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.


3: INLAND ONLY In a narrow channel, you are underway on vessel "A" and desire to overtake vessel "B". After you sound two short blasts on your whistle, vessel "B" sounds five short and rapid blasts on the whistle. You should __________.


12: INLAND ONLY Your vessel is meeting another vessel head-on. To comply with the steering and sailing rules, you should __________.


40: INLAND ONLY The light used to signal passing intentions is a(n) __________.


80: INLAND ONLY While underway at night, you see two yellow lights displayed in a vertical line. This should indicate to you a(n) __________.

    N a. opening in a pipeline
    N b. vessel broken down
    Y c. vessel pushing ahead
    N d. vessel fishing

125: INLAND ONLY Under the Inland Navigation Rules, the term "Inland Waters" includes __________.

    N a. any waters marked by U.S. aids to navigation
    N b. harbors and rivers to the outermost aids to navigation
    N c. waters along the coast of the United States to a distance of two miles offshore
    Y d. the Western Rivers, extending to the COLREGS demarcation line

133: INLAND ONLY A power-driven vessel operating in a narrow channel with a following current on the Great Lakes or Western Rivers is meeting an upbound vessel. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. The downbound vessel has the right of way.
    N b. The upbound vessel must initiate the required maneuvering signals.
    N c. The upbound vessel must propose the manner of passing.
    N d. All of the above

136: INLAND ONLY Yellow lights are NOT used to identify __________.

    N a. a dredge pipeline on a trestle
    N b. the heads of tows being pushed ahead by tugboats
    N c. purse seiners
    Y d. a seaplane on the water

173: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on watch and sight a vessel showing only these lights. They indicate a __________. (DIAGRAM 59 )

    N a. submarine on the surface
    Y b. power-driven vessel
    N c. sailing vessel
    N d. vessel engaged in trawling

4082: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel must exhibit three white masthead lights in a vertical line?

    N a. Any vessel towing astern
    Y b. A vessel whose tow exceeds 200 meters astern
    N c. A vessel not under command, at anchor
    N d. A vessel being towed

4091: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND An authorized light to assist in the identification of submarines operating on the surface is a(n) __________.

    N a. blue rotating light
    Y b. intermittent flashing amber/yellow light
    N c. flashing white light
    N d. flashing sidelight

4165: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE of a 30-meter sailing vessel underway?

    Y a. She must show sidelights and a stern light in restricted visibility.
    N b. She may show an all-round white light at the top of the mast.
    N c. She need not show a stern light if she is showing all-round lights on the mast.
    N d. If she is using propelling machinery, she shall show forward a shape consisting of two cones, apexes together.

4202: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway in fog when you hear the following signal: one short blast, one prolonged blast and one short blast in succession. Which of the following would it be?

    N a. A sailing vessel underway with the wind abaft the beam
    N b. A power-driven vessel underway and making way through the water
    Y c. A vessel at anchor
    N d. A vessel towing

4226: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which day-shape must be shown by a vessel 25 meters in length aground during daylight hours?

    N a. One black ball
    N b. Two black balls
    Y c. Three black balls
    N d. Four black balls

4287: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Fog bell signals for vessels at anchor or aground shall be sounded at intervals of not more than __________.

    N a. 15 minutes
    N b. 5 minutes
    N c. 2 minutes
    Y d. 1 minutes

4303: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In fog, you hear apparently forward of your beam a fog signal of 2 prolonged blasts in succession every two minutes. This signal indicates a __________.

    N a. power-driven vessel making way through the water
    N b. vessel being pushed ahead
    N c. vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
    Y d. power-driven vessel underway but stopped and making no way through the water

4322: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In which situation do you think a risk of collision exists?

    N a. A vessel is 22° on your port bow, range increasing, bearing changing slightly to the right.
    N b. A vessel is broad on your starboard beam, range decreasing, bearing changing rapidly to the right.
    N c. A vessel is 22° abaft your port beam, range increasing, bearing is constant.
    Y d. A vessel is on your starboard quarter, range decreasing, bearing is constant.

4350: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog you hear the rapid ringing of a bell. What does this signal indicate?

    N a. A vessel backing down
    N b. A sailboat underway
    Y c. A vessel at anchor
    N d. A vessel drifting

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

4417: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What describes a head-on situation?

    N a. Seeing a vessel displaying both sidelights ONLY dead ahead
    N b. Seeing two forward white towing identification lights in a vertical line on a towing vessel directly ahead
    N c. Seeing both sidelights of a vessel directly off your starboard beam
    Y d. Seeing both sidelights and masthead light(s) of a vessel dead ahead

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

4454: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In a crossing situation, a stand-on vessel which is forced to take action in order to avoid collision with a vessel on her own port side shall, if possible, avoid __________.

    Y a. turning to port
    N b. turning to starboard
    N c. decreasing speed
    N d. increasing speed

4540: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The lights shown are those of a __________. (DIAGRAM 58 )

    N a. vessel being towed
    Y b. power-driven vessel of less than 50 meters in length
    N c. fishing vessel at anchor
    N d. sailboat

4615: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A pilot vessel may continue to sound an identity signal if she is __________.

    Y a. underway, but not making way
    N b. aground
    N c. being towed
    N d. not engaged in pilotage duty

4704: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The masthead light may be located at other than the fore and aft centerline on a vessel __________.

    N a. less than 50 meters in length
    N b. less than 20 meters in length
    Y c. of special construction
    N d. engaged in trolling

4706: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A "flashing light" is a light that __________.

    Y a. flashes at regular intervals at a frequency of 120 flashes or more per minute
    N b. is yellow in color
    N c. is visible over an arc of the horizon of not less than 180° nor more than 225°
    N d. All of the above

4714: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel would exhibit sidelights when underway and not making way?

    N a. A vessel not under command
    Y b. A vessel pushing ahead
    N c. A vessel engaged in dredging
    N d. A vessel trawling

4745: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching a narrow channel. Another vessel in the channel can only be navigated safely in that channel. You should __________.

    N a. hold your course and speed if he is on your port bow
    N b. sound three short blasts, and take all way off your vessel
    Y c. not cross the channel if you might impede the other vessel
    N d. sound two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast

4855: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Under the Rules, any vessel may slacken her speed, stop, or reverse her engines to __________.

    N a. create a crossing situation
    Y b. allow more time to assess the situation
    N c. attract the attention of another vessel
    N d. All of the above

4862: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway in thick fog. You have not determined if risk of collision exists. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. Your speed must be reduced to bare steerageway.
    N b. A look-out is not required if the radar is on.
    N c. Fog signals are only required when a vessel is detected by radar.
    N d. The radar should always be kept on a short-range scale.

8080: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which signal is sounded ONLY by a vessel in sight of another?

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