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.


27: INLAND ONLY Your vessel is meeting another vessel head-on. To comply with the rules, you should exchange __________.


75: INLAND ONLY You are on vessel "A", and vessel "B" desires to overtake you on your starboard side as shown. After the vessels have exchanged one blast signals, you should __________. (DIAGRAM 31 )


187: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are in charge of a power-driven vessel making way in dense fog. You observe what appears to be another vessel on radar half a mile distant on your port bow and closing. You must __________.


199: INLAND ONLY You are on a vessel that the Secretary has determined cannot comply with the spacing requirement for masthead lights. What is required in this situation?

    N a. The vessel must carry only the lights that comply with the rules; the others may be omitted.
    Y b. The vessel's lights must comply as closely as possible.
    N c. The vessel must be altered to permit full compliance with the rules.
    N d. An all-round light should be substituted for the after masthead light and the stern light.

263: INTERNATIONAL ONLY You are on a power-driven vessel "I" as shown. Vessel "II" is a vessel engaged in fishing within 1/2 a mile of your vessel. Which action should you take? (DIAGRAM 36 )

    N a. Hold course and speed without giving a signal.
    Y b. Change course or speed to avoid vessel "II".
    N c. Sound one short blast, and await a response.
    N d. Sound two short blasts, and await a response.

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

392: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You see ONLY the light shown. This could be a __________. (DIAGRAM 80 )

    N a. law enforcement vessel
    N b. vessel on pilotage duty
    N c. vessel engaged in fishing
    Y d. sailing vessel

4024: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The word "vessel", in the Rules, includes __________.

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

4036: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are preparing to cross a narrow channel. You see a vessel that can only be navigated safely within the channel. You should __________.

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

4073: 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. manned being towed
    N c. unmanned being towed
    N d. at anchor

4103: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which is the danger signal?

    N a. A continuous sounding of the fog signal
    N b. Firing a gun every minute
    Y c. Five or more short rapid blasts on the whistle
    N d. One prolonged blast on the whistle

4105: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning two sailing vessels approaching each other?

    Y a. A sailing vessel overtaking another is the give-way vessel.
    N b. When each is on a different tack, the vessel on the starboard tack shall keep out of the way.
    N c. A sailing vessel seeing another to leeward on an undetermined tack shall hold her course.
    N d. All of the above

4125: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If you saw flames aboard a vessel but could see the vessel was not on fire, you would know that the __________.

    N a. crew was trying to get warm
    Y b. vessel required immediate assistance
    N c. vessel was attempting to attract the attention of a pilot boat
    N d. vessel was being illuminated for identification by aircraft

4140: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The rule regarding look-outs applies __________.

    N a. in restricted visibility
    N b. between dusk and dawn
    N c. in heavy traffic
    Y d. All of the above

4277: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway in a fog when you hear a whistle signal of one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. This signal could indicate all of the following EXCEPT a vessel __________.

    Y a. being towed
    N b. not under command
    N c. fishing with trawls
    N d. towing astern

4376: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel "not under command" at night must show her sidelights when __________.

    Y a. making headway
    N b. making no headway
    N c. moored to a buoy
    N d. at anchor

4379: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning risk of collision?

    N a. The stand-on vessel must keep out of the way of the other vessel when risk of collision exists.
    N b. Risk of collision always exists when two vessels pass within one mile of each other.
    N c. Risk of collision always exists when the compass bearing of an approaching vessel changes appreciably.
    Y d. Risk of collision may exist when the compass bearing of an approaching vessel is changing appreciably.

4408: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A fishing vessel displaying the lights shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 67 )

    N a. anchored
    N b. underway but not fishing
    N c. tending a small fishing boat
    Y d. fishing by trawling

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

4458: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You see the lights shown as illustrated on your port bow. You should __________. (DIAGRAM 50 )

    Y a. hold course and speed
    N b. alter course to port
    N c. stop engines
    N d. sound the danger signal

4461: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND During the day, a vessel with a tow over 200 meters in length will show __________.

    N a. a black ball
    Y b. a diamond shape
    N c. two cones, apexes together
    N d. one cone, apex upward

4517: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel must exhibit forward and after masthead lights when underway?

    N a. A 200-meter sailing vessel
    Y b. A 50-meter power-driven vessel
    N c. A 100-meter vessel engaged in fishing
    N d. All of the above

4594: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Rules state that certain factors are to be taken into account when determining safe speed. Those factors include __________.

    Y a. state of wind, sea, and current, and the proximity of navigational hazards
    N b. maximum attainable speed of your vessel
    N c. temperature
    N d. aids to navigation that are available

4617: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel proceeding along a narrow channel shall __________.

    N a. avoid crossing the channel at right angles
    N b. not overtake any vessels within the channel
    Y c. keep as near as safe and practicable to the limit of the channel on her starboard side
    N d. when nearing a bend in the channel, sound a long blast of the whistle

4618: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel would exhibit sidelights when underway and not making way?

    Y a. A vessel towing astern
    N b. A vessel trawling
    N c. A vessel not under command
    N d. A vessel engaged in dredging operations

4675: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In a meeting situation, which vessel may sound the danger signal?

    N a. Stand-on vessel
    N b. Give-way vessel
    Y c. Either vessel
    N d. Neither vessel

4680: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Day-shapes must be displayed __________.

    N a. between sunset and sunrise
    N b. only between 8 AM and 4 PM
    Y c. during daylight hours in any visibility
    N d. during daylight hours in unrestricted visibility only

4831: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which craft is a "power-driven vessel" under the Rules of the Road?

    N a. An auxiliary sailing vessel, using her engine
    N b. A canoe propelled by a small outboard motor
    N c. A trawler on her way to the fishing grounds
    Y d. All of the above

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

8075: INTERNATIONAL ONLY You intend to overtake a vessel in a narrow channel, and you intend to pass along the vessel's port side. How should you signal your intention?

    N a. Two short blasts followed by two prolonged blasts
    Y b. Two prolonged followed by two short blasts
    N c. Two prolonged blasts only
    N d. Two short blasts only