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.


69: Ullages are measured from __________.


208: Your vessel has been damaged and you must shore a bulkhead. You should cut the shore __________.


213: You are the Master of a single-screw vessel. You are docking at a port which has no tugs available. You decide to drop the offshore anchor to help in docking. The amount of chain you should pay out is __________.


273: You will load class 1.2 commercial explosives and need to construct a portable magazine. The magazine MUST __________.

    N a. be made of metal
    Y b. be elevated with skids 10cm (3.9 inches) above the deck
    N c. have a hinged cover
    N d. be fastened with nails or screws

301: You are signing on a crew. Which person is presenting a Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD) that you should suspect as being invalid?

    N a. An AB with an endorsement of "Any unlicensed rating in the deck department including Able Seaman"
    Y b. A seaman with an MMD only endorsed as "Bosun"
    N c. A Purser with an MMD only endorsed "See certificate of registry"
    N d. A Chief Steward with an MMD only endorsed as "Steward's Dept. (FH)"

528: Determine the dew point when the dry bulb temperature is 74°F (23°C) and the wet bulb temperature is 60°F (16°C). (D008DG )

    N a. 14°F
    N b. 20°F
    N c. 28°F
    Y d. 50°F

538: Using the graph shown, if the dry bulb temperature is 80°F (27°C) and the wet bulb temperature is 70°F (21°C), what is the relative humidity in a cargo hold? (D008DG )

    N a. 45%
    N b. 52%
    Y c. 58%
    N d. 65%

554: Which part of the patent anchor performs the same function as the stock of an old fashioned anchor; that is, forces the flukes to dig in?

    N a. Bill or pea
    N b. Arm
    N c. Shank
    Y d. Tripping Palm

571: You are in port A in the United States, and your Certificate of Inspection has expired. You wish to go to port B in the United States for repairs and to complete the inspection. If the Officer-in-Charge Marine Inspection deems it safe, he may issue a __________.

    N a. Certificate of Seaworthiness
    N b. Limited Certificate of Inspection
    N c. Temporary Certificate of Inspection
    Y d. Permit to Proceed

620: You are on a container vessel. What concerning the handling and stowage of containerized hazardous materials is TRUE?

    Y a. Open-bed containers may be used to transport hazardous materials if the cargo is properly secured.
    N b. A portable cargo tank of a flammable, cryogenic liquid may not be in transit for a period exceeding its marked rated holding time unless the liquid is inhibited.
    N c. A portable cargo tank containing a cryogenic liquid must be shipped on deck unless forced ventilation is provided to the decks-decks.
    N d. A container loaded with packages of tear gas would display a placard reading "Irritant."

708: The National Cargo Bureau represents the __________.

    N a. agent
    N b. operator
    N c. shipper
    Y d. All of the above

818: Your vessel has a deadweight capacity of 5000 tons and a cubic capacity of 300,000 cu. ft. You are to load lead, with a stowage factor of 18, and cotton, with a stowage factor of 80. If you load full and down, how much cotton should you load?

    N a. 1613 tons
    N b. 2190 tons
    N c. 2810 tons
    Y d. 3387 tons

886: Two vessels are abreast of each other and passing port to port in a confined waterway. What should you expect as your bow approaches the screws of the other vessel?

    N a. Your speed will significantly increase.
    N b. Your draft will significantly decrease.
    Y c. Your bow will sheer towards the other vessel.
    N d. Your bow will sheer away from the other vessel.

979: A cargo of oil has a coefficient of expansion of .0005 per degree F. If this cargo is loaded at 70°F, and a cargo temperature of 90°F is expected at the discharge port, how many barrels would you expect to unload if you loaded 10,000 barrels?

    N a. 9,900
    N b. 9,990
    N c. 10,010
    Y d. 10,100

1117: The knot used to form the bridle at the standing part of a gantline rigged to a stage is a __________.

    N a. sheet bend
    N b. carrick bend
    N c. fisherman's bend
    Y d. bowline

1158: A vessel loads 100 tons of glass jars. The mate on watch discovers that some of the cartons have been damaged and has an exception made on the Bill of Lading. What is this document called?

    N a. Damage Bill of Lading
    N b. Letter of Indemnity
    N c. Non-negotiable Bill of Lading
    Y d. Unclean Bill of Lading

1161: The document that the Master uses to attest to the truth of the manifest of cargo is called __________.

    N a. Master's Protest
    Y b. Oath of Entry
    N c. Owner's Oath
    N d. Shipper's Certification

1269: What is meant by the term "topping the boom"?

    N a. Lowering the boom
    Y b. Raising the boom
    N c. Spotting the boom over the deck
    N d. Swinging the boom athwartships

1402: What form of ice is of land origin?

    N a. Shuga
    N b. Floe
    N c. Spicule
    Y d. Bergy bit

1451: The implied condition(s) with respect to the doctrine of deviation in a marine insurance policy is(are) __________.

    N a. that the cargo be discharged from the vessel with customary dispatch
    N b. that the voyage be commenced in a reasonable time
    N c. that the voyage be pursued over the usual and direct route
    Y d. All of the above

1590: A thirty pound plate would be __________.

    N a. 3/8" thick
    N b. 1/2" thick
    Y c. 3/4" thick
    N d. 1" thick

1598: On a vessel with a single propeller, transverse force has the most effect on the vessel when the engine is put __________.

    N a. full ahead
    Y b. full astern
    N c. half ahead
    N d. slow astern

1765: The annual survey for endorsement of a Load Line Certificate must be held within __________.

    N a. the three month period immediately following the certificate's anniversary date
    N b. the three month period immediately preceding the certificate's anniversary date
    Y c. three months either way of the certificate's anniversary date
    N d. the three month period centered on the certificate's anniversary date

1779: Using the graph shown, if the dry bulb temperature is 58°, and the wet bulb temperature is 53°, what is the relative humidity in a cargo hold? (D008DG )

    N a. 56%
    N b. 61%
    N c. 66%
    Y d. 75%

1956: Which lien against a vessel would be settled FIRST?

    N a. Maintenance and cure
    N b. Vessel mortgage
    Y c. Salvage lien
    N d. Ship repairer's lien

2023: A mooring line leading at nearly right angles to the keel is a __________.

    N a. spring line
    N b. bow line
    N c. stern line
    Y d. breast line

2031: Multi-year ice is the hardest sea ice and should be avoided if possible. It is recognizable because of what tone to its surface color?

    N a. Greenish
    Y b. Bluish
    N c. Grey
    N d. Grey-white

2033: A spring line leads __________.

    Y a. fore and aft from the ship's side
    N b. to the dock at a right angle to the vessel
    N c. through the bull nose or chock at the bow
    N d. through the chock at the stern

2062: The vessel shown has broken down and you are going to take her in tow. The wind is on her starboard beam. She is making more leeway than you. Where should you position your vessel when you start running lines? (DO25DG )

    N a. A
    N b. B
    N c. C
    Y d. D

2093: What is the mechanical advantage of tackle number 10? (DO29DG )

    N a. 4
    N b. 4.5
    Y c. 5
    N d. 5.5

2097: What is the name of tackle number 11? (DO29DG )

    N a. Three-two purchase
    Y b. Double luff tackle
    N c. Gun tackle
    N d. Topping lift

2098: Snow has obliterated surface features and the sky is covered with uniform, altostratus clouds. There are no shadows and the horizon has disappeared. What is this condition called?

    N a. Ice blink
    Y b. Whiteout
    N c. Water sky
    N d. Aurora reflection

2100: The primary purpose of a load line is to establish required __________.

    Y a. minimum freeboard
    N b. GM
    N c. transverse stability
    N d. fresh water allowances

2111: You are anchoring in 16 fathoms of water. On a small to medium size vessel, the __________.

    N a. anchor may be dropped from the hawsepipe
    Y b. anchor should be lowered to within 2 fathoms of the bottom before being dropped
    N c. scope should always be at least ten times the depth of the water
    N d. scope should always be less than 5 times the depth of the water

2163: What is the name of tackle number 7? (DO29DG )

    Y a. Runner
    N b. Inverted whip
    N c. Whip
    N d. Single purchase

2510: Mooring lines should be turned end-for-end occasionally. This is because __________.

    N a. a line is weakened by constantly pulling on it in one direction
    Y b. normal wear on the line is thus distributed to different areas
    N c. it prevents the line from kinking or unlaying
    N d. it prevents permanent misalignment of the line's internal strands

2602: As you hold a piece of manila line vertically in front of you, the strands run from the lower right to the upper left. Which type of line is this?

    N a. Plain-laid
    N b. Shroud-laid
    Y c. Left-hand laid
    N d. Water-laid

2676: Who cannot commit the crime of barratry?

    N a. Master
    N b. Ship's officer(s)
    N c. Ship's unlicensed crewmember(s)
    Y d. Ship owner

2690: When must the Master of a vessel log the position of load line marks in relation to the surface of the water in the Official Logbook?

    N a. Once a day
    N b. At the change of every watch
    N c. Only when in fresh or brackish water
    Y d. Prior to getting underway

2719: Which publication would give detailed information on the commercial vessel traffic reporting system for connecting waters from Lake Erie to Lake Huron?

    N a. United States Coast Pilot - Great Lakes #6
    N b. U.S. Coast Guard Light List - Vol. VII
    Y c. Code of Federal Regulations - Title 33
    N d. The appropriate Great Lakes Navigation Chart

2748: The Lake Carriers Association and the Canadian Shipowners Association prescribe separation routes for upbound and downbound vessels on the Great Lakes. The recommended courses for these routes are shown on the Great Lakes Charts in the form of __________.

    Y a. red or magenta figures over a segmented course line track
    N b. red figures over a solid course line track
    N c. black figures over a segmented course line track
    N d. green figures over a solid course line track

2792: When relieving the helm, the new helmsman should find it handy to know the __________.

    N a. variation in the area
    Y b. amount of helm carried for a steady course
    N c. leeway
    N d. deviation on that heading

2809: The fitting at the end of a cargo line in a tank that allows suction to be taken close to the bottom of a tank is a __________.

    N a. suction end
    N b. strainer
    Y c. bell-mouth
    N d. vacuum valve

2946: Which single-letter signal, when used by icebreakers on the Great Lakes, may be made by using the ship's whistle?

    N a. E
    N b. I
    Y c. M
    N d. None

3100: A holder of a license as Master of towing vessels may work each 24 hours for a period not to exceed __________.

    N a. 6 hours
    Y b. 12 hours
    N c. 18 hours
    N d. 24 hours

3240: You are the operator of a towing vessel which becomes involved in a collision. By law you must assist __________.

    N a. if your vessel is at fault
    N b. if you can do so without excessive delay
    Y c. if you can do so without serious danger to your vessel
    N d. regardless of the circumstances

3290: What will be accepted as the shipping papers for an unmanned tank barge but will not be accepted if the tank barge is manned?

    N a. Bill of Lading
    Y b. Logbook entry
    N c. Manifest
    N d. Shipping document

3400: In a tow made up astern, the fishplate __________.

    Y a. connects the hawser to the bridle
    N b. connects the bridle to the tow
    N c. keeps the hawser amidships on the tug
    N d. is the capping piece on the "H" bitt

3520: A situation has occurred where it becomes necessary for you to be towed. What action should be taken to prevent your vessel from yawing?

    N a. Shift weight to the bow
    N b. Shift weight to the center of the boat
    Y c. Shift weight to the stern
    N d. Throw excess weight overboard

3686: If the towline parts, you should __________.

    N a. start pushing ahead
    N b. abandon the towing vessel
    Y c. retrieve the tow bridle
    N d. relieve strain on the retrieving line

3689: The wildcat is linked to the central drive shaft on most windlasses by __________.

    N a. an electromagnetic brake
    N b. a hydraulic coupling
    N c. aligning the keyways on both and inserting a key
    Y d. a mechanical coupling where lugs engage detents

3692: What provides little or no indication that a vessel is dragging anchor?

    N a. Increasing radar range to a fixed object ahead
    Y b. Drift lead with the line leading perpendicular to the centerline
    N c. Vibrations felt by placing a hand on the anchor cable
    N d. Changing bearings to distant fixed objects abeam

3982: Fairleads perform the same function as __________.

    N a. deadeyes
    N b. bollards
    N c. bitts
    Y d. chocks

4113: What is(are) standard operating procedure(s) used on a Ro-Ro vessel?

    Y a. Periodic inspection and retensioning of lashings as required during voyage
    N b. Lashings may be completed after the vessel leaves port
    N c. One QMED assigned to oversee the initial loading and lashing
    N d. All of the above

4178: Which of the following actions are stated in the correct order prior to loading or discharging cargo on a Ro-Ro vessel?

    Y a. Lower the stern ramp, raise/open the stern door, turn on ventilation for cargo holds
    N b. Turn on ventilation for cargo holds, raise/open the stern door, lower the stern ramp
    N c. Turn on ventilation for cargo holds, lower the stern ramp, raise/open the stern door
    N d. Raise/open the stern door, lower the stern ramp, turn on ventilation for cargo holds

4209: Pedestal cranes have limit switches to restrict the movement of which function?

    N a. Slew travel limits
    N b. Turntable limits
    N c. Luff travel limits
    Y d. All of the above

4242: What is the advantage of the tandem working arrangement of pedestal cranes when operating cargo?

    N a. The cranes enable the handling of heavy cargos without shoreside assistance
    N b. The cargo discharge can be accomplished with controlled pendulation
    N c. The cargo discharge can be performed in port or at anchor
    Y d. All of the above

4246: What does "level-luffing" accomplish during crane operations?

    N a. It prevents the load from swinging when the boom level is adjusted.
    N b. Less power is needed when topping the boom with a load on the hook.
    N c. It maintains the height of the load above the deck.
    Y d. All of the above

4276: During which condition should the operator of a pedestal crane shutdown operations?

    N a. Lightning in the vicinity
    N b. An approaching squall line
    N c. A fire on the pier
    Y d. All of the above