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.


100: Which statement is ALWAYS true?


135: Corrosive liquids and acids should have which kind of label?


167: You are on a large merchant vessel entering a U.S. port. There is a Pilot on board and he has the conn. Which statement is TRUE?


199: What is a cofferdam?

    N a. Tube fitted to an ullage hole
    N b. Area the product is loaded into
    Y c. Void or empty space separating two tanks
    N d. Opening in the deck used for cleaning a tank

277: Allied Naval Control of Shipping (NCS) has been established. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The Naval Control of Shipping Organization of each nation will serve their own ships only.
    N b. Allied ships, which are at sea when an emergency is declared, will all be controlled by a central authority.
    N c. The conduct of US-flag ships in an allied port will be controlled by US NCS authorities.
    Y d. After Naval Control of Shipping has been established, permission to sail must come from local naval authorities or consular officers.

327: You are on a multiple product tankship and carrying methyl acrylate, diethanolamine, and triethylamine. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Methyl acrylate may be loaded in a tank adjacent to diethanolamine but not triethylamine.
    Y b. The heating coils to the cargo tank loaded with methyl acrylate must be blanked off.
    N c. Valve components made of aluminum, copper, or zinc may not be in contact with the cargoes.
    N d. Each crew member working on deck must have an emergency escape breathing apparatus.

370: Cottonseed oil is classed as a __________.

    Y a. combustible liquid
    N b. flammable liquid
    N c. flammable solid
    N d. poison B

394: The rope which is rove from the truck to be used with a bos'n's chair is called a __________.

    Y a. gantline
    N b. life line
    N c. strop
    N d. whip

428: Your vessel is going from a warm climate to a cold climate with a hygroscopic cargo. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. You must ventilate constantly and vigorously to combat ship sweat.
    N b. You should ventilate; there is little danger of ship sweat, but a possibility of cargo sweat.
    N c. There is danger of heavy cargo sweat if you ventilate.
    N d. There is little danger of any sweat problem.

448: Hygroscopic cargoes should be ventilated when __________.

    Y a. going from a warm to a cold climate
    N b. the dew point of the outside air is greater than the dew point of the air in the hold
    N c. the dew point of the air in the hold is very low
    N d. the outside dew point is 60°F (16°C) and the cargo temperature is 54°F (12°C)

488: Which data can NOT be found on a moisture equilibrium chart?

    N a. Dry bulb temperature
    N b. Moisture content
    N c. Vapor pressure
    Y d. Wet bulb temperature

528: Determine the dew point when the dry bulb temperature is 74°F (23°C) and the wet bulb temperature is 60°F (16°C). (D008DG )

    N a. 14°F
    N b. 20°F
    N c. 28°F
    Y d. 50°F

598: What is NOT an advantage of containership operations over conventional break-bulk operations?

    Y a. Flexibility of operation
    N b. Greater operational safety
    N c. Lower stevedoring costs
    N d. Reduction of cargo damage

645: A vessel's Certificate of Documentation __________.

    N a. may be retained by the owner at the home port OR kept on the vessel
    N b. must be posted under transparent material in the pilothouse
    Y c. must be carried on board
    N d. must be kept on file at the corporate offices of the owner or operator

667: While towing in shallow water you should consider __________.

    N a. using a short towing hawser
    Y b. using a floating hawser
    N c. the catenary and the effect it may have on the tow
    N d. All of the above

670: You must evacuate a seaman by helicopter lift. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The ship should be stopped with the wind off the beam while the helicopter is hovering overhead.
    N b. The basket or stretcher must not be allowed to touch the deck.
    N c. The tending line of the litter basket should be secured to the ship beyond the radius of the helicopter blades.
    Y d. The hoist line should be slack before the basket or stretcher is hooked on.

762: A towing winch, that handles a wire towline, must have all of the following EXCEPT a ____________ .

    N a. device that evenly spools and tightly winds the towline
    N b. brake with holding power appropriate for the vessel's horsepower or bollard pull
    N c. brake that can be operated when there is no power available to drive the winch
    Y d. source of emergency power to operate the winch

791: The oil record book is required to be carried aboard __________.

    N a. tankers
    N b. passenger vessels
    N c. cargo vessels
    Y d. All of the above

809: Which pump must always be primed?

    Y a. Centrifugal pump
    N b. Reciprocating pump
    N c. Rotary pump
    N d. All of the above

875: Which statement, concerning offshore supply vessel operations, correctly defines the length of a voyage?

    N a. The distance from the point of departure to the vessel's first stop
    N b. The distance from the point of departure to the most distant point offshore
    Y c. The total distance from the port of departure to the port of arrival, not including stops at offshore points
    N d. The shortest measurable distance from the port of departure to the port of arrival

894: When taking a length of new manila rope from the coil, you should __________.

    N a. mount the coil so it will turn like a spool and unreel from the outside
    N b. roll the coil along the deck and allow the rope to fall off the coil
    Y c. lay the coil on end with the inside end down, then pull the inside end up through the middle of the coil
    N d. lay the coil on end with the inside end up then unwind the rope from the outside of the coil

992: The tankship Northland is loaded as shown. Use the salmon colored pages in the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the sagging numeral. (Get Table Data)

    N a. 29.49 numeral
    Y b. 31.97 numeral
    N c. 33.61 numeral
    N d. 35.12 numeral

1078: By law, the maximum penalty for failing (without reasonable cause) to give aid in the case of collision is __________.

    N a. one year imprisonment or $500
    Y b. two years imprisonment or $1000
    N c. two years imprisonment or $1500
    N d. two years imprisonment or $2000

1159: Which product is most likely to accumulate static electricity?

    N a. Crude oil
    N b. Hard asphalt
    Y c. Lubricating oil
    N d. Residual fuel oil

1326: After casting off moorings at a mooring buoy in calm weather, you should __________.

    N a. go full ahead on the engine(s)
    Y b. back away a few lengths to clear the buoy and then go ahead on the engines
    N c. go half ahead on the engines and put the rudder hard right
    N d. go half ahead on the engines and pass upstream of the buoy

1364: Which molten substance is poured into the basket of a wire rope socket being fitted to the end of a wire rope?

    N a. Babbitt
    N b. Bronze
    N c. Lead
    Y d. Zinc

1582: Which is an example of failure to exercise due diligence?

    Y a. Overloading
    N b. Sailing short of union manning requirements
    N c. Sailing with less than 30% reserve fuel oil supply
    N d. Sailing short of being full and down

1738: Which vessel is required by regulations to have an Official Logbook?

    Y a. A 100-gross ton tug on a trip between Baltimore, Maryland, and San Pedro, California.
    N b. A 199-gross ton tug on a coastwise trip of 610 miles.
    N c. A 66-gross ton tug operating between states.
    N d. All of the above

1763: You are in charge while handling a synthetic hawser on a capstan. The hawser has a heavy strain and you wish to avoid the hawser's slipping on the capstan drum. Which action should you take?

    Y a. Back off on the capstan a bit and have the seaman take several more turns on the drum.
    N b. Have the seaman take a strain on the hawser and carefully have several turns added on the drum.
    N c. Have more than one seaman hold a good strain on the hawser and continue to heave easy.
    N d. While continuing to heave slowly on the capstan, have the seaman take several more turns on the drum.

1788: Which position shown is the most dangerous when tying up? (D019DG )

    Y a. I
    N b. II
    N c. III
    N d. IV

1830: Using the graph, if the dry bulb temperature is 76°, and the wet bulb temperature is 58°, what is the relative humidity in a cargo hold? (D008DG )

    Y a. 35%
    N b. 47%
    N c. 61%
    N d. 76%

1839: When relieving the helm, the new helmsman should find it handy to know the __________.

    N a. leeway
    N b. variation in the area
    Y c. amount of helm carried for a steady course
    N d. deviation on that heading

1871: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) when you wish to send a message concerning your ships diversion. Which precedence would you assign this message?

    N a. O (IMMEDIATE)
    N b. Z (FLASH)
    N c. R (ROUTINE)
    Y d. P (PRIORITY)

1889: The helm command "Nothing to the left" means do NOT __________.

    N a. use left rudder
    Y b. steer left of the ordered course
    N c. steer right of the ordered course
    N d. leave any buoys on the port side

1916: Using the graph shown, if the dry bulb temperature is 68°, and the wet bulb temperature is 65°, what is the relative humidity in a cargo hold? ( D008DG )

    N a. 66%
    N b. 74%
    Y c. 82%
    N d. 90%

1981: The boom stops on a pedestal crane prevent the boom from __________.

    Y a. being raised too high
    N b. swinging at sea
    N c. overloading when not in use
    N d. being lowered too low

1993: The usual method of arranging a line on deck so that it will run out easily without kinking or fouling is __________.

    N a. coiling the line
    Y b. faking down the line
    N c. flemishing the line
    N d. racking the line

1999: When shoring a damaged bulkhead, effort should be taken to spread the pressure over the __________.

    Y a. maximum possible area
    N b. minimum possible area
    N c. nearest watertight door
    N d. nearest longitudinal girder

2052: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) when it becomes necessary to send a distress message. Which precedence would you assign this message?

    Y a. O (IMMEDIATE)
    N b. P (PRIORITY)
    N c. R (ROUTINE)
    N d. Z (FLASH)

2130: In a racetrack turn, to recover a man overboard, the vessel is steadied for the SECOND time after a turn of how many degrees from the original heading?

    N a. 60°
    N b. 135°
    N c. 180°
    Y d. 360°

2166: A ballasted vessel sinks enroute to a dry dock. Under these circumstances, the vessel's owner can claim __________.

    Y a. actual total loss
    N b. constructive total loss
    N c. general average
    N d. particular average

2201: When referring to dry bulk cargoes, the term "flow state" __________.

    N a. designates the state of a commodity when the ship is heeled past the angle of repose
    N b. relates to the suitability of loading a cargo by flowing down inclined chutes
    Y c. refers to the saturation of a dry bulk product with water to the point where it acts as a liquid
    N d. relates to the minimum granule size of a particular product where it will flow like a liquid at an angle of 30°

2223: What is the mechanical advantage of tackle number 3? (DO29DG )

    N a. 1
    N b. 2
    Y c. 3
    N d. 4

2268: The helm command "shift your rudder" means __________.

    N a. check the swing of the vessel
    N b. double your rudder angle or go to full rudder
    N c. bring your rudder amidships
    Y d. change from right rudder to left rudder, or vice versa, an equal number of degrees

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

2564: The major components which determine the length of catenary in a deployed anchor cable are water depth, cable tension, and __________.

    N a. environmental forces
    N b. bottom conditions
    Y c. cable weight
    N d. water density

2579: Where are the test certificates, for wire rope used as cargo runners, and loose gear certificates usually maintained?

    Y a. With the Cargo Gear Register on the ship
    N b. In the Official Log
    N c. At the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office with the vessel's inspection records
    N d. At the central records center of the agency testing the cargo gear

2674: You operate a harbor craft on inland waters exclusively. If you regularly service or contact foreign flag vessels in the course of business, which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Your vessel must be inspected.
    Y b. Your crew must have identification credentials.
    N c. A customs official must be on board when contacting a foreign flag vessel.
    N d. All contacts with a foreign flag vessel must be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard.

2707: In which casualty case is it UNNECESSARY to notify the local Coast Guard Marine Safety Office?

    N a. Your vessel is backing from a dock and runs aground, but is pulled off by tugs in 30 minutes.
    N b. A seaman is injured and in the hospital for four days.
    Y c. Your vessel strikes a pier and does $1,500 damage to the pier but no damage to the vessel.
    N d. A nylon mooring line parts while the vessel is tied up and kills a harbor worker who was on the pier.

3039: What is NOT a problem when carrying coal?

    Y a. The requirement for through-ventilation
    N b. The corrosion some types of coal will cause to the ship
    N c. Spontaneous heating
    N d. Generation of methane gas

3056: Advection fog holds longest over which portions of the lakes?

    Y a. Northwest
    N b. Southeast
    N c. Northeast
    N d. Southwest

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

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

3126: Your tankship is carrying a cargo of styrene. Which of the following is NOT a requirement for carriage of this cargo?

    Y a. P/V valves with galvanized parts must be replaced.
    N b. Authorization to carry styrene must be endorsed on the Certificate of Inspection.
    N c. You must have a "Certificate of Inhibition" provided by the shipper.
    N d. The cargo tank heating coils must be blanked off.

3320: Which type of bottom is best suited for holding an anchor of a small boat?

    Y a. Mud and clay
    N b. Rocky
    N c. Sandy
    N d. Gravel

3466: What is a spill pipe?

    N a. A drainage pipe that carries rain or spray from an upper deck to a lower deck
    Y b. A pipe under the anchor windlass leading to the chain locker
    N c. A chute, usually over the stern, to lead dumped garbage clear of the hull
    N d. An opening in the deck leading outside the hull

3560: What should look-outs report?

    N a. Discolored water
    N b. Shoals
    N c. Floating objects
    Y d. All of the above

3576: Heave is motion along the __________.

    N a. longitudinal axis
    N b. transverse axis
    Y c. vertical axis
    N d. centerline axis

4026: One of the greatest hazards of pushing ahead is parting which item shown? (D024DG )

    N a. A
    N b. B
    N c. F
    Y d. I

4269: Which action(s) should the operator of a pedestal crane take if crane control is lost?

    N a. Let go of both control levers and return to neutral position.
    N b. Press the emergency stop.
    N c. Notify the mate on watch.
    Y d. All of the above