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.


12: INLAND ONLY Your vessel is meeting another vessel head-on. To comply with the steering and sailing rules, you should __________.


114: INLAND ONLY At night, what lights are required on barges moored in a group formation more than two barges wide?


131: INLAND ONLY You are navigating in a narrow channel and must remain in the channel for safe operation. Another vessel is crossing the channel ahead of you from your starboard. You are doubtful of intention of the crossing vessel. You MUST __________.


205: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which whistle signal may be sounded by one of two vessels in sight of each other?

    N a. Four short blasts
    N b. One prolonged blast
    Y c. One short blast
    N d. One short, one prolonged, and one short blast

365: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Two power-driven vessels are crossing as shown. Vessel "A" sounds one short blast on the whistle. Vessel "B" is the __________. (DIAGRAM 42 )

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

4054: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel is "engaged in fishing" when __________.

    N a. her gear extends more than 100 meters from the vessel
    N b. she is using any type of gear, other than lines
    Y c. she is using fishing apparatus which restricts her maneuverability
    N d. she has any fishing gear on board

4103: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which is the danger signal?

    N a. A continuous sounding of the fog signal
    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

4147: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel would have no white lights visible when meeting her head-on?

    N a. A vessel trawling
    N b. A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
    N c. A vessel mineclearing
    Y d. A vessel not under command

4158: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A 25-meter vessel trawling will show the dayshape(s) consisting of __________.

    N a. a basket
    N b. two balls
    Y c. two cones, apexes together
    N d. a cone, apex downward

4311: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel would show 3 day-shapes in a vertical line, the highest and lowest being balls and the middle shape being a diamond?

    N a. Vessel not under command
    N b. Vessel constrained by her draft
    N c. Vessel minesweeping
    Y d. Vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver

4317: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What signal would a vessel aground show during daylight?

    N a. One black ball
    N b. Two black balls
    Y c. Three black balls
    N d. Four black balls

4355: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are crossing a narrow channel in an 18-meter tug when you sight a loaded tankship off your port bow coming up the channel. Which statement is correct?

    N a. Neither vessel is the stand-on vessel because the tankship is crossing.
    Y b. You cannot impede the safe passage of the tankship.
    N c. The tankship is the stand-on vessel because it is in the channel.
    N d. The tankship is the stand-on vessel because it is the larger of the two vessels.

4387: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND An overtaking situation would be one in which one vessel is approaching another from more than how many degrees abaft the beam?

    N a. 0°
    N b. 10°
    Y c. 22.5°
    N d. None of the above

4400: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When action to avoid a close quarters situation is taken, a course change alone may be the most effective action provided that __________.

    N a. it is done in a succession of small course changes
    N b. it is NOT done too early
    Y c. it is a large course change
    N d. the course change is to starboard

4418: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When two vessels are in immediate danger of collision, the stand-on vessel must __________.

    N a. abandon ship
    Y b. assist in taking whatever action is necessary to avoid collision
    N c. hold course and speed
    N d. sound a distress signal

4430: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel does NOT sound a fog signal of one prolonged followed by two short blasts?

    N a. A vessel engaged in dredging
    N b. A sailing vessel
    Y c. A vessel being towed
    N d. A vessel engaged in fishing

4501: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND For identification purposes at night, U.S. Navy submarines on the surface may display an intermittent flashing light of which color?

    Y a. Amber (yellow)
    N b. White
    N c. Blue
    N d. Red

4602: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A fog signal consisting of one prolonged blast followed by four short blasts would indicate the presence of a __________.

    N a. vessel being towed
    N b. fishing vessel engaged in trawling
    N c. vessel at anchor warning of her location
    Y d. power-driven pilot vessel on station underway

4604: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A pilot vessel may continue to sound an identity signal if she is __________.

    N a. aground
    Y b. at anchor
    N c. not under command
    N d. being towed

4611: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel, which does not normally engage in towing operations, is towing a vessel in distress. She __________.

    Y a. need not show the lights for a vessel engaged in towing, if it is impractical to do so
    N b. may show the lights for a vessel not under command
    N c. must show a yellow light above the stern light
    N d. must show the lights for a vessel towing

4618: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel would exhibit sidelights when underway and not making way?

    Y a. A vessel towing astern
    N b. A vessel trawling
    N c. A vessel not under command
    N d. A vessel engaged in dredging operations

4633: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If practical, when shall a manned vessel being towed sound her fog signal?

    N a. Immediately before the towing vessel sounds hers
    Y b. Immediately after the towing vessel sounds hers
    N c. As close to the mid-cycle of the towing vessel's signals as possible
    N d. At any time as long as the interval is correct

4658: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A 60-meter vessel which is trawling is required to show how many white masthead lights at night?

    Y a. 1
    N b. 2
    N c. 3
    N d. 4

4680: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Day-shapes must be displayed __________.

    N a. between sunset and sunrise
    N b. only between 8 AM and 4 PM
    Y c. during daylight hours in any visibility
    N d. during daylight hours in unrestricted visibility only

4695: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog, you hear a vessel ahead sound two short blasts on the whistle. You should __________.

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

4832: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel is "in sight" of another vessel when she __________.

    N a. can be observed by radar
    N b. has determined that risk of collision exists
    N c. is sounding a fog signal which can be heard on the other vessel
    Y d. can be observed visually from the other vessel

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.

6500: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A towing vessel and her tow are severely restricted in their ability to change course. When making way, the towing vessel will show ONLY __________.

    N a. the masthead lights for a towing vessel
    N b. the lights for a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
    N c. sidelights, stern light, and towing light
    Y d. All of the above.

8070: INTERNATIONAL ONLY In addition to her running lights, an underway vessel constrained by her draft may carry in a vertical line __________.

    N a. a red light, a white light, and a red light
    N b. two red lights
    N c. two white lights
    Y d. three red lights

8121: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which statement is TRUE, according to the Rules?

    Y a. A vessel engaged in fishing while underway shall, so far as possible, keep out of the way of a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.
    N b. A vessel not under command shall keep out of the way of a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.
    N c. A fishing vessel while underway has the right-of-way over a vessel constrained by her draft.
    N d. A vessel not under command shall avoid impeding the safe passage of a vessel constrained by her draft.