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.


34: Your vessel has been loaded in a sagging condition. Enroute you encounter heavy weather and notice buckling in the midships deck plating of your vessel. To relieve the strain you could __________.


45: Which shallow water effect will increase dramatically if you increase your ship's speed past its "critical speed"?


55: You are in charge of a U.S. documented vessel. Under title 46 of the United States Code, if you fail to report a complaint of a sexual offense, you may be __________.


107: When may a seaman on a vessel engaged in foreign trade be paid before earning the wages?

    Y a. The seaman may only draw an advance on earned wages.
    N b. Wages up to fifty percent of the seaman's base wage maybe advanced upon proof of serious family illness.
    N c. Wages equivalent to three days base wage may be advanced upon arrival in a foreign port.
    N d. The advance of wages is at the discretion of the master; however, a seaman cannot be in an overpaid status at signoff.

110: What is NOT required as special safety equipment on a tankship carrying hazardous cargoes in bulk?

    N a. Shower and eyewash fountain
    N b. Equipment to lift an injured person from a pumproom
    Y c. Two portable vapor detectors suitable for the cargoes carried
    N d. A safety locker adjacent to the emergency shutdown station

180: Your tank vessel is loading a hazardous cargo. The allowance for expansion is based on ambient temperatures of what maximum range?

    N a. 0°C to 100°C
    N b. -10°C to 90°C
    Y c. -18°C to 46°C
    N d. -40°C to 50°C

281: Which action will take place if a crew member is replaced in a U.S. port after foreign articles have been signed, and the ship proceeds foreign?

    N a. The Master will remove the replaced man's name from the Certified Crew List but not from the articles.
    Y b. The name of the new man is added to the articles but not to the Certified Crew List.
    N c. The U.S. Consul will remove the replaced man's name from the Certified Crew List.
    N d. The U.S. Consul will add the new man's name to the Certified Crew List.

372: Keeping the draft at or below the load line mark will insure that the vessel has adequate __________.

    N a. ballast
    Y b. reserve buoyancy
    N c. displacement
    N d. rolling periods

389: When hooking up a cargo hose to your vessel's manifold, you should use a(n)______________.

    N a. international shore connection
    Y b. insulating flange or single length of non-conducting hose
    N c. self-contained breathing apparatus
    N d. oxygen analyzer

440: If a Master must jettison a container loaded with hazardous material, he must, as soon as possible, notify the __________.

    N a. National Cargo Bureau
    N b. Environmental Protection Agency
    N c. National Hazardous Chemical Response Center
    Y d. nearest Captain of the Port

694: An advantage of nylon rope over manila rope is that nylon rope __________.

    N a. can be used in conjunction with wire or spring-lay rope
    N b. can be stored on decks exposed to sunlight
    Y c. can hold a load even when a considerable amount of the yarns have been abraded
    N d. gives audible warning of overstress whereas manila does not

699: Under which condition is a tug likely to be tripped?

    N a. When the tow "jumps" on the line
    N b. While making up to tow a large oil rig
    Y c. When the towing hawser leads forward of the quarter
    N d. When the tug exerts maximum bollard pull with the tow close astern

725: By law, a user of marijuana shall be subject to __________.

    N a. loss of pay during the period of such use
    N b. reprimand by the US Coast Guard
    Y c. revocation of license or certificate
    N d. termination of employment

731: A Deratization Exemption Certificate is valid for a period of __________.

    N a. no time limit so long as Certificate of Sanitation is valid
    N b. no time limit so long as no evidence of rodents aboard
    N c. 1 year
    Y d. 6 months

758: An IOPP Certificate on an inspected vessel is valid for what period of time?

    N a. 6 months
    N b. 1 year
    N c. 2 years
    Y d. 5 years

798: How many cubic feet of space is required to stow 775 tons of a cargo with a stowage factor of 25? (estimated broken stowage is 15%)

    N a. 12,916
    Y b. 22,794
    N c. 25,833
    N d. 29,397

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

842: When can the US citizenship requirement for the Master of a US-flag uninspected towing vessel be waived?

    N a. When US-licensed Masters are not readily available
    N b. When it costs too much to hire a US-licensed Master
    N c. When the towing vessel operates shoreward of the boundary line
    Y d. Never, under any circumstances

862: The term "pintle" and "gudgeon" are associated with the __________.

    N a. anchor windlass
    N b. jumbo boom
    Y c. rudder
    N d. steering engine

868: You are going to load bales of wool having a stowage factor of 100 in #3 lower hold which has a bale cubic of 72,000. How many tons of the wool can be stowed in the compartment, assuming 10% broken stowage?

    N a. 493
    N b. 577
    N c. 602
    Y d. 648

1059: You are cleaning the tanks after carrying a cargo of crude oil. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Washing water should be recirculated if possible because it has the same electric potential as the cargo tank being cleaned.
    N b. The hoses to portable cleaning machines should be disconnected before the machines are removed from the tank.
    N c. The principal hazard with steaming cargo tanks is raising the ambient temperature above the flame point of the cargo residue.
    Y d. Steam cleaning and water washing are both capable of generating electrostatic charges within a tank.

1060: You receive a package, for shipment aboard your vessel, containing Class 1 explosives. The package is damp, moldy and stained. You must __________.

    Y a. refuse to accept the package
    N b. note the exception(s) on the Bill of Lading
    N c. replace the packaging material before stowage
    N d. seek the approval of the USCG Captain of the Port

1087: The turning circle of a vessel is the path followed by the __________.

    Y a. center of gravity
    N b. outermost part of the ship while making the circle
    N c. bow
    N d. tipping center

1191: Which statement is TRUE about the use of a "gob rope"?

    N a. The gob rope is a mooring line for tyhing up lighters for working cargo alongside a vessel anchored in an open roadstead.
    Y b. The gob rope is used to secure the towline aft over the centerline of a tug..
    N c. The gob rope is a line hung over a vessel's side to assist in boarding.
    N d. The gob rope is a rope used in mooring a vessel to a buoy.

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

1441: Dead freight is the charge for the __________.

    N a. carriage of demise cargo
    N b. cost of transshipment of over-carried cargo
    N c. difference in the amount of cargo loaded and the amount of cargo discharged
    Y d. difference in the amount of cargo loaded and the amount of cargo booked, through no fault of the vessel

1805: In towing it is desirable for the tug and the tow to ride wave crests simultaneously because __________.

    Y a. shock loading on the tow line is reduced
    N b. towing speed is improved
    N c. the tow is more visible from the tug
    N d. the catenary of the towline is reduced

1852: What is normally used to pass a mooring line to a dock?

    N a. Distance line
    N b. Gantline
    Y c. Heaving line
    N d. Tag line

1879: What is the mechanical advantage of a threefold purchase when rove to disadvantage and neglecting friction?

    N a. 3
    N b. 4
    N c. 5
    Y d. 6

2040: The plating indicated by the letter N is known as the __________. (D033DG )

    Y a. inner bottom
    N b. floor riders
    N c. tank-top rider plating
    N d. ceiling

2089: In addition to the load lines indicated in illustration D003DG, some vessels have a Winter North Atlantic line. Which statement about this load line mark is TRUE?

    N a. It is carried on VLCC/ULCC type vessels and allows reduced freeboard considering their size.
    N b. It is marked above line B in the diagram.
    N c. It is applied to vessels on restricted trade routes between the United Kingdom, Iceland, and Northern European countries.
    Y d. It applies only to vessels not exceeding 328 ft. navigating in the Winter North Atlantic zones.

2162: A crew has signed on for a 3-month voyage. Fourteen days into the voyage a seaman is improperly discharged at the first port of call. How much pay is he entitled to receive?

    N a. 14 days
    N b. 1 month's
    Y c. 14 days and one month's extra
    N d. double wages (28 days)

2171: The order of importance in addressing damage control is __________.

    N a. control flooding, control fire, repair structural damage
    N b. restore vital services, control fire, control flooding
    N c. control fire, restore vital services, control flooding
    Y d. control fire, control flooding, repair structural damage

2174: A vessel puts into the port of Kobe, Japan to discharge cargo. While awaiting completion of the cargo operation, the vessel contracts with a local shipyard to have the hull chipped, scaled, and painted. How is the cost of this maintenance handled with the Collector of Customs?

    Y a. A declaration is required and duty is involved on the total cost.
    N b. No declaration is required since this is considered routine maintenance.
    N c. A declaration is made and duty is charged on the materials only.
    N d. A declaration is made, but duty is charged on the labor only.

2235: You are conducting trials to determine the maneuvering characteristics of your vessel. While making a turn, you take ranges and bearings of an isolated light with the results as shown. Based on this information, what is the advance for a turn of 75°? (D034DG )

    Y a. 800 yards (720 meters)
    N b. 860 yards (774 meters)
    N c. 910 yards (819 meters)
    N d. 955 yards (860 meters)

2397: Determine the area of a triangle with a base of 6.7 feet and a height of 9.1 feet.

    N a. 61.0 square ft.
    Y b. 30.5 square ft.
    N c. 22.9 square ft.
    N d. 15.8 square ft.

2451: A safety shackle is identified by its __________.

    N a. shape
    Y b. pin
    N c. certification stamp
    N d. color code

2471: To determine the number of able seamen required on an inspected vessel, you should check the __________.

    N a. Load Line Certificate
    N b. operations manual
    N c. Safety of Life at Sea Certificate
    Y d. Certificate of Inspection

2493: Your U.S. tankship is designed to carry anhydrous ammonia in bulk. The keel was laid in 1980. Which statement concerning the carriage of this cargo is TRUE?

    N a. A flammable gas detection system must be installed in each cargo pump room.
    N b. Tanks may not be located "on deck".
    N c. Carriage of this cargo is authorized by issuance of an IMO Certificate.
    Y d. Aluminum and copper alloys are prohibited from being in valve parts in contact with the cargo.

2666: On the Great Lakes, short-term fluctuations in water levels may be a result of any of the following EXCEPT __________.

    N a. strong winds
    N b. sudden changes in barometric pressure
    N c. seiches
    Y d. below normal rain fall

2838: A U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker, while escorting ships in ice, may sound four short and one long blasts on the whistle to indicate that the icebreaker __________.

    Y a. has become beset in fast ice
    N b. is increasing speed; watch for broken ice
    N c. has its engines full astern
    N d. is increasing the distance between vessels

2892: What is LEAST likely to be used to strip a cargo tank?

    Y a. Centrifugal pump
    N b. Eductor
    N c. Rotary pump
    N d. Reciprocating pump

2970: What material may be substituted for zinc when making a poured metal socket ending to a wire rope?

    N a. Lead
    N b. Babbitt
    N c. Solder
    Y d. Nothing

3032: Ice is often strong enough to halt navigation through the St. Lawrence Seaway by mid- __________.

    N a. October
    N b. November
    Y c. December
    N d. January

3081: A seaman is entitled by law to a release from Foreign Articles when __________.

    N a. intoxicated
    N b. deductions are made from wages
    N c. injured
    Y d. the vessel is overloaded

3083: You are signing on crew members. The minimum number of people required aboard, and the qualifications of each, is listed on the __________.

    N a. fo'c'sle card
    N b. Crew list
    N c. Articles of Agreement
    Y d. Certificate of Inspection

3086: Which statement concerning the navigation of a vessel in ice is FALSE?

    N a. Anchoring in the presence of ice is not recommended except in an emergency.
    N b. Towing a vessel through an ice field is not recommended except in an emergency.
    N c. The "Free and Proceed" system of escorting a beset vessel cuts down on the number of freeing operations.
    Y d. When anchoring in ice, it is advisable to increase the scope of the chain over what is normally used for non-icing conditions.

3089: How does an icebreaker normally free a ship which has become beset while navigating independently?

    N a. By backing down the track and cutting out ice on either bow
    Y b. By approaching from the stern and crossing ahead at an angle of 20° to 30° to the beset ship's course
    N c. By overtaking the beset ship, running ahead and then backing down the track to the beset vessel
    N d. By approaching the vessel from astern and towing the beset vessel stern first

3239: Which term indicates the rise in height of the bottom plating from the plane of the base line?

    Y a. Deadrise
    N b. Camber
    N c. Molded height
    N d. Sheer

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

3381: A half-height container is used __________.

    N a. to carry cargoes of low density
    N b. when stowage space is limited
    Y c. to carry cargoes such as steel products or drums
    N d. to double the stowage capacity of the vessel

3394: The crown of the anchor shown is indicated by which letter? (D038DG )

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

3530: Which is NOT a duty of a look-out?

    N a. Refuse to talk to others, except as required by duty.
    N b. Remain standing during your watch.
    N c. Report every sighting.
    Y d. Supervise any deck work going on in the area.

3561: A holder of a license as Operator of Uninspected Towing Vessels may work each 24 hours for a period not to exceed __________.

    N a. 24 hours
    N b. 18 hours
    Y c. 12 hours
    N d. 6 hours

3654: Horizontal transverse motion of a vessel is known as __________.

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

3710: A new crewman reports on board. He must be trained in the use of the ship's lifesaving appliances within what time period?

    N a. 2 months
    N b. 1 month
    Y c. 2 weeks
    N d. Before sailing

3960: The line with the most stretch is __________.

    N a. manila
    Y b. nylon
    N c. polypropylene
    N d. dacron

4147: Which tensioning device is used with wire rope lashing to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Chain lever.
    Y b. Adjust-a-matic tensioner
    N c. Buckle tensioner
    N d. Ratchet tensioner

4150: Which of the following is/are TRUE regarding lashing requirements to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. The securing of cargo on flats and trailers and in containers must be adequate to withstand both road and sea motions
    N b. The generally recommended lash angle cannot be greater than 45 degrees relative to the deck in any direction.
    N c. It is necessary for an adequate number of securing points on the vehicles themselves in order that lashings may be properly and safely utilized.
    Y d. All the above

4213: What does a jib refer to on a crane?

    Y a. Boom
    N b. Topping lift
    N c. Control cab
    N d. Liftline