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.


96: INLAND ONLY You are approaching a sharp bend in a river. You have sounded a prolonged blast and it has been answered by a vessel on the other side of the bend. Which statement is TRUE?


119: INLAND ONLY What MAY be used to indicate the presence of a partly submerged object being towed?


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 )


195: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, you see the lights shown. This would indicate a vessel __________. (DIAGRAM 78 )

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

226: INLAND ONLY While underway and in sight of another vessel a mile ahead you put your engines on astern propulsion. Which statement concerning whistle signals is TRUE?

    N a. You must sound three short blasts on the whistle.
    N b. You must sound one blast if backing to starboard.
    N c. You must sound whistle signals only if the vessels are meeting.
    Y d. You need not sound any whistle signals.

231: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Vessel "A" is overtaking vessel "B" as shown. Vessel "B" is the __________. (DIAGRAM 17 )

    N a. give-way vessel
    Y b. vessel being overtaken
    N c. passing vessel
    N d. None of the above

335: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Diagram "C" shows the arc of visibility of a __________. (DIAGRAM 23 )

    N a. yellow flashing light
    N b. red sidelight
    N c. green sidelight
    Y d. None of the above

352: INLAND ONLY A commercial vessel engaged in public safety activities may display a(n) __________.

    N a. flashing blue light
    Y b. alternately flashing red and yellow light
    N c. flashing yellow light
    N d. alternately flashing blue and red light

4051: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The rules concerning lights shall be complied with in all weathers from sunset to sunrise. The lights __________.

    Y a. shall be displayed in restricted visibility during daylight hours
    N b. need not be displayed when no other vessels are in the area
    N c. shall be set at low power when used during daylight hours
    N d. need not be displayed by unmanned vessels

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

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

4127: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel will NOT show sidelights when __________.

    N a. underway but not making way
    N b. making way, not under command
    Y c. not under command, not making way
    N d. trolling underway

4174: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel sounding a fog signal of one short, one prolonged, and one short blast is indicating that the vessel is __________.

    N a. fishing
    N b. in distress
    Y c. at anchor
    N d. not under command

4213: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement concerning whistle signals is FALSE?

    N a. When a pushing vessel and a vessel pushed are connected in a composite unit, the unit sounds the fog signal of a power-driven vessel.
    N b. A vessel at anchor may sound one short, one prolonged, and one short blast.
    N c. A pilot vessel may sound an identity signal on the whistle.
    Y d. A vessel engaged in towing in fog shall sound a fog signal at intervals of one minute.

4214: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A sailing vessel of over 20 meters in length underway must show a __________.

    N a. red light over a green light at the masthead
    N b. white masthead light
    N c. combined lantern
    Y d. stern light

4259: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is the optional whistle signal which may be sounded by a vessel at anchor?

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

4278: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A light signal consisting of three flashes means __________.

    N a. "I am in doubt as to your actions"
    N b. "My engines are full speed astern"
    N c. "I desire to overtake you"
    Y d. "I am operating astern propulsion"

4303: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In fog, you hear apparently forward of your beam a fog signal of 2 prolonged blasts in succession every two minutes. This signal indicates a __________.

    N a. power-driven vessel making way through the water
    N b. vessel being pushed ahead
    N c. vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
    Y d. power-driven vessel underway but stopped and making no way through the water

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

4352: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is the minimum vessel length which must show two white masthead lights, one forward and one aft, when underway at night?

    N a. 7 meters
    N b. 20 meters
    Y c. 50 meters
    N d. 100 meters

4395: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The lights displayed indicate a __________. (DIAGRAM 73 )

    N a. fishing vessel trolling
    N b. vessel laying submarine cable
    Y c. vessel towing astern
    N d. vessel dredging

4415: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which signal may be used by a vessel that is in doubt as to whether sufficient action is being taken by another vessel to avoid collision?

    N a. A continuous sounding of the fog horn
    N b. Firing a gun every minute
    Y c. Five or more short rapid blasts on the whistle
    N d. One prolonged blast on the whistle

4546: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel may use the danger signal?

    N a. The vessel to starboard when two power-driven vessels are crossing
    N b. A vessel engaged in fishing, crossing the course of a sailing vessel
    N c. Either of two power-driven vessels meeting head-on
    Y d. All of the above

4670: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What determines if a vessel is "restricted in her ability to maneuver"?

    N a. Whether or not all of the vessel's control equipment is in working order
    N b. The vessel's draft in relation to the available depth of water
    Y c. Whether the nature of the vessel's work limits maneuverability required by the Rules
    N d. Whether or not the vessel is the give-way vessel in a meeting situation

4734: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel may use any sound or light signals to attract the attention of another vessel as long as __________.

    N a. white lights are not used
    N b. red and green lights are not used
    Y c. the signal cannot be mistaken for a signal authorized by the Rules
    N d. the vessel signals such intentions over the radiotelephone

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

4859: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A sailing vessel is proceeding along a narrow channel and can safely navigate ONLY inside the channel. The sailing vessel approaches a vessel engaged in fishing in the narrow channel. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Each vessel should move to the edge of the channel on her port side.
    N b. The vessels are required to exchange signals.
    Y c. The fishing vessel is directed not to impede the passage of the sailing vessel.
    N d. Each vessel should be displaying signals for a vessel constrained by her draft.

8058: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which vessel is to keep out of the way of the others?

    N a. A vessel constrained by her draft
    N b. A vessel engaged in underwater operations
    Y c. A vessel engaged in trawling
    N d. A vessel not under command

8088: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A 20-meter power-driven vessel pushing ahead or towing alongside will display __________.

    N a. two towing lights in a vertical line
    N b. a towing light above the stern light
    N c. two all-round red lights at the masthead
    Y d. two masthead lights in a vertical line

8088: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A 20-meter power-driven vessel pushing ahead or towing alongside will display __________.

    N a. two towing lights in a vertical line
    N b. a towing light above the stern light
    N c. two all-round red lights at the masthead
    Y d. two masthead lights in a vertical line