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.


81: INLAND ONLY When two power-driven vessels are meeting on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the Secretary, where there is a current, which vessel shall sound the first passing signal?


87: INLAND ONLY Which statement is TRUE concerning the light used for maneuvering signals?


194: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on vessel "A" and proceeding down a narrow channel as shown. You can only navigate within the channel and vessel "B" is crossing so as to involve risk of collision. Which action would be most prudent? (DIAGRAM 40 )


212: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You see the display of lights shown. This indicates a vessel __________. (DIAGRAM 54 )

    Y a. engaged in fishing, making way
    N b. engaged in fishing, at anchor
    N c. engaged in trawling, making way
    N d. on pilotage duty, making way

268: INLAND ONLY Two power-driven vessels are meeting in the situation as shown and will pass within 1/2 mile of each other. Two short blasts from either vessel means __________. (DIAGRAM 37 )

    Y a. "I intend to leave you on my starboard side."
    N b. "I intend to leave you on my port side."
    N c. "I am altering my course to port."
    N d. "I am altering my course to starboard."

351: 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 )

    Y a. "I am altering my course to starboard"
    N b. "I am operating astern propulsion"
    N c. "I am altering my course to port"
    N d. None of the above

354: 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 leave you on your starboard side"
    Y b. "I am altering my course to starboard"
    N c. "I am altering my course to port"
    N d. None of the above

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.

4052: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The lights displayed would be shown by a vessel which is __________. (DIAGRAM 44 )

    Y a. aground
    N b. not under command and is dead in the water
    N c. not under command and is making way
    N d. laying or picking up navigation marks

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

4167: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel which is "restricted in her ability to maneuver" under the Rules, is a vessel which is __________.

    Y a. mineclearing
    N b. engaged in fishing
    N c. at anchor
    N d. not under command

4173: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel underway shall keep out of the way of a vessel __________.

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

4213: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement concerning whistle signals is FALSE?

    N a. When a pushing vessel and a vessel pushed are connected in a composite unit, the unit sounds the fog signal of a power-driven vessel.
    N b. A vessel at anchor may sound one short, one prolonged, and one short blast.
    N c. A pilot vessel may sound an identity signal on the whistle.
    Y d. A vessel engaged in towing in fog shall sound a fog signal at intervals of one minute.

4237: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, which lights would you see on a vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling?

    N a. Two red lights, one over the other
    N b. A green light over a red light
    Y c. A red light over a white light
    N d. A white light over a red light

4261: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What light(s), if any, would you show at night if your vessel was broken down and being towed astern by another vessel?

    N a. None
    N b. Same lights as for a power-driven vessel underway
    N c. A white light forward and a white light aft
    Y d. The colored sidelights and a white stern light

4313: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway at night, you sight a vessel ahead displaying the lights shown. How should the vessels pass? (DIAGRAM 71 )

    Y a. Both vessels should alter course to starboard and pass port to port.
    N b. Both vessels should alter course to port and pass starboard to starboard.
    N c. Your vessel should hold course and speed and the other vessel should keep clear.
    N d. You should sound an appropriate overtaking signal.

4422: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Each prolonged blast on whistle signals used by a power-driven vessel in fog, whether making way or underway but not making way, is __________.

    N a. about one second
    N b. two to four seconds
    Y c. four to six seconds
    N d. eight to ten seconds

4477: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND There is a provision to depart from the Rules, if necessary, to avoid __________.

    N a. a close-quarters situation
    N b. an overtaking situation
    Y c. immediate danger
    N d. Any of the above

4499: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, the lights shown would indicate a vessel __________. (DIAGRAM 76 )

    Y a. trawling
    N b. laying submarine cable
    N c. towing astern
    N d. dredging

4501: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND For identification purposes at night, U.S. Navy submarines on the surface may display an intermittent flashing light of which color?

    Y a. Amber (yellow)
    N b. White
    N c. Blue
    N d. Red

4511: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning the light used to accompany whistle signals?

    N a. It is mandatory to use such a light.
    N b. The light shall have the same characteristics as a masthead light.
    Y c. It is used to supplement short blasts of the whistle.
    N d. All of the above

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

4636: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel sailing shall keep out of the way of all of the following vessels except a vessel __________.

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

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

4696: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway in fog when you hear the rapid ringing of a bell for five seconds followed by the sounding of a gong for five seconds. This signal indicates a vessel __________.

    N a. engaged in pair trawling
    N b. fishing while making no way through the water
    Y c. more than 100 meters in length, at anchor
    N d. engaged on pilotage duty

4780: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation. If you think the give-way vessel is NOT taking sufficient action to avoid collision, you should sound __________.

    Y a. the danger signal
    N b. two short blasts, alter to port, and pass astern
    N c. no signal and maneuver at will
    N d. one short blast and maintain course

6550: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In a traffic separation scheme, when joining a traffic lane from the side, a vessel shall do so __________.

    Y a. at as small an angle as possible
    N b. as nearly as practical at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow
    N c. only in case of an emergency or to engage in fishing within the zone
    N d. never

8007: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A towing light is __________.

    N a. shown at the bow
    N b. white in color
    Y c. shown in addition to the stern light
    N d. an all-round light

8012: INTERNATIONAL ONLY In a narrow channel, a signal of intent which must be answered by the other vessel, is sounded by a vessel __________.

    N a. meeting another head-on
    N b. crossing the course of another
    Y c. overtaking another
    N d. Any of the above

8089: BOTH INTERNATIONAL AND INLAND A towing light __________.

    N a. flashes at regular intervals of 50-70 flashes per minute
    Y b. is yellow in color
    N c. shows an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of not less than 180° nor more than 225°
    N d. All of the above