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.


136: Under the federal regulations, what minimum level of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) constitutes a violation of the laws prohibiting Boating Under the Influence of Alcohol (BUI) on commercial vessels?


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?


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


240: The best way to lift many small articles aboard your vessel is with a __________.

    Y a. pallet
    N b. barrel hook
    N c. spreader
    N d. snotter

243: A towing vessel becomes tripped while towing on a hawser astern. What factor is MOST important when assessing the risk of capsizing?

    N a. Length of the towline
    Y b. Height of the towline connection
    N c. Longitudinal position of the towline connection
    N d. Direction of opposing force

256: When fruit is carried as refrigerated cargo, the most frequent cause of its being infected at the discharge port is __________.

    N a. leaks in the ship's refrigeration system
    Y b. improper cleaning of the cargo spaces
    N c. carriage at the wrong temperature
    N d. improper precooling of the cargo spaces

260: You receive a package, for shipment aboard your vessel, containing Class 1 explosives. The package is damp, moldy and stained. You must __________.

    N a. have the U.S.C.G. Captain of the Port approve the shipment
    N b. note an exception on the Bill of Lading
    N c. repair or replace the packaging before stowage
    Y d. seek the shipper's advice with regard to withdrawal, repair, or replacement

340: Argon is classified as a __________.

    N a. corrosive
    N b. flammable gas
    N c. flammable liquid
    Y d. nonflammable gas

419: A cargo of 10,000 barrels of gasoline is loaded at a temperature of 90°F, and a cargo temperature of 55°F, is expected on this voyage. It has a coefficient of expansion of .0006. How many barrels would you expect to discharge at your destination?

    Y a. 9790
    N b. 9994
    N c. 10210
    N d. 10410

600: You are on a containership. Which statement about the stowage of hazardous materials in containers is TRUE?

    N a. The containers provide automatic segregation of hazardous materials except for class A explosives.
    N b. All packages within a container must be marked "This End Up" to indicate the correct stowage.
    Y c. A refrigerated container with a fuel tank containing a flammable liquid must be stowed on deck.
    N d. Packages of liquids within a container should be stowed on top of packages of solids to prevent crushing.

664: Coiling new rope against the lay, bringing the lower end up through the center of the coil, then coiling with the lay, in order to remove the kinks, is known as __________.

    N a. coiling
    N b. faking
    N c. flemishing
    Y d. thoroughfooting

685: Which type of ballast is most commonly used in barges and ships?

    Y a. Water
    N b. Oil
    N c. Concrete and barite
    N d. Sand, rock and gravel

708: The National Cargo Bureau represents the __________.

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

759: The equipment used to control, protect and connect a towline is called ___________ .

    N a. cat head
    Y b. terminal gear
    N c. level wind
    N d. poured socket

847: When towing astern what equipment should be stowed ready for use near the towline?

    N a. First aid kit
    Y b. Axe or cutting torch
    N c. Fire extinguisher
    N d. Chafing gear

886: Two vessels are abreast of each other and passing port to port in a confined waterway. What should you expect as your bow approaches the screws of the other vessel?

    N a. Your speed will significantly increase.
    N b. Your draft will significantly decrease.
    Y c. Your bow will sheer towards the other vessel.
    N d. Your bow will sheer away from the other vessel.

897: Which factor(s) might indicate that a towline should be removed from service?

    N a. Visible damage to the towline, including fishhooks.
    N b. Measurements showing a decrease in diameter.
    N c. A surface condition of corrosion and discoloration.
    Y d. All of the above

900: Camber, in a ship, is usually measured in __________.

    N a. feet per feet of breadth
    N b. feet per feet of length
    Y c. inches per feet of breadth
    N d. inches per feet of length

971: A journal kept by the officer of the watch in which day to day happenings are recorded regarding the deck department is the __________.

    N a. cargo record book
    Y b. deck rough log
    N c. bell book
    N d. Official Logbook

1033: Each crewmember has an assigned firefighting station. This assignment is shown on the __________.

    N a. fire fighting plan
    N b. shipping articles
    N c. Certificate of Inspection
    Y d. muster list

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

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

1175: You have arrived at your anchorage location. You have put the engines astern prior to letting go the anchor. How will you know when the vessel has stopped making way?

    N a. The ship's Doppler log reads zero
    Y b. The backwash of the propeller reaches amidships
    N c. An azimuth bearing on the beam remains steady
    N d. All of the above

1230: Which statement concerning solid floors is TRUE?

    N a. They must be watertight.
    Y b. They may have lightening, limber, or air holes cut into them.
    N c. They are built of structural frames connected by angle struts and stiffeners, with flanged plate brackets at each end.
    N d. They are lighter than open floors.

1244: Nylon line is NOT suitable for __________.

    N a. towing
    Y b. lashings
    N c. stoppers
    N d. mooring lines

1316: The anchor chain should be kept moderately taut during a Mediterranean moor to __________.

    N a. facilitate speed of recovery during the weighing process
    N b. indicate the anchor's location to passing or mooring ships
    Y c. prevent damage to the stern in the event of a headwind
    N d. provide a steady platform for the gangway between the fantail and pier

1351: Your vessel is chartered under a time charter party. Under this type of charter party, your responsibility is __________.

    N a. solely to the charterer for all matters pertaining to cargo and ship administration
    N b. solely to the cargo shippers and consignees
    N c. solely to the owner, as under normal conditions
    Y d. to the owner for vessel administration and to the charterer for cargo operations and schedule

1692: Your containership has a container displaying a hazardous cargo placard. The placard has the number 2206 on it. This indicates that it is carrying what cargo?

    Y a. Isocyanates, n.o.s.
    N b. Propadiene, inhibited
    N c. Xylenol
    N d. Hexanols

1694: A "whipping" is __________.

    N a. a messenger
    N b. a stopper for nylon line
    N c. a U-bolt for securing a cargo whip to the winch drum
    Y d. turns of twine around a rope end

1841: If a tow sinks in shallow water, you should __________.

    N a. release it immediately
    N b. attempt to beach it before it goes under
    Y c. pay out cable until it's on the bottom and place a buoy on the upper end
    N d. shorten cable to keep it off the bottom

1918: Which statement is TRUE concerning hawser towing?

    N a. The catenary in a hawser should be sufficient so that the hawser just touches the bottom.
    N b. The hawser is of sufficient length for towing when taut between tug and tow.
    N c. Increasing speed usually increases the catenary in the hawser.
    Y d. Shortening the tow hawser generally decreases the maneuverability of the tug.

1949: Using a scope of 5, determine how many feet of cable you should put out to anchor in 5 fathoms of water.

    N a. 100 feet
    Y b. 150 feet
    N c. 200 feet
    N d. 250 feet

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

1960: The knot lettered G in the illustration is a __________. (DO30DG )

    N a. round turn and two half hitches
    Y b. fisherman's bend
    N c. timber hitch
    N d. barrel hitch

1979: What is a proper size block to use with a 3-inch circumference Manila line?

    N a. At least a 12-inch sheave
    Y b. 9-inch cheek, 6-inch sheave
    N c. 8-inch cheek, any size sheave
    N d. 6-inch cheek, 4-inch sheave

2013: A mooring line that checks forward motion of a vessel at a pier is a __________.

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

2098: Snow has obliterated surface features and the sky is covered with uniform, altostratus clouds. There are no shadows and the horizon has disappeared. What is this condition called?

    N a. Ice blink
    Y b. Whiteout
    N c. Water sky
    N d. Aurora reflection

2103: You are signing on the Purser. He should present a Merchant Mariner's document with which endorsement?

    Y a. See Certificate of Registry
    N b. Steward's Department
    N c. Purser
    N d. Staff Officer

2206: You are using tackle number 6 in illustration DO29DG 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 )

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

2254: You are using tackle number 4 to lift a weight. The hauling part of this tackle is bent to the weight hook (w) of tackle number 10. What is the mechanical advantage of this rig? (D029DG )

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

2260: Cargo that gives off fumes that may contaminate other cargo is known as a(n) __________.

    N a. delicate cargo
    N b. dirty cargo
    N c. toxic cargo
    Y d. odorous cargo

2284: In determining the scope of anchor line to pay out when anchoring a small boat, one must consider the __________.

    N a. charted depth of water only
    Y b. depth of water, including tidal differences
    N c. type of line being used for the anchor rope
    N d. type of anchor being used

2291: Before a Master relieves a Pilot of the conn, the __________.

    N a. Master must first request the Pilot to take corrective action
    N b. Master should agree to sign a release of liability form
    Y c. Master should foresee any danger to the vessel on the present course
    N d. vessel must be in extremis

2321: Your vessel has run aground and is touching bottom for the first one-quarter of its length. What is the LEAST desirable method from the standpoint of stability to decrease the bottom pressure?

    N a. Discharge forward deck cargo.
    Y b. Pump out the forepeak tank.
    N c. Shift deck cargo aft.
    N d. Flood an after double-bottom tank.

2398: How many tons of salt water can be loaded into a flat-ended cylindrical tank with a diameter of 4.5 feet and a length of 8 feet?

    N a. 1.82
    Y b. 3.64
    N c. 7.27
    N d. 14.54

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

2500: Which part of an anchor actually digs into the bottom?

    N a. Stock
    Y b. Fluke
    N c. Shank
    N d. Crown

2664: You must shore up a bulkhead due to solid flooding forward. The bulkhead approximates a rectangle. The center of pressure of the shores on the bulkhead should be located __________.

    N a. evenly over the surface of the bulkhead
    N b. approximately one-third of the way up the bulkhead
    Y c. approximately halfway up the bulkhead
    N d. at the bottom of the bulkhead

2870: A single-screw vessel going ahead tends to turn more rapidly to port because of propeller __________.

    N a. discharge current
    N b. suction current
    Y c. sidewise force
    N d. thrust

2909: A mechanical davit is designed to automatically __________.

    N a. position the boat at the embarkation station
    Y b. lift the boat off the inboard chocks
    N c. energize the winch for the falls
    N d. set the brake on the winch

3100: A holder of a license as Master of towing vessels may work each 24 hours for a period not to exceed __________.

    N a. 6 hours
    Y b. 12 hours
    N c. 18 hours
    N d. 24 hours

3114: Which item is rigged to transmit the thrust from one barge to another barge when going ahead? (D024DG )

    N a. I
    N b. H
    Y c. E
    N d. B

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

3372: The lead of a tow bridle is usually redirected with a __________.

    N a. bollard
    Y b. chock
    N c. pad eye
    N d. devil's claw

3476: The strongest method of forming an eye in wire rope is using __________.

    N a. three wire rope clamps
    N b. an eye splice with four or five tucks
    N c. a thimble fastened with four or five tucks
    Y d. a wire rope socket attached with zinc

3631: The number of certificated able seamen and lifeboatmen required on board is listed in the __________.

    Y a. Certificate of Inspection
    N b. American Bureau of Shipping code
    N c. Muster List ("Station Bill")
    N d. Safety of Life at Sea Convention

3644: You are drifting in a locale where there is no current. As a rule, your vessel will lie __________.

    N a. bow to the wind
    Y b. beam to the wind
    N c. stern to the wind
    N d. with the wind on the quarter

3770: SOLAS requires a lifesaving training manual be provided in each crew cabin or in the __________.

    N a. bridge
    N b. engineering control station
    Y c. recreation and messrooms
    N d. fire control room

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.

4202: Which of the following statements is/are TRUE concerning cranes being installed on the centerline of vessels?

    N a. One crane is able to work both sides of the ship.
    N b. One crane is able to work one end of two adjacent hatches.
    N c. They are more economical and weigh less.
    Y d. All of the above