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.


95: You should keep clear of __________.


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


164: A look-out should report objects sighted using __________.


189: Reid vapor pressure is __________.

    N a. exerted by liquid cargo on the sides of a tank
    N b. exerted by liquid cargo on a cargo hose body
    N c. the lowest temperature and pressure that will cause a flammable liquid to give off vapors
    Y d. a measurement of the amount of flammable vapors given off by a liquid at a certain temperature

192: The mooring line labeled "H" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

    Y a. offshore bow line
    N b. onshore bow line
    N c. offshore spring line
    N d. forward breast line

246: The force exerted by a propeller which tends to throw the stern right or left is called __________.

    N a. slip
    Y b. sidewise force
    N c. rotational force
    N d. thrust

297: Commercial ships or other persons or agencies requiring the assistance of Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers should first contact __________.

    N a. the Canadian Coast Guard
    Y b. Ice Sarnia
    N c. the Ice Navigation Center
    N d. the icebreaker assigned to the area

302: You are on a multiple-product chemical tanker with orders to load diethylamine. What is NOT a requirement for transporting this cargo?

    N a. You must have two toxic vapor detectors or the pumproom must meet special requirements.
    N b. Each crew member must be provided with an emergency escape breathing apparatus.
    Y c. A person taking cargo samples must wear protective clothing.
    N d. If you are carrying propionic acid also, the venting systems must be segregated.

351: Which certificate is issued by the American Bureau of Shipping?

    N a. Certificate of Inspection
    Y b. Load Line Certificate
    N c. Safety Equipment Certificate
    N d. Permit to Proceed for repairs

442: "Ease the rudder" means to __________.

    N a. move the rudder slowly in the direction of the most recent rudder command
    Y b. decrease the rudder angle
    N c. bring the rudder amidships
    N d. steer the course which is your present heading

485: To clean a dirty fiber towing hawser used in ocean towing, you should __________.

    N a. use lye or other mild detergent
    Y b. wash it with fresh water, dry and store it
    N c. wash it with salt water
    N d. use cleaning fluid on nylon, dacron and other synthetic lines

628: Before loading bulk grain, bilge wells must be covered to __________.

    N a. add strength to the bilge well strainer
    N b. permit rapid flow of water to the bilge wells
    Y c. prevent cargo sifting into the bilge wells
    N d. prevent oil, water, or other liquid from reaching the cargo

752: A lot of special cargo of similar cartons as shown is to be loaded. What is the total cubic capacity the consignment will occupy if you assume 10% broken stowage? (D042DG )

    N a. 51 cubic feet (1.5 cubic meters)
    N b. 58 cubic feet (1.7 cubic meters)
    Y c. 65 cubic feet (2.0 cubic meters)
    N d. 336 cubic feet (10 cubic meters)

758: An IOPP Certificate on an inspected vessel is valid for what period of time?

    N a. 6 months
    N b. 1 year
    N c. 2 years
    Y d. 5 years

937: When towing astern, you notice that another vessel is about to pass between the towing vessel and the tow. You should immediately __________.

    N a. turn away from the approaching vessel
    N b. shine a spotlight in the direction of the approaching vessel
    N c. sever the towline
    Y d. slow down and pay out the main tow hawser

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%

1036: What is meant by the term "broaching to"?

    N a. Having the vessel head toward the sea
    N b. Running before a sea
    Y c. Being turned broadside to the sea
    N d. Having the vessel filled with water

1059: You are cleaning the tanks after carrying a cargo of crude oil. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Washing water should be recirculated if possible because it has the same electric potential as the cargo tank being cleaned.
    N b. The hoses to portable cleaning machines should be disconnected before the machines are removed from the tank.
    N c. The principal hazard with steaming cargo tanks is raising the ambient temperature above the flame point of the cargo residue.
    Y d. Steam cleaning and water washing are both capable of generating electrostatic charges within a tank.

1066: If your propeller is racing in rough weather, you should __________.

    Y a. decrease your engine speed
    N b. ignore it
    N c. increase your engine speed
    N d. stop your engine until the rough weather passes

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

1148: The document which acknowledges that the cargo has been received and is in the carrier's custody is called the __________.

    Y a. Dock Receipt
    N b. Hatch Report and Recapitulation
    N c. Cargo Manifest
    N d. Stowage Plan

1171: If you intend to land tulip bulbs from Holland in a U.S. port, they must be inspected by the __________.

    Y a. Animal and Plant Health Service Inspector
    N b. Captain of the Port personnel
    N c. Quarantine Officer
    N d. All of the above

1191: Which statement is TRUE about the use of a "gob rope"?

    N a. The gob rope is a mooring line for tyhing up lighters for working cargo alongside a vessel anchored in an open roadstead.
    Y b. The gob rope is used to secure the towline aft over the centerline of a tug..
    N c. The gob rope is a line hung over a vessel's side to assist in boarding.
    N d. The gob rope is a rope used in mooring a vessel to a buoy.

1202: Under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act of 1936, a vessel will be liable for damage to cargo when the damage arises from __________.

    N a. an act of war
    Y b. lack of ventilation in transit
    N c. perils of the sea
    N d. an error in navigation

1227: You have the "conn" at the time the helmsman who is steering by hand reports that the rudder is not responding to the wheel. Your FIRST action should be to __________.

    Y a. shift the selector switch to the other steering pump
    N b. signal the engineroom to stop the engines
    N c. call the engineroom
    N d. call the Master

1248: A declaration made by the Master before a U.S. Consul, giving particulars regarding heavy weather or other incidents which may have caused damage to the vessel or cargo, through no fault of the vessel, her officers, or crew is a(n) __________.

    N a. cargo addendum
    N b. exception report
    N c. Master's declaration
    Y d. note of protest

1341: The owners of the S.S. Short Haul agree to a charter with the Longsplice Steamship Company. The owners stipulate in the charter party that the regular Master must be employed as the vessel's Master for the entire life of the contract. Which charter has been affected?

    N a. Bareboat
    N b. Lease
    Y c. Time
    N d. Voyage

1355: Ice concentration is measured in OKTAs. What percentage of the sea surface is ice-covered with 6 OKTAs concentration?

    N a. 6%
    N b. 50%
    N c. 60%
    Y d. 75%

1427: Which letter in illustration D030DG represents a plain whipping? (D030DG )

    N a. E
    N b. F
    Y c. J
    N d. V

1478: What does "in step" refer to in regards to towing?

    N a. The towed vessel follows exactly in the wake of the towing vessel.
    N b. There is no catenary in the towing hawser.
    N c. When turning, both the towed and towing vessels turn at the same time.
    Y d. Both the towed and towing vessels reach a wave crest or trough at the same time.

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

1748: An Official Logbook is required on which vessel?

    N a. A 150-G.T. tug going from Boston to New Orleans.
    Y b. A 100-G.T. tug going from New York to San Pedro, California.
    N c. A 50-G.T. tug going from Miami to Seattle.
    N d. A 199-G.T. tug on a coastwise trip of 650 miles.

1764: The "square knot" is used for __________.

    N a. forming temporary eyes in lines
    Y b. joining two lines of equal size
    N c. keeping line from unlaying or fraying
    N d. joining two lines of different size

1778: You are landing a single-screw vessel with a right-handed propeller port side to a dock. As you approach the dock, you back down on your engine with rudder amidships. You would expect the vessel to __________.

    N a. drift away from the dock
    N b. lose headway without swinging
    Y c. swing its stern towards the dock
    N d. swing its stern away from the dock

1963: What should you do to a line to prevent fraying where it passes over the side of the vessel?

    N a. Worm that part of the line.
    N b. Splice that part of the line.
    Y c. Cover it with chafing gear.
    N d. Install a cleat.

2098: Snow has obliterated surface features and the sky is covered with uniform, altostratus clouds. There are no shadows and the horizon has disappeared. What is this condition called?

    N a. Ice blink
    Y b. Whiteout
    N c. Water sky
    N d. Aurora reflection

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.

2276: You have determined the maneuvering characteristics of your vessel by taking radar ranges and bearings of an isolated light while making a turn. The results are as shown. Based on this data what is the advance for a turn of 60°? (D035DG )

    Y a. 665 yards
    N b. 710 yards
    N c. 745 yards
    N d. 780 yards

2375: You are on a multiple-product chemical tanker and will carry cargoes of ethanolamine, methyl acrylate, and glycerine. Which statement is true?

    N a. All of these cargoes are mutually incompatible.
    N b. Glycerine may be stowed adjacent to methyl acrylate but must be segregated from ethanolamine.
    N c. Methyl acrylate and ethanolamine are compatible but both must be segregated from glycerine.
    Y d. Glycerine is compatible with both of the other cargoes.

2456: Which term describes a part of a natural fiber line?

    N a. Lacings
    N b. Lays
    Y c. Strands
    N d. Twines

2489: A post on a dock or wharf used to secure mooring lines or hawsers is called a __________.

    N a. bitt
    Y b. bollard
    N c. cleat
    N d. capstan

2582: What is usually NOT required in preparing a hold for reception of a bulk grain cargo?

    N a. Remove residue of previous cargo.
    N b. Remove loose rust and scale.
    Y c. Steam clean areas obstructed by structural members.
    N d. Spray or fumigate any insect colonies.

2594: Which is NOT an advantage of the flush method of welded shell plating?

    N a. Reduces weight
    N b. Reduces frictional resistance
    N c. Keeps practically 100% of tensile strength at the joints
    Y d. Reduces plate stress

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

2626: The "grip" of a joint represents the __________.

    Y a. thickness of the connected members
    N b. diameter of the head
    N c. entire length of the rivet
    N d. diameter of the shank

3026: Which type of fog is the most dense and widely spread of those that occur on the Great Lakes?

    N a. Steam fog
    Y b. Advection fog
    N c. Radiation fog
    N d. Lake effect fog

3099: A lashing used to secure two barges side by side, lashed in an "X" fashion, is called a __________.

    N a. quarter line
    N b. back line
    N c. peg line
    Y d. jockey line

3166: The American Consul has asked the Master of a vessel bound for a port in the U.S. to transport a destitute seaman back to the U.S. Which action may the Master take?

    N a. He must always take the seaman.
    N b. He is required to accept the seaman only if the seaman is medically unfit.
    Y c. He may refuse the seaman if the seaman has a contagious disease.
    N d. He may refuse to take the seaman if he is being held by shore authorities.

3347: The opening in the deck beneath the anchor windlass that leads to the chain locker is the __________.

    N a. hawsepipe
    N b. fallpipe
    N c. drop-pipe
    Y d. spill pipe

3442: The part of the anchor indicated by the letter J is the __________. (D038DG )

    N a. crown
    N b. shank
    Y c. bill
    N d. tip

3484: You are on watch and see a man fall overboard. Which man- overboard turn should NOT be used in this situation?

    Y a. Scharnow
    N b. Single turn
    N c. Racetrack
    N d. Williamson

3610: You have a tow of chemical barges. The mate reports an ammonia smell around the head of the tow. You would suspect a leak in the barge carrying __________.

    N a. methyl chloride
    N b. heptane
    N c. propanolamine
    Y d. morpholine

3689: The wildcat is linked to the central drive shaft on most windlasses by __________.

    N a. an electromagnetic brake
    N b. a hydraulic coupling
    N c. aligning the keyways on both and inserting a key
    Y d. a mechanical coupling where lugs engage detents

4028: Which statement about the carriage of coal is true?

    N a. Most problems with spontaneous combustion will occur within 72 hours of loading and after that the risk decreases.
    N b. Wet coal is more liable to spontaneous heating than dry coal.
    N c. Coal absorbs nitrogen from the air which reacts with methane and causes spontaneous heating.
    Y d. Freshly worked coal is more dangerous than weathered coal.

4109: Which operating procedure(s) should be adhered to on a Ro-Ro vessel?

    N a. One officer assigned to oversee the initial loading and lashing
    N b. All lashings should be completed before leaving port
    N c. Periodic inspection and retensioning of lashings during the voyage
    Y d. All of the above

4173: What should be done before energizing the cargo hold ventilation on a Ro-Ro vessel, prior to loading or discharging cargo?

    N a. Call out the deck department for all hands.
    N b. Notify the boarding agent.
    Y c. Notify the engine room.
    N d. All of the above

4182: Which lashing gear used aboard Ro-Ro vessels should be painted or soaked in oil when not in use?

    Y a. Chain
    N b. Wire rope
    N c. Webbing
    N d. All of the above

4213: What does a jib refer to on a crane?

    Y a. Boom
    N b. Topping lift
    N c. Control cab
    N d. Liftline

4243: What is/are the advantage(s) of cranes over conventional cargo booms?

    N a. Cranes are able to pick up and drop loads over a greater spotting area
    N b. Increased safety because the deck is clear of running and standing rigging
    N c. Simplicity of operation of the crane by its operator
    Y d. All of the above

4272: Which action should be taken immediately by the operator of a pedestal crane, if crane control is lost?

    N a. Increase power to the crane to regain control.
    N b. Place control levers in opposite positions.
    Y c. Let go of both control levers and return to the neutral positions.
    N d. Check the circuit breakers.