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.


42: INLAND ONLY You are underway in a narrow channel, and are being overtaken by another power-driven vessel. The overtaking vessel sounds the signal indicating his intention to pass you on your starboard side. You signal your agreement by sounding __________.


52: INLAND ONLY Whistle signals shall be exchanged by vessels in sight of one another when __________.


55: INLAND ONLY The lights shown are those of a __________. (DIAGRAM 75 )


86: INLAND ONLY What is the whistle signal used to indicate a power-driven vessel leaving a dock?

    N a. One short blast
    N b. Three short blasts
    Y c. One prolonged blast
    N d. Three prolonged blasts

118: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on a vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling, and have gear extending more than 150 meters horizontally from the vessel. Which day-shape must you show in the direction of the outlying gear? (DIAGRAM 16 )

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

146: INLAND ONLY What characteristic must a light have if used to signal passing intentions?

    N a. It must be an all-round white light.
    N b. It must be an alternating blue and white light.
    Y c. It must be either an all-round white or an all-round yellow light.
    N d. It must be an alternating red and yellow light.

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

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

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.

266: INLAND ONLY Two power-driven vessels are meeting in a narrow channel on the Great Lakes as shown. Vessel "A" is downbound with a following current. Vessel "B" shall __________. (DIAGRAM 37 )

    N a. propose the manner of passage
    N b. have the right of way
    N c. initiate the maneuvering signals
    Y d. None of the above

320: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which dayshape(s) would be displayed by the vessel engaged in the operation indicated by the lights shown. (DIAGRAM 82 )

    N a. a cylinder
    N b. a ball, a diamond and another ball
    Y c. two cones with apexes together
    N d. a diamond

333: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Diagram "B" shows the arc of visibility of a __________. (DIAGRAM 23 )

    N a. yellow flashing light
    N b. red sidelight
    Y c. green sidelight
    N d. stern light

349: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Two power-driven vessels are crossing within one half mile of each other as shown. Vessel "A" sounds one short blast of the whistle. Vessel "B" should sound __________. (DIAGRAM 42 )

    N a. one prolonged, one short, one prolonged and one short blasts
    N b. one short blast
    N c. two short blasts
    Y d. None of the above

4004: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, a barge being towed astern must display __________.

    N a. red and green sidelights only
    N b. a white stern light only
    Y c. sidelights and a stern light
    N d. one all-round white light

4056: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A sailing vessel with the wind abaft the beam is navigating in restricted visibility. She should sound __________.

    N a. three short blasts
    N b. one prolonged blast
    Y c. one prolonged and two short blasts
    N d. two prolonged blasts

4066: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The wind is ESE, and a sailing vessel is steering NW. Which fog signal should she sound?

    N a. One blast at one-minute intervals
    N b. One blast at two-minute intervals
    N c. Two blasts at one-minute intervals
    Y d. One prolonged and two short blasts at two-minute intervals

4223: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel may show three lights in a vertical line, the top and bottom being red and the middle being white?

    Y a. A vessel engaged in diving operations
    N b. A pilot vessel
    N c. A vessel trawling
    N d. All of the above

4231: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A 15-meter sailing vessel would be required to show __________.

    N a. sidelights, stern light, and a red light over a green light on the mast
    Y b. sidelights, and stern light, but they may be in a combined lantern on the mast
    N c. separate sidelights and stern light
    N d. sidelights only

4315: INTERNATIONAL ONLY While underway and in sight of another vessel you put your engines on astern propulsion. Which statement concerning whistle signals is TRUE?

    Y a. You must sound three short blasts on the whistle.
    N b. You must sound one blast if backing to starboard.
    N c. You must sound whistle signals only if the vessels are meeting.
    N d. You need not sound any whistle signals.

4404: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel towing astern in an operation which severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to change course shall, when making way, exhibit __________.

    N a. the masthead lights for a towing vessel
    N b. the lights for a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver
    N c. sidelights, stern light and towing light
    Y d. All of the above

4427: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A towing light, according to the Rules, is a __________.

    N a. white light
    N b. red light
    Y c. yellow light
    N d. blue light

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

4571: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Risk of collision is considered to exist if __________.

    N a. four vessels are nearby
    N b. a vessel has a steady bearing at a constant range
    Y c. there is any doubt that a risk of collision exists
    N d. a special circumstance situation is apparent

4579: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND As defined in the Rules, the term "vessel" includes __________.

    N a. seaplanes
    N b. nondisplacement craft
    N c. barges
    Y d. All of the above

4615: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A pilot vessel may continue to sound an identity signal if she is __________.

    Y a. underway, but not making way
    N b. aground
    N c. being towed
    N d. not engaged in pilotage duty

4690: 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. All of the above

4828: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Rules state that vessels may depart from the Rules when __________.

    N a. there are other vessels in the vicinity
    N b. operating in a traffic separation scheme
    N c. engaged in a situation involving more than two vessels
    Y d. necessary to avoid immediate danger

4829: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The term "restricted visibility", when used in the Rules, refers to __________.

    N a. situations when you can see vessels on radar that you cannot see visually
    N b. visibility of less than half a mile
    Y c. any condition where visibility is restricted
    N d. visibility where you cannot see shore

8001: INTERNATIONAL ONLY In addition to other required lights, a power-driven vessel pushing ahead or towing alongside displays __________.

    N a. two all-round red lights in a vertical line
    N b. two yellow towing lights in a vertical line
    Y c. two white masthead lights in a vertical line
    N d. two lights on the stern, one yellow and one white

8016: INTERNATIONAL ONLY What whistle signal, if any, would be sounded when two vessels are meeting, but will pass clear starboard to starboard?

    N a. One short blast
    N b. Two short blasts
    N c. Five or more short blasts
    Y d. No signal is required.

8120: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A light used to signal passing intentions must be an __________.

    N a. all-round yellow light only
    Y b. all-round white light only
    N c. all-round blue light only
    N d. alternating red and yellow light