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 __________.


118: Damage to cargo caused by fumes or vapors from liquids, gases, or solids is known as __________.


119: Sour crude oil __________.


228: Securing cargo by running timbers from an upper support down to the cargo, either vertically or at an angle, is called __________.

    N a. braces
    N b. dunnage
    N c. shores
    Y d. toms

257: The distance between the surface of the liquid and the tank top in a cargo tank is called __________.

    N a. thievage
    N b. innage
    Y c. ullage
    N d. tankage

274: What is the difference between net tonnage and gross tonnage?

    Y a. Net tonnage is the gross tonnage less certain deductible spaces.
    N b. Net tonnage is tonnage of cargo compared to tonnage of whole ship.
    N c. Net tonnage is gross tonnage minus engine and bunker spaces.
    N d. Net tonnage is the net weight of the ship.

292: Stress on the topping lift of a swinging boom can be reduced by __________.

    N a. rigging a back stay
    Y b. raising the boom
    N c. increasing the mechanical advantage of the cargo purchase
    N d. taking all slack out of the preventer

303: What requires a Report of Marine Accident, Injury or Death?

    N a. Collision with a bridge
    N b. Injury beyond first aid
    N c. loss of life
    Y d. All of the above

325: A deck fitting, used to secure line or wire rope, consisting of a single body with two protruding horns is called a __________.

    N a. bitt
    N b. bollard
    N c. capstan
    Y d. cleat

360: The label required on containers carrying barium oxide in an international shipment must read __________.

    Y a. "Poison"
    N b. "Spontaneously Combustible"
    N c. "Radioactive"
    N d. "Infectious Substance"

409: A tanker is loaded with 5,000 barrels of petroleum. The cargo was loaded at a temperature of 70°F, and the coefficient of expansion is .0004. What is the net amount in barrels of cargo loaded?

    N a. 4800
    Y b. 4980
    N c. 5020
    N d. 5200

437: Prior to getting underway in fresh or brackish water, the Master must __________.

    Y a. log the density of the water
    N b. secure all overboard discharges
    N c. take on fresh water ballast
    N d. clean the sides with fresh water

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

491: A change of a documented vessel's name can only be made by the __________.

    N a. American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. Commissioner of Customs
    N c. Treasury Department
    Y d. Coast Guard

522: You are onboard a 120 GT uninspected sea going tug which carries one Master and one Mate of Towing Vessels and four (4) seamen when underway. How many of the four seamen must have a rating as able seamen if the voyage is under 600 miles?

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

539: Which type of shackle is used for most towing connections?

    Y a. Safety shackles
    N b. Round pin anchor shackles
    N c. Screw pin shackles
    N d. Heart shaped shackles

744: When using natural-fiber rope, you should NEVER __________.

    N a. dry the line before stowing it
    N b. reverse turns on winches periodically to keep out kinks
    Y c. try to lubricate the line
    N d. use chafing gear

790: Which statement is TRUE of centrifugal pumps aboard tank vessels?

    N a. They are positive displacement pumps.
    Y b. They are gravity-fed.
    N c. They produce a pulsating flow.
    N d. They require more maintenance than a reciprocating pump.

888: You are going to load bales of wool having a stowage factor of 100 in #3 lower hold which has a bale cubic of 62,000. How many tons of the wool can be stowed in the compartment, assuming 10% broken stowage?

    N a. 520
    Y b. 558
    N c. 620
    N d. 654

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

1132: A lookout can leave his station __________.

    N a. at the end of the watch
    N b. at any time
    Y c. ONLY when properly relieved
    N d. 15 minutes before the end of the watch

1212: What is NOT characteristic of the conditions which would be experienced by a vessel located southeast of an approaching eastward-moving storm center on the Great Lakes?

    Y a. Falling barometer
    N b. A westerly wind
    N c. Lowering clouds
    N d. Rain or snow

1230: Which statement concerning solid floors is TRUE?

    N a. They must be watertight.
    Y b. They may have lightening, limber, or air holes cut into them.
    N c. They are built of structural frames connected by angle struts and stiffeners, with flanged plate brackets at each end.
    N d. They are lighter than open floors.

1319: In relation to cargo gear, what does "SWL" mean?

    Y a. Safe working load
    N b. Ship's working lift
    N c. Starboard wing lift
    N d. Stress, weight, load

1548: What could be used as fairleads on a towed vessel?

    N a. Chocks
    N b. Double bitts
    N c. Roller chocks
    Y d. All of the above

1583: Which statement concerning a short splice is TRUE?

    N a. It is used to temporarily join two lines together.
    Y b. A short splice is stronger than two lines joined by a knot.
    N c. A short splice decreases the diameter of the line.
    N d. None of the above

1647: Under Naval Control of Shipping who is responsible for routing and diverting ships and convoys?

    N a. The Maritime Defense Zone Sector
    Y b. The Operational Control Authority
    N c. The National Shipping Authority
    N d. Any Navy Command

1700: Which letter designates the bilge strake of the vessel? (D001DG )

    N a. A
    N b. B
    N c. C
    Y d. D

1731: You are in charge of a 225-gross ton tug preparing to depart from Houston, Texas, with a loaded 2500-gross ton tank barge bound for New York. Prior to departure, regulations require that you __________.

    N a. record the status of all firefighting equipment
    Y b. record the barge's load line and draft readings
    N c. record the condition of the towing gear
    N d. have on board an Official Logbook in lieu of other forms of records

1753: To reeve a right-angle threefold purchase start with the __________.

    N a. left sheave bottom block
    N b. left sheave top block
    Y c. middle sheave top block
    N d. right sheave bottom block

1773: What size block shell should be used with a 4-inch manila line?

    N a. 8"
    Y b. 12"
    N c. 16"
    N d. 24"

1846: In a national emergency, when communicating via the Navy, messages are sent by precedence. A message designated IMMEDIATE will be delivered within __________.

    N a. 3 hours to start of business the following day
    N b. 1 to 6 hours
    Y c. 30 minutes to 1 hour
    N d. 10 minutes if possible

2009: A cargo of canned foodstuffs is packed in cartons. Each carton is 36 cubic feet and weighs 380 pounds. What is the stowage factor of the cargo?

    N a. 9.5
    N b. 62
    Y c. 212
    N d. 237

2046: The structural member indicated by the letter I is the __________. (D033DG )

    N a. garboard strake
    N b. center pillar
    Y c. keel
    N d. girder

2089: In addition to the load lines indicated in illustration D003DG, some vessels have a Winter North Atlantic line. Which statement about this load line mark is TRUE?

    N a. It is carried on VLCC/ULCC type vessels and allows reduced freeboard considering their size.
    N b. It is marked above line B in the diagram.
    N c. It is applied to vessels on restricted trade routes between the United Kingdom, Iceland, and Northern European countries.
    Y d. It applies only to vessels not exceeding 328 ft. navigating in the Winter North Atlantic zones.

2106: A racetrack turn would be better than a Williamson turn in recovering a man overboard if __________.

    N a. the man has been missing for a period of time
    Y b. the sea water is very cold and the man is visible
    N c. there is thick fog
    N d. the wind was from astern on the original course

2150: The vessel shown has broken down and you are going to take her in tow. The wind is coming from her starboard beam. You are making more leeway than she. Where should you position your vessel when you start running lines? (DO25DG )

    Y a. A
    N b. B
    N c. C
    N d. D

2193: You have determined the maneuvering characteristics of your vessel by taking the radar ranges and bearings of an isolated light while making a turn. The results are listed in illustration D035DG. Based on this data what is the tactical diameter of the turning circle? (D035DG )

    N a. 755 yards
    N b. 780 yards
    N c. 820 yards
    Y d. 880 yards

2350: A temporary wire eye splice made with three wire rope clamps will hold approximately what percentage of the total rope strength?

    N a. 20%
    N b. 50%
    Y c. 80%
    N d. 99%

2476: At the outbreak of war your ship is caught in an enemy port. Which statement is FALSE?

    N a. You should attempt to contact U.S. Consular officials.
    N b. You should attempt to clear for sea before your ship is interned.
    Y c. You should resist boarding by local officials.
    N d. You should try to send a Ship Hostile Action Report to the NGA (formerly NIMA).

2579: Where are the test certificates, for wire rope used as cargo runners, and loose gear certificates usually maintained?

    Y a. With the Cargo Gear Register on the ship
    N b. In the Official Log
    N c. At the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office with the vessel's inspection records
    N d. At the central records center of the agency testing the cargo gear

2810: Which document lists all the lifesaving equipment required for a vessel?

    Y a. Certificate of Inspection
    N b. American Bureau of Shipping Classification Certificate
    N c. International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea Certificate
    N d. Certificate of Registry

2838: A U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker, while escorting ships in ice, may sound four short and one long blasts on the whistle to indicate that the icebreaker __________.

    Y a. has become beset in fast ice
    N b. is increasing speed; watch for broken ice
    N c. has its engines full astern
    N d. is increasing the distance between vessels

2986: Sulfuric acid is a __________.

    N a. clear syrupy liquid with no odor
    Y b. colorless-to-brown liquid with a choking odor when hot
    N c. colorless liquid with a pleasant fruity odor
    N d. whitish liquid with a faint, pleasant odor

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

3219: In a national emergency, when communicating via the Navy, messages are sent by precedence. A message designated PRIORITY will be delivered within __________.

    N a. 3 hours to start of business the following day
    N b. 10 minutes if possible
    N c. 30 minutes to 1 hour
    Y d. 1 to 6 hours

3275: When underway with a tow, you are required to notify the Coast Guard in which casualty situation?

    N a. Damage to property amounting to $12,500
    N b. Loss of bridge-to-bridge radio capability
    N c. An injury requiring first aid treatment
    Y d. Accidental stranding or grounding

3330: When towing astern, chafing gear should NOT be used on a hawser which is __________.

    N a. attached to an "H" bitt
    Y b. attached to an automatic towing engine
    N c. held amidships by a gob rope
    N d. connected to a swivel

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

3392: What term indicates the midships portion of a vessel that has a constant cross section?

    N a. Half length
    N b. Amidships
    Y c. Middle body
    N d. Molded length

3456: The vertical movement of a vessel in the water is called __________.

    N a. pitch
    N b. sway
    Y c. heave
    N d. roll

3460: You would NOT secure a line to a __________.

    N a. kevel
    Y b. stand pipe
    N c. button
    N d. timber head

3610: You have a tow of chemical barges. The mate reports an ammonia smell around the head of the tow. You would suspect a leak in the barge carrying __________.

    N a. methyl chloride
    N b. heptane
    N c. propanolamine
    Y d. morpholine

3614: While you are on watch, you learn that a crewman has not been seen on board for the past three hours. Which type of turn is best in this man-overboard situation?

    N a. Round
    Y b. Scharnow
    N c. Racetrack
    N d. Single turn of 180°

4090: The BEST holding ground for conventional anchors is_____.

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

4139: A disadvantage of using chain lashing on heavy vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels is that __________.

    N a. it is easily damaged
    N b. it is affected by temperature
    Y c. the links lose strength if placed over corners
    N d. it has high initial cost

4150: Which of the following is/are TRUE regarding lashing requirements to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. The securing of cargo on flats and trailers and in containers must be adequate to withstand both road and sea motions
    N b. The generally recommended lash angle cannot be greater than 45 degrees relative to the deck in any direction.
    N c. It is necessary for an adequate number of securing points on the vehicles themselves in order that lashings may be properly and safely utilized.
    Y d. All the above

4237: What is used to power modern pedestal cranes?

    N a. Steam
    N b. Water
    Y c. Hydraulics
    N d. All of the above

4255: Which of the following statement(s) is/are TRUE regarding a twin pedestal crane set?

    N a. The cranes may be operated independently.
    N b. The cranes may be interconnected for twin operation.
    N c. When twinned, the crane rotation on the foundation assembly is unlimited.
    Y d. All of the above

4276: During which condition should the operator of a pedestal crane shutdown operations?

    N a. Lightning in the vicinity
    N b. An approaching squall line
    N c. A fire on the pier
    Y d. All of the above