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.


22: A wildcat is a __________.


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?


60: You are on a vessel designed to carry compressed gasses in bulk with a cargo of butadiene. Which statement is TRUE?


65: Under title 46 of the United States Code, the person in charge of a documented vessel who fails to report a complaint of a sexual offense may be __________.

    N a. charged with accessory to sexual assault
    N b. imprisoned for up to one year
    Y c. fined up to $5,000
    N d. All of the above

138: Which vessel is most likely to be loaded full but not down?

    N a. A bulk carrier loaded with heavy ore
    N b. A bulk carrier loaded with steel
    Y c. A break bulk vessel loaded with palletized cargo
    N d. A tanker loaded with heavy grain

250: The damage to a vessel is over $25,000. Who must notify the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety or Marine Inspection Office as soon as possible?

    N a. The crew members
    Y b. The Master of the vessel
    N c. The port authorities
    N d. All of the above

264: The total weight of cargo, fuel, water, stores, passengers and crew, and their effects, that a ship can carry, is the __________.

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

267: Which statement is NOT true concerning the stowage of class 1 explosives?

    N a. Class 1.1 explosives may be stowed with class 9 dangerous substances
    N b. Class 1.4 explosives must be "separated from" a stow of class 5.1 oxidizing materials.
    Y c. Class 1.4 explosives may not be stowed in the same hold with class 6.1 poisons.
    N d. Class 1.4 explosives must be "separated from" a stow of class 8 corrosive materials.

362: A towing vessel is tripped when __________.

    N a. it is overtaken by the tow
    Y b. it is pulled sideways by the tow
    N c. the weight of the towing hawser causes loss of maneuverability
    N d. the propeller is fouled by the towing hawser

462: The safe working load (SWL) of wire rope with a safety factor of 6 is what percent of its strength?

    N a. 10%
    Y b. 17%
    N c. 50%
    N d. 80%

540: As seen from the tow, what should connect the leading ends of both towing bridle legs to the main towing hawser?

    N a. A cable clamp
    Y b. A fishplate, flounder, or towing plate
    N c. A pad eye
    N d. The towing bitts

542: Which best describes a "fishplate" used in towing?

    Y a. A triangular-shaped heavy steel plate with a round hole inset from each corner
    N b. A steel plate in the shape of a flat fish
    N c. A rectangular-shaped piece of heavy steel plate with four holes
    N d. A circular piece of heavy steel with three holes forming an equilateral triangle

588: Because of the arrangement of the cell guides, the MOST important factor while loading containers is the __________.

    N a. contents of the container
    Y b. list of the vessel
    N c. size of the shoreside crane
    N d. weight of the container

589: The terminal indicates to you that they are going to use a booster pump to assist the discharging operation. You start the discharge and in a few minutes the pressure drops sharply. This could be a result of the __________.

    Y a. booster pump coming on the line and discharging properly
    N b. booster pump failing to start
    N c. ship's pump speeding up
    N d. booster pump being lined up in the wrong direction

622: A predictable result of a vessel nearing a bank or edge of a channel is that the __________.

    Y a. stern is drawn to the bank as the bow sheers off
    N b. bow sheers toward the bank
    N c. vessel continues in a straight line, but with greatly reduced maneuverability
    N d. vessel will be drawn bodily into the bank unless the engines are stopped

747: When carrying a cargo of asphalt or molten sulfur, which are carried at temperatures of over 300°F, one of the biggest dangers is __________.

    N a. inadequate ullage space
    N b. having the cargo too cool
    N c. explosion of vapors after discharge
    Y d. having to breathe the fumes

751: A document which has a list of names, birthplaces, and residences of persons employed on a merchant vessel bound from a U.S. port on a foreign voyage and is required at every port is called the __________.

    Y a. Certified Crew List
    N b. Crew Manifest
    N c. Shipping Articles
    N d. Muster List ("Station Bill")

761: The Immigration and Naturalization Service is concerned with which document on a vessel making preliminary entry into a U.S. port from a foreign port?

    N a. Cargo Manifest
    Y b. Certified Crew List
    N c. Curio List
    N d. Shipping Articles

953: When bunkering at anchorage which of the following signals must be displayed?

    N a. A red flag by day, red light by night
    Y b. A red flag by day ONLY
    N c. A red light by night ONLY
    N d. No signal required at anchorage

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.

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.

1019: A tank holds 400 tons of sea water when filled. How many tons of liquid of specific gravity 0.9300 will it hold when filled to 90% capacity?

    Y a. 326.6
    N b. 343.2
    N c. 377.6
    N d. 390.2

1031: Which certificate is NOT issued by the Coast Guard?

    N a. Award of official number
    N b. Certificate of Inspection
    Y c. Classification of Hull and Machinery
    N d. Safety Equipment Certificate

1049: You have water washed your cargo tanks using the fixed machines. What should you do before using portable machines to clean areas screened from the wash of the fixed machine by structural members?

    Y a. Ventilate the tank to eliminate any electrostatically charged mist.
    N b. Attach the water supply hose to the portable machine after the cleaning head is positioned inside the tank.
    N c. Insure that the tanks are not stripped until the final wash is started.
    N d. Ground the fixed machines to eliminate any electrostatic buildup on the cleaning head.

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

1120: A stage should only be rigged __________.

    N a. over the bow or stern of a vessel
    N b. over the flat sides of a vessel
    Y c. over the open water
    N d. over the dockside

1326: After casting off moorings at a mooring buoy in calm weather, you should __________.

    N a. go full ahead on the engine(s)
    Y b. back away a few lengths to clear the buoy and then go ahead on the engines
    N c. go half ahead on the engines and put the rudder hard right
    N d. go half ahead on the engines and pass upstream of the buoy

1380: The deck beam brackets of a transversely framed vessel resist __________.

    N a. hogging stresses
    N b. sagging stresses
    Y c. racking stresses
    N d. shearing stresses

1399: Which part of a cargo boom has the greatest diameter?

    N a. Head
    Y b. Middle
    N c. Heel
    N d. It has the same diameter along its complete length.

1514: A 6x12, two-inch wire rope has __________.

    N a. 12 strands and a two-inch diameter
    N b. 12 strands and a two-inch circumference
    Y c. 6 strands and a two-inch diameter
    N d. 6 strands and a two-inch circumference

1567: The mooring line shown as "A" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

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

1640: The garboard strake is the __________.

    N a. raised flange at the main deck edge
    N b. riveted crack arrester strap on all-welded ships
    N c. riveting pattern most commonly used in ship construction
    Y d. row of plating nearest the keel

1646: What is the normal length of anchor cable used to anchor a vessel?

    N a. An amount equal to the depth of the water
    N b. Two times the depth of water
    N c. Three to four times the depth of water
    Y d. Five to seven times the depth of water

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

1833: The standing part of a tackle is __________.

    N a. all the fall except the hauling part
    N b. the hook that engages the weight to be moved
    N c. that part to which power is applied
    Y d. that part of the falls made fast to one of the blocks

1935: The knot lettered H in illustration DO30DG is a __________. (DO30DG )

    Y a. becket bend
    N b. bowline
    N c. plain whipping
    N d. crown knot

2116: What is the name of tackle number 10 in illustration DO29DG? (DO29DG )

    N a. Two-two purchase
    N b. Deck purchase
    Y c. Two-fold purchase
    N d. Double runner

2206: You are using tackle number 6 in illustration DO29DG to lift a weight of 300 lbs. If you include 10 percent of the weight for each sheave for friction, what is the pull on the hauling part required to lift the weight? (DO29DG )

    Y a. 80 lbs.
    N b. 69 lbs.
    N c. 55 lbs.
    N d. 50 lbs.

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

2263: You are using tackle number 1 in illustration DO29DG to lift a weight of 100 lbs. If you include 10 percent of the weight for each sheave for friction, what is the pull on the hauling part required to lift the weight? (DO29DG )

    N a. 50 lbs.
    N b. 55 lbs.
    N c. 100 lbs.
    Y d. 110 lbs.

2266: Your vessel has been damaged and is partially flooded. The first step to be taken in attempting to save the vessel is to __________.

    Y a. establish flooding boundaries and prevent further spread of flood water
    N b. plug the hole(s) in the outer shell
    N c. pump out the water inside the vessel
    N d. calculate the free surface effect and lost buoyancy to determine the vessel's stability

2596: A person who sees someone fall overboard should __________.

    N a. immediately jump into the water to assist the individual
    Y b. call for help and keep the individual in sight
    N c. run to the radio room to send an emergency message
    N d. go to the bridge for the distress flares

2598: Where, due to the arrangement of the vessel, lifejackets may become inaccessible, additional lifejackets shall be carried __________.

    N a. for the people on bridge watch
    N b. for the forward lifeboats
    Y c. as determined by the OCMI
    N d. for 50% of the crew of the vessel, not including those assigned to engineering duties

2842: By definition, a "spar deck" is the __________.

    N a. lower most continuous deck not broken by water tight bulkheads
    N b. after most weather deck above the main strength deck
    Y c. upper or weather deck above the main strength deck
    N d. deck of light construction below the main or strength deck

2868: Which vessel, if navigating independently in ice, is more likely to become beset due to inadequate horsepower?

    N a. A 254 ft. "Whaleback" tanker with 1800 H.P.
    N b. A 309 ft. cement carrier with 2000 H.P.
    N c. A 385 ft. shallow draft tanker with 2400 H.P.
    Y d. A 630 ft. bulk ore carrier with 3500 H.P.

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

3039: What is NOT a problem when carrying coal?

    Y a. The requirement for through-ventilation
    N b. The corrosion some types of coal will cause to the ship
    N c. Spontaneous heating
    N d. Generation of methane gas

3052: How should you signal the crane operator to lower the boom?

    Y a. With arm extended and fingers closed, point thumb downward.
    N b. With arm extended downwards and forefinger pointing down, move hand in small horizontal circles.
    N c. Extend arm with the palm down, and hold this position rigidly.
    N d. With hands clasped in front of your body.

3056: Advection fog holds longest over which portions of the lakes?

    Y a. Northwest
    N b. Southeast
    N c. Northeast
    N d. Southwest

3062: How should you signal the crane operator to swing?

    N a. With both arms extended out and palms down, move arms back and forth.
    N b. With arm extended downwards and forefinger pointing down, move hand in small horizontal circles.
    Y c. Extend arm and point finger in the direction to move the boom.
    N d. Place both fists in front of the body with the thumbs pointing outward.

3072: A Great Lakes bulk ore vessel would use an "Iron Deckhand" to assist in __________.

    N a. unloading bulk cargo
    N b. steering the vessel
    N c. making the vessel fast to a dock
    Y d. removing hatch covers

3150: You are moving a gas free tank barge to dry dock for repairs. The barge must have onboard a valid __________.

    N a. Gas Free Certificate
    Y b. Certificate of Inspection
    N c. Permit to Proceed and Hot Work Permit
    N d. All of the above

3290: What will be accepted as the shipping papers for an unmanned tank barge but will not be accepted if the tank barge is manned?

    N a. Bill of Lading
    Y b. Logbook entry
    N c. Manifest
    N d. Shipping document

3381: A half-height container is used __________.

    N a. to carry cargoes of low density
    N b. when stowage space is limited
    Y c. to carry cargoes such as steel products or drums
    N d. to double the stowage capacity of the vessel

3462: Under U.S. law, what is the penalty for assaulting the Master?

    N a. Fine of not more than $1000
    N b. Fine of not more than $500 and/or imprisonment for not more than 1 year
    Y c. Imprisonment for not more than 2 years
    N d. Revocation of the Merchant Mariner's Document (and license if applicable)

4032: The pivot pin at the base of a sheath-screw boom davit must be __________.

    N a. inserted each time before the booms are cranked out
    Y b. periodically removed for inspection and lubricated
    N c. replaced at each inspection for certification
    N d. in the locked position after the boat is cradled and griped down

4090: The BEST holding ground for conventional anchors is_____.

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

4205: Which piece of equipment is required to "twin-up" 30-ton pedestal cranes aboard a crane vessel?

    N a. Portable power swivel
    Y b. Equalizing beam
    N c. 20-foot container spreader
    N d. 40-foot container spreader

4270: Which immediate action should the operator of a pedestal crane take if crane control is lost?

    Y a. Let go of both control levers and return to neutral position.
    N b. Call the engine room.
    N c. Disconnect the power to the pedestal.
    N d. Call the electrician.