USCG General Deck: 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.


88: Which is an example of cargo damage caused by inherent vice?


121: You are the Master of an uninspected diesel towing vessel of 190 GT operating on a regular run from New York to the Gulf of Mexico. Which statement is TRUE?


200: Which statement concerning a 298 GRT inspected tug engaged in towing from Seattle, WA, to Alaska is TRUE?


346: A vessel is equipped with a single right-handed screw. With rudder amidships and calm wind, the vessel will most likely back __________.

    N a. straight astern
    Y b. to port
    N c. to starboard
    N d. in no particular direction

475: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "F" is called a __________. (DO44DG )

    N a. bow line
    Y b. breast line
    N c. forward spring line
    N d. None of the above

580: Which statement is FALSE about using a wire bridle on an ocean tow?

    N a. The inboard end of each bridle leg should have a large eye splice to fit over the bitts.
    Y b. The strength of each leg should be at least one-half that of the main towing hawser.
    N c. Each leg should be at least 60 to 90 feet long.
    N d. None of the above

591: What will NOT be found on the Certificate of Inspection of an ocean going tankship?

    N a. Manning requirements
    Y b. Minimum freeboard permitted
    N c. Grade(s) of cargoes that the vessel may carry
    N d. Waters upon which the vessel may be operated

605: You would properly secure a gantline to a bosun's chair with a __________.

    N a. fisherman's bend
    N b. bowline
    Y c. double sheet bend
    N d. double blackwall hitch

683: Barges and vessels are ballasted before departure to __________.

    Y a. improve their stability
    N b. avoid polluting waters where liquid ballast may not be discharged
    N c. prevent free surface effects
    N d. allow movement of liquids within the barge for tank cleaning

735: A heavy steel curved arch constructed athwartships and above the after deck on a towing vessel is sometimes called a __________.

    N a. main brace
    Y b. tow span
    N c. jockey bar
    N d. None of the above

743: A heavy steel curved arch constructed athwartships and above the after deck on a towing vessel is sometimes called a __________.

    N a. towing arch
    N b. jockey bar
    N c. chafing bar
    Y d. Dutch tow bar

801: When oil is discharged overboard, an entry is required in the __________.

    N a. engine rough log
    Y b. Oil Record Book
    N c. Official Logbook
    N d. deck rough log

825: Who is responsible for establishing watches aboard a U.S. vessel?

    N a. The owner of the vessel
    N b. The company that operates the vessel
    N c. The company that charters the vessel
    Y d. The Master of the vessel

951: The responsibility for maintaining the Official Logbook on voyages between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States rests with the __________.

    N a. Chief Mate of the vessel
    Y b. Master of the vessel
    N c. Deck Officer of the watch at the time of the occurrence
    N d. Purser of the vessel

969: A tank is loaded with 9,000 barrels of gasoline. The temperature of the product is 80°F (27°C), and it has a coefficient of expansion of .0008. The net amount of cargo loaded is __________.

    Y a. 8,856 barrels
    N b. 8,944 barrels
    N c. 9,072 barrels
    N d. 9,144 barrels

1039: When cleaning cargo tanks with portable machines, how is the machine grounded?

    N a. Bonding wires are secured from the machine to a convenient location on deck.
    N b. The machines must maintain physical contact with the deck at the Butterworth opening.
    Y c. The water supply hoses contain internal wires that act as conductors
    N d. The water jets impinging on the vessel's structure form a pathway to ground.

1066: If your propeller is racing in rough weather, you should __________.

    Y a. decrease your engine speed
    N b. ignore it
    N c. increase your engine speed
    N d. stop your engine until the rough weather passes

1164: Which type of line floats?

    N a. Dacron
    N b. Nylon
    N c. Old manila
    Y d. Polypropylene

1171: If you intend to land tulip bulbs from Holland in a U.S. port, they must be inspected by the __________.

    Y a. Animal and Plant Health Service Inspector
    N b. Captain of the Port personnel
    N c. Quarantine Officer
    N d. All of the above

1182: Your vessel must moor port side to a berth limited by vessels ahead and astern using a single tug. You are stemming a slight current and there is a light breeze of the dock. Your tug should be made up to the vessel's __________.

    N a. stern on a hawser
    N b. quarter
    N c. waist
    Y d. bow

1232: You have the "conn" at the time the helmsman who is steering by hand reports that the rudder is not responding to the wheel. Your FIRST action should be to __________.

    N a. check that the wheel is firmly connected to the shaft
    N b. signal the engineroom to "Standby the Engines"
    N c. set the "Mode" switch to "Auto" and steer by auto-pilot
    Y d. switch to the other steering pump

1275: The tension on an anchor cable increases so that the angle of the catenary to the seabed at the anchor reaches 10°. How will this affect the anchor in sandy soil?

    N a. It will have no effect.
    N b. It will increase the holding power.
    Y c. It will reduce the holding power.
    N d. It will cause the anchor to snag.

1389: A band or collar on the top end of a boom to which the topping lift, midships guy, and outboard guys are secured, is called the __________.

    N a. collar band
    N b. guy band
    N c. pad eye collar
    Y d. spider band

1391: The basic shipping paper that forms an agreement between a shipowner and a charterer is a __________.

    N a. Cargo Declaration
    N b. Charter Commission
    Y c. Charter Party
    N d. Letter of Intent

1420: Tensile stress is a result of two forces acting in __________.

    Y a. opposite directions on the same line, tending to pull the material apart
    N b. opposite directions on the same line, tending to compress the object
    N c. opposite directions along parallel lines
    N d. the same direction along parallel lines

1497: Which of the pictures in illustration DO30DG represents a round turn and two half hitches? (DO30DG )

    N a. E
    Y b. F
    N c. Q
    N d. S

1531: Maritime Administration personnel may be allowed in the pilothouse upon the responsibility of the __________.

    N a. Chief Officer
    N b. Navigator
    N c. most senior person present from the Maritime Administration
    Y d. officer in charge of the watch

1822: What is the principal danger in attempting to swing a barge on a hawser in order to slow the barge's speed?

    N a. Dangerous wakes may result from the swinging barge and capsize the tug.
    N b. The barge may swing too quickly and run over the tug.
    N c. Free surface effect of liquid inside the barge may rupture the barge bulkheads if the turn is too quick.
    Y d. The barge may pass under the hawser and capsize the tug.

1980: What is the name of the mark indicated by the letter C? (DO03DG )

    Y a. Fresh water line
    N b. Tropical water line
    N c. Summer water line
    N d. Winter North Atlantic water line

2018: When towing astern, one way to reduce yawing of the tow is to __________.

    Y a. trim the tow by the stern
    N b. trim the tow by the head
    N c. have the tow on an even keel
    N d. list the tow on the side it is yawing

2022: In determining the scope of cable to be used when anchoring, what would NOT be considered?

    N a. Depth of the water
    N b. Character of the holding ground
    Y c. maintenance cost for the chain
    N d. Type of anchor cable

2185: You are using tackle number 7 to lift a weight of 100 lbs. If you include 10 percent of the weight for each sheave for friction, what is the pull on the hauling part required to lift the weight? (DO29DG )

    N a. 200 lbs.
    N b. 150 lbs.
    N c. 110 lbs.
    Y d. 55 lbs.

2239: You are using tackle number 3 to lift a weight of 120 lbs. If you include 10 percent of the weight for each sheave for friction, what is the pull on the hauling part required to lift the weight? (DO29DG )

    Y a. 52 lbs.
    N b. 49 lbs.
    N c. 40 lbs.
    N d. 27 lbs.

2276: You have determined the maneuvering characteristics of your vessel by taking radar ranges and bearings of an isolated light while making a turn. The results are as shown. Based on this data what is the advance for a turn of 60°? (D035DG )

    Y a. 665 yards
    N b. 710 yards
    N c. 745 yards
    N d. 780 yards

2281: Your vessel has run hard aground in an area subject to heavy wave action. Backing full astern failed to free her. Which action should be taken next?

    N a. Continue backing to scour out the bottom.
    N b. Wait for high tide and then try backing.
    Y c. Flood empty tanks to increase bottom pressure and prevent inshore creep.
    N d. Shift weight aft to reduce the forward draft.

2289: A seaman you have just discharged has a Continuous Discharge Book. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. The record of entry in the continuous discharge book shall agree with the entry made in the Ship's Articles.
    N b. If the vessel was on coastwise articles, the record of discharge will be made in the Official Logbook.
    N c. An entry should be made in the book and a Certificate of Discharge issued to the seaman.
    N d. A Certificate of Discharge form should be attached to the book.

2292: The biggest problem encountered when towing bridle legs are too short is __________.

    N a. retrieval
    N b. adjusting tension
    Y c. excessive strain
    N d. hookup to main towline

2454: You are going astern (single-screw, right-handed propeller) with the anchor down at a scope of twice the depth of the water. As the anchor dredges, you should expect the __________.

    N a. stern to walk to the same side as the anchor being used
    N b. vessel to back in a straight line
    Y c. stern to walk to port but at a reduced rate
    N d. stern to walk to port at a faster rate than normal

2540: In small craft terminology, all of the anchor gear between a boat and her anchor is called the __________.

    N a. stock
    N b. chock
    N c. scope
    Y d. rode

2549: An example of a modern anchor which has a stock is a(n) __________.

    N a. articulated anchor
    N b. Flipper Delta anchor
    N c. Baldt anchor
    Y d. Danforth anchor

2702: How long is the standard container used to measure equivalent units?

    N a. 10 feet (3 meters)
    Y b. 20 feet (6 meters)
    N c. 35 feet (11 meters)
    N d. 40 feet (12 meters)

2702: How long is the standard container used to measure equivalent units?

    N a. 10 feet (3 meters)
    Y b. 20 feet (6 meters)
    N c. 35 feet (11 meters)
    N d. 40 feet (12 meters)

2745: While standing look-out at night, a dim light on the horizon will be seen quickest by looking __________.

    Y a. a little above the horizon
    N b. directly towards the light
    N c. a little below the horizon
    N d. quickly above then quickly below the horizon

2759: Which of the Great Lakes is most affected by short-term Lake level fluctuations?

    N a. Lake Superior
    N b. Lake Michigan
    N c. Lake Huron
    Y d. Lake Erie

2924: You are on a large vessel fitted with a right-handed controllable-pitch propeller set at maximum forward pitch. Which statement about reversing is TRUE?

    N a. When the pitch is reversed, the stern will slew to port even with headway.
    N b. The vessel will respond to the rudder until sternway is developed, then the stern will slew to starboard.
    Y c. There will probably be a loss of steering control.
    N d. The vessel will have full rudder control throughout the speed change from ahead to astern.

2926: Many sheath-screw davits have markings to indicate the maximum angle to which they should be cranked out. If the angle is exceeded, the davit __________.

    N a. may jam against the stops
    N b. will not automatically position the boat at the embarkation station
    Y c. screw may come out of the sheath
    N d. will chafe against the falls and may cause their failure

2968: On the Great Lakes, winter storms compound the ice threat by bringing a variety of wind, wave, and weather problems on an average of every __________.

    N a. two days
    N b. three days
    Y c. four days
    N d. five days

3088: A "check" line is __________.

    N a. a safety line attached to a man working over the side
    N b. used to measure water depth
    Y c. used to slow the headway of a barge
    N d. used to measure the overhead height of a bridge

3325: Flammable liquids should have what kind of label?

    N a. Skull and crossbones
    N b. Yellow
    Y c. Red
    N d. White

3360: On a light tow, what could you substitute for a fishplate?

    Y a. heart-shaped shackle
    N b. pelican hook
    N c. swivel
    N d. ring

3374: Angular motion about the longitudinal axis of a vessel is known as __________.

    N a. pitch
    N b. surge
    N c. sway
    Y d. roll

3449: What term indicates an inward curvature of the ship's hull above the waterline?

    N a. Camber
    Y b. Tumble home
    N c. Deadrise
    N d. Flare

3580: You are standing the wheelwatch on entering port and the Master gives you a rudder command which conflicts with a rudder command from the Pilot. What should you do?

    Y a. Obey the Master.
    N b. Obey the Pilot.
    N c. Bring the rudder to a position midway between the two conflicting orders.
    N d. Ask the Pilot if he relinquishes control.

3604: The Jews' harp is indicated by which letter? (D038DG )

    Y a. K
    N b. J
    N c. H
    N d. F

4018: The BEST holding ground for conventional anchors is __________.

    Y a. sand
    N b. very soft mud
    N c. shale
    N d. rock

4038: Which cargo would require a dangerous cargo manifest?

    Y a. Cotton
    N b. Wheat
    N c. Sugar
    N d. Lumber

4132: What is used when securing heavy vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Buckle or ratchet tensioner
    N b. Webbing
    N c. Manila rope
    Y d. None of these

4178: Which of the following actions are stated in the correct order prior to loading or discharging cargo on a Ro-Ro vessel?

    Y a. Lower the stern ramp, raise/open the stern door, turn on ventilation for cargo holds
    N b. Turn on ventilation for cargo holds, raise/open the stern door, lower the stern ramp
    N c. Turn on ventilation for cargo holds, lower the stern ramp, raise/open the stern door
    N d. Raise/open the stern door, lower the stern ramp, turn on ventilation for cargo holds

4275: During which condition should the operator of a pedestal crane shutdown operations?

    N a. Lightning
    N b. High winds
    N c. Fire aboard
    Y d. All of the above

4280: Which statement is FALSE concerning a tagline as used with a 30-ton pedestal crane?

    Y a. Taglines are wire rope purchases that raise and lower the jib.
    N b. Taglines are wire ropes for horizontal positioning of the rider block.
    N c. Taglines can be fastened to corners of vehicles or containers.
    N d. The crane might not have taglines installed in its rigging system.