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 __________.


21: INLAND ONLY The stand-on vessel in a crossing situation sounds one short blast of the whistle. This means that the vessel __________.


229: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Vessel "A" is overtaking vessel "B" as shown. Vessel "A" is the __________. (DIAGRAM 17 )


258: 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 41 )

    N a. Whistle signals must be exchanged in all situations when passing within one half mile.
    Y b. If a passing agreement is reached by radiotelephone, whistle signals are optional.
    N c. If a passing agreement is reached by radiotelephone whistle signals are still required.
    N d. None of the above

298: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the lights shown is a(n) __________. (DIAGRAM 79 )

    N a. vessel constrained by her draft
    N b. law enforcement vessel
    N c. vessel not under command
    Y d. vessel towing astern

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

4020: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel must proceed at a safe speed __________.

    N a. in restricted visibility
    N b. in congested waters
    N c. during darkness
    Y d. at all times

4026: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which is a distress signal?

    N a. Firing of green star shells
    N b. Sounding 5 short blasts on the whistle
    N c. Answering a one blast whistle signal with two blasts
    Y d. A flaming barrel of oil on deck

4042: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A towing vessel pushing a barge ahead and rigidly connected in a composite unit shall show the lights of __________.

    N a. a vessel pushing ahead
    Y b. a power-driven vessel, not towing
    N c. a barge being pushed ahead
    N d. either answer A or answer B

4117: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND An all-round flashing yellow light may be exhibited by a(n) __________.

    N a. vessel not under command
    Y b. air cushion vessel in the nondisplacement mode
    N c. vessel towing a submerged object
    N d. vessel engaged in diving operations

4218: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the day signal shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 7 )

    Y a. not under command
    N b. a dredge underway and dredging
    N c. fishing
    N d. a hydrographic survey vessel underway

4232: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The use of the signal consisting of five or more short blasts on the ship's whistle __________.

    N a. replaces directional signals
    N b. makes the other vessel the give-way vessel
    Y c. indicates doubt as to the other vessel's action
    N d. makes it necessary to slow or stop

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

4312: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel "not under command" at night must show which lights in a vertical line?

    N a. Three red
    Y b. Two red
    N c. Two white
    N d. Three white

4321: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in a fog, you hear a whistle signal of one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. This signal could mean all of the following EXCEPT a vessel __________.

    N a. not under command
    N b. towing astern
    N c. fishing with trawls
    Y d. being towed

4322: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In which situation do you think a risk of collision exists?

    N a. A vessel is 22° on your port bow, range increasing, bearing changing slightly to the right.
    N b. A vessel is broad on your starboard beam, range decreasing, bearing changing rapidly to the right.
    N c. A vessel is 22° abaft your port beam, range increasing, bearing is constant.
    Y d. A vessel is on your starboard quarter, range decreasing, bearing is constant.

4340: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway and making way your vessel enters fog. Which fog signal should you sound every two minutes?

    Y a. One prolonged blast
    N b. Two prolonged blasts
    N c. Three short blasts
    N d. A prolonged blast and three short blasts

4355: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are crossing a narrow channel in an 18-meter tug when you sight a loaded tankship off your port bow coming up the channel. Which statement is correct?

    N a. Neither vessel is the stand-on vessel because the tankship is crossing.
    Y b. You cannot impede the safe passage of the tankship.
    N c. The tankship is the stand-on vessel because it is in the channel.
    N d. The tankship is the stand-on vessel because it is the larger of the two vessels.

4384: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In DIAGRAM 8, vessel "A" and vessel "B" (which is pushing ahead) are meeting head-on as shown. How must the vessels pass? (DIAGRAM 8 )

    N a. Vessel "A" must alter course while vessel "B" continues on its present course.
    N b. The vessels should determine which will alter course by exchanging whistle signals.
    N c. Both vessels should alter course to port and pass starboard to starboard.
    Y d. Both vessels should alter course to starboard and pass port to port.

4426: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel is underway in fog but stopped and making no way through the water. What is the required fog signal?

    N a. One prolonged blast at not more than one-minute intervals
    N b. Two prolonged blasts at not more than one-minute intervals
    N c. One prolonged blast at not more than two-minute intervals
    Y d. Two prolonged blasts at not more than two-minute intervals

4427: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A towing light, according to the Rules, is a __________.

    N a. white light
    N b. red light
    Y c. yellow light
    N d. blue light

4437: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is the minimum length of an anchored vessel which is required to show a white light both forward and aft?

    Y a. 50 meters
    N b. 100 meters
    N c. 150 meters
    N d. 200 meters

4501: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND For identification purposes at night, U.S. Navy submarines on the surface may display an intermittent flashing light of which color?

    Y a. Amber (yellow)
    N b. White
    N c. Blue
    N d. Red

4523: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel is overtaking when she approaches another from more than how many degrees abaft the beam?

    N a. 0.0°
    N b. 11.25°
    Y c. 22.5°
    N d. 45.0°

4530: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning a partly submerged vessel being towed?

    N a. It must show a yellow light at each end.
    N b. It will show red lights along its length.
    Y c. A diamond shape will be carried at the aftermost extremity of the tow.
    N d. All of the above

4594: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Rules state that certain factors are to be taken into account when determining safe speed. Those factors include __________.

    Y a. state of wind, sea, and current, and the proximity of navigational hazards
    N b. maximum attainable speed of your vessel
    N c. temperature
    N d. aids to navigation that are available

4770: 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
    N b. sound whistle signals only if you change course
    N c. not sound any whistle signals until the other vessel is sighted
    Y d. sound only fog signals until the other vessel is sighted

5000: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog, you hear a vessel ahead sound two prolonged blasts on the whistle. You should __________.

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

6560: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel using a traffic separation scheme is forbidden to __________.

    Y a. proceed through an inappropriate traffic lane
    N b. engaged in fishing in the separation zone
    N c. cross a traffic lane
    N d. enter the separation zone, even in a emergency

8136: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A power-driven vessel pushing ahead or towing alongside will show sidelights, a stern light, and __________.

    N a. an all-round red light where it can best be seen
    N b. two yellow masthead lights in a vertical line
    Y c. two masthead lights in a vertical line
    N d. a single white light forward