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.


110: INLAND ONLY Which statement is TRUE concerning the fog signal of a sailing vessel 25 meters in length, anchored in a "special anchorage area" approved by the Secretary?


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


117: INLAND ONLY Which is a characteristic of a "special 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.

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

    N a. yellow flashing light
    N b. red sidelight
    N c. green sidelight
    Y d. None of the above

384: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, you see the lights shown. This would indicate a __________. (DIAGRAM 78 )

    N a. vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
    N b. fishing vessel underway
    Y c. pilot vessel underway
    N d. vessel not under command

397: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which signal may be sounded ONLY by vessels in restricted visibility?

    N a. At least five short and rapid blasts
    Y b. Four short blasts
    N c. One prolonged, one short, one prolonged, and one short blast, in that order
    N d. Two short blasts

4011: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A pilot vessel on pilotage duty at night will show sidelights and a stern light __________.

    N a. when at anchor
    N b. only when making way
    Y c. at any time when underway
    N d. only when the identifying lights are not being shown

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

4078: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are making headway in fog and hear a fog signal of two prolonged blasts on your starboard quarter. You should __________.

    N a. stop your vessel
    N b. change course to the left
    N c. change course to the right
    Y d. hold your course and speed

4095: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When underway in a channel, you should keep to the __________.

    N a. middle of the channel
    Y b. starboard side of the channel
    N c. port side of the channel
    N d. side of the channel that has the widest turns

4128: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which display indicates a vessel conducting mineclearance operations?

    N a. Three balls in a vertical line
    N b. Two balls in a vertical line
    Y c. One ball near the foremast and one ball at each yardarm
    N d. One diamond near the foremast and one ball at each yardarm

4184: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching another vessel at night. You can see both red and green sidelights and, above the level of the sidelights, three white lights in a vertical line. The vessel may be __________.

    N a. not under command
    Y b. towing a tow more than 200 meters astern
    N c. trawling
    N d. underway and dredging

4234: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What lights, if any, would you exhibit at night if your vessel were broken down and being towed by another vessel?

    N a. None
    N b. Same lights as for a power-driven vessel underway
    N c. A white light forward and a white light aft
    Y d. The colored sidelights and a white stern light

4388: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A stand-on vessel is __________.

    N a. required to give way in a crossing situation
    N b. required to sound the first passing signal in a meeting situation
    N c. free to maneuver in any crossing or meeting situation as it has the right-of-way
    Y d. required to maintain course and speed in a crossing situation but may take action to avoid collision

4425: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel exhibits the same lights as a __________.

    N a. vessel towing, when not underway
    N b. vessel towing astern
    N c. sailing vessel
    Y d. pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed, when they are in a composite unit

4459: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Three short blasts of the whistle means __________.

    N a. "danger"
    N b. "I am in distress"
    N c. the vessel is not under command (broken down)
    Y d. "I am operating astern propulsion"

4573: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel shows the same lights as a __________.

    N a. vessel engaged in towing, when not underway
    N b. vessel towing astern
    N c. sailing vessel
    Y d. pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed, when they are rigidly connected in a composite unit

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

4614: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel may show identifying lights when not actually engaged in her occupation?

    N a. A fishing vessel
    N b. A pilot vessel
    N c. A mineclearance vessel
    Y d. None of the above

4627: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway you sight a vessel displaying the day-shapes shown. You should __________. (DIAGRAM 6 )

    N a. contact the vessel on VHF radiotelephone
    N b. provide assistance, the other vessel is in distress
    Y c. stay clear, the other vessel cannot get out of the way
    N d. stop your vessel and sound passing signals

4635: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel conducting mineclearing operations will show __________.

    N a. three balls in a vertical line
    N b. two balls in a vertical line
    Y c. one ball near the foremast and one ball at each fore yard
    N d. one diamond near the foremast head and one ball at each fore yard

4670: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What determines if a vessel is "restricted in her ability to maneuver"?

    N a. Whether or not all of the vessel's control equipment is in working order
    N b. The vessel's draft in relation to the available depth of water
    Y c. Whether the nature of the vessel's work limits maneuverability required by the Rules
    N d. Whether or not the vessel is the give-way vessel in a meeting situation

4731: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Additional light signals are provided in the Annexes to the Rules for vessels __________.

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

4837: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel "restricted in her ability to maneuver" is one which __________.

    N a. through some exceptional circumstance is unable to maneuver as required by the Rules
    Y b. from the nature of her work 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

8010: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A vessel displaying three red lights in a vertical line is __________.

    N a. not under command
    N b. aground
    N c. dredging
    Y d. constrained by her draft

8027: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast on the whistle is a signal which could be sounded by a __________.

    N a. fishing vessel
    N b. vessel anchored
    N c. mineclearing vessel
    Y d. vessel overtaking another in a narrow channel

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

8046: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A vessel sounds two short blasts. This signal indicates the vessel __________.

    N a. intends to alter course to port
    N b. intends to pass starboard to starboard
    Y c. is altering course to port
    N d. will alter course to port

8073: INTERNATIONAL ONLY In a narrow channel, an overtaking vessel which intends to PASS on the other vessel's port side would sound __________.

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