00.0'S, LONG 18°15.0'E.

    N a. 3705 miles, 153°T
    N b. 3841 miles, 068°T
    N c. 3849 miles, 248°T
    Y d. 3805 miles, 117°T

478: The great circle distance from LAT 38°17'N, LONG 123°16'W to LAT 35°01'N, LONG 142°21'E is 4330 miles, and the initial course is 300.9°T. Determine the latitude of the vertex.

    N a. 46°54.8'N
    N b. 47°24.7'N
    N c. 47°35.2'N
    Y d. 47°40.5'N

505: At 0109 you get underway, and at 0112 you take the following bearings:

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

What is your 0112 position?

    N a. LAT 41°11.0'N, LONG 72°51.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°11.4'N, LONG 72°51.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°11.6'N, LONG 72°51.6'W
    N d. LAT 41°11.8'N, LONG 72°51.8'W

527: You depart LAT 25°54'N, LONG 9°38'E and steam 592 miles on course 270°. What is the longitude of arrival?

    N a. 1°20'E
    N b. 0°40'E
    N c. 0°40'W
    Y d. 1°20'W

538: Determine the distance from LAT 23°24'S, LONG 13°54'E to LAT 23°24'S, LONG 42°48'W. by parallel sailing.

    N a. 3119.3 miles
    Y b. 3122.2 miles
    N c. 3124.5 miles
    N d. 3126.6 miles

541: You depart LAT 16°24'S, LONG 169°38'W, for LAT 16°24'S, LONG 174°52'E. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing?

    N a. 090°T, 301 miles
    N b. 090°T, 892 miles
    N c. 270°T, 301 miles
    Y d. 270°T, 892 miles

574: If you are making 10 knots, what is your ETA at York Spit Channel Buoys "19" and "20"?

    N a. 0959
    N b. 1002
    N c. 1004
    Y d. 1006

603: At 0915 zone time, on 7 November , you depart Seattle, LAT 47°36.0'N, LONG 122°22.0'W (ZD +8). You are bound for Kobe, LAT 34°40.0'N, LONG 135°12.0'E, and you estimate your speed of advance at 18.5 knots. The distance is 4,527 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Kobe?

    N a. 1257, 17 November
    Y b. 0657, 18 November
    N c. 1857, 18 November
    N d. 0657, 19 November

643: Which company does NOT have a marine facility in Rosedale harbor (mile 585 AHP)?

    N a. Sanders Elevator Corp
    N b. Rosedale-Boliver County Port Commission
    Y c. T.L. James
    N d. Cives Steel Company

667: You are planning a voyage from departure Seattle (LAT 48°30'N, LONG 125°00'W) to a position at LAT 44°00'N, LONG 161°00'E. Which statement is TRUE? (Use gnomonic chart WOXZC 5270.)

    N a. You must plot a composite sailing to remain south of the Aleutians.
    N b. The northern hemisphere vertex lies to the west of your arrival position.
    Y c. Military exercises north of 53°N, between 150°W and 165°W, will not affect your voyage.
    N d. At your highest latitude, the sun will be visible at upper and lower transit if the voyage occurs on 21 June.

737: On 29 July , your 1930 zone time DR position is LONG 164°26.0'E. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 23°46.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 08h 32m 18s, and the chronometer error is 02m 26s fast. The index error is 2.7' on the arc, and the height of eye is 56.0 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris?

    N a. 24°01.9'N
    Y b. 24°19.5'N
    N c. 24°31.7'N
    N d. 25°19.6'N

748: On 7 May , you observe Polaris for latitude at 0303 ZT. Your DR position is LAT 56°35.4'N, LONG 05°38.9'W. The sextant altitude is 56°11.1'. The height of eye is 36', and the index error is 3.3' off the arc. What is the latitude at the time of the sight?

    N a. 56°24.6'N
    N b. 56°32.6'N
    N c. 56°35.0'N
    Y d. 56°38.7'N

1005: On 18 May , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 20°41'N, LONG 63°32'W. You are on course 106°T, speed 24 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.

ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1204 61°54.6' N 19°37.6' 88°39.7'
1210 63°24.6' N 19°37.7' 88°59.2'

    Y a. LAT 20°32.6'N, LONG 62°57.5'W
    N b. LAT 20°30.1'N, LONG 63°01.9'W
    N c. LAT 20°27.6'N, LONG 62°52.4'W
    N d. LAT 20°25.2'N, LONG 62°56.9'W

1098: On 19 September , your 0300 zone time DR position is LAT 24°35'N, LONG 88°40'W. You are on course 288°T at a speed of 14 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix. NP-0028

    N a. LAT 24°47.4'N, LONG 89°15.0'W
    Y b. LAT 24°52.5'N, LONG 89°22.4'W
    N c. LAT 24°59.5'N, LONG 89°28.6'W
    N d. LAT 25°06.0'N, LONG 90°37.0'W

1344: At 2142, on January 3, you pass Sebastapol Light (mile 283.3 AHP). At 0137, January 4, you pass Fort Adams Light(mile 311.4 AHP). You have been turning for 9.0 mph. What was the current?

    N a. 4.2 mph
    N b. 3.3 mph
    N c. 2.7 mph
    Y d. 1.8 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

1424: You pass Springfield Bend Lt. (mile 244.8 AHP) at 1242, on 17 October, and estimate the current will average 2.5 mph for the remainder of your trip. What is your ETA at the mouth of the Ohio River if you are making turns for 10.5 mph?

    N a. 1905, 19 October
    N b. 2122, 19 October
    Y c. 0519, 21 October
    N d. 0847, 21 October

1495: On 9 September , your 2043 ZT position is LAT 24°18'N, LONG 66°46'W. You observe Polaris bearing 001°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 031°pgc and 040°psc. The variation is 11°W. What is the deviation for that heading?

    N a. 0°
    N b. 1°W
    N c. 3°W
    Y d. 2°E

1912: On 22 February , your 1857 DR position is LAT 23°46.0'S, LONG 93°16.5'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 108°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 67°53.9'. The chronometer reads 01h 00m 35s, and is 03m 25s fast. What star did you observe?

    Y a. Adhara
    N b. Miaplacidus
    N c. Avior
    N d. Suhail

2110: From your 0100 position, you change course to 258° per standard magnetic compass. Your engine speed is 10.0 knots. A short time later, your fathometer reads 51 feet (15.5 meters) under the keel. What is the water depth?

    N a. 38.5 feet (11.7 meters)
    N b. 43.5 feet (13.2 meters)
    N c. 51.0 feet (15.5 meters)
    Y d. 59.5 feet (18.0 meters)

2201: At 1000, on May 11th, you are passing George Prince Lt. (mile 364.1 AHP) in Natchez, Mississippi and must send an ETA to the Monsanto Terminal in St. Louis (mile 178.0 UMR). Your engines are still turning for 8.5 mph and you estimate the current at 2.5 mph. What will be your arrival time in St. Louis?

    N a. 1919 on 15 May
    N b. 2344 on 15 May
    N c. 1113 on 16 May
    Y d. 1757 on 16 May

2205: What are the dimensions of Old River Lock, on the Lower Mississippi River?

    N a. 1202 feet x 84 feet
    Y b. 1190 feet x 75 feet
    N c. 760 feet x 75 feet
    N d. 425 feet x 75 feet

2209: The Helena Gage reads 9.4 feet. The high point on your towboat is 42 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge?

    N a. 53.0 feet
    N b. 62.6 feet
    N c. 64.2 feet
    Y d. 68.0 feet

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

2655: You are steering 078°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 15.6 miles at 2316. You change course to pass the light 4.5 miles off abeam to port. If you are making 17 knots, what is your ETA at the position 4.5 miles off the light?

    N a. 0006
    Y b. 0009
    N c. 0012
    N d. 0015

2712: 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

3059: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 21.5 feet and a pitch of 24.5 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 458 miles in a 23 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 78?

    N a. +5.6%
    Y b. -5.6%
    N c. +12.3%
    N d. -12.3%

3081: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 12.6 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 13.6 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming no slip?

    N a. 81
    N b. 85
    N c. 90
    Y d. 94

3103: You are turning 93 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 25 feet, and an estimated slip of 0%. What is the speed of advance?

    N a. 20.2 knots
    N b. 21.9 knots
    N c. 22.4 knots
    Y d. 22.9 knots

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

10106: What is the course per standard magnetic compass from Chesapeake Light to North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy NCA?

    N a. 316°psc
    Y b. 321°psc
    N c. 323°psc
    N d. 326°psc

10206: Your 2230 position is LAT 41°07.4'N, LONG 72°44.0'W. Assuming that there are no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to leave Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy (LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°30.4'W) 1 mile abeam to port?

    N a. 084°psc
    N b. 091°psc
    N c. 094°psc
    Y d. 098°psc

10905: You wish to anchor and fish in the regulated navigation area in the vicinity of LAT 37°02'N, LONG 76°01'W. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    N a. Anchoring is prohibited in this area due to the danger of unexploded mines on the bottom.
    N b. You may anchor in this area only in the event of an emergency such as loss of main propulsion.
    Y c. You may anchor in this area if your vessel is less than 65 feet in length or if you have the Captain of the Port's permission.
    N d. Any vessel can anchor without restriction as the regulations only apply to vessels underway.

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°

12505: You are on course 056°psc, when you take the following bearings:
New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" 260°psc Horn Harbor Entrance Light "HH" 285°psc Wolf Trap Light 336°psc What is the position of the fix?

    Y a. LAT 37°19.3'N, LONG 76°08.5'W
    N b. LAT 37°19.3'N, LONG 76°08.8'W
    N c. LAT 37°19.2'N, LONG 76°08.2'W
    N d. LAT 37°19.2'N, LONG 76°08.7'W

13405: At 0400 your vessel is dead in the water and in heavy fog. Your GPS position is LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°43.5'W. Bottom samples are taken and indicate a composition of soft mud and shell. Your fathometer reads 40 feet. If the vessel draws 9 feet of water, which of the following is TRUE?

    Y a. The bottom samples and fathometer reading prove the fix is reliable.
    N b. The bottom samples and fathometer readings indicate that the fix is unreliable.
    N c. The information collected indicates that the fathometer may be in error.
    N d. The information collected indicates that the chart is most likely in error.

15029: What type of daymark will you see as you approach Gold Dust Bar Light (mile 793.3 AHP) ?

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

15370: If visibility permits, Little Gull Island Light will break the horizon at a range of approximately __________.

    N a. 11.1 miles
    N b. 12.8 miles
    Y c. 15.6 miles
    N d. 18.0 miles

15466: At 1015, you estimate you have 139 miles to complete the voyage. If you average 9.5 knots, you will complete the voyage in __________.

    N a. 14 hours 22 minutes
    N b. 14 hours 30 minutes
    Y c. 14 hours 38 minutes
    N d. 14 hours 44 minutes

15617: Your height of eye is 25 feet (7.6 meters). If the visibility is 5.5 nautical miles, what is the luminous range of Wolf Trap Light?

    Y a. 7.5 miles
    N b. 12.0 miles
    N c. 16.0 miles
    N d. 17.0 miles

16044: At 1038 Branford Reef Light bears 019°pgc, Falkner Island Light bears 075°pgc, and the radar range to Branford Reef Light is 3.0 miles. Which statement is TRUE of your 1038 position?

    N a. You are required by regulation to change course to avoid steaming through the dumping ground.
    N b. You are making more speed over the ground, since your 1022 fix, than indicated by your engine RPM.
    N c. You are abeam of Townshend Ledge
    Y d. Your fathometer reads about 25 feet.

16063: At 2013, you sight Thimble Shoal Light in line with Old Point Comfort Light bearing 258°pgc. At the time of the bearing, the vessel was headed 142°pgc and 151°psc. Based on this, you __________.

    N a. know the gyro error is 2°E
    N b. should adjust the magnetic compass
    N c. verified that the variation is 10°W
    Y d. have checked the deviation table for a magnetic heading of 150°

16215: The wind is southerly, and you estimate 3° leeway. Allowing for leeway, what is the course to steer from your 0745 position to pass 1 mile south of Watch Hill Buoy "WH"?

    N a. 079°pgc
    N b. 081°pgc
    N c. 085°pgc
    Y d. 087°pgc

16216: From your 0745 fix, you change course to pass 1.0 mile south of buoy "WH" and estimate your speed at 7 knots. If the visibility clears, what is the earliest time you can expect to see Block Island North Light tower?

    N a. 0750
    Y b. 0807
    N c. 0838
    N d. 0845

16246: From your 2259 fix, you alter course to 250°T. At 2300 Cape Henry Light bears 250°T. At 2326 Cape Henry Light bears 252°T. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. You are being set to the right.
    N b. The bearing change should be expected as you transit the inbound lane.
    Y c. You should alter course to starboard.
    N d. You should slow to reduce the effect of the current.

16444: At 1042 you take the following round of bearings:

Cape Henry Light 259°T
Chesapeake Light 101°T
Cape Charles Light 006°T
From this position, you set course 070°T at a speed of 9.5 knots.

What is the course per standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 069.5°psc
    N b. 060.5°psc
    Y c. 079.5°psc
    N d. 080.5°psc

16714: What was the current between 0520 and 0600?

    N a. 201° at 1.0 knot
    N b. 201° at 1.5 knot
    N c. 021° at 1.0 knot
    Y d. 021° at 1.5 knots