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.


67: 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 __________.


164: A look-out should report objects sighted using __________.


248: Dunnage may be used to protect a cargo from loss or damage by _______________________ .


264: The total weight of cargo, fuel, water, stores, passengers and crew, and their effects, that a ship can carry, is the __________.

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

337: On a coastwise tugboat of 199 GT, on a voyage over 600 miles, what percentage of the deck crew (excluding licensed officers) must hold a document of able seaman?

    Y a. 65%
    N b. 50%
    N c. 25%
    N d. 0%

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

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

510: You have loaded dangerous cargo on your vessel and must fill out a Dangerous Cargo Manifest. In which publication would you find the requirements to complete this form?

    N a. 33 CFR - Navigation and Navigable Waters
    Y b. 46 CFR - Shipping
    N c. IMCO - Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization
    N d. IMDG - International Maritime Dangerous Goods

514: The part of an anchor which takes hold on the bottom is the __________.

    N a. arm
    N b. base
    Y c. fluke
    N d. stock

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

588: Because of the arrangement of the cell guides, the MOST important factor while loading containers is the __________.

    N a. contents of the container
    Y b. list of the vessel
    N c. size of the shoreside crane
    N d. weight of the container

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

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

633: A tug is best positioned for towing and maneuvering on rivers and other restricted waters where wave action is limited when __________.

    Y a. directly astern and pushing the tow
    N b. towing on a hawser
    N c. towing alongside and parallel to the vessel it is towing
    N d. towing on the hip

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

    N a. offshore stern line
    Y b. inshore stern line
    N c. after spring line
    N d. after breast line

652: When plugging holes below the waterline you should __________.

    N a. eliminate all water entering the hole
    N b. only plug holes in machinery or other vital spaces
    Y c. reduce the entry of water as much as possible
    N d. plug the largest holes first

702: When paying off seamen in a foreign port, where a United States consul is not available, the release must be executed by the seamen and the __________.

    N a. representative of the foreign country
    N b. local port authority representative
    Y c. Master of the vessel
    N d. ship's union delegate

710: Which statement is FALSE, concerning the Williamson turn?

    N a. In a large vessel (VLCC) much of the headway will be lost thereby requiring little astern maneuvering.
    N b. When the turn is completed, the vessel will be on a reciprocal course and nearly on the original track line.
    N c. The initial actions are taken at well defined points and reduce the need for individual judgment.
    Y d. The turn will return the vessel to the man's location in the shortest possible time.

746: Which effect does speed through the water have on a vessel which is underway in shallow water?

    N a. A decrease in the speed results in a decrease in steering response and maneuverability.
    Y b. An increase in speed results in the stern sucking down lower than the bow.
    N c. An increase in speed results in the vessel rising on an even plane.
    N d. A decrease in speed results in the vessel sucking down on an even plane.

760: The connection to the towline must be secured with a ____________ .

    N a. galvanized screw-pin shackle
    N b. hardened steel thimble
    Y c. shackle secured a nut and cotter pin
    N d. shackle fitted with a swivel piece

766: Insufficient space between the hull and bottom in shallow water will prevent normal screw currents resulting in __________.

    N a. waste of power
    N b. sudden sheering to either side
    N c. sluggish rudder response
    Y d. All of the above

864: During the manufacture of line, yarns are twisted together in the __________.

    Y a. opposite direction from which the fibers are twisted together to form strands
    N b. same direction the fibers are twisted to form strands
    N c. opposite direction from which the fibers are twisted together to form the line
    N d. opposite direction from which the fibers are twisted together forming cables

920: A vessel's light displacement is 12,000 tons. Its heavy displacement is 28,000 tons. When fully loaded it carries 200 tons of fuel and 100 tons of water and stores. What is the cargo carrying capacity in tons?

    N a. 11,700 tons
    Y b. 15,700 tons
    N c. 16,000 tons
    N d. 27,700 tons

982: The muster list must be posted in conspicuous locations and signed by the __________.

    N a. safety officer
    N b. Coast Guard Officer approving the bill
    N c. owner
    Y d. Master

1000: The "Mode" selector switch can be positioned and select all of the following EXCEPT __________.

    Y a. weather adjustments
    N b. hand-electric steering
    N c. automatic gyro
    N d. non-followup control

1072: The normal and safest way for a sailor in a bosun's chair to be raised aloft is __________.

    N a. for the sailor to pull himself aloft and then make fast with a bosun's chair hitch
    Y b. manually by two or three sailors heaving away on deck
    N c. by taking the gantline to a winch drum and heaving away with the winch
    N d. by fairleading the gantline with a snatch block and pulling with a cargo runner

1075: You are standing wheelwatch on entering port, and the Master gives you a rudder command that conflicts with a rudder command from the Pilot. What should you do?

    N a. Obey the Pilot
    Y b. Obey the Master
    N c. Ask the Pilot for guidance
    N d. Bring the rudder to midships

1128: The most accurate account of cargo on board will be found in the __________.

    N a. Manifest
    N b. charter party
    Y c. Bill of Lading
    N d. Portage Bill

1166: You are 15 feet off a pier and docking a vessel using only a bow and stern breast line. Once the slack is out of both lines you begin to haul in on the bow breast line. What is the effect on the vessel?

    N a. The bow will come in and the stern will go out.
    N b. The whole ship moves toward the pier.
    Y c. The bow will come in and the stern will remain the same distance off the pier.
    N d. The stern will come in and the bow will remain the same distance off the pier.

1203: Under defense plans, operation of electronic aids may be temporarily suspended with __________.

    N a. one day's notice
    Y b. no notice
    N c. thirty (30) day's notice
    N d. a week's notice

1234: Which type of line will stretch the most when under strain?

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

1257: You are a watchstanding mate and have come to the bridge to relieve the watch. After reviewing the chart and having been briefed by the off-going mate, you are now ready to effect the relief. Which of the following is exemplary of the statement that would officially transfer the watch?

    N a. You say to the mate going off watch, "Destination New York, course 283°, speed 16 knots."
    N b. The mate being relieved says, "You now have the watch, course 147°, speed 15 knots."
    N c. The mate being relieved says, "All in apparent good order, course 068° per gyro, 075° per standard."
    Y d. You say to the mate going off watch, "I relieve you, course 321° per gyro, 316° per standard."

1635: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "B" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

    N a. after breast line
    N b. after spring line
    N c. offshore stern line
    Y d. inshore stern line

1769: Two falls are supporting a 1.5 ton load. The port fall is at an angle of 40° from the vertical. The starboard fall is at an angle of 70° from the vertical. What is the stress on each fall?

    Y a. Port 1.5 tons, starboard 1.0 tons
    N b. Port 1.5 tons, starboard 1.5 tons
    N c. Port 1.7 tons, starboard 1.3 tons
    N d. Port 1.7 tons, starboard 2.0 tons

1794: A "figure eight" knot is used to __________.

    N a. be a stopper
    N b. shorten a line
    N c. join lines of equal size
    Y d. keep a line from passing through a sheave

1848: You are docking a vessel. Wind and current are most favorable when they are __________.

    N a. crossing your course in the same direction
    N b. crossing your course in opposite directions
    Y c. parallel to the pier from ahead
    N d. setting you on the pier

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

1949: Using a scope of 5, determine how many feet of cable you should put out to anchor in 5 fathoms of water.

    N a. 100 feet
    Y b. 150 feet
    N c. 200 feet
    N d. 250 feet

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

2129: The exact and complete identification of all cargo on board must be found on the __________.

    Y a. Cargo Manifest
    N b. Mate's Receipt
    N c. Hatch Report
    N d. Loading List

2173: What is the name of tackle number 5? (DO29DG )

    N a. 3-2 purchase
    Y b. Double luff tackle
    N c. Two-fold purchase
    N d. Four-fold whip

2267: The knot lettered K in illustration DO30DG is a __________. (DO30DG )

    Y a. sailmaker's whipping
    N b. carrick bend
    N c. barrel hitch
    N d. stopper

2322: Fittings used for towing must be __________.

    N a. Coast Guard approved
    N b. stamped with maximum working loads
    Y c. securely fastened
    N d. positioned exactly at the bow of the towed vessel

2546: The dangerous cargo manifest does NOT indicate __________.

    N a. the stowage location of hazardous material aboard the vessel
    N b. a description of the packaging (drums, boxes, etc.)
    N c. UN identification numbers
    Y d. the net weight of each hazardous cargo

2554: The welds used to attach stiffeners to a plate are known as __________.

    N a. butt welds
    N b. seam welds
    Y c. fillet welds
    N d. plate welds

2763: When a merchant vessel is under the Naval Control of Shipping Organization in wartime, naval authorities may give orders pertaining to __________.

    N a. minimum manning standards
    Y b. regulations about darkening ship
    N c. the stowage of explosives
    N d. the types of cargoes permitted on board

2924: You are on a large vessel fitted with a right-handed controllable-pitch propeller set at maximum forward pitch. Which statement about reversing is TRUE?

    N a. When the pitch is reversed, the stern will slew to port even with headway.
    N b. The vessel will respond to the rudder until sternway is developed, then the stern will slew to starboard.
    Y c. There will probably be a loss of steering control.
    N d. The vessel will have full rudder control throughout the speed change from ahead to astern.

2933: Your vessel is to dock bow first at a pier. Which line will be the most useful when maneuvering the vessel alongside the pier?

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

3262: Fracture damage to the end links of the anchor cable, or to the Jews' harp may be eliminated by __________.

    N a. using a small diameter connecting shackle
    N b. ensuring the swivel is well lubricated and free to turn
    N c. installing the connecting shackle with the bow towards the anchor
    Y d. securing a piece of wood to the Jews' harp

3504: Metal plates that cover the top of the hawsepipe are called __________.

    N a. footings
    N b. plugs
    Y c. buckler plates
    N d. stop waters

3514: Which type of anchor is depicted? (D038DG )

    N a. Stock
    N b. Danforth
    Y c. Patent
    N d. Old-fashioned

3582: What term indicates the length measured along the summer load line from the intersection of that load line with the foreside of the stem and the intersection of that load line with the after side of the rudder post?

    N a. Length overall
    N b. Register length
    Y c. Length between perpendiculars
    N d. Length on the waterline

3602: What is the penalty for desertion?

    N a. Fine of not more than 2000 dollars and forfeiture of wages
    N b. Imprisonment for not more than 2 years and/or a fine of not more than 2000 dollars
    N c. Revocation of Merchant Mariner's Document (and license if applicable) and forfeiture of wages due
    Y d. Forfeiture of money and property left on the vessel, and wages due

3612: Buckler plates are __________.

    N a. triangular-shaped plates connecting the bull chain to the topping lift
    Y b. metal plates secured over the tops of the hawsepipes
    N c. faired shell plates with curvature in two directions
    N d. sheets of dunnage used to prevent heavy cargo from buckling the deck plates

3644: You are drifting in a locale where there is no current. As a rule, your vessel will lie __________.

    N a. bow to the wind
    Y b. beam to the wind
    N c. stern to the wind
    N d. with the wind on the quarter

3938: With a given load on the cargo hook, tension in a single span topping lift __________.

    N a. increases as the boom's angle to the horizontal increases
    N b. is at a maximum when the boom is at a 45° angle to the horizontal
    Y c. increases as the boom's angle to the horizontal decreases
    N d. decreases as the boom's angle to the horizontal decreases

4026: One of the greatest hazards of pushing ahead is parting which item shown? (D024DG )

    N a. A
    N b. B
    N c. F
    Y d. I

4057: 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?

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

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

4211: Pedestal cranes have limit switches to restrict movement of which function(s)?

    N a. Hoist upper & lower limits
    N b. Luff travel limits
    N c. Rider block hoist upper & lower limits
    Y d. All of the above

4280: Which statement is FALSE concerning a tagline as used with a 30-ton pedestal crane?

    Y a. Taglines are wire rope purchases that raise and lower the jib.
    N b. Taglines are wire ropes for horizontal positioning of the rider block.
    N c. Taglines can be fastened to corners of vehicles or containers.
    N d. The crane might not have taglines installed in its rigging system.