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.


13: INLAND ONLY Yellow lights are NOT used to identify __________.


80: INLAND ONLY While underway at night, you see two yellow lights displayed in a vertical line. This should indicate to you a(n) __________.


115: INLAND ONLY What is true of a "special flashing light"?


116: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on a 30-meter fishing vessel. Which day shape must you show while engaged in fishing? (DIAGRAM 16 )

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

218: INLAND ONLY Your tug is pushing a barge ahead at night. What light(s) should show aft on your vessel? DIAGRAMS60,75,46,70

    N a. The light(s) in Diagram 60.
    Y b. The light(s) in Diagram 75.
    N c. The light(s) in Diagram 46.
    N d. The light(s) in Diagram 70.

238: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Vessels "A" and "B" are meeting in a narrow channel as shown but are not in sight of one another due to restricted visibility. Which statement is TRUE concerning whistle signals between the vessels? (DIAGRAM 29 )

    N a. Both vessels should sound two short blasts.
    N b. Both vessels should sound one short blast.
    N c. Vessel "A" should sound one short blast and vessel "B" should sound two short blasts.
    Y d. None of the above statements is TRUE.

319: 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
    Y b. two cones with apexes together
    N c. a ball, a diamond and another ball
    N d. a diamond

378: 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 am altering my course to starboard"
    Y b. "I intend to leave you on my port side"
    N c. "I intend to overtake you on your port side"
    N d. "I am operating astern propulsion"

396: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You see ONLY the light shown. This could be a __________. (DIAGRAM 80 )

    N a. vessel aground
    N b. submarine on the surface
    N c. vessel engaged in trawling
    Y d. vessel under oars

4070: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway and hear a vessel continuously sounding her fog whistle. This indicates the other vessel __________.

    N a. desires to communicate by radio
    N b. desires a pilot
    Y c. is in distress
    N d. is aground

4164: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog you hear a whistle signal consisting of one prolonged blast followed immediately by two short blasts. This signal is sounded in fog by __________.

    N a. vessels at anchor, not engaged in fishing
    Y b. vessels underway and towing
    N c. vessels in danger
    N d. pilot vessels

4164: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog you hear a whistle signal consisting of one prolonged blast followed immediately by two short blasts. This signal is sounded in fog by __________.

    N a. vessels at anchor, not engaged in fishing
    Y b. vessels underway and towing
    N c. vessels in danger
    N d. pilot vessels

4214: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A sailing vessel of over 20 meters in length underway must show a __________.

    N a. red light over a green light at the masthead
    N b. white masthead light
    N c. combined lantern
    Y d. stern light

4225: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A single towing light will be carried above a vessel's stern light __________.

    Y a. only if she is towing astern
    N b. only if the tow exceeds 200 meters
    N c. at any time when towing
    N d. if the towing vessel is part of a composite unit

4287: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Fog bell signals for vessels at anchor or aground shall be sounded at intervals of not more than __________.

    N a. 15 minutes
    N b. 5 minutes
    N c. 2 minutes
    Y d. 1 minutes

4296: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which power-driven vessel is NOT required to carry a light in the position of the after masthead light?

    N a. A pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed, in a composite unit and 100 meters in length
    N b. A vessel of 60 meters in length towing astern
    Y c. A vessel of 45 meters in length trolling
    N d. Any vessel constrained by her draft

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

4333: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The arc of visibility for sidelights is from right ahead to __________.

    Y a. 22.5° abaft the beam
    N b. abeam
    N c. 22.5° forward of the beam
    N d. 135° abaft the beam

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

4360: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway, you see a vessel displaying the day-shapes shown. Which action should you take? (DIAGRAM 6 )

    N a. Maintain course and speed
    N b. Provide assistance, the other vessel is in distress
    Y c. Stay clear, the other vessel is maneuvering with difficulty
    N d. Stop your vessel and sound passing signals

4376: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel "not under command" at night must show her sidelights when __________.

    Y a. making headway
    N b. making no headway
    N c. moored to a buoy
    N d. at anchor

4405: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel underway but not making way and fishing other than trawling will show which lights?

    N a. A white light over a red light
    Y b. A red light over a white light
    N c. A white light over a red light, sidelights, and a stern light
    N d. A red light over a white light, sidelights, and a stern light

4478: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Risk of collision exists when an approaching vessel has a(n) __________.

    Y a. generally steady bearing and decreasing range
    N b. generally steady range and increasing bearing
    N c. increasing range and bearing
    N d. decreasing bearing only

4673: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel may sound the danger signal?

    N a. Either vessel in a meeting situation
    N b. The give-way vessel in a crossing situation
    N c. A vessel at anchor
    Y d. All of the above

4709: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, a vessel displaying the lights shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 52 )

    N a. aground
    Y b. underway
    N c. at anchor
    N d. transferring dangerous cargo

4861: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When navigating in thick fog with the radar on, you should __________.

    N a. station the look-out in the wheelhouse to keep a continuous watch on the radar
    N b. secure the sounding of fog signals until a vessel closes within five miles
    Y c. station a look-out as low down and far forward as possible
    N d. keep the radar on the shortest available range for early detection of approaching vessels

4864: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel shall NOT impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway?

    N a. A vessel dredging
    Y b. A sailing vessel
    N c. A vessel servicing an aid to navigation
    N d. All of the above

6520: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A fog signal of one short, one prolonged, and one short blast may be sounded by a __________.

    N a. vessel not under command
    Y b. vessel at anchor
    N c. vessel towing
    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.

8038: INTERNATIONAL ONLY In which case would an overtaking vessel sound a whistle signal of two prolonged followed by one short blast?

    N a. When overtaking in restricted visibility
    Y b. When overtaking in a narrow channel
    N c. When overtaking on open waters
    N d. When no other vessels are in the immediate area