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.


101: You can safely step in the bight of a line __________.


166: The distance gained in the direction of the original course when you are making a turn is known as __________.


193: On a transpacific voyage, you receive a message from your vessel's operators saying that your vessel has been consigned to Naval Control of Shipping. Further information is contained in __________.


197: Serving is __________.

    N a. marline or ratline wound along the grooves of a rope
    N b. narrow strips of light canvas or cotton cloth spiral-wrapped along the rope
    Y c. marline tightly wound on the rope by means of a board or mallet
    N d. a splice made by laying the strand of one rope into the vacated grooves of another rope

262: Mousing a cargo hook with marline or small line __________.

    N a. increases the lifting capacity of the hook
    N b. protects the hook from the sling ring
    Y c. prevents the sling ring from coming out of the hook
    N d. All of the above

275: You have taken another vessel in tow. You can tell that the towing speed is too fast when the __________.

    N a. vessels are not in step
    N b. tow line feels like it is "jumping" when touched
    Y c. catenary comes clear of the water
    N d. towed vessel goes "in irons"

420: In handling break bulk hazardous materials, it is forbidden to use __________.

    N a. cargo nets
    Y b. metal bale hooks
    N c. pallets
    N d. slings

527: What equipment is NOT used to protect a towing hawser?

    N a. Hawser boards and chafing gear
    Y b. Halyards and snaphooks
    N c. Seizing wire, rope yarn and marline
    N d. Norman pins and tow spans

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

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

708: The National Cargo Bureau represents the __________.

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

720: You suspect that a crewmember has fallen overboard during the night and immediately execute a Williamson turn. What is the primary advantage of this maneuver under these circumstances?

    Y a. You will be on a reciprocal course and nearly on the track-line run during the night.
    N b. The turn provides the maximum coverage of the area to be searched.
    N c. The turn enables you to reverse course in the shortest possible time.
    N d. You have extra time to maneuver in attempting to close in on the man for rescue.

734: What is the computed breaking strength of a 4-inch manila line?

    N a. 5,280 lbs.
    N b. 7,700 lbs.
    N c. 12,200 lbs.
    Y d. 14,400 lbs.

764: Roundline is a __________.

    N a. four-stranded, left- or right-handed line
    Y b. three-stranded, right-handed line
    N c. three-stranded, left-handed line
    N d. small tarred hempline of three strands laid left-handed

789: Which statement about a centrifugal cargo pump is TRUE?

    N a. It is a positive displacement pump.
    Y b. It must have a positive suction.
    N c. Increasing rotation speed will decrease discharge pressure.
    N d. All of the above

865: A nylon line is rated at 15,000 lbs. breaking strain. Using a safety factor of 5, what is the safe working load (SWL)?

    Y a. 3,000 lbs
    N b. 5,000 lbs
    N c. 15,000 lbs
    N d. 65,000 lbs

919: A deepwell pump is a type of __________.

    N a. screw pump
    Y b. centrifugal pump
    N c. eductor
    N d. gear pump

979: A cargo of oil has a coefficient of expansion of .0005 per degree F. If this cargo is loaded at 70°F, and a cargo temperature of 90°F is expected at the discharge port, how many barrels would you expect to unload if you loaded 10,000 barrels?

    N a. 9,900
    N b. 9,990
    N c. 10,010
    Y d. 10,100

992: 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. 29.49 numeral
    Y b. 31.97 numeral
    N c. 33.61 numeral
    N d. 35.12 numeral

1094: Which statement is TRUE with respect to the elasticity of nylon mooring lines?

    N a. Nylon can stretch over forty percent without being in danger of parting.
    N b. Nylon can be elongated by one-hundred percent before it will part.
    N c. Nylon will part if it is stretched any more than twenty percent.
    Y d. Under load, nylon will stretch and thin out but will return to normal size when free of tension.

1102: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "B" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

    N a. after breast line
    N b. after spring line
    Y c. inshore stern line
    N d. offshore stern line

1131: U.S. Customs, upon boarding a vessel desiring entry into a U.S. port, would inspect which document?

    N a. Cargo Manifest
    N b. Certified Crew List
    N c. Stores List
    Y d. All of the above

1183: Which towing equipment can be used to prevent the tripping of a tug?

    N a. Bridles
    N b. Chafing boards
    Y c. Gob ropes
    N d. Drogues

1360: What are reef points used for?

    Y a. Reduce the area of a sail
    N b. Keep the sail taut in light airs
    N c. Reduce the draft if the boat runs aground
    N d. Increase the strength of the mast

1533: What is the best splice for repairing a parted synthetic fiber mooring line?

    N a. Liverpool splice
    N b. Locking long splice
    N c. Long splice
    Y d. Short splice

1687: What is the perimeter of a circle with a radius of 4.2 feet?

    Y a. 26.39 ft
    N b. 21.19 ft
    N c. 17.81 ft
    N d. 13.20 ft

1725: The term "shift the rudder" means __________.

    N a. use right or left rudder
    N b. check, but do not stop the vessel from swinging
    Y c. change from right (left) to left (right) rudder an equal amount
    N d. put the rudder amidships

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

1750: A grapnel is a __________.

    N a. device for securing a chain topping lift
    N b. hook to prevent the anchor cable from slipping
    Y c. device used to drag for a submerged cable or line
    N d. type of clam bucket used for discharging bulk cargo

1758: As operator of a 199 GT towing vessel sailing foreign, it shall be your duty to enter in the Official Logbook or other permanent record __________.

    N a. all information contained on the barge's Certificate of Inspection
    N b. the condition of all towing gear to be used
    N c. all navigational aids to be used
    Y d. the barges load line and draft readings

1768: As a rule, ships of most configurations, when drifting in calm water with negligible current, will lie __________.

    N a. bow to the wind
    Y b. beam to the wind
    N c. stern to the wind
    N d. with the wind on the quarter

1773: What size block shell should be used with a 4-inch manila line?

    N a. 8"
    Y b. 12"
    N c. 16"
    N d. 24"

1776: When anchoring in calm water, it is best to __________.

    N a. maintain slight headway when letting go the anchor
    N b. wait until the vessel is dead in the water before letting go the anchor
    Y c. have slight sternway on the vessel while letting go the anchor
    N d. let the anchor go from the stern with the anchor cable leading from the bow

1786: You are anchoring in a river where the current is from one direction only. The best way to lay out two anchors is to have them __________.

    N a. directly in line with the bow
    N b. side by side, with their lines on the port and starboard side
    Y c. so that their lines form an angle
    N d. on top of one another

1787: Which picture represents a blackwall hitch? (DO30DG )

    N a. F
    N b. H
    N c. P
    Y d. S

1792: What is the name of the mark indicated by the letter F? (D003DG )

    N a. Fresh water load line
    N b. Summer load line
    Y c. Winter load line
    N d. Tropical load line

1794: A "figure eight" knot is used to __________.

    N a. be a stopper
    N b. shorten a line
    N c. join lines of equal size
    Y d. keep a line from passing through a sheave

1886: The knot lettered R is a __________. (DO30DG )

    Y a. double becket bend
    N b. bowline
    N c. fisherman's bend
    N d. round turn and two half hitches

1939: You are on a vessel that has broken down and are preparing to be taken in tow. You will use your anchor cable as part of the towline. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The anchor cable should be veered enough to allow the towline connection to be just forward of your bow.
    N b. The anchor cable should be veered enough to allow the towline connection to be immediately astern of the towing vessel.
    Y c. The strain of the tow is taken by the riding pawl, chain stopper, and anchor windlass brake.
    N d. The anchor cable should be led out through a chock, if possible, to avoid a sharp nip at the hawsepipe lip.

2045: When relieving the helm, the new helmsman will find it helpful to know the __________.

    N a. deviation on that heading
    N b. variation in the area
    N c. leeway
    Y d. amount of helm carried for a steady course

2076: A person who sees someone fall overboard should __________.

    N a. immediately jump in the water to assist the individual
    N b. go to the bridge for the distress flares
    N c. run to the radio room to send an emergency message
    Y d. call for help and keep the individual in sight

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

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

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

2214: 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 90°? (D034DG )

    N a. 820 yards
    Y b. 870 yards
    N c. 930 yards
    N d. 975 yards

2221: You are using tackle number 5 to lift a weight. The hauling part of this tackle is bent to the weight hook (w) of tackle number 8. What is the mechanical advantage of this rig? (DO29DG )

    N a. 20
    Y b. 15
    N c. 10
    N d. 5

2222: The lower seam of the strake indicated by the letter B is sometimes riveted. This is done to __________. (D033DG )

    N a. increase the strength in a highly stressed area
    N b. provide the flexibility inherent in a riveted seam
    Y c. serve as a crack arrestor and prevent hull girder failure
    N d. reduce construction costs

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

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.

2389: What is the area of a circle with a diameter of 17 feet after a sector of 111° has been removed?

    N a. 36.94 square ft.
    Y b. 156.99 square ft.
    N c. 226.98 square ft.
    N d. 627.47 square ft.

2532: For a given weight of cargo, the stress on the heel block of a cargo boom __________.

    N a. increases as the cargo closes the head while hoisting
    N b. increases if the cargo runner is doubled up
    Y c. decreases as the boom is topped to a greater angle
    N d. is determined by the thrust stresses on the boom

2789: Your vessel is approaching the International Bridge on the St. Marys River. If the gage on the bridge, read from top to bottom, indicates 124 ft. and the IGLD (1955) is 600 ft., determine the actual vertical clearances between the existing water level and the lowest point of the bridge over the channel.

    Y a. 124 feet
    N b. 476 feet
    N c. 724 feet
    N d. 840 feet

2808: Under the forces of its own weight, the suspended length of line will fall into a shape known as a __________.

    N a. polygon
    N b. holding arc
    Y c. catenary curve
    N d. parabolic curve

2890: A vessel cannot comply with all of the SOLAS requirements due to its construction. Where will this be indicated?

    N a. Nowhere; the vessel must comply to engage in international trade.
    N b. On the reverse of the SOLAS certificate
    Y c. On the Exemption Certificate
    N d. On the Certificate of Inspection

3141: What is NOT a securing system used on a containership?

    N a. Lashing system
    Y b. Stacking system
    N c. Locking system
    N d. Buttress system

3360: On a light tow, what could you substitute for a fishplate?

    Y a. heart-shaped shackle
    N b. pelican hook
    N c. swivel
    N d. ring

3583: Indicated horsepower refers to a towing vessel's power which is __________.

    Y a. theoretically available
    N b. measured on a test bed
    N c. developed at the shaft
    N d. measured by dynamometer

4124: Which variable factor affects the initial lashing requirements aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Vessel's draft
    Y b. Center of gravity of vehicle or cargo unit
    N c. Changes in humidity
    N d. Age of vehicle or cargo unit

4179: Which of the following actions are stated in the correct order prior to loading or discharging cargo on a Ro-Ro vessel?

    N a. Raise/open stern door, lower the stern ramp, turn on ventilation for cargo holds
    N b. Turn on ventilation for cargo holds, raise/open the stern door, lower the stern ramp
    N c. Turn on ventilation for cargo holds, lower the stern ramp, raise/open the stern door
    Y d. Lower the stern ramp, raise/open the stern door, turn on ventilation for cargo holds

4233: The 30 ton capacity pedestal cranes shown in the illustration can lift a maximum weight of how many tons when two cranes are married together in twin with the other pair of cranes at the opposite end of the hatch? (D051DG )

    N a. 30 tons
    N b. 60 tons
    N c. 90 tons
    Y d. 120 tons

4251: Which action(s) is/are included in crane operations?

    N a. Single-mode set-up & operation
    N b. Twin-mode set-up & operation
    N c. Normal boom stowage and shutdown operation
    Y d. All of the above

4381: What does item "D" refer to in this illustration of a 30-ton pedestal crane? (D045DG )

    N a. Heel block
    N b. Gin block
    N c. Rider block
    Y d. Hook block