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.


12: INLAND ONLY Your vessel is meeting another vessel head-on. To comply with the steering and sailing rules, you should __________.


17: INLAND ONLY A power-driven vessel crossing a river on the Western Rivers has the right of way over __________.


48: INLAND ONLY Which statement is TRUE concerning the fog signal of a vessel 15 meters in length, anchored in a "special anchorage area" approved by the Secretary?


53: INLAND ONLY You are on vessel "A" and vessel "B" desires to overtake you on the starboard side as shown. After the vessels have exchanged one blast signals you should __________. (DIAGRAM 38 )

    N a. alter course to the left
    N b. slow your vessel until vessel "B" has passed
    Y c. hold course and speed
    N d. alter course to the left or right to give vessel "B" more sea room

75: INLAND ONLY You are on vessel "A", and vessel "B" desires to overtake you on your starboard side as shown. After the vessels have exchanged one blast signals, you should __________. (DIAGRAM 31 )

    N a. alter course to the left
    N b. slow your vessel until vessel "B" has passed
    Y c. hold course and speed
    N d. alter course to the left to give vessel "B" more sea room

106: INLAND ONLY You are overtaking another power-driven vessel and sound a whistle signal indicating that you intend to pass the vessel along her starboard side. If the other vessel answers your signal with five short and rapid blasts, you should __________.

    N a. pass the other vessel along her starboard side
    N b. sound five short and rapid blasts and pass along her starboard side
    Y c. not overtake the other vessel until both vessels exchange the same passing signal
    N d. not overtake the other vessel until she sounds another five short and rapid blast signal

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

215: INTERNATIONAL ONLY At night you sight the lights shown. What do the lights indicate? (DIAGRAM 66 )

    N a. Two vessels pair trawling
    Y b. A tug with a tow alongside
    N c. A ship being assisted by a tug
    N d. A vessel engaged in fishing

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

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

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

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

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

4007: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If you do NOT understand the course or intention of an approaching vessel you should sound __________.

    N a. one short blast
    N b. one prolonged blast
    Y c. not less than five short blasts
    N d. not less than five prolonged blasts

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

4074: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning a vessel of 75 meters in length, at anchor?

    N a. She must show an all-round white light forward.
    N b. She must show a second all-round white light aft.
    N c. She may use her working lights to illuminate her decks.
    Y d. All of the above

4081: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are aboard vessel "A" , a power-driven vessel, on open waters and vessel "B", a sailing vessel, is sighted off your port bow as shown. Which vessel is the stand-on vessel? (DIAGRAM 27 )

    N a. Vessel "A" because it is towing
    N b. Vessel "A" because it is to starboard of vessel "B"
    Y c. Vessel "B" because it is sailing
    N d. Vessel "B" because it is to port of vessel "A"

4090: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND According to the Navigation Rules, you may depart from the Rules when __________.

    N a. no vessels are in sight visually
    N b. no vessels are visible on radar
    Y c. you are in immediate danger
    N d. out of sight of land

4176: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Two all-round red lights displayed in a vertical line are shown by a vessel __________.

    N a. being towed
    N b. pushing a barge ahead
    N c. at anchor
    Y d. not under command

4347: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND To determine if risk of collision exists, a vessel which is fitted with radar must use __________.

    N a. radar scanning
    N b. radar plotting
    N c. compass bearings
    Y d. All of the above

4359: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Your vessel is underway but stopped and making no way through the water when fog sets in. Which fog signal should you sound?

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

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

4549: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Two sailing vessels are approaching each other as shown. Which statement is correct? (DIAGRAM 3 )

    N a. Vessel "I" should stand on because she has the wind on her port side.
    Y b. Vessel "II" should stand on because she has the wind on her starboard side.
    N c. Neither vessel is the stand-on vessel because they are meeting head-on.
    N d. Vessel "I" should stand on because she is close-hauled.

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

4593: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Risk of collision may be deemed to exist __________.

    N a. if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does NOT appreciably change
    N b. even when an appreciable bearing change is evident, particularly when approaching a vessel at close range
    N c. if you observe both sidelights of a vessel ahead for an extended period of time
    Y d. All of the above

4616: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If your vessel is the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation __________.

    Y a. you must keep your course and speed
    N b. you may change course and speed as the other vessel must keep clear
    N c. the other vessel must keep her course and speed
    N d. both vessels must keep their course and speed

4621: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The steering and sailing rules for vessels in restricted visibility apply to vessels __________.

    N a. in sight of one another in fog
    Y b. navigating in or near an area of restricted visibility
    N c. only if they are showing special purpose lights
    N d. only if they have operational radar

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

4827: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Rules state that vessels may depart from the requirements of the Rules when __________.

    N a. operating in restricted visibility
    N b. operating in a narrow channel
    Y c. necessary to avoid immediate danger
    N d. the Master enters it in the ship's log

5100: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Lighting requirements in inland waters are different from those for international waters for __________.

    N a. barges being towed astern
    N b. vessels not under command
    Y c. vessels pushing ahead
    N d. All of the above

8011: INTERNATIONAL ONLY At night, a power-driven vessel underway of less than 7 meters in length where its maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may show, as a minimum, __________.

    N a. sidelights and a stern light
    N b. the lights required for a vessel more than 7 meters in length
    N c. sidelights only
    Y d. one all-round white light

8092: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A light used to signal passing intentions must be an __________.

    N a. alternating red and yellow light
    N b. alternating white and yellow light
    N c. all-round white or yellow light
    Y d. all-round white light only