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.


28: The stowage factor for a cargo is based upon __________.


46: Which statement concerning the handling characteristics of a fully loaded vessel as compared with those of a light vessel is FALSE?


82: Floors aboard ship are __________.


123: When patching holes in the hull, pillows, bedding, and other soft materials can be used as __________.

    N a. shores
    Y b. gaskets
    N c. strongbacks
    N d. wedges

134: Your ship is steaming at night on gyro-pilot when you notice that the vessel's course is slowly changing to the right. Which action should you take FIRST?

    N a. Call the Master.
    Y b. Change to hand steering.
    N c. Notify the engine room of the steering malfunction.
    N d. Send the Quartermaster to the emergency steering station.

144: The lookout sights a vessel dead ahead. This should be reported on the bell with __________.

    N a. one bell
    N b. two bells
    Y c. three bells
    N d. four bells

157: The proper way to correct a mistake in the logbook is to __________.

    Y a. draw a line through the entry, rewrite, and initial the correction
    N b. draw several lines through the entry, rewrite, and initial the correction
    N c. erase the entry and rewrite
    N d. completely black out the entry, rewrite, and initial the correction

285: Which form of navigation may be suspended without notice under defense planning?

    N a. celestial
    Y b. electronic
    N c. piloting
    N d. None of the above

415: A person is found operating a vessel while intoxicated. He/she is liable for __________.

    N a. imprisonment for up to one year
    N b. a civil penalty of not more than $1,000
    N c. a fine of not more than $2,000
    Y d. a civil penalty of not more than $5,000

453: What purpose does a tow hook serve?

    Y a. To quickly connect or release the towing hawser
    N b. To help pick up the towing hawser from the water
    N c. To prevent the towing hawser from fouling the propeller
    N d. To recover the towing hawser from a barge

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%

497: Which type of fiber towing hawser is preferred for towing astern?

    N a. Manila
    N b. Polypropylene
    Y c. Nylon
    N d. Dacron

602: Which emergency equipment should you keep near the towing bitts?

    N a. A self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
    N b. A boat hook and a spanner wrench
    Y c. A fire ax and/or cutting torch
    N d. A Stokes litter basket

613: A lookout can leave his station __________.

    N a. at the end of the watch
    Y b. only when properly relieved
    N c. at any time
    N d. 15 minutes before the end of the watch

731: A Deratization Exemption Certificate is valid for a period of __________.

    N a. no time limit so long as Certificate of Sanitation is valid
    N b. no time limit so long as no evidence of rodents aboard
    N c. 1 year
    Y d. 6 months

796: When you enter shallow water, you would expect your rudder response to __________.

    Y a. be sluggish and your speed to decrease
    N b. be sluggish and your speed to increase
    N c. improve and your speed to decrease
    N d. improve and your speed to increase

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

921: Which item must be entered in the official log?

    N a. All engine orders
    Y b. Drafts upon leaving port
    N c. Names of night mates and engineers
    N d. Number of cargo gangs on board

964: To coil a left-hand laid rope, you should coil the line in __________.

    N a. a clockwise direction only
    Y b. a counterclockwise direction only
    N c. an alternating clockwise and counterclockwise direction
    N d. either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction

1000: The "Mode" selector switch can be positioned and select all of the following EXCEPT __________.

    Y a. weather adjustments
    N b. hand-electric steering
    N c. automatic gyro
    N d. non-followup control

1034: You are the licensed operator of a 100 GT towing vessel sailing coastwise. What percentage of the deck crew must be able to understand the language commonly used onboard the vessel?

    N a. 100%
    Y b. 75%
    N c. 65%
    N d. 50%

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

1106: A vessel is underway with a work stage rigged over the side. A seaman may work on the stage, but only when __________.

    N a. wearing a life jacket
    N b. wearing a safety harness secured to the stage
    N c. wearing both a life jacket and a safety harness secured to the stage
    Y d. the vessel is not making way

1134: The critical point in nylon line elongation is about __________.

    N a. 20%
    N b. 30%
    Y c. 40%
    N d. 50%

1155: In the context of shiphandling, what would be the definition of shallow water?

    Y a. Water depth of less than twice a vessel's draft
    N b. Water depth of less than 1½ times a vessel's draft
    N c. Under keel clearance of twice a vessel's draft
    N d. Under keel clearance of less than 10 feet

1274: If given equal care, nylon line should last how many times longer than manila line?

    N a. Three
    N b. Four
    Y c. Five
    N d. Six

1367: Under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act of 1936, a vessel will be liable for damage to cargo when the damage arises out of __________.

    N a. poor stowage of cargo in a container
    N b. fire caused by lightning
    Y c. overloading
    N d. inherent vice

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

1635: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "B" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

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

1676: When preparing to hoist the anchor, you should FIRST __________.

    Y a. engage the wildcat
    N b. put the brake in the off position
    N c. take off the chain stopper
    N d. take the riding pawl off the chain

1723: What is meant by the term "two-blocked"?

    Y a. The bottom block touches the top block.
    N b. The line has jumped the sheaves.
    N c. There are turns in the fall.
    N d. You have two blocks.

1821: While towing, what is the principal danger in attempting to swing a barge on a short hawser in order to slow the barge's speed?

    N a. The barge may capsize from the sharp turn.
    Y b. The barge may swing too quickly and run over the tug.
    N c. Free surface effect of liquid inside the barge may rupture the barge bulkheads when turning too quickly.
    N d. Dangerous wakes may result from the swinging barge and capsize the tug.

1864: Progressive flooding may be indicated by __________.

    N a. ballast control alarms
    N b. excessive draft
    N c. excessive list or trim
    Y d. a continual worsening of list or trim

1920: Which form of navigation may be suspended without notice under defense planning?

    Y a. electronic
    N b. celestial
    N c. piloting
    N d. None of the above

2057: While assigned to a 106 GRT vessel, you are required to sign "foreign" articles on a voyage from San Francisco to which port?

    N a. Mazatlan, Mexico (west coast)
    N b. Vera Cruz, Mexico (east coast)
    Y c. New York, NY
    N d. Vancouver, Canada (west coast)

2093: What is the mechanical advantage of tackle number 10? (DO29DG )

    N a. 4
    N b. 4.5
    Y c. 5
    N d. 5.5

2158: 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?

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

2159: What is the mechanical advantage of tackle number 9? (DO29DG )

    N a. 1
    N b. 2
    N c. 3
    Y d. 4

2249: Which knot should be used to secure a line to a spar when the pull is parallel to the spar? (DO30DG )

    N a. G
    N b. F
    Y c. P
    N d. Q

2528: Which entry on a dangerous cargo manifest concerning the classification of a cargo is correct?

    Y a. Class 8
    N b. Class 3 - flammable liquid
    N c. Division 2.2 - nonflammable gas
    N d. All of the above are correct

2580: You want to double the strength of a mooring line by using two lines. To accomplish this, the second line must __________.

    N a. be 1 1/2 times the diameter of the first
    N b. be married to the first
    N c. not cross the first
    Y d. be of the same length

2580: You want to double the strength of a mooring line by using two lines. To accomplish this, the second line must __________.

    N a. be 1 1/2 times the diameter of the first
    N b. be married to the first
    N c. not cross the first
    Y d. be of the same length

2604: The joint formed when two steel plates are placed end-to-end is called a __________.

    N a. bevel
    N b. seam
    Y c. butt
    N d. bond

2644: The boat is stowed on the davit rather than on a cradle with which type of davit?

    Y a. Crescent
    N b. Sheath-screw boom
    N c. Quadrantal
    N d. Radial

2702: How long is the standard container used to measure equivalent units?

    N a. 10 feet (3 meters)
    Y b. 20 feet (6 meters)
    N c. 35 feet (11 meters)
    N d. 40 feet (12 meters)

2719: Which publication would give detailed information on the commercial vessel traffic reporting system for connecting waters from Lake Erie to Lake Huron?

    N a. United States Coast Pilot - Great Lakes #6
    N b. U.S. Coast Guard Light List - Vol. VII
    Y c. Code of Federal Regulations - Title 33
    N d. The appropriate Great Lakes Navigation Chart

2812: If a tug equipped with flanking rudders is to be turned in a confined circle, when going astern, the stern will move to port the quickest if __________.

    Y a. the rudder is hard to port and the flanking rudders are hard to port
    N b. the rudder is amidships and the flanking rudders are hard to port
    N c. the rudder is hard to port and the flanking rudders are hard to starboard
    N d. all rudders are hard to starboard

2822: Which statement about stopping a vessel is TRUE?

    N a. A lightly laden vessel requires as much stopping distance as a fully laden vessel when the current is from astern.
    N b. A vessel is dead in the water when the back wash from astern operation reaches the bow.
    N c. A tunnel bow thruster can be used in an emergency to reduce the stopping distance.
    Y d. When a vessel is dead in the water any speed displayed by Doppler log reflects the current.

2839: Adequate horsepower is of great importance when a ship is navigating independently in ice. Adequate horsepower is generally considered to exist when the horsepower to length ratio is at least __________.

    N a. 4 to 1 or better
    N b. 5 to 1 or better
    Y c. 6 to 1 or better
    N d. 8 to 1 or better

2883: While you are on watch entering port, the Master gives the helmsman a rudder command which conflicts with a rudder command from the Pilot. You should make sure the helmsman __________.

    N a. brings the rudder to a point midway between the two conflicting positions
    N b. obeys the Pilot
    N c. asks you for instructions
    Y d. obeys the Master

2888: The Coordinator Surface Search in a SAR situation should display by day __________.

    Y a. the code flags FR
    N b. a black ball over a black diamond shape
    N c. code flag Quebec over a black ball
    N d. two black diamond shapes in a vertical line

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

3083: You are signing on crew members. The minimum number of people required aboard, and the qualifications of each, is listed on the __________.

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

3308: What term indicates a curvature of the decks in a longitudinal direction?

    N a. Deadrise
    N b. Camber
    Y c. Sheer
    N d. Flare

3493: You are the Master 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. Able Seamen are not required in the deck crew.
    Y b. All crew members must have Merchant Mariner's Documents.
    N c. A licensed Chief Engineer is required.
    N d. Deck watches may be 6 and 6.

3616: A tug in irons is __________.

    N a. rudder bound
    N b. being tripped by the towline
    Y c. unable to maneuver
    N d. broached

3938: With a given load on the cargo hook, tension in a single span topping lift __________.

    N a. increases as the boom's angle to the horizontal increases
    N b. is at a maximum when the boom is at a 45° angle to the horizontal
    Y c. increases as the boom's angle to the horizontal decreases
    N d. decreases as the boom's angle to the horizontal decreases

4129: Which lashing materials would be used in securing light vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Chain lever or turnbuckle
    Y b. Webbing
    N c. Chain
    N d. None of the above

4240: It is the responsibility of the crane operator to, at all times, be aware of the location of the __________.

    N a. load
    N b. hook
    N c. boom
    Y d. All of the above

4282: Which statement is TRUE concerning a tagline as used with a 30-ton pedestal crane?

    N a. Taglines are wire rope purchases that raise and lower the jib.
    N b. Taglines can be fastened to the corners of the jib when lifting containers.
    Y c. The crane might not have taglines installed in its rigging system.
    N d. The taglines are wire rope purchases that raise and lower the topping lift.