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.


162: Oil may NOT be transferred unless __________.


196: A VLCC (100,000 DWT+) with a 30,000 Shaft Horsepower Steam Turbine is slow to respond to engine movements and has less stopping power than normal ships because it has a __________.


251: A seaman lost his continuous discharge book during the voyage. Upon discharge from Articles, he should be issued a __________.


441: The document which shows a vessel's nationality, ownership, and tonnage is the __________.

    N a. Manifest Certificate
    N b. Bill of Lading Certificate
    Y c. Certificate of Documentation
    N d. Official Logbook

465: Which structural members improve a towing vessel's chance of surviving punctured shell plating?

    N a. Stringers
    N b. Longitudinals
    Y c. Transverse watertight bulkheads
    N d. The rake

659: You are planning to use the crude oil washing system on your tankship. What is required to prevent electrostatic buildup in the tanks?

    N a. The portable machines must be set at the proper drop for the first wash before the fixed machines are used.
    Y b. The source tank for the tank cleaning machines must have least one meter decanted from it.
    N c. The inert gas system must reduce the oxygen content in the tanks to a maximum of 18%.
    N d. The fixed machines must be operated simultaneously with the portable machines to equalize the electrostatic potential.

727: Which space(s) is(are) deducted from gross tonnage to derive net tonnage?

    N a. Galley fitted with range or oven
    N b. Open structures
    N c. Passenger spaces
    Y d. Boatswain's stores

806: Which will most likely occur when entering shallow water?

    N a. Rudder action will become more effective.
    N b. The vessel's list will change.
    Y c. The vessel's trim will change.
    N d. An increase in speed will occur.

897: Which factor(s) might indicate that a towline should be removed from service?

    N a. Visible damage to the towline, including fishhooks.
    N b. Measurements showing a decrease in diameter.
    N c. A surface condition of corrosion and discoloration.
    Y d. All of the above

916: A condition where two currents meet at the downstream end of a middle bar can be determined by a __________.

    N a. small whirlpool
    N b. smooth patch of water
    Y c. V-shaped ripple with the point of the V pointing downstream
    N d. V-shaped ripple with the point of the V pointing upstream

922: You are on watch at sea at night, and a fire breaks out in #3 hold. What would you NOT do immediately?

    N a. Shut down the cargo hold ventilation.
    N b. Sound the fire alarm signal to rouse out all hands.
    N c. Call the Master.
    Y d. Proceed to the space and inspect the extent of the fire.

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

980: The perforated, elevated bottom of the chain locker, which prevents the chains from touching the main locker bottom and allows seepage water to flow to the drains, is called a __________.

    N a. cradle
    N b. draft
    N c. harping
    Y d. manger

1164: Which type of line floats?

    N a. Dacron
    N b. Nylon
    N c. Old manila
    Y d. Polypropylene

1201: When clearing customs for a foreign voyage, which of the following is processed at the custom's house and returned to the vessel?

    Y a. Shipping Articles
    N b. Traveling Curio Manifest
    N c. Official Logbook
    N d. Cargo Gear Register

1217: The proper way to correct a mistake in the logbook is to __________.

    N a. erase the entry and rewrite
    Y b. draw a line through the entry, rewrite, and initial the correction
    N c. draw several lines through the entry, rewrite, and initial the correction
    N d. completely black out the entry, rewrite, and initial the correction

1325: 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
    Y b. Certificate of Inspection
    N c. Articles of Agreement
    N d. fo'c'sle card

1374: Which type of stopper should be used to stop off wire rope?

    Y a. Chain
    N b. Manila
    N c. Polypropylene
    N d. Wire

1462: Two mooring lines may be placed on the same bollard and either one cast off first if __________.

    Y a. the eye of the second line is dipped
    N b. the mooring lines are doubled
    N c. the bollard has two horns
    N d. one of the lines is a breast line

1483: The knot used to join two lines or two large hawsers for towing is called a __________.

    N a. square knot
    Y b. carrick bend
    N c. sheet bend
    N d. bowline

1603: Which weakens a line the LEAST?

    N a. Clove hitch
    N b. Long splice
    Y c. Short splice
    N d. Square knot

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

1755: Which knot shown is a French bowline? (DO30DG )

    N a. L
    Y b. T
    N c. Q
    N d. W

1786: You are anchoring in a river where the current is from one direction only. The best way to lay out two anchors is to have them __________.

    N a. directly in line with the bow
    N b. side by side, with their lines on the port and starboard side
    Y c. so that their lines form an angle
    N d. on top of one another

1881: In time of war Naval Control of Shipping Authorities may give orders concerning the __________.

    N a. cargo to be loaded
    N b. final destination
    Y c. ship's route
    N d. All of the above

1894: A load line is assigned by __________.

    N a. the U.S. Customs
    N b. the U.S. Department of Energy
    N c. the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
    Y d. a recognized classification society approved by the U.S. Coast Guard

1972: Payment of penalty for a ship's delay after the expiration of lay days due to some fault of the charterer or his agent is known as __________.

    Y a. demurrage
    N b. late fee
    N c. miscibility
    N d. volatility

1976: Which letter indicates a longitudinal? (D033DG )

    N a. C
    N b. E
    Y c. L
    N d. M

1980: What is the name of the mark indicated by the letter C? (DO03DG )

    Y a. Fresh water line
    N b. Tropical water line
    N c. Summer water line
    N d. Winter North Atlantic water line

1993: The usual method of arranging a line on deck so that it will run out easily without kinking or fouling is __________.

    N a. coiling the line
    Y b. faking down the line
    N c. flemishing the line
    N d. racking the line

1999: When shoring a damaged bulkhead, effort should be taken to spread the pressure over the __________.

    Y a. maximum possible area
    N b. minimum possible area
    N c. nearest watertight door
    N d. nearest longitudinal girder

2020: To facilitate passing the end of a large rope through a block, you could use a __________.

    N a. gantline
    N b. head line
    Y c. reeving line
    N d. sail line

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

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

2135: A load line certificate is valid for how many years?

    N a. 1
    N b. 2
    N c. 3
    Y d. 5

2216: What is the mechanical advantage, neglecting friction, of tackle number 4? (DO29DG )

    N a. 1
    N b. 2
    N c. 3
    Y d. 4

2486: Which weld fault can only be detected by a method that examines the internal structure of a weld?

    N a. Undercut
    N b. Lack of reinforcement
    N c. Overlap
    Y d. Lack of penetration

2494: The major components which determine the length of a catenary in a deployed anchor cable are water depth, cable weight, and __________.

    Y a. cable tension
    N b. water temperature
    N c. bottom conditions
    N d. water density

2556: The type of joint formed when a third small plate is riveted over two plates butted together is called a __________.

    N a. butted joint
    N b. lap joint
    Y c. strap joint
    N d. stringer joint

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

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

2890: A vessel cannot comply with all of the SOLAS requirements due to its construction. Where will this be indicated?

    N a. Nowhere; the vessel must comply to engage in international trade.
    N b. On the reverse of the SOLAS certificate
    Y c. On the Exemption Certificate
    N d. On the Certificate of Inspection

3075: 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)
    Y b. P (PRIORITY)
    N c. R (ROUTINE)
    N d. Z (FLASH)

3083: You are signing on crew members. The minimum number of people required aboard, and the qualifications of each, is listed on the __________.

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

3176: The part of the anchor indicated by the letter G is the __________. (D038DG )

    N a. fluke
    N b. shank
    Y c. tripping palm
    N d. crown

3180: A license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard for Master of Towing Vessels is valid for __________.

    N a. 2 years and must be renewed
    N b. 3 years and must be renewed
    Y c. 5 years and must be renewed
    N d. life and need not be renewed

3206: The signal man assisting a crane operator has his arm extended, thumb pointing downwards, flexing fingers in and out. This is the signal to __________.

    Y a. lower the boom and raise the load
    N b. lower the load and raise the boom
    N c. raise the boom and lower the load
    N d. raise the load and lower the boom

3360: On a light tow, what could you substitute for a fishplate?

    Y a. heart-shaped shackle
    N b. pelican hook
    N c. swivel
    N d. ring

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

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

3712: When should a crane boom-up so high that the boom hits the stops?

    N a. Only if the load has not exceeded the limit at that angle
    N b. Only if the load contains non-hazardous materials
    N c. Only if necessary to perform a given lift
    Y d. Never

4006: No hot work shall be performed on board a vessel with hazardous materials as cargo unless the work is approved by the __________.

    N a. American Bureau of Shipping
    Y b. local U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port
    N c. National Cargo Bureau
    N d. harbormaster

4052: You are arriving in port and are assigned to anchor in anchorage circle B-4. It has a diameter of 700 yards and your vessel's LOA is 600 feet. If you anchor in 11 fathoms at the center of the circle, what is the maximum number of shots of chain can use and still remain in the circle?

    N a. 4 shots
    Y b. 5 shots
    N c. 6 shots
    N d. 7 shots

4069: The horizontal fore-and-aft movement of a vessel is called __________.

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

4135: An advantage of using chain lashing on heavy vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels is that it __________.

    Y a. has long life
    N b. is light weight
    N c. absorbs shock
    N d. has fine adjustment

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

4207: Which piece of equipment is required to "twin-up" 30-ton pedestal cranes aboard a crane vessel?

    N a. Portable power swivel
    N b. 20-foot container spreader
    N c. 40-foot container spreader
    Y d. None of the above

4207: Which piece of equipment is required to "twin-up" 30-ton pedestal cranes aboard a crane vessel?

    N a. Portable power swivel
    N b. 20-foot container spreader
    N c. 40-foot container spreader
    Y d. None 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

4382: What does item "C" refer to in this illustration of a 30-ton pedestal crane? (D045DG )

    N a. Equalizing beam
    N b. Hoist fall spreader
    Y c. Rider block
    N d. Block/hook assembly