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.


10: You are scheduled to load a bulk shipment of steel turnings. Which statement is TRUE?


61: Deckhands onboard towing vessels shall be divided into 3 watches when on a trip exceeding __________.


75: Frames to which the tank top and bottom shell are fastened are called __________.


101: You can safely step in the bight of a line __________.

    N a. when it is not under strain
    N b. if both ends are made fast
    N c. in an emergency
    Y d. at no time

155: You are transporting dangerous cargo on your vessel. You must inspect this cargo __________.

    Y a. daily
    N b. daily, at sea only
    N c. after encountering rough weather
    N d. after loading and prior to arrival in port only

161: A seaman leaves a vessel before it sails from a foreign port. He informs the Chief Officer that he won't return. After the vessel sails, the Chief Officer finds the seaman's work clothes in his locker. How should the Master handle this matter?

    Y a. Log the seaman as a deserter.
    N b. Log the seaman as a fail to join.
    N c. Log the seaman for misconduct.
    N d. Take no action.

193: 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 International Code of Signals (PUB 102)
    Y c. Radio Navigational Aids (PUB 117)
    N d. the Coast Pilot

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

221: A vessel arrives in a foreign port and the Master is informed that the vessel is being sold to foreign interests. The new owners request that the crew remain on board to complete the voyage. Under these circumstances, the crew __________.

    Y a. has the right to an immediate discharge and transportation to original port of engagement
    N b. must remain on board
    N c. must comply with the decision made by the Master
    N d. must remain aboard until the vessel is delivered to the new owners at a mutually agreed upon port

360: The label required on containers carrying barium oxide in an international shipment must read __________.

    Y a. "Poison"
    N b. "Spontaneously Combustible"
    N c. "Radioactive"
    N d. "Infectious Substance"

426: You are stopped with no way upon your vessel at the pilot station. Your vessel is a large twin-screw ship. You must come around 180° to board your Pilot. How should you use the engines and rudder to turn the ship fastest in the least amount of space?

    N a. Full ahead on the engines and hard over rudder
    N b. Full ahead on one engine, full astern on the other
    Y c. Half ahead with hard over rudder, then full astern on inboard engine
    N d. Slow ahead with hard over rudder

434: To "belay" a line means to __________.

    N a. coil it down
    N b. heave it taut
    N c. stow it below
    Y d. secure it to a cleat

456: You are conning a twin-screw vessel going ahead with rudders amidships. If the port screw stops turning the bow will __________.

    Y a. go to port
    N b. go to starboard
    N c. not veer to either side
    N d. go first to port and then to starboard

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

551: The name and hailing port of a documented commercial vessel is __________.

    N a. not required to be marked anywhere on the vessel
    N b. required to be marked on both bows and on the keel
    Y c. required to be marked on the stern with the name of the vessel marked on both bows
    N d. required to be marked on the keel, stern, and both bows

566: The BEST way to steer a twin-screw vessel if you lose your rudder is by using __________.

    N a. one engine and a steering oar
    N b. both engines at the same speed
    N c. one engine at a time
    Y d. one engine running at reduced speed and controlling the vessel with the other

676: Conditions for crossing a rough bar are usually best at __________.

    N a. low water slack
    Y b. high water slack
    N c. high water ebb
    N d. high water flood

691: On U.S. flag vessels, which certificate is always issued by the Coast Guard?

    N a. Load Line Certificate
    Y b. Safety Equipment Certificate
    N c. Safety Construction Certificate
    N d. Register of cargo gear

749: Butadiene, inhibited, is labeled as a __________.

    N a. combustible liquid
    Y b. flammable gas
    N c. flammable liquid
    N d. flammable solid

818: Your vessel has a deadweight capacity of 5000 tons and a cubic capacity of 300,000 cu. ft. You are to load lead, with a stowage factor of 18, and cotton, with a stowage factor of 80. If you load full and down, how much cotton should you load?

    N a. 1613 tons
    N b. 2190 tons
    N c. 2810 tons
    Y d. 3387 tons

856: A wedge of water building up between the bow and nearer bank which forces the bow out and away describes __________.

    Y a. bank cushion
    N b. bank suction
    N c. combined effect
    N d. bend effect

962: You are the person in charge of a 199-GT uninspected towing vessel engaged in towing from New York to Mexico and then returning, a distance in excess of 600 miles. Which statement is FALSE?

    Y a. The crew members are required to sign articles.
    N b. All deck crew members are to have a Merchant Mariner's Document.
    N c. Able seamen are required in the deck crew.
    N d. The sailors shall be divided into three watches.

974: The "Port-Off-Stbd" selector switch on an autopilot steering stand is used to __________.

    N a. change from hand electric steering to automatic gyro
    Y b. change over one steering system to the other
    N c. change over hand electric steering to non-followup
    N d. change over the port to the starboard bow thruster

1093: When rigging a bosun's chair, a tail block or lizard is used to __________.

    N a. guide the bosun's chair down a stay when applying a protective coating
    N b. run paint or tools up to a sailor in a chair with a heaving line
    N c. keep a bosun's chair from swinging with the ship's motion
    Y d. reeve the gantline through

1261: A vessel operating "in class" has met all the requirements of the __________.

    Y a. ABS or similar society
    N b. insurance company
    N c. U.S. Coast Guard
    N d. U.S. Customs

1269: What is meant by the term "topping the boom"?

    N a. Lowering the boom
    Y b. Raising the boom
    N c. Spotting the boom over the deck
    N d. Swinging the boom athwartships

1325: You are signing on crew members. The minimum number of people required aboard, and the qualifications of each, is listed on the __________.

    N a. Crew list
    Y b. Certificate of Inspection
    N c. Articles of Agreement
    N d. fo'c'sle card

1348: Preparation of muster lists and signing of same is the responsibility of the __________.

    N a. Chief Officer of the vessel
    N b. owner of the vessel
    Y c. Master of the vessel
    N d. United States Coast Guard

1448: Nylon line is better suited than manila for __________.

    N a. towing alongside
    Y b. towing astern
    N c. holding knots and splices
    N d. resisting damage from chemicals

1467: The type of carrier required to file a copy of freight tariffs would be the __________.

    Y a. common carrier
    N b. tramp
    N c. public vessel
    N d. bulk carrier

1541: Which act would be considered barratry?

    N a. A criminal act committed by a crew member ashore in a foreign port
    Y b. A criminal act committed by the ship Master in violation of his duty to the shipowner
    N c. Theft of cargo by longshoremen
    N d. Smuggling with the connivance of the shipowner

1541: Which act would be considered barratry?

    N a. A criminal act committed by a crew member ashore in a foreign port
    Y b. A criminal act committed by the ship Master in violation of his duty to the shipowner
    N c. Theft of cargo by longshoremen
    N d. Smuggling with the connivance of the shipowner

1663: A bench hook is used for __________.

    N a. handling of cargo cases
    N b. hanging oilskins
    Y c. sewing canvas
    N d. splicing small stuff

1680: In vessel construction, the garboard strake is __________.

    Y a. located next to and parallel to the keel
    N b. located next to and parallel to the gunwale
    N c. another term for the bilge keel
    N d. another term for the rub rail

1686: When weighing anchor in a rough sea, how would you avoid risk of damaging the bow plating?

    N a. Heave it home as fast as you can.
    N b. Heave it home intermittently, between swells.
    Y c. Leave the anchor under foot, until the vessel may be brought before the sea.
    N d. Wait for a calm spot between seas, then house it.

1687: What is the perimeter of a circle with a radius of 4.2 feet?

    Y a. 26.39 ft
    N b. 21.19 ft
    N c. 17.81 ft
    N d. 13.20 ft

1706: Your vessel is anchored in an open roadstead with three shots of chain out on the port anchor. The wind freshens considerably and the anchor begins to drag. Which action should you take FIRST?

    N a. Drop the starboard anchor short with about one shot of chain.
    N b. Sheer out to starboard using the rudder, then drop the starboard anchor with about four shots of chain.
    N c. Put the engines slow ahead to help the anchor.
    Y d. Veer out more chain on the port anchor.

1776: When anchoring in calm water, it is best to __________.

    N a. maintain slight headway when letting go the anchor
    N b. wait until the vessel is dead in the water before letting go the anchor
    Y c. have slight sternway on the vessel while letting go the anchor
    N d. let the anchor go from the stern with the anchor cable leading from the bow

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

1838: You are docking a vessel. If possible, you should __________.

    N a. go in with the current
    Y b. go in against the current
    N c. approach the dock at a 90° angle and swing to
    N d. pass a mooring line to the dock with a heaving line and let the crew pull the vessel in

1881: In time of war Naval Control of Shipping Authorities may give orders concerning the __________.

    N a. cargo to be loaded
    N b. final destination
    Y c. ship's route
    N d. All of the above

2020: To facilitate passing the end of a large rope through a block, you could use a __________.

    N a. gantline
    N b. head line
    Y c. reeving line
    N d. sail line

2043: A mooring line that prevents a vessel from moving sideways away from the dock is a __________.

    N a. bow line
    Y b. breast line
    N c. stern line
    N d. spring line

2069: A "spring line" is a __________.

    N a. mooring line made of spring lay wire rope
    Y b. mooring line running diagonally to the keel
    N c. mooring line parallel to the keel
    N d. wire rope used for securing an anchor buoy

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.

2106: A racetrack turn would be better than a Williamson turn in recovering a man overboard if __________.

    N a. the man has been missing for a period of time
    Y b. the sea water is very cold and the man is visible
    N c. there is thick fog
    N d. the wind was from astern on the original course

2173: What is the name of tackle number 5? (DO29DG )

    N a. 3-2 purchase
    Y b. Double luff tackle
    N c. Two-fold purchase
    N d. Four-fold whip

2290: The sprocket teeth on a wildcat are known as the __________.

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

2791: What is the period of validity of a Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate?

    N a. 72 months
    Y b. 60 months
    N c. 48 months
    N d. 42 months

2940: A vessel reduces speed without backing. The rate that her speed through the water decreases depends primarily on the __________.

    N a. vessel's horsepower
    N b. sea state
    N c. number of propellers
    Y d. vessel's displacement

3013: Which will NOT reduce yawing of a tow?

    N a. Increasing the length of the towing hawser
    Y b. Trimming the tow by the bow
    N c. Trimming the tow by the stern
    N d. Drogues put over the stern

3091: Towlines should be inspected for chafing where the towline __________.

    N a. passes over the stern of the towing vessel
    N b. passes through chocks
    N c. is attached to the disabled vessel
    Y d. All of the above

3168: Which item is rigged to transmit the thrust from one barge to another when backing down? (D024DG )

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

3200: A license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard for apprentice mate (steersman) of Uninspected Towing Vessels is valid for __________.

    N a. 2 years and must be renewed
    N b. 3 years and must be renewed
    Y c. 5 years and must be renewed
    N d. None of the above

3218: The term "bollard pull" refers to a towing vessel's __________.

    N a. propulsion horsepower available
    N b. pulling ability at cruise power
    N c. towing winch capability
    Y d. pulling ability under static conditions

3292: The forecastle card is a(n) __________.

    N a. unlicensed shipping card from the union
    N b. quarters allocation
    Y c. copy of the shipping agreement
    N d. Muster List ("Station Bill")

3340: It is NOT advisable to use nylon for alongside towing because it __________.

    Y a. stretches too much
    N b. is too difficult to make fast
    N c. parts too readily
    N d. is too susceptible to mildew

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

4062: The signal man assisting the crane operator has his forearm vertical, forefinger pointing up, and moves his hand in a small horizontal circle. This is the signal to __________.

    N a. swing
    N b. lower
    Y c. hoist
    N d. extend

4252: Which action(s) is/are included in crane operations?

    N a. Normal boom stowage and shutdown operations
    N b. Emergency shutdown operation
    N c. Removing booms from stowage
    Y d. All of the above