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.


68: INLAND ONLY Which is CORRECT regarding a "special flashing light"?


76: INLAND ONLY A special flashing light is used on a vessel(s) __________.


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


195: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, you see the lights shown. This would indicate a vessel __________. (DIAGRAM 78 )

    N a. restricted in her ability to maneuver
    N b. engaged in fishing and making way
    Y c. on pilotage duty and underway
    N d. not under command

204: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Vessels "A" and "B" are in a crossing situation on the high seas as shown. Vessel "B" sounds one short blast. What is the proper action for vessel "A" to take? (DIAGRAM 14 )

    N a. Answer with one blast and hold course and speed
    Y b. Hold course and speed
    N c. Answer with one blast and keep clear of vessel "B"
    N d. Sound danger signal

216: INLAND ONLY Signals shall be sounded by a power-driven vessel intending to overtake __________.

    N a. any vessel when within half a mile of that vessel
    Y b. another power-driven vessel when both power-driven vessels are in sight of one another
    N c. any vessel when both are in sight of one another
    N d. another power-driven vessel only when within half a mile of that power-driven vessel

222: INLAND ONLY A barge more than 50 meters long, at anchor in a "special anchorage area designated by the Secretary", is required to show how many white anchor lights?

    N a. 1
    N b. 3
    N c. None
    Y d. 2

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

    N a. white masthead light
    N b. red sidelight
    N c. stern light
    Y d. None of the above

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

4096: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway, in fog, you hear a whistle signal of one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. This signal is sounded by a vessel __________.

    Y a. not under command
    N b. being towed
    N c. on pilotage duty
    N d. aground

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

4148: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are 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

4171: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel engaged in fishing, and at anchor, shall show __________.

    N a. an anchor light
    N b. sidelights and a 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

4175: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the lights shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 57 )

    Y a. restricted in her ability to maneuver and not making way
    N b. engaged in fishing and not making way
    N c. a pilot vessel underway and making way on pilotage duty
    N d. towing and making way

4184: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching another vessel at night. You can see both red and green sidelights and, above the level of the sidelights, three white lights in a vertical line. The vessel may be __________.

    N a. not under command
    Y b. towing a tow more than 200 meters astern
    N c. trawling
    N d. underway and dredging

4205: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A towing vessel is towing two barges astern. The length of the tow from the stern of the tug to the stern of the last barge is 250 meters. The towing vessel is 45 meters in length. How many white masthead lights should be displayed on the tugboat at night?

    N a. 1
    N b. 2
    Y c. 3
    N d. 4

4258: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, a broken down vessel being towed would show the same lights as __________.

    N a. a power-driven vessel underway
    N b. the towing vessel
    Y c. a barge
    N d. a vessel at anchor

4262: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel not under command making way at night would show __________.

    N a. two all-round red lights in a vertical line
    N b. anchor lights and sidelights
    N c. two all-round white lights in a vertical line, sidelights and a stern light
    Y d. two all-round red lights in a vertical line, sidelights, and a stern light

4269: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND All of the following are distress signals under the Rules EXCEPT __________.

    Y a. International Code Signal "AA"
    N b. orange-colored smoke
    N c. red flares
    N d. the repeated raising and lowering of outstretched arms

4283: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is NOT a distress signal?

    N a. A continuous sounding of the fog horn
    N b. Firing a gun every minute
    Y c. Five or more short rapid blasts on the whistle
    N d. A square flag and ball flown from the mast

4293: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel is to sound a fog signal of one prolonged followed by two short blasts?

    N a. A vessel not under command
    N b. A sailing vessel underway
    N c. A vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver, at anchor
    Y d. All of the above

4390: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What lights must sailboats show when underway at night?

    N a. One all-round white light
    N b. A stern light
    N c. Red and green sidelights
    Y d. Red and green sidelights and a stern light

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

4452: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway in fog and you hear three distinct bell strokes followed by five seconds of rapid bell ringing followed by three distinct bell strokes. This signal indicates a vessel __________.

    Y a. aground
    N b. engaged in underwater construction
    N c. at anchor
    N d. in distress

4469: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A pilot vessel may continue to sound an identity signal in fog if she is __________.

    N a. aground
    Y b. at anchor
    N c. not under command
    N d. no longer on pilotage duty

4548: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE regarding equipment for sound signals?

    N a. A vessel of less than 12 meters in length need not have any sound signaling equipment.
    N b. Any vessel over 12 meters in length must be provided with a gong.
    Y c. Manual sounding of the bell and gong must always be possible.
    N d. Automatic sounding of the signals is not permitted.

4661: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning a towing vessel which, due to the nature of her work, is unable to keep out of the way of another vessel?

    N a. By day, she shall carry a black cylinder shape.
    N b. By day, she shall carry two black balls in a vertical line.
    N c. By night, she would show the same lights as a vessel not under command.
    Y d. By day, she would show the same shapes as a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.

4724: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, a vessel displaying the lights shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 65 )

    N a. trawling
    N b. not under command
    Y c. anchored
    N d. drifting

4728: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE, according to the Rules?

    N a. A vessel engaged in fishing shall keep out of the way of a sailing vessel.
    N b. A vessel not under command shall keep out of the way of a vessel engaged in fishing.
    Y c. 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.
    N d. A vessel not under command shall keep out of the way of a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.

8017: INTERNATIONAL ONLY In a narrow channel, a vessel trying to overtake another on the other vessel's port side, would sound a whistle signal of __________.

    N a. one short blast
    N b. two short blasts
    N c. two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast
    Y d. two prolonged blasts followed by two short blasts