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.


54: 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"?


98: INLAND ONLY You are aboard the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation. You sound a one blast whistle signal. The give-way vessel answers with a two blast whistle signal. You should sound the danger signal and __________.


127: INLAND ONLY You are on board the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation. You sound a one blast whistle signal, and the give-way vessel answers with a two-blast signal. You should then sound the danger signal and __________.


188: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Yellow lights are NOT shown by __________.

    Y a. towing vessels pushing ahead
    N b. air cushion vessels in a nondisplacement mode
    N c. purse seiners
    N d. U.S. submarines

213: INTERNATIONAL ONLY You see the lights shown. This is a __________. (DIAGRAM 66 )

    N a. pilot vessel with a launch alongside
    N b. dredge working at anchor
    Y c. vessel towing a barge alongside
    N d. vessel pushing a barge ahead

236: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Vessel "A" is overtaking vessel "B" on open waters as shown and will pass without changing course. Vessel "A" should sound __________. (DIAGRAM 17 )

    N a. one short blast
    N b. two short blasts
    N c. one prolonged blast
    Y d. no whistle signal

244: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on a 15-meter vessel "A" in a narrow channel as shown. Vessel "B", a large tanker which can safely navigate only within the channel, sounds five short and rapid blasts. You should __________. (DIAGRAM 32 )

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

282: INLAND ONLY While underway you sight the lights shown with the yellow lights flashing. The lights displayed are from a __________. (DIAGRAM 81 )

    N a. vessel not under command
    Y b. dredge pipeline
    N c. vessel aground
    N d. vessel engaged in fishing

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

    N a. white masthead light
    Y b. red sidelight
    N c. green sidelight
    N d. stern light

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

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

821: INLAND ONLY One and two short blast signals must be sounded on inland waters when __________.

    N a. two sailing vessels are in sight of one another and meeting at a distance of one quarter mile
    N b. two power-driven vessels are in sight of one another and will cross at a distance of one mile
    N c. two power-driven vessels are crossing within half a mile of each other and NOT in sight of each other
    Y d. Two power-driven vessel are in sight of one another and are meeting at a distance of one half mile

4137: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning lights and shapes for towing vessels?

    N a. If a tow exceeds 200 meters in length, the towing vessel will display a black ball during daylight.
    N b. When towing astern, a vessel will carry her identification lights at the masthead in addition to her regular masthead light.
    N c. When towing astern, the towing vessel may show either a stern light or a towing light, but not both.
    Y d. If the towing vessel is over 50 meters in length, she must carry forward and after masthead lights.

4270: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the lights shown is a __________. (DIAGRAM 70 )

    N a. pilot boat
    N b. sailboat
    Y c. fishing vessel
    N d. motorboat

4336: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway and in sight of another vessel crossing less than .5 mile away, you put your engines full speed astern. 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.

4400: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When action to avoid a close quarters situation is taken, a course change alone may be the most effective action provided that __________.

    N a. it is done in a succession of small course changes
    N b. it is NOT done too early
    Y c. it is a large course change
    N d. the course change is to starboard

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

4503: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel must show a masthead light abaft of and higher than her identifying lights?

    N a. A 55-meter vessel fishing
    Y b. A 55-meter vessel trawling
    N c. A 100-meter vessel not under command
    N d. A 20-meter vessel engaged on pilotage duty

4527: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are fishing at night, and you sight a vessel showing three lights in a vertical line. The upper and lower lights are red and the middle light is white. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. You must keep out of the way of the other vessel.
    N b. The other vessel is responsible to keep out of your way.
    N c. The other vessel is at anchor.
    N d. The rule of special circumstances applies.

4544: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching another vessel on crossing courses. She is approximately half a mile distant and is presently on your starboard bow. You believe she will cross ahead of you. She then sounds a whistle signal of five short blasts. You should __________.

    N a. answer the signal and hold course and speed
    N b. reduce speed slightly to make sure she will have room to pass
    Y c. make a large course change, accompanied by the appropriate whistle signal, and slow down if necessary
    N d. wait for another whistle signal from the other vessel

4562: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In a crossing situation, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall __________.

    Y a. if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other
    N b. change course to port to keep out of the way
    N c. reduce her speed
    N d. All of the above

4581: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel shall slacken her speed, stop, or reverse her engines, if necessary, to __________.

    N a. avoid collision
    N b. allow more time to assess the situation
    N c. be stopped in an appropriate distance
    Y d. All of the above

4666: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel must have a gong, or other equipment which will make the sound of a gong?

    N a. A sailing vessel
    N b. Any vessel over 50 meters
    N c. A power driven vessel over 75 meters
    Y d. Any vessel over 100 meters

4681: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel may exhibit lights other than those prescribed by the Rules as long as the additional lights __________.

    N a. are not the same color as either side light
    N b. have a lesser range of visibility than the prescribed lights
    Y c. do not impair the visibility or distinctive character of the prescribed lights
    N d. All of the above

4694: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning fog signals?

    N a. All fog signals for sailing vessels are to be given at intervals of not more than one minute.
    Y b. A vessel aground may sound a whistle signal.
    N c. A vessel not under command sounds the same fog signal as a vessel towed.
    N d. The identity signal of a pilot vessel is the only fog signal sounded by such a vessel.

4780: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation. If you think the give-way vessel is NOT taking sufficient action to avoid collision, you should sound __________.

    Y a. the danger signal
    N b. two short blasts, alter to port, and pass astern
    N c. no signal and maneuver at will
    N d. one short blast and maintain course

8006: INTERNATIONAL ONLY The International Rules of the Road apply __________.

    N a. to all waters which are not inland waters
    N b. only to waters outside the territorial waters of the United States
    N c. only to waters where foreign vessels travel
    Y d. upon the high seas and connecting waters navigable by seagoing vessels

8041: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Vessel "A" is overtaking vessel "B" on open waters and will pass without changing course. Vessel "A" __________.

    N a. should sound two short blasts
    N b. should sound the danger signal
    N c. should sound one long blast
    Y d. will not sound any whistle signals

8061: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Vessel "A" is overtaking vessel "B" on open waters as shown and will pass without changing course. Vessel "A" __________. (DIAGRAM 17 )

    N a. should sound two short blasts
    N b. should sound the danger signal
    N c. should sound one long blast
    Y d. need not sound any whistle signals

8081: INTERNATIONAL ONLY The light which may be used with a vessel's whistle must be __________.

    N a. used when the whistle is broken
    Y b. a white light
    N c. used only at night
    N d. used prior to sounding the whistle

8102: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which statement is TRUE concerning a vessel "constrained by her draft"?

    N a. She is hampered because of her work.
    N b. She is unable to maneuver due to some exceptional circumstance.
    N c. She may be a vessel being towed.
    Y d. She must be a power-driven vessel.