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.


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


124: INLAND ONLY Which term is NOT defined in the Inland Navigation Rules?


140: INLAND ONLY You are the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation. The other vessel is showing an alternating red and yellow light. Which action should you take?


149: INLAND ONLY A power-driven vessel pushing ahead or towing alongside on the Mississippi River, above the Huey P. Long Bridge, shall carry __________.

    N a. two masthead lights, sidelights, and stern light
    N b. two masthead lights, sidelights, and two towing lights
    Y c. sidelights and two towing lights
    N d. one masthead light, sidelights, and stern light

234: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Vessel "A" is overtaking vessel "B" as shown. Which color light will vessel "A" observe on vessel "B"? (DIAGRAM 17 )

    N a. Green
    Y b. White
    N c. Flashing red
    N d. Yellow over yellow

278: INLAND ONLY While underway you sight the lights shown with the yellow lights flashing. The lights displayed should be __________. (DIAGRAM 81 )

    N a. visible for at least one mile
    N b. more than 50 meters apart
    Y c. visible at night and during periods of restricted visibility
    N d. flashing at intervals of 120 flashes per minute

284: 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 aground
    N b. mine clearance vessel
    N c. vessel not under command
    Y d. dredge pipeline

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

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

4004: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, a barge being towed astern must display __________.

    N a. red and green sidelights only
    N b. a white stern light only
    Y c. sidelights and a stern light
    N d. one all-round white light

4022: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A sailing vessel underway may exhibit __________.

    Y a. a red light over a green light at the masthead
    N b. a green light over a red light at the masthead
    N c. two white lights in a vertical line at the stern
    N d. an all-round white light at the bow

4031: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Additional light signals are provided in the Annexes to the Rules for vessels __________.

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

4034: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel "restricted in her ability to maneuver" is one which __________.

    Y a. from the nature of her work is unable to maneuver as required by the rules
    N b. through some exceptional circumstance is unable to maneuver as required by the rules
    N c. due to adverse weather conditions is unable to maneuver as required by the rules
    N d. has lost steering and is unable to maneuver

4036: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are preparing to cross a narrow channel. You see a vessel that can only be navigated safely within the channel. You should __________.

    Y a. not cross the channel if you might impede the other vessel
    N b. initiate an exchange of passing signals
    N c. sound the danger signal
    N d. hold your course and speed

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.

4105: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning two sailing vessels approaching each other?

    Y a. A sailing vessel overtaking another is the give-way vessel.
    N b. When each is on a different tack, the vessel on the starboard tack shall keep out of the way.
    N c. A sailing vessel seeing another to leeward on an undetermined tack shall hold her course.
    N d. All of the above

4122: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel may sound the danger signal?

    N a. The stand-on vessel in a crossing situation
    N b. The give-way vessel in a crossing situation
    N c. A vessel at anchor
    Y d. All of the above

4229: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are crossing a narrow channel in a 15-meter vessel when you sight a tankship off your port bow coming up the channel. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Yours is the give-way vessel because it is less than 30 meters long.
    Y b. You shall not impede the safe passage of the tankship.
    N c. The tankship is the stand-on vessel because it is to port of your vessel.
    N d. The tankship is the stand-on vessel because it is the larger of the two vessels.

4289: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on a power-driven vessel in 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
    Y b. reduce to bare steerageway
    N c. stop your engines
    N d. initiate a radar plot

4354: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, a power-driven vessel less than 12 meters in length may, instead of the normal navigation lights, show sidelights and one __________.

    Y a. white light
    N b. yellow light
    N c. flashing white light
    N d. flashing yellow light

4381: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel that is defined as "restricted in her ability to maneuver" is unable to keep out of the way of another vessel due to __________.

    N a. her draft
    Y b. the nature of her work
    N c. some exceptional circumstances
    N d. a danger of navigation

4387: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND An overtaking situation would be one in which one vessel is approaching another from more than how many degrees abaft the beam?

    N a. 0°
    N b. 10°
    Y c. 22.5°
    N d. None of the above

4431: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel 50 meters in length at anchor must sound which fog signal?

    Y a. 5-second ringing of a bell every minute
    N b. 5-second ringing of a bell every two minutes
    N c. 5-second sounding of a gong every minute
    N d. 5-second sounding of both a bell and gong every two minutes

4513: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND By day, you sight a vessel displaying three shapes in a vertical line. The top and bottom shapes are balls, and the middle shape is a diamond. It could be a __________.

    N a. vessel trolling
    N b. mineclearing vessel
    N c. trawler
    Y d. vessel engaged in replenishment at sea

4556: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Day-shapes MUST be shown __________.

    Y a. during daylight hours
    N b. during daylight hours except in restricted visibility
    N c. ONLY between 8 AM and 4 PM daily
    N d. between sunset and sunrise

4650: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which lights would be shown at night by a vessel which is restricted in her ability to deviate from her course?

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

4653: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel showing this day-shape __________. (DIAGRAM 34 )

    N a. has a tow which exceeds 200 meters in length
    N b. is engaged in surveying or underwater work
    N c. is not under command
    Y d. is fishing

4845: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What represents the length of a vessel as defined by the Rules? (DIAGRAM 86 )

    N a. A
    N b. B
    Y c. C
    N d. D

5100: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Lighting requirements in inland waters are different from those for international waters for __________.

    N a. barges being towed astern
    N b. vessels not under command
    Y c. vessels pushing ahead
    N d. All of the above

8016: INTERNATIONAL ONLY What whistle signal, if any, would be sounded when two vessels are meeting, but will pass clear starboard to starboard?

    N a. One short blast
    N b. Two short blasts
    N c. Five or more short blasts
    Y d. No signal is required.

8038: INTERNATIONAL ONLY In which case would an overtaking vessel sound a whistle signal of two prolonged followed by one short blast?

    N a. When overtaking in restricted visibility
    Y b. When overtaking in a narrow channel
    N c. When overtaking on open waters
    N d. When no other vessels are in the immediate area