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.


18: INLAND ONLY Which lights are required for a barge, not part of a composite unit, being pushed ahead?


79: INLAND ONLY On the Western Rivers, a power-driven vessel crossing a river must __________.


96: INLAND ONLY You are approaching a sharp bend in a river. You have sounded a prolonged blast and it has been answered by a vessel on the other side of the bend. Which statement is TRUE?


100: INLAND ONLY Only law enforcement vessels are permitted to show __________.

    N a. two red lights in a vertical line
    N b. a flashing yellow light
    N c. an alternately flashing red and yellow light
    Y d. a flashing blue light

120: INLAND ONLY What shall be used to indicate the presence of a partly submerged object being towed?

    N a. A black cone, apex downward
    Y b. An all-round white light at each end of the tow
    N c. A flare-up light
    N d. All of the above

138: INLAND ONLY A law enforcement vessel patrolling a marine regatta may show either a flashing blue light or __________.

    N a. two amber lights in a horizontal line
    Y b. an alternately flashing red and yellow light
    N c. a high intensity flashing white light (strobe)
    N d. a fixed green light over a red flashing light

193: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on vessel "B" and crossing a narrow channel. Vessel "A", who can only navigate within the channel, is on your port bow and crossing as shown. Which action should you take? (DIAGRAM 40 )

    N a. Maintain course and speed as the ship is on your port bow.
    Y b. Give way to the other vessel.
    N c. Increase speed and cross his bow.
    N d. Sound the danger signal.

199: INLAND ONLY You are on a vessel that the Secretary has determined 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.
    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.

230: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Vessel "A" is overtaking vessel "B" as shown. Vessel "B" is the __________. (DIAGRAM 17 )

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

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

4075: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching another vessel. She is about one mile distant and is on your starboard bow. You believe she will cross ahead of you. She then sounds a whistle signal of five short blasts. You should __________.

    N a. answer the signal and hold course and speed
    N b. reduce speed slightly to make sure she will have room to pass
    Y c. make a large course change, and slow down if necessary
    N d. wait for another whistle signal from the other vessel

4119: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A lantern combining a vessel's navigation lights may be shown on a __________.

    Y a. 15-meter sailing vessel
    N b. 20-meter vessel engaged in fishing and making way
    N c. 25-meter power-driven vessel trolling
    N d. 25-meter pilot vessel

4141: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway and towing, your vessel enters fog. Which fog signal should you sound?

    N a. One prolonged blast
    N b. Two prolonged blasts
    Y c. One prolonged blast and two short blasts
    N d. Three distinct blasts

4157: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel may exhibit identifying lights when not actually engaged in her occupation?

    N a. A trawler
    N b. A fishing vessel
    N c. A tug
    Y d. None of the above

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

4253: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A pilot vessel on pilotage duty shall show identity lights __________.

    N a. at any time while underway
    N b. while at anchor
    N c. while alongside a vessel
    Y d. All of the above

4312: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel "not under command" at night must show which lights in a vertical line?

    N a. Three red
    Y b. Two red
    N c. Two white
    N d. Three white

4352: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is the minimum vessel length which must show two white masthead lights, one forward and one aft, when underway at night?

    N a. 7 meters
    N b. 20 meters
    Y c. 50 meters
    N d. 100 meters

4374: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel aground would show the same day-shape as a __________.

    N a. vessel towing a submerged object
    N b. dredge underway and dredging
    N c. hydrographic survey vessel at anchor and surveying
    Y d. None of the above

4394: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A partly submerged vessel or object being towed, which is not readily noticeable, shall show __________.

    N a. yellow lights at each end
    N b. two red lights in a vertical line
    N c. a black ball
    Y d. a diamond shape

4613: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Working lights shall be used to illuminate the decks of a vessel __________.

    Y a. over 100 meters at anchor
    N b. not under command
    N c. constrained by her draft
    N d. Any of the above

4618: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel would exhibit sidelights when underway and not making way?

    Y a. A vessel towing astern
    N b. A vessel trawling
    N c. A vessel not under command
    N d. A vessel engaged in dredging operations

4707: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway at night you are coming up on a vessel from astern. Which light(s) would you expect to see?

    Y a. A stern light only
    N b. Two masthead lights
    N c. Both sidelights and the stern light
    N d. Sidelights only

4713: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What equipment for fog signals is required for a vessel 20 meters in length?

    Y a. Whistle and bell only
    N b. Whistle only
    N c. Bell only
    N d. Whistle, bell, and gong

4726: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A tug is towing three unmanned barges astern in fog. The third vessel of the tow should sound __________.

    Y a. no fog signal
    N b. one short blast
    N c. one prolonged and three short blasts
    N d. one prolonged, one short, and one prolonged blast

4818: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel engaged in mineclearance operations shows special identity lights __________.

    N a. instead of the masthead lights
    Y b. which mean that other vessels should not approach within 1000 meters
    N c. that are 225° green lights
    N d. All of the above

4844: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What does the word "breadth" mean in the Rules?

    N a. Breadth on the uppermost continuous deck
    N b. Molded breadth
    Y c. Greatest breadth
    N d. Breadth at the load waterline

8044: INTERNATIONAL ONLY In international waters, you are on Vessel "I" in the situation as shown. Vessel "II" sounds one short blast. Which action should you take? (DIAGRAM 36 )

    N a. Sound one short blast and hold course and speed.
    Y b. Hold course and speed
    N c. Sound one short blast and slow down or turn to starboard.
    N d. Sound two short blasts, slow down and turn to port

8050: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A sailing vessel is overtaking a power-driven vessel in a narrow channel, so as to pass on the power-driven vessel's port side. The overtaken vessel will have to move to facilitate passage. The sailing vessel is the __________.

    N a. stand-on vessel and would sound two short blasts
    N b. give-way vessel and would sound no whistle signal
    N c. stand-on vessel and would sound no whistle signal
    Y d. give-way vessel and would sound two prolonged blasts followed by two short blasts

8060: INTERNATIONAL ONLY You are operating a vessel in a narrow channel. Your vessel must stay within the channel to be navigated safely. Another vessel is crossing your course from starboard to port, and you are in doubt as to his intentions. According to Rule 9, you __________.

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