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.


24: A crack in the deck plating of a vessel may be temporarily prevented from increasing in length by __________.


58: Odorous cargoes are those that __________.


77: When steering a vessel, a good helmsman will __________.


159: What is the standard net barrel for petroleum products?

    Y a. 42 gallons at 60°Fahrenheit
    N b. 48 gallons at 70°Fahrenheit
    N c. 50 gallons at 50°Celsius
    N d. 60 gallons at 100°Saybolt

263: Which type of hull damage should be repaired FIRST?

    N a. Damage below the waterline
    N b. Damage to interior watertight boundaries
    N c. Damage in way of machinery rooms
    Y d. Damage at or just above the waterline

281: Which action will take place if a crew member is replaced in a U.S. port after foreign articles have been signed, and the ship proceeds foreign?

    N a. The Master will remove the replaced man's name from the Certified Crew List but not from the articles.
    Y b. The name of the new man is added to the articles but not to the Certified Crew List.
    N c. The U.S. Consul will remove the replaced man's name from the Certified Crew List.
    N d. The U.S. Consul will add the new man's name to the Certified Crew List.

346: A vessel is equipped with a single right-handed screw. With rudder amidships and calm wind, the vessel will most likely back __________.

    N a. straight astern
    Y b. to port
    N c. to starboard
    N d. in no particular direction

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

570: A chain bridle is preferable to a wire rope towing bridle on a long ocean tow because chain __________.

    N a. is more flexible and has the ability to absorb shock because of its weight
    N b. is less subject to wear and damage from abrasion
    N c. requires little maintenance
    Y d. All of the above

629: You are planning to use a crude oil washing system. What precaution must be taken with the source tank for the washing machines?

    Y a. At least one meter must be decanted from the source tank.
    N b. The oil in the source tank must be sampled for compatibility.
    N c. The source tank must have been crude oil washed at least once in the past 150 days.
    N d. The inert gas system must lower the oxygen content in the source tank to a maximum of 12%.

632: 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.
    Y c. Put the rudder over to the opposite side, the same number of degrees that it is now.
    N d. Put the rudder amidships and hold the heading steady as she goes.

676: Conditions for crossing a rough bar are usually best at __________.

    N a. low water slack
    Y b. high water slack
    N c. high water ebb
    N d. high water flood

695: A tug is "in irons" when held in a fixed position by __________.

    N a. the weight of its tow, its being anchored, or grounded
    Y b. the weight of its towing hawser on the bottom
    N c. an adverse current
    N d. lack of power or an engine breakdown

751: A document which has a list of names, birthplaces, and residences of persons employed on a merchant vessel bound from a U.S. port on a foreign voyage and is required at every port is called the __________.

    Y a. Certified Crew List
    N b. Crew Manifest
    N c. Shipping Articles
    N d. Muster List ("Station Bill")

774: The strongest of the natural fibers is __________.

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

780: Bilge keels are more effective at dampening rolls as the __________.

    N a. pitching increases
    N b. list increases
    Y c. rolling increases
    N d. draft decreases

822: You are on watch at sea at night and a fire breaks out in #3 hold. What should be done IMMEDIATELY?

    Y a. Shut down the cargo hold ventilation.
    N b. Proceed to the space and determine the extent of the fire.
    N c. Flood the space with C02 from the fixed fire fighting system.
    N d. Cool the deck to contain the fire.

912: You are aboard vessel "A" in a narrow channel and the pilot is approaching vessel "B" as shown. The reason he has not previously changed course to the starboard side of the channel is __________. (DIAGRAM 37 )

    N a. to avoid vessel squat in the shallower water near the bank
    Y b. to avoid the effects of bank cushion and bank suction
    N c. because there is less chance of striking submerged objects in mid-channel
    N d. because the current has less eddies in mid-channel

946: Which measure should NOT be taken to reduce the pounding of a vessel in a head sea?

    Y a. Add ballast in the after peak.
    N b. Add ballast forward.
    N c. Alter course.
    N d. Reduce speed.

1062: An IOPP Certificate on an inspected vessel is valid for what period of time?

    N a. 6 months
    N b. 12 months
    N c. 18 months
    Y d. 5 years

1093: When rigging a bosun's chair, a tail block or lizard is used to __________.

    N a. guide the bosun's chair down a stay when applying a protective coating
    N b. run paint or tools up to a sailor in a chair with a heaving line
    N c. keep a bosun's chair from swinging with the ship's motion
    Y d. reeve the gantline through

1187: You are taking the bow line from the port bow of a large vessel that is underway when the stern of your tug comes in contact with the vessel. The forward motion of both vessels causes your tug to be turned toward the other vessel and contact the stem thereby being "stemmed". You should immediately __________.

    N a. stop engines and the vessel's wake will push you clear of the bow
    Y b. go full astern with rudder amidships
    N c. go full ahead with the rudder hard over to starboard
    N d. go full ahead with the rudder amidships

1189: When bunkering is complete, the hoses should be __________.

    N a. cleaned internally with a degreaser
    N b. washed out with hot soapy water
    Y c. drained, blanked off, and stored securely
    N d. stowed vertically and allowed to drain

1231: What is NOT a condition for a salvage claim?

    N a. The property saved must be "maritime property."
    Y b. The salvors must save or attempt to save any life in peril.
    N c. The salvage service must be voluntary.
    N d. The property must be in peril.

1509: If an electric cargo winch is being used to lift a draft of cargo and the engine room loses all power, which will occur?

    N a. A pawl, forced by a spring mechanism, will engage the teeth of the bull gear and hold the load.
    Y b. An electromagnetic brake will hold the load where it is suspended.
    N c. The load will fall rapidly to the deck unless the foot brake is engaged.
    N d. The load will slowly lower to the deck under control of the drag of the winch motor.

1699: In which casualty case is it UNNECESSARY to notify the local Coast Guard Marine Safety Office?

    N a. Your vessel is backing from a dock and runs aground, but is pulled off by tugs in 30 minutes.
    Y b. Your vessel strikes a pier and does $1,500 damage to the pier but no damage to the vessel.
    N c. A nylon mooring line parts while the vessel is tied up and kills a harbor worker who was on the pier.
    N d. A seaman is injured and in the hospital for four days.

1708: For the purpose of regulating tank vessels, flammable liquids are liquids which will __________.

    Y a. give off flammable vapors at or below 80°F (27°C)
    N b. have a Reid vapor pressure of 18 pounds or more
    N c. give off flammable vapors only above 80°F (27°C)
    N d. sustain combustion at a temperature at or below 100°F (38°C)

1737: When evacuating a seaman by helicopter lift, which course should the ship take?

    N a. Downwind so that the apparent wind is close to nil.
    Y b. A course that will keep a free flow of air, clear of smoke, over the hoist area.
    N c. A course that will have the hoist area in the lee of the superstructure.
    N d. With the wind dead ahead because the helicopter is more maneuverable when going into the wind.

1766: When anchoring in a current, you should __________.

    N a. drop the anchor with the bow headed downstream
    N b. back your vessel into the current
    Y c. anchor while stemming the current
    N d. All of the above

1776: When anchoring in calm water, it is best to __________.

    N a. maintain slight headway when letting go the anchor
    N b. wait until the vessel is dead in the water before letting go the anchor
    Y c. have slight sternway on the vessel while letting go the anchor
    N d. let the anchor go from the stern with the anchor cable leading from the bow

1800: The figure obtained by dividing the total volume of the ship in cubic feet (after omission of exempted spaces) by 100 is the __________.

    N a. bale cubic
    Y b. gross tonnage
    N c. light displacement
    N d. net tonnage

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

1888: How many legs does the bridle for an ocean tow have?

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

1889: The helm command "Nothing to the left" means do NOT __________.

    N a. use left rudder
    Y b. steer left of the ordered course
    N c. steer right of the ordered course
    N d. leave any buoys on the port side

1983: When a line is subject to wear where it passes through a mooring chock, it should be __________.

    N a. wormed, parceled, and served
    N b. wrapped with heavy tape
    Y c. wrapped with chafing gear
    N d. wrapped in leather

1984: Your load line certificate expires on 27 May 1988. The vessel is surveyed on that date and is found satisfactory. You are sailing foreign the same day. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. A new certificate must be issued before you sail.
    N b. The existing certificate is endorsed as valid for a five year period commencing 27 May 1988.
    Y c. The existing certificate is extended for a period of up to 150 days.
    N d. The existing certificate is extended until the first foreign port of call where a new certificate will be issued by the local surveyor.

2051: The tankship Northland is loaded as shown. Use the salmon colored pages in the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the sagging numeral. (Get Table Data)

    N a. 81.79 numeral
    N b. 85.02 numeral
    N c. 89.68 numeral
    Y d. 91.92 numeral

2078: While towing, bridle legs of unequal lengths may cause __________.

    N a. the bridle to foul
    Y b. the shorter leg to fail
    N c. chafing on the fairlead or bitts
    N d. a bent swivel

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

2375: You are on a multiple-product chemical tanker and will carry cargoes of ethanolamine, methyl acrylate, and glycerine. Which statement is true?

    N a. All of these cargoes are mutually incompatible.
    N b. Glycerine may be stowed adjacent to methyl acrylate but must be segregated from ethanolamine.
    N c. Methyl acrylate and ethanolamine are compatible but both must be segregated from glycerine.
    Y d. Glycerine is compatible with both of the other cargoes.

2391: Determine the weight of a rectangular piece of 40.8 lbs. steel measuring 3 feet by 5 feet.

    N a. 326.4 lbs
    N b. 453.6 lbs
    Y c. 612.0 lbs
    N d. 1224.0 lbs

2489: A post on a dock or wharf used to secure mooring lines or hawsers is called a __________.

    N a. bitt
    Y b. bollard
    N c. cleat
    N d. capstan

2569: When discharging an oil cargo, the first consideration is to __________.

    Y a. get the bow up
    N b. discharge from the wings first
    N c. discharge from the centerline tanks first
    N d. discharge from amidships first

2608: Most very large ocean going vessels, such as bulk carriers and large tankers, tend to squat __________.

    Y a. by the bow
    N b. by the stern
    N c. at the end nearest the bottom
    N d. evenly fore and aft

2639: A wooden plug fitted tightly in the vent of a damaged tank may prevent the tank from __________.

    Y a. filling completely
    N b. developing free surface
    N c. developing free surface moment
    N d. collapsing

2726: The lifeboats on your vessel are stowed on cradles on deck and are handled by sheath-screw boom davits. Which of the following statements about launching a boat is TRUE?

    N a. The boat should be hoisted a few inches clear of the cradle before cranking out the davits.
    N b. The inboard gripes should be cast off before the outboard gripes.
    Y c. The outboard section of the cradle must be released.
    N d. The tricing pendants will automatically bring the boat alongside at the embarkation deck.

2742: The internal volume of a cargo hold measured from the inside of the side shell, the underside of the deck, and the tank top is known as the __________.

    N a. gross tonnage
    N b. deadweight space
    N c. measurement space
    Y d. grain cubic

2752: Which is a correct reply to a Pilot's request, "How's your head"?

    Y a. "Passing 040°"
    N b. "Steady"
    N c. "Checked"
    N d. "Eased to 15° rudder"

2836: Which of the Great Lakes is generally the last to reach its seasonal low and seasonal high water marks?

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

2842: By definition, a "spar deck" is the __________.

    N a. lower most continuous deck not broken by water tight bulkheads
    N b. after most weather deck above the main strength deck
    Y c. upper or weather deck above the main strength deck
    N d. deck of light construction below the main or strength deck

2977: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) when you wish to send a message concerning your ships diversion. Which precedence would you assign this message?

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

3116: You are lifting a 5-ton weight with a single whip rove on a swinging boom set at an angle of 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?

    N a. 1 3/8 inch
    N b. 1 1/2 inch
    Y c. 1 3/4 inch
    N d. 1 7/8 inch

3165: When steering a vessel, a good helmsman does NOT __________.

    N a. consider steering a vessel a highly responsible job
    Y b. use as much rudder as possible to keep the vessel on course
    N c. use as little rudder as possible to keep the vessel on course
    N d. advise his relief of the course being steered

3325: Flammable liquids should have what kind of label?

    N a. Skull and crossbones
    N b. Yellow
    Y c. Red
    N d. White

3395: The holding power of an anchor at a given scope of cable increases when the __________.

    Y a. amount of chain lying along the bottom increases
    N b. length of the catenary is reduced
    N c. mooring line tension is increased
    N d. amount of chain lying along the bottom decreases

3446: The best way to determine if a load is within maximum lift limits is to use __________.

    N a. a boom angle indicator
    Y b. a load weight indicator
    N c. material invoices for shipping weights
    N d. prior experience with similar lifts

3493: You are the Master of an uninspected diesel towing vessel of 190 GT operating on a regular run from New York to the Gulf of Mexico. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Able Seamen are not required in the deck crew.
    Y b. All crew members must have Merchant Mariner's Documents.
    N c. A licensed Chief Engineer is required.
    N d. Deck watches may be 6 and 6.

4123: The lashings used on Ro-Ro vessels should be capable of withstanding the forces of __________.

    N a. any force of gravity acting on the lashes
    N b. rolling
    N c. pitching
    Y d. All of the above

4127: Which lashing device(s) would be used in securing heavy vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Buckle or ratchet tensioner
    N b. Webbing
    Y c. Chain
    N d. All of the above

4137: A disadvantage of using chain lashing on heavy vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels is that it is __________.

    Y a. heavy
    N b. easily damaged
    N c. affected by temperature
    N d. costly relative to the strength ratio