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.


32: The explosive range of a fuel lies between the lower explosive limit and the __________.


75: Frames to which the tank top and bottom shell are fastened are called __________.


95: You should keep clear of __________.


139: A "barrel" is a unit of liquid measure equivalent to __________.

    N a. 40 U.S. gallons at 50°F
    Y b. 42 U.S. gallons at 60°F
    N c. 43 U.S. gallons at 65°F
    N d. 45 U.S. gallons at 75°F

184: You are standing look-out duty at night. A dim light on the horizon will be seen quickest by looking __________.

    N a. at an area just a little below the horizon
    N b. at the horizon, where the sky and water appear to meet
    Y c. a little above the horizon
    N d. well below the horizon

265: Which statement is TRUE about hooks and shackles?

    N a. Hooks are stronger than shackles of the same diameter.
    Y b. Shackles are stronger than hooks of the same diameter.
    N c. Hooks and shackles of the same diameter are of equal strength.
    N d. All the above may be true, depending on the hook's or shackle's overall length.

407: You are carrying cargoes of crotonaldehyde, phosphoric acid, and morpholine on your multiple-product tankship. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    Y a. Each of the cargoes must be segregated from the other by at least two barriers.
    N b. The minimum protective clothing required for taking samples of phosphoric acid is goggles or a face shield.
    N c. Aluminum, copper, and zinc are prohibited in all valve parts in contact with these cargoes.
    N d. The required warning sign must have the legend "cancer hazard" added to it.

504: Anchors are prevented from running out when secured by the __________.

    N a. brake
    N b. devil's claw
    N c. pawls
    Y d. All 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

514: The part of an anchor which takes hold on the bottom is the __________.

    N a. arm
    N b. base
    Y c. fluke
    N d. stock

524: The purpose of the stripping bar on an anchor windlass is to __________.

    N a. clean off any mud that may have accumulated on the chain
    N b. engage or disengage the wildcat
    N c. fairlead the chain from the hawsepipe to the wildcat
    Y d. prevent the chain from fouling the wildcat

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

762: A towing winch, that handles a wire towline, must have all of the following EXCEPT a ____________ .

    N a. device that evenly spools and tightly winds the towline
    N b. brake with holding power appropriate for the vessel's horsepower or bollard pull
    N c. brake that can be operated when there is no power available to drive the winch
    Y d. source of emergency power to operate the winch

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

858: The lower hold of your vessel has a bale capacity of 60,000 cubic feet. How many tons of cotton in bales having a stowage factor of 85 can be stowed in the lower hold, assuming a broken stowage factor of 20%?

    N a. 141
    Y b. 565
    N c. 706
    N d. 847

913: When commencing cargo operations on a container ship, one cell at a hatch is generally discharged completely (to the bottom of the ship) before removing any containers from the adjoining cells to ____________.

    N a. remove an existing list that would slow down cargo operations
    Y b. initiate loading in conjunction with unloading at the hatch
    N c. improve stability during cargo operations
    N d. allow longshoremen easy access to the hatch

941: Which logbook is required to be submitted to the Coast Guard?

    Y a. Official Log
    N b. Smooth log
    N c. Rough log
    N d. Bell log

999: You are loading 530,000 barrels of cargo oil. At 0945 on 13 April, you find that you have loaded 202,000 barrels. At 1130, you find that you have loaded 223,000 barrels. If you continue at the same rate, you will finish at __________.

    N a. 1322, 13 April
    N b. 1920, 13 April
    N c. 1120, 14 April
    Y d. 1305, 14 April

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

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

1190: A normal safe working load for used nylon rope in good conditon is __________.

    N a. 10% of its breaking strain
    Y b. 25% of its breaking strain
    N c. 33% of its breaking strain
    N d. 50% of its breaking strain

1190: A normal safe working load for used nylon rope in good conditon is __________.

    N a. 10% of its breaking strain
    Y b. 25% of its breaking strain
    N c. 33% of its breaking strain
    N d. 50% of its breaking strain

1228: A cargo exception would appear on __________.

    Y a. a Bill of Lading
    N b. the cargo manifest
    N c. the Export Declaration
    N d. a Letter of Indemnity

1266: You are docking a vessel in a slip which has its entrance athwart the tide. You land the ship across the end of the pier, stemming the tide, preparatory to breaking the ship around the corner. You have one tug to assist. Where would you generally tie up the tug?

    N a. Have her on a hawser from the stern.
    N b. Tie her up on the inshore bow to hold the ship off the end.
    Y c. Tie her up on the offshore bow.
    N d. Tie her up on the inshore quarter to lift the stern.

1287: The term "shift the rudder" means __________.

    Y a. change from right (left) to left (right) rudder an equal amount
    N b. use right or left rudder
    N c. check, but do not stop the vessel from swinging
    N d. put the rudder amidships

1399: Which part of a cargo boom has the greatest diameter?

    N a. Head
    Y b. Middle
    N c. Heel
    N d. It has the same diameter along its complete length.

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

1503: Which knot should be used to send a man over the side when he may have to use both hands?

    N a. Bowline
    Y b. French bowline
    N c. Bowline on a bight
    N d. Running bowline

1503: Which knot should be used to send a man over the side when he may have to use both hands?

    N a. Bowline
    Y b. French bowline
    N c. Bowline on a bight
    N d. Running bowline

1649: What is required to be stenciled at the heel of a cargo boom?

    N a. Maximum angle of elevation permitted
    N b. Date of the last quadrennial test
    Y c. Safe working load
    N d. Maximum load when doubled up

1672: You are to load a consignment of lumber. Each piece measures 2-inches thick, 10-inches wide and 16-feet long. There are 30,000 pieces in the shipment. How many board feet would be listed on the Bill of Lading?

    Y a. 800,000
    N b. 1,200,000
    N c. 1,440,000
    N d. 14,400,000

1695: What is the perimeter of a circle with a radius of 3.7 feet?

    N a. 11.62 ft
    N b. 17.49 ft
    Y c. 23.25 ft
    N d. 25.72 ft

1752: Your containership has a container displaying a hazardous cargo placard. The placard has the number 2199 on it. This indicates that it is carrying what cargo?

    N a. Furan
    Y b. Phosphine
    N c. Adiponitrile
    N d. Xylenol

1793: The lines led forward from the bow and aft from the stern when a vessel is moored to the dock are __________.

    Y a. bow and stern lines
    N b. breast lines
    N c. halyards
    N d. warps

1809: The greatest horizontal stress between the heads of the booms in the yard and stay rig occurs when the load is in such a position that the __________.

    Y a. falls are at an equal angle to the horizontal
    N b. stay fall is vertical
    N c. stay fall is at a greater angle to the horizontal than the yard fall
    N d. yard fall is at a greater angle to the horizontal than the stay fall

1898: Back-up wires on a towed vessel provide __________.

    N a. a factor of safety
    N b. additional strength
    N c. a distribution of the towing load
    Y d. All of the above

1959: A vessel is involved in a casualty. The cost of property damage includes the __________.

    N a. damage claims awarded to individuals or companies involved in the casualty, up to a maximum of $50,000
    N b. loss of revenue while the vessel is being repaired, up to a maximum of $50,000
    Y c. cost of labor and material to restore the vessel to the service condition which existed before the casualty
    N d. All of the above

2155: A case received for shipment has the markings shown. Each carton measures 13" X 15" X 23". What is the total cubic capacity the entire consignment will occupy if you assume 10% broken stowage? (D043DG )

    N a. 779 cubic feet (22 cubic meters)
    Y b. 857 cubic feet (24 cubic meters)
    N c. 1047 cubic feet (30 cubic meters)
    N d. 112,125 cubic feet (3173 cubic meters)

2197: You are signing on crew members. The minimum number of people required aboard, and the qualifications of each, is listed on the __________.

    N a. Crew list
    N b. fo'c'sle card
    Y c. Certificate of Inspection
    N d. Articles of Agreement

2266: Your vessel has been damaged and is partially flooded. The first step to be taken in attempting to save the vessel is to __________.

    Y a. establish flooding boundaries and prevent further spread of flood water
    N b. plug the hole(s) in the outer shell
    N c. pump out the water inside the vessel
    N d. calculate the free surface effect and lost buoyancy to determine the vessel's stability

2387: What is the area of a circle with a diameter of 2 feet after a sector of 60° has been removed?

    N a. 0.25 square ft.
    N b. 0.52 square ft.
    N c. 2.09 square ft.
    Y d. 2.62 square ft.

2550: When a small craft's anchor fouls in a rocky bottom, the first attempt to clear it should be made by __________.

    N a. hauling vertically on the line
    N b. making the line fast to the bitt and bringing the vessel further forward
    Y c. reversing the angle and direction of pull, with moderate scope
    N d. increasing the scope and running slowly in a wide circle with the anchor line taut

2617: The operator of an uninspected vessel MUST assist people affected by an accident if he or she can do so without __________.

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

2709: A vessel which is being assisted by an icebreaker should indicate that she is ready to cast off the towline by __________.

    Y a. displaying code letter "Y" (Yankee)
    N b. sounding five short blasts on his whistle
    N c. displaying code numeral "5"
    N d. sounding one prolonged blast on his whistle

2936: Storms that enter the Great Lakes Basin from the west and northwest at a peak in October are the products of pressure systems known as __________.

    N a. Northwesters
    Y b. Alberta lows
    N c. Fata morgana
    N d. Polar highs

3091: Towlines should be inspected for chafing where the towline __________.

    N a. passes over the stern of the towing vessel
    N b. passes through chocks
    N c. is attached to the disabled vessel
    Y d. All of the above

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

3211: With the buttress securing system, containers of different heights must be stowed __________.

    N a. on the bottom tier on deck
    N b. in the hold
    N c. next to the buttress tower
    Y d. on the top tier

3260: When underway with a tow, you must notify the Coast Guard of which casualty?

    N a. Damage to property amounting to $1,500
    N b. Loss of bridge-to-bridge radio capability
    N c. An injury requiring first aid
    Y d. Loss of main propulsion

3370: In astern towing, a tow span, also called the "tow bar" or "towing arch", is used to __________.

    N a. insure that the hawser leads directly aft as it passes over the stern of the towing vessel
    N b. increase the stability of the towing vessel by raising the hawser off the deck
    N c. reduce chafing of the towing hawser
    Y d. prevent fouling of the hawser on deck gear located on the stern of the towing vessel

3372: The lead of a tow bridle is usually redirected with a __________.

    N a. bollard
    Y b. chock
    N c. pad eye
    N d. devil's claw

3463: Deckhands onboard towing vessels shall be divided into 3 watches when the trip exceeds __________.

    N a. 1000 miles
    N b. 800 miles
    N c. 700 miles
    Y d. 600 miles

3518: A tug's horsepower available at the shaft is __________.

    N a. indicated horsepower
    Y b. brake horsepower
    N c. dynamic horsepower
    N d. net horsepower

3604: The Jews' harp is indicated by which letter? (D038DG )

    Y a. K
    N b. J
    N c. H
    N d. F

3645: Conventional anchors are least likely to hold in a bottom consisting of __________.

    N a. soft clay
    N b. hard mud
    Y c. very soft mud
    N d. sand

4050: You are on a 120,000 DWT loaded bulk carrier. When anchoring without the aid of tugs, your maximum speed should not exceed how many feet per second?

    Y a. 0.5 (0.3 knot)
    N b. 1.0 (0.6 knot)
    N c. 1.3 (0.8 knot)
    N d. 1.75 (1.0 knot)

4122: The lashings used on Ro-Ro vessels should be capable of withstanding the forces of __________.

    N a. pitching and heaving
    N b. rolling
    N c. any force of gravity acting on the lashes
    Y d. All of the above

4275: During which condition should the operator of a pedestal crane shutdown operations?

    N a. Lightning
    N b. High winds
    N c. Fire aboard
    Y d. All of the above

4279: 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.
    Y b. Taglines are wire ropes payed-out or taken-in for horizontal positioning of the rider block.
    N c. Taglines can be can be fastened to the corners of the jib when lifting containers.
    N d. The taglines are wire rope purchease that raise and lower the topping lift.

4390: When a helmsman receives the command "Right 15 degrees rudder," the helmsman's immediate reply should be __________.

    N a. "Rudder is right 15 degrees"
    N b. "Aye Aye Sir"
    N c. No reply is necessary, just carry out the order
    Y d. "Right 15 degrees rudder"