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.


83: The mooring line labeled "A" as shown is called a(n) __________. (D044DG )


84: The ceiling is __________.


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


272: When measuring the oxygen content of the cargo tanks prior to loading cargoes requiring vapor recovery, check it __________.

    N a. one meter from the tank bottom and one meter below the tank top
    Y b. one half the ullage of the tank and one meter below the tank top
    N c. one half the ullage of the tank and one meter above the tank bottom
    N d. at three meter intervals from the tank top to the bottom

378: In preparation for receiving chilled reefer cargo, the reefer space has been precooled for over twenty-four hours. Loading may begin when the space has been cooled to a temperature between __________.

    N a. -10°F (-23°C) and +10°F (-12°C)
    N b. 12°F (-11°C) and 20°F (-7°C)
    Y c. 28°F (-2°C) and 40°F ( 4°C)
    N d. 42°F (6°C) and 55°F (13°C)

390: A package contains nitric acid solution and is radioactive. The radiation level at the package surface is .36 millirems per hour. How should this package be labeled?

    N a. Radioactive II and oxidizer
    N b. Radioactive II and poison
    Y c. Radioactive I and corrosive
    N d. Fissile class I

444: A metal object on the pier resembling a tree stump and made to receive mooring lines is a __________.

    N a. bight
    Y b. bollard
    N c. chock
    N d. camel

504: Anchors are prevented from running out when secured by the __________.

    N a. brake
    N b. devil's claw
    N c. pawls
    Y d. All of the above

547: Where is an intermediate spring or surge line placed in the towing hookup?

    Y a. Connected between the main towing hawser and the towing bridle
    N b. Connected between the "H" towing bitts and the main towing hawser
    N c. End of line fastened directly to the drum of the towing winch
    N d. As both legs of the towing bridle

589: The terminal indicates to you that they are going to use a booster pump to assist the discharging operation. You start the discharge and in a few minutes the pressure drops sharply. This could be a result of the __________.

    Y a. booster pump coming on the line and discharging properly
    N b. booster pump failing to start
    N c. ship's pump speeding up
    N d. booster pump being lined up in the wrong direction

696: A vessel traveling down a narrow channel, especially if the draft is nearly equal to the depth of the water, may set off the nearer side. This effect is known as __________.

    N a. smelling the bottom
    N b. squatting
    N c. bank suction
    Y d. bank cushion

715: The term "overriding" or "overrunning" when applied to towing, implies that __________.

    N a. there is more crew on board than required
    Y b. the tow has overtaken its tug
    N c. the towing hawser comes out of the water
    N d. the Norman pins are not effective

836: River currents tend to __________.

    N a. pick up speed where the channel widens
    N b. run slower in the center of the channel
    N c. hug the inside of a bend
    Y d. cause the greatest depth of water to be along the outside of a bend

890: A term applied to the bottom shell plating in a double-bottom ship is __________.

    N a. bottom floor
    Y b. outer bottom
    N c. shear plating
    N d. tank top

917: What is the period of validity of a Safety Management Certificate?

    Y a. 60 months
    N b. 48 months
    N c. 42 months
    N d. 36 months

935: The scuppers had been plugged as required at the time an oil spill occurs on deck. After shutting down the transfer, the engineroom should first be informed and then __________.

    N a. rig a fire hose and call for water on deck
    Y b. spread an absorbent material, such as sawdust
    N c. remove the plugs from the scuppers
    N d. sound the general alarm

982: The muster list must be posted in conspicuous locations and signed by the __________.

    N a. safety officer
    N b. Coast Guard Officer approving the bill
    N c. owner
    Y d. Master

983: When a vessel is on autopilot steering, the "weather " control is adjusted to compensate for which severe weather effect on a vessel?

    Y a. Yaw
    N b. Roll
    N c. Pitch
    N d. Leeway

1024: A natural fiber rope can be ruined by dampness because it may __________.

    Y a. rot
    N b. shrink
    N c. stretch
    N d. unlay

1034: You are the licensed operator of a 100 GT towing vessel sailing coastwise. What percentage of the deck crew must be able to understand the language commonly used onboard the vessel?

    N a. 100%
    Y b. 75%
    N c. 65%
    N d. 50%

1034: You are the licensed operator of a 100 GT towing vessel sailing coastwise. What percentage of the deck crew must be able to understand the language commonly used onboard the vessel?

    N a. 100%
    Y b. 75%
    N c. 65%
    N d. 50%

1039: When cleaning cargo tanks with portable machines, how is the machine grounded?

    N a. Bonding wires are secured from the machine to a convenient location on deck.
    N b. The machines must maintain physical contact with the deck at the Butterworth opening.
    Y c. The water supply hoses contain internal wires that act as conductors
    N d. The water jets impinging on the vessel's structure form a pathway to ground.

1198: The most probable position of the object of a search at any given time is the __________.

    Y a. datum position
    N b. incident position
    N c. reported position
    N d. dead-reckoning position

1206: You are landing a single-screw vessel with a left-handed propeller, starboard side to the dock. As you approach the dock you back your engine with your rudder amidships. You would expect the vessel to __________.

    N a. lose headway without swinging
    N b. turn its bow towards the dock
    Y c. turn its stern towards the dock
    N d. drift away from the dock

1404: Galvanizing would not be suitable for protecting wire rope which is used for __________.

    Y a. cargo runners
    N b. mooring wires
    N c. shrouds
    N d. stays

1511: A vessel has been damaged by fire. The survey shows the cost of repairs will exceed the value of the repaired vessel. This is an example of a(n) __________.

    Y a. constructive total loss
    N b. salvage loss
    N c. actual loss
    N d. preferred loss

1575: The key to rescuing a man overboard is __________.

    N a. good communication
    N b. a dedicated crew
    N c. good equipment
    Y d. well-conducted drills

1591: A complaint of unseaworthiness by a majority of crew members to the American Consul is found to be justified after a survey is completed. Who must pay the cost of the survey?

    N a. Crew members requesting the survey
    N b. American Consul
    Y c. Master
    N d. Vessel's owners

1604: Which knot would serve best as a safety sling for a person working over the side?

    N a. Bowline on a bight
    Y b. French bowline
    N c. Jug sling
    N d. Lifting hitch

1623: A short splice in a line __________.

    N a. decreases the size of the line
    N b. should be used if the line is going through a block
    N c. should only be used in wire rope
    Y d. doubles the size of the line

1807: When evacuating a seaman by helicopter lift, which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Evacuation should be from an area forward of the bridge.
    N b. The vessel should be slowed to bare steerageway.
    N c. If the hoist is at the stern, booms extending aft at the stern should be cradled with the topping lifts hove taut.
    Y d. The litter should not be touched until it has been grounded.

1878: When being towed, a fairlead is a __________.

    Y a. fabricated shape used to change the direction of a flexible member of the tow hookup
    N b. fabricated shape used to secure the tow hookup to the towed vessel
    N c. line connecting the fishplate to the bridle legs
    N d. line connecting the tow bridle to the towed vessel

1944: The garboard strake is indicated by which letter? (D033DG )

    N a. A
    N b. B
    N c. G
    Y d. H

1951: A case received for shipment is marked as shown. The portion of the symbol indicated by the letter A is _______ . (D043DG )

    Y a. a stowage sequence marking
    N b. the consignee's marking
    N c. a stowage mark, showing the top of the case
    N d. the symbol for toxic contents

1978: When towing, the least amount of tension will be on each bridle leg when the two legs __________.

    N a. form a large angle with each other
    Y b. form a small angle with each other
    N c. are of unequal length
    N d. are joined by a fishplate

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

2063: A "spring line" is __________.

    N a. any wire rope used for mooring
    N b. a fire-warp
    Y c. a mooring line running diagonally to the keel
    N d. a mooring line perpendicular to the keel

2126: You have anchored in a mud and clay bottom. The anchor appears to be dragging in a storm. What action should you take?

    N a. Shorten the scope of the cable.
    N b. Veer cable to the anchor.
    N c. Drop the other anchor underfoot.
    Y d. Drop the second anchor, veer to a good scope, then weigh the first anchor.

2163: What is the name of tackle number 7? (DO29DG )

    Y a. Runner
    N b. Inverted whip
    N c. Whip
    N d. Single purchase

2192: The part of a windlass which physically engages the chain during hauling or paying out is the __________.

    N a. devil's claw
    N b. bull gear
    Y c. wildcat
    N d. cat head

2237: Using the graph in illustration D008DG, if the dry bulb temperature is 76° and the wet bulb temperature is 59°, what is the relative humidity in a cargo hold? (D008DG )

    Y a. 34%
    N b. 47%
    N c. 76%
    N d. 79%

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

2393: Determine the weight of a rectangular piece of 25.5 lbs. steel measuring 4.5 feet by 6.7 feet.

    N a. 285.6 lbs.
    N b. 329.7 lbs.
    N c. 591.2 lbs.
    Y d. 768.8 lbs.

2519: If a passenger vessel navigating the Great Lakes is required to carry 8 ring life buoys, how many of these buoys must have water lights attached?

    N a. 8
    Y b. 6
    N c. 4
    N d. 2

2536: Wages due a seaman may be attached by the court for the __________.

    N a. payment of any fines imposed by the court
    N b. payment of back taxes to the IRS
    Y c. support of a spouse
    N d. All of the above

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

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

2644: The boat is stowed on the davit rather than on a cradle with which type of davit?

    Y a. Crescent
    N b. Sheath-screw boom
    N c. Quadrantal
    N d. Radial

2848: Nautical charts published by the Canadian Hydrographic service which are referenced in the United States Coast Pilot are identified by __________.

    N a. the abbreviation "can" preceding the chart number
    N b. the letter "C" in parentheses following the chart number
    Y c. an asterisk preceding the chart number
    N d. a footnote number

3031: Before a Master relieves a Pilot of the conn, the __________.

    N a. vessel must be in extremis
    N b. Master must request the Pilot to take corrective action
    N c. Master should release the Pilot from all liability
    Y d. Master should foresee any danger to the vessel on the present course

3066: A list man would expect to see any of the following light signals EXCEPT __________.

    N a. two red lights
    N b. one green light
    N c. one white light
    Y d. one amber light

3073: 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?

    N a. The Pilot becomes solely responsible for the safe navigation of the vessel only if the Master relinquishes the conn.
    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.
    Y c. The Master is responsible for the safe navigation of the ship and the Pilot is employed for his local knowledge.
    N d. The Pilot is solely responsible for the internal working of the ship.

3080: Which method should be used to warm up the pump turbines prior to discharge?

    N a. Lock the turbine rotor and slowly bleed in steam until operating temperature is reached
    N b. Run the pump at high speed with the discharge valves closed
    N c. Run the turbine at slow speed with the pump disconnected
    Y d. Shut the discharge valve and run the pump at slow speed

3490: A device used to tighten up remaining slack in wire rope when you are making up to a tow in inland waters is a __________.

    N a. tripping line
    N b. tripping bracket
    N c. norman pin
    Y d. steamboat ratchet

3493: You are the Master of an uninspected diesel towing vessel of 190 GT operating on a regular run from New York to the Gulf of Mexico. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Able Seamen are not required in the deck crew.
    Y b. All crew members must have Merchant Mariner's Documents.
    N c. A licensed Chief Engineer is required.
    N d. Deck watches may be 6 and 6.

3631: The number of certificated able seamen and lifeboatmen required on board is listed in the __________.

    Y a. Certificate of Inspection
    N b. American Bureau of Shipping code
    N c. Muster List ("Station Bill")
    N d. Safety of Life at Sea Convention

4038: Which cargo would require a dangerous cargo manifest?

    Y a. Cotton
    N b. Wheat
    N c. Sugar
    N d. Lumber

4163: According to the IMO Code, what are the minimum number of securing points that should be on each side of a "road vehicle", whose gross vehicle mass is between 20 tons and 30 tons, when carried on Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. One
    N b. Two
    Y c. Three
    N d. None of the above

4264: Which statement(s) is/are TRUE concerning crane cargo operations?

    N a. Lifting points on all equipment need not be checked prior to commencing a lift.
    N b. Cargo loaded into vehicles and/or containers prior to lifting need not be secured.
    Y c. Never exceed crane manufacturer’s limits concerning the safe working loads of cargo jibs.
    N d. All the above

4274: During which condition should the operator of a pedestal crane shutdown operations?

    N a. Bunkering barge alongside
    N b. Potable water spill on deck
    Y c. Crane hydraulic hose bursts
    N d. Trim greater than 4 feet

4277: Which wire rope purchases may be used with a 30-ton pedestal crane?

    N a. Hoist
    N b. Luff
    N c. Rider block
    Y d. All of the above