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.


14: Damaged bulkheads often take a permanent set which is independent of the panting or bulge caused by water pressure. To control this, you should __________.


34: Your vessel has been loaded in a sagging condition. Enroute you encounter heavy weather and notice buckling in the midships deck plating of your vessel. To relieve the strain you could __________.


56: The effect of wind on exposed areas of the vessel is most noticeable when __________.


84: The ceiling is __________.

    N a. the overhead in berthing compartments
    Y b. a wooden protection placed over the tank top
    N c. material driven into seams or cracks to prevent leaking
    N d. None of the above are correct

137: The system of valves and cargo lines in the bottom piping network of a tank barge that connects one section of cargo tanks to another section is called a __________.

    N a. come-along
    Y b. crossover
    N c. manifold
    N d. runaround

201: Your vessel is in a foreign port and you find that one of the crew members has been incarcerated for drunkenness. The Official Logbook shows that the seaman doesn't have funds to cover the costs of the fine. Which action should the Master take?

    N a. Inventory his gear and send it and a pay voucher ashore with the agent.
    N b. Leave the seaman in jail and log him as a fail to join after the vessel sails.
    N c. Leave the seaman in jail and log him as a deserter after the vessel sails.
    Y d. Pay the seaman's fine.

243: A towing vessel becomes tripped while towing on a hawser astern. What factor is MOST important when assessing the risk of capsizing?

    N a. Length of the towline
    Y b. Height of the towline connection
    N c. Longitudinal position of the towline connection
    N d. Direction of opposing force

244: "Hard right rudder" means __________.

    Y a. put the rudder over to the right all the way
    N b. jam the rudder against the stops
    N c. meet a swing to the right, then return to amidships
    N d. put the rudder over quickly to 15° right rudder

296: You are on a course of 000°T and put the rudder right 30°. In which direction will the transfer be measured?

    N a. 000°T
    Y b. 090°T
    N c. 180°T
    N d. 270°T

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

487: One method of removing kinks from fiber rope is to __________.

    N a. coil the line against the lay
    Y b. tow the line astern until it straightens
    N c. stretch the line until it reaches its elastic limit
    N d. cut out each kink and splice

529: When loading a tanker, you should __________.

    N a. load only one tank at a time
    N b. keep the seamen on watch on standby in the mess room
    N c. keep a strain on the loading hoses
    Y d. close valves by closing them down, reopening one or two turns, and re-closing

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

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

670: You must evacuate a seaman by helicopter lift. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The ship should be stopped with the wind off the beam while the helicopter is hovering overhead.
    N b. The basket or stretcher must not be allowed to touch the deck.
    N c. The tending line of the litter basket should be secured to the ship beyond the radius of the helicopter blades.
    Y d. The hoist line should be slack before the basket or stretcher is hooked on.

678: Prior to being able to sail, each vessel that carries grain in bulk must have a certificate of loading issued by the __________.

    N a. American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. Lloyds of London
    Y c. National Cargo Bureau
    N d. U.S. Salvage

769: The owner or Master of a towing vessel must ensure that each person that directs and controls the movement of the vessel knows all of the following EXCEPT ___________ .

    N a. the effects of maneuvering on the vessel and its tow
    N b. the speed and direction of any current for the area being transited
    N c. how to apply variation and deviation to readings from a magnetic compass
    Y d. the ownership of the vessel(s) being towed

783: The owner or Master of a towing vessel shall ensure that each person that directs and controls the movement of the vessel can accomplish all of the following EXCEPT ___________ .

    N a. evaluate the danger of each closing visual or radar contact
    N b. adjust speed with due regard for the weather and visibility
    Y c. reduce speed only where local speed limits are posted
    N d. enter all required test and inspection results in the vessel's log or other record carried on board

785: With rudders amidships and negligible wind, a twin-screw vessel moving ahead on the port screw and backing on the starboard screw will __________.

    N a. move in a straight line
    Y b. pivot to starboard
    N c. pivot to port
    N d. walk sideways to starboard

834: A whipping on a fiber line __________.

    Y a. keeps the ends from fraying
    N b. strengthens it
    N c. protects your hands
    N d. becomes part of a splice

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

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

1071: In some cases, the 50% duty on all foreign repairs made to American flag merchant vessels may be remitted. Which work does NOT come under the remitting policy of U.S. Customs?

    Y a. Chipping, painting, and scaling by foreign labor
    N b. Repairs to hull structural damage
    N c. Repairs due to damage done by heavy weather
    N d. Repairs to the main propulsion machinery

1082: A lashing used to secure two barges side by side, lashed in an "X" fashion, is called a __________.

    N a. backing wire
    Y b. scissor wire
    N c. face wire
    N d. breast wire

1144: Which rope has the greatest breaking strength?

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

1145: You are on watch at night in clear visibility and the vessel has just been anchored. The first thing that you should do after the anchor has been let go is to __________.

    N a. stop the engines
    Y b. take bearings to obtain ship's position
    N c. turn off the running lights and turn on the anchor lights
    N d. lower the accommodation ladder and illuminate it

1161: The document that the Master uses to attest to the truth of the manifest of cargo is called __________.

    N a. Master's Protest
    Y b. Oath of Entry
    N c. Owner's Oath
    N d. Shipper's Certification

1167: A vessel will "squat" when it proceeds underway __________.

    N a. only in deep water
    N b. only in shallow water
    Y c. in all depths of water
    N d. only in narrow channels

1220: Who certifies the safe working load of cargo cranes on a vessel?

    N a. U.S. Coast Guard
    Y b. American Bureau of Shipping
    N c. Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
    N d. National Cargo Bureau

1286: The anchors should be dropped well out from the pier while at a Mediterranean moor to __________.

    N a. eliminate navigational hazards by allowing the chain to lie along the harbor bottom
    N b. increase the anchor's reliability by providing a large catenary in the chain
    Y c. permit the ship to maneuver in the stream while weighing anchors
    N d. prevent damage to the stern caused by swinging against the pier in the approach

1299: Which part of a conventional cargo gear rig provides for vertical control and positioning of a boom?

    N a. Cargo whip
    N b. Gooseneck fitting
    N c. Spider band
    Y d. Topping lift

1595: Which picture represents a barrel hitch? (DO30DG )

    Y a. O
    N b. U
    N c. E
    N d. P

1614: Which bend or knot is used to tie a small line to a larger one?

    Y a. Becket bend
    N b. Bowline
    N c. Clove hitch
    N d. Lark's head

1624: Which kind of hitch should you use to secure a spar?

    N a. Blackwall hitch
    N b. Stage hitch
    Y c. Timber hitch
    N d. Two half hitches

1653: Which tool is used to open the strands of fiber lines when making an eye splice?

    N a. Belaying spike
    Y b. Fid
    N c. Heaver
    N d. Pricker

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

1713: The cheek length of a block in inches should be about __________.

    Y a. three times the circumference of a manila line
    N b. five times the diameter of a manila line
    N c. twice the diameter of its sheaves for manila line
    N d. twenty times the diameter of a manila line

1843: The sheave diameter to be used with a 3-inch manila rope is __________.

    N a. 3 inches
    Y b. 6 inches
    N c. 9 inches
    N d. 12 inches

1878: When being towed, a fairlead is a __________.

    Y a. fabricated shape used to change the direction of a flexible member of the tow hookup
    N b. fabricated shape used to secure the tow hookup to the towed vessel
    N c. line connecting the fishplate to the bridle legs
    N d. line connecting the tow bridle to the towed vessel

1895: The knot lettered Q as shown is a __________. (DO30DG )

    N a. square knot
    N b. clove hitch
    Y c. bowline
    N d. round knot

1950: You are proceeding to a distress site and expect large numbers of people in the water. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. You should stop to windward of the survivors in the water and only use the ship's boats to recover the survivors.
    N b. If the survivors are in inflatable rafts you should approach from windward to create a lee for the survivors.
    Y c. An inflatable liferaft secured alongside can be an effective boarding station for transfer of survivors from the boats.
    N d. Survivors in the water should never be permitted alongside due to the possibility of injury from the vessel.

1960: The knot lettered G in the illustration is a __________. (DO30DG )

    N a. round turn and two half hitches
    Y b. fisherman's bend
    N c. timber hitch
    N d. barrel hitch

1985: You are on a 165 foot (50.3 meters) long vessel with a draft of 9 feet (2.7 meters) and twin screws. Which statement about rescuing a survivor in the water with ship pickup is TRUE?

    N a. You should stop to windward of the man and drift down on him.
    N b. You should stop with the man on your weather beam and twist the ship up to him.
    Y c. A pickup off the weather bow gives maximum maneuverability with the least possibility of injury to the man.
    N d. Ship pick up should never be used with a shallow draft vessel.

2047: Progressive flooding is controlled by securing watertight boundaries and __________.

    N a. transferring water ballast
    N b. jettisoning cargo
    Y c. pumping out flooded compartments
    N d. abandoning ship

2181: When relieving the helm, the new helmsman should know the __________.

    Y a. course per magnetic steering compass
    N b. gyro error
    N c. variation
    N d. maximum rudder angle previously used

2289: A seaman you have just discharged has a Continuous Discharge Book. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. The record of entry in the continuous discharge book shall agree with the entry made in the Ship's Articles.
    N b. If the vessel was on coastwise articles, the record of discharge will be made in the Official Logbook.
    N c. An entry should be made in the book and a Certificate of Discharge issued to the seaman.
    N d. A Certificate of Discharge form should be attached to the book.

2355: The metal, teardrop-shaped object sometimes used within an eyesplice is a __________.

    N a. grommet
    N b. reinforcement
    N c. splice form
    Y d. thimble

2393: Determine the weight of a rectangular piece of 25.5 lbs. steel measuring 4.5 feet by 6.7 feet.

    N a. 285.6 lbs.
    N b. 329.7 lbs.
    N c. 591.2 lbs.
    Y d. 768.8 lbs.

2484: The type of joint formed when an edge of one plate is laid over the edge of the plate to which it is riveted is a __________.

    N a. grip joint
    N b. strap joint
    N c. thread joint
    Y d. lap joint

2759: Which of the Great Lakes is most affected by short-term Lake level fluctuations?

    N a. Lake Superior
    N b. Lake Michigan
    N c. Lake Huron
    Y d. Lake Erie

2854: The term "Great Lakes", as defined by the Inland Rules of the Road, does NOT include __________.

    N a. portions of the Chicago River
    N b. portions of the Calumet River
    Y c. the St. Lawrence River to Trois Rivieres
    N d. Saginaw Bay

2870: A single-screw vessel going ahead tends to turn more rapidly to port because of propeller __________.

    N a. discharge current
    N b. suction current
    Y c. sidewise force
    N d. thrust

2900: Which statement about Naval Control of Shipping in wartime is TRUE?

    Y a. It is mandatory in wartime.
    N b. It is mandatory in hazardous areas and voluntary in other areas.
    N c. It is mandatory only for vessels sailing in convoy.
    N d. It is mandatory for vessels bound foreign and voluntary for vessels in the coastwise trade.

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

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

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

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

3450: Kort nozzles are installed around the propellers of some vessels to __________.

    Y a. increase the thrust of the propeller
    N b. protect the propeller from striking sawyers
    N c. prevent the propeller from striking barges towed on the hip
    N d. prevent the propeller from touching bottom in low water

3726: You are lifting a one-ton weight with a swinging boom. When comparing the stresses on the rig with the boom at 20° to the horizontal to the stresses when the boom is at 60° to the horizontal, which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The angle of elevation does not change the stresses in the masthead fairlead for the topping lift.
    Y b. The stress on the head block is greater at 60°.
    N c. The stress on the heel block is greater at 60°.
    N d. The thrust on the boom is greater at 20°.

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

4147: Which tensioning device is used with wire rope lashing to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

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

4234: What describes a tandem crane lift?

    N a. Single crane hoisting 30 tons
    N b. Two cranes on a single pedestal hoisting 60 tons
    Y c. Two sets of twin cranes hoisting 120 tons
    N d. All of the above