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.


23: INLAND ONLY Passing signals shall be sounded on inland waters by __________.


39: INLAND ONLY Which indicates the presence of a partly submerged object being towed?


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


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

139: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which day-shape must you show on the forward end of an inconspicuous partially submerged vessel or object being towed more than 200 meters in length? (DIAGRAM 16 )

    N a. A
    Y b. B
    N c. D
    N d. No day-shape must be shown.

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

    N a. restricted in her ability to maneuver
    N b. engaged in fishing
    Y c. not under command
    N d. on pilotage duty

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

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.

239: 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. Both vessels should continue on course and pass without sounding any whistle signals.
    N b. The vessels must exchange two blast whistle signals and pass port to port.
    N c. The vessels must exchange one blast whistle signals and pass starboard to starboard
    Y d. The vessels may reach agreement by radiotelephone and sound no whistle signal.

251: INLAND ONLY Vessels "A" and "B" are meeting on a river as shown and will pass about 1/4 mile apart. Which action should the vessels take? (DIAGRAM 41 )

    N a. The vessels should continue on course and pass without sounding any whistle signals.
    Y b. The vessels should exchange two blast whistle signals and pass starboard to starboard.
    N c. The vessels should exchange one blast whistle signals and pass starboard to starboard
    N d. The vessels should pass starboard to starboard and must sound whistle signals only if either vessel changes course.

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

    N a. mineclearance vessel
    N b. survey vessel
    Y c. power-driven vessel towing astern
    N d. None of the above

4008: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If you are the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation, you may take action to avoid collision by your maneuver alone. When may this action be taken?

    N a. At any time you feel it is appropriate
    N b. Only when you have reached extremis
    N c. When you determine that your present course will cross ahead of the other vessel
    Y d. When it becomes apparent to you that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action

4048: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If it becomes necessary for a stand-on vessel to take action to avoid collision, she shall NOT, if possible, __________.

    N a. decrease speed
    N b. increase speed
    Y c. turn to port for a vessel on her own port side
    N d. turn to starboard for a vessel on her own port side

4067: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, which lights are required to be shown by a dredge on the side of the dredge which another vessel may pass?

    N a. One red light
    N b. Two red lights
    N c. One white light
    Y d. Two green lights

4068: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In the situation illustrated, vessel I is a power-driven vessel. Vessel II is a sailing vessel with the wind dead aft. Which statement about this situation is correct? (DIAGRAM 2 )

    Y a. Vessel I should keep out of the way of Vessel II.
    N b. Vessel II should keep out of the way of Vessel I.
    N c. Vessel II would normally be the stand-on vessel, but should stay out of the way in this particular situation.
    N d. The Rules of Special Circumstances applies, and neither vessel is the stand-on vessel.

4070: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway and hear a vessel continuously sounding her fog whistle. This indicates the other vessel __________.

    N a. desires to communicate by radio
    N b. desires a pilot
    Y c. is in distress
    N d. is aground

4083: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND All of the following are distress signals EXCEPT __________.

    N a. the continuous sounding of any fog signal apparatus
    Y b. giving five or more short and rapid blasts of the whistle
    N c. firing a gun at intervals of about a minute
    N d. a barrel with burning oil in it, on deck

4130: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The duration of each blast of the whistle signals used in meeting and crossing situations is __________.

    Y a. about 1 second
    N b. 2 or 4 seconds
    N c. 4 to 6 seconds
    N d. 8 to 10 seconds

4210: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel being towed astern shall show at night __________.

    N a. the lights required for a power-driven vessel underway
    N b. only the required masthead lights
    N c. a stern light only
    Y d. sidelights and a stern light

4268: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Your vessel is at anchor in fog. The fog signal of another vessel, apparently underway, has been growing louder and the danger of collision appears to exist. In addition to your fog signal, what signal may be used to indicate your presence?

    N a. No signal other than your fog signal may be used.
    N b. One prolonged, one short, and one prolonged whistle blast
    N c. One prolonged followed by two short whistle blasts
    Y d. One short, one prolonged, and one short whistle blast

4294: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night you observe a vessel ahead show three flashes of a white light. This signal indicates that the vessel ahead is __________.

    N a. in distress
    N b. approaching a bend in the channel
    Y c. operating astern propulsion
    N d. intending to overtake another vessel

4327: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Two vessels are approaching each other near head on. What action should be taken to avoid collision?

    N a. The first vessel to sight the other should give way.
    N b. The vessel making the slower speed should give way.
    Y c. Both vessels should alter course to starboard.
    N d. Both vessels should alter course to port.

4344: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND "safe speed" is defined as that speed where __________.

    N a. you can stop within your visibility range
    Y b. you can take proper and effective action to avoid collision
    N c. you are traveling slower than surrounding vessels
    N d. no wake comes from your vessel

4403: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What day-shape must be shown by a vessel over 20 meters fishing which has gear extending more than 150 meters horizontally outward from it?

    N a. One black ball
    N b. One diamond shape
    Y c. One cone with its apex upwards
    N d. One basket

4530: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning a partly submerged vessel being towed?

    N a. It must show a yellow light at each end.
    N b. It will show red lights along its length.
    Y c. A diamond shape will be carried at the aftermost extremity of the tow.
    N d. All of the above

4572: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway in low visibility and sounding fog signals. What changes would you make in the fog signal immediately upon losing propulsion?

    N a. Begin sounding two prolonged blasts at two-minute intervals.
    N b. Begin sounding one prolonged blast followed by three short blasts at two-minute intervals.
    Y c. Begin sounding one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts at two-minute intervals.
    N d. No change should be made in the fog signal.

4626: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel being towed astern, where the length of the tow exceeds 200 meters, will exhibit __________.

    N a. two balls in a vertical line
    Y b. a diamond shape where it can best be seen
    N c. a ball on each end of the tow
    N d. no day-shape

4681: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel may exhibit lights other than those prescribed by the Rules as long as the additional lights __________.

    N a. are not the same color as either side light
    N b. have a lesser range of visibility than the prescribed lights
    Y c. do not impair the visibility or distinctive character of the prescribed lights
    N d. All of the above

4723: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You see a vessel displaying ONLY the lights shown. This could be a __________. (DIAGRAM 45 )

    N a. vessel engaged in fishing at anchor
    N b. pilot vessel on pilotage duty
    N c. vessel engaged in launching or recovering aircraft
    Y d. power-driven vessel underway

4832: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel is "in sight" of another vessel when she __________.

    N a. can be observed by radar
    N b. has determined that risk of collision exists
    N c. is sounding a fog signal which can be heard on the other vessel
    Y d. can be observed visually from the other vessel