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.


29: INLAND ONLY A fleet of moored barges extends into a navigable channel. What is the color of the lights on the barges?


32: INLAND ONLY You are overtaking a power-driven vessel in a narrow channel and wish to leave her on your starboard side. You may __________.


52: INLAND ONLY Whistle signals shall be exchanged by vessels in sight of one another when __________.


153: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway at night and you sight the lights shown. You know these lights indicate a __________. (DIAGRAM 47 )

    N a. fishing vessel engaged in fishing
    N b. trawler dragging nets
    Y c. sailing vessel
    N d. dredge at work

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

237: 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 )

    Y a. no whistle signal
    N b. two short blasts
    N c. two prolonged blasts followed by two short blasts
    N d. at least five short and rapid blasts

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.

276: INLAND ONLY While underway you sight the lights shown with the yellow lights flashing, you should __________. (DIAGRAM 81 )

    Y a. pass between the two sets of vertical red lights
    N b. wait until the vessel ahead crosses your bow
    N c. stop until the red lights turn green
    N d. proceed leaving all the lights on your starboard side

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

311: INLAND ONLY Identify the operation indicated by the lights exhibited as shown. (DIAGRAM 85 )

    N a. Aircraft carrier engaged in the launching and recovery of aircraft
    N b. A submarine engaged in underway replenishment
    N c. A vessel aground assisted by tugs
    Y d. None of the above

375: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The tow shown is made up of inconspicuous, partly submerged vessels and is 150 meters in length. The towed vessels are less than 25 meters in breadth and less than 100 meters in length. Which lights would be displayed from the towed vessels? (DIAGRAM 24 )

    N a. Sidelights and stern light on each vessel towed
    N b. One all round white light at the after end of each vessel towed
    Y c. One all round white light at or near each end of each vessel towed
    N d. One all round white light at each end and one all round white light at the extremities of its breadth of each vessel towed

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

    N a. not under command
    N b. engaged in fishing
    Y c. under oars
    N d. towing

1000: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You hear the fog signal of another vessel forward of your beam. Risk of collision may exist. You MUST __________.

    N a. begin a radar plot
    N b. stop your engines
    Y c. take all way off, if necessary
    N d. All of the above

4008: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If you are the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation, you may take action to avoid collision by your maneuver alone. When may this action be taken?

    N a. At any time you feel it is appropriate
    N b. Only when you have reached extremis
    N c. When you determine that your present course will cross ahead of the other vessel
    Y d. When it becomes apparent to you that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action

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

4243: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In reduced visibility, you hear two prolonged blasts of a whistle. This signal is sounded by a __________.

    Y a. power-driven vessel dead in the water
    N b. sailing vessel on the port tack
    N c. vessel not under command
    N d. vessel fishing with nets

4254: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway in restricted visibility and hear a fog signal forward of the beam. Nothing appears on your radar screen. You must __________.

    N a. stop your engines
    N b. sound two prolonged blasts of the whistle
    N c. sound the danger signal
    Y d. slow to bare steerageway

4344: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND "safe speed" is defined as that speed where __________.

    N a. you can stop within your visibility range
    Y b. you can take proper and effective action to avoid collision
    N c. you are traveling slower than surrounding vessels
    N d. no wake comes from your vessel

4480: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel towing another vessel astern (tow less than 200 meters) shall show __________.

    N a. a small white light abaft the funnel
    N b. three masthead lights in a vertical line instead of either the forward or after masthead lights
    Y c. two masthead lights in a vertical line instead of either the forward or after masthead lights
    N d. two towing lights in a vertical line at the stern

4493: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway in fog and hear one short, one prolonged, and one short blast in succession. What is the meaning of this signal?

    N a. A vessel is in distress and needs assistance.
    N b. A vessel is fishing, hauling nets.
    Y c. A vessel is at anchor, warning of her position.
    N d. A vessel is towing.

4496: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel which is fishing is required to show sidelights and a stern light only when __________.

    N a. anchored
    N b. underway
    N c. dead in the water
    Y d. underway and making way

4516: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel is, by definition, unable to keep out of the way of another vessel?

    N a. Vessel engaged in fishing
    Y b. Vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
    N c. Sailing vessel
    N d. Vessel towing

4520: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When anchoring a 20-meter vessel at night, you must show __________.

    Y a. one all-round white light
    N b. two all-round white lights
    N c. one all-round white light and the stern light
    N d. one all-round white light and a flare up light

4540: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The lights shown are those of a __________. (DIAGRAM 58 )

    N a. vessel being towed
    Y b. power-driven vessel of less than 50 meters in length
    N c. fishing vessel at anchor
    N d. sailboat

4584: INTERNATIONAL AND INLAND A vessel that is not equipped with towing lights should show that it has a vessel in tow by_________________.

    N a. continuously sounding its horn
    N b. sounding one prolonged followed by two short blasts at intervals of not more than two minutes
    Y c. shining a searchlight on the towline of the towed vessel
    N d. None of the above; a vessel shall not engage in towing at night without proper navigation lights

4605: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When two power-driven vessels are meeting head-on and there is a risk of collision, each shall __________.

    N a. stop her engines
    Y b. alter course to starboard
    N c. sound the danger signal
    N d. back down

4640: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When two power-driven vessels are crossing, which vessel is the stand-on vessel?

    Y a. The vessel which is to starboard of the other vessel
    N b. The vessel which is to port of the other vessel
    N c. The larger vessel
    N d. The vessel that sounds the first whistle signal

4686: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If underway in low visibility and sounding fog signals, what changes would you make in the fog signal IMMEDIATELY upon losing the power plant and propulsion?

    Y a. Begin sounding one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts at two-minute intervals.
    N b. Begin sounding one prolonged blast followed by three short blasts at two-minute intervals.
    N c. Begin sounding two prolonged blasts at two-minute intervals.
    N d. No change should be made in the fog signal.

4722: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel, when anchored at night, is not required to show anchor lights?

    N a. A power-driven vessel
    N b. A vessel engaged in survey operations
    N c. A vessel engaged on pilotage duty
    Y d. A vessel engaged in fishing

4770: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog, you hear a vessel ahead sound two prolonged blasts on the whistle. You should __________.

    N a. sound two blasts and change course to the left
    N b. sound whistle signals only if you change course
    N c. not sound any whistle signals until the other vessel is sighted
    Y d. sound only fog signals until the other vessel is sighted