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.


75: INLAND ONLY You are on vessel "A", and vessel "B" desires to overtake you on your starboard side as shown. After the vessels have exchanged one blast signals, you should __________. (DIAGRAM 31 )


107: INLAND ONLY A power-driven vessel intends to overtake another power-driven vessel on the overtaken vessel's port side. What whistle signal should be sounded in order to state this intention?


113: INLAND ONLY At night, a barge moored in a slip used primarily for mooring purposes shall __________.


113: INLAND ONLY At night, a barge moored in a slip used primarily for mooring purposes shall __________.

    N a. show a flashing yellow light at each corner
    N b. show a white light at each corner
    N c. show a red light at the bow and stern
    Y d. not be required to be lighted

145: INLAND ONLY A light used to signal passing intentions must be a(n) __________.

    Y a. all-round white or yellow light
    N b. all-round yellow light only
    N c. all-round white light only
    N d. 225° white light only

146: INLAND ONLY What characteristic must a light have if used to signal passing intentions?

    N a. It must be an all-round white light.
    N b. It must be an alternating blue and white light.
    Y c. It must be either an all-round white or an all-round yellow light.
    N d. It must be an alternating red and yellow light.

149: INLAND ONLY A power-driven vessel pushing ahead or towing alongside on the Mississippi River, above the Huey P. Long Bridge, shall carry __________.

    N a. two masthead lights, sidelights, and stern light
    N b. two masthead lights, sidelights, and two towing lights
    Y c. sidelights and two towing lights
    N d. one masthead light, sidelights, and stern light

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

280: 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. flashing at intervals of 120 flashes per minute
    N c. more than 50 meters apart
    Y d. visible at night and during periods of restricted visibility

293: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The display of lights shown could represent a __________. (DIAGRAM 48 )

    Y a. tug and a barge being towed astern
    N b. sailing vessel
    N c. a vessel not under command
    N d. a submarine on the surface

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

    N a. sound the danger signal and slow to moderate speed
    N b. alter course to the right or slowdown
    N c. sound one short blast and maintain course and speed
    Y d. None of the above

4052: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The lights displayed would be shown by a vessel which is __________. (DIAGRAM 44 )

    Y a. aground
    N b. not under command and is dead in the water
    N c. not under command and is making way
    N d. laying or picking up navigation marks

4235: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the day-shapes shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 7 )

    Y a. broken down
    N b. fishing
    N c. a minesweeper
    N d. transferring dangerous cargo

4240: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Systems of inbound and outbound lanes to promote the safe flow of vessel traffic in certain areas around the world are known as __________.

    N a. merchant vessel reporting systems
    Y b. traffic separation schemes
    N c. collision avoidance fairways
    N d. restricted maneuverability channels

4277: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway in a fog when you hear a whistle signal of one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. This signal could indicate all of the following EXCEPT a vessel __________.

    Y a. being towed
    N b. not under command
    N c. fishing with trawls
    N d. towing astern

4357: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel 15 meters in length which is proceeding under sail as well as being propelled by machinery shall exhibit during the daytime __________.

    N a. one black ball
    N b. a basket
    Y c. a cone with its apex downward
    N d. two cones with their apexes together

4413: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning a 75-meter power-driven vessel underway at night?

    N a. She must exhibit an all-round white light at the stern.
    Y b. She must exhibit forward and after masthead lights.
    N c. She must exhibit only a forward masthead light.
    N d. She may exhibit a red light over a green light forward.

4431: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel 50 meters in length at anchor must sound which fog signal?

    Y a. 5-second ringing of a bell every minute
    N b. 5-second ringing of a bell every two minutes
    N c. 5-second sounding of a gong every minute
    N d. 5-second sounding of both a bell and gong every two minutes

4470: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are in charge of a stand-on vessel in a crossing situation. The other vessel is 1.5 miles to port. You believe that risk of collision exists. You should __________.

    N a. take avoiding action immediately upon determining that risk of collision exists
    N b. immediately sound the danger signal, and change course
    Y c. take avoiding action only after giving the give-way vessel time to take action, and determining that her action is not appropriate
    N d. hold course and speed until the point of extremis, and then sound the danger signal, taking whatever action will best avoid collision

4474: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In a crossing situation, the stand-on vessel should normally __________.

    N a. take action to cross ahead of the other vessel
    N b. take action to pass astern of the other vessel
    Y c. maintain course and speed
    N d. change course and increase speed

4535: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning the danger signal?

    N a. May be sounded by the stand-on vessel only
    N b. Indicates that the vessel is in distress
    N c. Is used to indicate a course change
    Y d. May be supplemented by an appropriate light signal

4565: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching a bend in a river where, due to the bank, you cannot see around the other side. A vessel on the other side of the bend sounds one prolonged blast. You should __________.

    N a. sound passing signals
    N b. not sound any signal until you sight the other vessel
    Y c. sound a prolonged blast
    N d. sound the danger signal

4567: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND As shown, vessel "A", which is pushing ahead, and vessel "B" are crossing. Which is the stand-on vessel? (DIAGRAM 5 )

    N a. Vessel "A" is the stand-on vessel because she is to port of vessel "B".
    N b. Vessel "A" is the stand-on vessel because she is pushing ahead.
    Y c. Vessel "B" is the stand-on vessel because she is to starboard of vessel "A".
    N d. Neither vessel is the stand-on vessel in this situation.

4575: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel is overtaking when she can see which light(s) of a vessel ahead?

    Y a. Only the stern light of the vessel
    N b. One sidelight and a masthead light of the vessel
    N c. Only a sidelight of the vessel
    N d. The masthead lights of the vessel

4607: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is the minimum length of vessels required to show two anchor lights?

    N a. 40 meters
    Y b. 50 meters
    N c. 60 meters
    N d. 70 meters

4860: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel engaged in mineclearance operations shows special identity lights __________.

    Y a. in addition to the lights required for a power-driven vessel
    N b. which means that other vessels should not approach closer than 500 meters on either side of the vessel
    N c. that are green and show through an arc of the horizon of 225°
    N d. All of the above

8004: INTERNATIONAL ONLY When moving from a berth alongside a quay (wharf), a vessel must sound __________.

    N a. three short blasts
    N b. a long blast
    N c. a prolonged blast
    Y d. No signal is required.

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

8050: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A sailing vessel is overtaking a power-driven vessel in a narrow channel, so as to pass on the power-driven vessel's port side. The overtaken vessel will have to move to facilitate passage. The sailing vessel is the __________.

    N a. stand-on vessel and would sound two short blasts
    N b. give-way vessel and would sound no whistle signal
    N c. stand-on vessel and would sound no whistle signal
    Y d. give-way vessel and would sound two prolonged blasts followed by two short blasts

8073: INTERNATIONAL ONLY In a narrow channel, an overtaking vessel which intends to PASS on the other vessel's port side would sound __________.

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