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.


50: A vessel is entering port and has a Pilot conning the vessel. The Master is unsure that the Pilot is taking sufficient action to prevent a collision. What should the Master do?


111: You are the licensed Master of a towing vessels operating between New York and Tampa, Florida. If you carry four (4) deckhands onboard, how many must be able seamen?


184: You are standing look-out duty at night. A dim light on the horizon will be seen quickest by looking __________.


240: The best way to lift many small articles aboard your vessel is with a __________.

    Y a. pallet
    N b. barrel hook
    N c. spreader
    N d. snotter

282: The owner, agent, Master or person-in-charge of a "T-Boat" involved in a marine casualty causing injury that requires professional medical treatment must __________.

    N a. immediately notify the nearest USCG MSO, MIO, or Group Office
    N b. keep all voyage records and make them available to Coast Guard investigators
    N c. file a written report (CG2692) of the casualty within five days
    Y d. All of the above

305: What is considered a Serious Marine Incident?

    N a. an allision that results in $500 damage to a boat dock
    Y b. an injury to a crewmember, passenger, or other person which requires professional medical treatment beyond first aid
    N c. grounding of a vessel on a sandbar that does not result in injuries and/or any damage to the vessel
    N d. None of the above

312: If you are bunkering and you close off one tank in the line of tanks being filled, the rate of flow to other open tanks on the same line will __________.

    Y a. increase
    N b. decrease
    N c. stop
    N d. remain constant

339: Oil product samples should be taken from the __________.

    N a. dock riser
    N b. ship's cargo tanks
    N c. shore tank discharge
    Y d. All of the above

418: On a vessel proceeding from a very cold to a warm climate with a cargo of a nonhygroscopic nature in the holds, which is TRUE?

    N a. Danger of heavy ship sweat exists; constant and vigorous ventilation is required.
    Y b. There is danger of heavy cargo sweat if outside air is introduced by ventilation.
    N c. There is little danger of ship's sweat, slight possibility of cargo sweat; moderate ventilation is needed.
    N d. The possibility of any sweat problem, either cargo or ship, is remote.

457: You are the operator of an uninspected diesel towing vessel of 190 GT operating on a regular run from New York to the Gulf of Mexico. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Deck watches may be 6 and 6.
    N b. Able seamen are not required in the deck crew.
    Y c. All crew members must have Merchant Mariner's Documents.
    N d. A licensed Chief Engineer is required.

463: A tow span __________.

    N a. prevents the towing hawser from snagging any equipment or gear on deck
    N b. may be equipped with a greased, free sliding spool to fairlead the towing hawser
    N c. allows the crew access to the fantail and to move safely on deck aft of the towing bitts or winch
    Y d. All of the above

527: What equipment is NOT used to protect a towing hawser?

    N a. Hawser boards and chafing gear
    Y b. Halyards and snaphooks
    N c. Seizing wire, rope yarn and marline
    N d. Norman pins and tow spans

572: A vessel is entering port "A" for the first time and has a Pilot conning the vessel. The Master is unsure that the Pilot is taking sufficient action to prevent a collision. What should the Master do?

    N a. Nothing; The Pilot is required by law and is solely responsible for the safety of the vessel.
    N b. State his concerns to the Pilot but do not interfere with the handling of the vessel.
    N c. Direct the Pilot to stop the vessel and anchor if necessary until the situation clears.
    Y d. Recommend an alternative action and if not followed relieve the Pilot.

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

618: When considering a vessel's stability, which spaces in a general cargo vessel are the best locations for the carriage of bulk grain?

    Y a. Deep tanks
    N b. Lower holds
    N c. Lower holds at the ends of the vessel
    N d. 'Tween-decks

634: The "iron mike" is a(n) __________.

    N a. pilot
    N b. speaker
    N c. standby wheel
    Y d. automatic pilot

649: Before a tank is to be crude oil washed, the oxygen content in the tank must be measured at a position __________.

    N a. immediately above the level of the oil
    N b. at the top of the tank
    N c. in the vent riser
    Y d. one meter from the deck

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

744: When using natural-fiber rope, you should NEVER __________.

    N a. dry the line before stowing it
    N b. reverse turns on winches periodically to keep out kinks
    Y c. try to lubricate the line
    N d. use chafing gear

821: The Master must maintain the Oil Record Book on board for at least __________.

    N a. 1 month
    N b. 12 months
    N c. 24 months
    Y d. 36 months

827: The pitch of a propeller is a measure of the __________.

    N a. angle that the propeller makes with a free stream of water
    N b. angle that the propeller makes with the surface of the water
    Y c. number of feet per revolution the propeller is designed to advance in still water without slip
    N d. positive pressure resulting from the difference of the forces on both sides of the moving propeller in still water without slip

828: Your vessel's available bale cubic capacity is 625,000 and her available cargo capacity is 10,000 deadweight tons. Disregarding broken stowage, how many tons of pyrite (stowage factor - 13) and how many tons of cork (s.f. - 150) must be loaded to be full and down?

    Y a. 6387 tons pyrite, 3613 tons cork
    N b. 6721 tons pyrite, 3279 tons cork
    N c. 7500 tons pyrite, 2500 tons cork
    N d. 9133 tons pyrite, 867 tons cork

873: At the required fire drill, all persons must report to their stations and demonstrate their ability to perform the duties assigned to them __________.

    N a. by the Coast Guard regulations
    Y b. in the Muster List ("Station Bill")
    N c. by the person conducting the drill
    N d. at the previous safety meeting

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

957: Your vessel has completed an inspection for certification and is issued a Temporary Certificate of Inspection. The Temporary Certificate __________.

    Y a. has the full force of the regular Certificate of Inspection
    N b. expires six months after it is issued
    N c. must be exchanged for a regular Certificate of Inspection within 3 months
    N d. is retained in the custody of the Master

1101: A vessel puts into the port of Kobe, Japan, to discharge cargo. The vessel contracts a local shipyard to have the hull chipped and scaled. If the vessel provides the primer and paint, which statement is TRUE?

    N a. You need NOT declare the cost of labor, since no duty is involved.
    N b. You need NOT declare the cost of labor, since this is considered ship's personnel work.
    Y c. You MUST declare the cost of labor and pay duty.
    N d. You MUST declare the cost of labor, but no duty is charged since labor is involved.

1123: On a transpacific voyage, you receive a message from your vessel's operators saying that your vessel has been consigned to Naval Control of Shipping. Further information is contained in __________.

    N a. the Light List
    N b. the Coast Pilot
    N c. the International Code of Signals (PUB 102)
    Y d. Radio Aids to Navigation (PUB 117)

1125: The pivoting point of a vessel going ahead is __________.

    Y a. about one-third of the vessel's length from the bow
    N b. about two-thirds of the vessel's length from the bow
    N c. at the hawsepipe
    N d. near the stern

1192: A person has fallen overboard and is being picked up with a lifeboat. If the person appears in danger of drowning, the lifeboat should make __________.

    N a. an approach from leeward
    N b. an approach from windward
    Y c. the most direct approach
    N d. an approach across the wind

1340: The usual depth of a beam bracket is __________.

    Y a. 2 1/2 times the depth of the beam
    N b. 5 times the depth of the beam
    N c. 10 times the depth of the beam
    N d. same depth as the beam

1344: When working with wire rope, which must be considered?

    N a. Metal sheaves should be lined with wood or leather.
    Y b. It needs better care than hemp or manila.
    N c. It should be lubricated annually.
    N d. The diameter of a sheave over which a rope is worked should be ten times that of the rope.

1344: When working with wire rope, which must be considered?

    N a. Metal sheaves should be lined with wood or leather.
    Y b. It needs better care than hemp or manila.
    N c. It should be lubricated annually.
    N d. The diameter of a sheave over which a rope is worked should be ten times that of the rope.

1491: While underway, part of your cargo is damaged by fire. In marine insurance terms this partial loss is called __________.

    N a. absolute total loss
    N b. constructive total loss
    N c. general average
    Y d. particular average

1661: Which document is NOT required by law to be posted aboard a vessel?

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

1729: The greatest strain, when lifting a load with the jumbo purchase, is on __________.

    N a. all of the parts, dividing the load equally
    Y b. the hauling part because it must absorb the frictional losses of all the sheaves
    N c. the parts in the movable block
    N d. the standing part because it is directly connected to the weight

1746: Which would you NOT use to report the amount of anchor chain out? "Three shots __________."

    N a. at the water's edge
    N b. on deck
    Y c. on the bottom
    N d. well in the water

1794: A "figure eight" knot is used to __________.

    N a. be a stopper
    N b. shorten a line
    N c. join lines of equal size
    Y d. keep a line from passing through a sheave

1845: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) and wish to send a message concerning an initial enemy contact. Which precedence would you assign this message?

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

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

1958: When tandem tug towing, the more powerful of the two tugs should be __________.

    N a. the lead tug
    Y b. behind the lead tug
    N c. towing at a right angle to the smaller tug
    N d. towing at a faster speed than the smaller tug

1991: Using the graph shown, if the dry bulb temperature is 91°, and the wet bulb temperature is 87°, what is the relative humidity in a cargo hold? (D008DG )

    N a. 79%
    Y b. 85%
    N c. 91%
    N d. 98%

2073: You are preparing to lubricate standing rigging on your vessel. When rigging a bosun's chair on a stay with a shackle, __________.

    N a. connect the shackle to the bosun's chair with a hook
    Y b. never allow the shackle pin to ride on the stay
    N c. run the gantline through the shackle and then make fast to the bosun's chair
    N d. tie the bitter end of the gantline to the shackle before shackling it to the bosun's chair

2128: Several merchant ships are arriving at the scene of a distress incident. One of the them must assume the duties of the Coordinator Surface Search (CSS). Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    N a. CSS duties are always assumed by passenger vessels, dry cargo vessels, or tankers in that order of precedence.
    Y b. The CSS must be established by mutual agreement between the ships concerned.
    N c. A tank vessel should never be assigned CSS duties unless only tank vessels are present.
    N d. The first vessel to arrive at the distress incident is designated as the CSS.

2182: What is the name of tackle number 4? (DO29DG )

    N a. Double whip
    N b. Luff tackle
    Y c. Two-fold purchase
    N d. 2-2 tackle

2213: You are using tackle number 6 to lift a weight. The hauling part of this tackle is bent to the weight hook (w) of tackle number 8. Disregarding friction, what is the mechanical advantage of this rig? (DO29DG )

    N a. 11
    N b. 16
    Y c. 18
    N d. 24

2244: If you are loading fruit in reefer spaces and you notice that the fruit is beginning to mold, you should __________.

    N a. carry the cargo at a cooler temperature than originally planned
    Y b. write up exceptions on the cargo
    N c. refuse to carry the cargo
    N d. discharge CO2 into the compartment after loading

2268: The helm command "shift your rudder" means __________.

    N a. check the swing of the vessel
    N b. double your rudder angle or go to full rudder
    N c. bring your rudder amidships
    Y d. change from right rudder to left rudder, or vice versa, an equal number of degrees

2567: When relieving the helm, the new helmsman should know the __________.

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

2570: When a line is laid down in loose, looping figure-eights, it is said to be __________.

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

2632: The horizontal flat surfaces where the upper stock joins the rudder are the __________.

    N a. rudder keys
    Y b. rudder palms
    N c. lifting flanges
    N d. shoes of the rudder

2659: The shearing stresses on a ship's structure are usually greatest at __________.

    N a. the bow
    N b. the stern
    N c. midships
    Y d. the ship's quarter-length points

2906: You are planning to anchor in an area where several anchors have been lost due to fouling. As a precaution, you should __________.

    N a. anchor using both anchors
    N b. anchor with scope of 8 or more to 1
    N c. use a stern anchor
    Y d. fit a crown strap and work wire to the anchor

2919: Which statement about general average is TRUE?

    N a. Damage to a ship must have been incurred while the ship and/or its machinery was being used for its intended purpose.
    Y b. Property must have been sacrificed or an expenditure of money incurred.
    N c. The loss or damage to deck cargo due to heavy weather constitutes general average.
    N d. Of the ship, the freight, and the cargo interests, only one need be involved.

3064: What is the meaning of a flag hoist consisting of the code letters "WM" (Whiskey Mike) when displayed by an icebreaker?

    N a. "I am going ahead; follow me."
    N b. "You should stop your vessel instantly."
    Y c. "Icebreaker support is now commencing."
    N d. "Icebreaker support is finished."

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

3486: When a two-leg sling is used to lift a load, a sling 40 feet long is better than one of 30 feet because the __________.

    Y a. tension in the sling legs is less
    N b. load can be lifted higher
    N c. sling will be easier to attach
    N d. sling will be easier to remove

3501: What must be accurately determined to assess the potential for progressive flooding after a vessel has been damaged?

    Y a. The integrity of the water tight boundaries
    N b. The capacity of the water sprinkler systems
    N c. The operation of the machinery space bilge level alarms
    N d. All of the above

3504: Metal plates that cover the top of the hawsepipe are called __________.

    N a. footings
    N b. plugs
    Y c. buckler plates
    N d. stop waters

3692: What provides little or no indication that a vessel is dragging anchor?

    N a. Increasing radar range to a fixed object ahead
    Y b. Drift lead with the line leading perpendicular to the centerline
    N c. Vibrations felt by placing a hand on the anchor cable
    N d. Changing bearings to distant fixed objects abeam

4088: With a given load on the cargo hook, the thrust on a cargo boom __________.

    Y a. increases as the angle to the horizontal increases
    N b. increases as the angle to the horizontal decreases
    N c. is greatest at an angle of 45° and decreases as the boom is raised or lowered
    N d. is least at an angle of 45° and increases as the boom is raised or lowered