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.


32: INLAND ONLY You are overtaking a power-driven vessel in a narrow channel and wish to leave her on your starboard side. You may __________.


164: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on a vessel heading due south and see the lights shown one point on your port bow. This vessel could be heading __________. (DIAGRAM 51 )


197: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A partially submerged object towed by a vessel must show during the day one __________.


234: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Vessel "A" is overtaking vessel "B" as shown. Which color light will vessel "A" observe on vessel "B"? (DIAGRAM 17 )

    N a. Green
    Y b. White
    N c. Flashing red
    N d. Yellow over yellow

254: INLAND ONLY Vessels "A" and "B" are meeting on a river as shown and will pass 1/4 mile apart. Which is one of the lights on vessel "B" that you will see if you are on vessel "A"? (DIAGRAM 41 )

    N a. red sidelight
    N b. yellow towing light
    Y c. special flashing light
    N d. All of the above

267: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Two power-driven vessels are meeting in the situation as shown. Two short blasts from either vessel means __________. (DIAGRAM 37 )

    N a. "I am altering my course to starboard."
    N b. "I intend to leave you on my port side."
    Y c. "I am altering my course to port."
    N d. "I am operating astern propulsion."

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

    N a. propose the manner of passage
    N b. have the right of way
    N c. initiate the maneuvering signals
    Y d. All of the above

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

    N a. dredge
    N b. sailing vessel
    N c. power-driven vessel pushing ahead
    Y d. None of the above

300: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the lights shown is a(n) __________. (DIAGRAM 79 )

    N a. sailing vessel
    Y b. vessel towing astern
    N c. vessel engaged in fishing
    N d. vessel dredging

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

4015: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A 95-meter vessel aground sounds which fog signal?

    N a. A rapid ringing of a bell for 5 seconds every two minutes
    N b. A whistle signal of one short, one prolonged, and one short blast
    N c. A prolonged blast of the whistle at intervals not to exceed one minute
    Y d. A rapid ringing of a bell for 5 seconds, preceded and followed by three separate and distinct strokes on the bell

4097: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When navigating in restricted visibility, a power-driven vessel shall __________.

    N a. stop her engines when hearing a fog signal forward of her beam, even if risk of collision does not exist
    Y b. have her engines ready for immediate maneuver
    N c. when making way, sound one prolonged blast at intervals of not more than one minute
    N d. operate at a speed to be able to stop in the distance of her visibility

4148: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are in restricted visibility and hear a fog signal forward of the beam. Nothing appears on your radar screen. You must __________.

    N a. stop your engines
    N b. sound two prolonged blasts of the whistle
    N c. sound the danger signal
    Y d. slow to bare steerageway

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

4229: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are crossing a narrow channel in a 15-meter vessel when you sight a tankship off your port bow coming up the channel. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Yours is the give-way vessel because it is less than 30 meters long.
    Y b. You shall not impede the safe passage of the tankship.
    N c. The tankship is the stand-on vessel because it is to port of your vessel.
    N d. The tankship is the stand-on vessel because it is the larger of the two vessels.

4328: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the day-shape shown __________. (DIAGRAM 10 )

    N a. is at anchor
    N b. is not under command
    Y c. has a tow that exceeds 200 meters in length
    N d. has a tow that is carrying dangerous cargo

4329: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Your vessel is 25 meters long and anchored in restricted visibility. You are required to sound the proper fog signal at intervals of not more than __________.

    N a. 30 seconds
    Y b. one minute
    N c. two minutes
    N d. three minutes

4354: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, a power-driven vessel less than 12 meters in length may, instead of the normal navigation lights, show sidelights and one __________.

    Y a. white light
    N b. yellow light
    N c. flashing white light
    N d. flashing yellow light

4402: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel at anchor will show a __________.

    Y a. ball
    N b. cone
    N c. cylinder
    N d. double cone, apexes together

4407: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A 200-meter vessel is aground in restricted visibility. Which signal is optional?

    N a. A bell signal
    N b. A gong signal
    Y c. A whistle signal
    N d. All of the above

4410: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The rules state that vessels may depart from the requirements of the Rules when __________.

    N a. there are no other vessels around
    N b. operating in a narrow channel
    N c. the Master enters it in the ship's log
    Y d. necessary to avoid immediate danger

4478: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Risk of collision exists when an approaching vessel has a(n) __________.

    Y a. generally steady bearing and decreasing range
    N b. generally steady range and increasing bearing
    N c. increasing range and bearing
    N d. decreasing bearing only

4556: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Day-shapes MUST be shown __________.

    Y a. during daylight hours
    N b. during daylight hours except in restricted visibility
    N c. ONLY between 8 AM and 4 PM daily
    N d. between sunset and sunrise

4574: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel shall NOT show her sidelights?

    Y a. A fishing vessel that is not making way
    N b. A sailing vessel which is becalmed
    N c. A vessel engaged in underwater operations
    N d. A vessel that is not under command making way

4629: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND For a stand-on vessel to take action to avoid collision she shall, if possible, NOT __________.

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

4687: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel engaged in fishing while at anchor shall sound a fog signal of __________.

    N a. one prolonged and three short blasts at one minute intervals
    N b. a rapid ringing of the bell for five seconds at one minute intervals
    Y c. one prolonged and two short blasts at two minute intervals
    N d. a sounding of the bell and gong at one minute intervals

4736: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In restricted visibility a towed vessel must sound a fog signal when it is _____________ .

    N a. the last vessel in the tow
    Y b. the last vessel in the tow and it is carrying a crew
    N c. manned, regardless of its position in the tow
    N d. None of the above are correct

4854: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching another vessel on crossing courses. She is approximately half a mile distant on your starboard bow. You believe she will cross ahead of you but she sounds a whistle signal of five short blasts. You should __________.

    N a. sound a signal of one prolonged blast
    Y b. make a large course change
    N c. reduce speed slightly to make sure she will have room to pass
    N d. wait for another whistle signal from the other vessel

4877: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation. If you think the give-way vessel is NOT taking sufficient action to avoid collision, you should sound __________.

    N a. one short blast and maintain course
    N b. two short blasts, alter to port, and pass astern
    Y c. the danger signal
    N d. no signal and maneuver at will

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