USCG General Deck: 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.


77: When steering a vessel, a good helmsman will __________.


175: While the Pilot is maneuvering the vessel to a dock, what is the primary responsibility of the watch officer?


280: Your ship is in a neutral port when full Naval Control of Shipping is established. You may expect to be boarded and instructed by a(n) __________.


284: The beam of a vessel refers to the __________.

    N a. depth between decks
    N b. internal cubic capacity
    N c. molded depth of the vessel
    Y d. width of the vessel

300: On which form do you provide a written report of Marine Casualty to the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety Office?

    N a. DD 214
    Y b. CG 2692
    N c. DOT 211
    N d. CG 5511

430: On a manned vessel carrying packaged hazardous cargo, the hazardous materials shall be inspected __________.

    N a. every 24 hours unless equipped with a fire detecting system
    N b. prior to entry into a U.S. port
    N c. after stowage is complete
    Y d. All of the above

453: What purpose does a tow hook serve?

    Y a. To quickly connect or release the towing hawser
    N b. To help pick up the towing hawser from the water
    N c. To prevent the towing hawser from fouling the propeller
    N d. To recover the towing hawser from a barge

455: A vessel having continuous closely spaced transverse strength members is __________.

    N a. longitudinally framed
    Y b. transversely framed
    N c. cellular framed
    N d. web framed

475: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "F" is called a __________. (DO44DG )

    N a. bow line
    Y b. breast line
    N c. forward spring line
    N d. None of the above

513: Wire rope is used in the towing industry __________.

    N a. for back up wires and main towing hawsers
    N b. for face wires or jockeys when pushing ahead
    N c. as stern wires when pushing ahead
    Y d. All of the above

621: Which document shows details of a tank vessel, cargoes it may carry, manning and safety equipment required?

    N a. Safety Construction Certificate
    N b. Cargo Gear Certificate
    Y c. Certificate of Inspection
    N d. Declaration of Inspection

631: At least one reinspection shall be made on each vessel holding a Certificate of Inspection valid for two years. This inspection shall be held between the tenth and fourteenth months of the duration period of the certificate and shall be __________.

    N a. at the discretion of the inspector, but in no greater detail than required for original certification
    N b. at the discretion of the inspector, but in no lesser detail than required for original certification
    Y c. generally similar in scope to the inspection required for certification, but in less detail
    N d. equivalent to the inspection required for certification

685: Which type of ballast is most commonly used in barges and ships?

    Y a. Water
    N b. Oil
    N c. Concrete and barite
    N d. Sand, rock and gravel

703: The operator of an uninspected vessel MUST assist people affected by an accident if he or she can do so without __________.

    Y a. serious danger to his or her own vessel
    N b. further damaging the other vessel
    N c. undue delay
    N d. creating a panic on either vessel

751: A document which has a list of names, birthplaces, and residences of persons employed on a merchant vessel bound from a U.S. port on a foreign voyage and is required at every port is called the __________.

    Y a. Certified Crew List
    N b. Crew Manifest
    N c. Shipping Articles
    N d. Muster List ("Station Bill")

774: The strongest of the natural fibers is __________.

    N a. cotton
    N b. hemp
    Y c. manila
    N d. sisal

808: You are loading a cargo of cases into a hold which has a bale cubic of 44,000. The cargo consists of cases measuring 4 ft by 2 ft by 1.5 ft. Estimated broken stowage is 15%. What is the maximum number of cases which can be stowed in the hold?

    N a. 3096
    Y b. 3116
    N c. 3136
    N d. 3156

827: The pitch of a propeller is a measure of the __________.

    N a. angle that the propeller makes with a free stream of water
    N b. angle that the propeller makes with the surface of the water
    Y c. number of feet per revolution the propeller is designed to advance in still water without slip
    N d. positive pressure resulting from the difference of the forces on both sides of the moving propeller in still water without slip

955: In which case is the IOPP Certificate of an inspected vessel NOT invalidated?

    Y a. The required oily-water separator malfunctions.
    N b. The ship is transferred to Liberian registry.
    N c. An annual survey is conducted fifteen months after the date of certificate issuance.
    N d. A 15 ppm oily-water separator is replaced by a 100 ppm oily-water separator.

972: The "rudder adjustment" control on an autopilot steering stand is used to __________.

    N a. align the rudder angle indicator with the true rudder angle
    Y b. set the number of degrees of rudder per degree of course error
    N c. set the departure from base course before actuating the rudder
    N d. set the rate at which the rudder responds

1058: The damage to a vessel is over $25,000. Who must notify the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety or Marine Inspection Office as soon as possible?

    N a. The owner of the vessel
    N b. The Master of the vessel
    N c. The person in charge of the vessel at the time of casualty
    Y d. Any one of the above

1076: You are underway in heavy weather and your bow is into the seas. To prevent pounding, you should __________.

    N a. change course, in order to take the seas at an 85 degree angle from the bow
    Y b. decrease speed
    N c. increase speed
    N d. secure all loose gear

1151: The term used in levying customs duties when such are fixed at rates proportioned to estimated value of goods concerned is __________.

    Y a. ad valorem
    N b. infinite
    N c. secure
    N d. specific

1227: You have the "conn" at the time the helmsman who is steering by hand reports that the rudder is not responding to the wheel. Your FIRST action should be to __________.

    Y a. shift the selector switch to the other steering pump
    N b. signal the engineroom to stop the engines
    N c. call the engineroom
    N d. call the Master

1290: What is NOT an advantage of double bottom ships?

    N a. The tank top forms a second skin for the vessel.
    N b. The center of gravity of a loaded bulk cargo ship may be raised to produce a more comfortable roll.
    N c. The floors and longitudinals distribute the upward push of the water on the ship's bottom.
    Y d. They are less expensive to construct because of increased access space.

1461: While a vessel is at sea, the mate on watch discovers a fire in one of the hatches. Fire hoses are used to put the fire out and some of the cargo is damaged by water. In marine insurance terms, this partial loss by water is called __________.

    N a. an Act of God
    N b. fire and water damage
    Y c. general average
    N d. particular average

1468: What will NOT reduce yawing of a tow?

    N a. Increasing the length of the towing hawser
    N b. Trimming the tow by the stern
    Y c. Stowing deck loads forward
    N d. Drogues put over the stern

1493: The knot used to join two lines of different diameter is a __________.

    N a. square knot
    N b. carrick bend
    Y c. becket bend
    N d. sheepshank

1577: You are the Chief Mate of a 30,000-DWT tankship. The vessel is engaged in trade with another country signatory to MARPOL 73/78. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The Certificate of Inspection serves as prima facie evidence of complying with MARPOL 73/78.
    Y b. The IOPP Certificate for an inspected vessel is valid for 5 years.
    N c. An IOPP Certificate is invalidated if the ship carries cargoes outside the classes authorized thereon.
    N d. An IOPP Certificate is renewed at each inspection for certification.

1615: A towing vessel should be on the crest of a wave at the same time as its tow and in the trough at the same time. The term used to describe this is __________.

    N a. tow strain
    N b. catenary length
    Y c. being in step
    N d. Williamson's Tow

1616: In moderate wind and current what should be the length of chain with a single anchor?

    Y a. 5 times the depth of the water in good holding ground
    N b. 10 times the depth of the water in shallow water
    N c. 2 times the depth of the water in poor holding ground
    N d. 8 times the depth of the water in deep water

1639: All wire rope used in shipboard cargo gear must be identified and described in a certificate. The certificate shall certify all of the following EXCEPT the __________.

    N a. date of the test
    N b. load at which a test sample broke
    Y c. name of the vessel
    N d. number of strands and of wires in each strand

1661: Which document is NOT required by law to be posted aboard a vessel?

    N a. Certificate of Inspection
    Y b. Official Crew List
    N c. Officer's licenses
    N d. Muster list

1751: The load line certificate is issued by __________.

    Y a. the American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. the National Cargo Bureau
    N c. the United States Coast Guard
    N d. United States Customs

2110: Your ship is carrying hazardous cargo. During a daily inspection, you notice that some of the cargo has shifted and several cases are broken. You should FIRST __________.

    N a. call out the deck gang to jettison the cargo
    N b. log the facts in the rough log and inform the Chief Mate later
    N c. make a determination of the seriousness of the breakage, and do what you think best
    Y d. report the facts immediately to the Master, who will make a decision

2191: A wooden deck installed on top of the plating lettered N is known as __________. (D033DG )

    N a. spar decking
    N b. furring
    Y c. ceiling
    N d. flooring

2194: What is the mechanical advantage of tackle number 6? (DO29DG )

    Y a. 6
    N b. 5.5
    N c. 5
    N d. 3

2221: You are using tackle number 5 to lift a weight. The hauling part of this tackle is bent to the weight hook (w) of tackle number 8. What is the mechanical advantage of this rig? (DO29DG )

    N a. 20
    Y b. 15
    N c. 10
    N d. 5

2232: The MAIN use of the knot lettered M is to __________. (DO30DG )

    Y a. marry two hawsers
    N b. form a temporary eye in the end of a line
    N c. secure a heaving line to a hawser
    N d. provide a seat for a man to work over the side

2236: Another name for the garboard strake is the __________.

    Y a. A strake
    N b. Z strake
    N c. side keel plate
    N d. stringer plate

2290: The sprocket teeth on a wildcat are known as the __________.

    N a. pawls
    N b. devil's claws
    Y c. whelps
    N d. pockets

2336: The maneuver which will return your vessel in the shortest time to a person who has fallen overboard is __________.

    N a. engine(s) crash astern, no turn
    N b. two 180°Turns
    N c. a Williamson Turn
    Y d. a single turn with hard rudder

2646: Which statement is true concerning repairs on the hull of a vessel which is to be riveted and welded?

    N a. Riveting must be completed before welding begins.
    N b. Riveting and welding should be done alternately.
    Y c. Welding must be completed before the riveting begins.
    N d. It does not matter in what order the operations are done.

2659: The shearing stresses on a ship's structure are usually greatest at __________.

    N a. the bow
    N b. the stern
    N c. midships
    Y d. the ship's quarter-length points

2702: How long is the standard container used to measure equivalent units?

    N a. 10 feet (3 meters)
    Y b. 20 feet (6 meters)
    N c. 35 feet (11 meters)
    N d. 40 feet (12 meters)

2848: Nautical charts published by the Canadian Hydrographic service which are referenced in the United States Coast Pilot are identified by __________.

    N a. the abbreviation "can" preceding the chart number
    N b. the letter "C" in parentheses following the chart number
    Y c. an asterisk preceding the chart number
    N d. a footnote number

2940: A vessel reduces speed without backing. The rate that her speed through the water decreases depends primarily on the __________.

    N a. vessel's horsepower
    N b. sea state
    N c. number of propellers
    Y d. vessel's displacement

2990: When cutting regular-lay wire rope, what is the minimum number of seizings to be placed on each side of the cut?

    N a. One
    N b. Two, and three on rope diameters over 1 inch
    Y c. Three, and more on larger diameter wire ropes
    N d. Four

3017: Which situation requires you to furnish a notice of marine casualty to the Coast Guard?

    N a. Storm damage to the cargo winch motors requires repairs costing $19,000.
    Y b. Your vessel is at anchor and grounds at low tide with no apparent damage.
    N c. You collide with a buoy and drag it off station with no apparent damage to the vessel or the buoy.
    N d. A seaman slips on ice on deck and sprains his ankle, requiring an ace bandage.

3108: How should you signal the crane operator to raise the boom?

    N a. Extend arm with the thumb pointing up and flex the fingers in and out.
    N b. Place both fists in front of the body with the thumbs pointing upward.
    N c. With forearm vertical and forefinger pointing up, move hand in small horizontal circles.
    Y d. Extend arm with fingers closed and point thumb upward.

3110: The number or name of a tank barge shall be __________.

    N a. displayed in at least 4 different positions on the barge
    N b. carved on a wooden board and attached to the barge's hull
    N c. displayed as close to the navigation lights as possible
    Y d. displayed at the highest point of the barge's hull such that it can be seen from either side

3138: When pushing ahead, wires leading from the quarters of the after outboard barges to the bow of a towboat __________.

    N a. prevent the towboat from sliding when the rudder is moved
    Y b. prevent the barges from spreading out when backing down
    N c. hold the towboat securely to the barges
    N d. prevent the sidewise movement of the face barges

3487: The opening in the deck that leads the anchor cable outside the hull is the __________.

    Y a. hawsepipe
    N b. fall pipe
    N c. drop-pipe
    N d. spill pipe

3519: Strengthening damaged bulkheads by using wood or steel is called __________.

    N a. bracing
    N b. battening
    N c. blocking
    Y d. shoring

3608: The horizontal port or starboard movement of a vessel is called __________.

    N a. yaw
    Y b. sway
    N c. surge
    N d. heave

3691: On the cargo manifest, the gross weight of a box containing cargo is the weight of the __________.

    N a. cargo
    N b. box
    Y c. cargo and box
    N d. rate weight

4028: Which statement about the carriage of coal is true?

    N a. Most problems with spontaneous combustion will occur within 72 hours of loading and after that the risk decreases.
    N b. Wet coal is more liable to spontaneous heating than dry coal.
    N c. Coal absorbs nitrogen from the air which reacts with methane and causes spontaneous heating.
    Y d. Freshly worked coal is more dangerous than weathered coal.

4155: Which factor(s) should be considered when loading vehicles or trailers aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Layout of decks
    N b. Vertical clearances
    N c. Tie-down and lashing
    Y d. All of the above

4253: Which of the following statement(s) is/are TRUE regarding twin pedestal cranes?

    N a. Each single boom is of the partial-level luffing type and is capable of limited rotation.
    N b. A slew drive system provides for rotation of each crane.
    N c. An independent slew drive system rotates the turntable.
    Y d. All of the above

4253: Which of the following statement(s) is/are TRUE regarding twin pedestal cranes?

    N a. Each single boom is of the partial-level luffing type and is capable of limited rotation.
    N b. A slew drive system provides for rotation of each crane.
    N c. An independent slew drive system rotates the turntable.
    Y d. All of the above