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.


59: INLAND ONLY When power-driven vessels are in a crossing situation, one short blast by either vessel would mean __________.


96: INLAND ONLY You are approaching a sharp bend in a river. You have sounded a prolonged blast and it has been answered by a vessel on the other side of the bend. Which statement is TRUE?


132: INLAND ONLY Which statement is TRUE of a power-driven vessel proceeding downbound with the current, when meeting an upbound vessel on the Western Rivers?


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

226: INLAND ONLY While underway and in sight of another vessel a mile ahead you put your engines on astern propulsion. Which statement concerning whistle signals is TRUE?

    N 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.
    Y d. You need not sound any whistle signals.

268: INLAND ONLY Two power-driven vessels are meeting in the situation as shown and will pass within 1/2 mile of each other. Two short blasts from either vessel means __________. (DIAGRAM 37 )

    Y a. "I intend to leave you on my starboard side."
    N b. "I intend to leave you on my port side."
    N c. "I am altering my course to port."
    N d. "I am altering my course to starboard."

343: 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 intend to leave you on my starboard side"
    Y b. "I intend to leave you on my port side"
    N c. "I am altering my course to starboard"
    N d. None of the above

4013: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel displaying the day-shapes shown is __________. (DIAGRAM 11 )

    N a. towing
    N b. conducting underwater operations
    N c. drifting
    Y d. aground

4112: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel, which is unable to maneuver due to some exceptional circumstance, shall exhibit __________.

    N a. during the day, three balls in a vertical line
    N b. during the day, three shapes, the highest and lowest being balls and the middle being a diamond
    Y c. when making way at night, two all-round red lights, sidelights, and a stern light
    N d. when making way at night, masthead lights, sidelights, and a stern light

4133: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE when you are towing more than one barge astern at night?

    N a. Only the last barge in the tow must be lighted.
    N b. Only the first and last barges in the tow must be lighted.
    Y c. All barges in the tow must be lighted.
    N d. All barges, except unmanned barges, must be lighted.

4190: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel making way through the water sounds a fog signal of __________.

    Y a. one prolonged blast at intervals of not more than two minutes
    N b. two prolonged blasts at intervals of not more than two minutes
    N c. one prolonged blast at intervals of not more than one minute
    N d. two prolonged blasts at intervals of not more than one minute

4215: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND An inconspicuous, partly submerged vessel or object being towed, where the length of tow is 100 meters, shall show __________.

    N a. yellow lights at each end
    N b. two red lights in a vertical line
    N c. a black ball
    Y d. a diamond shape

4229: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are crossing a narrow channel in a 15-meter vessel when you sight a tankship off your port bow coming up the channel. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Yours is the give-way vessel because it is less than 30 meters long.
    Y b. You shall not impede the safe passage of the tankship.
    N c. The tankship is the stand-on vessel because it is to port of your vessel.
    N d. The tankship is the stand-on vessel because it is the larger of the two vessels.

4341: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND On open water, a vessel fishing is in a crossing situation with a vessel sailing located on the fishing vessel's starboard side. Which vessel is the stand-on vessel?

    N a. The fishing vessel because it is to port of the sailing vessel.
    Y b. The fishing vessel because it is fishing.
    N c. The sailing vessel because it is to starboard of the fishing vessel.
    N d. The sailing vessel because it is sailing.

4455: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel is "underway" within the meaning of the Rules?

    N a. A vessel at anchor with the engine turning
    N b. A vessel tied to an offshore mooring buoy
    N c. A vessel aground with the engine turning
    Y d. A vessel drifting with the engine stopped

4507: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The lights required by the Rules must be shown __________.

    Y a. from sunrise to sunset in restricted visibility
    N b. at all times
    N c. ONLY from sunset to sunrise
    N d. whenever a look-out is posted

4528: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel is to sound a fog signal of one prolonged followed by two short blasts?

    N a. A vessel not under command
    N b. A sailing vessel, underway
    N c. A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver when carrying out her work at anchor
    Y d. All of the above

4529: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel may exhibit lights other than those prescribed by the Rules as long as the additional lights __________.

    Y a. do not interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out
    N b. are not the color of either sidelight
    N c. have a lesser range than the prescribed lights
    N d. All of the above

4536: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If a sailing vessel with the wind on the port side sees a sailing vessel to windward and cannot tell whether the other vessel has the wind on the port or starboard side, she shall __________.

    N a. hold course and speed
    N b. sound the danger signal
    Y c. keep out of the way of the other vessel
    N d. turn to port and come into the wind

4541: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Rules state that vessels may depart from the Rules when __________.

    N a. there are no other vessels around
    N b. operating in a narrow channel
    N c. the Master enters it in the ship's log
    Y d. necessary to avoid immediate danger

4552: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning fog signals?

    N a. All fog signals for sailing vessels are to be given at intervals of not more than one minute.
    N b. A vessel not under command sounds the same fog signal as a vessel towed.
    N c. A pilot vessel underway and making way sounds the pilot identity signal and no other signal.
    Y d. A vessel aground may sound a whistle signal.

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°

4664: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching a narrow channel. You see a vessel that can only be navigated safely within the channel. You MUST __________.

    N a. hold your course and speed
    N b. sound the danger signal
    Y c. not cross the channel if you might impede the other vessel
    N d. initiate an exchange of passing signals

4671: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is true concerning the light used to accompany whistle signals?

    Y a. It is only used to supplement short blasts of the whistle.
    N b. It is mandatory to use such a light.
    N c. The light shall have the same characteristics as a masthead light.
    N d. All of the above

4876: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching a narrow channel. Another vessel in the channel can only be navigated safely in that channel. You should __________.

    N a. sound two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast
    Y b. not cross the channel if you might impede the other vessel
    N c. sound three short blasts, and take all way off your vessel
    N d. hold your course and speed if he is on your port bow

8010: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A vessel displaying three red lights in a vertical line is __________.

    N a. not under command
    N b. aground
    N c. dredging
    Y d. constrained by her draft

8051: INTERNATIONAL ONLY A vessel constrained by her draft may display __________.

    Y a. three all-round red lights
    N b. two 225° red lights
    N c. three all-round blue lights
    N d. two 225° blue lights

8105: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Your vessel is crossing a narrow channel. A vessel to port is within the channel and crossing your course. She is showing a black cylinder. You should __________.

    N a. hold your course and speed
    Y b. not impede the other vessel
    N c. exchange passing signals
    N d. sound the danger signal

8127: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which statement is TRUE, according to the Rules?

    N a. A vessel constrained by her draft shall keep out of the way of a vessel engaged in fishing.
    Y b. A vessel engaged in fishing while underway shall, so far as possible, keep out of the way of a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.
    N c. A vessel not under command shall avoid impeding the safe passage of a vessel constrained by her draft.
    N d. A vessel not under command shall keep out of the way of a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.

8131: INTERNATIONAL ONLY What characteristic must a light have if used to signal passing intentions?

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