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 __________.


4: Considering manning requirements for US flag vessels, your 2 watch cargo vessel has a deck crew of 20 people, exclusive of officers. How many of these people do the manning regulations require to be able seamen?


59: Combustible liquid is defined as any liquid having a flash point above __________.


65: Under title 46 of the United States Code, the person in charge of a documented vessel who fails to report a complaint of a sexual offense may be __________.

    N a. charged with accessory to sexual assault
    N b. imprisoned for up to one year
    Y c. fined up to $5,000
    N d. All of the above

96: The distance a vessel moves at right angles to the original course, when a turn of 180° has been completed, is called the __________.

    N a. advance
    N b. pivoting point
    Y c. tactical diameter
    N d. kick

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

    Y a. inshore stern line
    N b. offshore stern line
    N c. after spring line
    N d. after breast line

197: Serving is __________.

    N a. marline or ratline wound along the grooves of a rope
    N b. narrow strips of light canvas or cotton cloth spiral-wrapped along the rope
    Y c. marline tightly wound on the rope by means of a board or mallet
    N d. a splice made by laying the strand of one rope into the vacated grooves of another rope

262: Mousing a cargo hook with marline or small line __________.

    N a. increases the lifting capacity of the hook
    N b. protects the hook from the sling ring
    Y c. prevents the sling ring from coming out of the hook
    N d. All of the above

295: Which publication offers information on Great Lakes ice services?

    N a. Light List volume VII
    Y b. U.S. Coast Pilot #6
    N c. Marine Weather Log
    N d. National Weather Service, Ice Outlooks

320: Containers of flammable solids should be conspicuously labeled by the shipper with a __________.

    N a. green label
    Y b. red and white label
    N c. orange label
    N d. yellow label

469: With an increase in temperature the volume of flammable and combustible liquids __________.

    Y a. expands
    N b. contracts
    N c. remains constant
    N d. remains constant if pressure remains constant

503: Which statement is FALSE?

    N a. Nylon can stretch approximately 40% and still recover.
    N b. Only nylon stoppers should be used on nylon hawsers.
    Y c. Nylon is most practical for use on hip towing.
    N d. With proper care nylon hawsers will greatly outlast manila and other natural fibers.

541: The official number of a documented vessel is __________.

    N a. not required to be marked anywhere on the vessel
    Y b. required to be permanently marked on the vessel's structure
    N c. required to be painted on the vessel's stern
    N d. required to be painted on the vessel's bow

551: The name and hailing port of a documented commercial vessel is __________.

    N a. not required to be marked anywhere on the vessel
    N b. required to be marked on both bows and on the keel
    Y c. required to be marked on the stern with the name of the vessel marked on both bows
    N d. required to be marked on the keel, stern, and both bows

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

579: The terminal indicates to you that they are going to use a booster pump to assist the discharging operation. You start the discharge, and in a few minutes the pressure drops sharply. This could be a result of the __________.

    Y a. booster pump coming on the line and discharging properly
    N b. booster pump failing to start
    N c. booster pump being lined up in the wrong direction
    N d. ship's pump speeding up

727: Which space(s) is(are) deducted from gross tonnage to derive net tonnage?

    N a. Galley fitted with range or oven
    N b. Open structures
    N c. Passenger spaces
    Y d. Boatswain's stores

735: A heavy steel curved arch constructed athwartships and above the after deck on a towing vessel is sometimes called a __________.

    N a. main brace
    Y b. tow span
    N c. jockey bar
    N d. None of the above

778: What is the stowage factor of a commodity whose density is 15 pounds per cubic foot?

    N a. 15
    N b. 45
    N c. 133
    Y d. 149

786: You are on a single-screw vessel with a right-handed propeller, and you are making headway. When you enter shallow water, __________.

    N a. you will have better rudder response
    N b. your speed will increase without a change in your throttle
    Y c. your rudder response will become sluggish
    N d. your vessel will tend to ride higher

815: A U.S. or foreign flag vessel that does not comply with the Officers Competency Certificates Convention of 1936 may be detained by certain designated officials. These officials include all of the following EXCEPT a/an ___________ .

    Y a. State Police officer
    N b. Coast Guard officer
    N c. Coast Guard petty officer
    N d. officer of the U.S. Customs Service

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

    N a. forward spring line
    N b. forward breast line
    Y c. inshore bow line
    N d. offshore bow line

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

848: You are loading a cargo of canned goods with a stowage factor of 65. If you allow 15% for broken stowage, how many tons can be loaded in a space of 55,000 cubic feet?

    N a. 687
    Y b. 719
    N c. 846
    N d. 973

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

975: The "Mode" selector switch on the autopilot steering stand is used to select any of the following with the EXCEPTION of __________.

    N a. automatic pilot steering
    N b. hand-electric steering
    N c. non-followup steering
    Y d. rudder adjustment

1076: You are underway in heavy weather and your bow is into the seas. To prevent pounding, you should __________.

    N a. change course, in order to take the seas at an 85 degree angle from the bow
    Y b. decrease speed
    N c. increase speed
    N d. secure all loose gear

1081: You are Master of a U.S. flag vessel which was dry docked for bottom cleaning in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Upon return to a U.S. port, you must __________.

    Y a. file a customs' form for duty on this repair
    N b. file no extra reports
    N c. file a report of the dry docking with the U.S.C.G. Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection
    N d. obtain a U.S. Coast Guard diver to certify the work

1102: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "B" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

    N a. after breast line
    N b. after spring line
    Y c. inshore stern line
    N d. offshore stern line

1124: Which material makes the strongest mooring line?

    N a. Sisal
    N b. Manila
    Y c. Nylon
    N d. Polyethylene

1270: When a man who is conscious has fallen overboard is being picked up by a lifeboat, the boat should approach with the wind __________.

    N a. astern and the victim just off the bow
    N b. ahead and the victim just off the bow
    N c. just off the bow and the victim to windward
    Y d. just off the bow and the victim to leeward

1365: A person who sees someone fall overboard should __________.

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

1523: When making a short splice in wire rope __________.

    Y a. all tucks go against the lay
    N b. all tucks go with the lay
    N c. the first three wires are tucked against the lay and the last three go with the lay
    N d. the first three wires are tucked with the lay and the last three go against the lay

1543: Which is normally used to hold wire rope for splicing?

    N a. Come along
    N b. Jigger
    Y c. Rigger's screw
    N d. Sealing clamp

1586: By paying out more anchor cable, you __________.

    N a. decrease the holding power of your anchor
    N b. decrease the swing of your vessel while at anchor
    Y c. increase the holding power of your anchor
    N d. increase the possibility that your vessel will drag anchor

1655: Which knot represents a double blackwall hitch? (DO30DG )

    N a. F
    N b. G
    Y c. L
    N d. R

1705: You are to load a consignment of lumber. Each piece measures 3-inches thick, 12-inches wide and 16-feet long. There are 30,000 pieces in the shipment. How many board feet would be listed on the Bill of Lading?

    N a. 96,000
    N b. 1,200,000
    Y c. 1,440,000
    N d. 14,400,000

1743: A mooring line leading at nearly right angles to the keel is a __________.

    N a. bow line
    Y b. breast line
    N c. spring line
    N d. stern line

1774: Which knot is used to attach two different sized lines together?

    N a. Granny knot
    Y b. Sheet bend
    N c. Square knot
    N d. Thief knot

1881: In time of war Naval Control of Shipping Authorities may give orders concerning the __________.

    N a. cargo to be loaded
    N b. final destination
    Y c. ship's route
    N d. All of the above

1966: The turning circle of a vessel making a turn of over 360 degrees is the path followed by the __________.

    N a. bow
    N b. bridge
    Y c. center of gravity
    N d. centerline

1974: In a national emergency, when communicating via the Navy, messages are sent by precedence. A message designated PRIORITY will be delivered within __________.

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

2011: The structural member indicated by the letter K is a __________. (D033DG )

    N a. longitudinal frame
    N b. stringer
    N c. girder
    Y d. floor

2031: Multi-year ice is the hardest sea ice and should be avoided if possible. It is recognizable because of what tone to its surface color?

    N a. Greenish
    Y b. Bluish
    N c. Grey
    N d. Grey-white

2054: What is the name of the mark indicated by the letter B in the diagram? (D003DG )

    N a. Timber summer load line
    Y b. Tropical fresh water load line
    N c. Tropical load line
    N d. Summer load line

2086: What is the mechanical advantage of tackle number 11? (DO29DG )

    N a. 7
    Y b. 6
    N c. 5.5
    N d. 5

2095: You are using a racetrack turn to recover a man overboard. The vessel is first steadied when how many degrees away from the original heading?

    N a. 60° to 70°
    N b. 90°
    N c. 135°
    Y d. 180°

2172: The lower hold of your vessel has a bale cubic of 52,000 cu. ft. You will load a cargo of cases, each weighing 380 lbs. and measuring 3 ft. x 2 ft. x 2 ft. The estimated broken stowage is 15%. How many tons of cases can be loaded?

    N a. 137 tons
    N b. 161 tons
    Y c. 625 tons
    N d. 969 tons

2198: 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 transfer for a turn of 90°? (D034DG )

    N a. 355 yards
    Y b. 380 yards
    N c. 410 yards
    N d. 455 yards

2281: Your vessel has run hard aground in an area subject to heavy wave action. Backing full astern failed to free her. Which action should be taken next?

    N a. Continue backing to scour out the bottom.
    N b. Wait for high tide and then try backing.
    Y c. Flood empty tanks to increase bottom pressure and prevent inshore creep.
    N d. Shift weight aft to reduce the forward draft.

2361: The BEST information on the nature and extent of damage to the vessel is obtained from __________.

    N a. alarms and monitoring devices
    N b. the engineroom watch
    Y c. personnel at the scene of the damage
    N d. the bridge watch

2559: A vessel in Great Lakes service shall carry anchors in accordance with standards established by the __________.

    Y a. American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. Canadian Coast Guard
    N c. U.S. Coast Guard
    N d. underwriter of the vessel

3102: When hip towing, a line led from the stern of the towboat forward to the barge provides the towing pull when __________.

    N a. going ahead
    N b. dead in the water
    N c. in a following current
    Y d. backing

3562: The signal man assisting a crane operator has his arm extended with his fingers closed and thumb pointing upward. This is the signal to __________.

    Y a. raise the boom
    N b. raise the hook
    N c. raise the boom and hook
    N d. check the boom stop

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°

4072: How should you signal the crane operator to stop in an emergency?

    N a. Extend arm with the palm down and hold this position rigidly.
    N b. Place clasped hands in front of your body.
    Y c. Extend arm and move hand rapidly right and left with the palm down.
    N d. Place both fists in front of the body with the thumbs pointing outward.

4118: Which factor(s) affect lashing requirements aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    Y a. Ship’s characteristics and motion in a seaway
    N b. Trim of the vessel
    N c. Wide variations of air temperature
    N d. All of the above

4118: Which factor(s) affect lashing requirements aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    Y a. Ship’s characteristics and motion in a seaway
    N b. Trim of the vessel
    N c. Wide variations of air temperature
    N d. All of the above

4174: What should be done immediately after putting down the stern ramp on a Ro-Ro vessel, prior to loading or discharging cargo?

    N a. Turn on the red cargo light.
    N b. Turn on pumproom ventilation.
    N c. Call out the deck department for all hands.
    Y d. Raise/open the stern door.

4278: Which wire rope purchase(s) is/are optional with a 30-Ton pedestal crane?

    N a. Hoist
    N b. Luff
    Y c. Rider block
    N d. All of the above