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.


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


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


42: The vapor pressure of a substance __________.


88: Which is an example of cargo damage caused by inherent vice?

    N a. Tainting
    N b. Wear and tear
    N c. Stevedore damage
    Y d. Heating of grain

290: What is NOT a form used by ice support services to disseminate information?

    N a. Ice Analyses
    N b. Ice Forecasts
    N c. Ice Outlooks
    Y d. Ice Bulletins

307: Which type of chemical testing is NOT required of merchant marine personnel?

    N a. Pre-employment
    N b. Periodic
    N c. Random
    Y d. Annual

326: In order to back a right-handed, single-screw vessel in a straight line, you will probably need to use __________.

    N a. very little rudder
    N b. some left rudder
    Y c. some right rudder
    N d. full left rudder

349: The periodic weight testing of a vessel's cargo booms may be performed by the __________.

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

409: A tanker is loaded with 5,000 barrels of petroleum. The cargo was loaded at a temperature of 70°F, and the coefficient of expansion is .0004. What is the net amount in barrels of cargo loaded?

    N a. 4800
    Y b. 4980
    N c. 5020
    N d. 5200

435: The amount of force a tug can exert on a stationary pull is called its __________.

    N a. brake horsepower
    N b. indicated horsepower
    N c. shaft horsepower
    Y d. bollard pull

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

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

630: You are doing a Williamson turn. Your vessel has swung about 60° from the original course heading. You should __________.

    N a. put the rudder amidships and check the swing
    N b. stop the engines and prepare to maneuver to pick up the man in the water
    Y c. shift your rudder
    N d. increase to maximum speed

684: Right-laid line should be coiled __________.

    Y a. clockwise
    N b. counterclockwise
    N c. either clockwise or counterclockwise
    N d. on a reel

727: Which space(s) is(are) deducted from gross tonnage to derive net tonnage?

    N a. Galley fitted with range or oven
    N b. Open structures
    N c. Passenger spaces
    Y d. Boatswain's stores

776: In most cases, when a large merchant vessel enters shallow water at high speed the __________.

    N a. maneuverability will increase
    N b. speed will increase
    Y c. bow will squat farther than the stern
    N d. vessel will rise slightly, on a level plane

776: In most cases, when a large merchant vessel enters shallow water at high speed the __________.

    N a. maneuverability will increase
    N b. speed will increase
    Y c. bow will squat farther than the stern
    N d. vessel will rise slightly, on a level plane

790: Which statement is TRUE of centrifugal pumps aboard tank vessels?

    N a. They are positive displacement pumps.
    Y b. They are gravity-fed.
    N c. They produce a pulsating flow.
    N d. They require more maintenance than a reciprocating pump.

794: "White Line" is made from __________.

    Y a. cotton
    N b. hemp
    N c. manila
    N d. sisal

828: Your vessel's available bale cubic capacity is 625,000 and her available cargo capacity is 10,000 deadweight tons. Disregarding broken stowage, how many tons of pyrite (stowage factor - 13) and how many tons of cork (s.f. - 150) must be loaded to be full and down?

    Y a. 6387 tons pyrite, 3613 tons cork
    N b. 6721 tons pyrite, 3279 tons cork
    N c. 7500 tons pyrite, 2500 tons cork
    N d. 9133 tons pyrite, 867 tons cork

880: The projecting lugs of the rudderpost which furnish support to the rudder are called __________.

    N a. bases
    Y b. gudgeons
    N c. pintles
    N d. rudder lugs

935: The scuppers had been plugged as required at the time an oil spill occurs on deck. After shutting down the transfer, the engineroom should first be informed and then __________.

    N a. rig a fire hose and call for water on deck
    Y b. spread an absorbent material, such as sawdust
    N c. remove the plugs from the scuppers
    N d. sound the general alarm

952: You have orders to load cargoes of carbon disulfide, diisopropylamine and pyridine on your multi-product tankship. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Carbon disulfide may be carried in NOS. 1 and 2 center tanks and diisopropylamine in NOS. 1 and 2 wing tanks.
    N b. Pyridine and diisopropylamine may be carried in tanks having a common header vent.
    Y c. Pyridine need not be separated from carbon disulfide by two barriers (cofferdams, voids, empty tanks, etc.).
    N d. A tank of carbon disulfide may be used to separate a tank of pyridine from a tank of diisopropylamine.

1114: What type of stopper would you use on a nylon mooring line?

    N a. Chain
    Y b. Nylon
    N c. Manila
    N d. Wire

1282: When evacuating a seaman by helicopter lift, the vessel should be __________.

    N a. stopped with the wind dead ahead
    N b. stopped with the wind on the beam
    Y c. underway with the wind 30° on the bow
    N d. underway on a course to provide no apparent wind

1304: A nylon line is rated at 12,000 lbs. breaking strain. Using a safety factor of 5, what is the safe working load (SWL)?

    N a. 2,000 lbs.
    Y b. 2,400 lbs.
    N c. 12,000 lbs.
    N d. 60,000 lbs.

1366: The best method to stop a vessel from dragging anchor in a sand bottom is to __________.

    N a. reduce the length of the cable
    Y b. pay out more anchor cable
    N c. back the engines
    N d. swing the rudder several times to work the anchor into the bottom

1465: The maneuver which will return your vessel in the shortest time to a person who has fallen overboard is __________.

    N a. engine(s) crash astern, no turn
    Y b. a single turn with hard rudder
    N c. a Williamson Turn
    N d. two 180° turns

1471: One of the requirements for a general average act is __________.

    Y a. a successful venture
    N b. no imminent peril
    N c. no losses
    N d. All of the above

1476: How is the size of chain determined?

    N a. Length of link in inches
    Y b. Diameter of metal in link in inches
    N c. Links per fathom
    N d. Weight of stud cable in pounds

1534: Which statement(s) is(are) TRUE concerning wire rope?

    Y a. Wire rope should be condemned if the outside wires are worn to one-half their original diameter.
    N b. Wire rope should be condemned if the fiber core appears moist.
    N c. Wire rope which is right-hand laid should be coiled counterclockwise to prevent kinking.
    N d. All of the above

1689: The mooring line shown as "C" is called a __________. (DO44DG )

    N a. stern line
    N b. spring line
    N c. shore line
    Y d. breast line

1750: A grapnel is a __________.

    N a. device for securing a chain topping lift
    N b. hook to prevent the anchor cable from slipping
    Y c. device used to drag for a submerged cable or line
    N d. type of clam bucket used for discharging bulk cargo

1796: Which safety check(s) should be made before letting go the anchor?

    N a. See that the anchor is clear of obstructions.
    N b. See that the chain is all clear.
    N c. See that the wildcat is disengaged.
    Y d. All of the above

1981: The boom stops on a pedestal crane prevent the boom from __________.

    Y a. being raised too high
    N b. swinging at sea
    N c. overloading when not in use
    N d. being lowered too low

2043: A mooring line that prevents a vessel from moving sideways away from the dock is a __________.

    N a. bow line
    Y b. breast line
    N c. stern line
    N d. spring line

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

2069: A "spring line" is a __________.

    N a. mooring line made of spring lay wire rope
    Y b. mooring line running diagonally to the keel
    N c. mooring line parallel to the keel
    N d. wire rope used for securing an anchor buoy

2094: A large basin cut into the shore, closed off by a caisson, and used for dry docking of ships is known as a __________.

    N a. slipway
    Y b. graving dock
    N c. ground warp
    N d. caisson dock

2106: A racetrack turn would be better than a Williamson turn in recovering a man overboard if __________.

    N a. the man has been missing for a period of time
    Y b. the sea water is very cold and the man is visible
    N c. there is thick fog
    N d. the wind was from astern on the original course

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.

2262: Which statement about the carriage of solid hazardous materials in bulk is TRUE?

    N a. A special permit issued by the Coast Guard is required before the cargo is loaded.
    Y b. The loading of the cargo must be conducted under the direction and observation of a person employed or assigned for that purpose.
    N c. A certificate issued by ABS will be accepted as evidence that the vessel complies with all applicable loading regulations.
    N d. The shipping papers must indicate the primary hazardous characteristic or property of the material.

2303: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) and wish to send a message warning of a hurricane. Which precedence would you assign this message?

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

2398: How many tons of salt water can be loaded into a flat-ended cylindrical tank with a diameter of 4.5 feet and a length of 8 feet?

    N a. 1.82
    Y b. 3.64
    N c. 7.27
    N d. 14.54

2466: The pillar shape that gives the greatest strength for the least weight is the __________.

    N a. octagonal pillar
    N b. "H" Beam pillar
    N c. "I" Beam pillar
    Y d. circular type pillar

2568: You are proceeding along the right bank of a narrow channel aboard a right-handed single-screw vessel. The vessel starts to sheer due to bank suction/cushion effect. You should __________.

    N a. stop engines and put the rudder left full
    N b. back full with rudder amidships
    N c. decrease speed and put the rudder right full
    Y d. increase speed and put the rudder right full

2606: You are approaching the pilot station with the wind fine on the starboard bow and making about 3 knots. You can help to calm the seas by taking what action just before the pilot boat comes along on the port side?

    N a. Backing full
    N b. Stopping the engines
    N c. Giving right full rudder
    Y d. A short burst of ahead full with left full rudder

2619: On the Great Lakes, the term "controlling depth" means the __________.

    N a. designed dredging depth of a channel constructed by the Corps. of Engineers
    N b. minimum amount of tail water available behind a dam
    N c. distance in units of the chart (feet, meters or fathoms) from the reference datum to the bottom
    Y d. least depth within the limits of the channel which restricts the navigation

2619: On the Great Lakes, the term "controlling depth" means the __________.

    N a. designed dredging depth of a channel constructed by the Corps. of Engineers
    N b. minimum amount of tail water available behind a dam
    N c. distance in units of the chart (feet, meters or fathoms) from the reference datum to the bottom
    Y d. least depth within the limits of the channel which restricts the navigation

2735: Periodic surveys to renew the load line assignment must be made at intervals NOT exceeding __________.

    N a. 18 months
    N b. two years
    N c. three years
    Y d. five years

2746: Which of the Great Lakes experiences the least amount of water level fluctuation between seasonal high and low water marks?

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

2988: You are mooring to a buoy. You should approach the buoy with the current from __________.

    Y a. ahead
    N b. broad on the bow
    N c. abeam
    N d. astern

2996: Advection fog, a common occurrence on the Great Lakes, forms when __________.

    N a. air comes in contact with a rapidly cooling land surface
    N b. frigid arctic air moves across the lakes and becomes saturated
    Y c. relatively warm air flows over cooler water
    N d. cool air contacts warm river currents

3016: To obtain better steering control when you are towing alongside, your vessel should be positioned with its __________.

    N a. bow extending forward of the tow
    N b. stern amidships of the tow
    Y c. stern extending aft of the tow
    N d. bow even with the bow of the tow

3204: What term indicates the immersed body of the vessel forward of the parallel mid-body?

    N a. Run
    N b. Flare
    Y c. Entrance
    N d. Sheer

3494: Nylon rope is often used in the makeup of a towline because it __________.

    N a. floats
    Y b. stretches
    N c. handles easily
    N d. resists rot

3556: The choice of length of tow bridle legs is governed by the __________.

    N a. expected towing forces
    N b. capability of retrieving gear
    N c. freeboard of the unit being towed
    Y d. need to reduce yaw

4011: Under defense plans, operation of electronic aids may be temporarily suspended with __________.

    N a. thirty (30) day's notice
    N b. a week's notice
    N c. one day's notice
    Y d. no notice

4149: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding lashing requirements to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. The securing of cargo on flats and trailers must be adequate to withstand road motions only.
    N b. The movements experienced by road borne cargo are the same as the movements of a ship at sea.
    Y c. The generally recommended lash angle is no greater than 45 degrees relative to the deck in any direction.
    N d. It is not necessary for an adequate number of securing points on the vehicles themselves since setting the brakes is sufficient.

4188: The most important safety consideration during loading or discharge aboard a Ro-Ro vessel is __________.

    N a. having all crewmembers and longshoremen wear hard hats
    Y b. the thorough ventilation of all cargo spaces
    N c. ensuring that visitors cannot come aboard
    N d. having the outboard anchor down