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.


10: You are scheduled to load a bulk shipment of steel turnings. Which statement is TRUE?


38: A cargo that has a stowage factor over 40 is known as a __________.


98: A hygroscopic cargo is defined as a cargo __________.


114: You are on watch at sea on course 090°T. A man falls overboard on your starboard side. You immediately start a Williamson Turn. Which step is NOT a part of a Williamson Turn?

    N a. Step 1: Come right full rudder until the vessel heads 150°T.
    Y b. Step 2: Stop the engines until clear of the man.
    N c. Step 3: Shift the helm to left full rudder.
    N d. Step 4: Continue with left rudder until on course 270°T.

116: In relation to the turning circle of a ship, the term "transfer" means the distance __________.

    N a. gained in the direction of the original course
    Y b. gained at right angles to the original course
    N c. the ship moves sidewise from the original course away from the direction of the turn after the rudder is first put over
    N d. around the circumference of the turning circle

154: A look-out at the bow sights an object on your port side. How many bell strokes should he sound?

    N a. One
    Y b. Two
    N c. Three
    N d. Four

215: How does the effect known as "bank suction" act on a single-screw vessel proceeding along a narrow channel?

    N a. It pulls the bow toward the bank.
    N b. It heels the vessel toward the bank.
    N c. It pushes the entire vessel away from the bank.
    Y d. It pulls the stern toward the bank.

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

292: Stress on the topping lift of a swinging boom can be reduced by __________.

    N a. rigging a back stay
    Y b. raising the boom
    N c. increasing the mechanical advantage of the cargo purchase
    N d. taking all slack out of the preventer

362: A towing vessel is tripped when __________.

    N a. it is overtaken by the tow
    Y b. it is pulled sideways by the tow
    N c. the weight of the towing hawser causes loss of maneuverability
    N d. the propeller is fouled by the towing hawser

491: A change of a documented vessel's name can only be made by the __________.

    N a. American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. Commissioner of Customs
    N c. Treasury Department
    Y d. Coast Guard

499: Your tank vessel is loaded down to her marks, and you find that she has too much trim by the stern. To adjust the trim, you may __________.

    N a. add ballast forward
    N b. load more cargo forward
    Y c. shift bunkers forward
    N d. All of the above

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"

620: You are on a container vessel. What concerning the handling and stowage of containerized hazardous materials is TRUE?

    Y a. Open-bed containers may be used to transport hazardous materials if the cargo is properly secured.
    N b. A portable cargo tank of a flammable, cryogenic liquid may not be in transit for a period exceeding its marked rated holding time unless the liquid is inhibited.
    N c. A portable cargo tank containing a cryogenic liquid must be shipped on deck unless forced ventilation is provided to the decks-decks.
    N d. A container loaded with packages of tear gas would display a placard reading "Irritant."

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

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

690: A rescue helicopter's hoist area should have a radius of at least __________.

    N a. 6 feet of clear deck
    N b. 10 feet of clear deck
    N c. 25 feet of clear deck
    Y d. 50 feet of clear deck

762: A towing winch, that handles a wire towline, must have all of the following EXCEPT a ____________ .

    N a. device that evenly spools and tightly winds the towline
    N b. brake with holding power appropriate for the vessel's horsepower or bollard pull
    N c. brake that can be operated when there is no power available to drive the winch
    Y d. source of emergency power to operate the winch

809: Which pump must always be primed?

    Y a. Centrifugal pump
    N b. Reciprocating pump
    N c. Rotary pump
    N d. All of the above

895: Which factor would NOT lead to removing a towline from service?

    N a. An excessive number of miles of towing service.
    N b. Failing a tensile strength test that proved the towline was no longer appropriate for expected sea conditions.
    Y c. When heavy grease on the towline saturates the core of the wire rope.
    N d. Its surface condition is noted, including its corrosion and discoloration.

955: In which case is the IOPP Certificate of an inspected vessel NOT invalidated?

    Y a. The required oily-water separator malfunctions.
    N b. The ship is transferred to Liberian registry.
    N c. An annual survey is conducted fifteen months after the date of certificate issuance.
    N d. A 15 ppm oily-water separator is replaced by a 100 ppm oily-water separator.

970: What is the difference between net tonnage and gross tonnage?

    Y a. Net tonnage is the gross tonnage less certain deductions for machinery and other areas.
    N b. Net tonnage is tonnage of cargo compared to tonnage of whole ship.
    N c. Net tonnage is the net weight of the ship.
    N d. There is no difference.

987: What does the helm command "shift the rudder" mean?

    N a. Stop the swing of the ship.
    N b. Shift the rudder control to the alternate steering method.
    N c. Put the rudder amidships and hold the heading steady as she goes.
    Y d. Put the rudder over to the opposite side, the same number of degrees it is now.

997: When steering by hand, which of the following may be a functional input to the steering gear as a result of turning the wheel?

    Y a. Non-followup
    N b. Rudder adjustment
    N c. Weather adjustment
    N d. All the above may be activated

1181: Uncleared crew curios remaining on board during a domestic coastwise voyage after returning from foreign should be __________.

    N a. listed in the Official Logbook
    N b. cleared prior to the next foreign voyage
    Y c. noted in the Traveling Curio Manifest
    N d. retained under locked security by the owner

1241: A Notice of Marine Casualty to a vessel must include __________.

    N a. the estimated cost of damage
    Y b. the name of the owner or agent of the vessel
    N c. an evaluation of who was at fault
    N d. the amount of ballast on board

1265: You are picking up an unconscious person that has fallen overboard in a fresh breeze. For safety reasons a small craft should approach with the __________.

    N a. victim to leeward
    Y b. victim to windward
    N c. wind on your port side
    N d. wind on your starboard side

1319: In relation to cargo gear, what does "SWL" mean?

    Y a. Safe working load
    N b. Ship's working lift
    N c. Starboard wing lift
    N d. Stress, weight, load

1321: Which type of carrier accepts without discrimination all legal cargoes of a shipper?

    Y a. Common
    N b. Industrial
    N c. Private
    N d. Tramp

1483: The knot used to join two lines or two large hawsers for towing is called a __________.

    N a. square knot
    Y b. carrick bend
    N c. sheet bend
    N d. bowline

1502: The tankship Northland is loaded as shown. Use the salmon colored pages in the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the hogging numeral. (Get Table Data)

    Y a. 49.73 numeral
    N b. 52.76 numeral
    N c. 55.29 numeral
    N d. 57.93 numeral

1559: It is permissible to place an eye splice in wire rope used as cargo gear providing the splice is made using __________.

    N a. two tucks with whole strands and one tuck with one-half strand
    Y b. three tucks with whole strands and two tucks with 1/2 the wire cut from the tucking strand
    N c. three tucks with whole strands
    N d. two tucks with whole strands and three tucks with half strands

1641: The helm command "Steady as you go" means __________.

    Y a. steer the course you are on now
    N b. steer the course when the swing stops
    N c. maintain the rate of swing
    N d. don't allow the vessel to swing off course so much

1703: What is the stress on the hauling part when lifting a 4,200 lbs. weight using a threefold purchase rove to advantage? (Allow 10 percent of the weight per sheave for friction.)

    N a. 571.4
    N b. 715.2
    Y c. 960
    N d. 1066.7

1731: You are in charge of a 225-gross ton tug preparing to depart from Houston, Texas, with a loaded 2500-gross ton tank barge bound for New York. Prior to departure, regulations require that you __________.

    N a. record the status of all firefighting equipment
    Y b. record the barge's load line and draft readings
    N c. record the condition of the towing gear
    N d. have on board an Official Logbook in lieu of other forms of records

1813: A snatch block would most likely be used as a __________.

    N a. boat fall
    Y b. fairlead
    N c. riding pawl
    N d. topping lift

1913: An example of a messenger is a __________.

    N a. fairlead
    Y b. heaving line
    N c. stay
    N d. warp

1925: Which material should NOT be used to secure cargo on deck for a voyage?

    N a. Steel chain
    N b. Wire rope
    N c. Steel strapping
    Y d. Fiber rope

2152: Your vessel has the symbol shown inscribed on the side. Which statement concerning this symbol is TRUE? (DO22DG )

    N a. This represents the load line marks when engaged on a voyage upon the Great Lakes.
    N b. The line directly under the triangle is at the same level as the summer load line.
    N c. The symbol is the equivalent of a load line marking and is used by government vessels (USN, MSC, USCG) only.
    Y d. The applicable gross and net tonnage of the ship will change if this mark is submerged and the load line mark is visible.

2172: The lower hold of your vessel has a bale cubic of 52,000 cu. ft. You will load a cargo of cases, each weighing 380 lbs. and measuring 3 ft. x 2 ft. x 2 ft. The estimated broken stowage is 15%. How many tons of cases can be loaded?

    N a. 137 tons
    N b. 161 tons
    Y c. 625 tons
    N d. 969 tons

2253: What is the area of a circle with a radius of 17 feet after a sector of 57° has been removed?

    Y a. 764.17 sq. ft
    N b. 190.66 sq. ft
    N c. 145.27 sq. ft
    N d. 36.85 sq. ft

2258: The knot lettered L in illustration DO30DG is a __________. (DO30DG )

    N a. square knot
    Y b. double blackwall hitch
    N c. fisherman's bend
    N d. timber hitch

2271: You are signing on a crew. You can determine the minimum number and qualifications of the crew that you are required to carry by consulting which document?

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

2353: Which mooring line prevents sideways motion of a vessel moored to a pier?

    N a. A line led forward from the bow
    N b. A line led aft from the bow
    N c. A line led in the same direction as the keel
    Y d. A line led at a right angle to the keel

2529: Which condition would NOT entitle a vessel to carry goods on deck?

    N a. The shipper agrees to deck stowage
    Y b. The cargo will damage other cargoes by tainting or contamination
    N c. Deck stowage is required by law or regulation
    N d. Deck stowage is customary in the trade (i.e. timber cargoes)

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

2929: A vessel is loaded to her summer marks for a voyage from Montreal, Canada to Duluth, MN via the Great Lakes System. The voyage has been estimated to take nine (9) days. If the vessel departs Montreal on September 28th, which of the following statements is TRUE?

    N a. The vessel must be at her summer marks when she arrives at Duluth.
    N b. The vessel is in violation of the load line requirements.
    Y c. The vessel's intermediate load line marks may not be submerged after September 30.
    N d. The vessel must be at her winter marks by the evening of the third day.

2930: A large vessel is equipped with a controllable pitch propeller. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. When dead in the water, it is often difficult to find the neutral position and slight headway or sternway may result.
    N b. When going directly from full ahead to full astern, there is complete steering control.
    N c. When the vessel has headway and the propeller is in neutral, there is no effect on rudder control.
    N d. When maneuvering in port, full ahead or astern power can usually be obtained without changing shaft RPM.

2960: When cutting wire rope, seizings are put on each side of the cut. The seizings prevent the wire from unlaying and also __________.

    Y a. maintain the original balance of the tension in the wires and strands
    N b. prevent moisture from entering between the wires at the cut end
    N c. forces lubricant from the core to protect the raw, cut end
    N d. All of the above

3089: How does an icebreaker normally free a ship which has become beset while navigating independently?

    N a. By backing down the track and cutting out ice on either bow
    Y b. By approaching from the stern and crossing ahead at an angle of 20° to 30° to the beset ship's course
    N c. By overtaking the beset ship, running ahead and then backing down the track to the beset vessel
    N d. By approaching the vessel from astern and towing the beset vessel stern first

3091: Towlines should be inspected for chafing where the towline __________.

    N a. passes over the stern of the towing vessel
    N b. passes through chocks
    N c. is attached to the disabled vessel
    Y d. All of the above

3324: What descriptive term indicates that the dimension is measured from the inner face of the shell or deck plating?

    Y a. Molded
    N b. Register
    N c. Tonnage
    N d. Effective

3352: The signal man assisting the crane operator has his arm extended, his fingers closed, and his thumb pointing downward. This is the signal to __________.

    N a. hoist the load
    N b. raise the boom
    Y c. lower the boom
    N d. lower the load

3414: You are lifting a 3-ton weight with a single whip rove on a swinging boom set at an angle 20° to the horizontal. Use the formula for the size of a shackle with a safe working load and determine the minimum size shackle that should be used to secure the head block to the boom.

    Y a. 1 3/8 inch
    N b. 1 1/2 inch
    N c. 1 5/8 inch
    N d. 1 3/4 inch

3430: What is NOT considered "jewelry"?

    N a. Steamboat ratchets
    N b. Manila lines
    Y c. Buttons
    N d. Shackles

4051: You are the operator of an uninspected vessel which is involved in an accident. You are not required to assist people affected by the accident if __________.

    N a. the other vessel did not appear to be sinking
    N b. it would unduly delay your voyage
    N c. the other vessel was at fault
    Y d. it would cause serious danger to your vessel

4133: What is used when securing light vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Chain lever or turnbuckle
    N b. Chain
    N c. Wire
    Y d. None of these

4155: Which factor(s) should be considered when loading vehicles or trailers aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Layout of decks
    N b. Vertical clearances
    N c. Tie-down and lashing
    Y d. All of the above

4175: Which of the following is NOT necessary, prior to loading or discharging cargo on a Ro-Ro vessel?

    N a. Turn on ventilation for cargo holds.
    N b. Lower the stern ramp.
    Y c. Turn on the red cargo light.
    N d. Raise/open the stern door.

4180: Which of the following actions are stated in the correct order prior to loading or discharging cargo on a Ro-Ro vessel?

    N a. Raise/open stern door, lower the stern ramp, turn on ventilation for cargo holds
    Y b. Lower the stern ramp, raise/open stern door, turn on ventilation for cargo holds
    N c. Turn on ventilation for cargo holds, lower the stern ramp, raise/open stern door
    N d. Turn on ventilation for cargo holds, raise/open stern door, lower the stern ramp

4250: Which action(s) is/are included in crane operations?

    N a. Pre-operation checks and start-up
    N b. Removing booms from stowage
    N c. Luff, slew, and hoist operations
    Y d. All of the above