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.


62: You are in the process of loading 465,000 barrels of cargo oil. At 1030, on 5 November, you gauge the vessel and find that you have loaded 203,000 barrels. At 1200, you find that you have loaded 219,000 barrels. If you continue loading at the same rate, you will finish at approximately __________.


72: You are in the process of loading 465,000 barrels of cargo oil. At 1030, on 5 November, you gauge the vessel and find that you have loaded 203,000 barrels. At 1200 you find that you have loaded 218,000 barrels. If you continue loading at the same rate, you will finish at approximately __________.


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


191: An alien crewmember with a D-1 permit leaves the vessel in a U.S. port and fails to return. The first report you make should be to the __________.

    N a. Customs Service
    Y b. Immigration Service
    N c. local police
    N d. OCMI

294: Displacement refers to the __________.

    N a. cubic capacity of a vessel
    N b. deadweight carrying capacity of a vessel
    N c. gross tonnage of a vessel
    Y d. number of long tons of water displaced by a vessel afloat

313: With the exception of a Coast Guard approved commercial hybrid Personal Flotation Device (PFD), which type of life preserver must be carried for each person on board an uninspected passenger vessel?

    Y a. Type I
    N b. Type II
    N c. Type III
    N d. None of the above

320: Containers of flammable solids should be conspicuously labeled by the shipper with a __________.

    N a. green label
    Y b. red and white label
    N c. orange label
    N d. yellow label

325: A deck fitting, used to secure line or wire rope, consisting of a single body with two protruding horns is called a __________.

    N a. bitt
    N b. bollard
    N c. capstan
    Y d. cleat

371: In the United States, the load line markings are set by the __________.

    Y a. American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. Coast Guard
    N c. Federal Maritime Board
    N d. IMO

400: You are on a containership carrying a tank container that had been filled with sodium hydroxide solution. The container is empty but has not been cleaned. Which, if any, placard is required?

    N a. No placard is required; the tank openings must be sealed
    N b. Empty placard with corrosive placard
    N c. Residue label with the UN number
    Y d. Black and white corrosive placard

411: Tonnage tax is officially based upon the figures obtained from the __________.

    Y a. Admeasurement Certificate
    N b. deadweight scale
    N c. displacement scale
    N d. Load Line Certificate

411: Tonnage tax is officially based upon the figures obtained from the __________.

    Y a. Admeasurement Certificate
    N b. deadweight scale
    N c. displacement scale
    N d. Load Line Certificate

531: Spring loaded towing hooks are used in towing to __________.

    N a. absorb and cushion the shock of towing
    N b. prevent whiplash
    Y c. trip and release when the pull of the towing hawser exceeds a predetermined limit
    N d. make it easier to attach and release the tow

548: Using the graph shown, if the dry bulb temperature is 55°F (13°C) and the wet bulb is 50°F (10°C), what is the relative humidity? (D008DG )

    N a. 55%
    Y b. 70%
    N c. 75%
    N d. 82%

626: What should NOT be used as an indicator that ice may be

    Y a.
    N b.
    N c.
    N d.

629: You are planning to use a crude oil washing system. What precaution must be taken with the source tank for the washing machines?

    Y a. At least one meter must be decanted from the source tank.
    N b. The oil in the source tank must be sampled for compatibility.
    N c. The source tank must have been crude oil washed at least once in the past 150 days.
    N d. The inert gas system must lower the oxygen content in the source tank to a maximum of 12%.

702: When paying off seamen in a foreign port, where a United States consul is not available, the release must be executed by the seamen and the __________.

    N a. representative of the foreign country
    N b. local port authority representative
    Y c. Master of the vessel
    N d. ship's union delegate

723: What safety precautions must you take when maneuvering on a towing hook?

    N a. The engines must be operated on the slow bell.
    Y b. Clear the afterdeck and fantail of personnel.
    N c. Lash the hook closed so it does not open accidentally.
    N d. The towing winch engine must be running.

735: A heavy steel curved arch constructed athwartships and above the after deck on a towing vessel is sometimes called a __________.

    N a. main brace
    Y b. tow span
    N c. jockey bar
    N d. None of the above

771: What does a Visaed Alien Crew List which is made and submitted to the U.S. Consul for visa show?

    N a. All aliens aboard
    N b. All crew members
    Y c. Nonresident aliens aboard
    N d. Registered aliens aboard

869: To ensure proper seating when closing a valve on a tank, the valve should be __________.

    N a. set up as tight as possible by hand
    N b. set up tight using a valve wrench
    Y c. closed, opened a half turn, and then closed
    N d. closed against the stop and the locking pin inserted

875: Which statement, concerning offshore supply vessel operations, correctly defines the length of a voyage?

    N a. The distance from the point of departure to the vessel's first stop
    N b. The distance from the point of departure to the most distant point offshore
    Y c. The total distance from the port of departure to the port of arrival, not including stops at offshore points
    N d. The shortest measurable distance from the port of departure to the port of arrival

877: On which vessels may licensed individuals be required to stand watch under the two-watch system, on voyages of more than 600 miles in length?

    Y a. Uninspected towing vessels
    N b. Offshore supply vessels
    N c. Cargo ships
    N d. Tank vessels

919: A deepwell pump is a type of __________.

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

949: Cargo pump relief valves are piped to the __________.

    N a. cargo pump pressure gauges
    N b. crossover lines interconnecting two pumps
    Y c. suction side of pumps
    N d. atmosphere through pump vents

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.

1179: The most likely time for oil pollution while bunkering is when __________.

    Y a. final topping off is occurring
    N b. first starting to receive fuel
    N c. hoses are being blown down
    N d. hoses are disconnected and being capped

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

1234: Which type of line will stretch the most when under strain?

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

1280: Vertical structural members attached to the floors that add strength to the floors are called __________.

    N a. boss plates
    N b. buckler plates
    Y c. stiffeners
    N d. breast hooks

1321: Which type of carrier accepts without discrimination all legal cargoes of a shipper?

    Y a. Common
    N b. Industrial
    N c. Private
    N d. Tramp

1441: Dead freight is the charge for the __________.

    N a. carriage of demise cargo
    N b. cost of transshipment of over-carried cargo
    N c. difference in the amount of cargo loaded and the amount of cargo discharged
    Y d. difference in the amount of cargo loaded and the amount of cargo booked, through no fault of the vessel

1459: When handling cargo, the majority of cargo gear breakdowns is due to __________.

    N a. compression bending of the boom
    N b. extension failure of the boom
    Y c. guy failures
    N d. topping lift failures

1483: The knot used to join two lines or two large hawsers for towing is called a __________.

    N a. square knot
    Y b. carrick bend
    N c. sheet bend
    N d. bowline

1524: A mooring line is described as being 6x24, 1-3/4 inch wire rope. What do the above numbers refer to?

    N a. Strands, yarns, circumference
    Y b. Strands, wires, diameter
    N c. Wires, yarns, diameter
    N d. Strands, circumference, wires

1589: Why is 6X19 class wire rope more commonly used for cargo runners than the more flexible 6X37 wire rope?

    Y a. It resists abrasion better.
    N b. It is longer.
    N c. It hugs the winch drum better.
    N d. It is less expensive.

1630: The fore and aft run of deck plating which strengthens the connection between the beams and the frames and keeps the beams square to the shell is called the __________.

    N a. garboard strake
    N b. limber strake
    N c. sheer strake
    Y d. stringer strake

1637: Which statement about a vessel's stability while dry-docking is TRUE?

    Y a. Every ton of weight bearing on the blocks acts as if a ton of weight was removed at keel level.
    N b. When the ship touches the blocks, the beam for stability purposes increases to the beam of the dry-dock.
    N c. The stability of the vessel increases as a dock is pumped out due to the support of the keel blocks.
    N d. As the dock begins to support the weight of the vessel, stability calculations are based on the ship and dock as a single unit.

1651: Which document is NOT required by law to be posted aboard a vessel?

    Y a. Official Crew List
    N b. Certificate of Inspection
    N c. Officer's licenses
    N d. Muster List

1675: What is the name of the mark indicated by the letter D? (D003DG )

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

1783: Which mooring line is likely to undergo the most strain when docking a ship under normal conditions?

    N a. Bow line
    N b. Breast line
    Y c. Spring line
    N d. Stern line

1809: The greatest horizontal stress between the heads of the booms in the yard and stay rig occurs when the load is in such a position that the __________.

    Y a. falls are at an equal angle to the horizontal
    N b. stay fall is vertical
    N c. stay fall is at a greater angle to the horizontal than the yard fall
    N d. yard fall is at a greater angle to the horizontal than the stay fall

1832: The run of plating labeled A is known as the __________. (D033DG )

    N a. sheer strake
    Y b. stringer plate
    N c. deck strake
    N d. deck longitudinal

1936: A "gypsy" or "gypsyhead" is a __________.

    N a. punt used for painting over the side
    N b. small, reciprocating steam engine
    Y c. spool-shaped drum fitted on a winch
    N d. swinging derrick

2018: When towing astern, one way to reduce yawing of the tow is to __________.

    Y a. trim the tow by the stern
    N b. trim the tow by the head
    N c. have the tow on an even keel
    N d. list the tow on the side it is yawing

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

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

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

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

2232: The MAIN use of the knot lettered M is to __________. (DO30DG )

    Y a. marry two hawsers
    N b. form a temporary eye in the end of a line
    N c. secure a heaving line to a hawser
    N d. provide a seat for a man to work over the side

2366: To "shore up" the main deck for the stowage of deck cargo means to __________.

    N a. weld pad eyes on deck in proper position to secure the cargo
    Y b. strengthen the main deck by placing pillars underneath it in the tween-decks
    N c. distribute the weight of the cargo by placing fore-and-aft planks on the main deck
    N d. package the cargo in wooden crates so it will not damage the deck

2768: Which of the Great Lakes lies entirely within the United States?

    N a. Lake Ontario
    N b. Lake St. Clair
    Y c. Lake Michigan
    N d. Lake Superior

2836: Which of the Great Lakes is generally the last to reach its seasonal low and seasonal high water marks?

    Y a. Lake Superior
    N b. Lake Michigan
    N c. Lake Huron
    N d. Lake Ontario

2952: Spontaneous heating of coal rapidly accelerates at the approximate minimum temperature of __________.

    N a. 88°F
    Y b. 100°F
    N c. 111°F
    N d. 119°F

3028: The term "inland waters", as defined in the Rules of the Road, includes __________.

    N a. the Great Lakes in their entirety
    Y b. the Mississippi River System
    N c. U.S. waters out to three miles offshore
    N d. the St. Lawrence River to Anticosti Island

3250: You are 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.
    N b. Wait one week and submit form GG-2692 to the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety or Inspection Office.
    Y c. Immediately notify the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety or Inspection Office and no further action is necessary.
    N d. Immediately notify the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety or Inspection Office and then submit form CG-2692.

3550: When can a look-out leave his duty station?

    N a. 15 minutes before the end of the watch
    N b. At the end of the watch
    Y c. When properly relieved
    N d. At any time

4057: Your vessel is to dock bow in at a pier without the assistance of tugboats. Which line will be the most useful when maneuvering the vessel alongside the pier?

    Y a. Bow spring line
    N b. Inshore head line
    N c. Stern breast line
    N d. Bow breast line

4223: What does item "A" refer to in this illustration of a 30-ton pedestal crane? (D045DG )

    N a. Boom luffing falls
    Y b. Cargo hoist falls
    N c. Remote block tagline system
    N d. Slewing cable

4267: Which statement is TRUE concerning the tandem working arrangement of pedestal cranes when completing a quad lift?

    Y a. The discharge is slow due to the size of the cargo and all the cranes working together.
    N b. The cargo discharge can be accomplished with controlled pendulation.
    N c. The cargo discharge can be performed in port or at anchor.
    N d. The cranes enable the handling of heavy cargos without shoreside assistance.

4378: Which statement concerning an automatic towing engine is FALSE?

    N a. It automatically maintains tow line tension.
    N b. It prolongs the life of the hawser by distributing chafing as the hawser is paid out and taken in.
    Y c. As tension on the hawser increases, more line is taken in by the automatic towing engine.
    N d. As tension on the hawser decreases, more line is taken in by the automatic towing engine.