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.


37: Your enrolled vessel is bound from Baltimore, MD, to Norfolk, VA, via Chesapeake Bay. Which statement about the required Pilot is TRUE?


51: You are the licensed Master of a 100 GT towing vessel sailing coastwise. What percentage of the deck crew must be able to understand any order spoken by the officers?


73: Aboard ship, vertical flat plates running transversely and connecting the vertical keel to the margin plates are called __________.


80: You are on a cargo vessel carrying portable tanks of dangerous cargoes in bulk. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. If the tanks are pumped out while remaining on board, each hose connection must have a minimum of three bolts.
    N b. If the tanks are off loaded, no more than two tanks may be lifted together in a hoist.
    N c. When transferring sulfuric acid, you must display a red flag by day whether at anchor or moored.
    Y d. All electrical equipment within 10 feet horizontally must be explosion proof or intrinsically safe.

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

149: A standard net barrel of petroleum products is __________.

    Y a. 42 gallons at 60°F
    N b. 48 gallons at 70°F
    N c. 50 gallons at 50°F
    N d. 60 gallons at 100°F

152: A petroleum liquid has a flash point of 135°Fahrenheit. This liquid is classed as a grade __________.

    N a. B flammable liquid
    N b. C flammable liquid
    Y c. D combustible liquid
    N d. E combustible liquid

172: While a vessel is in a foreign port where there is no American Consul, a seaman becomes violent prior to sailing. The Master should __________.

    N a. call local police, put the seaman in prison ashore, and sail the vessel
    N b. pay off the seaman and make arrangements with the agent to return him to the original port of signing on in the U.S.
    Y c. put the seaman in irons and sail to the next port where there is an American Consul
    N d. send the seaman ashore and arrange with the agent to repatriate him by armed guard

176: The turning circle of a vessel is the path followed by the __________.

    N a. tipping center
    N b. bow
    N c. outermost part of the ship while making the circle
    Y d. center of gravity

191: An alien crewmember with a D-1 permit leaves the vessel in a U.S. port and fails to return. The first report you make should be to the __________.

    N a. Customs Service
    Y b. Immigration Service
    N c. local police
    N d. OCMI

334: The space above the engine room is called the __________.

    Y a. fidley
    N b. gold locker
    N c. middle hatch
    N d. noble

515: When compared to a fiber towing hawser, what is NOT an advantage of a wire towing hawser?

    N a. Wire is easy to handle when properly spooled on the drum of a towing winch.
    Y b. Wire has more spring and shock resistance than fiber.
    N c. Wire can be used to tow heavier loads because of its smaller diameter and more manageable size.
    N d. Wire is subject to less deterioration if properly maintained.

525: To lay out a towing hawser in a fore-and-aft direction so each bight is clear and can run out freely without snagging describes __________.

    N a. flemishing
    Y b. faking
    N c. spooling
    N d. worming, parceling and serving

544: If the winch should fail while you are hauling in the anchor, what prevents the anchor cable from running out?

    N a. Chain stopper
    N b. Devil's claw
    N c. Hawse ratchet
    Y d. Riding pawl

575: What is a correct reply to a pilot's request, "How's your head"?

    N a. "Steady"
    N b. "Checked"
    Y c. "Passing 200°"
    N d. "Eased to 10° rudder"

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

755: When underway with a tow, you are required to notify the Coast Guard in which casualty situation?

    Y a. Accidental stranding or grounding
    N b. An injury requiring first aid treatment
    N c. Loss of bridge-to-bridge radio capability
    N d. Damage to property amounting to $12,500

959: A relief valve for a cargo pump is generally installed __________.

    N a. after the discharge valve
    Y b. between the pump and discharge valve
    N c. after the suction valve
    N d. between the pump and suction valve

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

991: When an azimuth of the Sun has been taken and the deviation of the standard magnetic compass computed, the watch officer should record the results __________.

    N a. in the vessel's Official Logbook
    N b. on the compass deviation card
    Y c. in the compass deviation log
    N d. on a Napier diagram

1010: When the longitudinal strength members of a vessel are continuous and closely spaced, the vessel is __________.

    N a. transversely framed
    Y b. longitudinally framed
    N c. intermittently framed
    N d. web framed

1046: In a following sea, a wave has overtaken your vessel and thrown the stern to starboard. To continue along your original course, you should __________.

    Y a. use more right rudder
    N b. use more left rudder
    N c. increase speed
    N d. decrease speed

1135: What equipment is customarily used when seamen are working on a stage rigged over the side of a vessel?

    N a. Jacob's ladder
    N b. Manropes
    N c. Heaving lines
    Y d. All of the above

1156: The best time to work a boat into a slip is __________.

    N a. when the wind is against you
    N b. with the current setting against you
    Y c. at slack water
    N d. with a cross current

1177: A "Mediterranean moor" should be used when __________.

    N a. when anchoring in the Mediterranean
    Y b. when docking stern to a berth
    N c. when docking bow to a berth
    N d. when anchoring in a strong current

1245: While on watch at sea you must maintain a proper lookout at all times. On a 700-foot cargo vessel being hand-steered during daylight hours in good visibility and clear of any navigational hazards, the lookout may be __________.

    N a. the helmsman
    Y b. the mate on watch
    N c. Either A or B
    N d. Neither A nor B

1497: Which of the pictures in illustration DO30DG represents a round turn and two half hitches? (DO30DG )

    N a. E
    Y b. F
    N c. Q
    N d. S

1499: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "E" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

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

1526: One shot of anchor chain is equal to how many feet (meters)?

    N a. 6 (1.8 meters)
    N b. 15 (4.6 meters)
    N c. 45 (13.7 meters)
    Y d. 90 (27.4 meters)

1556: When anchoring, good practice requires 5 to 7 fathoms of chain for each fathom of depth. In deep water you should use __________.

    N a. the same ratio
    N b. more chain for each fathom of depth
    Y c. less chain for each fathom of depth
    N d. two anchors with the same ratio of chain

1576: Using a scope of five, determine how many shots of chain you should put out to anchor in 5 fathoms of water?

    N a. 1
    Y b. 2
    N c. 3
    N d. 5

1578: A stream of water immediately surrounding a moving vessel's hull, flowing in the same direction as the vessel is known as __________.

    N a. directional current
    N b. forward current
    N c. propeller current
    Y d. wake current

1598: On a vessel with a single propeller, transverse force has the most effect on the vessel when the engine is put __________.

    N a. full ahead
    Y b. full astern
    N c. half ahead
    N d. slow astern

1783: Which mooring line is likely to undergo the most strain when docking a ship under normal conditions?

    N a. Bow line
    N b. Breast line
    Y c. Spring line
    N d. Stern line

2010: On the cargo manifest, the total weight of a box containing cargo is the __________.

    N a. tare weight
    N b. net weight
    Y c. gross weight
    N d. cargo weight

2025: What is the chief hazard encountered when surging synthetic mooring lines on the gypsyhead during operations?

    N a. If there is sudden strain, the man tending the line may be pulled into the gypsyhead.
    N b. The lines may jam and then jump off the gypsyhead.
    N c. The lines' surging may cause the vessel to surge.
    Y d. The heat generated may cause the lines to temporarily fuse to the gypsyhead.

2028: When making up a long, large coastwise tow, which of the following procedures is INCORRECT?

    N a. A chain towing bridle is generally preferred
    N b. Safety shackles should be used when connecting to the fishplate
    N c. Rig tripping ropes (retrieving lines)
    Y d. Back-up wires are left slack

2058: What is NOT suitable for use in making up the towing rig for a heavy, long ocean tow?

    N a. Chain
    Y b. Ring
    N c. Solid thimble
    N d. A fishplate

2065: A continual worsening of the list or trim indicates __________.

    N a. negative GM
    Y b. progressive flooding
    N c. structural failure
    N d. an immediate need to ballast

2092: You are signing on a crew. When they present their Merchant Mariner's Documents, you should suspect a fraudulent document if it has a single endorsement that says __________.

    N a. see Certificate of Registry
    N b. any unlicensed rating in the deck department including AB
    N c. Steward's Department (F.H.)
    Y d. Bosun

2149: When anchoring in a clay bottom, what is one hazard that may cause the anchor to drag?

    N a. The flukes may dig in unevenly and capsize the anchor when under stress.
    N b. The flukes may not dig in.
    Y c. The anchor may get shod with clay and not develop full holding power.
    N d. The anchor will tend to dig in and come to rest near the vertical.

2282: Using the graph in illustration D008DG, if the dry bulb temperature is 77° and the wet bulb temperature is 69°, what is the relative humidity in a cargo hold? (D008DG )

    Y a. 67%
    N b. 70%
    N c. 77%
    N d. 81%

2500: Which part of an anchor actually digs into the bottom?

    N a. Stock
    Y b. Fluke
    N c. Shank
    N d. Crown

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

2699: The thickness of a 30.6 pound plate is __________.

    N a. 3/8"
    N b. 1/2"
    Y c. 3/4"
    N d. 1"

2745: While standing look-out at night, a dim light on the horizon will be seen quickest by looking __________.

    Y a. a little above the horizon
    N b. directly towards the light
    N c. a little below the horizon
    N d. quickly above then quickly below the horizon

2772: The Coordinator Surface Search (CSS) in a SAR situation should display by night __________.

    N a. deck lights forward and aft
    N b. a white light over two red lights
    N c. a red light, white light, and blue light in a vertical line
    Y d. a distinctive signal promulgated by the CSS

3008: A list signal of one white light indicates that the vessel is __________.

    N a. on an even keel
    Y b. listing about 1° to the side the light is displayed on
    N c. listing over 5°With the light displayed on the high side
    N d. listing, and the chutes should be directed to the side where the light is displayed

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

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

3080: Which method should be used to warm up the pump turbines prior to discharge?

    N a. Lock the turbine rotor and slowly bleed in steam until operating temperature is reached
    N b. Run the pump at high speed with the discharge valves closed
    N c. Run the turbine at slow speed with the pump disconnected
    Y d. Shut the discharge valve and run the pump at slow speed

3210: A licensed Master of Towing Vessels may NOT serve as the person in charge of which towing vessel?

    N a. 99 GRT towing vessel operating on Chesapeake Bay
    N b. 199 GRT towing vessel operating in the Gulf of Alaska
    N c. 500 GRT towboat operating on the Western Rivers
    Y d. 349 GRT towing vessel operating between Florida and Puerto Rico

3234: Rolling is angular motion of the vessel about what axis?

    Y a. Longitudinal
    N b. Transverse
    N c. Vertical
    N d. Centerline

3372: The lead of a tow bridle is usually redirected with a __________.

    N a. bollard
    Y b. chock
    N c. pad eye
    N d. devil's claw

3540: While on duty as a look-out, which other duty may you perform?

    N a. Sweep down the fo'c'sle
    N b. Paint any area near your station
    N c. Overhaul a block, as long as it is at your look-out station
    Y d. None of the above

3599: What term indicates the outward curvature of the hull above the waterline?

    N a. sheer
    N b. tumble home
    N c. deadrise
    Y d. flare

3644: You are drifting in a locale where there is no current. As a rule, your vessel will lie __________.

    N a. bow to the wind
    Y b. beam to the wind
    N c. stern to the wind
    N d. with the wind on the quarter

4046: Which statement about tunnel bow thrusters fitted to large vessels is TRUE?

    N a. They are effective on most vessels at speeds up to 10 knots.
    N b. Because of their location, most modern installations have as much power as a tug.
    N c. They are fully effective at all drafts.
    Y d. When going astern at slow speed, they provide effective steering control.

4064: Which statement concerning castor oil is TRUE?

    N a. It has a Reid vapor pressure of 9.5.
    N b. It has a specific gravity of 1.3.
    N c. The boiling point is 215°F (102°C).
    Y d. It is a grade E combustible liquid.

4106: Which of the following are considered to be "road vehicles" that can be carried on Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Semi-trailer
    N b. Road train
    N c. Articulated road train
    Y d. All of the above

4143: Which tensioning device is used with wire rope lashing to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Chain lever
    N b. Buckle tensioner
    Y c. Adjust-a-matic tensioner
    N d. Ratchet tensioner