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 __________.


115: INLAND ONLY What is true of a "special flashing light"?


153: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway at night and you sight the lights shown. You know these lights indicate a __________. (DIAGRAM 47 )


199: INLAND ONLY You are on a vessel that the Secretary has determined cannot comply with the spacing requirement for masthead lights. What is required in this situation?

    N a. The vessel must carry only the lights that comply with the rules; the others may be omitted.
    Y b. The vessel's lights must comply as closely as possible.
    N c. The vessel must be altered to permit full compliance with the rules.
    N d. An all-round light should be substituted for the after masthead light and the stern light.

287: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The lead vessel shown is a __________. (DIAGRAM 24 )

    N a. dredge
    N b. sailing vessel
    N c. power-driven vessel pushing ahead
    Y d. None of the above

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

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

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

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

383: INLAND ONLY You are meeting "head on" a tug towing a barge alongside about a mile away. In addition to the white masthead lights which other lights do you see on the tug and tow combined?

    N a. One green and one red sidelight on the outside of the unit
    N b. One green and one red sidelight and a special flashing light
    N c. Only the green and red sidelights marking each vessel
    Y d. The green and red sidelights marking each vessel and a special flashing light

4031: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Additional light signals are provided in the Annexes to the Rules for vessels __________.

    Y a. engaged in fishing
    N b. not under command
    N c. engaged in towing
    N d. under sail

4054: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel is "engaged in fishing" when __________.

    N a. her gear extends more than 100 meters from the vessel
    N b. she is using any type of gear, other than lines
    Y c. she is using fishing apparatus which restricts her maneuverability
    N d. she has any fishing gear on board

4075: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching another vessel. She is about one mile distant and is on your starboard bow. You believe she will cross ahead of you. She then sounds a whistle signal of five short blasts. You should __________.

    N a. answer the signal and hold course and speed
    N b. reduce speed slightly to make sure she will have room to pass
    Y c. make a large course change, and slow down if necessary
    N d. wait for another whistle signal from the other vessel

4086: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on vessel "A" and approaching vessel "B" as shown. You are not sure whether your vessel is crossing or overtaking vessel "B". You should __________. (DIAGRAM 15 )

    N a. change course to make the situation definitely either crossing or overtaking
    N b. consider it to be a crossing situation
    Y c. consider it to be an overtaking situation
    N d. consider it a crossing situation if you can cross ahead safely

4217: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A man aboard a vessel, signaling by raising and lowering his outstretched arms to each side, is indicating __________.

    N a. danger, stay away
    N b. all is clear, it is safe to pass
    N c. the vessel is anchored
    Y d. a distress signal

4318: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which is NOT a distress signal?

    N a. Flames on a vessel
    Y b. Vertical motion of a white lantern at night
    N c. Code flags "November" and "Charlie"
    N d. Dye marker on the water

4409: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel or object being towed astern shall display a(n) __________.

    N a. forward masthead light
    N b. after masthead light
    Y c. stern light
    N d. All of the above

4431: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel 50 meters in length at anchor must sound which fog signal?

    Y a. 5-second ringing of a bell every minute
    N b. 5-second ringing of a bell every two minutes
    N c. 5-second sounding of a gong every minute
    N d. 5-second sounding of both a bell and gong every two minutes

4509: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel nearing a bend or an area of a channel or fairway where other vessels may be hidden by an obstruction shall __________.

    N a. sound the danger signal
    Y b. sound a prolonged blast
    N c. take all way off
    N d. post a look-out

4592: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A proper look-out shall be maintained __________.

    N a. only at night
    N b. only during restricted visibility
    N c. at night and during restricted visibility
    Y d. at all times

4646: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND By night, you sight the lights of a vessel engaged in underwater operations. If an obstruction exists on the port side of the vessel, it will be marked by __________.

    N a. a floodlight
    Y b. two red lights in a vertical line
    N c. a single red light
    N d. any visible lights

4659: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel servicing a pipeline during the day shall display __________.

    Y a. three black shapes in a vertical line; the highest and lowest are balls, and the middle one is a diamond
    N b. three shapes in a vertical line; the highest and lowest are red balls, and the middle one is a white diamond
    N c. three black balls in a vertical line
    N d. two black balls in a vertical line

4715: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is a "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver"?

    N a. A deep-draft vessel that can only navigate in a dredged channel
    N b. A vessel fishing with a bottom trawl that must remain on course
    N c. A large tanker that is being towed as a dead ship to dry dock
    Y d. A vessel laying revetment mats to provide bank protection along a channel

4830: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Navigation Rules define a "vessel not under command" as a vessel which __________.

    N a. from the nature of her work is unable to keep out of the way of another vessel
    N b. does not have a proper look-out
    N c. by taking action contrary to the Rules has created a special circumstance situation
    Y d. through some exceptional circumstance is unable to maneuver as required by the Rules

4877: 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 __________.

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

5350: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall __________.

    Y a. avoid anchoring in areas near the termination of the scheme
    N b. avoid crossing traffic lanes, but if obliged to do so, shall cross on as small an angle as is practical
    N c. only anchor in the separation zone
    N d. use the separation zone for navigating through the scheme if she is hindering other traffic due to her slower speed

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

6520: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A fog signal of one short, one prolonged, and one short blast may be sounded by a __________.

    N a. vessel not under command
    Y b. vessel at anchor
    N c. vessel towing
    N d. All of the above

8001: INTERNATIONAL ONLY In addition to other required lights, a power-driven vessel pushing ahead or towing alongside displays __________.

    N a. two all-round red lights in a vertical line
    N b. two yellow towing lights in a vertical line
    Y c. two white masthead lights in a vertical line
    N d. two lights on the stern, one yellow and one white

8002: INTERNATIONAL ONLY Which statement is true concerning a vessel "constrained by her draft"?

    Y a. She must be a power-driven vessel.
    N b. She is not under command.
    N c. She may be a vessel being towed.
    N d. She is hampered because of her work.

8073: INTERNATIONAL ONLY In a narrow channel, an overtaking vessel which intends to PASS on the other vessel's port side would sound __________.

    N a. one prolonged followed by two short blasts
    N b. one short blast
    Y c. two prolonged followed by two short blasts
    N d. two short blasts

8090: BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A towing light is ____________ .

    N a. shown below the stern light
    N b. white in color
    N c. displayed at the masthead
    Y d. a yellow light having the same characteristics as the stern light