USCG Rules of the Road: 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.


34: INLAND ONLY A barge more than 50 meters long is required to show how many white anchor lights when anchored in a Secretary approved "special anchorage area"?


39: INLAND ONLY Which indicates the presence of a partly submerged object being towed?


50: INLAND ONLY Vessels "A" and "B" are meeting on a river as shown and will pass about 1/4 mile apart. Which statement is TRUE? (DIAGRAM 29 )


95: INLAND ONLY You are meeting another vessel in inland waters, and she sounds one short blast on the whistle. This means that she __________.

    N a. is changing course to starboard
    N b. is changing course to port
    Y c. intends to leave you on her port side
    N d. desires to depart from the Rules

107: INLAND ONLY A power-driven vessel intends to overtake another power-driven vessel on the overtaken vessel's port side. What whistle signal should be sounded in order to state this intention?

    N a. 1 prolonged and 1 short blast
    N b. 1 short blast
    N c. 2 prolonged and 2 short blasts
    Y d. 2 short blasts

205: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which whistle signal may be sounded by one of two vessels in sight of each other?

    N a. Four short blasts
    N b. One prolonged blast
    Y c. One short blast
    N d. One short, one prolonged, and one short blast

222: INLAND ONLY A barge more than 50 meters long, at anchor in a "special anchorage area designated by the Secretary", is required to show how many white anchor lights?

    N a. 1
    N b. 3
    N c. None
    Y d. 2

243: INTERNATIONAL ONLY You are on vessel "A" as shown. Vessel "B" sounds two short blasts. You should __________. (DIAGRAM 32 )

    N a. sound two prolonged blasts followed by two short blasts
    Y b. not answer the whistle signal from vessel "B"
    N c. sound two short blasts and maintain course and speed
    N d. sound one prolonged, one short, one prolonged and one short blasts

250: INLAND ONLY You are on a power-driven vessel "I" as shown. Vessel "II" is a power-driven vessel engaged in fishing that will pass within 1/2 a mile of your vessel. You sound one short blast on the whistle. Vessel "II" does not sound any signal. Which action should you take? (DIAGRAM 36 )

    N a. Hold course and speed without giving a signal.
    Y b. Sound the danger signal and reduce speed.
    N c. Sound one short blast, reduce speed and turn to starboard.
    N d. Sound two short blasts and change course to port.

256: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Vessels "A" and "B" are meeting on a river as shown and will pass 1/4 mile apart. If you are on vessel "A", in addition to the sidelight, which other light(s) will you see on vessel "B"? (DIAGRAM 41 )

    N a. special flashing yellow light
    Y b. two white masthead lights in a vertical line
    N c. two yellow towing lights
    N d. None of the above

4139: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What type of vessel or operation is indicated by a vessel displaying two cones with the apexes together?

    N a. Sailing
    Y b. Trawling
    N c. Minesweeping
    N d. Dredging

4190: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel making way through the water sounds a fog signal of __________.

    Y a. one prolonged blast at intervals of not more than two minutes
    N b. two prolonged blasts at intervals of not more than two minutes
    N c. one prolonged blast at intervals of not more than one minute
    N d. two prolonged blasts at intervals of not more than one minute

4197: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel which is unable to maneuver due to some exceptional circumstance, shall show two red lights in a vertical line and __________.

    N a. during the day, three balls in a vertical line
    N b. during the day, three shapes, the highest and lowest being balls and the middle being a diamond
    Y c. when making way at night, sidelights and a stern light
    N d. when making way at night, masthead lights, sidelights, and a stern light

4198: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway and approaching a bend in the channel where vessels approaching from the opposite direction cannot be seen. You should sound __________.

    Y a. one blast, 4 to 6 seconds in duration
    N b. three blasts, 4 to 6 seconds in duration
    N c. one continuous blast until you are able to see around the bend
    N d. one blast, 8 to 10 seconds in duration

4278: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A light signal consisting of three flashes means __________.

    N a. "I am in doubt as to your actions"
    N b. "My engines are full speed astern"
    N c. "I desire to overtake you"
    Y d. "I am operating astern propulsion"

4292: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog, you hear a signal of one prolonged blast followed by three short blasts. This is the fog signal for a vessel __________.

    N a. towing
    Y b. being towed (manned)
    N c. under sail
    N d. at anchor

4306: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel is directed not to impede the passage of a vessel which can only navigate inside a narrow channel?

    Y a. A vessel of less than 20 meters in length
    N b. A vessel not under command
    N c. A vessel engaged in surveying
    N d. All of the above

4313: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway at night, you sight a vessel ahead displaying the lights shown. How should the vessels pass? (DIAGRAM 71 )

    Y a. Both vessels should alter course to starboard and pass port to port.
    N b. Both vessels should alter course to port and pass starboard to starboard.
    N c. Your vessel should hold course and speed and the other vessel should keep clear.
    N d. You should sound an appropriate overtaking signal.

4316: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When shall the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation take action to avoid the other vessel?

    N a. When a risk of collision exists
    Y b. When action by the give-way vessel alone will not prevent a collision
    N c. When the bearing to give-way vessel becomes steady
    N d. When the vessels become less than 1/2 mile apart

4412: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the lights shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 44 )

    N a. towing
    N b. conducting underwater survey operations
    N c. drifting
    Y d. aground

4482: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway in a narrow channel and you are being overtaken by a vessel astern. The overtaking vessel sounds a signal indicating his intention to pass your vessel on your starboard side. If such an action appears dangerous you should sound __________.

    Y a. five short and rapid blasts
    N b. three short and rapid blasts
    N c. one prolonged followed by one short blast
    N d. one prolonged, one short, one prolonged, and one short blast in that order

4518: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND As defined in the Rules, a towing light is a yellow light having the same characteristics as a(n) __________.

    N a. masthead light
    N b. all-round light
    N c. sidelight
    Y d. stern light

4600: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel would sound a fog signal consisting of the ringing of a bell for 5 seconds?

    N a. A vessel engaged in fishing, at anchor
    N b. A vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver, at anchor
    Y c. A sailing vessel, at anchor
    N d. A sailing vessel becalmed

4664: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching a narrow channel. You see a vessel that can only be navigated safely within the channel. You MUST __________.

    N a. hold your course and speed
    N b. sound the danger signal
    Y c. not cross the channel if you might impede the other vessel
    N d. initiate an exchange of passing signals

4678: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which is a light signal authorized by the Secretary of the Navy as an additional navigational light for a ship of war?

    Y a. Intermittent flashing amber (yellow) beacon for submarines
    N b. Green masthead and yardarm lights indicating mine clearance operations
    N c. Red-white-red lights in a vertical line for a carrier, launching aircraft
    N d. Yellow flares indicating torpedo firing exercises

4706: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A "flashing light" is a light that __________.

    Y a. flashes at regular intervals at a frequency of 120 flashes or more per minute
    N b. is yellow in color
    N c. is visible over an arc of the horizon of not less than 180° nor more than 225°
    N d. All of the above

4739: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE, according to the Rules?

    N a. A vessel not under command shall keep out of the way of a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.
    N b. A vessel not under command shall keep out of the way of a vessel engaged in fishing.
    Y c. A vessel engaged in fishing while underway shall, so far as possible, keep out of the way of a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.
    N d. A vessel engaged in fishing shall keep out of the way of a sailing vessel.

6560: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel using a traffic separation scheme is forbidden to __________.

    Y a. proceed through an inappropriate traffic lane
    N b. engaged in fishing in the separation zone
    N c. cross a traffic lane
    N d. enter the separation zone, even in a emergency

8118: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A signal of intent must be sounded in international waters by __________.

    N a. a vessel meeting another head-on
    Y b. a vessel overtaking another in a narrow channel
    N c. a vessel crossing the course of another
    N d. the give-way vessel in a crossing situation