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.


20: You are carrying triethylamine, methyl methacrylate and isoprene in your multiple-product tankship. Which of the following statements is true?


27: Under title 46 of the United States Code, the person in charge of a documented vessel who fails to report a complaint of a sexual offense may be __________.


30: You are planning the stowage of two incompatible products on your multiple-product tankship. What will NOT provide the minimum required segregation?


68: Odorous cargoes are those that __________.

    N a. are susceptible to damage by tainting
    N b. are exceptionally dusty and leave a residue
    N c. are liquid, but in containers
    Y d. give off fumes that may damage other cargoes

148: Overcarriage is best prevented by __________.

    N a. assuring heavy cargo is stowed low in the vessel
    N b. checking the vessel's load line calculations carefully
    Y c. inspection of the hold at completion of discharge
    N d. stowing the cargo which is to be discharged last on the bottom

220: The best method to secure a towline to bitts is to __________.

    N a. take a round turn on the bitt farthest from the pull and use figure-eights
    Y b. take a round turn on the bitt closest to the pull and use figure-eights
    N c. use figure-eights and take a round turn at the top of the bitts
    N d. use only figure-eights

310: Operators of Uninspected Passenger Vessels are required to keep their Coast Guard License aboard __________.

    N a. only when operating more than one mile from shore
    N b. only when operating at night
    Y c. only when carrying passengers for hire
    N d. At all times

321: Which is a TRUE statement concerning the examining of cargo equipment at the time of a vessels Inspection for Certification.

    N a. Cargo booms must be weight tested at this time by the U.S. Coast Guard.
    N b. Cargo booms must be weight tested at this time by the American Bureau of Shipping.
    N c. Cargo booms must be weight tested at this time by the National Cargo Bureau.
    Y d. No test at this time is required.

433: When a tow is trimmed by the stern it is said to __________.

    N a. hog
    N b. sag
    Y c. drag
    N d. list

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

519: What is NOT a precaution to be taken when topping off?

    N a. Reduce the loading rate.
    Y b. Notify the engine room of the procedure.
    N c. Maintain communications with the dock man.
    N d. Give the operation your undivided attention.

573: An ocean towing bridle whose legs are of equal length, but too short, may __________.

    Y a. fail to provide spring in the hawser
    N b. cause unequal distribution of the load to one leg
    N c. cause the bridle legs to jump clear of the chocks or fairleads
    N d. None of the above

599: When stripping a tank, excessive air in the suction line may cause __________.

    N a. an over pressurized line
    N b. back pressure
    Y c. loss of suction
    N d. increase of suction

678: Prior to being able to sail, each vessel that carries grain in bulk must have a certificate of loading issued by the __________.

    N a. American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. Lloyds of London
    Y c. National Cargo Bureau
    N d. U.S. Salvage

715: The term "overriding" or "overrunning" when applied to towing, implies that __________.

    N a. there is more crew on board than required
    Y b. the tow has overtaken its tug
    N c. the towing hawser comes out of the water
    N d. the Norman pins are not effective

761: The Immigration and Naturalization Service is concerned with which document on a vessel making preliminary entry into a U.S. port from a foreign port?

    N a. Cargo Manifest
    Y b. Certified Crew List
    N c. Curio List
    N d. Shipping Articles

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

978: Anyone voluntarily surrendering their license to a U.S. Coast Guard investigating officer signs a statement indicating that __________.

    N a. all title to the license is given up for 5 years
    Y b. their rights to a hearing are waived
    N c. they may be issued a new license in 5 years after passing another written examination
    N d. All of the above

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

1089: The system of valves and cargo lines in the bottom piping network of a tank vessel that connects one section of cargo tanks to another section is called a __________.

    Y a. crossover
    N b. runaround
    N c. come-along
    N d. manifold

1178: A shipper of cargo aboard your vessel offers a letter of indemnity for the cargo. This is done in order to obtain a(n) __________.

    Y a. Clean Bill of Lading
    N b. Order Bill of Lading
    N c. Straight Bill of Lading
    N d. Through Bill of Lading

1180: The regulations require that inspected vessels on an international voyage, other than small passenger vessels, must carry which of the following distress signals on or near the navigating bridge?

    N a. 12 hand red flares
    Y b. 12 rocket parachute flares
    N c. 12 hand combination flares and orange smoke signals
    N d. 6 hand red flares, and 6 hand orange smoke signals

1198: The most probable position of the object of a search at any given time is the __________.

    Y a. datum position
    N b. incident position
    N c. reported position
    N d. dead-reckoning position

1245: While on watch at sea you must maintain a proper lookout at all times. On a 700-foot cargo vessel being hand-steered during daylight hours in good visibility and clear of any navigational hazards, the lookout may be __________.

    N a. the helmsman
    Y b. the mate on watch
    N c. Either A or B
    N d. Neither A nor B

1338: A "dangerous cargo manifest" is needed for you to carry a combustible cargo. You should obtain the shipping papers to make this "manifest" from the __________.

    N a. manufacturer
    N b. ABS
    N c. Coast Guard
    Y d. shipper

1365: A person who sees someone fall overboard should __________.

    Y a. call for help and keep the individual in sight
    N b. run to the radio room to send an emergency message
    N c. immediately jump in the water to assist the individual
    N d. go to the bridge for the distress flares

1371: Delivery of a vessel to a charterer is called __________.

    N a. chartering
    N b. dispatching
    N c. fixing
    Y d. tendering

1435: Which letter shown represents a clove hitch? (DO30DG )

    Y a. X
    N b. U
    N c. T
    N d. R

1526: One shot of anchor chain is equal to how many feet (meters)?

    N a. 6 (1.8 meters)
    N b. 15 (4.6 meters)
    N c. 45 (13.7 meters)
    Y d. 90 (27.4 meters)

1534: Which statement(s) is(are) TRUE concerning wire rope?

    Y a. Wire rope should be condemned if the outside wires are worn to one-half their original diameter.
    N b. Wire rope should be condemned if the fiber core appears moist.
    N c. Wire rope which is right-hand laid should be coiled counterclockwise to prevent kinking.
    N d. All of the above

1551: A majority of the crew requests a survey from the American Consul to determine a vessel's seaworthiness. The vessel is found unfit to continue her intended voyage. The Consul allows the vessel to sail to another port where deficiencies can be corrected. The crew must __________.

    N a. be discharged and given first class passage back to the original port of signing on in lieu of one month's wages
    N b. be discharged by the American Consul with additional one month's wages until repairs are made
    N c. be furnished employment on another vessel returning to the United States which is satisfactory to that crew
    Y d. comply with the judgment

1722: 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
    Y b. 1 to 6 hours
    N c. 30 minutes to 1 hour
    N d. 10 minutes if possible

1780: The term that indicates how many tons of cargo a vessel can carry is __________.

    N a. bale cubic
    Y b. deadweight
    N c. gross tonnage
    N d. loaded displacement

1814: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "D" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

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

1821: While towing, what is the principal danger in attempting to swing a barge on a short hawser in order to slow the barge's speed?

    N a. The barge may capsize from the sharp turn.
    Y b. The barge may swing too quickly and run over the tug.
    N c. Free surface effect of liquid inside the barge may rupture the barge bulkheads when turning too quickly.
    N d. Dangerous wakes may result from the swinging barge and capsize the tug.

1869: You are using tackle number 10 in illustration DO29DG to lift a weight of 120 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 )

    N a. 57 lbs.
    N b. 42 lbs.
    N c. 39 lbs.
    Y d. 34 lbs.

1897: The tankship Northland is loaded as shown. Use the salmon colored pages in the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the hogging numeral. (Get Table Data)

    Y a. 43.19 numeral
    N b. 46.56 numeral
    N c. 49.92 numeral
    N d. 55.72 numeral

1918: Which statement is TRUE concerning hawser towing?

    N a. The catenary in a hawser should be sufficient so that the hawser just touches the bottom.
    N b. The hawser is of sufficient length for towing when taut between tug and tow.
    N c. Increasing speed usually increases the catenary in the hawser.
    Y d. Shortening the tow hawser generally decreases the maneuverability of the tug.

1935: The knot lettered H in illustration DO30DG is a __________. (DO30DG )

    Y a. becket bend
    N b. bowline
    N c. plain whipping
    N d. crown knot

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.

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

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

2265: You are conducting trials to determine the maneuvering characteristics of your vessel. While making a turn, you take ranges and bearings of an isolated light with the results shown. Based on this information, what is the transfer for a turn of 45°? (D034DG )

    Y a. 130 yards
    N b. 165 yards
    N c. 195 yards
    N d. 230 yards

2283: What is the area of a circle with a radius of 2 feet after a sector of 86° has been removed?

    N a. 2.39 sq. ft
    N b. 3.02 sq. ft
    Y c. 9.55 sq. ft
    N d. 12.57 sq. ft

2303: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) and wish to send a message warning of a hurricane. Which precedence would you assign this message?

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

2344: An example of an anchor which has a stock is a __________.

    N a. Bruce anchor
    N b. Dunn anchor
    N c. Hook anchor
    Y d. Danforth anchor

2352: The recessed areas on a wildcat are called __________.

    N a. pawls
    N b. sockets
    Y c. pockets
    N d. devil's claws

2516: Which statement about the dangerous cargo manifest, carried on a ship, is TRUE?

    N a. The manifest must be made up by the Master or other designated ship's officer.
    N b. Shipments of hazardous and non-hazardous cargo may be listed on the manifest if they are destined for the same consignee.
    Y c. The manifest must be kept in a designated holder on or near the bridge.
    N d. The type of label(s) required for each cargo must be indicated.

2632: The horizontal flat surfaces where the upper stock joins the rudder are the __________.

    N a. rudder keys
    Y b. rudder palms
    N c. lifting flanges
    N d. shoes of the rudder

2852: On a small passenger vessel the collision bulkhead is __________.

    N a. amidships forward of the engine room
    N b. just forward of the steering compartment
    N c. in the engine room
    Y d. A distance of 5% to 15% of the waterline length abaft the stem measured at the load waterline

2954: An intermediate spring is __________.

    N a. fitted in each leg of the towing bridle
    Y b. generally located between the "fishplate" and the main towing hawser
    N c. secured at the "H" bitts
    N d. usually made of manila hawser

2964: "Seiche" is defined as a(n) __________.

    N a. unusually strong storm system which approaches the Great Lakes System generally from the Northeast
    N b. lake current which is predominant during the spring and fall navigation season on the Great Lakes
    Y c. oscillation caused by the diminishing of forces which cause lake level fluctuations
    N d. higher than normal high water or lower than normal low water

3012: Which statement about the ventilation of bulk coal is TRUE?

    N a. Coal should not be ventilated; all oxygen should be excluded from the cargo.
    N b. Coal should be through-ventilated to remove methane and reduce the heat of spontaneous combustion.
    N c. Coal should be ventilated only if temperatures in the center of the cargo exceed 125°F.
    Y d. Coal should be surface ventilated only.

3080: Which method should be used to warm up the pump turbines prior to discharge?

    N a. Lock the turbine rotor and slowly bleed in steam until operating temperature is reached
    N b. Run the pump at high speed with the discharge valves closed
    N c. Run the turbine at slow speed with the pump disconnected
    Y d. Shut the discharge valve and run the pump at slow speed

3103: A case received for shipment has the markings shown. Each carton measures 13" X 15" X 23". What is the total cubic capacity the entire consignment will occupy? (Ignore broken stowage.) (D043DG )

    Y a. 779 cubic feet (22 cubic meters)
    N b. 992 cubic feet (28 cubic meters)
    N c. 1,047 cubic feet (30 cubic meters)
    N d. 112,125 cubic feet (3173 cubic meters)

3492: The Master of a passenger vessel which is not required to maintain an Official Logbook must keep a record of the number of passengers received and delivered from day to day. This record must be available for a period of __________.

    N a. 6 months
    Y b. 12 months
    N c. 24 months
    N d. 36 months

4050: You are on a 120,000 DWT loaded bulk carrier. When anchoring without the aid of tugs, your maximum speed should not exceed how many feet per second?

    Y a. 0.5 (0.3 knot)
    N b. 1.0 (0.6 knot)
    N c. 1.3 (0.8 knot)
    N d. 1.75 (1.0 knot)

4111: What is(are) standard operating procedure(s) used on a Ro-Ro vessel?

    N a. Two deck officers assigned to oversee the initial loading and lashing
    N b. Lashings may be completed after leaving port
    Y c. Periodic inspection and retensioning of lashings as required during voyage
    N d. All of the above

4152: Which of the following statement(s) is/are TRUE regarding lashing requirements to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. It is imperative that the securing of cargo on flats and trailers and in containers be adequate for both road and sea motions.
    N b. The movements experienced by road borne cargo differ significantly from the roll and sway movements of a ship at sea.
    N c. It is necessary for adequate number and strength of securing points on the vehicles themselves in order that lashings may be properly and safely utilized.
    Y d. All the above

4224: What does item "K" refer to in this illustration of a 30-ton pedestal crane? (D045DG )

    N a. Manual slewing cables
    Y b. Rider block taglines
    N c. Jib luffing cables
    N d. Cargo snaking cables

4251: Which action(s) is/are included in crane operations?

    N a. Single-mode set-up & operation
    N b. Twin-mode set-up & operation
    N c. Normal boom stowage and shutdown operation
    Y d. All of the above