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?


47: INLAND ONLY A flashing blue light is used to identify __________.


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


147: INLAND ONLY What characteristic must a light used to indicate passing intentions have?

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

181: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND At night, you see the display of lights shown. They indicate a(n) __________. (DIAGRAM 74 )

    Y a. sailing vessel
    N b. 8-meter power-driven vessel
    N c. vessel not under command
    N d. 12-meter fishing vessel

214: INTERNATIONAL ONLY At night, you sight the lights shown. What do the lights indicate? (DIAGRAM 55 )

    N a. A vessel fishing at anchor
    Y b. A tug with a tow alongside
    N c. A tug not under command
    N d. A pipeline

266: INLAND ONLY Two power-driven vessels are meeting in a narrow channel on the Great Lakes as shown. Vessel "A" is downbound with a following current. Vessel "B" shall __________. (DIAGRAM 37 )

    N a. propose the manner of passage
    N b. have the right of way
    N c. initiate the maneuvering signals
    Y d. None of the above

274: INLAND ONLY While underway you sight the lights shown with the yellow lights flashing, you should __________. (DIAGRAM 81 )

    N a. wait until the vessel ahead crosses your bow
    N b. stop until the red lights turn green
    Y c. pass between the two sets of vertical red lights
    N d. proceed leaving all the lights on your starboard side

277: INLAND ONLY While underway you sight the lights shown with the yellow lights flashing. The lights displayed should be __________. (DIAGRAM 81 )

    Y a. visible at night and during periods of restricted visibility
    N b. visible for at least one mile
    N c. more than 50 meters apart
    N d. flashing at intervals of 120 flashes per minute

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

    Y a. tug and a barge being towed astern
    N b. vessel constrained by her draft
    N c. vessel in the nondisplacement mode
    N d. vessel not under command

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

    Y a. tug and a barge being towed astern
    N b. vessel constrained by her draft
    N c. vessel in the nondisplacement mode
    N d. vessel not under command

370: INLAND ONLY If a towing vessel and her tow are severely restricted in their ability to deviate from their course, lights in addition to the towing identification lights must be shown. These additional lights shall be shown if the tow is __________.

    N a. pushed ahead
    N b. towed alongside
    N c. towed astern
    Y d. All of the above

4021: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A light signal of three flashes means __________.

    N a. "I am in doubt as to your actions"
    N b. "My engines are full speed astern"
    N c. "I desire to overtake you"
    Y d. "I am operating astern propulsion"

4111: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A 50-meter vessel is towing astern and the length of the tow is 100 meters. In addition to sidelights, which lights may she show to fully comply with the Rules?

    N a. Two masthead lights forward, a stern light, and a towing light above the stern light
    Y b. A masthead light forward, two masthead lights aft, a stern light, and a towing light above the stern light
    N c. No masthead light forward, two masthead lights aft, a stern light, and a towing light above the stern light
    N d. Three masthead lights forward, one masthead light aft, and two towing lights in a vertical line at the stern

4199: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel which is fishing must show sidelights and a stern light only when __________.

    N a. anchored
    N b. underway
    N c. dead in the water
    Y d. underway and making way

4210: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel being towed astern shall show at night __________.

    N a. the lights required for a power-driven vessel underway
    N b. only the required masthead lights
    N c. a stern light only
    Y d. sidelights and a stern light

4281: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel 30 meters in length and aground would display a day-shape consisting of __________.

    N a. a cylinder
    N b. one black ball
    N c. two black balls in a vertical line
    Y d. three black balls in a vertical line

4313: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway at night, you sight a vessel ahead displaying the lights shown. How should the vessels pass? (DIAGRAM 71 )

    Y a. Both vessels should alter course to starboard and pass port to port.
    N b. Both vessels should alter course to port and pass starboard to starboard.
    N c. Your vessel should hold course and speed and the other vessel should keep clear.
    N d. You should sound an appropriate overtaking signal.

4338: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel hearing a fog signal forward of her beam has not determined if risk of collision exists. She shall reduce speed to __________.

    N a. moderate speed
    N b. safe speed
    N c. half speed
    Y d. bare steerageway

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

4558: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The stern light shall be positioned such that it will show from dead astern to how many degrees on each side of the stern of the vessel?

    N a. 22.5°
    Y b. 67.5°
    N c. 112.5°
    N d. 135.0°

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

4638: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel is underway and fishing with trolling lines. This vessel __________.

    Y a. must keep out of the way of sailing vessels
    N b. must sound a one prolonged, two short blasts signal in restricted visibility
    N c. is the stand-on vessel when overtaking power-driven vessels
    N d. All of the above

4665: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is the minimum sound signaling equipment required aboard a vessel 10 meters in length?

    Y a. Any means of making an efficient sound signal
    N b. A bell only
    N c. A whistle only
    N d. A bell and a whistle

4844: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What does the word "breadth" mean in the Rules?

    N a. Breadth on the uppermost continuous deck
    N b. Molded breadth
    Y c. Greatest breadth
    N d. Breadth at the load waterline

4874: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What would be a "special circumstance" under the Rules?

    N a. Vessel at anchor
    N b. Two vessels meeting
    N c. Speed in fog
    Y d. More than two vessels crossing

6000: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog, you hear a vessel ahead sound two prolonged blasts on the whistle. You should __________.

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

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

8030: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A vessel not under command sounds the same fog signal as a vessel __________.

    N a. engaged in towing
    N b. constrained by her draft
    N c. under sail
    Y d. All of the above

8069: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which signal is sounded ONLY by a vessel in sight of another and NOT in or near an area of restricted visibility?

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