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.


3: A stopper used in securing the ground tackle for sea that consists of a grab attached to a turnbuckle is a __________.


4: Considering manning requirements for US flag vessels, your 2 watch cargo vessel has a deck crew of 20 people, exclusive of officers. How many of these people do the manning regulations require to be able seamen?


174: A proper look-out must be kept __________.


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

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

296: You are on a course of 000°T and put the rudder right 30°. In which direction will the transfer be measured?

    N a. 000°T
    Y b. 090°T
    N c. 180°T
    N d. 270°T

296: You are on a course of 000°T and put the rudder right 30°. In which direction will the transfer be measured?

    N a. 000°T
    Y b. 090°T
    N c. 180°T
    N d. 270°T

335: You are steaming in a heavy gale and find it necessary to heave to. Under most circumstances, this is best done by __________.

    N a. stopping the engines and drifting beam to the seas
    N b. going slow astern and taking the seas on the quarter
    Y c. taking the sea fine on the bow and reducing the speed to the minimum to hold that position
    N d. maintaining speed and taking the sea broad on the bow

398: Peck and Hale gear is used most commonly for securing __________.

    Y a. automobiles
    N b. baled cargo
    N c. large wooden crates
    N d. palletized cargo

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

515: When compared to a fiber towing hawser, what is NOT an advantage of a wire towing hawser?

    N a. Wire is easy to handle when properly spooled on the drum of a towing winch.
    Y b. Wire has more spring and shock resistance than fiber.
    N c. Wire can be used to tow heavier loads because of its smaller diameter and more manageable size.
    N d. Wire is subject to less deterioration if properly maintained.

568: Which statement concerning the carriage of containers is TRUE?

    N a. The Chief Mate and Master of a container ship should have the proposed stowage plan ready for the stevedore upon arrival in port.
    N b. When stowed on deck of a break bulk ship, the bottom of the container must be evenly supported throughout.
    Y c. With tiered containers, a 40-foot container may be stowed on top of two 20-foot containers.
    N d. Deck load calculations must take into account the square footage of the entire container bottom.

658: When carrying a full or nearly full load of bulk ore in a general cargo type vessel which has engine spaces amidships, the cargo in each hold should be trimmed so that the bulk of the cargo lies __________.

    N a. along the centerline
    N b. toward the forward bulkhead of the forward holds and toward the after bulkhead of the after holds
    Y c. toward the after bulkhead of the forward holds and the forward bulkhead of the after holds
    N d. toward the after bulkhead of all holds

726: A common occurrence when a vessel is running into shallow water is that __________.

    N a. the wake is less pronounced
    N b. the vessel is more responsive to the rudder
    Y c. "squat" will cause a decrease in bottom clearance and an increase in draft
    N d. All of the above

894: When taking a length of new manila rope from the coil, you should __________.

    N a. mount the coil so it will turn like a spool and unreel from the outside
    N b. roll the coil along the deck and allow the rope to fall off the coil
    Y c. lay the coil on end with the inside end down, then pull the inside end up through the middle of the coil
    N d. lay the coil on end with the inside end up then unwind the rope from the outside of the coil

910: The purpose of sheer in ship construction is to __________.

    Y a. allow the ship to ride waves with drier decks
    N b. eliminate the need for butt straps
    N c. eliminate the need for margin plates
    N d. give greater strength at the deck edge

987: What does the helm command "shift the rudder" mean?

    N a. Stop the swing of the ship.
    N b. Shift the rudder control to the alternate steering method.
    N c. Put the rudder amidships and hold the heading steady as she goes.
    Y d. Put the rudder over to the opposite side, the same number of degrees it is now.

1054: Which mooring line has the least elasticity?

    Y a. Dacron
    N b. Nylon
    N c. Esterlene
    N d. Polypropylene

1214: Which statement is TRUE about nylon line?

    N a. Manila line will usually last longer than nylon line.
    N b. Nylon line is excellent for use in alongside towing.
    N c. A normal safe working load will stretch nylon line 50%.
    Y d. Nylon stoppers should be used with nylon line.

1283: Which statement about the fo'c'sle card is TRUE?

    N a. The fo'c'sle card is a blank sample of the articles.
    N b. It contains copies of the crew's signatures from the articles.
    Y c. Is an exact copy of shipping articles.
    N d. Each crewmember is given a copy of the fo'c'sle card.

1321: Which type of carrier accepts without discrimination all legal cargoes of a shipper?

    Y a. Common
    N b. Industrial
    N c. Private
    N d. Tramp

1421: The charterer has completed loading the vessel in 3 days instead of the 5 days agreed to in the charter party. As a result of this, the __________.

    N a. shipowner may charge for two lay days
    Y b. charterer may receive dispatch money
    N c. stevedore may collect demurrage
    N d. consignee may be required to pay a ceaser fee

1467: The type of carrier required to file a copy of freight tariffs would be the __________.

    Y a. common carrier
    N b. tramp
    N c. public vessel
    N d. bulk carrier

1482: The two courses of action if the underwater hull is severely damaged are to plug the openings or to __________.

    Y a. establish and maintain flooding boundaries
    N b. dewater the compartment
    N c. secure power to the compartment
    N d. ballast to maintain even keel

1525: The term "shift the rudder" means __________.

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

1538: Your vessel is being towed and you are using a tripping rope. A tripping rope of fiber or wire is used to __________.

    N a. give added strength to the main tow hawser
    N b. retrieve the main tow hawser
    Y c. retrieve the outboard legs of the bridle where they are connected to the fishplate
    N d. open the pelican hook at the fishplate

1566: In bad weather, what length of chain should be used with a single anchor?

    N a. 3 times the depth of water
    N b. 6 times the depth of water
    Y c. 10 times the depth of water
    N d. 15 times the depth of water

1729: The greatest strain, when lifting a load with the jumbo purchase, is on __________.

    N a. all of the parts, dividing the load equally
    Y b. the hauling part because it must absorb the frictional losses of all the sheaves
    N c. the parts in the movable block
    N d. the standing part because it is directly connected to the weight

1764: The "square knot" is used for __________.

    N a. forming temporary eyes in lines
    Y b. joining two lines of equal size
    N c. keeping line from unlaying or fraying
    N d. joining two lines of different size

1787: Which picture represents a blackwall hitch? (DO30DG )

    N a. F
    N b. H
    N c. P
    Y d. S

1802: Which picture represents a bowline? (DO30DG )

    N a. G
    N b. H
    N c. L
    Y d. Q

2053: A mooring line leading 45° to the keel, used to check forward or astern movement of a vessel, is called a __________.

    Y a. spring line
    N b. warp line
    N c. bow line
    N d. breast line

2124: You are on watch aboard a vessel heading NW, with the wind from dead ahead, in heavy seas. You notice a man fall overboard from the starboard bow. Which action would NOT be appropriate?

    N a. Hard right rudder
    N b. Throw a lifebuoy to the man, if possible
    N c. Send a man aloft
    Y d. Get the port boat ready

2177: Under normal weather and sea conditions when securing a stack of containers with non-locking fittings, lashings are required when the tier exceeds what height?

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

2205: On the fully containerized ship, approximately one-third or more of the cargo is on deck above the rolling center. Top stowed containers are subject to __________.

    Y a. accelerations greater than on conventional vessels
    N b. accelerations less than on conventional vessels
    N c. accelerations the same as on conventional vessels
    N d. no accelerations

2347: What is an advantage of having wire rope with a fiber core over that of a wire rope of the same size with a wire core?

    N a. Fiber core rope offers greater strength.
    Y b. Fiber core rope offers greater flexibility.
    N c. Fiber core rope can be used at higher operating temperatures.
    N d. Fiber core rope is the only type authorized for cargo runners.

2376: A vessel has an amidships superstructure. Which location would be most suitable for on-deck stowage of automobiles?

    N a. On top of #1 hatch
    N b. Beside the hatches, forward of the midships house
    N c. On top of the hatch immediately forward of the midships house
    Y d. On top of the hatch immediately aft of the midships house

2460: You are operating a twin-screw vessel and lose your port engine. You continue to operate on your starboard engine only. Which action would you take to move your vessel ahead in a straight line?

    Y a. Compensate with right rudder.
    N b. Compensate with left rudder.
    N c. Surge the starboard engine.
    N d. Rudder amidships - no compensation is necessary on a twin-screw vessel.

2510: Mooring lines should be turned end-for-end occasionally. This is because __________.

    N a. a line is weakened by constantly pulling on it in one direction
    Y b. normal wear on the line is thus distributed to different areas
    N c. it prevents the line from kinking or unlaying
    N d. it prevents permanent misalignment of the line's internal strands

2568: You are proceeding along the right bank of a narrow channel aboard a right-handed single-screw vessel. The vessel starts to sheer due to bank suction/cushion effect. You should __________.

    N a. stop engines and put the rudder left full
    N b. back full with rudder amidships
    N c. decrease speed and put the rudder right full
    Y d. increase speed and put the rudder right full

2591: A tow astern is veering from side to side on its towline. The best way of controlling the action is to __________.

    N a. trim the tow by the bow
    Y b. trim the tow by the stern
    N c. list the tow to windward
    N d. adjust the length of the towing bridle

2699: The thickness of a 30.6 pound plate is __________.

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

2795: The York-Antwerp Rules relate to the __________.

    N a. minimum required number of officers and crew
    Y b. settlement of general average claims
    N c. ship owner's responsibilities to provide a well-found vessel in a charter party
    N d. navigation regulations that apply in the English Channel

2813: Which Naval Control of Shipping publication should be aboard your vessel?

    Y a. ATP-2, Volume II "Allied Control of Shipping Manual - Guide to Masters"
    N b. ATP-1, Volume II "Allied Tactical Signals"
    N c. NWP-14, "Amphibious Operations"
    N d. PUB 102, "International Code of Signals"

3000: The pipe used to connect two separate piping systems on a tank vessel is known as a __________.

    Y a. crossover
    N b. transfer
    N c. connection
    N d. junction

3016: To obtain better steering control when you are towing alongside, your vessel should be positioned with its __________.

    N a. bow extending forward of the tow
    N b. stern amidships of the tow
    Y c. stern extending aft of the tow
    N d. bow even with the bow of the tow

3028: The term "inland waters", as defined in the Rules of the Road, includes __________.

    N a. the Great Lakes in their entirety
    Y b. the Mississippi River System
    N c. U.S. waters out to three miles offshore
    N d. the St. Lawrence River to Anticosti Island

3077: The flash point of vinyl chloride is __________.

    Y a. -108°F (-78°C)
    N b. -20°F (-29°C)
    N c. 32°F (0°C)
    N d. 97°F (36°C)

3308: What term indicates a curvature of the decks in a longitudinal direction?

    N a. Deadrise
    N b. Camber
    Y c. Sheer
    N d. Flare

3350: It is not advisable to use nylon for alongside towing because it __________.

    Y a. stretches too much
    N b. is too expensive for everyday towing usage
    N c. binds on the cleats
    N d. parts too readily

3382: The signal man assisting the crane operator first taps his elbow with one hand and then proceeds to use regular signals. This is the signal to __________.

    N a. use the main hoist
    N b. proceed slowly
    N c. increase speed
    Y d. use the whip line

3432: A vessel is wind rode when it is __________.

    Y a. at anchor and heading into the wind
    N b. backing into the wind
    N c. carrying lee rudder
    N d. necessary to apply a leeway correction to the course

3508: A situation has occurred in which your vessel must be towed. When the towing vessel passes the towing line to you, you should secure the line __________.

    N a. to the base of the foremast
    Y b. to the forward-most bitts
    N c. to the forward part of the deckhouse
    N d. at the stern

3690: The part of the anchor indicated by the letter I is the __________. (D038DG )

    N a. tripping palm
    Y b. fluke
    N c. bill
    N d. stock

4036: When a cargo boom or crane is rated at varying capacities, there will be a table at the controls which relates safe working load to __________.

    N a. winch speed
    N b. boom strength
    Y c. load radius
    N d. cable strength

4068: What produces the MOST dangerous vapors?

    Y a. Anhydrous ammonia
    N b. Camphor oil
    N c. Methyl alcohol
    N d. Pentane

4144: Which tensioning device is used with chain to secure heavy vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    Y a. Chain lever
    N b. Buckle tensioner
    N c. Adjust-a-matic tensioner
    N d. Ratchet tensioner

4151: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding lashing requirements to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. It is NOT imperative that the securing of cargo on flats and trailers and in containers be adequate for BOTH road and sea motions.
    Y b. The generally recommended lash angle should not be greater than 45 degrees relative to the deck in any direction.
    N c. For effective securing vehicles should be stowed athwartships whenever possible.
    N d. It is not necessary to lash automobiles since setting the brakes is sufficient to keep them from moving.

4162: According to the IMO Code, what are the minimum number of securing points that should be on each side of a "road vehicle", whose gross vehicle mass is between 3.5 tons and 20 tons, when carried on Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. One
    Y b. Two
    N c. Three
    N d. None of the above

4213: What does a jib refer to on a crane?

    Y a. Boom
    N b. Topping lift
    N c. Control cab
    N d. Liftline

4238: Most pedestal crane power is provided by __________.

    Y a. Electro-hydraulic units
    N b. Steam units
    N c. Independent internal combustion power units
    N d. All of the above