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.


46: INLAND ONLY At night, a barge moored in a slip used primarily for mooring purposes shall __________.


66: INLAND ONLY A towing vessel pushing ahead on the Western Rivers above the Huey P. Long bridge must show __________.


157: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The lights shown are exhibited by a vessel __________. (DIAGRAM 49 )


190: INLAND ONLY At night, you see the lights shown. They are shown on a __________. (DIAGRAM 75 )

    N a. barge being pushed ahead
    N b. barge being towed astern
    Y c. tug pushing a barge ahead
    N d. tug towing a barge astern

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

287: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The lead vessel shown is a __________. (DIAGRAM 24 )

    N a. dredge
    N b. sailing vessel
    N c. power-driven vessel pushing ahead
    Y d. None of the above

298: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the lights shown is a(n) __________. (DIAGRAM 79 )

    N a. vessel constrained by her draft
    N b. law enforcement vessel
    N c. vessel not under command
    Y d. vessel towing astern

315: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night a vessel displaying the lights as shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 82 )

    Y a. fishing
    N b. sailing
    N c. a pilot boat
    N d. anchored

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

    Y a. red sidelight
    N b. green sidelight
    N c. masthead light
    N d. stern light

339: 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
    N b. two short blasts
    Y c. one short blast
    N d. None of the above

374: INLAND ONLY Vessels "A" and "B" are meeting on a river as shown and will pass 1/4 mile apart. Which statement is TRUE? (DIAGRAM 29 )

    N a. Whistle signals must be exchanged in all situations when passing within one half mile.
    N b. The vessels should exchange two blast whistle signals and pass port to port.
    Y c. If a passing agreement is reached by radiotelephone whistle signals are optional.
    N d. The vessels should pass port to port and must sound whistle signals only if either vessel changes course.

379: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A seagoing tug has a tow greater than 200 meters as shown and is severely restricted in her ability to deviate from her course. Which lights would be displayed from the towing vessel? (DIAGRAM 24 )

    Y a. Three white masthead lights, red-white-red all-round lights, sidelights, stern light and a towing light
    N b. Three white masthead lights, red-white-red all-round lights, sidelights and two towing lights
    N c. Three white masthead lights, two all-round red lights, sidelights, stern light and a towing light
    N d. None of the above

4051: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The rules concerning lights shall be complied with in all weathers from sunset to sunrise. The lights __________.

    Y a. shall be displayed in restricted visibility during daylight hours
    N b. need not be displayed when no other vessels are in the area
    N c. shall be set at low power when used during daylight hours
    N d. need not be displayed by unmanned vessels

4195: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND All of the following vessels are "restricted in their ability to maneuver" EXCEPT a vessel __________.

    N a. laying a pipeline
    N b. dredging
    N c. mineclearing
    Y d. not under command

4266: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND On open waters, a power-driven vessel shall keep out of the way of a __________.

    N a. vessel on her port side that is crossing her course
    N b. vessel that is overtaking her
    N c. seaplane on the water
    Y d. sailing vessel

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

4300: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, a vessel displaying the light shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 46 )

    Y a. sailing
    N b. fishing and making way
    N c. a pilot boat making way
    N d. fishing and anchored

4338: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel hearing a fog signal forward of her beam has not determined if risk of collision exists. She shall reduce speed to __________.

    N a. moderate speed
    N b. safe speed
    N c. half speed
    Y d. bare steerageway

4372: 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 __________.

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

4380: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel nearing a bend where other vessels may be obscured shall sound __________.

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

4407: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A 200-meter vessel is aground in restricted visibility. Which signal is optional?

    N a. A bell signal
    N b. A gong signal
    Y c. A whistle signal
    N d. All of the above

4449: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In a crossing situation, which vessel may sound the danger signal?

    N a. Give-way vessel
    N b. Stand-on vessel
    Y c. Either vessel
    N d. Neither vessel

4458: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You see the lights shown as illustrated on your port bow. You should __________. (DIAGRAM 50 )

    Y a. hold course and speed
    N b. alter course to port
    N c. stop engines
    N d. sound the danger signal

4529: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel may exhibit lights other than those prescribed by the Rules as long as the additional lights __________.

    Y a. do not interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out
    N b. are not the color of either sidelight
    N c. have a lesser range than the prescribed lights
    N d. All of the above

4545: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching another vessel and are not sure whether danger of collision exists. You must assume __________.

    Y a. there is risk of collision
    N b. you are the give way vessel
    N c. the other vessel is also in doubt
    N d. All of the above are correct.

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

4639: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night you sight a vessel displaying a single green light. This is a __________.

    N a. vessel at anchor
    N b. small motorboat underway
    N c. vessel drifting
    Y d. sailing vessel

6570: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A traffic separation zone is that part of a traffic separation scheme which __________.

    N a. is between the scheme and the nearest land
    N b. contains all the traffic moving in one direction
    N c. is designated as an anchorage area
    Y d. separates traffic proceeding in one direction from traffic proceeding in the opposite direction

8014: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A power-driven vessel leaving a quay or wharf must sound what signal?

    N a. Three short blasts
    N b. A long blast
    N c. A prolonged blast
    Y d. No signal is required.

8023: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A fishing vessel is approaching a vessel not under command. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. The fishing vessel must keep clear of the vessel not under command.
    N b. If the vessel not under command is a power-driven vessel, she must keep clear of the fishing vessel.
    N c. They must exchange whistle signals.
    N d. Both vessels are required to take action to stay clear of each other.