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.

45: INLAND ONLY You are overtaking another power-driven vessel in a narrow channel, and you wish to overtake on the other vessel's port side. You will sound a whistle signal of __________.
85: INLAND ONLY A power-driven vessel crossing a river on the Great Lakes or Western Rivers, must keep out of the way of a power-driven vessel __________.
163: INLAND ONLY A commercial vessel engaged in public safety activities may display a(n) __________.
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 )

    N a. SE
    N b. NE
    Y c. NW
    N d. SW
208: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A single vessel being towed alongside shall show __________. 

    N a. one all-round white light
    Y b. sidelights and a stern light
    N c. only the outboard sidelight and a stern light
    N d. a masthead light, sidelights, and a stern light
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.
245: INTERNATIONAL ONLY You are on vessel "A" as shown. Vessel "B" sounds two short blasts. You should __________. (DIAGRAM 32 )

    N a. sound two prolonged blasts followed by two short blasts
    N b. sound two short blasts
    Y c. maintain course and speed
    N d. None of the above
265: INTERNATIONAL ONLY You are on a power-driven vessel "I" as shown. Vessel "II" is a vessel engaged in fishing. The vessels will pass within 1/2 mile of each other. Which action should you take? (DIAGRAM 36 )

    N a. Hold course and speed without giving a signal.
    N b. Sound the danger signal and slow to moderate speed.
    Y c. Sound one short blast, turn to starboard.
    N d. Sound one short blast and hold course and speed.
278: INLAND ONLY While underway you sight the lights shown with the yellow lights flashing. The lights displayed should be __________. (DIAGRAM 81 )

    N a. visible for at least one mile
    N b. more than 50 meters apart
    Y c. visible at night and during periods of restricted visibility
    N d. flashing at intervals of 120 flashes per minute
315: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night a vessel displaying the lights as shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 82 )

    Y a. fishing
    N b. sailing
    N c. a pilot boat
    N d. anchored
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
4025: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A sailing vessel with the wind abaft the beam is navigating in fog. She should sound __________. 

    N a. three short blasts
    N b. one prolonged blast
    Y c. one prolonged and two short blasts
    N d. two prolonged blasts
4110: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Continuous sounding of a fog whistle by a vessel is a signal __________. 

    N a. that the vessel is anchored
    N b. to request the draw span of a bridge to be opened
    Y c. of distress
    N d. that the vessel is broken down and drifting
4206: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, a vessel shall indicate that she is restricted in her ability to maneuver by showing in a vertical line two __________. 

    N a. red lights
    N b. red lights and two white lights
    Y c. red lights with a white light in between
    N d. white lights with a red light in between
4339: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Two vessels are in an overtaking situation. Which of the lights on the overtaken vessel will the overtaking vessel see? 

    N a. Two masthead lights
    N b. One masthead light and a sidelight
    N c. Both sidelights
    Y d. Stern light only
4353: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Every vessel that is to keep out of the way of another vessel must take positive early action to comply with this obligation and must __________. 

    Y a. avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel
    N b. avoid passing astern of the other vessel
    N c. sound one prolonged blast to indicate compliance
    N d. alter course to port for a vessel on her port side
4362: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel underway and fishing shall keep out of the way of a __________. 

    N a. power-driven vessel underway
    Y b. vessel not under command
    N c. vessel sailing
    N d. vessel engaged on pilotage duty
4363: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the day shape shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 10 )

    N a. broken down
    N b. anchored
    Y c. towing
    N d. fishing
4406: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Two power-driven vessels are crossing as shown. Vessel "A" sounds three short blasts on the whistle. This signal means that vessel "A" __________. (DIAGRAM 42 )

    N a. intends to hold course and speed
    N b. is sounding the danger signal
    Y c. is backing engines
    N d. proposes to cross ahead of the other vessel
4427: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A towing light, according to the Rules, is a __________. 

    N a. white light
    N b. red light
    Y c. yellow light
    N d. blue light
4448: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Vessel "A" is underway and pushing ahead when vessel "B" is sighted off the starboard bow as shown. Which statement is TRUE? (DIAGRAM 5 )

    N a. Vessel "A" is the stand-on vessel because it is to the port side of vessel "B".
    N b. Vessel "A" is the stand-on vessel because it is pushing ahead.
    Y c. Vessel "B" is the stand-on vessel because it is to starboard of vessel "A".
    N d. Neither vessel is the stand-on vessel.
4523: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel is overtaking when she approaches another from more than how many degrees abaft the beam? 

    N a. 0.0°
    N b. 11.25°
    Y c. 22.5°
    N d. 45.0°
4537: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Vessel "A" is on course 000°T. Vessel "B" is on a course such that she is involved in a head-on situation and is bearing 355°T, 2 miles away from vessel "A". To ensure a safe passing, vessel "A" should __________. 

    N a. maintain course
    N b. alter course to port
    N c. alter course to ensure a starboard to starboard passing
    Y d. maneuver to ensure a port to port passing
4612: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND An all-round flashing yellow light may be exhibited by a(n) __________. 

    N a. vessel laying cable
    N b. vessel towing a submerged object
    N c. vessel not under command
    Y d. air cushion vessel
4647: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night a vessel displaying the lights shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 65 )

    N a. fishing
    Y b. anchored
    N c. being towed
    N d. drifting
4653: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel showing this day-shape __________. (DIAGRAM 34 )

    N a. has a tow which exceeds 200 meters in length
    N b. is engaged in surveying or underwater work
    N c. is not under command
    Y d. is fishing
4655: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessels shall turn off their sidelights? 

    N a. All vessels that are not under command
    Y b. All fishing vessels that are not making way
    N c. All sailing vessels which are becalmed
    N d. All vessels engaged in underwater operations
4699: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is the identity signal which may be sounded by a vessel engaged on pilotage duty in fog? 

    N a. 2 short blasts
    N b. 3 short blasts
    Y c. 4 short blasts
    N d. 5 short blasts
4818: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel engaged in mineclearance operations shows special identity lights __________. 

    N a. instead of the masthead lights
    Y b. which mean that other vessels should not approach within 1000 meters
    N c. that are 225° green lights
    N d. All of the above
5000: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog, you hear a vessel ahead sound two prolonged blasts on the whistle. You should __________. 

    Y a. sound only fog signals until the other vessel is sighted
    N b. not sound any whistle signals until the other vessel is sighted
    N c. sound two blasts and change course to the left
    N d. sound whistle signals only if you change course