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.


170: Which is NOT required on a tankship carrying hazardous liquid cargoes in bulk?


174: A proper look-out must be kept __________.


239: Flame screens are used to __________.


252: You have orders to load cargoes of carbon disulfide, diisopropylamine and pyridine on your multi-product tankship. Which statement is true?

    N a. Carbon disulfide may be carried in NOS. 1 and 2 center tanks and diisopropylamine in NOS. 1 and 2 wing tanks.
    Y b. Pyridine and diisopropylamine may not be carried in tanks having a common header vent.
    N c. Pyridine must be separated from carbon disulfide by two barriers (cofferdams, voids, empty tanks, etc.).
    N d. A tank of diisopropylamine may be used to separate a tank of pyridine from a tank of carbon disulfide.

314: "Avast" means __________.

    N a. let go
    N b. pull
    N c. slack off
    Y d. stop

330: You have completed a Dangerous Cargo Manifest for dangerous cargoes loaded on board. It should be kept in a conspicuous location __________.

    N a. in the radio room
    N b. in the ship's office
    Y c. on or near the bridge
    N d. outside the Captain's stateroom

385: In controlling pollution, which action should be taken after all dirty ballast has been transferred to the slop tank and prior to discharge through the oily water separator?

    N a. The clean tanks should be ballasted.
    Y b. The slops should be allowed time to settle.
    N c. Chemicals should be added to emulsify the oil.
    N d. The dirty ballast tank is crude oil washed.

430: On a manned vessel carrying packaged hazardous cargo, the hazardous materials shall be inspected __________.

    N a. every 24 hours unless equipped with a fire detecting system
    N b. prior to entry into a U.S. port
    N c. after stowage is complete
    Y d. All of the above

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

695: A tug is "in irons" when held in a fixed position by __________.

    N a. the weight of its tow, its being anchored, or grounded
    Y b. the weight of its towing hawser on the bottom
    N c. an adverse current
    N d. lack of power or an engine breakdown

711: If an alien stowaway is discovered aboard your vessel, his name must be placed on the __________.

    N a. Alien Crew List
    N b. Crew List
    N c. Passenger List
    Y d. separate Passenger List marked stowaways

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

855: Which party must ensure that legal work hour limitations (for both officers and crew members), rest periods and regulations governing work on Sundays and holidays are followed when the vessel is in a safe harbor?

    N a. The owner of the vessel
    N b. The company operating the vessel
    Y c. The Master of the vessel
    N d. The company chartering the vessel

857: On vessels over 100 gross tons, whose responsibility is it to ensure that all able seamen in the vessel's crew have the documents and qualifications required by law and regulation?

    Y a. Master of the vessel
    N b. USCG Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection
    N c. Owner or operator of the vessel
    N d. Company's personnel director

901: What is required to be entered into the Official Logbook?

    Y a. Opening a sideport at sea to renew a gasket
    N b. The annual required stripping and cleaning of the lifeboats
    N c. The biennial weight test of the lifeboats and falls
    N d. The drafts on entering port

929: All of the following steps are taken in starting a centrifugal pump, EXCEPT to __________.

    Y a. set the relief valve
    N b. check the lubrication system
    N c. vent the pump casing
    N d. open the pump suction and discharge valves

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

1093: When rigging a bosun's chair, a tail block or lizard is used to __________.

    N a. guide the bosun's chair down a stay when applying a protective coating
    N b. run paint or tools up to a sailor in a chair with a heaving line
    N c. keep a bosun's chair from swinging with the ship's motion
    Y d. reeve the gantline through

1118: Which situation requires you to furnish a notice of marine casualty to the Coast Guard?

    N a. You collide with a buoy and drag it off station with no apparent damage to the vessel or the buoy.
    N b. A seaman slips on ice on deck and sprains his ankle, requiring an ace bandage.
    Y c. Your vessel is at anchor and grounds at low tide with no apparent damage.
    N d. Storm damage to the cargo winch motors requiring repairs costing $19,000.

1240: Bilge keels are fitted on ships to __________.

    N a. assist in dry dock alignment
    N b. improve the vessel's stability
    N c. protect the vessel from slamming against piers
    Y d. reduce the rolling of the vessel

1296: To ensure the best results during the Mediterranean moor, the chains should __________.

    N a. be crossed around the bow
    N b. tend out at right angles to the bow
    N c. tend aft 60°From each bow
    Y d. tend forward 30° on either bow

1331: The S.S. Microwave has been chartered to the Longline Steamship Company. The Longline Steamship Company agrees to pay all expenses and employ and pay the crew. Which type of contract is involved?

    Y a. Bareboat Charter Party
    N b. Lease Charter Party
    N c. Time Charter Party
    N d. Voyage Charter Party

1403: A vessel is involved in a casualty. The cost of property damage includes the __________.

    N a. loss of revenue while the vessel is being repaired, up to a maximum of $50,000
    Y b. cost of labor and material to restore the vessel to the service condition which existed before the casualty
    N c. damage claims awarded to individuals or companies involved in the casualty, up to a maximum of $50,000
    N d. All of the above

1410: The result of two forces acting in opposite directions and along parallel lines, is an example of what type of stress?

    N a. Tensile
    N b. Compression
    Y c. Shear
    N d. Strain

1524: A mooring line is described as being 6x24, 1-3/4 inch wire rope. What do the above numbers refer to?

    N a. Strands, yarns, circumference
    Y b. Strands, wires, diameter
    N c. Wires, yarns, diameter
    N d. Strands, circumference, wires

1619: A periodic thorough examination of the cargo gear proves satisfactory. What percentage of the total gear must be dismantled to determine actual internal condition?

    Y a. None
    N b. 10%
    N c. 25%
    N d. 100%

1630: The fore and aft run of deck plating which strengthens the connection between the beams and the frames and keeps the beams square to the shell is called the __________.

    N a. garboard strake
    N b. limber strake
    N c. sheer strake
    Y d. stringer strake

1657: What is the perimeter of a circle with a radius of 5.1 feet?

    N a. 81.71 ft
    N b. 64.08 ft
    N c. 40.85 ft
    Y d. 32.04 ft

1706: Your vessel is anchored in an open roadstead with three shots of chain out on the port anchor. The wind freshens considerably and the anchor begins to drag. Which action should you take FIRST?

    N a. Drop the starboard anchor short with about one shot of chain.
    N b. Sheer out to starboard using the rudder, then drop the starboard anchor with about four shots of chain.
    N c. Put the engines slow ahead to help the anchor.
    Y d. Veer out more chain on the port anchor.

1733: Separating both blocks of a tackle to prepare it for reuse is called __________.

    N a. chockablocking
    N b. out-hauling
    Y c. over-hauling
    N d. two-blocking

1742: You should conduct a sector search under which of the following circumstances?

    Y a. The search target is sighted and then lost.
    N b. More than one vessel is available for a search.
    N c. The search object is a target that will be readily detected by radar.
    N d. An aircraft is available to assist a surface vessel.

1761: Load lines for U.S. vessels are assigned by __________.

    N a. the U.S. Coast Guard
    Y b. the American Bureau of Shipping
    N c. Lloyd's Register of Shipping
    N d. the National Cargo Bureau

1793: The lines led forward from the bow and aft from the stern when a vessel is moored to the dock are __________.

    Y a. bow and stern lines
    N b. breast lines
    N c. halyards
    N d. warps

1896: 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?

    Y a. The Master is responsible for the safe navigation of the ship and the Pilot is employed for his local knowledge.
    N b. The Pilot is solely responsible for the safe maneuvering of the ship only if he is required to be on board by law.
    N c. The Pilot is solely responsible for the internal working of the ship.
    N d. The Pilot becomes solely responsible for the safe navigation of the vessel only if the Master relinquishes the conn.

2003: Chafing gear is used to __________.

    N a. anchor the boat
    N b. pick up heavy loads
    Y c. protect fiber rope from abrasion
    N d. strengthen mooring lines

2043: A mooring line that prevents a vessel from moving sideways away from the dock is a __________.

    N a. bow line
    Y b. breast line
    N c. stern line
    N d. spring line

2053: A mooring line leading 45° to the keel, used to check forward or astern movement of a vessel, is called a __________.

    Y a. spring line
    N b. warp line
    N c. bow line
    N d. breast line

2257: "Cribbing" is __________.

    Y a. wooden blocks or dunnage placed between a deck load and the deck
    N b. the chains and shackles used to secure a deck cargo
    N c. a crate in which a deck cargo is packaged
    N d. cardboard separation pieces placed between deck loads to prevent chafing

2325: Which line cannot be spliced?

    N a. Braided line with a hollow core
    N b. Double-braided line
    Y c. Braided line with a solid core
    N d. Any line can be spliced

2376: A vessel has an amidships superstructure. Which location would be most suitable for on-deck stowage of automobiles?

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

2520: When a line is spirally coiled about its end and lying flat on deck, it is said to be __________.

    N a. coiled
    N b. faked
    Y c. flemished
    N d. seized

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

2567: When relieving the helm, the new helmsman should know the __________.

    N a. variation
    N b. gyro error
    Y c. course per magnetic steering compass
    N d. maximum rudder angle previously used

2590: Which method of adjusting mooring lines is MOST useful for leaving a boat free to rise and fall with the tide?

    Y a. Crossing the spring lines
    N b. Slacking all forward running lines while keeping all after running lines taut
    N c. Doubling up on spring or breast lines
    N d. Slacking bow and stern lines

2642: Which line is two-stranded, left-handed small stuff?

    N a. Houseline
    Y b. Marline
    N c. Ratline
    N d. Lagline

2664: You must shore up a bulkhead due to solid flooding forward. The bulkhead approximates a rectangle. The center of pressure of the shores on the bulkhead should be located __________.

    N a. evenly over the surface of the bulkhead
    N b. approximately one-third of the way up the bulkhead
    Y c. approximately halfway up the bulkhead
    N d. at the bottom of the bulkhead

2869: When more than one vessel is being assisted by an icebreaker, distances between vessels should be constant. Which signal should be given by a vessel which is ahead of another and whose speed suddenly begins to drop?

    N a. Four short blast on the whistle
    N b. A flag hoist consisting of the code figure "4"
    Y c. A flag hoist consisting of the code figure "5"
    N d. A flag hoist consisting of the code letters "FE" (Foxtrot-Echo)

3010: The piping that routes an oil cargo from the manifold directly to a cargo tank and serves only one tank is known as a __________.

    N a. cargo fill
    N b. filler line
    Y c. tank drop
    N d. branch line

3022: You are in the process of adding a barge to your tow. A line run from your power capstan and around timber heads on your tow is made fast on the new barge so that it can be pulled into position. This line is called a __________.

    N a. scissors wire
    Y b. capstan line
    N c. spring line
    N d. fore and aft line

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.

3208: 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. 72.42 numeral
    Y b. 78.98 numeral
    N c. 83.46 numeral
    N d. 91.48 numeral

3292: The forecastle card is a(n) __________.

    N a. unlicensed shipping card from the union
    N b. quarters allocation
    Y c. copy of the shipping agreement
    N d. Muster List ("Station Bill")

3293: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) and wish to send a message by rapid transmission which does not require a higher precedence. Which precedence would you assign this message?

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

3396: A tow that veers to the side on the end of the towline is said to __________.

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

3432: A vessel is wind rode when it is __________.

    Y a. at anchor and heading into the wind
    N b. backing into the wind
    N c. carrying lee rudder
    N d. necessary to apply a leeway correction to the course

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

3500: Small hull leaks can be temporarily repaired by __________.

    N a. parceling
    N b. parbuckling
    Y c. caulking
    N d. seizing

3508: A situation has occurred in which your vessel must be towed. When the towing vessel passes the towing line to you, you should secure the line __________.

    N a. to the base of the foremast
    Y b. to the forward-most bitts
    N c. to the forward part of the deckhouse
    N d. at the stern

4118: Which factor(s) affect lashing requirements aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    Y a. Ship’s characteristics and motion in a seaway
    N b. Trim of the vessel
    N c. Wide variations of air temperature
    N d. All of the above