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.


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 __________.


116: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on a 30-meter fishing vessel. Which day shape must you show while engaged in fishing? (DIAGRAM 16 )


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 )


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

133: INLAND ONLY A power-driven vessel operating in a narrow channel with a following current on the Great Lakes or Western Rivers is meeting an upbound vessel. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. The downbound vessel has the right of way.
    N b. The upbound vessel must initiate the required maneuvering signals.
    N c. The upbound vessel must propose the manner of passing.
    N d. All of the above

209: INLAND ONLY A single vessel being towed alongside shall show __________.

    N a. one all-round white light
    N b. sidelights and a stern light
    N c. only the outboard sidelight and a stern light
    Y d. a special flashing light, sidelights, and a stern 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

302: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the lights shown is a vessel __________. (DIAGRAM 79 )

    N a. engaged in fishing
    N b. dredging
    N c. engaged in launching or recovery of aircraft
    Y d. towing astern

350: 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 prolonged blast
    N c. two short blasts
    Y d. None of the above

372: INLAND ONLY You are on vessel "A" as shown and hear vessel "B" sound a signal indicating his intentions to overtake you. You feel it is not safe for vessel "B" to overtake you at the present time. You should __________. (DIAGRAM 32 )

    N a. sound two short blasts
    N b. sound one prolonged followed by three short blasts
    N c. not answer the whistle signal from vessel "B"
    Y d. None of the above

4065: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway in fog when you hear the rapid ringing of a bell for five seconds followed by the sounding of a gong for five seconds. This signal indicates a vessel __________.

    N a. aground
    Y b. more than 100 meters in length, at anchor
    N c. fishing while making no way through the water
    N d. fishing in company with another vessel

4088: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The term "restricted visibility" as used in the Rules refers __________.

    N a. only to fog
    N b. only to visibility of less than one-half of a mile
    N c. to visibility where you cannot see shore
    Y d. to any condition where visibility is restricted

4101: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning the danger signal?

    Y a. When any vessel fails to understand the intentions of an approaching vessel she must sound the danger signal.
    N b. Only the stand-on vessel can sound the danger signal.
    N c. Distress signals may be used in place of the danger signal.
    N d. The danger signal consists of 4 or more short blasts of the whistle.

4118: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When should the fog signal of a manned vessel under tow be sounded?

    Y a. After the towing vessel's fog signal
    N b. Before the towing vessel's fog signal
    N c. Approximately one minute after the towing vessel's fog signal
    N d. If the towing vessel is sounding a fog signal, the manned vessel being towed is not required to sound any fog signal.

4191: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on watch in the fog. Your vessel is proceeding at a safe speed when you hear a fog signal ahead of you. The Rules require you to navigate with caution and, if danger of collision exists, __________.

    N a. slow to less than 2 knots
    N b. stop your engines
    Y c. reduce to bare steerageway
    N d. begin a radar plot

4298: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A single vessel being towed alongside shall exhibit __________.

    N a. one all-round white light
    Y b. sidelights and a stern light
    N c. only the outboard sidelight and a stern light
    N d. a masthead light, sidelights, and a stern light

4393: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which light(s) is(are) AMONG those shown by a 200-meter vessel at anchor?

    N a. In the forepart of the vessel, a 225° white light
    N b. In the after part of the vessel, a 135° white light
    Y c. Any available working lights to illuminate the decks
    N d. In the fore part of the vessel, a 135° white light

4394: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A partly submerged vessel or object being towed, which is not readily noticeable, shall show __________.

    N a. yellow lights at each end
    N b. two red lights in a vertical line
    N c. a black ball
    Y d. a diamond shape

4459: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Three short blasts of the whistle means __________.

    N a. "danger"
    N b. "I am in distress"
    N c. the vessel is not under command (broken down)
    Y d. "I am operating astern propulsion"

4509: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel nearing a bend or an area of a channel or fairway where other vessels may be hidden by an obstruction shall __________.

    N a. sound the danger signal
    Y b. sound a prolonged blast
    N c. take all way off
    N d. post a look-out

4597: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel not under command shall display __________.

    Y a. two red lights at night and two black balls during daylight
    N b. two red lights at night and three black balls during daylight
    N c. three red lights at night and two black balls during daylight
    N d. three red lights at night and three black balls during daylight

4602: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A fog signal consisting of one prolonged blast followed by four short blasts would indicate the presence of a __________.

    N a. vessel being towed
    N b. fishing vessel engaged in trawling
    N c. vessel at anchor warning of her location
    Y d. power-driven pilot vessel on station underway

4667: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway and in sight of another vessel, less than one half mile away, you put your engines on astern propulsion. Which statement concerning whistle signals is TRUE?

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

4683: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The stern light shall be positioned such that it will show from dead astern to how many degrees on each side of the stern of the vessel?

    N a. 135.0°
    N b. 112.5°
    Y c. 67.5°
    N d. 22.5°

4701: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A fog signal of one prolonged blast followed by four short blasts would mean the presence of a __________.

    N a. vessel being towed
    Y b. power-driven pilot vessel on station underway
    N c. fishing vessel trawling
    N d. vessel at anchor warning of her location

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

4864: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel shall NOT impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway?

    N a. A vessel dredging
    Y b. A sailing vessel
    N c. A vessel servicing an aid to navigation
    N d. All of the above

8070: INTERNATIONAL ONLY In addition to her running lights, an underway vessel constrained by her draft may carry in a vertical line __________.

    N a. a red light, a white light, and a red light
    N b. two red lights
    N c. two white lights
    Y d. three red lights

8129: INTERNATIONAL ONLY 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 avoid impeding the safe passage of a vessel constrained by her draft.
    N c. A vessel constrained by her draft shall keep out of the way of a vessel engaged in fishing.
    Y d. 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.

8136: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A power-driven vessel pushing ahead or towing alongside will show sidelights, a stern light, and __________.

    N a. an all-round red light where it can best be seen
    N b. two yellow masthead lights in a vertical line
    Y c. two masthead lights in a vertical line
    N d. a single white light forward