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.


40: You are on a cargo vessel carrying toluol in bulk in portable tanks. Which is a requirement for pumping the toluol?


122: You may be able to avoid loss of suction in a pump by __________.


123: When patching holes in the hull, pillows, bedding, and other soft materials can be used as __________.


143: Why are most break bulk vessels built with the transverse framing system rather than the longitudinal system?

    N a. The transverse system is more resistant to hog and sag stresses.
    N b. The numerous longitudinal frames cause excessive broken stowage.
    N c. The transverse system provides better support to the varying cargo densities on a break bulk vessel.
    Y d. The deep web frames interfere with the stowage of break bulk cargo.

174: A proper look-out must be kept __________.

    N a. only in fog
    N b. only between the hours of sunset and sunrise
    N c. only when entering and leaving port
    Y d. at all times

217: The holding capability of an anchor is primarily determined by the __________.

    N a. shape of the anchor
    N b. stowage of the anchor on board
    Y c. anchor's ability to dig in
    N d. size of the vessel and its draft

229: Which refers to the depth of a petroleum product in a tank?

    N a. Outage
    N b. Ullage
    N c. Thievage
    Y d. Innage

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

486: You are backing on twin engines with rudders amidships. Your starboard engine stalls. To continue backing on course, you should __________.

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

496: Your twin-screw vessel is moving ASTERN with rudders amidships. The starboard screw suddenly stops turning. Your vessel's head will __________.

    Y a. go to port
    N b. go to starboard
    N c. remain stationary
    N d. suddenly drop down

512: When paying out nylon line from around the bitts __________.

    Y a. stand clear of the bitts and use two or more round turns under your figure eights
    N b. you can surge the line even with a single turn
    N c. no extra turns are necessary since nylon has a high coefficient of friction
    N d. stand in the bight of the line

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

833: The Master may require part of the crew to work when needed for ___________ .

    N a. maneuvering, shifting berth, mooring and unmooring
    N b. performing work necessary for the safety of the vessel, its passengers, crew or cargo
    N c. performing fire, lifeboat or other drills in port or at sea
    Y d. All of the above

875: Which statement, concerning offshore supply vessel operations, correctly defines the length of a voyage?

    N a. The distance from the point of departure to the vessel's first stop
    N b. The distance from the point of departure to the most distant point offshore
    Y c. The total distance from the port of departure to the port of arrival, not including stops at offshore points
    N d. The shortest measurable distance from the port of departure to the port of arrival

882: The owner or Master of a towing vessel that tows astern must keep records of the towline(s) that include all of the following information EXCEPT _____________ .

    N a. the towline's initial minimum breaking strength as determined by the manufacturer
    Y b. an invoice showing the cost of the towline
    N c. the towline's nautical miles of use or time in service
    N d. the history of loading of the towline

960: Gross tonnage indicates the vessel's __________.

    N a. displacement in metric tons
    N b. total weight including cargo
    Y c. volume in cubic feet
    N d. draft in feet

1085: Which of the following statements concerning the rigging of bosuns' chairs and their use is TRUE?

    N a. Always secure the gantline to the chair with a bowline.
    N b. Always have the chair hoisted with at least three turns on a winch drum.
    Y c. Any tools, paint pots etc. should be secured by lanyards.
    N d. When riding a stay, make sure that the bow of the shackle passes through the becket of the bridle.

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

1168: A vessel has completed loading cargo in the port of San Francisco. What document is signed by the Master stating the terms that goods were delivered and received by the ship?

    N a. Bill of Goods
    Y b. Bill of Lading
    N c. Cargo Manifest
    N d. Cargo Receipt

1178: A shipper of cargo aboard your vessel offers a letter of indemnity for the cargo. This is done in order to obtain a(n) __________.

    Y a. Clean Bill of Lading
    N b. Order Bill of Lading
    N c. Straight Bill of Lading
    N d. Through Bill of Lading

1212: What is NOT characteristic of the conditions which would be experienced by a vessel located southeast of an approaching eastward-moving storm center on the Great Lakes?

    Y a. Falling barometer
    N b. A westerly wind
    N c. Lowering clouds
    N d. Rain or snow

1271: The citizenship of a crew member of a vessel in a U.S. port is determined solely by the __________.

    N a. Customs Officer
    Y b. Immigration Officer
    N c. Coast Guard
    N d. Union Official

1370: The strength of a deck will be increased by adding __________.

    N a. camber
    Y b. deck beam brackets
    N c. hatch beams
    N d. sheer

1627: A claim for cargo damages may be held against the shipowner if such damage is the result of failure of the ship's officers to __________.

    Y a. ensure the fitness and safety of cargo spaces
    N b. ensure adequate packaging of the cargo
    N c. prevent delays due to quarantine restrictions
    N d. correct all defects in the ship's construction

1671: The number of certificated able seamen and lifeboatmen required on a vessel is determined by the __________.

    N a. International Maritime Organization
    N b. Corps of Engineers
    Y c. Coast Guard
    N d. American Bureau of Shipping

1818: When comparing twin screw tug to single-screw tugs, which statement about a twin-screw tug is FALSE?

    N a. If one engine fails, you do not lose control of the tow.
    N b. It is more maneuverable.
    Y c. It develops more bollard pull for the same horsepower.
    N d. It is generally subject to more propeller damage from debris in the water.

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

1849: The knot lettered U is a __________. (DO30DG )

    Y a. half hitch
    N b. round knot
    N c. becket bend
    N d. plain whipping

1893: A block and tackle is "rove to advantage". This means that the __________.

    N a. blocks have been overhauled
    N b. hauling parts of two tackles are attached
    Y c. hauling part leads through the movable block
    N d. hauling part leads through the standing block

2009: A cargo of canned foodstuffs is packed in cartons. Each carton is 36 cubic feet and weighs 380 pounds. What is the stowage factor of the cargo?

    N a. 9.5
    N b. 62
    Y c. 212
    N d. 237

2022: In determining the scope of cable to be used when anchoring, what would NOT be considered?

    N a. Depth of the water
    N b. Character of the holding ground
    Y c. maintenance cost for the chain
    N d. Type of anchor cable

2126: You have anchored in a mud and clay bottom. The anchor appears to be dragging in a storm. What action should you take?

    N a. Shorten the scope of the cable.
    N b. Veer cable to the anchor.
    N c. Drop the other anchor underfoot.
    Y d. Drop the second anchor, veer to a good scope, then weigh the first anchor.

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.

2163: What is the name of tackle number 7? (DO29DG )

    Y a. Runner
    N b. Inverted whip
    N c. Whip
    N d. Single purchase

2173: What is the name of tackle number 5? (DO29DG )

    N a. 3-2 purchase
    Y b. Double luff tackle
    N c. Two-fold purchase
    N d. Four-fold whip

2346: What is the volume of a sphere with a radius of 11 feet?

    N a. 506.75 cubic ft.
    N b. 696.78 cubic ft.
    Y c. 5,575.28 cubic ft.
    N d. 44,593.82 cubic ft.

2494: The major components which determine the length of a catenary in a deployed anchor cable are water depth, cable weight, and __________.

    Y a. cable tension
    N b. water temperature
    N c. bottom conditions
    N d. water density

2574: You are proceeding down a channel and lose the engine(s). You must use the anchors to stop the ship. Which statement is true?

    N a. Pay out all of the cable before setting up on the brake to insure the anchors dig in and hold.
    N b. For a mud, mud and clay, or sandy bottom pay out a scope of 5 to 7 times the depth before setting up on the brake.
    Y c. Use one or both anchors with a scope of twice the depth before setting the brake.
    N d. Drop the anchor to short stay and hold that scope.

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

2852: On a small passenger vessel the collision bulkhead is __________.

    N a. amidships forward of the engine room
    N b. just forward of the steering compartment
    N c. in the engine room
    Y d. A distance of 5% to 15% of the waterline length abaft the stem measured at the load waterline

2932: Which type of rudder may lose its effectiveness at angles of 10 or more degrees?

    N a. Contra-guide
    Y b. Balanced spade
    N c. Unbalanced
    N d. Flat plate

3022: You are in the process of adding a barge to your tow. A line run from your power capstan and around timber heads on your tow is made fast on the new barge so that it can be pulled into position. This line is called a __________.

    N a. scissors wire
    Y b. capstan line
    N c. spring line
    N d. fore and aft line

3032: Ice is often strong enough to halt navigation through the St. Lawrence Seaway by mid- __________.

    N a. October
    N b. November
    Y c. December
    N d. January

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

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

3142: Why are stern towing bitts placed well forward of the rudder when hawser towing?

    N a. To keep the hawser from fouling the rudder
    N b. To keep the towing bitts as far away as possible from the tugs pivoting point
    Y c. To allow the stern to swing more freely when using rudder
    N d. To have as much of the towing hawser in use as possible

3152: The danger of a towing vessel tripping is increased the closer the towline is secured to __________.

    N a. the stern
    Y b. amidships
    N c. the bow
    N d. the quarter

3220: If you are guilty of failure to properly perform your duties as Master of Uninspected Towing Vessels, which of the following actions may NOT be taken?

    N a. Issuance of a letter of warning
    N b. Suspension of your license
    N c. Revocation of your license
    Y d. A fine placed against your license

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.

3252: The signal man assisting the crane operator has his arm extended and is pointing his finger in the direction to move the boom. This is the signal to __________.

    N a. extend
    N b. lower
    N c. hoist
    Y d. swing

3449: What term indicates an inward curvature of the ship's hull above the waterline?

    N a. Camber
    Y b. Tumble home
    N c. Deadrise
    N d. Flare

3586: The last shot of an anchor cable is usually painted __________.

    N a. white
    N b. international orange
    N c. yellow
    Y d. red

3614: While you are on watch, you learn that a crewman has not been seen on board for the past three hours. Which type of turn is best in this man-overboard situation?

    N a. Round
    Y b. Scharnow
    N c. Racetrack
    N d. Single turn of 180°

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

4029: Which statement is TRUE concerning toluene?

    N a. Its Reid Vapor Pressure is 9.4.
    N b. The boiling point is 174°F.
    Y c. It is an aromatic hydrocarbon.
    N d. It is classified as a grade A flammable liquid.

4096: Yawing is angular motion of the vessel about what axis?

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

4105: Cargo that is suitable for carriage on Ro-Ro vessels includes __________.

    N a. trailers
    N b. rolling vehicles
    N c. containers
    Y d. All of the above

4121: The lashings used on Ro-Ro vessels should be capable of withstanding the forces of __________.

    N a. rolling
    N b. pitching
    N c. heaving
    Y d. All of the above

4210: Pedestal cranes have limit switches to restrict the movement of which function?

    N a. Luff rate limits
    Y b. Slew travel limits
    N c. Swivel power limits
    N d. Slew rate limits

4440: You are standing the wheelwatch when you hear the cry, "Man overboard, starboard side". You should instinctively __________.

    N a. give full left rudder
    N b. throw a life ring to mark the spot
    N c. put the rudder amidships
    Y d. give full right rudder