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.


27: INLAND ONLY Your vessel is meeting another vessel head-on. To comply with the rules, you should exchange __________.


37: INLAND ONLY You are operating a vessel through a narrow channel and 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 her intentions. You __________.


97: INLAND ONLY Which statement is TRUE concerning a passing agreement made by radiotelephone?


151: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel is indicated by the day signal shown? (DIAGRAM 22 )

    N a. A dredge indicating the side with the obstruction
    N b. A fishing vessel with gear extending more than 150 meters horizontally
    Y c. A tug with a tow exceeding 200 meters which limits her ability to maneuver
    N d. A vessel engaged in underwater operations with a diver down

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

    N a. dredging while underway
    Y b. not under command
    N c. engaged in trawling
    N d. engaged in mineclearance

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

206: INTERNATIONAL ONLY What lights are required for a single barge being towed alongside?

    Y a. Sidelights and a stern light
    N 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

257: INLAND ONLY Two power-driven vessels are meeting in the situation as shown. One short blast from either vessel means __________. (DIAGRAM 37 )

    N a. "I am altering my course to starboard."
    Y b. "I intend to leave you on my port side."
    N c. "I intend to hold course and speed."
    N d. "I intend to pass on your starboard side."

358: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Two power-driven vessels are crossing within one half mile of each other as shown. Vessel "A" sounds one short blast of the whistle. Vessel "B" is the __________. (DIAGRAM 42 )

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

388: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Lighting requirements in inland waters are different from those in international waters for __________.

    N a. barges being pushed ahead
    N b. vessels being towed alongside
    N c. vessels pushing ahead
    Y d. All of the above

389: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You see ONLY the light shown. This could be a vessel __________. (DIAGRAM 80 )

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

401: INLAND ONLY Two power-driven vessels are meeting in the situation as shown in a narrow channel on the Great Lakes. Vessel "A" is downbound with a following current. Vessel "B" should __________. (DIAGRAM 37 )

    Y a. take action to permit safe passage
    N b. have the right of way
    N c. initiate the maneuvering signals
    N d. None of the above

821: INLAND ONLY One and two short blast signals must be sounded on inland waters when __________.

    N a. two sailing vessels are in sight of one another and meeting at a distance of one quarter mile
    N b. two power-driven vessels are in sight of one another and will cross at a distance of one mile
    N c. two power-driven vessels are crossing within half a mile of each other and NOT in sight of each other
    Y d. Two power-driven vessel are in sight of one another and are meeting at a distance of one half mile

4000: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Your vessel is 75 meters in length and restricted in her ability to maneuver. Visibility is restricted. What signal do you sound if you are carrying out your work at anchor?

    N a. Five seconds ringing of a bell at intervals of not more than one minute
    Y b. One prolonged blast followed by two short blasts on the whistle at intervals of not more than two minutes
    N c. Five seconds ringing of a bell and five second sounding of a gong at intervals of not more than one minute
    N d. Four short blasts on the whistle at intervals of not more than two minutes

4043: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are the watch officer on a power-driven vessel and notice a large sailing vessel approaching from astern. You should __________.

    N a. slow down
    N b. sound one short blast and change course to starboard
    N c. sound two short blasts and change course to port
    Y d. hold your course and speed

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

4058: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which factor is listed in the Rules as one which must be taken into account when determining safe speed?

    N a. The construction of the vessel
    Y b. The maneuverability of the vessel
    N c. The experience of vessel personnel
    N d. All of the above must be taken into account.

4151: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog you hear a vessel sound one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. What does this signal indicate?

    Y a. A vessel towing
    N b. A vessel being towed
    N c. A pilot vessel engaged on pilotage duty
    N d. A vessel aground

4186: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel fishing should display which of the day signals shown. (DIAGRAM 1 )

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

4247: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What day-shape is to be shown by a vessel aground?

    N a. A cylinder
    N b. Two cones with their apexes together
    N c. Two black balls in a vertical line
    Y d. Three black balls in a vertical line

4529: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel may exhibit lights other than those prescribed by the Rules as long as the additional lights __________.

    Y a. do not interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out
    N b. are not the color of either sidelight
    N c. have a lesser range than the prescribed lights
    N d. All of the above

4591: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall __________.

    N a. only anchor in the separation zone
    N b. cross a traffic lane at as small an angle as possible
    Y c. avoid anchoring in areas near the termination of the scheme
    N d. utilize the separation zone for navigating through the scheme if she is impeding other traffic due to her slower speed

4592: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A proper look-out shall be maintained __________.

    N a. only at night
    N b. only during restricted visibility
    N c. at night and during restricted visibility
    Y d. at all times

4631: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Two barges are being pushed ahead by a tugboat. Which statement is TRUE concerning lights on the barges?

    N a. Each vessel should show sidelights.
    N b. Each vessel should show at least one white light.
    N c. The barges should be lighted as separate units.
    Y d. The barges should be lighted as one vessel.

4725: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is the minimum sound signaling equipment required aboard a vessel 24 meters in length?

    N a. Any means of making an efficient sound signal
    N b. A bell only
    N c. A whistle only
    Y d. A bell and a whistle

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

6570: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A traffic separation zone is that part of a traffic separation scheme which __________.

    N a. is between the scheme and the nearest land
    N b. contains all the traffic moving in one direction
    N c. is designated as an anchorage area
    Y d. separates traffic proceeding in one direction from traffic proceeding in the opposite direction

8052: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Two power-driven vessels are meeting. A two blast whistle signal by either vessel means __________.

    N a. "I intend to alter course to port"
    N b. "I desire to pass starboard to starboard"
    N c. "I desire to pass port to port"
    Y d. "I am altering course to port"

8075: INTERNATIONAL ONLY You intend to overtake a vessel in a narrow channel, and you intend to pass along the vessel's port side. How should you signal your intention?

    N a. Two short blasts followed by two prolonged blasts
    Y b. Two prolonged followed by two short blasts
    N c. Two prolonged blasts only
    N d. Two short blasts only

8082: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which statement is TRUE concerning light signals?

    N a. The time between flashes shall be about five seconds.
    N b. The light signals are to be used when not using sound signals.
    Y c. The time between successive signals shall be not less than ten seconds.
    N d. All of the above