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?


147: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "B" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )


264: The total weight of cargo, fuel, water, stores, passengers and crew, and their effects, that a ship can carry, is the __________.


268: When a deck cargo is secured with chain or wire lashings and grab (pear) links, which statement is FALSE?

    Y a. The amount of take-up is limited by the length of the turnbuckle.
    N b. At the grab (pear) link, the slack end of chain should be led back and secured to the chain above the link.
    N c. The lashings should be inspected each day and any slack taken up.
    N d. The turnbuckle should be secured with a stick or lock nuts.

383: What is TRUE of pressure/vacuum valves?

    N a. They are designed to provide for the flow of small volumes of tank atmospheres caused by thermal variations in a cargo tank.
    N b. They should operate in advance of the pressure/vacuum breakers.
    N c. They should be kept in good working order by regular inspection and cleaning.
    Y d. All of the above

414: To "ease" a line means to __________.

    N a. cast off
    N b. double up so that one line does not take all the strain
    Y c. pay out line to remove most of the tension
    N d. slack it off quickly

471: The official identification of a vessel is found in the __________.

    N a. Certificate of Inspection
    N b. Classification Certificate
    N c. Load Line Certificate
    Y d. Certificate of Documentation

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

493: What does "end for end" mean in regard to a towing hawser?

    N a. To take the kinks out of the hawser
    N b. To fake it down in figure eights
    N c. To increase the catenary
    Y d. To swap ends of the hawser to minimize wear

499: Your tank vessel is loaded down to her marks, and you find that she has too much trim by the stern. To adjust the trim, you may __________.

    N a. add ballast forward
    N b. load more cargo forward
    Y c. shift bunkers forward
    N d. All of the above

558: A heated bulkhead has the effect on a hygroscopic commodity of __________.

    N a. causing moisture to accumulate against the bulkhead
    N b. lowering the vapor pressure of the commodity
    N c. lowering the dew point of the air
    Y d. raising the vapor pressure of the commodity

736: You notice that your speed has decreased, the stern of your vessel has settled into the water, and your rudder is sluggish in responding. The MOST likely cause is __________.

    N a. mechanical problems with the steering gear
    Y b. shallow water
    N c. loss of lubricating oil in the engine
    N d. current

817: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "G" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

    N a. forward spring line
    N b. forward breast line
    Y c. inshore bow line
    N d. offshore bow line

880: The projecting lugs of the rudderpost which furnish support to the rudder are called __________.

    N a. bases
    Y b. gudgeons
    N c. pintles
    N d. rudder lugs

1092: When a helmsman receives the command "Right 15 degrees rudder," the helmsman's immediate reply should be __________.

    N a. "Rudder is right 15 degrees"
    N b. "Aye Aye Sir"
    Y c. "Right 15 degrees rudder"
    N d. No reply is necessary, just carry out the order.

1097: Which of the knots, bends, or hitches shown in the illustration would you use to properly secure a bosun's chair to a gantline? (D030DG )

    N a. I
    N b. P
    Y c. R
    N d. X

1179: The most likely time for oil pollution while bunkering is when __________.

    Y a. final topping off is occurring
    N b. first starting to receive fuel
    N c. hoses are being blown down
    N d. hoses are disconnected and being capped

1265: You are picking up an unconscious person that has fallen overboard in a fresh breeze. For safety reasons a small craft should approach with the __________.

    N a. victim to leeward
    Y b. victim to windward
    N c. wind on your port side
    N d. wind on your starboard side

1311: Before arriving at the first U.S. port from foreign, you must fill out a Crewman's Landing Permit for each __________.

    N a. alien crewmember
    N b. crew member
    Y c. nonresident alien crewmember
    N d. unlicensed crew member

1521: An underwriter is liable for __________.

    N a. loss arising from the subject itself because of its inherent qualities
    N b. loss caused by the ordinary evaporation of liquids
    Y c. loss caused by heavy weather
    N d. the natural decay of the vessel due to the passage of time

1593: A long splice in a line __________.

    Y a. is used in running rigging
    N b. doubles the size of the line
    N c. is only used on fiber rope
    N d. is very weak

1614: Which bend or knot is used to tie a small line to a larger one?

    Y a. Becket bend
    N b. Bowline
    N c. Clove hitch
    N d. Lark's head

1670: The term "strake" is used in reference to __________.

    N a. rudder mountings
    N b. anchor gear
    Y c. hull plating
    N d. vessel framing

1722: In a national emergency, when communicating via the Navy, messages are sent by precedence. A message designated PRIORITY will be delivered within __________.

    N a. 3 hours to start of business the following day
    Y b. 1 to 6 hours
    N c. 30 minutes to 1 hour
    N d. 10 minutes if possible

1751: The load line certificate is issued by __________.

    Y a. the American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. the National Cargo Bureau
    N c. the United States Coast Guard
    N d. United States Customs

1795: Which knot represents a double sheet bend? (DO30DG )

    N a. F
    N b. L
    Y c. R
    N d. T

1809: The greatest horizontal stress between the heads of the booms in the yard and stay rig occurs when the load is in such a position that the __________.

    Y a. falls are at an equal angle to the horizontal
    N b. stay fall is vertical
    N c. stay fall is at a greater angle to the horizontal than the yard fall
    N d. yard fall is at a greater angle to the horizontal than the stay fall

1931: You are using tackle number 12 to lift a weight of 300 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. 80 lbs.
    Y b. 69 lbs.
    N c. 55 lbs.
    N d. 50 lbs.

2251: The letter I indicates the keel. Which of the following plates is NOT part of the keel? (D033DG )

    N a. Center vertical keel
    N b. Rider plate
    Y c. Longitudinal girder
    N d. Flat plate keel

2377: You are the operator of a towing vessel which collides with a buoy and drags it off station. What should you do if the damage to your vessel is not serious?

    N a. If the buoy is afloat, no action is necessary.
    Y b. Immediately notify the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety or Inspection Office and no further action is necessary.
    N c. Wait one week and submit form CG-2692 to the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety or Inspection Office.
    N d. Immediately notify the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety or Inspection Office and then submit form CG-2692.

2386: A vessel has an amidships superstructure. Which location would be most suitable for main deck stowage of vehicles?

    N a. On top of #1 hatch
    N b. Beside the hatches, forward of the midships house
    N c. On top of the aftermost hatch on the vessel
    Y d. On top of the hatch immediately aft of the midships house

2478: A "contra-guide" is a type of __________.

    N a. bow thruster
    N b. cargo gear
    N c. steering engine
    Y d. rudder

2491: Before being certified by the American Bureau of Shipping, anchor chain must undergo __________.

    N a. USCG inspection
    Y b. a breaking test
    N c. x-ray inspection
    N d. spectroanalysis

2504: A seaman may have all or part of his wages deposited by allotment to a bank or savings institution. Which of the following is NOT a requirement for this type of allotment?

    Y a. The account must be either a checking or savings account.
    N b. The institution must be insured by the FSLIC or FDIC.
    N c. The account must be opened by the seaman and maintained in the seaman's name.
    N d. All of the above are requirements.

2581: How does the effect known as "bank suction" act on a single-screw vessel proceeding along a narrow channel?

    Y a. It pulls the stern toward the bank.
    N b. It heels the vessel toward the bank.
    N c. It pushes the entire vessel away from the bank.
    N d. It pulls the bow toward the bank.

2626: The "grip" of a joint represents the __________.

    Y a. thickness of the connected members
    N b. diameter of the head
    N c. entire length of the rivet
    N d. diameter of the shank

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.

2876: A U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker may use all of the following distinctive lights when escorting ships in ice EXCEPT __________.

    N a. a single amber rotating light
    N b. a single red rotating light
    N c. red aircraft warning lights
    Y d. a single blue rotating light

2909: A mechanical davit is designed to automatically __________.

    N a. position the boat at the embarkation station
    Y b. lift the boat off the inboard chocks
    N c. energize the winch for the falls
    N d. set the brake on the winch

2918: What is the period of validity of a De-Rat certificate?

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

2981: When the anchor is brought to and holding, the horizontal component of anchor cable tensions should equal the __________.

    N a. displacement tonnage
    N b. weight forces
    N c. buoyancy forces
    Y d. environmental forces

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

3152: The danger of a towing vessel tripping is increased the closer the towline is secured to __________.

    N a. the stern
    Y b. amidships
    N c. the bow
    N d. the quarter

3269: What provides little or no indication that a vessel is dragging anchor?

    Y a. Changing range to an object abeam
    N b. Drift lead with the line tending forward
    N c. The cable alternates between slack and heavy tension
    N d. Changing bearing to a fixed distant object abeam

3324: What descriptive term indicates that the dimension is measured from the inner face of the shell or deck plating?

    Y a. Molded
    N b. Register
    N c. Tonnage
    N d. Effective

3430: What is NOT considered "jewelry"?

    N a. Steamboat ratchets
    N b. Manila lines
    Y c. Buttons
    N d. Shackles

3440: The circular steel structure installed around the propeller of a towboat is the __________.

    Y a. nozzle
    N b. shroud
    N c. strut
    N d. hood

3447: The best method to secure a tow line to a cleat is to __________.

    Y a. take a turn around the cleat, then figure-eights, and a half-hitch
    N b. make figure-eights, followed by a half-hitch, then a figure-eight knot
    N c. take a turn, a half turn, and a figure-eight
    N d. take several turns around the cleat only

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

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

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

4044: You are arriving in port and are assigned to anchor in anchorage circle B-4. It has a diameter of 500 yards and your vessel's LOA is 484 feet. If you anchor in 8 fathoms at the center of the circle, what is the maximum number of shots of chain you can use and still remain in the circle?

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

4049: Tugs sometimes shackle a length of chain in the towline in order to __________.

    N a. take the wear should the towline drag bottom
    N b. assure that if the towline is overstressed it will part close to the bridle
    N c. prevent the towline from whipping should it part
    Y d. put spring in the towline

4061: The two factors which make underwater hull repair difficult are accessibility and the __________.

    N a. availability of tools
    N b. shape of the hull
    Y c. pressure exerted by the water
    N d. threat of progressive flooding

4066: What is the MOST irritating to the skin?

    N a. Carbon disulfide
    N b. Ethyl alcohol
    N c. Isoprene
    Y d. Oleum

4069: The horizontal fore-and-aft movement of a vessel is called __________.

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

4143: Which tensioning device is used with wire rope lashing to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

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

4187: Which of the following is the stated proper sequence before commencing cargo operations aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Start ventilation, lower the ramp, notify engine room
    N b. Lower the ramp, start ventilation, notify engine room
    Y c. Notify engine room, lower the ramp, start ventilation
    N d. Start ventilation, notify engine room, lower the ramp

4202: Which of the following statements is/are TRUE concerning cranes being installed on the centerline of vessels?

    N a. One crane is able to work both sides of the ship.
    N b. One crane is able to work one end of two adjacent hatches.
    N c. They are more economical and weigh less.
    Y d. All of the above

4207: Which piece of equipment is required to "twin-up" 30-ton pedestal cranes aboard a crane vessel?

    N a. Portable power swivel
    N b. 20-foot container spreader
    N c. 40-foot container spreader
    Y d. None of the above

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