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.


89: Ullage measurements are taken from the top of the liquid to __________.


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


297: Commercial ships or other persons or agencies requiring the assistance of Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers should first contact __________.


324: A "chock" is a __________.

    N a. deck fitting used to secure mooring lines
    Y b. casting fitted at the side of a weather deck, used as a fairlead
    N c. sharp block of wood used to support hygroscopic cargo
    N d. smoke pipe for the galley stove

431: Official proof of an American vessel's nationality is contained in the __________.

    N a. Certificate of Inspection
    N b. Official Log
    Y c. Certificate of Documentation
    N d. Shipping Articles

434: To "belay" a line means to __________.

    N a. coil it down
    N b. heave it taut
    N c. stow it below
    Y d. secure it to a cleat

451: What is official proof of a vessel's ownership?

    Y a. Certificate of Documentation
    N b. Bill of Lading
    N c. Transfer Certificate
    N d. Logbook

634: The "iron mike" is a(n) __________.

    N a. pilot
    N b. speaker
    N c. standby wheel
    Y d. automatic pilot

639: The complete details of a crude oil washing system aboard your vessel, including the operating sequences and procedures, design characteristics, a description of the system, and required personnel will be found in the __________.

    N a. Oil Transfer Procedures Manual
    Y b. Crude Oil Washing Operations and Equipment Manual
    N c. Code of Federal Regulations
    N d. Crude Oil Washing addendum to the Certificate of Inspection

663: While towing astern, if your towing hawser becomes taut it results in __________.

    N a. more catenary in the towing hawser
    Y b. less catenary in the towing hawser
    N c. more yaw
    N d. less yaw

671: A Permit to Proceed is issued by the __________.

    N a. American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. National Cargo Bureau
    Y c. U.S. Coast Guard
    N d. U.S. Department of Labor

707: Is tripping limited to harbor and coastal towing?

    Y a. No! Forces tending to capsize a tug are as dangerous on the high seas as they are in harbor and coastal work.
    N b. Yes! The long towing hawser used in ocean towing eliminates the danger of tripping.
    N c. No! Tripping is common in ocean towing because of more frequent maneuvering
    N d. Yes! Because of increased water depths, forces required to capsize a tug are not usually found in ocean towing

708: The National Cargo Bureau represents the __________.

    N a. agent
    N b. operator
    N c. shipper
    Y d. All of the above

729: A petroleum liquid has a flash point of 85°F. This is a grade __________.

    N a. B flammable liquid
    N b. C flammable liquid
    Y c. D combustible liquid
    N d. E combustible liquid

771: What does a Visaed Alien Crew List which is made and submitted to the U.S. Consul for visa show?

    N a. All aliens aboard
    N b. All crew members
    Y c. Nonresident aliens aboard
    N d. Registered aliens aboard

772: To reduce stress on the towing hawser when towing astern (ocean tow), the hawser should be __________.

    N a. secured to the aftermost fitting on the towing vessel
    N b. just touching the water
    Y c. underwater
    N d. as short as possible

829: In terms of vessel manning, a watch is the ____________ .

    Y a. direct performance of deck or engine operations in a scheduled and fixed rotation
    N b. performance of maintenance work necessary for the vessel's safe operation, on a daily basis
    N c. performance of lookout duties
    N d. direct performance of cargo loading and discharge operations only

833: The Master may require part of the crew to work when needed for ___________ .

    N a. maneuvering, shifting berth, mooring and unmooring
    N b. performing work necessary for the safety of the vessel, its passengers, crew or cargo
    N c. performing fire, lifeboat or other drills in port or at sea
    Y d. All of the above

873: At the required fire drill, all persons must report to their stations and demonstrate their ability to perform the duties assigned to them __________.

    N a. by the Coast Guard regulations
    Y b. in the Muster List ("Station Bill")
    N c. by the person conducting the drill
    N d. at the previous safety meeting

918: Ten triangular piles of piping on the pier are to be loaded - each pile has a 20 foot base, is 15 feet high and 30 feet long. If the breadth of the hold is 60 feet and the piping is to be stowed fore and aft in a 30 foot space, how high will it stow?

    N a. 16.6 feet
    Y b. 25.0 feet
    N c. 50.0 feet
    N d. 75.0 feet

932: When bunkering at a dock which of the following signals must be displayed?

    N a. A yellow flag by day, red light by night
    Y b. A red flag by day, red light by night
    N c. A green flag by day, green light by night
    N d. A red flag by day, a blue light by night

958: You are in a tropical port. The refrigeration machinery on a container loaded with air-cooled fruit fails. It cannot be repaired for 18 to 24 hours. Which step should you take to reduce the temperature rise and spoilage of the fruit?

    N a. Discharge a cylinder of nitrogen into the container
    Y b. Shade the container and periodically hose it down
    N c. Seal any ventilation openings and add dry ice
    N d. Spread ice over the top layer and in any voids within the container

1007: When using the term "limber system" one is referring to a __________.

    N a. cleaning system
    Y b. drainage system
    N c. strengthening system
    N d. weight reduction system

1167: A vessel will "squat" when it proceeds underway __________.

    N a. only in deep water
    N b. only in shallow water
    Y c. in all depths of water
    N d. only in narrow channels

1220: Who certifies the safe working load of cargo cranes on a vessel?

    N a. U.S. Coast Guard
    Y b. American Bureau of Shipping
    N c. Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
    N d. National Cargo Bureau

1233: You are on watch while your vessel is entering port with a pilot conning. The pilot gives a steering command to the helmsman who fails to acknowledge it by repeating the command. You should immediately __________.

    N a. notify the Master
    N b. ask the Pilot to repeat the command since the helmsman failed to hear it
    N c. tell the helmsman to ask the Pilot to repeat any command that he fails to hear or understand
    Y d. repeat the Pilot's command and ensure that the helmsman repeats it exactly

1234: Which type of line will stretch the most when under strain?

    N a. Polypropylene
    N b. Dacron
    Y c. Nylon
    N d. Manila

1268: The S.S. Ossel Hitch arrives in Capetown, South Africa, and the Master affects a note of protest with the U.S. Consul. Why would the Master affect this document?

    N a. Crew misconduct
    N b. Inability of vessel to comply with voyage charter
    N c. Suspicion of cargo pilferage by crew
    Y d. Suspicion of heavy weather damage to vessel or cargo

1627: A claim for cargo damages may be held against the shipowner if such damage is the result of failure of the ship's officers to __________.

    Y a. ensure the fitness and safety of cargo spaces
    N b. ensure adequate packaging of the cargo
    N c. prevent delays due to quarantine restrictions
    N d. correct all defects in the ship's construction

1643: The splice designed to pass easily through a block is called a(n) __________.

    N a. eye splice
    N b. short splice
    Y c. long splice
    N d. block splice

1689: The mooring line shown as "C" is called a __________. (DO44DG )

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

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

1810: Using the graph shown, if the dry bulb temperature is 98°, and the wet bulb temperature is 87°, what is the relative humidity in a cargo hold? (D008DG )

    N a. 87%
    N b. 84%
    N c. 79%
    Y d. 65%

1881: In time of war Naval Control of Shipping Authorities may give orders concerning the __________.

    N a. cargo to be loaded
    N b. final destination
    Y c. ship's route
    N d. All of the above

2023: A mooring line leading at nearly right angles to the keel is a __________.

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

2077: While assigned to a 150 GRT vessel, you are required to sign "foreign" articles on a voyage from New Orleans to which port?

    N a. Houston, Texas
    N b. Veracruz, Mexico
    N c. Kingston, Jamaica
    Y d. Cristobal Colon, Panama

2106: A racetrack turn would be better than a Williamson turn in recovering a man overboard if __________.

    N a. the man has been missing for a period of time
    Y b. the sea water is very cold and the man is visible
    N c. there is thick fog
    N d. the wind was from astern on the original course

2184: The lashings on a stack of containers with interlocking fittings restrain the forces that cause __________.

    N a. toppling
    Y b. racking
    N c. buckling
    N d. crushing

2217: The knot lettered P is a __________. (DO30DG )

    Y a. rolling hitch
    N b. clove hitch
    N c. round turn and two half hitches
    N d. marline hitch

2290: The sprocket teeth on a wildcat are known as the __________.

    N a. pawls
    N b. devil's claws
    Y c. whelps
    N d. pockets

2352: The recessed areas on a wildcat are called __________.

    N a. pawls
    N b. sockets
    Y c. pockets
    N d. devil's claws

2394: Determine the area of a triangle with a base of 3.5 feet and a height of 4.0 feet.

    Y a. 7.0 square ft.
    N b. 7.5 square ft.
    N c. 11.5 square ft.
    N d. 14.0 square ft.

2530: Your vessel has gone aground in waters where the tide is falling. The BEST action you can take is to __________.

    Y a. set out a kedge anchor
    N b. shift the vessel's load aft and repeatedly surge the engine(s) astern
    N c. shift the vessel's load forward and wait until the next high tide
    N d. slowly bring the engine(s) to full speed astern

2560: The tankship Northland is loaded as shown. Use the salmon colored pages in the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the hogging numeral. (Get Table Data)

    N a. 101.02 numeral
    N b. 91.36 numeral
    N c. 72.43 numeral
    Y d. 52.79 numeral

2696: You are on a power-driven vessel proceeding down a channel, with the current, on a river on the Great Lakes System. If you meet another power-driven vessel who is upbound, your responsibilities include __________.

    N a. backing down to get out of the way of the other vessel
    N b. waiting for the other vessel to signal her intentions, and then answering promptly
    Y c. proposing a safe way to pass
    N d. All of the above

2719: Which publication would give detailed information on the commercial vessel traffic reporting system for connecting waters from Lake Erie to Lake Huron?

    N a. United States Coast Pilot - Great Lakes #6
    N b. U.S. Coast Guard Light List - Vol. VII
    Y c. Code of Federal Regulations - Title 33
    N d. The appropriate Great Lakes Navigation Chart

2858: Which characteristic is a disadvantage of a controllable- pitch propeller as compared to a fixed-pitch propeller?

    N a. Slightly higher fuel consumption
    N b. Lack of directional control when backing
    N c. Inefficient at high shaft RPM
    Y d. Some unusual handling characteristics

2921: The process of lowering a boom to a horizontal position and onto its deck support is called __________.

    N a. spotting a boom
    N b. collaring a boom
    Y c. cradling a boom
    N d. toppling a boom

2977: 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?

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

3058: Which type of ice is the most difficult to combat and presents the greatest hazard to shipping on the Great Lakes during the winter months?

    N a. Icebergs
    N b. Fast ice
    N c. Slow ice
    Y d. Pack slush ice

3069: Atmospheres laden with coal dust or grain dust caused by loading these cargoes __________.

    N a. require loading operations to be shut down until the atmosphere clears
    N b. are toxic to human life
    N c. are subject to spontaneous combustion
    Y d. may be explosive in some concentrations

3114: Which item is rigged to transmit the thrust from one barge to another barge when going ahead? (D024DG )

    N a. I
    N b. H
    Y c. E
    N d. B

3140: If the Certificate of Inspection of a damaged tank barge has expired, which certificate may be issued to allow its movement to a repair facility?

    N a. Change of employment
    Y b. Permit to proceed
    N c. Application for inspection
    N d. Temporary Certificate of Inspection

3270: A vessel is tide rode when it is __________.

    N a. carrying extra rudder to compensate for the current
    N b. necessary to adjust the course steered to allow for the current
    Y c. at anchor and stemming the current
    N d. being forced off of a pier by the hydraulic effect of the current

3347: The opening in the deck beneath the anchor windlass that leads to the chain locker is the __________.

    N a. hawsepipe
    N b. fallpipe
    N c. drop-pipe
    Y d. spill pipe

3487: The opening in the deck that leads the anchor cable outside the hull is the __________.

    Y a. hawsepipe
    N b. fall pipe
    N c. drop-pipe
    N d. spill pipe

3645: Conventional anchors are least likely to hold in a bottom consisting of __________.

    N a. soft clay
    N b. hard mud
    Y c. very soft mud
    N d. sand

3680: What is the penalty for willfully damaging cargo?

    Y a. Forfeiture of wages equal to the value of the damage and, if ordered by the court, imprisonment for not more than 12 months
    N b. Fine equal to the value of the damage plus a 1000 dollar penalty and/or imprisonment not to exceed 2 years
    N c. Fine not to exceed the value of the damage and/or imprisonment not to exceed 18 months
    N d. Revocation of Merchant Mariner's Document (and license if applicable), fine equal to the value of the damage or imprisonment for not more than 2 years

3692: What provides little or no indication that a vessel is dragging anchor?

    N a. Increasing radar range to a fixed object ahead
    Y b. Drift lead with the line leading perpendicular to the centerline
    N c. Vibrations felt by placing a hand on the anchor cable
    N d. Changing bearings to distant fixed objects abeam

4188: The most important safety consideration during loading or discharge aboard a Ro-Ro vessel is __________.

    N a. having all crewmembers and longshoremen wear hard hats
    Y b. the thorough ventilation of all cargo spaces
    N c. ensuring that visitors cannot come aboard
    N d. having the outboard anchor down