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.


92: You start a centrifugal cargo pump to discharge cargo. The pump works for a while and then loses suction. This could be caused by __________.


178: Which can be prevented only by segregating two lots of cargo into separate holds?


272: When measuring the oxygen content of the cargo tanks prior to loading cargoes requiring vapor recovery, check it __________.


306: You are aboard a single-screw vessel with a right-handed propeller. The vessel is dead in the water and the rudder is amidships. If you reverse your engine you would expect your vessel to __________.

    Y a. kick its stern to port
    N b. kick its stern to starboard
    N c. move astern without swinging
    N d. swing its stern to starboard, then to port

361: The strictest load line regulations apply to __________.

    N a. gas carriers
    N b. freighters (break-bulk)
    Y c. passenger ships
    N d. tankers

374: Holes in the bulwark, which allow deck water to drain into the sea, are __________.

    N a. doggers
    N b. fidleys
    Y c. freeing ports
    N d. swash ports

420: In handling break bulk hazardous materials, it is forbidden to use __________.

    N a. cargo nets
    Y b. metal bale hooks
    N c. pallets
    N d. slings

431: Official proof of an American vessel's nationality is contained in the __________.

    N a. Certificate of Inspection
    N b. Official Log
    Y c. Certificate of Documentation
    N d. Shipping Articles

439: When loading bulk liquid cargo, what is the FIRST action you should take if a cargo valve jammed open?

    N a. Trip the pump relief valve.
    Y b. Order the dock man to shut down.
    N c. Call the owner, operator, or terminal supervisor.
    N d. Run out the vessel's or terminal's fire hose.

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

466: A twin screw vessel, making headway with both engines turning ahead, will turn more readily to starboard if you __________.

    N a. reverse port engine, apply right rudder
    N b. reverse port engine, rudder amidships
    Y c. reverse starboard engine, apply right rudder
    N d. reverse starboard engine, rudder amidships

640: Which factor(s) can affect the performance of a river towboat?

    N a. The draft of the towboat and the draft of the barges under tow
    N b. The placement of the barges within the tow
    N c. The presence of flanking rudders and Kort nozzles
    Y d. All of the above

699: Under which condition is a tug likely to be tripped?

    N a. When the tow "jumps" on the line
    N b. While making up to tow a large oil rig
    Y c. When the towing hawser leads forward of the quarter
    N d. When the tug exerts maximum bollard pull with the tow close astern

826: In order to reduce your wake in a narrow channel you should __________.

    N a. apply enough rudder to counter the effect of the current
    N b. change your course to a zigzag course
    Y c. reduce your speed
    N d. shift the weight to the stern

828: Your vessel's available bale cubic capacity is 625,000 and her available cargo capacity is 10,000 deadweight tons. Disregarding broken stowage, how many tons of pyrite (stowage factor - 13) and how many tons of cork (s.f. - 150) must be loaded to be full and down?

    Y a. 6387 tons pyrite, 3613 tons cork
    N b. 6721 tons pyrite, 3279 tons cork
    N c. 7500 tons pyrite, 2500 tons cork
    N d. 9133 tons pyrite, 867 tons cork

1102: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "B" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

    N a. after breast line
    N b. after spring line
    Y c. inshore stern line
    N d. offshore stern line

1181: Uncleared crew curios remaining on board during a domestic coastwise voyage after returning from foreign should be __________.

    N a. listed in the Official Logbook
    N b. cleared prior to the next foreign voyage
    Y c. noted in the Traveling Curio Manifest
    N d. retained under locked security by the owner

1215: What is an advantage in the use of a towing hook?

    N a. To prevent the tug from becoming tripped
    N b. To quickly connect or release a tow, especially a sinking tow
    N c. To facilitate berthing maneuvers
    Y d. All of the above

1241: A Notice of Marine Casualty to a vessel must include __________.

    N a. the estimated cost of damage
    Y b. the name of the owner or agent of the vessel
    N c. an evaluation of who was at fault
    N d. the amount of ballast on board

1252: Control of flooding should be addressed __________.

    N a. first
    Y b. following control of fire
    N c. following restoration of vital services
    N d. only if a threat exists

1369: What is meant by "spotting the boom"?

    N a. Lowering it into a cradle
    Y b. Placing it in a desired position
    N c. Spotting it with wash primer and red lead
    N d. Two-blocking it

1443: The Safety of Life at Sea Convention was developed by the __________.

    N a. U.S. Coast Guard
    N b. American Bureau of Shipping
    Y c. International Maritime Organization
    N d. American Institute of Maritime Shipping

1559: It is permissible to place an eye splice in wire rope used as cargo gear providing the splice is made using __________.

    N a. two tucks with whole strands and one tuck with one-half strand
    Y b. three tucks with whole strands and two tucks with 1/2 the wire cut from the tucking strand
    N c. three tucks with whole strands
    N d. two tucks with whole strands and three tucks with half strands

1601: What would be prima facie evidence of unseaworthiness?

    Y a. Overloading
    N b. Overstowage
    N c. Overbooking
    N d. Overcarriage

1660: The strake on each side of the keel is called a __________.

    N a. sheer strake
    N b. gatewood strake
    N c. insulation strake
    Y d. garboard strake

1660: The strake on each side of the keel is called a __________.

    N a. sheer strake
    N b. gatewood strake
    N c. insulation strake
    Y d. garboard strake

1871: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) when you wish to send a message concerning your ships diversion. Which precedence would you assign this message?

    N a. O (IMMEDIATE)
    N b. Z (FLASH)
    N c. R (ROUTINE)
    Y d. P (PRIORITY)

2005: A block that can be opened at the hook or shackle end to receive a bight of the line is a __________.

    N a. bight block
    N b. gin block
    N c. heel block
    Y d. snatch block

2073: You are preparing to lubricate standing rigging on your vessel. When rigging a bosun's chair on a stay with a shackle, __________.

    N a. connect the shackle to the bosun's chair with a hook
    Y b. never allow the shackle pin to ride on the stay
    N c. run the gantline through the shackle and then make fast to the bosun's chair
    N d. tie the bitter end of the gantline to the shackle before shackling it to the bosun's chair

2116: What is the name of tackle number 10 in illustration DO29DG? (DO29DG )

    N a. Two-two purchase
    N b. Deck purchase
    Y c. Two-fold purchase
    N d. Double runner

2185: You are using tackle number 7 to lift a weight of 100 lbs. If you include 10 percent of the weight for each sheave for friction, what is the pull on the hauling part required to lift the weight? (DO29DG )

    N a. 200 lbs.
    N b. 150 lbs.
    N c. 110 lbs.
    Y d. 55 lbs.

2222: The lower seam of the strake indicated by the letter B is sometimes riveted. This is done to __________. (D033DG )

    N a. increase the strength in a highly stressed area
    N b. provide the flexibility inherent in a riveted seam
    Y c. serve as a crack arrestor and prevent hull girder failure
    N d. reduce construction costs

2238: What is the area of a circle with a radius of 12 feet after a sector of 60° has been removed?

    N a. 18.85 square feet
    N b. 75.40 square feet
    N c. 94.25 square feet
    Y d. 376.99 square feet

2534: Great Lakes vessels, using liferafts, must have sufficient liferaft capacity on each side of the vessel to accommodate at least __________.

    N a. 50% of the persons on board
    Y b. 100% of the persons on board
    N c. 100% of the persons normally assigned to those spaces
    N d. 150% of the crew

2551: What welding pattern is NOT used to permanently attach a stiffener to a plate?

    N a. Chain intermittent
    Y b. Tack
    N c. Continuous
    N d. Staggered intermittent

2566: The welds used to join shell plates in flush construction are known as __________.

    Y a. butt welds
    N b. seam welds
    N c. fillet welds
    N d. continuous welds

2588: Rivets are usually made of __________.

    N a. wrought-iron
    N b. aluminum
    N c. high-tensile steel
    Y d. mild steel

2590: Which method of adjusting mooring lines is MOST useful for leaving a boat free to rise and fall with the tide?

    Y a. Crossing the spring lines
    N b. Slacking all forward running lines while keeping all after running lines taut
    N c. Doubling up on spring or breast lines
    N d. Slacking bow and stern lines

2591: A tow astern is veering from side to side on its towline. The best way of controlling the action is to __________.

    N a. trim the tow by the bow
    Y b. trim the tow by the stern
    N c. list the tow to windward
    N d. adjust the length of the towing bridle

2622: You must shore up the collision bulkhead due to solid flooding forward. The bulkhead approximates an inverted triangle. The center of pressure of the shores on the bulkhead should be located __________.

    N a. evenly over the surface of the bulkhead
    Y b. approximately two-thirds of the way up the bulkhead
    N c. approximately halfway up the bulkhead
    N d. at the bottom of the bulkhead

2656: What is an example of the term "Restraint of Rulers, Princes, or Peoples" in a marine insurance policy?

    Y a. A prohibition from loading a cargo from a country when the cargo may be a carrier of infectious diseases.
    N b. Arrest of a vessel by legal authorities to satisfy claims through exercise of a maritime lien.
    N c. Damage caused by riot of the population of a port.
    N d. Losses caused by fines from polluting the harbor after malfunction of a piping system.

2802: The single line located directly above the diamond is the __________. (D031DG )

    N a. load line
    N b. water line
    N c. freeboard line
    Y d. deck line

2805: "Hard right rudder" means __________.

    N a. jam the rudder against the stops
    Y b. put the rudder over to the right all the way
    N c. meet a swing to the right, then return to amidships
    N d. put the rudder over quickly to 15 degrees right rudder

2930: A large vessel is equipped with a controllable pitch propeller. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. When dead in the water, it is often difficult to find the neutral position and slight headway or sternway may result.
    N b. When going directly from full ahead to full astern, there is complete steering control.
    N c. When the vessel has headway and the propeller is in neutral, there is no effect on rudder control.
    N d. When maneuvering in port, full ahead or astern power can usually be obtained without changing shaft RPM.

2958: The bow thruster generally is ineffective at __________.

    Y a. over 3 knots headway
    N b. at any speed astern
    N c. at any speed ahead
    N d. over 1 knot sternway

2994: Nearly half of all storms that enter the Great Lakes Basin during the period from October through May come from __________.

    N a. highs which originate in the east and east central USA
    N b. lows which originate in north central and western Canada
    N c. highs which originate in north eastern and eastern Canada
    Y d. lows which originate in the central and western USA

3044: When you have a tow alongside, your stern should extend aft of the tow in order to __________.

    N a. avoid obscuring your stern light
    N b. provide a better lead for your lines
    Y c. obtain better steering control
    N d. let the barge deflect floating objects from your propeller

3095: You are standing the wheelwatch when you hear the cry, "Man overboard starboard side". You should instinctively __________.

    N a. give full left rudder
    N b. put the rudder amidships
    Y c. give full right rudder
    N d. throw a life ring to mark the spot

3204: What term indicates the immersed body of the vessel forward of the parallel mid-body?

    N a. Run
    N b. Flare
    Y c. Entrance
    N d. Sheer

3414: You are lifting a 3-ton weight with a single whip rove on a swinging boom set at an angle 20° to the horizontal. Use the formula for the size of a shackle with a safe working load and determine the minimum size shackle that should be used to secure the head block to the boom.

    Y a. 1 3/8 inch
    N b. 1 1/2 inch
    N c. 1 5/8 inch
    N d. 1 3/4 inch

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

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

4088: With a given load on the cargo hook, the thrust on a cargo boom __________.

    Y a. increases as the angle to the horizontal increases
    N b. increases as the angle to the horizontal decreases
    N c. is greatest at an angle of 45° and decreases as the boom is raised or lowered
    N d. is least at an angle of 45° and increases as the boom is raised or lowered

4101: Which of the following is a characteristic of a Ro-Ro vessel?

    N a. Passenger tours available upon docking
    N b. Long port stays necessary to secure vehicles
    Y c. Short in port turnaround times
    N d. Heavy vehicles only require lightweight securing equipment

4120: Which of the following is considered auxiliary securing equipment that provides extra reliability to lashing in Ro-Ro transport operations?

    N a. Trailer trestles
    N b. Pedestals
    N c. Wheel chocks
    Y d. All of the above

4145: Which tensioning device is used with webbing to secure light vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Chain lever
    N b. Turnbuckle
    N c. Adjust-a-matic tensioner
    Y d. Ratchet tensioner

4153: What should you be concerned with when loading and securing vehicles on a Ro-Ro?

    Y a. Number, position and angle of lashes
    N b. Number of axles
    N c. Disconnecting the battery cables to prevent fire hazard
    N d. Minor air pressure changes in the tires

4156: Which element(s) should be taken into account in the preparation of the "Cargo Securing Manual"?

    N a. Weight of the vehicles
    N b. Geographical area of the voyage
    N c. Dynamic forces under adverse weather conditions
    Y d. All of the above

4186: How could lashing gear used aboard Ro-Ro vessels be stowed when not in use?

    Y a. Drape along brackets
    N b. Leave in place while back loading cargo to save time
    N c. Hang vertically in the paint locker
    N d. All of the above

4236: What is another description for a tandem crane lift?

    N a. Single crane hoisting 30 tons
    N b. Twin cranes hoisting 60 tons
    Y c. Quad lift hoisting 120 tons
    N d. All of the above

4281: Which statement is TRUE concerning a tagline as used with a 30-ton pedestal crane?

    N a. Taglines are wire rope purchases that raise and lower the jib.
    N b. Taglines are wire ropes payed-out or taken-in for positioning the crane pedestal.
    Y c. Taglines can be fastened to the corners of vehicles or containers during cargo operations.
    N d. Taglines are wire rope purchases that raise and lower the topping lift.