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.


29: You are in charge of a U.S. documented vessel. Under title 46 of the United States Code, if you fail to report a complaint of a sexual offense, you may be __________.


58: Odorous cargoes are those that __________.


89: Ullage measurements are taken from the top of the liquid to __________.


132: What is a characteristic of all centrifugal cargo pumps?

    N a. They are self-priming.
    Y b. Decreasing the speed of rotation will decrease the discharge pressure.
    N c. Opening the discharge valve wider will increase the discharge pressure.
    N d. All of the above

141: On a sea going towing vessel of 150 gross tons, there are six (6) seamen in the deck crew. How many certificated able seamen are required if the voyage is over 600 miles?

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

152: A petroleum liquid has a flash point of 135°Fahrenheit. This liquid is classed as a grade __________.

    N a. B flammable liquid
    N b. C flammable liquid
    Y c. D combustible liquid
    N d. E combustible liquid

161: A seaman leaves a vessel before it sails from a foreign port. He informs the Chief Officer that he won't return. After the vessel sails, the Chief Officer finds the seaman's work clothes in his locker. How should the Master handle this matter?

    Y a. Log the seaman as a deserter.
    N b. Log the seaman as a fail to join.
    N c. Log the seaman for misconduct.
    N d. Take no action.

219: What refers to the depth of a petroleum product in a tank?

    Y a. Innage
    N b. Outage
    N c. Thievage
    N d. Ullage

270: The disadvantage of using a heaving line to pass a towline is that __________.

    N a. it increases the likelihood of collision between the towing vessel and the disabled vessel
    Y b. recreational boaters tend to make the heaving line fast to the towed vessel as if it were the towline
    N c. the monkey fist may injure someone
    N d. it may reduce the catenary and increase yawing

384: A "strongback" refers to a __________.

    Y a. bar securing a cargo port
    N b. centerline vertical bulkhead
    N c. deep beam
    N d. spanner stay

426: You are stopped with no way upon your vessel at the pilot station. Your vessel is a large twin-screw ship. You must come around 180° to board your Pilot. How should you use the engines and rudder to turn the ship fastest in the least amount of space?

    N a. Full ahead on the engines and hard over rudder
    N b. Full ahead on one engine, full astern on the other
    Y c. Half ahead with hard over rudder, then full astern on inboard engine
    N d. Slow ahead with hard over rudder

615: When a wedge of water builds up between the head of the barge and the bank it is referred to as __________.

    Y a. bank cushion
    N b. bank suction
    N c. bow wave
    N d. veering cushion

644: The "lay" of a line refers to __________.

    N a. its normal location of stowage
    Y b. the direction of twist in the strands
    N c. the manner in which it is coiled
    N d. the manner in which it is rigged

650: A crew member has just fallen overboard off your port side. Which action should you take?

    N a. Immediately put the rudder over hard right.
    Y b. Immediately put the rudder over hard left.
    N c. Immediately put the engines astern.
    N d. Wait until the stern is well clear of the man and then put the rudder over hard right.

687: 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 vessel's agent
    N b. The owner of the vessel
    N c. The Master of the vessel
    Y d. Any one of the above

692: The tow makeup that is designed to keep the catenary of the tow hawser to a minimum is called the __________.

    Y a. Christmas tree tow
    N b. tandem tow
    N c. British tow
    N d. tandem tug tow

720: You suspect that a crewmember has fallen overboard during the night and immediately execute a Williamson turn. What is the primary advantage of this maneuver under these circumstances?

    Y a. You will be on a reciprocal course and nearly on the track-line run during the night.
    N b. The turn provides the maximum coverage of the area to be searched.
    N c. The turn enables you to reverse course in the shortest possible time.
    N d. You have extra time to maneuver in attempting to close in on the man for rescue.

791: The oil record book is required to be carried aboard __________.

    N a. tankers
    N b. passenger vessels
    N c. cargo vessels
    Y d. All of the above

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

842: When can the US citizenship requirement for the Master of a US-flag uninspected towing vessel be waived?

    N a. When US-licensed Masters are not readily available
    N b. When it costs too much to hire a US-licensed Master
    N c. When the towing vessel operates shoreward of the boundary line
    Y d. Never, under any circumstances

955: In which case is the IOPP Certificate of an inspected vessel NOT invalidated?

    Y a. The required oily-water separator malfunctions.
    N b. The ship is transferred to Liberian registry.
    N c. An annual survey is conducted fifteen months after the date of certificate issuance.
    N d. A 15 ppm oily-water separator is replaced by a 100 ppm oily-water separator.

995: The maneuver which will return your vessel in the shortest time to a person who has fallen overboard is __________.

    Y a. a single turn with hard rudder
    N b. engine(s) crash astern, no turn
    N c. a Williamson Turn
    N d. two 180° turns

1073: You are preparing to slush a stay on your vessel by lowering yourself down the stay in a bosun's chair. The proper way to do this is to ride down the stay on a riding shackle __________.

    N a. with the pin of the shackle riding on the stay
    Y b. with the pin of the shackle through the chair's bridle eye
    N c. with a hook attaching the chair to the riding shackle
    N d. connected to a second shackle on the chair

1086: When taking a Pilot from a pilot vessel in a seaway, which way should you head your vessel if the ladder is on the leeward side?

    N a. Bow to the sea and no way on your vessel
    N b. Sea on the lee quarter with ship moving ahead slowly
    Y c. Sea on the weather bow and ship moving ahead slowly
    N d. Sea on the quarter with sternway on the ship

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

1223: The organization that certifies the safe working load of cargo cranes on a vessel is the __________.

    Y a. classification society
    N b. National Cargo Bureau
    N c. U.S. Coast Guard
    N d. none of the above

1286: The anchors should be dropped well out from the pier while at a Mediterranean moor to __________.

    N a. eliminate navigational hazards by allowing the chain to lie along the harbor bottom
    N b. increase the anchor's reliability by providing a large catenary in the chain
    Y c. permit the ship to maneuver in the stream while weighing anchors
    N d. prevent damage to the stern caused by swinging against the pier in the approach

1288: A document used to indicate suspected cargo damage caused by rough weather would be the __________.

    N a. cargo report
    N b. hull damage report
    Y c. Master's Note of Protest
    N d. Unseaworthy Certificate

1393: Your vessel's operators send a message that your vessel has been consigned to Naval Control of Shipping. The message will refer you to __________.

    N a. the Light List
    Y b. Radio Aids to Navigation (PUB 117)
    N c. the International Code of Signals (PUB 102)
    N d. the Coast Pilot

1725: The term "shift the rudder" means __________.

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

1737: When evacuating a seaman by helicopter lift, which course should the ship take?

    N a. Downwind so that the apparent wind is close to nil.
    Y b. A course that will keep a free flow of air, clear of smoke, over the hoist area.
    N c. A course that will have the hoist area in the lee of the superstructure.
    N d. With the wind dead ahead because the helicopter is more maneuverable when going into the wind.

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

1763: You are in charge while handling a synthetic hawser on a capstan. The hawser has a heavy strain and you wish to avoid the hawser's slipping on the capstan drum. Which action should you take?

    Y a. Back off on the capstan a bit and have the seaman take several more turns on the drum.
    N b. Have the seaman take a strain on the hawser and carefully have several turns added on the drum.
    N c. Have more than one seaman hold a good strain on the hawser and continue to heave easy.
    N d. While continuing to heave slowly on the capstan, have the seaman take several more turns on the drum.

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

2049: While the Pilot is maneuvering the vessel to a dock, what is the PRIMARY responsibility of the watch officer?

    N a. Supervise the signaling and flag etiquette.
    N b. Record the bells and their times in the bell book.
    N c. Judge the appropriateness of the Pilot's orders and countermand them if necessary.
    Y d. Insure that helm and throttle orders given by the Pilot are correctly executed.

2092: You are signing on a crew. When they present their Merchant Mariner's Documents, you should suspect a fraudulent document if it has a single endorsement that says __________.

    N a. see Certificate of Registry
    N b. any unlicensed rating in the deck department including AB
    N c. Steward's Department (F.H.)
    Y d. Bosun

2130: In a racetrack turn, to recover a man overboard, the vessel is steadied for the SECOND time after a turn of how many degrees from the original heading?

    N a. 60°
    N b. 135°
    N c. 180°
    Y d. 360°

2206: You are using tackle number 6 in illustration DO29DG to lift a weight of 300 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 )

    Y a. 80 lbs.
    N b. 69 lbs.
    N c. 55 lbs.
    N d. 50 lbs.

2230: What is the name of tackle number 1? (D029DG )

    Y a. Whip
    N b. One-fold purchase
    N c. Gun tackle
    N d. Runner

2353: Which mooring line prevents sideways motion of a vessel moored to a pier?

    N a. A line led forward from the bow
    N b. A line led aft from the bow
    N c. A line led in the same direction as the keel
    Y d. A line led at a right angle to the keel

2390: Determine the weight of a rectangular piece of 20.4 lb. steel measuring 4 feet by 6 feet.

    N a. 204.0 lbs.
    Y b. 489.6 lbs.
    N c. 734.4 lbs.
    N d. 979.2 lbs.

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.

2624: The certificate of loading required by each vessel carrying grain in bulk is issued by the __________.

    N a. owner or charterer of the vessel
    N b. American Bureau of Shipping
    N c. shipper of the cargo
    Y d. National Cargo Bureau

2876: A U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker may use all of the following distinctive lights when escorting ships in ice EXCEPT __________.

    N a. a single amber rotating light
    N b. a single red rotating light
    N c. red aircraft warning lights
    Y d. a single blue rotating light

2957: Your vessel is to dock bow in at a pier without the assistance of tugboats. Which line will be the most useful when maneuvering the vessel alongside the pier?

    N a. Bow breast line
    N b. Inshore head line
    N c. Stern breast line
    Y d. Bow spring line

2969: Fog can form in any season on the Great Lakes, but it is most likely to occur over open waters in __________.

    N a. summer and early autumn
    N b. autumn and early winter
    N c. winter and early spring
    Y d. spring and early summer

2982: How should you signal the crane operator to stop?

    N a. Place both fists in front of your body with the thumbs pointing outward.
    N b. With both arms extended out and palms down, move arms back and forth.
    Y c. Extend arm with the palm down and hold this position rigidly.
    N d. Clasp hands in front of your body.

3171: A high cube container would most likely be used to stow __________.

    N a. dense bulk cargoes
    Y b. household appliances
    N c. fragile cargoes
    N d. heavy industrial machinery

3286: The signal man assisting the crane operator has his arm extended, with the thumb pointing up, and is flexing his fingers in and out for as long as the load movement is desired. This is the signal to __________.

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

3320: Which type of bottom is best suited for holding an anchor of a small boat?

    Y a. Mud and clay
    N b. Rocky
    N c. Sandy
    N d. Gravel

3452: A drift lead indicates that the vessel is dragging anchor when the line is __________.

    Y a. taut and leading forward
    N b. slack
    N c. leading out perpendicular to the centerline
    N d. leading under the hull

3493: You are the Master of an uninspected diesel towing vessel of 190 GT operating on a regular run from New York to the Gulf of Mexico. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Able Seamen are not required in the deck crew.
    Y b. All crew members must have Merchant Mariner's Documents.
    N c. A licensed Chief Engineer is required.
    N d. Deck watches may be 6 and 6.

3494: Nylon rope is often used in the makeup of a towline because it __________.

    N a. floats
    Y b. stretches
    N c. handles easily
    N d. resists rot

3587: Following a serious marine incident, a device to test an individuals breath can be used by __________.

    Y a. any individual trained to conduct such tests
    N b. the marine employer
    N c. qualified medical personnel only
    N d. any USCG licensed deck officer

4030: While discharging a cargo, the stripping of the tanks falls behind schedule. This would indicate the __________.

    N a. main pumps are working at a high discharge pressure
    Y b. main pumps are leaving too much oil in the tanks
    N c. stripping pump is not primed
    N d. stripping line is cross-connected to the main line

4062: The signal man assisting the crane operator has his forearm vertical, forefinger pointing up, and moves his hand in a small horizontal circle. This is the signal to __________.

    N a. swing
    N b. lower
    Y c. hoist
    N d. extend

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

4266: Which statement is TRUE concerning the tandem working arrangement of pedestal cranes when completing a quad lift?

    N a. The cranes require shoreside assistance to handle heavy cargos.
    N b. The cargo discharge cannot be accomplished without pendulation.
    N c. The cargo discharge cannot be performed at anchor.
    Y d. The discharge is slow due to the size of the cargo and all the cranes working together.

4272: Which action should be taken immediately by the operator of a pedestal crane, if crane control is lost?

    N a. Increase power to the crane to regain control.
    N b. Place control levers in opposite positions.
    Y c. Let go of both control levers and return to the neutral positions.
    N d. Check the circuit breakers.

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"