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.


28: INLAND ONLY A vessel overtaking another in a narrow channel, and wishing to pass on the other vessel's port side, would sound a whistle signal of __________.


36: INLAND ONLY Which type of vessel is NOT mentioned in the Inland Navigation Rules?


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


89: INLAND ONLY Your vessel must stay within a narrow channel to be navigated safely. Another vessel is crossing your course from starboard to port. You do NOT think she will pass safely. You __________.

    N a. may sound the danger signal
    Y b. must sound the danger signal
    N c. should sound one short blast to indicate that you are holding course and speed
    N d. are required to back down

210: INLAND ONLY A single vessel being towed alongside shall exhibit __________.

    N a. one all-round white light
    Y b. sidelights, stern light and a special flashing light
    N c. only the outboard sidelight and a stern light
    N d. a masthead light, sidelights, and a stern light

248: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Vessels "I" and "II" are power-driven vessels. You are on vessel "I" as shown. You are the __________. (DIAGRAM 36 )

    N a. give-way vessel
    Y b. stand-on vessel
    N c. overtaking vessel
    N d. None of the above

249: INLAND ONLY You are on a power-driven vessel "I" as shown. Vessel "II" is a power-driven vessel engaged in fishing that will pass 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.
    N b. Sound the danger signal and reduce speed.
    N c. Sound one short blast, reduce speed and turn to starboard.
    Y d. Sound one short blast and await response from the fishing vessel.

338: INLAND ONLY Two power-driven vessels are crossing within a half a mile of each other as shown. Vessel "A" sounds one short blast on the whistle. Vessel "B" should sound __________. (DIAGRAM 42 )

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

358: 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. Vessel "B" is the __________. (DIAGRAM 42 )

    N a. burdened vessel
    N b. give-way vessel
    N c. overtaking vessel
    Y d. None of the above

4025: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A sailing vessel with the wind abaft the beam is navigating in fog. She should sound __________.

    N a. three short blasts
    N b. one prolonged blast
    Y c. one prolonged and two short blasts
    N d. two prolonged blasts

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

4056: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A sailing vessel with the wind abaft the beam is navigating in restricted visibility. She should sound __________.

    N a. three short blasts
    N b. one prolonged blast
    Y c. one prolonged and two short blasts
    N d. two prolonged blasts

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

4120: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel engaged in fishing during the day would show __________.

    N a. one black ball
    N b. two cones with bases together
    N c. a cone, apex downward
    Y d. two cones, apexes together

4244: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A 200-meter vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver, at anchor, will sound a fog signal of __________.

    N a. a 5 second ringing of a bell forward and a 5 second sounding of a gong aft at intervals of 1 minute
    Y b. one prolonged followed by two short blasts every 2 minutes
    N c. one prolonged followed by three short blasts every minute
    N d. one prolonged followed by three short blasts every 2 minutes

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

4295: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The use of the danger signal __________.

    N a. replaces directional signals
    N b. makes the other vessel the stand-on vessel
    Y c. indicates doubt as to another vessels actions
    N d. is the same as a "MAYDAY" signal

4364: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The whistle signal for a vessel operating astern propulsion is __________.

    N a. one long blast
    N b. one prolonged blast
    Y c. three short blasts
    N d. four or more short blasts

4386: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog you hear a rapid ringing of a bell ahead. This bell indicates a __________.

    Y a. vessel at anchor
    N b. vessel in distress
    N c. sailboat underway
    N d. vessel backing out of a berth

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

4535: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning the danger signal?

    N a. May be sounded by the stand-on vessel only
    N b. Indicates that the vessel is in distress
    N c. Is used to indicate a course change
    Y d. May be supplemented by an appropriate light signal

4575: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel is overtaking when she can see which light(s) of a vessel ahead?

    Y a. Only the stern light of the vessel
    N b. One sidelight and a masthead light of the vessel
    N c. Only a sidelight of the vessel
    N d. The masthead lights of the vessel

4575: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel is overtaking when she can see which light(s) of a vessel ahead?

    Y a. Only the stern light of the vessel
    N b. One sidelight and a masthead light of the vessel
    N c. Only a sidelight of the vessel
    N d. The masthead lights of the vessel

4585: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway at night you are coming up on a vessel from astern. What lights would you expect to see?

    N a. Red and green sidelights
    N b. Two white lights
    N c. One white light and red and green sidelights
    Y d. One white light

4606: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power driven vessel when towing and the length of the tow exceeds 200 meters shall exhibit during daylight hours where they can best be seen which of the following shapes?

    Y a. a diamond shape
    N b. two cones, apexes together
    N c. a black ball
    N d. one cone, apex upward

4616: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If your vessel is the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation __________.

    Y a. you must keep your course and speed
    N b. you may change course and speed as the other vessel must keep clear
    N c. the other vessel must keep her course and speed
    N d. both vessels must keep their course and speed

4622: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Navigation Rules state that a vessel shall be operated at a safe speed at all times so that she can be stopped within __________.

    N a. the distance of visibility
    N b. 1/2 the distance of visibility
    Y c. a distance appropriate to the existing circumstances and conditions
    N d. the distance that it would require for the propeller to go from full ahead to full astern

4654: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel engaged in fishing shall keep out of the way of a vessel __________.

    N a. under sail
    Y b. restricted in her ability to maneuver
    N c. crossing a channel
    N d. All of the above

4659: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel servicing a pipeline during the day shall display __________.

    Y a. three black shapes in a vertical line; the highest and lowest are balls, and the middle one is a diamond
    N b. three shapes in a vertical line; the highest and lowest are red balls, and the middle one is a white diamond
    N c. three black balls in a vertical line
    N d. two black balls in a vertical line

4681: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel may exhibit lights other than those prescribed by the Rules as long as the additional lights __________.

    N a. are not the same color as either side light
    N b. have a lesser range of visibility than the prescribed lights
    Y c. do not impair the visibility or distinctive character of the prescribed lights
    N d. All of the above