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.


15: INLAND ONLY Under the Inland Navigation Rules, what is the meaning of the two short blasts signal used when meeting another vessel?


76: INLAND ONLY A special flashing light is used on a vessel(s) __________.


91: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which of the day-shapes shown would you show on the after end of an inconspicuous partially submerged vessel or object being towed over 200 meters in length? (DIAGRAM 16 )


102: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which of the day-shapes shown must you show when at anchor? (DIAGRAM 16 )

    Y a. A
    N b. B
    N c. C
    N d. D

228: 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 __________.

    N a. law enforcement
    Y b. patrolling a regatta
    N c. hauling in pairs
    N d. river bank protection

264: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Two power-driven vessels are meeting in the situation as shown. One short blast from either vessel means __________. (DIAGRAM 37 )

    Y a. "I am altering my course to starboard."
    N b. "I intend to leave you on my port side."
    N c. "I intend to hold course and speed."
    N d. "I am altering my course to port."

353: 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. This signal means __________. (DIAGRAM 42 )

    N a. "I intend to overtake you on your starboard side"
    N b. "I am operating astern propulsion"
    N c. "I intend to leave you on my port side"
    Y d. None of the above

355: 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. This signal means __________. (DIAGRAM 42 )

    Y a. "I am altering my course to starboard"
    N b. "I intend to leave you on my port side"
    N c. "I am altering my course to port"
    N d. None of the above

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

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

4097: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When navigating in restricted visibility, a power-driven vessel shall __________.

    N a. stop her engines when hearing a fog signal forward of her beam, even if risk of collision does not exist
    Y b. have her engines ready for immediate maneuver
    N c. when making way, sound one prolonged blast at intervals of not more than one minute
    N d. operate at a speed to be able to stop in the distance of her visibility

4134: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Vessel "A" is overtaking vessel "B" as shown. Which vessel is the stand-on vessel? (DIAGRAM 9 )

    N a. Vessel "A"
    Y b. Vessel "B"
    N c. Neither vessel
    N d. Both vessels must keep clear of the other.

4140: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The rule regarding look-outs applies __________.

    N a. in restricted visibility
    N b. between dusk and dawn
    N c. in heavy traffic
    Y d. All of the above

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

4207: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Your power-driven vessel is underway when you sight a sailing vessel on your port bow. Which vessel is the "stand-on" vessel?

    N a. The sailboat, because it is to port of your vessel
    Y b. The sailboat, because it is under sail
    N c. Your vessel, because it is a power-driven vessel
    N d. Your vessel, because it is to starboard of the sailboat

4294: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night you observe a vessel ahead show three flashes of a white light. This signal indicates that the vessel ahead is __________.

    N a. in distress
    N b. approaching a bend in the channel
    Y c. operating astern propulsion
    N d. intending to overtake another vessel

4337: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel showing a yellow light over a white light at night is a vessel __________.

    N a. engaged in piloting
    Y b. towing astern
    N c. engaged in fishing
    N d. in distress

4343: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Risk of collision may exist __________.

    N a. if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does NOT appreciably change
    N b. even when an appreciable bearing change is evident, particularly when approaching a vessel at close range
    N c. if you observe both sidelights of a vessel ahead for an extended period of time
    Y d. All of the above

4365: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND An anchored vessel is servicing an aid to navigation and is restricted in her ability to maneuver. Which lights will she show?

    Y a. Three lights in a vertical line, the highest and lowest red and the middle white, and anchor lights
    N b. Three lights in a vertical line, the highest and lowest red and the middle white, ONLY
    N c. Anchor lights ONLY
    N d. Anchor lights and sidelights ONLY

4374: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel aground would show the same day-shape as a __________.

    N a. vessel towing a submerged object
    N b. dredge underway and dredging
    N c. hydrographic survey vessel at anchor and surveying
    Y d. None of the above

4398: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A tugboat displaying the day-shape shown __________. (DIAGRAM 10 )

    N a. is at anchor
    N b. is not under command
    Y c. has a tow that exceeds 200 meters in length
    N d. has a tow that is carrying dangerous cargo

4625: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What must be TRUE in order for a stand-on vessel to take action to avoid collision by her maneuver alone?

    N a. She must be in sight of the give-way vessel.
    N b. There must be risk of collision.
    N c. She must determine that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action.
    Y d. All of the above

4659: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel servicing a pipeline during the day shall display __________.

    Y a. three black shapes in a vertical line; the highest and lowest are balls, and the middle one is a diamond
    N b. three shapes in a vertical line; the highest and lowest are red balls, and the middle one is a white diamond
    N c. three black balls in a vertical line
    N d. two black balls in a vertical line

4708: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, a vessel displaying the lights shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 52 )

    N a. at anchor
    N b. aground
    Y c. underway
    N d. dredging

4729: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE, according to the Rules?

    N a. A vessel engaged in fishing shall keep out of the way of a sailing vessel.
    Y b. 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 c. A vessel not under command shall keep out of the way of a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.
    N d. A vessel not under command shall keep out of the way of a vessel engaged in fishing.

4857: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel approaching a narrow channel shall __________.

    Y a. avoid crossing the channel if it impedes another vessel navigating in the channel
    N b. not overtake any vessels within the channel
    N c. keep as close as possible to the edge of the channel on her port side
    N d. anchor only in the middle of the channel

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.

8018: INTERNATIONAL ONLY On open water, a power-driven vessel coming up dead astern of another vessel and altering her course to starboard so as to pass on the starboard side of the vessel ahead would sound __________.

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

8056: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A whistle signal of one prolonged, one short, one prolonged and one short blast, is sounded by a vessel __________.

    N a. at anchor
    N b. towing a submerged object
    Y c. being overtaken in a narrow channel
    N d. in distress

8113: INTERNATIONAL ONLY You are approaching another vessel and will pass safely starboard to starboard without changing course. You should __________.

    Y a. hold course and sound no whistle signal
    N b. hold course and sound a two blast whistle signal
    N c. change course to starboard and sound one blast
    N d. hold course and sound one blast

8129: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which statement is TRUE, according to the Rules?

    N a. A vessel not under command shall keep out of the way of a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.
    N b. A vessel not under command shall avoid impeding the safe passage of a vessel constrained by her draft.
    N c. A vessel constrained by her draft shall keep out of the way of a vessel engaged in fishing.
    Y d. 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.