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.


3: A stopper used in securing the ground tackle for sea that consists of a grab attached to a turnbuckle is a __________.


8: What is NOT an advantage of filler cargo?


9: Defense plans may cause the operation of electronic aids to navigation to be suspended with __________.


78: Which is an example of cargo damage caused by inherent vice?

    N a. Sublimation of chemicals
    Y b. Heating of grain
    N c. Stevedore damage
    N d. Wear and tear

119: Sour crude oil __________.

    Y a. contains high quantities of hydrogen sulfide
    N b. is diluted with other products for carriage
    N c. is lighter than other crudes
    N d. is less hazardous to load than other crudes

139: A "barrel" is a unit of liquid measure equivalent to __________.

    N a. 40 U.S. gallons at 50°F
    Y b. 42 U.S. gallons at 60°F
    N c. 43 U.S. gallons at 65°F
    N d. 45 U.S. gallons at 75°F

179: The minimum temperature required to ignite gas or vapor without a spark or flame being present is called __________.

    N a. flash point
    N b. fire point
    Y c. autoignition temperature
    N d. lower explosive limit

207: A towing vessel's capability is BEST measured by horsepower, maneuverability, displacement, and __________.

    N a. stability
    N b. propeller design
    Y c. bollard pull
    N d. towing winch horsepower

227: An ocean towing bridle should __________.

    Y a. have equal legs of sufficient length
    N b. have a large angle between the legs
    N c. be formed on a bight of cable through a ring
    N d. never be made up of chain

397: Which statement is TRUE concerning deep well self-priming pumps?

    N a. When loading oil cargo, it is always loaded via the discharge line through to the pump until the tank is topped off.
    Y b. Stripping systems are generally eliminated for the purposes of cargo handling.
    N c. In recent years deep well pumps have become increasingly unpopular in product tankers and medium size crude ships.
    N d. There is no danger of damaging the pump from overheating.

428: Your vessel is going from a warm climate to a cold climate with a hygroscopic cargo. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. You must ventilate constantly and vigorously to combat ship sweat.
    N b. You should ventilate; there is little danger of ship sweat, but a possibility of cargo sweat.
    N c. There is danger of heavy cargo sweat if you ventilate.
    N d. There is little danger of any sweat problem.

479: Your tank vessel is loaded down to her marks, and you find that she has too much trim by the stern. To adjust the trim you may __________.

    N a. add ballast forward
    N b. load more cargo forward
    Y c. shift bunkers forward
    N d. All of the above

497: Which type of fiber towing hawser is preferred for towing astern?

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

563: While the Pilot is maneuvering the vessel to a dock, what is the PRIMARY responsibility of the watch officer?

    N a. Supervise the signaling and flag etiquette.
    N b. Record the bells and their times in the bell book.
    Y c. Insure that helm and throttle orders given by the Pilot are correctly executed.
    N d. Judge the appropriateness of the Pilot's orders and countermand them if necessary.

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

605: You would properly secure a gantline to a bosun's chair with a __________.

    N a. fisherman's bend
    N b. bowline
    Y c. double sheet bend
    N d. double blackwall hitch

654: A rope made of a combination of wire and fiber is known as __________.

    N a. independent
    N b. lang lay
    N c. preformed
    Y d. spring lay

660: You receive word that a person has fallen overboard from the starboard side. You should FIRST __________.

    N a. notify the Master
    Y b. put the wheel hard right
    N c. put the engines full astern
    N d. sound the man overboard alarm

660: You receive word that a person has fallen overboard from the starboard side. You should FIRST __________.

    N a. notify the Master
    Y b. put the wheel hard right
    N c. put the engines full astern
    N d. sound the man overboard alarm

705: A tug may be in danger of tripping when __________.

    N a. towed sideways by an overwhelming force on the towline
    N b. her tow moves parallel to and forward on either side of the tug
    N c. the tow is no longer directly astern but moves up on her quarter
    Y d. All of the above

721: The mooring line labeled "F" is called a __________. (DO44DG )

    N a. bow line
    N b. forward spring line
    Y c. breast line
    N d. None of the above

774: The strongest of the natural fibers is __________.

    N a. cotton
    N b. hemp
    Y c. manila
    N d. sisal

782: The owner or Master of a towing vessel shall ensure that each person that directs and controls the movement of the vessel can accurately fix the vessel's position using all of the following EXCEPT ___________ .

    N a. installed navigational equipment
    Y b. buoys alone
    N c. all available aids to navigation
    N d. depths soundings and hydrographic contour lines

887: The condition of a towline must be monitored by ______________ .

    N a. keeping record of the towline's initial minimum breaking strength
    N b. keeping record of each retest of the towline's minimum breaking strength
    N c. conducting routine visual inspections of the towline
    Y d. All of the above

914: When natural fiber rope gets wet, the __________.

    N a. overall strength of the line will decrease
    Y b. line shrinks in length
    N c. line will become more elastic
    N d. line will be easier to handle

927: Sluicing or slushing wire rope __________.

    N a. prevents internal and external rust and corrosion
    N b. reduces chafing and increases its useful service life
    N c. reduces internal friction within the wire
    Y d. All of the above

1080: The "inner bottom" is the __________.

    Y a. tank top
    N b. compartment between the tank top and shell of the vessel
    N c. inner side of the vessel's shell
    N d. space between two transverse bottom frames

1298: A Master should file a marine note of protest if __________.

    N a. cargo was received at ship side which was damaged in land transit
    N b. longshore labor went on strike in the port causing undue vessel delay
    N c. portions of his vessel's cargo were illegally impounded in a foreign port
    Y d. the vessel encountered heavy weather which might have caused cargo damage

1414: A wire rope that has been overstrained will show __________.

    N a. a bulge in the wire where the strain occurred
    Y b. a decrease in diameter where the strain occurred
    N c. a kink in the wire where the strain occurred
    N d. no visible effects of an overstrain

1516: The length of a standard "shot" of chain is __________.

    N a. 12 fathoms
    Y b. 15 fathoms
    N c. 18 fathoms
    N d. 20 fathoms

1678: Grade D combustible liquids have a maximum flash point of __________.

    N a. 109°F
    N b. 100°F
    Y c. 149°F
    N d. 80°F

1699: In which casualty case is it UNNECESSARY to notify the local Coast Guard Marine Safety Office?

    N a. Your vessel is backing from a dock and runs aground, but is pulled off by tugs in 30 minutes.
    Y b. Your vessel strikes a pier and does $1,500 damage to the pier but no damage to the vessel.
    N c. A nylon mooring line parts while the vessel is tied up and kills a harbor worker who was on the pier.
    N d. A seaman is injured and in the hospital for four days.

1762: What is the perimeter of a circle with a radius of 2.5 feet?

    N a. 7.86 ft
    Y b. 15.71 ft
    N c. 19.63 ft
    N d. 22.71 ft

1814: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "D" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

    N a. stern line
    N b. forward spring line
    N c. waist breast line
    Y d. after spring line

1893: A block and tackle is "rove to advantage". This means that the __________.

    N a. blocks have been overhauled
    N b. hauling parts of two tackles are attached
    Y c. hauling part leads through the movable block
    N d. hauling part leads through the standing block

1917: How many tons of salt water can be loaded into a flat-ended cylindrical tank with a diameter of 5 feet and a length of 14 feet?

    N a. 31.42
    N b. 15.71
    Y c. 7.85
    N d. 6.25

1957: The strake of shell plating indicated by letter H is known as the __________. (D033DG )

    N a. sheer strake
    N b. outboard keel plate
    Y c. garboard strake
    N d. bilge strake

1996: Which method should be used to secure a manila line to bitts?

    N a. A round turn on the bitt farthest from the strain and then figure eights
    Y b. A round turn on the bitt closest to the strain and then figure eights
    N c. Figure eights and then a round turn at the top of both bitts
    N d. Only figure eights are necessary on both bitts

2049: While the Pilot is maneuvering the vessel to a dock, what is the PRIMARY responsibility of the watch officer?

    N a. Supervise the signaling and flag etiquette.
    N b. Record the bells and their times in the bell book.
    N c. Judge the appropriateness of the Pilot's orders and countermand them if necessary.
    Y d. Insure that helm and throttle orders given by the Pilot are correctly executed.

2054: What is the name of the mark indicated by the letter B in the diagram? (D003DG )

    N a. Timber summer load line
    Y b. Tropical fresh water load line
    N c. Tropical load line
    N d. Summer load line

2064: While underway in thick fog you are on watch and hear the cry "man overboard". Which type of maneuver should you make?

    N a. figure eight turn
    N b. Round turn
    N c. Racetrack turn
    Y d. Williamson turn

2181: When relieving the helm, the new helmsman should know the __________.

    Y a. course per magnetic steering compass
    N b. gyro error
    N c. variation
    N d. maximum rudder angle previously used

2250: You have determined the maneuvering characteristics of your vessel by taking radar ranges and bearings of an isolated light while making a turn. The results are as shown. Based on this data what is the transfer for a turn of 90°? (D035DG )

    Y a. 380 yards
    N b. 430 yards
    N c. 485 yards
    N d. 525 yards

2303: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) and wish to send a message warning of a hurricane. Which precedence would you assign this message?

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

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

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

2385: You are on a multiple-product chemical tanker and will carry cargoes of butyric acid, propylene oxide, and octyl alcohol. Which statement is true?

    N a. Butyric acid is incompatible with octyl alcohol but not propylene oxide.
    Y b. Propylene oxide may not be stowed in a tank adjacent to butyric acid.
    N c. All of these cargoes are compatible.
    N d. Octyl alcohol is incompatible with both butyric acid and propylene oxide.

2480: A Danforth lightweight anchor does NOT hold well in which type of bottom?

    N a. Mud
    Y b. Grass
    N c. Sand
    N d. Clay

2490: The best method of protecting that portion of a fiber anchor line nearest the anchor from chafing on the bottom is by __________.

    N a. using a small scope ratio
    Y b. replacing that portion with a short length of chain
    N c. using a hockle to keep that portion of the anchor line off the bottom
    N d. using a synthetic line

2752: Which is a correct reply to a Pilot's request, "How's your head"?

    Y a. "Passing 040°"
    N b. "Steady"
    N c. "Checked"
    N d. "Eased to 15° rudder"

2795: The York-Antwerp Rules relate to the __________.

    N a. minimum required number of officers and crew
    Y b. settlement of general average claims
    N c. ship owner's responsibilities to provide a well-found vessel in a charter party
    N d. navigation regulations that apply in the English Channel

2897: Form 2692 (Notice of Marine Casualty), when required, must be filed to the U.S. Coast Guard within how many days?

    N a. 1 day
    N b. 3 days
    Y c. 5 days
    N d. 7 days

3047: When backing down with sternway, the pivot point of a vessel is __________.

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

3171: A high cube container would most likely be used to stow __________.

    N a. dense bulk cargoes
    Y b. household appliances
    N c. fragile cargoes
    N d. heavy industrial machinery

3308: What term indicates a curvature of the decks in a longitudinal direction?

    N a. Deadrise
    N b. Camber
    Y c. Sheer
    N d. Flare

3518: A tug's horsepower available at the shaft is __________.

    N a. indicated horsepower
    Y b. brake horsepower
    N c. dynamic horsepower
    N d. net horsepower

4011: Under defense plans, operation of electronic aids may be temporarily suspended with __________.

    N a. thirty (30) day's notice
    N b. a week's notice
    N c. one day's notice
    Y d. no notice

4024: An icebreaker displaying a flag hoist which consists of the code letters "WO" (Whiskey Oscar) is indicating that __________.

    Y a. icebreaker support is finished
    N b. icebreaker support is commencing
    N c. the icebreaker is icebound
    N d. the icebreaker is beset

4030: While discharging a cargo, the stripping of the tanks falls behind schedule. This would indicate the __________.

    N a. main pumps are working at a high discharge pressure
    Y b. main pumps are leaving too much oil in the tanks
    N c. stripping pump is not primed
    N d. stripping line is cross-connected to the main line

4032: The pivot pin at the base of a sheath-screw boom davit must be __________.

    N a. inserted each time before the booms are cranked out
    Y b. periodically removed for inspection and lubricated
    N c. replaced at each inspection for certification
    N d. in the locked position after the boat is cradled and griped down

4226: What does item "E" refer to in this illustration of a 30-ton pedestal crane? (D045DG )

    Y a. Tagline
    N b. Electric cable
    N c. Cargo snaking wire
    N d. Hook release cable