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.


75: Frames to which the tank top and bottom shell are fastened are called __________.


86: The turning circle of a vessel making a turn of over 360 degrees is the path followed by the __________.


167: You are on a large merchant vessel entering a U.S. port. There is a Pilot on board and he has the conn. Which statement is TRUE?


223: Who is responsible for providing urine specimen collection kits to be used following a serious marine incident?

    N a. Qualified medical personnel
    Y b. The marine employer
    N c. The U.S. Coast Guard
    N d. The local police department

420: In handling break bulk hazardous materials, it is forbidden to use __________.

    N a. cargo nets
    Y b. metal bale hooks
    N c. pallets
    N d. slings

516: You are going ahead on twin engines with rudder amidships. Your starboard engine stalls. To continue on course, you should __________.

    Y a. apply left rudder
    N b. apply right rudder
    N c. increase engine speed
    N d. keep your rudder amidships

654: A rope made of a combination of wire and fiber is known as __________.

    N a. independent
    N b. lang lay
    N c. preformed
    Y d. spring lay

668: Which statement is correct concerning the carriage of coal in bulk?

    Y a. Coal should be vented with surface ventilation only.
    N b. Because of its inherent vice, coal should not be loaded wet.
    N c. Dunnage should be placed against ship's sides and around stanchions.
    N d. Through ventilation, as well as surface ventilation, should be provided whenever possible.

689: When your tug reduces speed to shorten tow, the __________.

    N a. length of the tow gets shorter as the strain is reduced
    N b. tow may continue its momentum and overtake the tug
    N c. towing hawser may drag the bottom and put the tug in irons
    Y d. All of the above

691: On U.S. flag vessels, which certificate is always issued by the Coast Guard?

    N a. Load Line Certificate
    Y b. Safety Equipment Certificate
    N c. Safety Construction Certificate
    N d. Register of cargo gear

724: Using a safety factor of five, determine what is the safe working load for 3-1/2 inch manila line with a breaking stress of 4.9 tons.

    N a. 0.82 ton
    Y b. 0.98 ton
    N c. 2.45 tons
    N d. 12.25 tons

725: By law, a user of marijuana shall be subject to __________.

    N a. loss of pay during the period of such use
    N b. reprimand by the US Coast Guard
    Y c. revocation of license or certificate
    N d. termination of employment

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

868: You are going to load bales of wool having a stowage factor of 100 in #3 lower hold which has a bale cubic of 72,000. How many tons of the wool can be stowed in the compartment, assuming 10% broken stowage?

    N a. 493
    N b. 577
    N c. 602
    Y d. 648

884: When towing astern, each towline must meet all of these requirements, EXCEPT ___________ .

    Y a. being suitable for use as soon as it is removed from its normal stowage location
    N b. having wire clips for other than a temporary repair
    N c. having the end either spliced with a thimble or fitted with a poured socket
    N d. being free of knots

888: You are going to load bales of wool having a stowage factor of 100 in #3 lower hold which has a bale cubic of 62,000. How many tons of the wool can be stowed in the compartment, assuming 10% broken stowage?

    N a. 520
    Y b. 558
    N c. 620
    N d. 654

904: In order to help protect a natural fiber rope from rotting, the line must be __________.

    Y a. dried, and stowed in a place with adequate ventilation
    N b. stowed in a hot, moist compartment
    N c. stowed on deck at all times
    N d. stowed in any compartment

976: When the period of beam seas equals the natural rolling period of a vessel, what will most likely occur?

    N a. Excessive pitching
    N b. Excessive yawing
    Y c. Excessive rolling
    N d. No change should be evident

1021: A vessel's Classification Certificate is issued by the __________.

    Y a. American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. National Cargo Bureau
    N c. United States Coast Guard
    N d. United States Customs

1057: The Certificate of Inspection of a damaged tank barge has expired. What certificate authorizes the barge to move to a repair facility for repair and inspection?

    N a. Application for Inspection
    N b. Change of Employment
    Y c. Permit to Proceed
    N d. Temporary Certificate of Inspection

1087: The turning circle of a vessel is the path followed by the __________.

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

1192: A person has fallen overboard and is being picked up with a lifeboat. If the person appears in danger of drowning, the lifeboat should make __________.

    N a. an approach from leeward
    N b. an approach from windward
    Y c. the most direct approach
    N d. an approach across the wind

1312: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "D" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

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

1402: What form of ice is of land origin?

    N a. Shuga
    N b. Floe
    N c. Spicule
    Y d. Bergy bit

1477: Under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act of 1936, a vessel will be liable for damage to a cargo when the damage arises out of __________.

    N a. delays due to seizure of the vessel
    N b. fire caused by fault of the carrier
    N c. strikes or lockouts
    Y d. improper stowage

1494: After splicing an eye in a piece of wire rope, the splice should be parceled and served to __________.

    N a. strengthen the line
    N b. increase its efficiency
    Y c. prevent hand injury by covering loose ends
    N d. make the line more flexible

1503: Which knot should be used to send a man over the side when he may have to use both hands?

    N a. Bowline
    Y b. French bowline
    N c. Bowline on a bight
    N d. Running bowline

1541: Which act would be considered barratry?

    N a. A criminal act committed by a crew member ashore in a foreign port
    Y b. A criminal act committed by the ship Master in violation of his duty to the shipowner
    N c. Theft of cargo by longshoremen
    N d. Smuggling with the connivance of the shipowner

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

1804: Instead of whipping an end of a line, a temporary means of preventing the line from unraveling is to tie a __________.

    N a. becket bend
    N b. blackwall hitch
    Y c. figure-eight knot
    N d. square knot

1811: You are towing a large barge on a hawser. Your main engine suddenly fails. What is the greatest danger?

    N a. The tug and the tow will go aground.
    N b. The tow will endanger other traffic.
    Y c. The tow will overrun tug.
    N d. The tow will block the channel.

1822: What is the principal danger in attempting to swing a barge on a hawser in order to slow the barge's speed?

    N a. Dangerous wakes may result from the swinging barge and capsize the tug.
    N b. The barge may swing too quickly and run over the tug.
    N c. Free surface effect of liquid inside the barge may rupture the barge bulkheads if the turn is too quick.
    Y d. The barge may pass under the hawser and capsize the tug.

1969: If you shorten the scope of anchor cable, your anchor's holding power __________.

    Y a. decreases
    N b. increases
    N c. remains the same
    N d. has no relation to the scope

2016: The revolving drum of a winch used to haul lines is called a __________.

    N a. bull gear
    Y b. gypsyhead
    N c. spanner
    N d. wildcat

2132: Which statement concerning dual-tonnage vessels is TRUE?

    N a. The dual-tonnage mark is always marked above the load line marks.
    N b. The tonnages referred to are the displacement tonnage and gross tonnage.
    Y c. A single-deck vessel may not be assigned dual tonnages.
    N d. The dual-tonnage mark must never be submerged beyond the freshwater allowance.

2179: A design modification of an anchor chain which prevents kinking is the __________.

    N a. detachable link
    Y b. stud link
    N c. Kenter link
    N d. connecting link

2206: You are using tackle number 6 in illustration DO29DG to lift a weight of 300 lbs. If you include 10 percent of the weight for each sheave for friction, what is the pull on the hauling part required to lift the weight? (DO29DG )

    Y a. 80 lbs.
    N b. 69 lbs.
    N c. 55 lbs.
    N d. 50 lbs.

2235: You are conducting trials to determine the maneuvering characteristics of your vessel. While making a turn, you take ranges and bearings of an isolated light with the results as shown. Based on this information, what is the advance for a turn of 75°? (D034DG )

    Y a. 800 yards (720 meters)
    N b. 860 yards (774 meters)
    N c. 910 yards (819 meters)
    N d. 955 yards (860 meters)

2264: When you "end for end" a wire rope, you __________.

    N a. cut off the free end and bitter end of the rope
    N b. splice two wire ropes together
    Y c. remove the wire rope from the drum and reverse it so that the free end becomes the bitter end
    N d. remove the wire rope from the drum and turn it over, so the wire bends in the opposite direction

2315: Which splice is used to connect two separate lines together?

    N a. Back splice
    N b. Chain splice
    N c. Eye splice
    Y d. Long splice

2458: A carling is used aboard ship __________.

    N a. as a connecting strap between the butted ends of plating
    Y b. to stiffen areas under points of great stress between beams
    N c. to prevent the anchor from fouling when the brake is released
    N d. to provide an extra heavy fitting in a heavy lift cargo rig

2547: In a national emergency, when communicating via the Navy, messages are sent by precedence. A message designated IMMEDIATE will be delivered within __________.

    N a. 3 hours to start of business the following day
    Y b. 30 minutes to 1 hour
    N c. 1 to 6 hours
    N d. 10 minutes if possible

2596: A person who sees someone fall overboard should __________.

    N a. immediately jump into the water to assist the individual
    Y b. call for help and keep the individual in sight
    N c. run to the radio room to send an emergency message
    N d. go to the bridge for the distress flares

2644: The boat is stowed on the davit rather than on a cradle with which type of davit?

    Y a. Crescent
    N b. Sheath-screw boom
    N c. Quadrantal
    N d. Radial

2684: Which statement about bilge keels is CORRECT?

    N a. They are critical strength members and require careful design consideration.
    Y b. They increase resistance to rolling.
    N c. They attach to a low stress area.
    N d. They provide support when the vessel is dry docked.

2785: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) and wish to send a message by rapid transmission which does not require a higher precedence. Which precedence would you assign this message?

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

2909: A mechanical davit is designed to automatically __________.

    N a. position the boat at the embarkation station
    Y b. lift the boat off the inboard chocks
    N c. energize the winch for the falls
    N d. set the brake on the winch

2956: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) and wish to send a message concerning an initial enemy contact. Which precedence would you assign this message?

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

2956: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) and wish to send a message concerning an initial enemy contact. Which precedence would you assign this message?

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

3059: A vessel which is being assisted by an icebreaker would display a flag hoist consisting of the code numeral "4" when the vessel __________.

    N a. speed begins to drop
    N b. stops
    N c. receives ice damage
    Y d. becomes icebound

3141: What is NOT a securing system used on a containership?

    N a. Lashing system
    Y b. Stacking system
    N c. Locking system
    N d. Buttress system

3250: You are operator of a towing vessel which collides with a buoy and drags it off station. What should you do if the damage to your vessel is not serious?

    N a. If the buoy is afloat, no action is necessary.
    N b. Wait one week and submit form GG-2692 to the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety or Inspection Office.
    Y c. Immediately notify the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety or Inspection Office and no further action is necessary.
    N d. Immediately notify the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety or Inspection Office and then submit form CG-2692.

4020: You are on a tankship discharging oil. When all of the oil that the main cargo pumps can handle is pumped out of a tank, the remainder is __________.

    N a. stripped out and pumped directly ashore into the mainline as the remaining cargo tanks are pumped out with the main pumps
    Y b. stripped to one tank and then pumped out with the main pumps
    N c. stripped out and pumped directly ashore after all the tanks have been emptied by the main pumps
    N d. gravitated to the centers from the wings and pumped out with the main pumps

4132: What is used when securing heavy vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Buckle or ratchet tensioner
    N b. Webbing
    N c. Manila rope
    Y d. None of these

4134: What may NOT be used when securing heavy vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Chain lever
    N b. Turnbuckle
    Y c. Webbing
    N d. Chain

4148: Which tensioning device is used with chain to secure heavy vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

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

4256: Which of the following statement(s) is/are FALSE regarding a twin pedestal crane set?

    N a. The cranes may be operated independently.
    N b. The cranes may be interconnected for twin operation.
    Y c. The cranes are powered by independent internal combustion power units.
    N d. All of the above

4264: Which statement(s) is/are TRUE concerning crane cargo operations?

    N a. Lifting points on all equipment need not be checked prior to commencing a lift.
    N b. Cargo loaded into vehicles and/or containers prior to lifting need not be secured.
    Y c. Never exceed crane manufacturer’s limits concerning the safe working loads of cargo jibs.
    N d. All the above

4270: Which immediate action should the operator of a pedestal crane take if crane control is lost?

    Y a. Let go of both control levers and return to neutral position.
    N b. Call the engine room.
    N c. Disconnect the power to the pedestal.
    N d. Call the electrician.

4279: Which statement is TRUE concerning a tagline as used with a 30-ton pedestal crane?

    N a. Taglines are wire rope purchases that raise and lower the jib.
    Y b. Taglines are wire ropes payed-out or taken-in for horizontal positioning of the rider block.
    N c. Taglines can be can be fastened to the corners of the jib when lifting containers.
    N d. The taglines are wire rope purchease that raise and lower the topping lift.