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.


136: Under the federal regulations, what minimum level of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) constitutes a violation of the laws prohibiting Boating Under the Influence of Alcohol (BUI) on commercial vessels?


177: The measurement of the amount of force a towing vessel is capable of applying to a motionless tow is called __________.


282: The owner, agent, Master or person-in-charge of a "T-Boat" involved in a marine casualty causing injury that requires professional medical treatment must __________.


297: Commercial ships or other persons or agencies requiring the assistance of Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers should first contact __________.

    N a. the Canadian Coast Guard
    Y b. Ice Sarnia
    N c. the Ice Navigation Center
    N d. the icebreaker assigned to the area

349: The periodic weight testing of a vessel's cargo booms may be performed by the __________.

    N a. U.S. Coast Guard
    Y b. American Bureau of Shipping
    N c. National Cargo Bureau
    N d. Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers

394: The rope which is rove from the truck to be used with a bos'n's chair is called a __________.

    Y a. gantline
    N b. life line
    N c. strop
    N d. whip

421: An International Tonnage Certificate will be issued to a vessel when it meets several requirements, one of which is that the vessel must __________.

    N a. admeasure over 100 GT
    Y b. be 79 or more feet in length
    N c. engage in intercoastal or international trade
    N d. be issued a Certificate of Inspection

444: A metal object on the pier resembling a tree stump and made to receive mooring lines is a __________.

    N a. bight
    Y b. bollard
    N c. chock
    N d. camel

473: The American Consul has asked the Master of a vessel bound for a port in the U.S. to transport a destitute seaman back to the U.S. Which action may the Master take?

    N a. He may refuse to accept the seaman if the seaman is medically unfit.
    N b. He must take the seaman even if the seaman has a contagious disease.
    N c. He is always required to take the seaman.
    Y d. He may refuse to take the seaman if it will violate the Certificate of Inspection.

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

564: The anchors on the bow are known as __________.

    Y a. bower anchors
    N b. kedge anchors
    N c. spare anchors
    N d. stream anchors

602: Which emergency equipment should you keep near the towing bitts?

    N a. A self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
    N b. A boat hook and a spanner wrench
    Y c. A fire ax and/or cutting torch
    N d. A Stokes litter basket

606: For operations in pack ice, a vessel should __________.

    N a. be on an even keel
    N b. be trimmed slightly by the head
    Y c. have a drag of not more than 2 to 3 feet
    N d. be ballasted so the forefoot is near the surface

695: A tug is "in irons" when held in a fixed position by __________.

    N a. the weight of its tow, its being anchored, or grounded
    Y b. the weight of its towing hawser on the bottom
    N c. an adverse current
    N d. lack of power or an engine breakdown

737: A heavy steel curved arch constructed athwartships and above the after deck on a towing vessel is sometimes called a __________.

    N a. chafing bar
    Y b. Dutch tow bar
    N c. carling
    N d. None of the above

795: Who certifies the safe working load of cargo booms on a vessel?

    N a. U.S. Coast Guard
    Y b. American Bureau of Shipping
    N c. Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
    N d. The Ship's Master

824: The larger sizes of manila line are measured by their __________.

    N a. radius
    N b. diameter
    Y c. circumference
    N d. weight per foot

907: While assigned to a 90 GRT vessel, you are required to sign "foreign" articles on a voyage from Philadelphia to which port?

    Y a. San Francisco, CA
    N b. Baltimore, MD
    N c. Tampico, Mexico
    N d. Montreal, Canada

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

1001: Which is supplied to the vessel by the U.S. Coast Guard?

    N a. Bell book
    N b. Cargo gear register
    Y c. Official Logbook
    N d. Rough Logbook

1037: After an IOPP Certificate is issued to an inspected vessel, how many other surveys of the vessel's pollution prevention equipment are conducted during the period of validity of the certificate?

    N a. None
    N b. One
    N c. Two
    Y d. Three

1135: What equipment is customarily used when seamen are working on a stage rigged over the side of a vessel?

    N a. Jacob's ladder
    N b. Manropes
    N c. Heaving lines
    Y d. All of the above

1156: The best time to work a boat into a slip is __________.

    N a. when the wind is against you
    N b. with the current setting against you
    Y c. at slack water
    N d. with a cross current

1186: Which term describes a rope in which three right-handed strands are laid up left-handed?

    N a. Soft-laid
    N b. Hard-laid
    N c. Shroud laid
    Y d. Hawser-laid

1312: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "D" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

    N a. stern line
    N b. forward spring line
    Y c. after spring line
    N d. waist breast line

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

1537: Which is NOT a potential hazard of approaching close to an iceberg?

    Y a. The brash ice in the vicinity may clog sea intakes.
    N b. The berg may calve with the bergy bit hitting the vessel.
    N c. There may be underwater rams extending out from the berg.
    N d. The berg may suddenly tilt or capsize due to uneven melting and hit the vessel.

1540: In ship construction, keel scantlings should be the greatest __________.

    N a. at each frame
    Y b. amidships
    N c. one-third the distance from the bow
    N d. one-third the distance from the stern

1550: Keel scantlings of any vessel are greatest amidships because __________.

    N a. connections between forebody and afterbody are most crucial
    Y b. of maximum longitudinal bending moments
    N c. of severest racking stresses
    N d. resistance to grounding is at a maximum amidships

1584: The size of wire rope is determined by the __________.

    N a. number of strands
    N b. number of wires in each strand
    N c. circumference
    Y d. diameter

1613: Which splice should you use in order to make a permanent loop in a line?

    N a. Back splice
    Y b. Eye splice
    N c. Long splice
    N d. Short splice

1651: Which document is NOT required by law to be posted aboard a vessel?

    Y a. Official Crew List
    N b. Certificate of Inspection
    N c. Officer's licenses
    N d. Muster List

1782: When evacuating a seaman by helicopter lift, which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The vessel should be stopped with the wind dead ahead during the hoisting operation.
    Y b. Flags should be flown to provide a visual reference as to the direction of the apparent wind.
    N c. The drop line should be grounded first then secured as close to the hoist point as possible.
    N d. The hoist area should be located as far aft as possible so the pilot will have a visual reference while approaching.

1820: If a drill required by regulations is not completed, the Master or person in charge must __________.

    N a. report this immediately to the Commandant of the Coast Guard
    Y b. log the reason for not completing the drill
    N c. conduct two of the required drills at the next opportunity
    N d. All of the above

2039: There is a large shipment of case goods available to be loaded on your vessel. You are to load as many tons as possible in a hold which has 32,300 cubic feet left unfilled by cargo. Each case measures 2-feet high by 2-feet wide by 4-feet long and weighs 500 pounds. If you allow a broken stowage allowance of 10% of the 32,300 feet, what is the nearest whole number of tons which may be loaded?

    N a. 324 tons
    N b. 360 tons
    N c. 363 tons
    Y d. 406 tons

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

2175: Which is a negotiated charter?

    Y a. Fixture
    N b. Bill of Lading
    N c. Conference agreement
    N d. All of the above

2271: You are signing on a crew. You can determine the minimum number and qualifications of the crew that you are required to carry by consulting which document?

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

2325: Which line cannot be spliced?

    N a. Braided line with a hollow core
    N b. Double-braided line
    Y c. Braided line with a solid core
    N d. Any line can be spliced

2502: A tow of 9 barges is made up three abreast by three long. The towboat is faced up to the last barge of the center string. The outer two strings of barges are the __________.

    N a. port and starboard strings
    N b. outer strings
    Y c. drag strings
    N d. side strings

2582: What is usually NOT required in preparing a hold for reception of a bulk grain cargo?

    N a. Remove residue of previous cargo.
    N b. Remove loose rust and scale.
    Y c. Steam clean areas obstructed by structural members.
    N d. Spray or fumigate any insect colonies.

2589: The angle at which the anchor flukes penetrate the soil is the __________.

    N a. burial angle
    N b. penetration angle
    Y c. fluke angle
    N d. holding angle

2726: The lifeboats on your vessel are stowed on cradles on deck and are handled by sheath-screw boom davits. Which of the following statements about launching a boat is TRUE?

    N a. The boat should be hoisted a few inches clear of the cradle before cranking out the davits.
    N b. The inboard gripes should be cast off before the outboard gripes.
    Y c. The outboard section of the cradle must be released.
    N d. The tricing pendants will automatically bring the boat alongside at the embarkation deck.

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

2808: Under the forces of its own weight, the suspended length of line will fall into a shape known as a __________.

    N a. polygon
    N b. holding arc
    Y c. catenary curve
    N d. parabolic curve

2910: Your vessel is a single-screw ship with a right-hand propeller. There is no current. The easiest way to make a landing is __________.

    Y a. port side to
    N b. starboard side to
    N c. dropping anchor and swinging the ship in to the pier
    N d. either port or starboard side to, with no difference in degree of difficulty

2940: A vessel reduces speed without backing. The rate that her speed through the water decreases depends primarily on the __________.

    N a. vessel's horsepower
    N b. sea state
    N c. number of propellers
    Y d. vessel's displacement

3026: Which type of fog is the most dense and widely spread of those that occur on the Great Lakes?

    N a. Steam fog
    Y b. Advection fog
    N c. Radiation fog
    N d. Lake effect fog

3026: Which type of fog is the most dense and widely spread of those that occur on the Great Lakes?

    N a. Steam fog
    Y b. Advection fog
    N c. Radiation fog
    N d. Lake effect fog

3092: Item A is the __________. (D024DG )

    Y a. lashing
    N b. drag wire
    N c. scissor wire
    N d. tandem wire

3116: You are lifting a 5-ton weight with a single whip rove on a swinging boom set at an angle of 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?

    N a. 1 3/8 inch
    N b. 1 1/2 inch
    Y c. 1 3/4 inch
    N d. 1 7/8 inch

3323: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) when it becomes necessary to send a distress message. Which precedence would you assign this message?

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

3448: When inspecting ground tackle, fractures are most frequently found in the __________.

    N a. anchor shank
    Y b. end links
    N c. swivel
    N d. fluke

3540: While on duty as a look-out, which other duty may you perform?

    N a. Sweep down the fo'c'sle
    N b. Paint any area near your station
    N c. Overhaul a block, as long as it is at your look-out station
    Y d. None of the above

3840: You are lifting a one-ton weight with a swinging boom. When comparing the stresses on the rig with the boom at 20° to the horizontal to the stresses when the boom is at 60° to the horizontal, which statement is true?

    N a. The thrust on the boom is greater at 20°.
    N b. The stress on the topping lift is greater at 60°.
    Y c. The stress on the heel block is less at 60°.
    N d. The change in angle of elevation has no effect on the stresses in the head block.

4018: The BEST holding ground for conventional anchors is __________.

    Y a. sand
    N b. very soft mud
    N c. shale
    N d. rock

4116: Onboard a Ro-Ro vessel many decks are used for the carriage of both rolling and container cargoes, as such it is most useful if a deck socket accepts both __________.

    Y a. twist-Locks and lashing hooks
    N b. container locks and bridge fittings
    N c. bridge fittings and lashing hooks
    N d. twist-locks and container locks

4116: Onboard a Ro-Ro vessel many decks are used for the carriage of both rolling and container cargoes, as such it is most useful if a deck socket accepts both __________.

    Y a. twist-Locks and lashing hooks
    N b. container locks and bridge fittings
    N c. bridge fittings and lashing hooks
    N d. twist-locks and container locks

4225: What does item "G" refer to in this illustration of a 30-ton pedestal crane? (D045DG )

    N a. Mast
    N b. Pillar
    Y c. Turntable
    N d. Pedestal

4440: 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. throw a life ring to mark the spot
    N c. put the rudder amidships
    Y d. give full right rudder