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.


35: INLAND ONLY You are on vessel "B" and vessel "A" desires to overtake you on your starboard side as shown. After the vessels have exchanged one blast signals, you should __________. (DIAGRAM 9 )


142: INLAND ONLY The special light for a vessel engaged in public safety activities must __________.


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


353: 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. This signal means __________. (DIAGRAM 42 )

    N a. "I intend to overtake you on your starboard side"
    N b. "I am operating astern propulsion"
    N c. "I intend to leave you on my port side"
    Y d. None of the above

376: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel must show forward and after masthead lights when making way?

    Y a. A 75-meter vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
    N b. A 100-meter sailing vessel
    N c. A 150-meter vessel engaged in fishing
    N d. A 45-meter vessel engaged in towing

4040: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which of the day-shapes shown indicates a vessel with a tow exceeding 200 meters in length? (DIAGRAM 16 )

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

4043: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are the watch officer on a power-driven vessel and notice a large sailing vessel approaching from astern. You should __________.

    N a. slow down
    N b. sound one short blast and change course to starboard
    N c. sound two short blasts and change course to port
    Y d. hold your course and speed

4046: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway on vessel "A" and sight vessel "B" which is a vessel underway and fishing as shown. Which statement is true? (DIAGRAM 14 )

    N a. Vessel "A" must keep out of the way of vessel "B" because "B" is to port.
    Y b. Vessel "A" must keep out of the way of vessel "B" because "B" is fishing.
    N c. Vessel "B" must keep out of the way of vessel "A" because "A" is to starboard.
    N d. In this case, both vessels are required by the Rules to keep clear of each other.

4146: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When taking action to avoid collision, you should __________.

    Y a. make sure the action is taken in enough time
    N b. not make any large course changes
    N c. not make any large speed changes
    N d. All of the above

4194: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, you are towing a partly submerged vessel, 20 meters in length and 4 meters in breadth. What lights must you display on the towed vessel?

    N a. A white light at the stern
    N b. Two white lights side by side at the stern
    Y c. A white light at the forward end and a white light at the after end
    N d. Two red lights in a vertical line at the after end

4201: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel towing astern shall show __________.

    N a. two towing lights in a vertical line
    Y b. a towing light in a vertical line above the stern light
    N c. two towing lights in addition to the stern light
    N d. a small white light in lieu of the stern light

4218: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the day signal shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 7 )

    Y a. not under command
    N b. a dredge underway and dredging
    N c. fishing
    N d. a hydrographic survey vessel underway

4272: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel, when towing another vessel astern shall show the light(s) in Diagram __________. (DIAGRAMS 46, 54, 60 )

    N a. 75
    Y b. 60
    N c. 54
    N d. 46

4294: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night you observe a vessel ahead show three flashes of a white light. This signal indicates that the vessel ahead is __________.

    N a. in distress
    N b. approaching a bend in the channel
    Y c. operating astern propulsion
    N d. intending to overtake another vessel

4303: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In fog, you hear apparently forward of your beam a fog signal of 2 prolonged blasts in succession every two minutes. This signal indicates a __________.

    N a. power-driven vessel making way through the water
    N b. vessel being pushed ahead
    N c. vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
    Y d. power-driven vessel underway but stopped and making no way through the water

4387: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND An overtaking situation would be one in which one vessel is approaching another from more than how many degrees abaft the beam?

    N a. 0°
    N b. 10°
    Y c. 22.5°
    N d. None of the above

4405: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel underway but not making way and fishing other than trawling will show which lights?

    N a. A white light over a red light
    Y b. A red light over a white light
    N c. A white light over a red light, sidelights, and a stern light
    N d. A red light over a white light, sidelights, and a stern light

4429: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Two vessels are meeting head-on. How must the vessels pass?

    N a. One vessel must alter course while the other must continue on its course.
    N b. The vessels should determine which will alter course by sounding whistle signals.
    N c. Both vessels should alter course to port and pass starboard to starboard.
    Y d. Both vessels should alter course to starboard and pass port to port.

4467: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Under the Rules, the term "vessel" includes __________.

    N a. non-self-propelled raft
    N b. seaplanes
    N c. hovercrafts
    Y d. All of the above

4487: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the day-shape shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 34 )

    N a. towing
    Y b. fishing
    N c. anchored
    N d. being towed

4567: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND As shown, vessel "A", which is pushing ahead, and vessel "B" are crossing. Which is the stand-on vessel? (DIAGRAM 5 )

    N a. Vessel "A" is the stand-on vessel because she is to port of vessel "B".
    N b. Vessel "A" is the stand-on vessel because she is pushing ahead.
    Y c. Vessel "B" is the stand-on vessel because she is to starboard of vessel "A".
    N d. Neither vessel is the stand-on vessel in this situation.

4586: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What describes a head-on situation?

    N a. Seeing one red light of a vessel directly ahead
    N b. Seeing two forward white towing lights in a vertical line on a towing vessel directly ahead
    N c. Seeing both sidelights of a vessel directly off your starboard beam
    Y d. Seeing both sidelights of a vessel directly ahead

4593: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Risk of collision may be deemed to exist __________.

    N a. if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does NOT appreciably change
    N b. even when an appreciable bearing change is evident, particularly when approaching a vessel at close range
    N c. if you observe both sidelights of a vessel ahead for an extended period of time
    Y d. All of the above

4599: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Underway at night you see the red sidelight of a vessel well off your port bow. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. You are required to alter course to the right.
    N b. You must stop engines.
    N c. You are on a collision course with the other vessel.
    Y d. You may maintain course and speed.

4651: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel is the stand-on vessel when two vessels crossing in fog are NOT in sight of one another?

    N a. The vessel which has the other on her own starboard side
    N b. The vessel which has the other on her own port side
    N c. The one which hears the other's fog signal first
    Y d. Neither vessel is the stand-on vessel.

4682: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel may exhibit lights other than those prescribed by the Rules as long as the additional lights __________.

    N a. do not interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out
    N b. do not impair the visibility or distinctive character of the prescribed lights
    N c. cannot be mistaken for the lights specified elsewhere in the Rules
    Y d. All of the above

4825: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is a light signal authorized by the Secretary of the Navy as an additional navigational light for a ship of war?

    N a. Two yellow lights in a vertical line for a carrier launching aircraft
    N b. Green masthead and yardarm lights for a vessel engaged in mineclearing operations
    Y c. Flashing amber beacon for submarines
    N d. Yellow flares indicating torpedo firing exercises

4863: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A sailing vessel is proceeding along a narrow channel and can safely navigate ONLY inside the channel. The sailing vessel approaches a vessel engaged in fishing. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The fishing vessel must sound the danger signal.
    Y b. The fishing vessel shall not impede the passage of the sailing vessel.
    N c. Each vessel should move to the edge of the channel on her port side.
    N d. Both vessels should be displaying the signal for a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.

8067: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which vessel shall avoid impeding the safe passage of a vessel constrained by her draft?

    N a. A vessel not under command
    Y b. A fishing vessel
    N c. A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
    N d. All of the above

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