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.


43: INLAND ONLY You are meeting another vessel head-on and sound one short blast as a passing signal. The other vessel answers with two short blasts. What should be your next action?


54: INLAND ONLY A barge more than 50 meters long would be required to show how many white anchor lights when anchored in a Secretary approved "special anchorage area"?


119: INLAND ONLY What MAY be used to indicate the presence of a partly submerged object being towed?


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

150: INLAND ONLY A power-driven vessel, when leaving a dock or berth, must sound what signal?

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

179: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which display of lights shown indicates a dredge underway and not dredging? (DIAGRAM 72 )

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

207: INLAND ONLY What lights are required for a single barge being towed alongside?

    N a. Sidelights and a stern light
    Y b. Sidelights, a special flashing light, and a stern light
    N c. Sidelights and a special flashing light
    N d. Sidelights, a towing light, and a stern light

241: INLAND ONLY Vessels "A" and "B" are meeting on a river as shown and will pass 1/4 mile apart. Which statement is TRUE? (DIAGRAM 29 )

    N a. Whistle signals must be exchanged in all cases when passing within one half mile of each other.
    N b. The vessels should exchange two blast signals and pass port to port.
    Y c. If a passing agreement is reached by radiotelephone, whistle signals are optional, and the vessels should pass starboard to starboard as agreed.
    N d. The vessels should pass port to port and must sound whistle signals only if either vessel changes course.

313: INLAND ONLY You see the lights shown while proceeding in a channel. Where should you pass? (DIAGRAM 85 )

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

330: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Diagram "B" shows the arc of visibility of a __________. (DIAGRAM 23 )

    N a. white masthead light
    Y b. green sidelight
    N c. red sidelight
    N d. stern light

332: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Diagram "A" shows the arc of visibility of a __________. (DIAGRAM 23 )

    Y a. red sidelight
    N b. green sidelight
    N c. masthead light
    N d. stern light

4012: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel which displays the day signal shown may be engaged in __________. (DIAGRAM 6 )

    Y a. submarine cable laying
    N b. pilotage duty
    N c. fishing
    N d. mineclearance

4050: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A 22-meter sailing vessel when also being propelled by machinery shall show during daylight hours a __________.

    N a. black diamond
    Y b. black cone
    N c. black ball
    N d. basket

4062: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are in charge of a power-driven vessel navigating at night. You sight the red sidelight of another vessel on your port bow. The other vessel's after masthead light is to the right of her forward masthead light. You should __________.

    Y a. hold course and speed
    N b. alter course to port
    N c. stop engines
    N d. sound the danger signal

4078: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are making headway in fog and hear a fog signal of two prolonged blasts on your starboard quarter. You should __________.

    N a. stop your vessel
    N b. change course to the left
    N c. change course to the right
    Y d. hold your course and speed

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

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.

4155: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel towing is showing three forward white masthead lights in a vertical line. This means that the length of the __________.

    N a. towing vessel is less than 50 meters
    N b. towing vessel is greater than 50 meters
    N c. tow is less than 200 meters
    Y d. tow is greater than 200 meters

4161: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A continuous sounding of a fog-signal apparatus indicates __________.

    Y a. the vessel is in distress
    N b. the vessel has completed loading dangerous cargo
    N c. it is safe to pass
    N d. the vessel is anchored

4245: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Underway at night, a vessel displaying the lights shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 62 )

    N a. engaged in fishing
    N b. mine sweeping
    N c. a pilot boat
    Y d. under sail

4315: INTERNATIONAL ONLY While underway and in sight of another vessel you put your engines on astern propulsion. Which statement concerning whistle signals is TRUE?

    Y a. You must sound three short blasts on the whistle.
    N b. You must sound one blast if backing to starboard.
    N c. You must sound whistle signals only if the vessels are meeting.
    N d. You need not sound any whistle signals.

4551: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Rules state that a vessel overtaking another vessel is relieved of her duty to keep clear when __________.

    N a. she is forward of the other vessel's beam
    N b. the overtaking situation becomes a crossing situation
    Y c. she is past and clear of the other vessel
    N d. the other vessel is no longer in sight

4555: 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. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. The fishing vessel is directed not to impede the passage of the sailing vessel.
    N b. The sailing vessel must keep out of the way of the fishing vessel.
    N c. Each vessel should move to the edge of the channel on her port side.
    N d. Each vessel should be displaying signals for a vessel constrained by her draft.

4559: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel aground at night is required to show two red lights in a vertical line as well as __________.

    N a. not under command lights
    N b. restricted in her ability to maneuver lights
    Y c. anchor lights
    N d. sidelights and a stern light

4583: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND An anchor ball need NOT be exhibited by an anchored vessel if she is __________.

    N a. under 50 meters in length, and anchored in an anchorage
    N b. over 150 meters in length
    N c. rigged for sail
    Y d. less than 7 meters in length, and not in or near an area where other vessels normally navigate

4663: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE regarding equipment for bell & gong signals?

    N a. A vessel of less than 12 meters in length need not have any sound signaling equipment.
    Y b. Manual sounding of the signals must always be possible.
    N c. Any vessel over 12 meters in length must be provided with a gong.
    N d. Signals must be able to be sounded manually and automatically.

4695: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog, you hear a vessel ahead sound two short blasts on the whistle. You should __________.

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

4734: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel may use any sound or light signals to attract the attention of another vessel as long as __________.

    N a. white lights are not used
    N b. red and green lights are not used
    Y c. the signal cannot be mistaken for a signal authorized by the Rules
    N d. the vessel signals such intentions over the radiotelephone

4780: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation. If you think the give-way vessel is NOT taking sufficient action to avoid collision, you should sound __________.

    Y a. the danger signal
    N b. two short blasts, alter to port, and pass astern
    N c. no signal and maneuver at will
    N d. one short blast and maintain course

8101: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which statement applies to a vessel "constrained by her draft"?

    N a. The term only applies to vessels in narrow channels.
    Y b. She is severely restricted in her ability to change her course because of her draft in relation to the available depth and width of navigable water.
    N c. She is designated as a "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver".
    N d. The vessel must be over 100 meters in length.