First quiz free · No sign-up

USCG Navigation Problems Practice Test

458 Navigation Problems questions from 22 of the National Maritime Center’s published sample exams, each with the NMC’s answer key. Questions that need an illustration, a chart or a reference book are left out.

288 of them come with the closest regulation or reference section, shown with the answer.

Take a quiz of 10 drawn at random, or read the 10 sample questions and answers below.

← All topics

Take a 10-question quiz

10 at random from all 458, with each answer as soon as you pick.

10 sample Navigation Problems questions with answers

The same 10 on every visit. A related section is the closest match RegKnot found in the regulations and references; it is not part of the NMC’s answer key.

  1. Question 1 · Master/Chief Mate of Unlimited Tonnage

    From your 1845 position, you desire to leave Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light 1.0 mile off your starboard beam at 1900. Which course and speed would you order if you allow for a 2.0 knot current with a set of 180°T?

    • A.205°T at 9.2 knots
    • B.208°T at 11.4 knots
    • C.215°T at 9.2 knots (correct answer)
    • D.225°T at 11.5 knots

    Answer: C. 215°T at 9.2 knots

    Further reading: Pub 1310 Ch.6 Sec.44 — Pub 1310 Ch.6 Maneuvering Board Manual — Guide Out of Center; Course and Speed Between Two Stations, Remaining Within a; Specified Range for Specified Time Interval Enroute

  2. Question 2 · Mate Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons

    \When Cape Henry Light is abeam, what is the approximate distance to Yorktown?

    • A.55 miles
    • B.34 miles (correct answer)
    • C.42 miles
    • D.58 miles

    Answer: B. 34 miles

    Related regulation: 33 CFR 110.166 ↗ — York River, Va., naval anchorage

  3. Question 3 · Master of Unlimited Tonnage

    If you are going to head directly for Chesapeake Light from your 2111 fix, what is the course to make good?

    • A.199°T
    • B.190°T (correct answer)
    • C.196°T
    • D.193°T

    Answer: B. 190°T

    Related regulation: 33 CFR 167.203 ↗ — In the approaches to Chesapeake Bay: Southern approach

  4. Question 4 · Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels

    At 0500 zone time on 21 August, your DR position is LAT 47°00'N, LONG 125°15'W. You are steering 000°T at a speed of 9.8 knots. What is the zone time of sunrise?

    • A.0525 (correct answer)
    • B.0529
    • C.0531
    • D.0535

    Answer: A. 0525

    Further reading: Bowditch Art.2013 — Bowditch Ch.20 Sight Reduction — 2013. Finding Time of Meridian Transit

  5. Question 5 · Master/Chief Mate of Unlimited Tonnage

    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)

    • A.Great circle track line between the two points
    • B.Great circle to LAT 51°00'N, LONG 178°00'W, parallel sailing for 80 miles, then great circle to the via point (correct answer)
    • C.Parallel sailing along 48°30'N
    • D.Rhumb line track between the two points

    Answer: B. Great circle to LAT 51°00'N, LONG 178°00'W, parallel sailing for 80 miles, then great circle to the via point

    Further reading: Bowditch Art.1307 — Bowditch Ch.13 The Sailings — 1307. Great Circle Sailing (by Computation)

  6. Question 6 · First Class Pilot

    At 1000 buoy "PI" is abeam to starboard a distance of 0.5 mile. From this position, with a set of 295° and a drift of 1.6 knots, what course must you steer to arrive at a point with Buoy "TE" one mile abeam to starboard?

    • A.249°T
    • B.253°T
    • C.251°T
    • D.247°T (correct answer)

    Answer: D. 247°T

    Further reading: Bowditch Art.1121 — Bowditch Ch.11 Piloting — 1121. Fix by Distance of an Object by Two Bearings by

  7. Question 7 · Master Uninspected Fishing Vessels

    You are taking a time tick using the 2000 signal from Kekaha-Kauai, Hawaii (WWVH). You hear a series of 1 second dashes followed by a 9 second silent period, then a long 1.3 second dash. At the beginning of the long dash, your comparing watch reads 07h 59m 54s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 08h 00m 00s, and the chronometer reads 08h 00m 06s. What is the chronometer error?

    • A.0m 12s fast
    • B.0m 06s fast
    • C.No error (correct answer)
    • D.0m 06s slow

    Answer: C. No error

    Further reading: Bowditch Art.1710 — Bowditch Ch.17 Time — 1710. Chronometer Time

  8. Question 8 · Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels

    On 13 October your vessel's 1722 zone time DR position is LAT 27°36'S, LONG 136°16'E, when an amplitude of the Sun is observed. The Sun's center is on the celestial horizon and bears 266° per standard magnetic compass. Variation in the area is 2°W. The chronometer reads 08h 24m 19s and is 01m 43s fast. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass?

    • A.2.3°E
    • B.2.8°W (correct answer)
    • C.4.8°E
    • D.6.8°W

    Answer: B. 2.8°W

    Further reading: Bowditch Art.2013 — Bowditch Ch.20 Sight Reduction — 2013. Finding Time of Meridian Transit

  9. Question 9 · Second/Third Mate of Unlimited Tonnage

    A vessel at LAT 20°00'N, LONG 107°30'W is to proceed to LAT 24°40'N, LONG 112°30'W. What is the course and distance by mid-latitude sailing?

    • A.314.0°T, 389.0 miles
    • B.318.3°T, 399.0 miles
    • C.317.2°T, 397.0 miles
    • D.315.3°T, 394.0 miles (correct answer)

    Answer: D. 315.3°T, 394.0 miles

    Further reading: Bowditch Art.1303 — Bowditch Ch.13 The Sailings — 1303. Traverse Sailing

  10. Question 10 · OUPV to Master or Mate Oceans or Near Coastal

    On 16 December your 1810 zone time DR position is LONG 129°46.5'W. At that time, you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 23°56.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 12m 31s, and the chronometer error is 02m 16s fast. The index error is 2.5' off the arc, and the height of eye is 52.6 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris?

    • A.23°07.8'N (correct answer)
    • B.23°12.3'N
    • C.24°11.9'N
    • D.24°18.6'N

    Answer: A. 23°07.8'N

    Further reading: Bowditch Art.2015 — Bowditch Ch.20 Sight Reduction — 2015. Latitude by Polaris

Exams these questions come from

Choose one when you start the quiz. A question can appear in more than one exam, so these add up to more than 458.

  • Mate Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons59 questions
  • Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons39 questions
  • Master or Mate Less than 200 Gross Registered Tons39 questions
  • Mate Offshore Supply Vessels37 questions
  • Master/Chief Mate of Unlimited Tonnage32 questions
  • Mate Uninspected Fishing Vessels32 questions
  • Master/Chief Mate Offshore Supply Vessels31 questions
  • Master Less than 100 Gross Registered Tons28 questions
  • Master Uninspected Fishing Vessels26 questions
  • Master TV to Master Less than 500 Gross Registered Tons25 questions
  • Second/Third Mate of Unlimited Tonnage23 questions
  • Operator Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV)20 questions
  • Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels18 questions
  • First Class Pilot17 questions
  • Apprentice Mate Steersman16 questions
  • Mate of Unlimited Tonnage14 questions
  • Master Less than 100 GRT to Master or …10 questions
  • OUPV to Master or Mate Oceans or Near Coastal10 questions
  • Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons Rivers9 questions
  • Master Unlimited Tonnage9 questions
  • Towing Vessels – Western Rivers9 questions
  • Master of Unlimited Tonnage8 questions

More USCG practice tests

The questions and answer keys are from the U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center’s published sample exams. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Maritime Center. A practice score does not predict your exam result; check the NMC for current exam requirements.