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.


58: Odorous cargoes are those that __________.


122: You may be able to avoid loss of suction in a pump by __________.


237: The latch of a safety hook __________.


252: You have orders to load cargoes of carbon disulfide, diisopropylamine and pyridine on your multi-product tankship. Which statement is true?

    N a. Carbon disulfide may be carried in NOS. 1 and 2 center tanks and diisopropylamine in NOS. 1 and 2 wing tanks.
    Y b. Pyridine and diisopropylamine may not be carried in tanks having a common header vent.
    N c. Pyridine must be separated from carbon disulfide by two barriers (cofferdams, voids, empty tanks, etc.).
    N d. A tank of diisopropylamine may be used to separate a tank of pyridine from a tank of carbon disulfide.

330: You have completed a Dangerous Cargo Manifest for dangerous cargoes loaded on board. It should be kept in a conspicuous location __________.

    N a. in the radio room
    N b. in the ship's office
    Y c. on or near the bridge
    N d. outside the Captain's stateroom

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

485: To clean a dirty fiber towing hawser used in ocean towing, you should __________.

    N a. use lye or other mild detergent
    Y b. wash it with fresh water, dry and store it
    N c. wash it with salt water
    N d. use cleaning fluid on nylon, dacron and other synthetic lines

560: You are loading a cargo that includes cylinders of acetylene aboard your break bulk vessel. Which statement is true?

    Y a. The cylinders must be stowed at least 10 horizontal feet from corrosive materials in the same space.
    N b. Stowage in the upper deck-deck is considered to be the equivalent of "on deck" stowage for this cargo.
    N c. The cylinders must have a red label for flammability and a green label for compressed gas.
    N d. The cylinders may be protected from the radiant heat of the Sun by laying a tarp on them.

644: The "lay" of a line refers to __________.

    N a. its normal location of stowage
    Y b. the direction of twist in the strands
    N c. the manner in which it is coiled
    N d. the manner in which it is rigged

709: The designations A,B,C,D, and E grades of cargo refer to the __________.

    N a. degrees of quality of petroleum products
    Y b. flash point range and Reid vapor pressure index of petroleum products
    N c. grades of crude oil
    N d. pour point, color, and viscosity index of petroleum products

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.

752: A lot of special cargo of similar cartons as shown is to be loaded. What is the total cubic capacity the consignment will occupy if you assume 10% broken stowage? (D042DG )

    N a. 51 cubic feet (1.5 cubic meters)
    N b. 58 cubic feet (1.7 cubic meters)
    Y c. 65 cubic feet (2.0 cubic meters)
    N d. 336 cubic feet (10 cubic meters)

837: When may foreign licensed or documented personnel be employed on a US-flag towing vessel?

    Y a. While on a foreign voyage and outside US jurisdiction, in order to meet manning requirements
    N b. While operating above the US outer continental shelf
    N c. On vessels operating on domestic voyages only
    N d. Never, under any circumstances

866: For the deepest water when rounding a bend in a river, you should navigate your vessel __________.

    N a. toward the inside of the bend
    Y b. toward the outside of the bend
    N c. toward the center of the river just before the bend, then change course for the river's center after the bend
    N d. in the river's center

935: The scuppers had been plugged as required at the time an oil spill occurs on deck. After shutting down the transfer, the engineroom should first be informed and then __________.

    N a. rig a fire hose and call for water on deck
    Y b. spread an absorbent material, such as sawdust
    N c. remove the plugs from the scuppers
    N d. sound the general alarm

958: You are in a tropical port. The refrigeration machinery on a container loaded with air-cooled fruit fails. It cannot be repaired for 18 to 24 hours. Which step should you take to reduce the temperature rise and spoilage of the fruit?

    N a. Discharge a cylinder of nitrogen into the container
    Y b. Shade the container and periodically hose it down
    N c. Seal any ventilation openings and add dry ice
    N d. Spread ice over the top layer and in any voids within the container

981: When a vessel is entering or leaving a port, a record of engine speeds is kept in the __________.

    Y a. bell book
    N b. deck rough log
    N c. Official Logbook
    N d. engine rough log

1050: The "margin plate" is the __________.

    Y a. outboard strake of plating on each side of an inner bottom
    N b. outer strake of plating on each side of the main deck of a vessel
    N c. plate which sits atop the center vertical keel
    N d. uppermost continuous strake of plating on the shell of a vessel

1075: You are standing wheelwatch on entering port, and the Master gives you a rudder command that conflicts with a rudder command from the Pilot. What should you do?

    N a. Obey the Pilot
    Y b. Obey the Master
    N c. Ask the Pilot for guidance
    N d. Bring the rudder to midships

1090: A chock __________.

    N a. is a deck fitting used to shackle gear to the deck
    N b. permits easy jettisoning of deck cargo in an emergency
    N c. prevents stress concentration in the bulwark
    Y d. provides openings through the bulwark for mooring lines

1169: Static electricity may be built up by the __________.

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

1180: The regulations require that inspected vessels on an international voyage, other than small passenger vessels, must carry which of the following distress signals on or near the navigating bridge?

    N a. 12 hand red flares
    Y b. 12 rocket parachute flares
    N c. 12 hand combination flares and orange smoke signals
    N d. 6 hand red flares, and 6 hand orange smoke signals

1211: When clearing a vessel for a foreign voyage, the original crew list is duly certified by proper authority. In a U.S. port, this authority is the U.S. __________.

    N a. Coast Guard
    Y b. Customs
    N c. Immigration Service
    N d. Public Health Service

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.

1404: Galvanizing would not be suitable for protecting wire rope which is used for __________.

    Y a. cargo runners
    N b. mooring wires
    N c. shrouds
    N d. stays

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

1568: A tackle is "two blocked" when the blocks are __________.

    N a. equally sharing the load
    Y b. jammed together
    N c. as far apart as possible
    N d. rove to the highest mechanical advantage

1575: The key to rescuing a man overboard is __________.

    N a. good communication
    N b. a dedicated crew
    N c. good equipment
    Y d. well-conducted drills

1671: The number of certificated able seamen and lifeboatmen required on a vessel is determined by the __________.

    N a. International Maritime Organization
    N b. Corps of Engineers
    Y c. Coast Guard
    N d. American Bureau of Shipping

1672: You are to load a consignment of lumber. Each piece measures 2-inches thick, 10-inches wide and 16-feet long. There are 30,000 pieces in the shipment. How many board feet would be listed on the Bill of Lading?

    Y a. 800,000
    N b. 1,200,000
    N c. 1,440,000
    N d. 14,400,000

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

1910: The knot lettered J is a __________. (DO30DG )

    Y a. plain whipping
    N b. bowline
    N c. marline hitch
    N d. becket bend

1945: One of your crew members falls overboard from the starboard side. You should IMMEDIATELY __________.

    N a. apply left rudder
    Y b. throw the crew member a life preserver
    N c. begin backing your engines
    N d. position your vessel to windward and begin recovery

1950: You are proceeding to a distress site and expect large numbers of people in the water. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. You should stop to windward of the survivors in the water and only use the ship's boats to recover the survivors.
    N b. If the survivors are in inflatable rafts you should approach from windward to create a lee for the survivors.
    Y c. An inflatable liferaft secured alongside can be an effective boarding station for transfer of survivors from the boats.
    N d. Survivors in the water should never be permitted alongside due to the possibility of injury from the vessel.

1979: What is a proper size block to use with a 3-inch circumference Manila line?

    N a. At least a 12-inch sheave
    Y b. 9-inch cheek, 6-inch sheave
    N c. 8-inch cheek, any size sheave
    N d. 6-inch cheek, 4-inch sheave

2058: What is NOT suitable for use in making up the towing rig for a heavy, long ocean tow?

    N a. Chain
    Y b. Ring
    N c. Solid thimble
    N d. A fishplate

2168: What is the name of tackle number 6? (DO29DG )

    N a. Triple purchase
    N b. Clew garnet tackle
    N c. Boat falls
    Y d. Threefold purchase

2184: The lashings on a stack of containers with interlocking fittings restrain the forces that cause __________.

    N a. toppling
    Y b. racking
    N c. buckling
    N d. crushing

2187: You are using tackle number 10 to lift a weight. The hauling part of this tackle is bent to the weight hook (w) of tackle number 5. What is the mechanical advantage of this rig? (DO29DG )

    Y a. 25
    N b. 20
    N c. 15
    N d. 10

2193: You have determined the maneuvering characteristics of your vessel by taking the radar ranges and bearings of an isolated light while making a turn. The results are listed in illustration D035DG. Based on this data what is the tactical diameter of the turning circle? (D035DG )

    N a. 755 yards
    N b. 780 yards
    N c. 820 yards
    Y d. 880 yards

2356: "Hard right rudder" means __________.

    N a. jam the rudder against the stops
    N b. meet a swing to the right, then return to amidships
    Y c. put the rudder over to the right all the way
    N d. put the rudder over quickly to 15 degrees right rudder

2386: A vessel has an amidships superstructure. Which location would be most suitable for main deck stowage of vehicles?

    N a. On top of #1 hatch
    N b. Beside the hatches, forward of the midships house
    N c. On top of the aftermost hatch on the vessel
    Y d. On top of the hatch immediately aft of the midships house

2456: Which term describes a part of a natural fiber line?

    N a. Lacings
    N b. Lays
    Y c. Strands
    N d. Twines

2509: What is the purpose of cant frames in steel vessels?

    N a. To support the overhang of the stern
    Y b. To provide strength to shell plating at the stern
    N c. To add strength to the deck beams which support the weather decks
    N d. To support the plating of a cylindrical tank

2520: When a line is spirally coiled about its end and lying flat on deck, it is said to be __________.

    N a. coiled
    N b. faked
    Y c. flemished
    N d. seized

2646: Which statement is true concerning repairs on the hull of a vessel which is to be riveted and welded?

    N a. Riveting must be completed before welding begins.
    N b. Riveting and welding should be done alternately.
    Y c. Welding must be completed before the riveting begins.
    N d. It does not matter in what order the operations are done.

2760: When the wave period and the apparent rolling period are the same __________.

    Y a. synchronous rolling occurs
    N b. roll period decreases
    N c. roll period increases
    N d. roll amplitude is dampened

2858: Which characteristic is a disadvantage of a controllable- pitch propeller as compared to a fixed-pitch propeller?

    N a. Slightly higher fuel consumption
    N b. Lack of directional control when backing
    N c. Inefficient at high shaft RPM
    Y d. Some unusual handling characteristics

3017: Which situation requires you to furnish a notice of marine casualty to the Coast Guard?

    N a. Storm damage to the cargo winch motors requires repairs costing $19,000.
    Y b. Your vessel is at anchor and grounds at low tide with no apparent damage.
    N c. You collide with a buoy and drag it off station with no apparent damage to the vessel or the buoy.
    N d. A seaman slips on ice on deck and sprains his ankle, requiring an ace bandage.

3048: The proximity of pack ice may be indicated by __________.

    N a. changes in seawater salinity
    Y b. glare on clouds on the horizon
    N c. changes in air temperature
    N d. icebergs

3165: When steering a vessel, a good helmsman does NOT __________.

    N a. consider steering a vessel a highly responsible job
    Y b. use as much rudder as possible to keep the vessel on course
    N c. use as little rudder as possible to keep the vessel on course
    N d. advise his relief of the course being steered

3173: In a national emergency, when communicating via the Navy, messages are sent by precedence. A message designated FLASH will be delivered within __________.

    N a. 3 hours to start of business the following day
    N b. 1 to 6 hours
    Y c. 10 minutes if possible
    N d. 30 minutes to 1 hour

3347: The opening in the deck beneath the anchor windlass that leads to the chain locker is the __________.

    N a. hawsepipe
    N b. fallpipe
    N c. drop-pipe
    Y d. spill pipe

3610: You have a tow of chemical barges. The mate reports an ammonia smell around the head of the tow. You would suspect a leak in the barge carrying __________.

    N a. methyl chloride
    N b. heptane
    N c. propanolamine
    Y d. morpholine

3610: You have a tow of chemical barges. The mate reports an ammonia smell around the head of the tow. You would suspect a leak in the barge carrying __________.

    N a. methyl chloride
    N b. heptane
    N c. propanolamine
    Y d. morpholine

3689: The wildcat is linked to the central drive shaft on most windlasses by __________.

    N a. an electromagnetic brake
    N b. a hydraulic coupling
    N c. aligning the keyways on both and inserting a key
    Y d. a mechanical coupling where lugs engage detents

4018: The BEST holding ground for conventional anchors is __________.

    Y a. sand
    N b. very soft mud
    N c. shale
    N d. rock

4071: The head block is located___________.

    N a. at the base of the boom
    Y b. at the head of the boom
    N c. at the head of the mast
    N d. on top of the jack staff

4146: Which of the following tensioning devices is used with webbing to secure light vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

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

4149: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding lashing requirements to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. The securing of cargo on flats and trailers must be adequate to withstand road motions only.
    N b. The movements experienced by road borne cargo are the same as the movements of a ship at sea.
    Y c. The generally recommended lash angle is no greater than 45 degrees relative to the deck in any direction.
    N d. It is not necessary for an adequate number of securing points on the vehicles themselves since setting the brakes is sufficient.