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.


39: Combustible liquids are divided into how many grades?


93: A lookout can leave his station __________.


94: All of the following records are usually maintained by the watch-standing officers aboard a vessel EXCEPT the __________.


103: Your ship is in shallow water and the bow rides up on its bow wave while the stern sinks into a depression of its transverse wave system. What is this called?

    N a. Broaching
    N b. Fish tailing
    Y c. Squatting
    N d. Parallel sinkage

106: In relation to the turning circle of a ship, the term "kick" means the distance __________.

    N a. around the circumference of the turning circle
    N b. gained at right angles to the original course
    N c. gained in the direction of the original course
    Y d. or throw of a vessel's stern from her line of advance upon putting the helm hard over

134: Your ship is steaming at night on gyro-pilot when you notice that the vessel's course is slowly changing to the right. Which action should you take FIRST?

    N a. Call the Master.
    Y b. Change to hand steering.
    N c. Notify the engine room of the steering malfunction.
    N d. Send the Quartermaster to the emergency steering station.

150: Protective clothing must be worn while sampling hazardous cargo on a tankship, and as a minimum includes __________.

    N a. a hood or hard hat
    Y b. a face mask or goggles
    N c. boots
    N d. chemical resistant gloves

153: The proper way to correct a mistake in the logbook is to __________.

    N a. erase the entry and rewrite
    N b. draw several lines through the entry, rewrite, and initial the correction
    N c. completely black out the entry, rewrite, and initial the correction
    Y d. draw one line through the entry, rewrite, and initial the correction

172: While a vessel is in a foreign port where there is no American Consul, a seaman becomes violent prior to sailing. The Master should __________.

    N a. call local police, put the seaman in prison ashore, and sail the vessel
    N b. pay off the seaman and make arrangements with the agent to return him to the original port of signing on in the U.S.
    Y c. put the seaman in irons and sail to the next port where there is an American Consul
    N d. send the seaman ashore and arrange with the agent to repatriate him by armed guard

187: You are standing the wheel watch on entering port and the Master gives you a rudder command which conflicts with a rudder command from the Pilot. What should you do?

    N a. Ask the Pilot if he relinquishes control.
    N b. Obey the Pilot.
    Y c. Obey the Master.
    N d. Bring the rudder to a position midway between the two conflicting positions.

216: As a ship moves through the water, it drags with it a body of water called the wake. The ratio of the wake speed to the ship's speed is called __________.

    N a. propeller velocity
    N b. speed of advance
    N c. wake distribution
    Y d. wake fraction

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"

319: Static electricity may be built up by the __________.

    N a. flow of petroleum through pipes
    N b. spraying or splashing of petroleum
    N c. settling of solids or water in petroleum
    Y d. All of the above

439: When loading bulk liquid cargo, what is the FIRST action you should take if a cargo valve jammed open?

    N a. Trip the pump relief valve.
    Y b. Order the dock man to shut down.
    N c. Call the owner, operator, or terminal supervisor.
    N d. Run out the vessel's or terminal's fire hose.

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)

491: A change of a documented vessel's name can only be made by the __________.

    N a. American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. Commissioner of Customs
    N c. Treasury Department
    Y d. Coast Guard

741: A vessel has sustained damage in a collision with another vessel. It is necessary to have a Seaworthy Certificate before the vessel sails. Who will issue this certificate?

    N a. American Consul
    Y b. Classification Society
    N c. Captain of the Port
    N d. Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection

811: When oily ballast has been pumped overboard, an entry must be made in the __________.

    Y a. Oil Record Book
    N b. Official Logbook
    N c. deck rough log
    N d. engine rough log

975: The "Mode" selector switch on the autopilot steering stand is used to select any of the following with the EXCEPTION of __________.

    N a. automatic pilot steering
    N b. hand-electric steering
    N c. non-followup steering
    Y d. rudder adjustment

1006: Which action reduces the yawing of a vessel in a following sea?

    N a. Increasing GM
    N b. Pumping out tanks aft
    N c. Shifting weights to the bow
    Y d. Shifting weights to the stern

1078: By law, the maximum penalty for failing (without reasonable cause) to give aid in the case of collision is __________.

    N a. one year imprisonment or $500
    Y b. two years imprisonment or $1000
    N c. two years imprisonment or $1500
    N d. two years imprisonment or $2000

1085: Which of the following statements concerning the rigging of bosuns' chairs and their use is TRUE?

    N a. Always secure the gantline to the chair with a bowline.
    N b. Always have the chair hoisted with at least three turns on a winch drum.
    Y c. Any tools, paint pots etc. should be secured by lanyards.
    N d. When riding a stay, make sure that the bow of the shackle passes through the becket of the bridle.

1138: A vessel arrives in the port of Los Angeles from a foreign port and discharges some of its inward foreign cargo. What additional manifest is required?

    N a. Discharge Manifest
    N b. Inward Foreign Manifest
    N c. Pro Forma Manifest
    Y d. Traveling Manifest

1184: A new coil of nylon line should be opened by __________.

    N a. pulling the end up through the eye of the coil
    N b. uncoiling from the outside with the coil standing on end
    N c. taking a strain on both ends
    Y d. unreeling from a spool

1195: Under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act of 1936, a vessel will be liable for damage to a cargo when the damage arises from __________.

    Y a. unseaworthiness when sailing
    N b. insufficient packing
    N c. quarantine delays
    N d. mismanagement of the vessel

1308: The S.S. Sheet Bend arrives in New York after encountering heavy weather on a voyage from Cape Town. Who will note the protest for the Master?

    N a. Collector of Customs
    Y b. Notary Public
    N c. Officer in Charge Marine Inspection
    N d. U.S. Shipping Commissioner

1341: The owners of the S.S. Short Haul agree to a charter with the Longsplice Steamship Company. The owners stipulate in the charter party that the regular Master must be employed as the vessel's Master for the entire life of the contract. Which charter has been affected?

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

1389: A band or collar on the top end of a boom to which the topping lift, midships guy, and outboard guys are secured, is called the __________.

    N a. collar band
    N b. guy band
    N c. pad eye collar
    Y d. spider band

1451: The implied condition(s) with respect to the doctrine of deviation in a marine insurance policy is(are) __________.

    N a. that the cargo be discharged from the vessel with customary dispatch
    N b. that the voyage be commenced in a reasonable time
    N c. that the voyage be pursued over the usual and direct route
    Y d. All of the above

1471: One of the requirements for a general average act is __________.

    Y a. a successful venture
    N b. no imminent peril
    N c. no losses
    N d. All of the above

1550: Keel scantlings of any vessel are greatest amidships because __________.

    N a. connections between forebody and afterbody are most crucial
    Y b. of maximum longitudinal bending moments
    N c. of severest racking stresses
    N d. resistance to grounding is at a maximum amidships

1663: A bench hook is used for __________.

    N a. handling of cargo cases
    N b. hanging oilskins
    Y c. sewing canvas
    N d. splicing small stuff

1730: A disk with a horizontal line through its center, equivalent to the summer load line, is called the __________.

    N a. deadrise mark
    N b. maximum allowable draft mark
    Y c. Plimsoll mark
    N d. tonnage mark

1778: You are landing a single-screw vessel with a right-handed propeller port side to a dock. As you approach the dock, you back down on your engine with rudder amidships. You would expect the vessel to __________.

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

1781: Which organization usually assigns load lines to U.S. vessels?

    N a. National Load-Line Agency
    N b. National Shipping Bureau
    Y c. American Bureau of Shipping
    N d. American Regulations Council

1788: Which position shown is the most dangerous when tying up? (D019DG )

    Y a. I
    N b. II
    N c. III
    N d. IV

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

1795: Which knot represents a double sheet bend? (DO30DG )

    N a. F
    N b. L
    Y c. R
    N d. T

1840: You are approaching a steamer that is broken down and are preparing to take her in tow. BEFORE positioning your vessel to pass the towline, you must __________.

    Y a. compare the rate of drift between the ships
    N b. install chafing gear on the towline
    N c. secure the bitter end of the towing hawser to prevent loss if the tow is slipped
    N d. have traveling lizards rigged to guide the towline while it is paid-out

1842: The knot shown lettered W is a __________. (DO30DG )

    N a. clove hitch
    Y b. square knot
    N c. barrel hitch
    N d. stopper knot

1953: What is likely to occur when you are surging synthetic mooring lines on the gypsyhead during mooring operations?

    N a. The lines may jam and then jump off the gypsyhead.
    N b. If there is sudden strain on the line, the man tending the line may be pulled into the gypsyhead.
    N c. The lines' surging may cause the vessel to surge.
    Y d. The heat generated may cause the lines to temporarily fuse to the gypsyhead.

1961: A sufficient amount of chain must be veered when anchoring a vessel to ensure __________.

    N a. the vessel has enough room to swing while at anchor
    Y b. the anchor flukes bite into the ocean bottom
    N c. there is a sufficient scope of chain to keep the anchor on the bottom
    N d. there is more chain out than there is in the chain locker

2087: A vessel has a deadweight carrying capacity of 10,500 tons. Fuel, water, and stores require 1500 tons. The cubic capacity is 500,000 cubic feet. Which cargo will put her full and down?

    N a. Slabs of zinc, SF 7.1
    Y b. Rolls of barbed wire, SF 55.5
    N c. Barrels of tallow, SF 66.8
    N d. Bundles of rubber, SF 140.2

2113: One major advantage of the round turn maneuver in a man overboard situation is that it __________.

    Y a. is the fastest method
    N b. is easy for a single-screw vessel to perform
    N c. requires the least shiphandling skills to perform
    N d. can be used in reduced visibility

2147: What is the name of tackle number 8? (DO29DG )

    N a. Parbuckle
    Y b. Gun tackle
    N c. Single purchase
    N d. Single luff tackle

2190: What is the name of tackle number 3? (DO29DG )

    N a. 1-2 purchase
    N b. Gun tackle
    Y c. Single luff tackle
    N d. Double whip

2245: To determine the number of certificated lifeboatmen required on a vessel, you should check the __________.

    N a. Load Line Certificate
    Y b. Certificate of Inspection
    N c. Safety of Life at Sea Certificate
    N d. operations manual

2261: The machinery associated with heaving in and running out anchor chain is the __________.

    N a. winch
    Y b. windlass
    N c. draw works
    N d. dynamic pay out system

2288: What will cause wire rope to fail?

    N a. Operating the winch too fast
    N b. Using a sheave 9 times the wire's diameter
    N c. Kinking
    Y d. All of the above

2852: On a small passenger vessel the collision bulkhead is __________.

    N a. amidships forward of the engine room
    N b. just forward of the steering compartment
    N c. in the engine room
    Y d. A distance of 5% to 15% of the waterline length abaft the stem measured at the load waterline

3030: The piping that routes an oil cargo from the manifold to underdeck pipelines is known as a __________.

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

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

3109: When hip towing, a line led from the bow of the towing vessel aft to the vessel being towed would be a __________.

    N a. backing line
    Y b. towing line
    N c. stern line
    N d. breast line

3320: Which type of bottom is best suited for holding an anchor of a small boat?

    Y a. Mud and clay
    N b. Rocky
    N c. Sandy
    N d. Gravel

3728: The main reason a long towline is used during an ocean tow is that __________.

    N a. a margin of safety is provided should the line part
    N b. the towline will wear more evenly
    Y c. there will be less stress on the towline
    N d. a slight increase in speed will be realized

4123: The lashings used on Ro-Ro vessels should be capable of withstanding the forces of __________.

    N a. any force of gravity acting on the lashes
    N b. rolling
    N c. pitching
    Y d. All of the above

4145: Which tensioning device is used with webbing to secure light vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Chain lever
    N b. Turnbuckle
    N c. Adjust-a-matic tensioner
    Y d. Ratchet tensioner

4213: What does a jib refer to on a crane?

    Y a. Boom
    N b. Topping lift
    N c. Control cab
    N d. Liftline

4270: Which immediate action should the operator of a pedestal crane take if crane control is lost?

    Y a. Let go of both control levers and return to neutral position.
    N b. Call the engine room.
    N c. Disconnect the power to the pedestal.
    N d. Call the electrician.