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.


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


71: You are the licensed Master of a 199 GT uninspected towing vessel making a 500 mile coastwise trip. You carry a deck crew of six (6). Which statement is TRUE?


131: You are onboard a 120 GT uninspected sea going tug which carries one Master and one mate of towing vessels, and four seamen when underway. How many of the four seamen must have a rating as able seamen if the voyage is under 600 miles?


172: While a vessel is in a foreign port where there is no American Consul, a seaman becomes violent prior to sailing. The Master should __________.

    N a. call local police, put the seaman in prison ashore, and sail the vessel
    N b. pay off the seaman and make arrangements with the agent to return him to the original port of signing on in the U.S.
    Y c. put the seaman in irons and sail to the next port where there is an American Consul
    N d. send the seaman ashore and arrange with the agent to repatriate him by armed guard

187: You are standing the wheel watch on entering port and the Master gives you a rudder command which conflicts with a rudder command from the Pilot. What should you do?

    N a. Ask the Pilot if he relinquishes control.
    N b. Obey the Pilot.
    Y c. Obey the Master.
    N d. Bring the rudder to a position midway between the two conflicting positions.

360: The label required on containers carrying barium oxide in an international shipment must read __________.

    Y a. "Poison"
    N b. "Spontaneously Combustible"
    N c. "Radioactive"
    N d. "Infectious Substance"

445: Where are the towing bitts best placed for towing purposes?

    N a. Near the centerline and over the rudders
    N b. On each side of the vessel near the stern
    Y c. Forward of the rudder post and close to the tug's center of pivot
    N d. As far aft as possible

447: One reason a tug's towing bitts are located forward of the rudders is because __________.

    N a. it makes it easier to hook up the towing hawser
    N b. this is where the towhook is located
    Y c. this allows more responsive steering
    N d. it is traditional

449: When loading bulk liquid cargo, what is the first action you should take if a cargo valve jammed open?

    N a. Call the owner, operator, or terminal supervisor.
    N b. Unplug the deck scuppers.
    Y c. Order the dock man to shut down.
    N d. Run out the vessel's or terminal's fire hose.

525: To lay out a towing hawser in a fore-and-aft direction so each bight is clear and can run out freely without snagging describes __________.

    N a. flemishing
    Y b. faking
    N c. spooling
    N d. worming, parceling and serving

534: Which is part of the ground tackle?

    N a. Charlie noble
    Y b. Devil's claw
    N c. Gooseneck
    N d. Rat's tail

538: Using the graph shown, if the dry bulb temperature is 80°F (27°C) and the wet bulb temperature is 70°F (21°C), what is the relative humidity in a cargo hold? (D008DG )

    N a. 45%
    N b. 52%
    Y c. 58%
    N d. 65%

542: Which best describes a "fishplate" used in towing?

    Y a. A triangular-shaped heavy steel plate with a round hole inset from each corner
    N b. A steel plate in the shape of a flat fish
    N c. A rectangular-shaped piece of heavy steel plate with four holes
    N d. A circular piece of heavy steel with three holes forming an equilateral triangle

588: Because of the arrangement of the cell guides, the MOST important factor while loading containers is the __________.

    N a. contents of the container
    Y b. list of the vessel
    N c. size of the shoreside crane
    N d. weight of the container

A dark appearance of the sky: A yellowish glare in the sky

    Y a. The presence of seals or certain type birds
    N b.
    N c.
    N d.

708: The National Cargo Bureau represents the __________.

    N a. agent
    N b. operator
    N c. shipper
    Y d. All of the above

723: What safety precautions must you take when maneuvering on a towing hook?

    N a. The engines must be operated on the slow bell.
    Y b. Clear the afterdeck and fantail of personnel.
    N c. Lash the hook closed so it does not open accidentally.
    N d. The towing winch engine must be running.

852: How can the Coast Guard determine that a crew member is "able to understand any order spoken by the officers"?

    Y a. Require a demonstration by the officer and the crew member
    N b. Require a written test
    N c. Require that an interpreter be provided
    N d. All of the above

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

872: In a foreign port with a consulate, the U.S. Consul may excuse the Master from personally appearing before him to consent to the mutual release of an injured seaman, when the __________.

    Y a. injury requires immediate inpatient hospitalization of the seaman
    N b. Master authorizes the agent to act in his place
    N c. ship is still in port and the seaman can appear before the Consul after medical treatment
    N d. seaman also consents to the absence, and there is no dispute as to the wages due

872: In a foreign port with a consulate, the U.S. Consul may excuse the Master from personally appearing before him to consent to the mutual release of an injured seaman, when the __________.

    Y a. injury requires immediate inpatient hospitalization of the seaman
    N b. Master authorizes the agent to act in his place
    N c. ship is still in port and the seaman can appear before the Consul after medical treatment
    N d. seaman also consents to the absence, and there is no dispute as to the wages due

883: The size and material used for towline(s) must meet all of the following requirements, EXCEPT ____________ .

    N a. be appropriate to the vessel's horsepower or bollard pull
    N b. be strong enough to handle any static or dynamic loads expected during its service life
    Y c. fit any spare wire clips carried on board the vessel for repair purposes
    N d. be suitable for exposure to the marine environment

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

948: Twenty-five hundred (2500) tons of iron ore with a stowage factor of 17 is stowed in a cargo hold. The dimensions of the hold are 55 feet long and 45 feet wide and 35 feet high. What is the height of the center of gravity of the ore above the bottom of the hold?

    N a. 7.8 feet
    Y b. 8.6 feet
    N c. 17.1 feet
    N d. 34.6 feet

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

1217: The proper way to correct a mistake in the logbook is to __________.

    N a. erase the entry and rewrite
    Y b. draw a line through the entry, rewrite, and initial the correction
    N c. draw several lines through the entry, rewrite, and initial the correction
    N d. completely black out the entry, rewrite, and initial the correction

1261: A vessel operating "in class" has met all the requirements of the __________.

    Y a. ABS or similar society
    N b. insurance company
    N c. U.S. Coast Guard
    N d. U.S. Customs

1262: You are the Master of a 500-gross ton passenger vessel operating on rivers. Your vessel accidentally runs aground. Under the regulations for passenger vessels, you must notify the __________.

    N a. Coast Guard, only if the grounding results in damage to property in excess of $25,000
    N b. Coast Guard, only if the grounding results in a loss of life
    N c. Coast Guard, only if the grounding results in injury to personnel
    Y d. nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety or Marine Inspection Office as soon as possible

1311: Before arriving at the first U.S. port from foreign, you must fill out a Crewman's Landing Permit for each __________.

    N a. alien crewmember
    N b. crew member
    Y c. nonresident alien crewmember
    N d. unlicensed crew member

1431: A charterer is unable to complete the loading of a vessel during the lay days specified in the charter party. Under these circumstances, the __________.

    Y a. vessel operator can collect demurrage
    N b. ship is authorized extra time to discharge the cargo
    N c. charterer must pay dispatch money
    N d. effective period of the charter is extended

1695: What is the perimeter of a circle with a radius of 3.7 feet?

    N a. 11.62 ft
    N b. 17.49 ft
    Y c. 23.25 ft
    N d. 25.72 ft

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)

1771: The agency which assigns load lines and issues Load Line Certificates is the __________.

    Y a. American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. Secretary of Commerce
    N c. U.S. Customs
    N d. U.S. Coast Guard

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.

1887: A small light tackle with blocks of steel or wood that is used for miscellaneous small jobs is called a __________.

    N a. snatch block
    N b. threefold purchase
    Y c. handy-billy
    N d. chockablock

1931: You are using tackle number 12 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 )

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

2120: Wale shores would be used when dry docking a vessel with __________.

    N a. tumble home
    Y b. excessive deadrise
    N c. excessive trim
    N d. a list

2139: You are proceeding to the area of reported distress. When you arrive at the reported position, the vessel in distress is not sighted. What type of search should be conducted?

    N a. Sector search
    Y b. Expanding square
    N c. Track crawl
    N d. Parallel track search

2139: You are proceeding to the area of reported distress. When you arrive at the reported position, the vessel in distress is not sighted. What type of search should be conducted?

    N a. Sector search
    Y b. Expanding square
    N c. Track crawl
    N d. Parallel track search

2213: You are using tackle number 6 to lift a weight. The hauling part of this tackle is bent to the weight hook (w) of tackle number 8. Disregarding friction, what is the mechanical advantage of this rig? (DO29DG )

    N a. 11
    N b. 16
    Y c. 18
    N d. 24

2227: You are using tackle number 4 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. 20 lbs.
    N b. 30 lbs.
    Y c. 42 lbs.
    N d. 57 lbs.

2300: In the stowage of deck cargo, "cribbing" is __________.

    Y a. placed on deck to support the cargo
    N b. separation pieces used to keep cylinders upright and steady
    N c. shims for stowing baled cargo
    N d. nets placed across the hatch opening to keep the cargo from falling in the hatch

2453: On a ship's crane, the load chart relates the allowable load to the combination of the boom length and __________.

    N a. winch speed
    N b. boom strength
    Y c. load radius
    N d. cable strength

2542: When loading containers into the cell guides in the hold of a container ship, which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. No further securing is usually required.
    N b. Containers must have vertical lashings if they do not have twist lock securing.
    N c. All containers must have vertical and horizontal lashings.
    N d. The container must be locked into the cell guide.

2609: Which tanker discharge pattern would be the safest and most efficient?

    N a. Empty the forward tanks and start working aft, emptying each tank in sequence
    Y b. Start discharging with most of the discharge coming from forward, but include some from midships and after tanks
    N c. Start pumping from forward, midships, and aft with the discharge distributed equally among the tanks
    N d. Start pumping from midships and then work forward and aft simultaneously as the midships tank is emptied

2674: You operate a harbor craft on inland waters exclusively. If you regularly service or contact foreign flag vessels in the course of business, which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Your vessel must be inspected.
    Y b. Your crew must have identification credentials.
    N c. A customs official must be on board when contacting a foreign flag vessel.
    N d. All contacts with a foreign flag vessel must be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard.

2738: Assume that your vessel has just entered Lake Michigan via the Straits of Mackinac and is proceeding south to Chicago. Which statement is TRUE with respect to the aids to navigation you will encounter along this route?

    N a. Aids to navigation are serviced jointly by the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard.
    Y b. Red buoys should be passed down your starboard side.
    N c. Green buoys mark the location of wrecks or obstructions which must be passed by keeping the buoy on the right hand.
    N d. All solid colored buoys are numbered, the red buoys bearing odd numbers and green buoys bearing even numbers.

2769: You will be advised of any hazardous areas due to the fallout of a nuclear explosive by a message with the code word __________.

    Y a. MERWARN
    N b. NUCLEAR
    N c. FALLOUT
    N d. FALLWARN

2886: How should you signal the crane operator to lower?

    N a. With forearm vertical and forefinger pointing up, move hand in small horizontal circles.
    Y b. With arm extended downwards and forefinger pointing down, move hand in small horizontal circles.
    N c. Extend arm and point finger in the direction to move the boom.
    N d. Extend arm with thumb pointing downward, and flex fingers in and out.

2978: An icebreaker assisting a vessel through an ice field would display a visual signal consisting of the code letter "E" (Echo) to signify that "________________".

    Y a. I am altering my course to starboard
    N b. I am altering my course to port
    N c. I am operating astern propulsion
    N d. My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water

3036: Which statement about ships operating in ice is FALSE?

    N a. Light and partly loaded ships should be ballasted as deeply as possible.
    Y b. In brash-filled channels, operating with a shallow draft forward is most effective.
    N c. Traditionally, operating ships light in the ice has been effective in the spring.
    N d. Good searchlights should be available in the event of night navigation with or without icebreaker escort.

3036: Which statement about ships operating in ice is FALSE?

    N a. Light and partly loaded ships should be ballasted as deeply as possible.
    Y b. In brash-filled channels, operating with a shallow draft forward is most effective.
    N c. Traditionally, operating ships light in the ice has been effective in the spring.
    N d. Good searchlights should be available in the event of night navigation with or without icebreaker escort.

3088: A "check" line is __________.

    N a. a safety line attached to a man working over the side
    N b. used to measure water depth
    Y c. used to slow the headway of a barge
    N d. used to measure the overhead height of a bridge

3120: You are operating a 150 GT towing vessel. What is NOT required on the vessel?

    N a. Certificate of Documentation
    N b. FCC station license
    N c. Your Coast Guard license
    Y d. Certificate of Inspection

3396: A tow that veers to the side on the end of the towline is said to __________.

    Y a. yaw
    N b. surge
    N c. sway
    N d. swing

3431: A high cube container is designed specifically to __________.

    Y a. carry low density cargoes
    N b. protect fragile cargoes
    N c. stow cargoes with concentrated weights such as machinery
    N d. carry cargoes of very low stowage factors

3492: The Master of a passenger vessel which is not required to maintain an Official Logbook must keep a record of the number of passengers received and delivered from day to day. This record must be available for a period of __________.

    N a. 6 months
    Y b. 12 months
    N c. 24 months
    N d. 36 months

3719: Besides saving distance along the track line, another advantage of the Scharnow Turn over the Williamson Turn in a man overboard situation is because __________.

    Y a. it is faster
    N b. it can be used in both the immediate action and the delayed action situations
    N c. in fog, if the turn is started as soon as the man goes over, the vessel will be at the point where he went over when the turn is completed
    N d. it returns the vessel to the original track line on a reciprocal course

4125: Which variable factor affects the initial lashing requirements aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Age of vehicle or cargo unit
    Y b. Size and weight of vehicle/cargo unit
    N c. Reputation of shipper concerning condition of cargo
    N d. Air pressure in the vehicles tires

4181: Which lashing gear used aboard Ro-Ro vessels should be painted or soaked in oil when not in use?

    N a. Wire rope.
    Y b. Chain
    N c. Webbing
    N d. All of the above