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?


111: INLAND ONLY Which light display marks the opening in a pipeline where vessels could pass through?


199: INLAND ONLY You are on a vessel that the Secretary has determined cannot comply with the spacing requirement for masthead lights. What is required in this situation?


249: INLAND ONLY You are on a power-driven vessel "I" as shown. Vessel "II" is a power-driven vessel engaged in fishing that will pass within 1/2 a mile of your vessel. Which action should you take? (DIAGRAM 36 )

    N a. Hold course and speed without giving a signal.
    N b. Sound the danger signal and reduce speed.
    N c. Sound one short blast, reduce speed and turn to starboard.
    Y d. Sound one short blast and await response from the fishing vessel.

312: INLAND ONLY You see the lights shown while proceeding in a channel. What should you do? (DIAGRAM 85 )

    N a. Proceed at full see speed through the two sets of double red lights.
    N b. Stop the vessel and await the red lights to change to green.
    Y c. Slow down and pass between the two sets of double red lights.
    N d. None of the above

320: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which dayshape(s) would be displayed by the vessel engaged in the operation indicated by the lights shown. (DIAGRAM 82 )

    N a. a cylinder
    N b. a ball, a diamond and another ball
    Y c. two cones with apexes together
    N d. a diamond

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

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

346: INLAND ONLY Two power-driven vessels are crossing within a half a mile of each other as shown. Vessel "A" sounds one short blast on the whistle. This signal means __________. (DIAGRAM 42 )

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

369: 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
    N b. overtaking vessel
    Y c. give-way vessel
    N d. None of the above

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

    N a. vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
    N b. fishing vessel underway
    Y c. pilot vessel underway
    N d. vessel not under command

4013: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the day-shapes shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 11 )

    N a. towing
    N b. conducting underwater operations
    N c. drifting
    Y d. aground

4151: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog you hear a vessel sound one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. What does this signal indicate?

    Y a. A vessel towing
    N b. A vessel being towed
    N c. A pilot vessel engaged on pilotage duty
    N d. A vessel aground

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

4212: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway your vessel approaches a bend in a river where, due to the bank, you cannot see around the bend. You should __________.

    N a. keep to the starboard side of the channel and sound one short blast
    N b. sound the danger signal
    Y c. sound one prolonged blast
    N d. slow your vessel to bare steerageway

4399: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel would display a cone, apex downward?

    N a. A fishing vessel with outlying gear
    Y b. A vessel proceeding under sail and machinery
    N c. A vessel engaged in diving operations
    N d. A vessel being towed

4419: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel 25 meters in length must have which sound signaling appliance onboard?

    N a. None is required
    N b. Whistle only
    Y c. Whistle and bell only
    N d. Whistle, bell, and gong

4465: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Traffic separation schemes __________.

    N a. provide routing and scheduling procedures to reduce shipping delays
    N b. provide traffic patterns in congested areas, so that vessels can operate without having a separate lookout
    Y c. provide inbound and outbound lanes to promote the safe flow of vessel traffic
    N d. prohibit vessels carrying hazardous cargoes from entering waters that are environmentally sensitive

4491: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Barges being towed at night __________.

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

4533: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In which situation do the Rules require both vessels to change course?

    Y a. Two power-driven vessels meeting head-on
    N b. Two power-driven vessels crossing when it is apparent to the stand-on vessel that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action
    N c. Two sailing vessels crossing with the wind on the same side
    N d. All of the above

4538: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is a vessel "restricted in her ability to maneuver"?

    N a. A vessel not under command
    N b. A vessel constrained by her draft
    N c. A vessel underway in fog
    Y d. A vessel towing unable to deviate from her course

4561: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Your vessel is aground in fog. In addition to the regular anchor signals, you will be sounding __________.

    N a. three strokes of the gong before and after the rapid ringing of the gong
    N b. a blast on the whistle
    Y c. three strokes of the bell before and after the rapid ringing of the bell
    N d. no additional signals

4562: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In a crossing situation, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall __________.

    Y a. if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other
    N b. change course to port to keep out of the way
    N c. reduce her speed
    N d. All of the above

4572: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway in low visibility and sounding fog signals. What changes would you make in the fog signal immediately upon losing propulsion?

    N a. Begin sounding two prolonged blasts at two-minute intervals.
    N b. Begin sounding one prolonged blast followed by three short blasts at two-minute intervals.
    Y c. Begin sounding one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts at two-minute intervals.
    N d. No change should be made in the fog signal.

4573: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel shows the same lights as a __________.

    N a. vessel engaged in towing, when not underway
    N b. vessel towing astern
    N c. sailing vessel
    Y d. pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed, when they are rigidly connected in a composite unit

4636: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel sailing shall keep out of the way of all of the following vessels except a vessel __________.

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

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

4690: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel would sound a fog signal consisting of the ringing of a bell for 5 seconds?

    N a. A vessel engaged in fishing, at anchor
    N b. A vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver, at anchor
    Y c. A sailing vessel, at anchor
    N d. All of the above

4702: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are heading due east (090°) and observe a vessel's red sidelight on your port beam. The vessel may be heading __________.

    N a. northwest (315°)
    N b. southeast (135°)
    N c. northeast (045°)
    Y d. southwest (225°)

4866: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If two sailing vessels are running free with the wind on the same side, which one must keep clear of the other?

    N a. The one with the wind closest abeam
    Y b. The one to windward
    N c. The one to leeward
    N d. The one that sounds the first whistle signal

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