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.


101: You can safely step in the bight of a line __________.


109: What is meant by "thieving" a petroleum cargo?


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


304: To warp a vessel means to __________.

    N a. anchor the vessel
    N b. bring the head into the wind
    N c. clean the decks
    Y d. move the vessel by hauling on lines

489: Your tank vessel is fully loaded, and you find that she is down slightly by the head. To adjust the trim, you may __________.

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

518: Which factor is MOST important in preventing sweat damage within a cargo hold?

    Y a. Dew point of the cargo hold
    N b. Dew point of the outside atmosphere
    N c. Outside air temperature
    N d. Temperature of the cargo

593: To lead the towing hawser over the center of the stern when not under a strain you could __________.

    N a. fairlead it through a stern roller chock
    N b. lead it through the Norman pins
    N c. hold it in the median position by a gob rope or lizard stopper
    Y d. All of the above when so equipped

638: Ship's officers should check every cargo compartment after it is filled with bulk grain to ensure __________.

    N a. all lighting circuits are energized
    Y b. all void spaces are filled
    N c. the correct grade of cargo has been loaded
    N d. the heavier grade is in the lower hold

736: You notice that your speed has decreased, the stern of your vessel has settled into the water, and your rudder is sluggish in responding. The MOST likely cause is __________.

    N a. mechanical problems with the steering gear
    Y b. shallow water
    N c. loss of lubricating oil in the engine
    N d. current

887: The condition of a towline must be monitored by ______________ .

    N a. keeping record of the towline's initial minimum breaking strength
    N b. keeping record of each retest of the towline's minimum breaking strength
    N c. conducting routine visual inspections of the towline
    Y d. All of the above

932: When bunkering at a dock which of the following signals must be displayed?

    N a. A yellow flag by day, red light by night
    Y b. A red flag by day, red light by night
    N c. A green flag by day, green light by night
    N d. A red flag by day, a blue light by night

944: When caring for natural-fiber line, you should NEVER __________.

    N a. dry the line before stowing it
    Y b. lubricate the line
    N c. protect the line from weather
    N d. slack off taut lines when it rains

1004: Uncoiling manila line improperly can result in a(n) __________.

    N a. number of fishhooks
    Y b. kink in the line
    N c. 50% loss of efficiency of the line
    N d. increase in deterioration of the line

1073: You are preparing to slush a stay on your vessel by lowering yourself down the stay in a bosun's chair. The proper way to do this is to ride down the stay on a riding shackle __________.

    N a. with the pin of the shackle riding on the stay
    Y b. with the pin of the shackle through the chair's bridle eye
    N c. with a hook attaching the chair to the riding shackle
    N d. connected to a second shackle on the chair

1117: The knot used to form the bridle at the standing part of a gantline rigged to a stage is a __________.

    N a. sheet bend
    N b. carrick bend
    N c. fisherman's bend
    Y d. bowline

1132: A lookout can leave his station __________.

    N a. at the end of the watch
    N b. at any time
    Y c. ONLY when properly relieved
    N d. 15 minutes before the end of the watch

1133: To properly rig the downhaul to your stage for lowering, you must __________.

    N a. take only figure eights around the horns
    Y b. take 2 or 3 round turns around the stage and then belay the downhaul around the horns
    N c. take 2 round turns around the stage and then dip the third turn to form a clove hitch
    N d. pass the downhaul through the bridle formed by the standing part and then take round turns

1157: What is a correct reply to a pilot's request, "How's your head"?

    N a. "Steady"
    Y b. "Passing 150°"
    N c. "Checked"
    N d. "Eased to 5° rudder"

1184: A new coil of nylon line should be opened by __________.

    N a. pulling the end up through the eye of the coil
    N b. uncoiling from the outside with the coil standing on end
    N c. taking a strain on both ends
    Y d. unreeling from a spool

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

1245: While on watch at sea you must maintain a proper lookout at all times. On a 700-foot cargo vessel being hand-steered during daylight hours in good visibility and clear of any navigational hazards, the lookout may be __________.

    N a. the helmsman
    Y b. the mate on watch
    N c. Either A or B
    N d. Neither A nor B

1325: You are signing on crew members. The minimum number of people required aboard, and the qualifications of each, is listed on the __________.

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

1393: Your vessel's operators send a message that your vessel has been consigned to Naval Control of Shipping. The message will refer you to __________.

    N a. the Light List
    Y b. Radio Aids to Navigation (PUB 117)
    N c. the International Code of Signals (PUB 102)
    N d. the Coast Pilot

1403: A vessel is involved in a casualty. The cost of property damage includes the __________.

    N a. loss of revenue while the vessel is being repaired, up to a maximum of $50,000
    Y b. cost of labor and material to restore the vessel to the service condition which existed before the casualty
    N c. damage claims awarded to individuals or companies involved in the casualty, up to a maximum of $50,000
    N d. All of the above

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

1518: Your vessel is being towed and back-up wires have been installed. Back-up wires carry the towing load in the event that the __________.

    N a. bridle legs part
    Y b. towing bitt or pad eye fails
    N c. bight ring fails
    N d. main towing hawser parts

1659: The safe working load for the assembled cargo gear and the minimum angle to the horizontal for which the gear is designed shall be marked on the __________.

    N a. deck
    N b. head of the boom
    Y c. heel of the boom
    N d. mast or king post

1777: What is the volume in a cone with a base diameter of 23 feet and a height of 14 feet?

    N a. 1,648.05 cubic ft.
    Y b. 1,938.89 cubic ft.
    N c. 2,908.33 cubic ft.
    N d. 7,755.55 cubic ft.

1801: A vessel proceeding to London, England, from New York makes an unscheduled call at the port of Hamilton, Bermuda. What term is used to denote the voluntary departure from the usual course?

    N a. Alteration
    Y b. Deviation
    N c. Liberty
    N d. Unscheduled stop

1860: A towline should be fastened to __________.

    N a. the chocks at the bow of a towed vessel
    N b. the most forward, centermost point of a towed vessel such as a sturdy bow rail
    N c. the mast of a towed sailboat
    Y d. a secure fitting near the bow of the towed vessel

1869: You are using tackle number 10 in illustration DO29DG to lift a weight of 120 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 )

    N a. 57 lbs.
    N b. 42 lbs.
    N c. 39 lbs.
    Y d. 34 lbs.

1951: A case received for shipment is marked as shown. The portion of the symbol indicated by the letter A is _______ . (D043DG )

    Y a. a stowage sequence marking
    N b. the consignee's marking
    N c. a stowage mark, showing the top of the case
    N d. the symbol for toxic contents

2000: The vessel has broken down and you are going to take her in tow. The wind is on her starboard beam. Both vessels are making the same amount of leeway. Where should you position your vessel when you start running lines? (D025DG )

    N a. A
    N b. B
    Y c. C
    N d. D

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.

2221: You are using tackle number 5 to lift a weight. The hauling part of this tackle is bent to the weight hook (w) of tackle number 8. What is the mechanical advantage of this rig? (DO29DG )

    N a. 20
    Y b. 15
    N c. 10
    N d. 5

2229: You are using tackle number 5 to lift a weight. The hauling part of this tackle is bent to the weight hook of tackle number 9. What is the mechanical advantage of this rig? (DO29DG )

    Y a. 20
    N b. 9
    N c. 5
    N d. 4

2238: What is the area of a circle with a radius of 12 feet after a sector of 60° has been removed?

    N a. 18.85 square feet
    N b. 75.40 square feet
    N c. 94.25 square feet
    Y d. 376.99 square feet

2351: What is the area of a circle with a diameter of 12 feet after a sector of 86° has been removed?

    N a. 108.57 square ft.
    Y b. 86.08 square ft.
    N c. 28.65 square ft.
    N d. 27.14 square ft.

2384: What is the volume of a sphere with a radius of 3 feet?

    Y a. 113.08 cubic ft.
    N b. 96.57 cubic ft.
    N c. 37.69 cubic ft.
    N d. 28.23 cubic ft.

2394: Determine the area of a triangle with a base of 3.5 feet and a height of 4.0 feet.

    Y a. 7.0 square ft.
    N b. 7.5 square ft.
    N c. 11.5 square ft.
    N d. 14.0 square ft.

2508: What is required to launch a boat stowed in a crescent davit?

    N a. Hoist the boat clear of the cradle.
    N b. Release the outboard part of the cradle.
    N c. Rig the tricing lines.
    Y d. Crank the crescent out.

2539: The distance between rivets in a row is known as the __________.

    N a. arm
    Y b. pitch
    N c. gage
    N d. rivet distance

2708: Which statement is TRUE with respect to the load line markings shown. (D031DG )

    Y a. A vessel displaying these marks may load in the salt waters of the St. Lawrence River.
    N b. Vessels engaged solely on Great Lakes voyages are not required to show these marks.
    N c. U.S. flag vessels less than 100 feet in length and less than 200 gross tons are not required to show these marks.
    N d. U.S. flag vessels of 100 gross tons and upward must show these marks.

2792: When relieving the helm, the new helmsman should find it handy to know the __________.

    N a. variation in the area
    Y b. amount of helm carried for a steady course
    N c. leeway
    N d. deviation on that heading

2951: The helm command "meet her" means __________.

    N a. decrease the rudder angle
    N b. note the course and steady on that heading
    N c. steer more carefully
    Y d. use rudder to check the swing

3000: The pipe used to connect two separate piping systems on a tank vessel is known as a __________.

    Y a. crossover
    N b. transfer
    N c. connection
    N d. junction

3094: Your vessel is underway and approaching an overhead obstruction on Lake Superior. Given the following information, determine the clearance between your vessel and the obstruction. Highest point on vessel: 74 ft. Lowest point of obstruction: 126 (LWD) Monthly lake level: +2 (LWD) International Great Lakes Datum: 600.0 (182.88 meters)

    N a. 474 feet
    N b. 400 feet
    N c. 175 feet
    Y d. 50 feet

3150: You are moving a gas free tank barge to dry dock for repairs. The barge must have onboard a valid __________.

    N a. Gas Free Certificate
    Y b. Certificate of Inspection
    N c. Permit to Proceed and Hot Work Permit
    N d. All of the above

3171: A high cube container would most likely be used to stow __________.

    N a. dense bulk cargoes
    Y b. household appliances
    N c. fragile cargoes
    N d. heavy industrial machinery

3210: A licensed Master of Towing Vessels may NOT serve as the person in charge of which towing vessel?

    N a. 99 GRT towing vessel operating on Chesapeake Bay
    N b. 199 GRT towing vessel operating in the Gulf of Alaska
    N c. 500 GRT towboat operating on the Western Rivers
    Y d. 349 GRT towing vessel operating between Florida and Puerto Rico

3439: Horizontal fore or aft motion of a vessel is known as __________.

    N a. pitch
    Y b. surge
    N c. sway
    N d. roll

3448: When inspecting ground tackle, fractures are most frequently found in the __________.

    N a. anchor shank
    Y b. end links
    N c. swivel
    N d. fluke

3502: The point that is halfway between the forward and after perpendicular and is a reference point for vessel construction is the __________.

    N a. half length
    N b. mid-body
    N c. center line
    Y d. amidships

3588: Conventional anchors are least likely to hold in a bottom consisting of __________.

    N a. soft clay
    N b. hard mud
    N c. sand
    Y d. rock

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

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

4143: Which tensioning device is used with wire rope lashing to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

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

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

4230: Which of the following is/are the optional component(s) of a twin crane set as shown? (D047DG )

    N a. Boom assembly
    N b. Hook block assembly
    N c. Crane house assembly
    Y d. Rider block tagline system

4269: Which action(s) should the operator of a pedestal crane take if crane control is lost?

    N a. Let go of both control levers and return to neutral position.
    N b. Press the emergency stop.
    N c. Notify the mate on watch.
    Y d. All of the above