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.


25: The turning circle of a vessel making a turn over 360 degrees is the path followed by the __________.


53: The objective of shoring a damaged bulkhead is to __________.


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


143: Why are most break bulk vessels built with the transverse framing system rather than the longitudinal system?

    N a. The transverse system is more resistant to hog and sag stresses.
    N b. The numerous longitudinal frames cause excessive broken stowage.
    N c. The transverse system provides better support to the varying cargo densities on a break bulk vessel.
    Y d. The deep web frames interfere with the stowage of break bulk cargo.

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.

461: Where is the best location to install a towing hook?

    N a. Forward of the towing bitts
    N b. On the fantail
    N c. Near the Norman Pins
    Y d. Just aft of amidships

559: A vessel loads edible oil in a deep tank through a manhole at the mid-length of the tank. In order to fill the tank to maximum capacity, what trim should the vessel have?

    N a. Down by the bow
    N b. Down by the stern
    N c. Down by either the bow or stern
    Y d. In level trim

581: The Certificate of Inspection for your tankship authorizes the carriage of grade A and lower products. Which chemical may NOT be carried unless it is specifically endorsed on the Certificate of Inspection?

    N a. Amylene
    N b. Diisobutyl Phthalate
    N c. Oleic acid
    Y d. Vinyl acetate

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

    N a. onshore stern line
    Y b. offshore stern line
    N c. after breast line
    N d. after spring line

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

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

872: In a foreign port with a consulate, the U.S. Consul may excuse the Master from personally appearing before him to consent to the mutual release of an injured seaman, when the __________.

    Y a. injury requires immediate inpatient hospitalization of the seaman
    N b. Master authorizes the agent to act in his place
    N c. ship is still in port and the seaman can appear before the Consul after medical treatment
    N d. seaman also consents to the absence, and there is no dispute as to the wages due

883: The size and material used for towline(s) must meet all of the following requirements, EXCEPT ____________ .

    N a. be appropriate to the vessel's horsepower or bollard pull
    N b. be strong enough to handle any static or dynamic loads expected during its service life
    Y c. fit any spare wire clips carried on board the vessel for repair purposes
    N d. be suitable for exposure to the marine environment

945: After having been pulled aloft in a bosun's chair on a mast, you must now make yourself fast in the chair prior to painting the mast. You should first __________.

    N a. have the sailor on deck make the hauling part fast to a cleat on the mast
    N b. make the tail of the line leading from the becket bend fast to a padeye on the mast
    Y c. seize the hauling part and the standing part firmly in one hand to support your weight
    N d. frap yourself to the mast to take the strain off the hauling part

959: A relief valve for a cargo pump is generally installed __________.

    N a. after the discharge valve
    Y b. between the pump and discharge valve
    N c. after the suction valve
    N d. between the pump and suction valve

976: When the period of beam seas equals the natural rolling period of a vessel, what will most likely occur?

    N a. Excessive pitching
    N b. Excessive yawing
    Y c. Excessive rolling
    N d. No change should be evident

1056: In which situation could a vessel most easily capsize?

    N a. Running into head seas
    Y b. Running in the trough
    N c. Running with following seas
    N d. Anchored with your bow into the seas

1073: You are preparing to slush a stay on your vessel by lowering yourself down the stay in a bosun's chair. The proper way to do this is to ride down the stay on a riding shackle __________.

    N a. with the pin of the shackle riding on the stay
    Y b. with the pin of the shackle through the chair's bridle eye
    N c. with a hook attaching the chair to the riding shackle
    N d. connected to a second shackle on the chair

1173: You are making a sharp turn in a channel and using a buoy four points on the bow to gauge your rate of turn. If you observe the buoy moving forward relative to you, what should you do?

    N a. Increase the rate of turn
    Y b. Decrease the rate of turn
    N c. Maintain a constant rate of turn
    N d. Increase speed

1183: Which towing equipment can be used to prevent the tripping of a tug?

    N a. Bridles
    N b. Chafing boards
    Y c. Gob ropes
    N d. Drogues

1241: A Notice of Marine Casualty to a vessel must include __________.

    N a. the estimated cost of damage
    Y b. the name of the owner or agent of the vessel
    N c. an evaluation of who was at fault
    N d. the amount of ballast on board

1292: The Articles of Agreement __________.

    N a. is also known as a Merchant Mariner's Document
    N b. designates the quarters a seaman will occupy during a voyage
    Y c. advises the crew of the conditions of employment
    N d. are signed by each crewmember at the end of the voyage

1482: The two courses of action if the underwater hull is severely damaged are to plug the openings or to __________.

    Y a. establish and maintain flooding boundaries
    N b. dewater the compartment
    N c. secure power to the compartment
    N d. ballast to maintain even keel

1530: Shell plating is __________.

    N a. the galvanizing on steel
    N b. a hatch cover
    Y c. the outer plating of a vessel
    N d. synonymous with decking

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

1638: On a twin-screw, twin-rudder vessel, the most effective way to turn in your own water, with no way on, is to put __________.

    Y a. one engine ahead and one engine astern, with full rudder
    N b. one engine ahead and one engine astern, with rudders amidships
    N c. both engines ahead, with full rudder
    N d. both engines astern, with full rudder

1704: Whipping the bitter end of a fiber rope __________.

    N a. increases the circumference of the rope
    N b. makes for easier handling
    Y c. prevents fraying of the bitter end
    N d. prevents moisture from entering the bitter end

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

1751: The load line certificate is issued by __________.

    Y a. the American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. the National Cargo Bureau
    N c. the United States Coast Guard
    N d. United States Customs

1774: Which knot is used to attach two different sized lines together?

    N a. Granny knot
    Y b. Sheet bend
    N c. Square knot
    N d. Thief knot

1780: The term that indicates how many tons of cargo a vessel can carry is __________.

    N a. bale cubic
    Y b. deadweight
    N c. gross tonnage
    N d. loaded displacement

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

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

1806: If the situation arose where it became necessary to tow a disabled vessel, which statement is TRUE concerning the towing line?

    N a. The towing line between the two vessels should be clear of the water.
    N b. The towing line should be taut at all times between the vessels.
    Y c. There should be a catenary so the line dips into the water.
    N d. None of the above

1862: How much force would be required to lift a weight of 200 lbs. using a gun tackle rigged to disadvantage (do not consider friction)?

    N a. 50 lbs.
    Y b. 100 lbs.
    N c. 150 lbs.
    N d. 200 lbs.

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

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

1977: On a crane, the boom indicator tells the operator what angle the boom angle is compared to the __________.

    N a. vertical position
    Y b. horizontal position
    N c. boom stop angle
    N d. minimum radius angle

1978: When towing, the least amount of tension will be on each bridle leg when the two legs __________.

    N a. form a large angle with each other
    Y b. form a small angle with each other
    N c. are of unequal length
    N d. are joined by a fishplate

1985: You are on a 165 foot (50.3 meters) long vessel with a draft of 9 feet (2.7 meters) and twin screws. Which statement about rescuing a survivor in the water with ship pickup is TRUE?

    N a. You should stop to windward of the man and drift down on him.
    N b. You should stop with the man on your weather beam and twist the ship up to him.
    Y c. A pickup off the weather bow gives maximum maneuverability with the least possibility of injury to the man.
    N d. Ship pick up should never be used with a shallow draft vessel.

2102: A seaman deserts the vessel in a foreign port. What should the Master do with any of the deserter's personal effects remaining on board?

    N a. Sell them at auction and deposit the money in the ship's morale or welfare fund.
    N b. Donate them to a local charity upon return to the United States.
    Y c. Transfer them to the appropriate district court of the U.S. at the end of the voyage.
    N d. Inventory them, make an appropriate entry in the Official Logbook and dispose of them at sea.

2321: Your vessel has run aground and is touching bottom for the first one-quarter of its length. What is the LEAST desirable method from the standpoint of stability to decrease the bottom pressure?

    N a. Discharge forward deck cargo.
    Y b. Pump out the forepeak tank.
    N c. Shift deck cargo aft.
    N d. Flood an after double-bottom tank.

2516: Which statement about the dangerous cargo manifest, carried on a ship, is TRUE?

    N a. The manifest must be made up by the Master or other designated ship's officer.
    N b. Shipments of hazardous and non-hazardous cargo may be listed on the manifest if they are destined for the same consignee.
    Y c. The manifest must be kept in a designated holder on or near the bridge.
    N d. The type of label(s) required for each cargo must be indicated.

2609: Which tanker discharge pattern would be the safest and most efficient?

    N a. Empty the forward tanks and start working aft, emptying each tank in sequence
    Y b. Start discharging with most of the discharge coming from forward, but include some from midships and after tanks
    N c. Start pumping from forward, midships, and aft with the discharge distributed equally among the tanks
    N d. Start pumping from midships and then work forward and aft simultaneously as the midships tank is emptied

2710: 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.
    N b. Pyridine and diisopropylamine may be carried in tanks having a common header vent.
    Y c. Diisopropylamine must be separated from carbon disulfide by two barriers (cofferdams, voids, empty tanks, etc.)
    N d. A tank of carbon disulfide may be used to separate a tank of pyridine from a tank of diisopropylamine.

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

2838: A U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker, while escorting ships in ice, may sound four short and one long blasts on the whistle to indicate that the icebreaker __________.

    Y a. has become beset in fast ice
    N b. is increasing speed; watch for broken ice
    N c. has its engines full astern
    N d. is increasing the distance between vessels

2859: An icebreaker assisting a vessel through an ice field would display a visual signal consisting of the code letter "M" (Mike) to signify that "________________".

    N a. I am altering my course to starboard
    N b. I am altering my course to port
    N c. I am operating astern propulsion
    Y d. my vessel is stopped and making no way through the water

2948: An icebreaker assisting a vessel through an ice field would display a visual signal consisting of the code letter "S" (Sierra) to signify that "________________".

    N a. I am altering my course to starboard
    N b. I am altering my course to port
    Y c. I am operating astern propulsion
    N d. My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water

2977: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) when you wish to send a message concerning your ships diversion. Which precedence would you assign this message?

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

2982: How should you signal the crane operator to stop?

    N a. Place both fists in front of your body with the thumbs pointing outward.
    N b. With both arms extended out and palms down, move arms back and forth.
    Y c. Extend arm with the palm down and hold this position rigidly.
    N d. Clasp hands in front of your body.

2988: You are mooring to a buoy. You should approach the buoy with the current from __________.

    Y a. ahead
    N b. broad on the bow
    N c. abeam
    N d. astern

3054: The phenomenon known as a "seiche" is most likely to occur on Lake Erie __________.

    N a. during the passage of a rapidly moving warm front
    Y b. when strong winds from the Northeast suddenly diminish
    N c. during the months of May through August
    N d. when the Moon and Sun are in alignment

3262: Fracture damage to the end links of the anchor cable, or to the Jews' harp may be eliminated by __________.

    N a. using a small diameter connecting shackle
    N b. ensuring the swivel is well lubricated and free to turn
    N c. installing the connecting shackle with the bow towards the anchor
    Y d. securing a piece of wood to the Jews' harp

3374: Angular motion about the longitudinal axis of a vessel is known as __________.

    N a. pitch
    N b. surge
    N c. sway
    Y d. roll

3463: Deckhands onboard towing vessels shall be divided into 3 watches when the trip exceeds __________.

    N a. 1000 miles
    N b. 800 miles
    N c. 700 miles
    Y d. 600 miles

3742: It is good practice to use long towlines for ocean tows because the __________.

    N a. wear on the towline is equalized
    N b. weight of the towline increases the towing force
    Y c. dip in the towline absorbs shock loads
    N d. danger of overriding is reduced

4014: The facewire refers to item __________. (D024DG )

    Y a. I
    N b. H
    N c. B
    N d. A

4056: The tankship Northland is loaded as shown. Use the salmon colored pages in the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the sagging numeral. (Get Table Data)

    N a. 89.75 numeral
    N b. 40.18 numeral
    N c. 28.62 numeral
    Y d. 22.44 numeral

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

4382: What does item "C" refer to in this illustration of a 30-ton pedestal crane? (D045DG )

    N a. Equalizing beam
    N b. Hoist fall spreader
    Y c. Rider block
    N d. Block/hook assembly