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.


14: INLAND ONLY You have made your vessel up to a tow and are moving from a pier out into the main channel. Your engines are turning ahead. What whistle signal should you sound?


49: INLAND ONLY A power-driven vessel, when leaving a dock or berth, is required to sound __________.


66: INLAND ONLY A towing vessel pushing ahead on the Western Rivers above the Huey P. Long bridge must show __________.


117: INLAND ONLY Which is a characteristic of a "special flashing light"?

    N a. It is required for all vessels being pushed ahead as part of a composite unit.
    Y b. It must show through an arc of not less than 180° nor more than 225°.
    N c. It must be of the same character and construction as the masthead light.
    N d. All of the above

134: INLAND ONLY Which is TRUE of a vessel downbound with a following current when meeting an upbound vessel on the Western Rivers?

    N a. Neither vessel has the right-of-way.
    Y b. She has the right-of-way only if she is power-driven.
    N c. She does not have the right-of-way, since the other vessel is not crossing the river.
    N d. She must wait for a whistle signal from the upbound vessel.

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

    Y a. diamond shape regardless of length of the tow
    N b. diamond shape only when the length of the tow exceeds 200 meters in length
    N c. black ball
    N d. black ball only when the length of the tow exceeds 200 meters in length

215: INTERNATIONAL ONLY At night you sight the lights shown. What do the lights indicate? (DIAGRAM 66 )

    N a. Two vessels pair trawling
    Y b. A tug with a tow alongside
    N c. A ship being assisted by a tug
    N d. A vessel engaged in fishing

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

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

222: INLAND ONLY A barge more than 50 meters long, at anchor in a "special anchorage area designated by the Secretary", is required to show how many white anchor lights?

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

259: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Barges being towed at night must exhibit navigation lights __________.

    Y a. at all times
    N b. only if manned
    N c. only if towed astern
    N d. Need not be lighted

272: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Two vessels are meeting as shown in a narrow channel. Vessel "A" is a sailing vessel. Vessel "B" is a power-driven vessel which can safely navigate only within the channel. Vessel "B" sounds the danger signal. Vessel "A" shall __________. (DIAGRAM 37 )

    N a. maintain course and speed
    Y b. not impede the passage of vessel "B"
    N c. sound one prolonged followed by two short blasts
    N d. have the right of way

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

    N a. white masthead light
    N b. red sidelight
    Y c. green sidelight
    N d. stern light

4049: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Your vessel is NOT making way, but is not in any way disabled. Another vessel is approaching you on your starboard beam. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The other vessel must give way since your vessel is stopped.
    Y b. Your vessel is the give-way vessel in a crossing situation.
    N c. You should be showing the lights or shapes for a vessel not under command.
    N d. You should be showing the lights or shapes for a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.

4119: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A lantern combining a vessel's navigation lights may be shown on a __________.

    Y a. 15-meter sailing vessel
    N b. 20-meter vessel engaged in fishing and making way
    N c. 25-meter power-driven vessel trolling
    N d. 25-meter pilot vessel

4144: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, a vessel which is less than 7 meters in length and anchored in an area where other vessels do not normally navigate is __________.

    Y a. not required to show any anchor lights
    N b. required to show a flare-up light
    N c. required to show one white light
    N d. required to show sidelights and a stern light

4218: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the day signal shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 7 )

    Y a. not under command
    N b. a dredge underway and dredging
    N c. fishing
    N d. a hydrographic survey vessel underway

4243: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In reduced visibility, you hear two prolonged blasts of a whistle. This signal is sounded by a __________.

    Y a. power-driven vessel dead in the water
    N b. sailing vessel on the port tack
    N c. vessel not under command
    N d. vessel fishing with nets

4379: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning risk of collision?

    N a. The stand-on vessel must keep out of the way of the other vessel when risk of collision exists.
    N b. Risk of collision always exists when two vessels pass within one mile of each other.
    N c. Risk of collision always exists when the compass bearing of an approaching vessel changes appreciably.
    Y d. Risk of collision may exist when the compass bearing of an approaching vessel is changing appreciably.

4473: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A head-on situation at night is one in which you see dead ahead a vessel showing __________.

    N a. one sidelight
    N b. one sidelight and a masthead light
    N c. one sidelight and two masthead lights
    Y d. both sidelights of a vessel and her masthead light(s)

4502: INLAND ONLY Vessels engaged in fishing may show the additional signals described in Annex II to the Rules when they are __________.

    N a. trolling
    N b. fishing in a traffic separation zone
    N c. in a narrow channel
    Y d. in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing

4598: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel engaged in fishing while at anchor shall sound a fog signal of __________.

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

4635: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel conducting mineclearing operations will show __________.

    N a. three balls in a vertical line
    N b. two balls in a vertical line
    Y c. one ball near the foremast and one ball at each fore yard
    N d. one diamond near the foremast head and one ball at each fore yard

4668: 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 uncertain about the actions of "B"
    N c. proposes to cross ahead of the other vessel
    Y d. is backing engines

4681: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel may exhibit lights other than those prescribed by the Rules as long as the additional lights __________.

    N a. are not the same color as either side light
    N b. have a lesser range of visibility than the prescribed lights
    Y c. do not impair the visibility or distinctive character of the prescribed lights
    N d. All of the above

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

4862: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway in thick fog. You have not determined if risk of collision exists. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. Your speed must be reduced to bare steerageway.
    N b. A look-out is not required if the radar is on.
    N c. Fog signals are only required when a vessel is detected by radar.
    N d. The radar should always be kept on a short-range scale.

8022: INTERNATIONAL ONLY You are approaching another vessel and will pass starboard to starboard without danger if no course changes are made. You should __________.

    N a. hold course and sound a two blast whistle signal
    Y b. hold course and sound no whistle signal
    N c. change course to the right and sound one blast
    N d. hold course and sound two prolonged and two short blasts

8027: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast on the whistle is a signal which could be sounded by a __________.

    N a. fishing vessel
    N b. vessel anchored
    N c. mineclearing vessel
    Y d. vessel overtaking another in a narrow channel

8081: INTERNATIONAL ONLY The light which may be used with a vessel's whistle must be __________.

    N a. used when the whistle is broken
    Y b. a white light
    N c. used only at night
    N d. used prior to sounding the whistle