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.


48: The Clinch River empties into which river?


71: The Natchez Gage reads 20.6 feet. The high point on your towboat is 47 feet above the water. What is the vertical clearance as you pass under the Natchez Highway Bridge?


282: From your 1752 position, you steer 307°pgc at 9 knots. At 1805, you obtain the visual bearings. What are the latitude and longitude of your 1805 position? Old Pt. Comfort Light 232°pgc. Chesapeake Bay Tunnel North Light 130°pgc.


301: You depart LAT 28°55.0'N, LONG 89°10.0'W, enroute to LAT 24°25.0'N, LONG 83°00.0'W. Determine the true course and distance by mid-latitude sailing?

    N a. 418 miles, 122°T
    Y b. 427 miles, 129°T
    N c. 436 miles, 133°T
    N d. 442 miles, 122°T

306: A vessel steams 640 miles on course 047°T from LAT 34°45'N, LONG 140°00'E. What are the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by mid-latitude sailing?

    N a. LAT 41°57'N, LONG 150°02'E
    Y b. LAT 42°01'N, LONG 149°57'E
    N c. LAT 42°06'N, LONG 149°53'E
    N d. LAT 42°09'N, LONG 149°50'E

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"

341: You are on course 082°T, and the engines are turning for 8 knots. At 0352, you take the following bearings:
Stratford Point Light 016°pgc Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light 137°pgc

What is your 0352 position?

    Y a. LAT 41°05.2'N, LONG 73°07.8'W
    N b. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 73°07.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.3'N, LONG 73°07.5'W
    N d. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 73°07.7'W

403: You receive a distress call from a vessel reporting her position as LAT 30°21'N, LONG 88°34'W. Your position is LAT 24°30'N, LONG 83°00'W. Determine the true course and distance to the distress scene by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 317°T, 470 miles
    Y b. 320°T, 460 miles
    N c. 322°T, 455 miles
    N d. 324°T, 460 miles

481: The great circle distance from LAT 25°50'N, LONG 77°00'W to LAT 35°56'N, LONG 06°15'W is 3616 miles, and the initial course is 061.7°T. Determine the latitude of the vertex.

    N a. 37°32.2'N
    Y b. 37°34.9'N
    N c. 37°41.6'N
    N d. 37°45.2'N

631: 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)

729: On 24 September , your 1841 zone time DR position is LONG 129°34.5'E. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 25°20.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 09h 38m 12s, and the chronometer error is 03m 12s slow. The index error is 4.3' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52 feet (15.9 meters). What is your latitude by Polaris?

    N a. 24°28.1'N
    N b. 25°16.0'N
    Y c. 25°37.6'N
    N d. 25°42.3'N

999: On 16 February , your 0640 zone time (ZT) position was LAT 23°46.0'N, LONG 156°24.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 222°T at a speed of 18.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0910 ZT. The chronometer read 07h 08m 06s and was slow 01m 56s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 27°15.8'. LAN occurred at 1245 ZT (ZD +10). The observed altitude (Ho) was 55°25.3'. What was the longitude of your 1245 ZT running fix?

    N a. 157°37.2'W
    Y b. 157°42.0'W
    N c. 157°45.7'W
    N d. 157°47.2'W

1107: On 16 April , your 0200 zone time DR position is LAT 17°18'S, LONG 168°46'E. You are on course 236°T at a speed of 16 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 0600 running fix.

    N a. LAT 17°54.9'S, LONG 167°48.7'E
    N b. LAT 17°55.6'S, LONG 167°45.1'E
    N c. LAT 17°56.8'S, LONG 167°52.4'E
    Y d. LAT 18°00.4'S, LONG 167°49.2'E

1127: You are turning for 6.8 mph and estimate the current at 1.0 mph. What is your speed over the ground?

    N a. 6.8 mph
    Y b. 7.8 mph
    N c. 8.8 mph
    N d. 9.4 mph

1175: On 12 February , your 0900 zone time DR position is LAT 16°43.0'N, LONG 51°42.0'W. Your vessel is on course 093°T at a speed of 18.5 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    Y a. 1237
    N b. 1233
    N c. 1230
    N d. 1226

1216: It is 8 March and you are keeping zone time -3. You are on course 104°T, speed 21 knots. Your 0830 DR position is LAT 25°35.0'S, LONG 66°34.0'E. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks?

    Y a. 10h 41m 26s
    N b. 11h 15m 34s
    N c. 11h 17m 32s
    N d. 11h 36m 54s

1232: The Vaucluse Trench fill revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________.

    N a. 524.3 - 522.6 RDB
    Y b. 535.6 - 532.9 RDB
    N c. 535.9 - 534.3 LDB
    N d. 534.3 - 532.6 LDB

1269: At 1400 zone time, on 11 April , your DR position is LAT 25°40'N, LONG 91°00'W. You are steering 180°T at a speed of 10.0 knots. What is your zone time of sunset?

    N a. 1812
    N b. 1816
    N c. 1820
    Y d. 1825

1339: At 1300, 5 January, the river will be temporarily closed to navigation for six hours at mile 531.3 AHP due to repairs to a bridge. What minimum speed over the ground must you make from Natchez Gage in order not to be delayed?

    N a. 5.7 mph
    Y b. 6.0 mph
    N c. 6.8 mph
    N d. 7.3 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

1541: At 0119, on 10 September, you pass Springfield Bend Lt. (mile 244.8 AHP) 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 8.5 mph?

    N a. 1746, 12 September
    N b. 1244, 13 September
    Y c. 2329, 14 September
    N d. 0210, 15 September

1660: On 23 June , in DR position LAT 21°39.0'S, LONG 106°28.0'W, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 078°psc. The chronometer reads 02h 14m 39s and is 01m 43s slow. Variation in the area is 9°W. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    N a. 2.8°E
    N b. 3.9°W
    Y c. 4.3°W
    N d. 4.6°E

1749: Which light characteristics does Black Hawk Light (mile 318.3 AHP) have?

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

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

1873: 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 174.0°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 18°58.6'. 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. Muhlifain
    N b. Alpha Hydri
    N c. Almak
    N d. Alpha Muscae

1964: The Platte River empties into which river?

    N a. Mississippi
    Y b. Missouri
    N c. Ohio
    N d. Tennessee

2027: At 0645, on the 17th of April, you pass Hole in the Wall Lt. (mile 373.4 AHP). What has been your average speed since departing the Exxon Refinery?

    N a. 5.8 mph
    Y b. 6.3 mph
    N c. 6.7 mph
    N d. 7.1 mph

2176: On 9 November , at 0426 ZT, your position was LAT 25°17.0'S, LONG 154°16.0'E. Your vessel is steaming at 14.0 knots on course 066°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0837 ZT. The chronometer reads 10h 35m 21s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 50°26.9'. The index error is 1.5' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 48s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 56.0 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho) and azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    N a. 50°18.1', 086.3°T
    N b. 50°18.1', 093.7°T
    Y c. 50°33.5', 085.9°T
    N d. 50°33.5', 093.7°T

2660: You are steering 287°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 19.4 miles at 0419. You change course to pass the light 4 miles off abeam to starboard. If you are making 13 knots, what is your ETA at the position 4 miles off the light?

    N a. 0541
    N b. 0544
    Y c. 0547
    N d. 0550

2676: While on a course of 019°pgc, a light bears 14° on the port bow at a distance of 15.3 miles. What course should you steer to pass 1.5 miles abeam of the light, leaving it to port?

    N a. 006°pgc
    Y b. 011°pgc
    N c. 013°pgc
    N d. 015°pgc

2908: Your vessel is on a course of 223°T at 17 knots. At 1323 a lighthouse bears 318° relative. At 1341 the same lighthouse bears 287° relative. What is your distance off the lighthouse at 1341?

    N a. 4.3 miles
    N b. 5.1 miles
    Y c. 6.6 miles
    N d. 7.8 miles

2908: Your vessel is on a course of 223°T at 17 knots. At 1323 a lighthouse bears 318° relative. At 1341 the same lighthouse bears 287° relative. What is your distance off the lighthouse at 1341?

    N a. 4.3 miles
    N b. 5.1 miles
    Y c. 6.6 miles
    N d. 7.8 miles

3276: While steaming at 15 knots, your vessel burns 326 bbls of fuel per day. What will be the rate of fuel consumption if you decrease speed to 12.2 knots?

    Y a. 175 bbls/day
    N b. 215 bbls/day
    N c. 277 bbls/day
    N d. 300 bbls/day

3468: You are underway on course 215°T at 12 knots. The current is 000°T at 2.3 knots. What is the speed being made good?

    N a. 8.5 knots
    Y b. 10.2 knots
    N c. 10.9 knots
    N d. 11.2 knots

3756: Your vessel is proceeding up 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 093°T, and the variation is 6°E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 097° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation?

    N a. 5°E
    N b. 5°W
    N c. 10°E
    Y d. 10°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

10306: 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°40.0'W?

    N a. 145.5°psc
    Y b. 142.5°psc
    N c. 138.5°psc
    N d. 127.0°psc

11009: What best describes the structure from which Stratford Point Light is shown?

    N a. Brown conical tower with white horizontal band in center of light on black pier
    N b. Red conical tower on brown cylindrical pier
    N c. White octagonal house on brown cylindrical pier
    Y d. White conical tower, with brown band midway of height

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

14501: You are proceeding in an easterly direction on the Columbia River. The pool level of the Bonneville Reservoir stands at 65 feet above MSL. If the highest point on your vessel is 54 feet above the water, what will be the vertical clearance as you pass under the overhead power cables at mile 186.2?

    N a. 94 feet
    N b. 101 feet
    Y c. 108 feet
    N d. 117 feet

15462: Visibility has decreased to 1 mile in haze. At 0948, you take the following radar ranges. What course should you steer per gyrocompass from this fix to enter the channel between buoys "19" and "20"?

Thimble Shoal Light - 5.9 miles
South end of trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge
and Tunnel - 3.8 miles
South end of trestle B of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge
and Tunnel - 5.4 miles

    N a. 001°pgc
    N b. 004°pgc
    N c. 007°pgc
    Y d. 010°pgc

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

15742: At 2100 your position is LAT 40°58.5'N, LONG 71°46.0'W. You are proceeding north. At 2131 Montauk Point Light has a radar range of 5.1 miles and bears 284°T. Block Island Southeast Light has a radar range of 10.8 miles. What was the course made good from your 2100 position?

    N a. 005°T
    Y b. 011°T
    N c. 017°T
    N d. 025°T

15828: At 0305 on 18 April, you pass under the Greenville Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What was your average speed since departing Amoco Pipeline Co. Docks (mile 253.6 AHP)?

    N a. 6.2 mph
    N b. 6.5 mph
    Y c. 6.8 mph
    N d. 7.2 mph

16220: At 0930, your position is LAT 41°16.5'N, LONG 71°41.4'W,
and you are turning for 7 knots. Allowing 3° leeway for southerly winds and estimating the current as 035° at 0.3
knot, what is the course to steer (pgc) to point "B"?

    N a. 089°pgc
    N b. 091°pgc
    N c. 093°pgc
    Y d. 096°pgc

16344: After changing course to allow for a current of 090°T at 1.0 knot, what time will Endeavor Shoals Lighted Gong Buoy "3" be abeam to port?

    N a. 2340
    N b. 2345
    Y c. 2350
    N d. 2355