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.


24: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which of the day-shapes shown would you show on the after end of an inconspicuous partially submerged vessel or object being towed less than 200 meters in length? (DIAGRAM 16 )


24: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which of the day-shapes shown would you show on the after end of an inconspicuous partially submerged vessel or object being towed less than 200 meters in length? (DIAGRAM 16 )


134: INLAND ONLY Which is TRUE of a vessel downbound with a following current when meeting an upbound vessel on the Western Rivers?


198: INTERNATIONAL ONLY You are on a vessel that cannot comply with the spacing requirement for masthead lights. What is required in this situation?

    N a. The vessel must carry only the lights that comply with the rules; the others may be omitted.
    Y b. The vessel's lights must comply as closely as possible, as determined by her government.
    N c. The vessel must be altered to permit full compliance with the rules.
    N d. An all-round light should be substituted for the after masthead light and the stern light.

205: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which whistle signal may be sounded by one of two vessels in sight of each other?

    N a. Four short blasts
    N b. One prolonged blast
    Y c. One short blast
    N d. One short, one prolonged, and one short blast

207: INLAND ONLY What lights are required for a single barge being towed alongside?

    N a. Sidelights and a stern light
    Y b. Sidelights, a special flashing light, and a stern light
    N c. Sidelights and a special flashing light
    N d. Sidelights, a towing light, and a stern light

258: 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 41 )

    N a. Whistle signals must be exchanged in all situations when passing within one half mile.
    Y b. If a passing agreement is reached by radiotelephone, whistle signals are optional.
    N c. If a passing agreement is reached by radiotelephone whistle signals are still required.
    N d. None of the above

323: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which diagram shows the arc of visibility of a red sidelight? (DIAGRAM 23 )

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

4053: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Two vessels meeting in a "head-on" situation are directed by the Rules to __________.

    Y a. alter course to starboard and pass port to port
    N b. alter course to port and pass starboard to starboard
    N c. decide on which side the passage will occur by matching whistle signals
    N d. slow to bare steerageway

4103: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which is the danger signal?

    N a. A continuous sounding of the fog signal
    N b. Firing a gun every minute
    Y c. Five or more short rapid blasts on the whistle
    N d. One prolonged blast on the whistle

4154: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel, when anchored at night, is NOT required to show anchor lights?

    N a. A power-driven vessel
    N b. A vessel engaged on pilotage duty
    Y c. A vessel dredging
    N d. A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver

4181: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND According to the Rules, which vessel is NOT "restricted in her ability to maneuver"?

    N a. A vessel servicing a navigation marker
    Y b. A sailing vessel
    N c. A vessel mineclearing
    N d. A vessel dredging

4182: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Distress signals may be __________.

    N a. red flares
    N b. smoke signals
    N c. sound signals
    Y d. Any of the above

4228: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When is a stand-on vessel FIRST allowed by the Rules to take action in order to avoid collision?

    N a. When the two vessels are less than half a mile from each other.
    Y b. When the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action to avoid collision.
    N c. When collision is imminent.
    N d. The stand-on vessel is never allowed to take action.

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

4359: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Your vessel is underway but stopped and making no way through the water when fog sets in. Which fog signal should you sound?

    N a. One prolonged blast on the whistle
    N b. One prolonged blast and two short blasts on the whistle
    Y c. Two prolonged blasts on the whistle
    N d. One short, one prolonged, and one short blast on the whistle

4433: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel is NOT to be regarded as "restricted in her ability to maneuver"?

    N a. A vessel transferring provisions while underway
    Y b. A pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed when connected in a composite unit
    N c. A vessel servicing a navigation mark
    N d. A vessel launching aircraft

4466: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which lights shall a 200-meter vessel exhibit when at anchor?

    N a. In the forepart of the vessel, a 225-degree white light
    N b. In the after part of the vessel, a 112.5-degree white light
    Y c. Working lights to illuminate the decks
    N d. In the forepart of the vessel, a 112.5-degree white light

4492: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You sight another power-driven vessel dead-ahead showing both the red and green sidelights. The required action to take would be to __________.

    N a. carefully watch his compass bearing
    N b. start a radar plot in order to ascertain his course
    N c. alter your course to port
    Y d. alter your course to starboard

4508: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel may carry her sidelights and stern light in a combined lantern on the mast?

    Y a. An 18-meter sailing vessel
    N b. A 10-meter sailing vessel also being propelled by machinery
    N c. A 25-meter sailing vessel
    N d. All of the above

4579: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND As defined in the Rules, the term "vessel" includes __________.

    N a. seaplanes
    N b. nondisplacement craft
    N c. barges
    Y d. All of the above

4587: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel anchored in fog may warn an approaching vessel by sounding __________.

    N a. the whistle continuously
    Y b. one short, one prolonged, and one short blast of the whistle
    N c. five or more short and rapid blasts of the whistle
    N d. three distinct strokes on the bell before and after sounding the anchor signal

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

4647: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night a vessel displaying the lights shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 65 )

    N a. fishing
    Y b. anchored
    N c. being towed
    N d. drifting

4655: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessels shall turn off their sidelights?

    N a. All vessels that are not under command
    Y b. All fishing vessels that are not making way
    N c. All sailing vessels which are becalmed
    N d. All vessels engaged in underwater operations

4703: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A towing light is a yellow light having the same characteristics as a(n) __________.

    N a. special flashing light
    N b. anchor light
    Y c. stern light
    N d. masthead light

4732: INLAND ONLY Vessels engaged in fishing may show the additional signals described in Annex II to the Rules when they are __________.

    N a. trolling
    N b. fishing in a traffic separation zone
    Y c. in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing
    N d. in a narrow channel

4842: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel is "underway" according to the Rules?

    N a. A vessel made fast to a single point mooring buoy
    Y b. A vessel engaged in towing, not making way
    N c. A pilot vessel at anchor
    N d. A vessel which has run aground

4843: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND According to the Rules, a vessels length is her __________.

    N a. length between the perpendiculars
    N b. length along the waterline
    Y c. length overall
    N d. registered length

6510: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You hear the fog signal of another vessel forward of your beam. Risk of collision may exist. You MUST __________.

    Y a. take all way off, if necessary
    N b. stop your engines
    N c. begin a radar plot
    N d. All of the above