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.


27: Under title 46 of the United States Code, the person in charge of a documented vessel who fails to report a complaint of a sexual offense may be __________.


28: The stowage factor for a cargo is based upon __________.


122: You may be able to avoid loss of suction in a pump by __________.


248: Dunnage may be used to protect a cargo from loss or damage by _______________________ .

    Y a. ship's sweat
    N b. inherent vice
    N c. tainting
    N d. hygroscopic absorption

471: The official identification of a vessel is found in the __________.

    N a. Certificate of Inspection
    N b. Classification Certificate
    N c. Load Line Certificate
    Y d. Certificate of Documentation

517: What is the purpose of the intermediate spring?

    N a. Serves as a backup for the main tow hawser in case of failure.
    Y b. Provides weight and flexibility to the total tow makeup.
    N c. Lengthens the main tow hawser to keep the tow in step.
    N d. Distributes the towing load.

550: If the towing bridle legs are not of equal length __________.

    N a. excessive strain is placed on the shorter leg
    N b. the shorter leg may fail
    N c. the longer leg is slack
    Y d. All of the above

550: If the towing bridle legs are not of equal length __________.

    N a. excessive strain is placed on the shorter leg
    N b. the shorter leg may fail
    N c. the longer leg is slack
    Y d. All of the above

558: A heated bulkhead has the effect on a hygroscopic commodity of __________.

    N a. causing moisture to accumulate against the bulkhead
    N b. lowering the vapor pressure of the commodity
    N c. lowering the dew point of the air
    Y d. raising the vapor pressure of the commodity

569: In order to reduce the accumulation of static electricity while loading petroleum products, you should __________.

    N a. start to load at maximum pressure
    Y b. start to load slowly
    N c. increase the air flow into the tank
    N d. use the overall method of loading only

614: A fid is a __________.

    N a. mallet used when splicing wire rope
    N b. sharp pointed crow bar used to unlay wire rope
    N c. tapered steel pin used to separate wire rope
    Y d. tapered wooden pin used when splicing heavy rope

750: On a single-screw vessel the stern frame _____________,

    Y a. furnishes support to the rudder, propeller shaft, and transom frame
    N b. provides foundations for after mooring winches
    N c. provides foundations for the main propulsion engines
    N d. transfers the driving force of the propeller to the hull

799: Temporary Certificates of Inspection are effective until the __________.

    N a. Solas Certificate is issued
    N b. Load Line Certificate is renewed
    N c. classification society approval is issued
    Y d. permanent Certificate of Inspection is issued

800: A Kort nozzle is a(n) __________.

    Y a. hollow tube surrounding the propeller used to improve thrust
    N b. nozzle attached to a firefighting hose
    N c. intake valve on a diesel engine
    N d. piston cylinder on a diesel engine

887: The condition of a towline must be monitored by ______________ .

    N a. keeping record of the towline's initial minimum breaking strength
    N b. keeping record of each retest of the towline's minimum breaking strength
    N c. conducting routine visual inspections of the towline
    Y d. All of the above

890: A term applied to the bottom shell plating in a double-bottom ship is __________.

    N a. bottom floor
    Y b. outer bottom
    N c. shear plating
    N d. tank top

923: An advantage of nylon rope over manila rope is that nylon rope __________.

    Y a. can hold a load even when a considerable number of the yarns have been abraded
    N b. can be stored on deck, exposed to sunlight
    N c. can be used in conjunction with wire or spring-lay rope
    N d. gives audible warning of overstress whereas manila does not

951: The responsibility for maintaining the Official Logbook on voyages between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States rests with the __________.

    N a. Chief Mate of the vessel
    Y b. Master of the vessel
    N c. Deck Officer of the watch at the time of the occurrence
    N d. Purser of the vessel

984: To coil a right-laid rope, you should coil the line in __________.

    Y a. a clockwise direction
    N b. a counterclockwise direction
    N c. alternating clockwise and counterclockwise directions
    N d. either a clockwise or counterclockwise directions

1133: To properly rig the downhaul to your stage for lowering, you must __________.

    N a. take only figure eights around the horns
    Y b. take 2 or 3 round turns around the stage and then belay the downhaul around the horns
    N c. take 2 round turns around the stage and then dip the third turn to form a clove hitch
    N d. pass the downhaul through the bridle formed by the standing part and then take round turns

1155: In the context of shiphandling, what would be the definition of shallow water?

    Y a. Water depth of less than twice a vessel's draft
    N b. Water depth of less than 1½ times a vessel's draft
    N c. Under keel clearance of twice a vessel's draft
    N d. Under keel clearance of less than 10 feet

1245: While on watch at sea you must maintain a proper lookout at all times. On a 700-foot cargo vessel being hand-steered during daylight hours in good visibility and clear of any navigational hazards, the lookout may be __________.

    N a. the helmsman
    Y b. the mate on watch
    N c. Either A or B
    N d. Neither A nor B

1271: The citizenship of a crew member of a vessel in a U.S. port is determined solely by the __________.

    N a. Customs Officer
    Y b. Immigration Officer
    N c. Coast Guard
    N d. Union Official

1371: Delivery of a vessel to a charterer is called __________.

    N a. chartering
    N b. dispatching
    N c. fixing
    Y d. tendering

1464: When talking about wire rope, the lay of the wire is the __________.

    Y a. direction wires and strands are twisted together
    N b. number of strands in the wire
    N c. direction the core is twisted
    N d. material used in the core

1475: As shown, the mooring line labeled "G" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

    N a. forward spring line
    N b. offshore bow line
    N c. forward breast line
    Y d. inshore bow line

1686: When weighing anchor in a rough sea, how would you avoid risk of damaging the bow plating?

    N a. Heave it home as fast as you can.
    N b. Heave it home intermittently, between swells.
    Y c. Leave the anchor under foot, until the vessel may be brought before the sea.
    N d. Wait for a calm spot between seas, then house it.

1756: When anchoring a vessel, it is best to release the anchor when __________.

    N a. going full astern
    N b. going full ahead
    Y c. going slow astern
    N d. dead in the water

1794: A "figure eight" knot is used to __________.

    N a. be a stopper
    N b. shorten a line
    N c. join lines of equal size
    Y d. keep a line from passing through a sheave

1801: A vessel proceeding to London, England, from New York makes an unscheduled call at the port of Hamilton, Bermuda. What term is used to denote the voluntary departure from the usual course?

    N a. Alteration
    Y b. Deviation
    N c. Liberty
    N d. Unscheduled stop

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)

1893: A block and tackle is "rove to advantage". This means that the __________.

    N a. blocks have been overhauled
    N b. hauling parts of two tackles are attached
    Y c. hauling part leads through the movable block
    N d. hauling part leads through the standing block

1935: The knot lettered H in illustration DO30DG is a __________. (DO30DG )

    Y a. becket bend
    N b. bowline
    N c. plain whipping
    N d. crown knot

2027: Your vessel is issued a load line certificate dated 27 May 1992. What is NOT an acceptable date for one of the surveys for endorsements?

    N a. 28-Feb-93
    Y b. 27-Nov-93
    N c. 26-Aug-94
    N d. 27-May-95

2208: Under normal weather and sea conditions when securing a stack of containers with twist locks, lashings are required when the tier exceeds what height?

    N a. Lashings are always required
    N b. One container
    Y c. Two containers
    N d. Three containers

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

2259: You have determined the maneuvering characteristics of your vessel by taking radar ranges and bearings of an isolated light while making a turn. The results are as shown. Based on this data what is the advance for a turn of 90°? (D035DG )

    N a. 490 yards
    N b. 350 yards
    Y c. 800 yards
    N d. 885 yards

2282: Using the graph in illustration D008DG, if the dry bulb temperature is 77° and the wet bulb temperature is 69°, what is the relative humidity in a cargo hold? (D008DG )

    Y a. 67%
    N b. 70%
    N c. 77%
    N d. 81%

2396: Determine the area of a triangle with a base of 5.8 feet and a height of 2.1 feet.

    N a. 12.2 square ft.
    N b. 7.9 square ft.
    Y c. 6.1 square ft.
    N d. 3.0 square ft.

2461: In writing up the logbook at the end of your watch, you make an error in writing an entry. What is the proper way of correcting this error?

    N a. Carefully and neatly erase the entry and rewrite it correctly.
    Y b. Cross out the error with a single line, write the correct entry, and initial it.
    N c. Blot out the error completely and rewrite the entry correctly.
    N d. Remove this page of the log book and rewrite all entries on a clean page.

2470: Which type of bottom provides most anchors with the best holding ability?

    N a. Clay and rocks
    N b. Soft mud
    Y c. Sandy mud
    N d. Soft sand

2493: Your U.S. tankship is designed to carry anhydrous ammonia in bulk. The keel was laid in 1980. Which statement concerning the carriage of this cargo is TRUE?

    N a. A flammable gas detection system must be installed in each cargo pump room.
    N b. Tanks may not be located "on deck".
    N c. Carriage of this cargo is authorized by issuance of an IMO Certificate.
    Y d. Aluminum and copper alloys are prohibited from being in valve parts in contact with the cargo.

2528: Which entry on a dangerous cargo manifest concerning the classification of a cargo is correct?

    Y a. Class 8
    N b. Class 3 - flammable liquid
    N c. Division 2.2 - nonflammable gas
    N d. All of the above are correct

2772: The Coordinator Surface Search (CSS) in a SAR situation should display by night __________.

    N a. deck lights forward and aft
    N b. a white light over two red lights
    N c. a red light, white light, and blue light in a vertical line
    Y d. a distinctive signal promulgated by the CSS

2799: Who publishes the "Canadian List of Lights, Buoys and Fog Signals"?

    N a. The U.S. Coast Guard
    Y b. The Canadian Coast Guard
    N c. The U.S. Hydrographic Service
    N d. The Canadian Hydrographic Service

2892: What is LEAST likely to be used to strip a cargo tank?

    Y a. Centrifugal pump
    N b. Eductor
    N c. Rotary pump
    N d. Reciprocating pump

2929: A vessel is loaded to her summer marks for a voyage from Montreal, Canada to Duluth, MN via the Great Lakes System. The voyage has been estimated to take nine (9) days. If the vessel departs Montreal on September 28th, which of the following statements is TRUE?

    N a. The vessel must be at her summer marks when she arrives at Duluth.
    N b. The vessel is in violation of the load line requirements.
    Y c. The vessel's intermediate load line marks may not be submerged after September 30.
    N d. The vessel must be at her winter marks by the evening of the third day.

2929: A vessel is loaded to her summer marks for a voyage from Montreal, Canada to Duluth, MN via the Great Lakes System. The voyage has been estimated to take nine (9) days. If the vessel departs Montreal on September 28th, which of the following statements is TRUE?

    N a. The vessel must be at her summer marks when she arrives at Duluth.
    N b. The vessel is in violation of the load line requirements.
    Y c. The vessel's intermediate load line marks may not be submerged after September 30.
    N d. The vessel must be at her winter marks by the evening of the third day.

3103: 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? (Ignore broken stowage.) (D043DG )

    Y a. 779 cubic feet (22 cubic meters)
    N b. 992 cubic feet (28 cubic meters)
    N c. 1,047 cubic feet (30 cubic meters)
    N d. 112,125 cubic feet (3173 cubic meters)

3346: When connecting the tow bridle to a tug, the end of the bridle is passed with a __________.

    N a. heaving line
    N b. shot line
    N c. high line
    Y d. messenger line

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

3438: One advantage of chain over wire rope for a tow bridle is that chain __________.

    N a. is better suited for inland towing
    Y b. resists damage from chafing
    N c. handles more easily
    N d. equalizes towing forces better

3631: The number of certificated able seamen and lifeboatmen required on board is listed in the __________.

    Y a. Certificate of Inspection
    N b. American Bureau of Shipping code
    N c. Muster List ("Station Bill")
    N d. Safety of Life at Sea Convention

3719: Besides saving distance along the track line, another advantage of the Scharnow Turn over the Williamson Turn in a man overboard situation is because __________.

    Y a. it is faster
    N b. it can be used in both the immediate action and the delayed action situations
    N c. in fog, if the turn is started as soon as the man goes over, the vessel will be at the point where he went over when the turn is completed
    N d. it returns the vessel to the original track line on a reciprocal course

4014: The facewire refers to item __________. (D024DG )

    Y a. I
    N b. H
    N c. B
    N d. A

4032: The pivot pin at the base of a sheath-screw boom davit must be __________.

    N a. inserted each time before the booms are cranked out
    Y b. periodically removed for inspection and lubricated
    N c. replaced at each inspection for certification
    N d. in the locked position after the boat is cradled and griped down

4124: Which variable factor affects the initial lashing requirements aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Vessel's draft
    Y b. Center of gravity of vehicle or cargo unit
    N c. Changes in humidity
    N d. Age of vehicle or cargo unit

4229: Which of the following is/are the optional component(s) of a twin crane set as shown? (D047DG )

    N a. Boom assembly
    N b. Hook block assembly
    Y c. Rider block tagline system
    N d. All of the above

4252: Which action(s) is/are included in crane operations?

    N a. Normal boom stowage and shutdown operations
    N b. Emergency shutdown operation
    N c. Removing booms from stowage
    Y d. All of the above

4381: What does item "D" refer to in this illustration of a 30-ton pedestal crane? (D045DG )

    N a. Heel block
    N b. Gin block
    N c. Rider block
    Y d. Hook block