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.


37: INLAND ONLY You are operating a vessel through a narrow channel and your vessel must stay within the channel to be navigated safely. Another vessel is crossing your course from starboard to port, and you are in doubt as to her intentions. You __________.


37: INLAND ONLY You are operating a vessel through a narrow channel and your vessel must stay within the channel to be navigated safely. Another vessel is crossing your course from starboard to port, and you are in doubt as to her intentions. You __________.


228: INLAND ONLY A vessel engaged in public safety activities may display an alternately flashing red and yellow light. This special light may be used by a vessel engaged in __________.


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

    N a. seaplane
    N b. minesweeper
    Y c. dredge pipeline
    N d. vessel not under command

315: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night a vessel displaying the lights as shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 82 )

    Y a. fishing
    N b. sailing
    N c. a pilot boat
    N d. anchored

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

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

4029: INLAND ONLY The masthead light may be located at other than the fore and aft centerline on a power-driven vessel __________.

    N a. less than 20 meters in length
    Y b. less than 12 meters in length
    N c. which has separate sidelights carried on the outboard extremes of the vessel's breadth
    N d. engaged in fishing

4084: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If you are approaching a bend, and hear a whistle signal of one prolonged blast from around the bend, you should answer with a signal of __________.

    N a. a short blast
    Y b. a prolonged blast
    N c. one short, one prolonged, and one short blast
    N d. a long blast

4098: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You can indicate that your vessel is in distress by __________.

    N a. displaying a large red flag
    N b. displaying three black balls in a vertical line
    N c. sounding four or more short rapid blasts on the whistle
    Y d. continuously sounding the fog whistle

4110: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Continuous sounding of a fog whistle by a vessel is a signal __________.

    N a. that the vessel is anchored
    N b. to request the draw span of a bridge to be opened
    Y c. of distress
    N d. that the vessel is broken down and drifting

4185: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel engaged in fishing, and at anchor, should exhibit __________.

    N a. an anchor light
    N b. sidelights and stern light
    N c. three lights in a vertical line, the highest and lowest being red, and the middle being white
    Y d. None of the above

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

4253: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A pilot vessel on pilotage duty shall show identity lights __________.

    N a. at any time while underway
    N b. while at anchor
    N c. while alongside a vessel
    Y d. All of the above

4346: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel being towed at night must show __________.

    N a. a white all-round light, only
    Y b. sidelights and a stern light
    N c. a flashing yellow light, only
    N d. forward and after masthead lights

4358: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel should not impede the navigation of a power-driven vessel?

    N a. A vessel not under command
    N b. A vessel engaged in fishing
    N c. A sailing vessel
    Y d. A seaplane

4365: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND An anchored vessel is servicing an aid to navigation and is restricted in her ability to maneuver. Which lights will she show?

    Y a. Three lights in a vertical line, the highest and lowest red and the middle white, and anchor lights
    N b. Three lights in a vertical line, the highest and lowest red and the middle white, ONLY
    N c. Anchor lights ONLY
    N d. Anchor lights and sidelights ONLY

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.

4481: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog, you hear the rapid ringing of a bell for about five seconds followed by the sounding of a gong for about five seconds. This signal came from a __________.

    N a. vessel engaged in fishing at anchor
    N b. sailing vessel at anchor
    Y c. vessel 150 meters in length at anchor
    N d. vessel aground

4497: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is a requirement for any action taken to avoid collision?

    N a. When in sight of another vessel, any action taken must be accompanied by sound signals.
    N b. The action taken must include changing the speed of the vessel.
    Y c. The action must be positive and made in ample time.
    N d. All of the above

4531: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Your vessel enters fog. You stop your engines, and the vessel is dead in the water. Which fog signal should you sound?

    N a. One prolonged blast every two minutes
    Y b. Two prolonged blasts every two minutes
    N c. Three short blasts every two minutes
    N d. One prolonged and two short blasts every two minutes

4547: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is the minimum sound signaling equipment required aboard a vessel 10 meters in length?

    N a. A bell only
    N b. A whistle only
    N c. A bell and a whistle
    Y d. Any means of making an efficient sound signal

4563: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on vessel "A" in DIAGRAM 32, and hear vessel "B" sound a signal indicating her intention to overtake you. You feel it is not safe for vessel "B" to overtake you at the present time. You should __________.

    Y a. sound five or more short rapid blasts
    N b. sound two short blasts
    N c. not answer the whistle signal from vessel "B"
    N d. sound three blasts of the whistle

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

4670: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What determines if a vessel is "restricted in her ability to maneuver"?

    N a. Whether or not all of the vessel's control equipment is in working order
    N b. The vessel's draft in relation to the available depth of water
    Y c. Whether the nature of the vessel's work limits maneuverability required by the Rules
    N d. Whether or not the vessel is the give-way vessel in a meeting situation

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

4848: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Rules state that certain factors are to be taken into account when determining safe speed. One of the factors is the __________.

    N a. radio communications that are available
    N b. maximum speed of your vessel
    N c. temperature
    Y d. current

8030: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A vessel not under command sounds the same fog signal as a vessel __________.

    N a. engaged in towing
    N b. constrained by her draft
    N c. under sail
    Y d. All of the above

8059: INTERNATIONAL ONLY You are in sight of a power-driven vessel that sounds two short blasts of the whistle. This signal means that the vessel __________.

    Y a. is altering course to port
    N b. is altering course to starboard
    N c. intends to leave you on her port side
    N d. intends to leave you on her starboard side

8063: INTERNATIONAL ONLY On open water two vessels are in an overtaking situation. The overtaking vessel has just sounded one short blast on the whistle. What is the meaning of this whistle signal?

    N a. "I request permission to pass you on my port side."
    N b. "I will maintain course and speed and pass you on your starboard side."
    N c. "On which side should I pass?"
    Y d. "I am changing course to starboard."

8126: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A light used to signal passing intentions must be an __________.

    N a. all-round white or yellow light
    N b. all-round yellow light only
    Y c. all-round white light only
    N d. Any colored light is acceptable.