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.


142: INLAND ONLY The special light for a vessel engaged in public safety activities must __________.


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


181: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, you see the display of lights shown. They indicate a(n) __________. (DIAGRAM 74 )


221: INLAND ONLY A barge more than 50 meters long would be required to show how many white anchor lights when anchored in a Secretary approved "special anchorage area"?

    N a. None
    N b. 3
    Y c. 2
    N d. 1

255: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Vessels "A" and "B" are meeting on a river as shown and will pass 1/4 mile apart. Which light on vessel "B" will you see if you are on vessel "A"? (DIAGRAM 41 )

    N a. special flashing yellow light
    N b. flashing blue light
    N c. two yellow towing lights
    Y d. None of the above

260: INLAND ONLY A vessel engaged in public safety activities may display an alternately flashing red and yellow light. This special light may be used by a vessel engaged in __________.

    Y a. search and rescue
    N b. restricted in ability to maneuver
    N c. not under command
    N d. river bank protection

282: INLAND ONLY While underway you sight the lights shown with the yellow lights flashing. The lights displayed are from a __________. (DIAGRAM 81 )

    N a. vessel not under command
    Y b. dredge pipeline
    N c. vessel aground
    N d. vessel engaged in fishing

338: INLAND ONLY Two power-driven vessels are crossing within a half a mile of each other as shown. Vessel "A" sounds one short blast on the whistle. Vessel "B" should sound __________. (DIAGRAM 42 )

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

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

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

4007: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If you do NOT understand the course or intention of an approaching vessel you should sound __________.

    N a. one short blast
    N b. one prolonged blast
    Y c. not less than five short blasts
    N d. not less than five prolonged blasts

4014: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel underway in fog making NO way must sound what signal?

    N a. One long blast
    Y b. Two prolonged blasts
    N c. One prolonged blast
    N d. One prolonged and two short blasts

4026: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which is a distress signal?

    N a. Firing of green star shells
    N b. Sounding 5 short blasts on the whistle
    N c. Answering a one blast whistle signal with two blasts
    Y d. A flaming barrel of oil on deck

4066: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The wind is ESE, and a sailing vessel is steering NW. Which fog signal should she sound?

    N a. One blast at one-minute intervals
    N b. One blast at two-minute intervals
    N c. Two blasts at one-minute intervals
    Y d. One prolonged and two short blasts at two-minute intervals

4181: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND According to the Rules, which vessel is NOT "restricted in her ability to maneuver"?

    N a. A vessel servicing a navigation marker
    Y b. A sailing vessel
    N c. A vessel mineclearing
    N d. A vessel dredging

4245: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Underway at night, a vessel displaying the lights shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 62 )

    N a. engaged in fishing
    N b. mine sweeping
    N c. a pilot boat
    Y d. under sail

4251: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, if you see a vessel ahead displaying the lights shown you should __________. (DIAGRAM 70 )

    N a. provide assistance as the vessel is in distress
    N b. stay clear as the vessel is transferring dangerous cargo
    Y c. stay clear as the vessel is fishing
    N d. change course to the right as the vessel is crossing your bow

4333: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The arc of visibility for sidelights is from right ahead to __________.

    Y a. 22.5° abaft the beam
    N b. abeam
    N c. 22.5° forward of the beam
    N d. 135° abaft the beam

4422: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Each prolonged blast on whistle signals used by a power-driven vessel in fog, whether making way or underway but not making way, is __________.

    N a. about one second
    N b. two to four seconds
    Y c. four to six seconds
    N d. eight to ten seconds

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

4484: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel at anchor, not fishing or otherwise restricted in its ability to maneuver, sounds her fog signal at intervals of not __________.

    Y a. more than one minute
    N b. more than two minutes
    N c. more than three minutes
    N d. less than two minutes

4498: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In the daytime, you see a large sailing vessel on the beam. You know that she is also propelled by machinery if she shows __________.

    N a. a basket
    N b. a black ball
    Y c. a black cone
    N d. two black cones

4549: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Two sailing vessels are approaching each other as shown. Which statement is correct? (DIAGRAM 3 )

    N a. Vessel "I" should stand on because she has the wind on her port side.
    Y b. Vessel "II" should stand on because she has the wind on her starboard side.
    N c. Neither vessel is the stand-on vessel because they are meeting head-on.
    N d. Vessel "I" should stand on because she is close-hauled.

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

4610: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are aboard the give-way vessel in a crossing situation. What should you NOT do in obeying the Rules?

    Y a. Cross ahead of the stand-on vessel
    N b. Make a large course change to starboard
    N c. Slow your vessel
    N d. Back your vessel

4685: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What does the word "breadth" mean?

    Y a. Greatest breadth
    N b. Molded breadth
    N c. Breadth on the main deck
    N d. Breadth at the load waterline

4831: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which craft is a "power-driven vessel" under the Rules of the Road?

    N a. An auxiliary sailing vessel, using her engine
    N b. A canoe propelled by a small outboard motor
    N c. A trawler on her way to the fishing grounds
    Y d. All of the above

8021: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Your vessel is crossing a narrow channel. A vessel to port is within the channel and crossing your course. She is showing a black cylinder. What is your responsibility?

    N a. Hold your course and speed.
    N b. Sound the danger signal.
    N c. Begin an exchange of passing signals.
    Y d. Do not cross the channel if you might impede the other vessel.

8068: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A signal of one prolonged, one short, one prolonged, and one short blast, in that order is given by a vessel __________.

    N a. engaged on pilotage duty
    N b. in distress
    N c. at anchor
    Y d. being overtaken in a narrow channel

8099: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A vessel displaying three red lights in a vertical line is __________.

    N a. restricted in her ability to maneuver
    N b. not under command
    N c. engaged in mineclearing operations
    Y d. constrained by her draft

8101: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which statement applies to a vessel "constrained by her draft"?

    N a. The term only applies to vessels in narrow channels.
    Y b. She is severely restricted in her ability to change her course because of her draft in relation to the available depth and width of navigable water.
    N c. She is designated as a "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver".
    N d. The vessel must be over 100 meters in length.