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.


31: An embarked Pilot __________.


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


257: The distance between the surface of the liquid and the tank top in a cargo tank is called __________.


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

309: When planning the loading or discharging of a VLCC (100,000 DWT+) what is the most important consideration?

    N a. Draft and trim
    Y b. Limits of the bending moments
    N c. Rate of discharging
    N d. Rate of loading

345: What does the helm command "shift the rudder" mean?

    N a. Put the rudder amidships and hold the heading steady as she goes.
    Y b. Put the rudder over to the opposite side, the same number of degrees it is now.
    N c. Shift the rudder control to the alternate steering method.
    N d. Stop the swing of the ship.

366: When backing down with sternway, the pivot point of a vessel is __________.

    N a. at the bow
    N b. about one-third of the vessel's length from the bow
    Y c. about one-quarter of the vessel's length from the stern
    N d. aft of the propellers

391: A tonnage tax is levied according to the __________.

    N a. deadweight cargo tonnage aboard
    N b. displacement tonnage of vessel
    N c. gross tonnage of vessel
    Y d. net tonnage of vessel

437: Prior to getting underway in fresh or brackish water, the Master must __________.

    Y a. log the density of the water
    N b. secure all overboard discharges
    N c. take on fresh water ballast
    N d. clean the sides with fresh water

516: You are going ahead on twin engines with rudder amidships. Your starboard engine stalls. To continue on course, you should __________.

    Y a. apply left rudder
    N b. apply right rudder
    N c. increase engine speed
    N d. keep your rudder amidships

603: To reduce the amount of catenary you may __________.

    Y a. shorten the hawser or increase the tug's speed
    N b. lengthen the hawser or reduce the tug's speed
    N c. place your tug in irons
    N d. make a sharp turn

675: An advantage of the modified Christmas Tree towing method is to __________.

    N a. increase the towing hawser's catenary and provide more spring
    Y b. reduce catenary, allow operation in shallower water, and to release one barge without breaking up the entire tow
    N c. enable one tug and its crew without any outside assistance to make up or break down the tow
    N d. provide rapid delivery of logs from the northwestern United States to Hawaiian sawmills

747: When carrying a cargo of asphalt or molten sulfur, which are carried at temperatures of over 300°F, one of the biggest dangers is __________.

    N a. inadequate ullage space
    N b. having the cargo too cool
    N c. explosion of vapors after discharge
    Y d. having to breathe the fumes

758: An IOPP Certificate on an inspected vessel is valid for what period of time?

    N a. 6 months
    N b. 1 year
    N c. 2 years
    Y d. 5 years

776: In most cases, when a large merchant vessel enters shallow water at high speed the __________.

    N a. maneuverability will increase
    N b. speed will increase
    Y c. bow will squat farther than the stern
    N d. vessel will rise slightly, on a level plane

843: If the Master of a US-flag towing vessel replaces any crew member with a non-US citizen, he/she must ensure that the ___________ .

    N a. replacement holds a license or document equivalent in experience and training to a mariner holding US credentials
    N b. replacement can communicate with other crew members to the extent required by regulations
    N c. vessel is on a foreign voyage, outside US jurisdiction, and not operating above the US outer continental shelf
    Y d. all of the above

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

863: When underway with a tow, you are required to notify the Coast Guard in which casualty situation?

    N a. Damage to property amounting to $12,500
    Y b. Accidental stranding or grounding
    N c. Loss of bridge-to-bridge radio capability
    N d. An injury requiring first aid treatment

892: On a shallow water tow, the catenary of the towline should be __________.

    N a. large
    Y b. small
    N c. eliminated
    N d. adjusted frequently

1016: Your vessel is off a lee shore in heavy weather and laboring. Which action should you take?

    Y a. Put the sea and wind about two points on either bow and reduce speed.
    N b. Heave to in the trough of the sea.
    N c. Put the sea and wind on either quarter and proceed at increased speed.
    N d. Put the bow directly into the sea and proceed at full speed.

1109: Pinching of the cargo hose between the vessel and the dock should be prevented by __________.

    Y a. adjusting the hose supports
    N b. laying out an excess length of hose on deck
    N c. tying off the topping lifts and runners to winch heads
    N d. All of the above

1266: You are docking a vessel in a slip which has its entrance athwart the tide. You land the ship across the end of the pier, stemming the tide, preparatory to breaking the ship around the corner. You have one tug to assist. Where would you generally tie up the tug?

    N a. Have her on a hawser from the stern.
    N b. Tie her up on the inshore bow to hold the ship off the end.
    Y c. Tie her up on the offshore bow.
    N d. Tie her up on the inshore quarter to lift the stern.

1275: The tension on an anchor cable increases so that the angle of the catenary to the seabed at the anchor reaches 10°. How will this affect the anchor in sandy soil?

    N a. It will have no effect.
    N b. It will increase the holding power.
    Y c. It will reduce the holding power.
    N d. It will cause the anchor to snag.

1293: What is required to be posted in the pilothouse of a vessel?

    N a. Certificate of Inspection
    N b. Officer's licenses
    N c. Company Mission Statement
    Y d. Muster List ("Station Bill")

1426: Forty-five fathoms is marked on the anchor chain by __________.

    N a. one turn of wire on the first stud from each side of the detachable link
    N b. two turns of wire on the second stud from each side of the detachable link
    Y c. three turns of wire on the third stud from each side of the detachable link
    N d. four turns of wire on the fourth stud from each side of the detachable link

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

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

1791: Which factor does NOT affect the required freeboard of a cargo vessel?

    N a. Season of the year
    N b. Geographic zone of operation
    N c. Density of the water
    Y d. Condition of trim in normal operation

1820: If a drill required by regulations is not completed, the Master or person in charge must __________.

    N a. report this immediately to the Commandant of the Coast Guard
    Y b. log the reason for not completing the drill
    N c. conduct two of the required drills at the next opportunity
    N d. All of the above

1845: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) and wish to send a message concerning an initial enemy contact. Which precedence would you assign this message?

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

1873: How much weight can you lift by applying 100 lbs. of force to a twofold purchase rigged to disadvantage (do not consider friction)?

    N a. 200 lbs.
    N b. 300 lbs.
    Y c. 400 lbs.
    N d. 500 lbs.

1895: The knot lettered Q as shown is a __________. (DO30DG )

    N a. square knot
    N b. clove hitch
    Y c. bowline
    N d. round knot

2038: With a large ocean tow in heavy weather, you should NOT __________.

    N a. keep the stern of the tug well down in the water
    Y b. adjust the towline so the tug is on the crest when the tow is in the trough
    N c. keep the low point of the catenary in the water
    N d. use a long towing hawser

2060: In polar regions you should NOT expect to see __________.

    N a. mirage effects
    N b. sea smoke
    Y c. extensive snowfall
    N d. false horizons

2062: The vessel shown has broken down and you are going to take her in tow. The wind is on her starboard beam. She is making more leeway than you. Where should you position your vessel when you start running lines? (DO25DG )

    N a. A
    N b. B
    N c. C
    Y d. D

2084: A copy of the Articles of Agreement, less the signatures, is required to be posted. This document is called the __________.

    Y a. Fo'c'sle Card
    N b. Articles Copy
    N c. Voyage Agreement
    N d. Shipping Articles

2094: A large basin cut into the shore, closed off by a caisson, and used for dry docking of ships is known as a __________.

    N a. slipway
    Y b. graving dock
    N c. ground warp
    N d. caisson dock

2128: Several merchant ships are arriving at the scene of a distress incident. One of the them must assume the duties of the Coordinator Surface Search (CSS). Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    N a. CSS duties are always assumed by passenger vessels, dry cargo vessels, or tankers in that order of precedence.
    Y b. The CSS must be established by mutual agreement between the ships concerned.
    N c. A tank vessel should never be assigned CSS duties unless only tank vessels are present.
    N d. The first vessel to arrive at the distress incident is designated as the CSS.

2236: Another name for the garboard strake is the __________.

    Y a. A strake
    N b. Z strake
    N c. side keel plate
    N d. stringer plate

2280: 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 45°? (D034DG )

    N a. 590 yards
    N b. 635 yards
    Y c. 690 yards
    N d. 740 yards

2292: The biggest problem encountered when towing bridle legs are too short is __________.

    N a. retrieval
    N b. adjusting tension
    Y c. excessive strain
    N d. hookup to main towline

2470: Which type of bottom provides most anchors with the best holding ability?

    N a. Clay and rocks
    N b. Soft mud
    Y c. Sandy mud
    N d. Soft sand

2708: Which statement is TRUE with respect to the load line markings shown. (D031DG )

    Y a. A vessel displaying these marks may load in the salt waters of the St. Lawrence River.
    N b. Vessels engaged solely on Great Lakes voyages are not required to show these marks.
    N c. U.S. flag vessels less than 100 feet in length and less than 200 gross tons are not required to show these marks.
    N d. U.S. flag vessels of 100 gross tons and upward must show these marks.

2726: The lifeboats on your vessel are stowed on cradles on deck and are handled by sheath-screw boom davits. Which of the following statements about launching a boat is TRUE?

    N a. The boat should be hoisted a few inches clear of the cradle before cranking out the davits.
    N b. The inboard gripes should be cast off before the outboard gripes.
    Y c. The outboard section of the cradle must be released.
    N d. The tricing pendants will automatically bring the boat alongside at the embarkation deck.

2761: A short ton is a unit of weight consisting of __________.

    N a. 1,000 pounds
    Y b. 2,000 pounds
    N c. 2,205 pounds
    N d. 2,240 pounds

2839: Adequate horsepower is of great importance when a ship is navigating independently in ice. Adequate horsepower is generally considered to exist when the horsepower to length ratio is at least __________.

    N a. 4 to 1 or better
    N b. 5 to 1 or better
    Y c. 6 to 1 or better
    N d. 8 to 1 or better

2844: Naval authorities would NOT give orders about which of the following, when the vessel is under control of the Naval Control of Shipping Organization?

    N a. Visual communication at sea
    N b. Rescue operations
    N c. Diversions
    Y d. Schedules for loading cargo

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

3081: A seaman is entitled by law to a release from Foreign Articles when __________.

    N a. intoxicated
    N b. deductions are made from wages
    N c. injured
    Y d. the vessel is overloaded

3172: The signal man assisting the crane operator has his hands clasped in front of his body. This is the signal to __________.

    Y a. dog everything
    N b. stop
    N c. stand-by
    N d. prepare for signal

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

3286: The signal man assisting the crane operator has his arm extended, with the thumb pointing up, and is flexing his fingers in and out for as long as the load movement is desired. This is the signal to __________.

    N a. lower the boom and raise the load
    Y b. raise the boom and lower the load
    N c. lower the boom and lower the load
    N d. raise the boom and raise the load

3322: The fluke is indicated by which letter? (D038DG )

    N a. F
    N b. G
    N c. H
    Y d. I

3338: What is used to prevent wear on towlines that bear on hard surfaces?

    Y a. Chafing gear
    N b. Chocks
    N c. Grease
    N d. Boots

3584: The tripping palm is indicated by which letter? (D038DG )

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

3770: SOLAS requires a lifesaving training manual be provided in each crew cabin or in the __________.

    N a. bridge
    N b. engineering control station
    Y c. recreation and messrooms
    N d. fire control room

4059: A 750 foot passenger vessel operating on the Great Lakes, not subject to SOLAS regulations, is required to carry how many ring life buoys?

    Y a. 24
    N b. 18
    N c. 12
    N d. 6

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

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

4243: What is/are the advantage(s) of cranes over conventional cargo booms?

    N a. Cranes are able to pick up and drop loads over a greater spotting area
    N b. Increased safety because the deck is clear of running and standing rigging
    N c. Simplicity of operation of the crane by its operator
    Y d. All of the above

4246: What does "level-luffing" accomplish during crane operations?

    N a. It prevents the load from swinging when the boom level is adjusted.
    N b. Less power is needed when topping the boom with a load on the hook.
    N c. It maintains the height of the load above the deck.
    Y d. All of the above