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.


5: You are standing the wheelwatch when you hear the cry, "Man overboard starboard side". You should instinctively __________.


6: Which statement about a tunnel bow thruster is TRUE?


26: The pivoting point of a fully loaded vessel with normal trim proceeding ahead at sea speed is __________.


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

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

45: Which shallow water effect will increase dramatically if you increase your ship's speed past its "critical speed"?

    Y a. Squatting
    N b. Smelling the bottom
    N c. Sinkage
    N d. Bank cushion

60: You are on a vessel designed to carry compressed gasses in bulk with a cargo of butadiene. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The ullage must be padded with compressed air at a minimum pressure of 2 psig.
    Y b. Silver and copper are prohibited in the parts of valves and fittings in contact with the cargo.
    N c. The cargo tank may be sampled only when the tank is being filled.
    N d. The shipping document must specify the exact quantity of butadiene being carried.

121: 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.
    N b. Sailors may stand watch for 6 hours on and 6 hours off.
    N c. A licensed Chief Engineer is required.
    Y d. All crew members must have Merchant Mariner's Documents.

211: A seaman is entitled by law to a release from Foreign Articles when __________.

    N a. intoxicated
    Y b. the vessel is overloaded
    N c. there is a change of home port
    N d. there is a change of Master

211: A seaman is entitled by law to a release from Foreign Articles when __________.

    N a. intoxicated
    Y b. the vessel is overloaded
    N c. there is a change of home port
    N d. there is a change of Master

254: "Ease the rudder" means to __________.

    N a. move the rudder slowly in the direction of the most recent rudder command
    N b. bring the rudder amidships
    Y c. decrease the rudder angle
    N d. steer the course which is your present heading

299: Cargo transfer operations on a tank vessel need NOT be stopped when __________.

    Y a. a tug comes alongside while the tanker is loading grade D and E cargoes
    N b. a large, fresh oil spill is discovered immediately adjacent to the side of the tanker
    N c. there is an electrical storm in the vicinity
    N d. there is a fire on the dock or on a nearby vessel

301: You are signing on a crew. Which person is presenting a Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD) that you should suspect as being invalid?

    N a. An AB with an endorsement of "Any unlicensed rating in the deck department including Able Seaman"
    Y b. A seaman with an MMD only endorsed as "Bosun"
    N c. A Purser with an MMD only endorsed "See certificate of registry"
    N d. A Chief Steward with an MMD only endorsed as "Steward's Dept. (FH)"

315: A vessel must have one approved ring life buoy on board if its length is over how many feet?

    N a. 6 feet
    N b. 16 feet
    Y c. 26 feet
    N d. 36 feet

385: In controlling pollution, which action should be taken after all dirty ballast has been transferred to the slop tank and prior to discharge through the oily water separator?

    N a. The clean tanks should be ballasted.
    Y b. The slops should be allowed time to settle.
    N c. Chemicals should be added to emulsify the oil.
    N d. The dirty ballast tank is crude oil washed.

395: The vertical motion of a floating vessel in which the entire hull is lifted by the force of the sea is known as __________.

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

406: A twin-screw vessel with a single rudder is making headway. The engines are full speed ahead. There is no wind or current. Which statement is FALSE?

    N a. If one screw is stopped, the ship will turn toward the side of the stopped screw.
    N b. The principal force which turns the ship is set up by the wake against the forward side of the rudder.
    Y c. Turning response by use of the rudder only is greater than on a single-screw vessel.
    N d. With the rudder amidships, the ship will steer a fairly steady course.

480: What is NOT a requirement for the preparation of used, gasoline-propelled cars if they are to be carried as ordinary cargo and not as hazardous cargo?

    N a. The engine must be run until it dies from lack of fuel.
    Y b. The fuel tank must be inerted with CO2.
    N c. The ignition key may not be in the ignition.
    N d. The vehicle must be inspected for fuel leaks.

507: You are signing on your crew. Which is NOT authorized?

    Y a. A man presenting his Chief Mate's license to sign on as able seaman
    N b. An engineer presenting an MMD endorsed "QMED - any rating" to sign on as an Electrician
    N c. A man presenting an MMD endorsed as "Able Seaman" to sign on as Bosun
    N d. A man presenting an MMD endorsed "Steward's Department (F.H.)" to sign on as Chief Cook

517: What is the purpose of the intermediate spring?

    N a. Serves as a backup for the main tow hawser in case of failure.
    Y b. Provides weight and flexibility to the total tow makeup.
    N c. Lengthens the main tow hawser to keep the tow in step.
    N d. Distributes the towing load.

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.

578: When loading a container vessel, the operation is basically that of vertical loading. The important factors to be considered when loading containers are port of discharge, __________.

    N a. available dunnage, and chocking
    N b. crushability, and inherent vice
    N c. sweat, and weight
    Y d. weight, and refrigeration

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

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

629: You are planning to use a crude oil washing system. What precaution must be taken with the source tank for the washing machines?

    Y a. At least one meter must be decanted from the source tank.
    N b. The oil in the source tank must be sampled for compatibility.
    N c. The source tank must have been crude oil washed at least once in the past 150 days.
    N d. The inert gas system must lower the oxygen content in the source tank to a maximum of 12%.

983: When a vessel is on autopilot steering, the "weather " control is adjusted to compensate for which severe weather effect on a vessel?

    Y a. Yaw
    N b. Roll
    N c. Pitch
    N d. Leeway

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.

1021: A vessel's Classification Certificate is issued by the __________.

    Y a. American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. National Cargo Bureau
    N c. United States Coast Guard
    N d. United States Customs

1077: A seaman dies during a voyage. What is NOT required to be entered into the Official Log?

    Y a. Statement that the Master has taken custody of the deceased's MMD and passport
    N b. An inventory of the money and property
    N c. Statement of the wages due
    N d. Statement as to the total deductions to be made from the wages

1269: What is meant by the term "topping the boom"?

    N a. Lowering the boom
    Y b. Raising the boom
    N c. Spotting the boom over the deck
    N d. Swinging the boom athwartships

1410: The result of two forces acting in opposite directions and along parallel lines, is an example of what type of stress?

    N a. Tensile
    N b. Compression
    Y c. Shear
    N d. Strain

1434: In the manufacture of wire rope, if the wires are shaped to conform to the curvature of the finished rope before they are laid up, the rope is called __________.

    N a. composite
    N b. left-lay
    N c. improved
    Y d. preformed

1444: If kinking results while wire rope is being coiled clockwise, you should __________.

    N a. coil it counterclockwise
    N b. not coil it
    Y c. take a turn under
    N d. twist out the kinks under a strain

1576: Using a scope of five, determine how many shots of chain you should put out to anchor in 5 fathoms of water?

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

1578: A stream of water immediately surrounding a moving vessel's hull, flowing in the same direction as the vessel is known as __________.

    N a. directional current
    N b. forward current
    N c. propeller current
    Y d. wake current

1590: A thirty pound plate would be __________.

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

1723: What is meant by the term "two-blocked"?

    Y a. The bottom block touches the top block.
    N b. The line has jumped the sheaves.
    N c. There are turns in the fall.
    N d. You have two blocks.

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

1755: Which knot shown is a French bowline? (DO30DG )

    N a. L
    Y b. T
    N c. Q
    N d. W

1889: The helm command "Nothing to the left" means do NOT __________.

    N a. use left rudder
    Y b. steer left of the ordered course
    N c. steer right of the ordered course
    N d. leave any buoys on the port side

2010: On the cargo manifest, the total weight of a box containing cargo is the __________.

    N a. tare weight
    N b. net weight
    Y c. gross weight
    N d. cargo weight

2080: A Contract of Affreightment covering the movement of a particular cargo from one designated port to another at a specified rate for each ton of goods loaded is called a __________.

    N a. bareboat charter party
    N b. demise charter party
    N c. time charter party
    Y d. voyage charter party

2114: All handling and stowage of packaged hazardous materials on board a domestic vessel engaged in foreign trade shall be done under the supervision of __________.

    N a. a U.S. Coast Guard Marine Inspector
    Y b. an officer assigned to the vessel
    N c. the American Bureau of Shipping
    N d. the National Cargo Bureau

2240: What is the mechanical advantage of tackle number 1? (DO29DG )

    N a. 0.5
    Y b. 1
    N c. 1.5
    N d. 2

2244: If you are loading fruit in reefer spaces and you notice that the fruit is beginning to mold, you should __________.

    N a. carry the cargo at a cooler temperature than originally planned
    Y b. write up exceptions on the cargo
    N c. refuse to carry the cargo
    N d. discharge CO2 into the compartment after loading

2249: Which knot should be used to secure a line to a spar when the pull is parallel to the spar? (DO30DG )

    N a. G
    N b. F
    Y c. P
    N d. Q

2536: Wages due a seaman may be attached by the court for the __________.

    N a. payment of any fines imposed by the court
    N b. payment of back taxes to the IRS
    Y c. support of a spouse
    N d. All of the above

2589: The angle at which the anchor flukes penetrate the soil is the __________.

    N a. burial angle
    N b. penetration angle
    Y c. fluke angle
    N d. holding angle

2618: Due to the nature of a vessel's construction for a particular trade, it does not fully comply with the provisions of SOLAS. Where will this be indicated?

    Y a. On the Exemption Certificate
    N b. On the reverse of the particular SOLAS certificate affected
    N c. On the face of the Certificate of Inspection
    N d. Nowhere; the vessel must comply to engage in international trade.

3085: Naval Control of Shipping (NCS) publications should be __________.

    N a. in the Master's custody
    N b. safely stowed
    N c. turned over to the relieving Master
    Y d. All of the above

3116: You are lifting a 5-ton weight with a single whip rove on a swinging boom set at an angle of 20° to the horizontal. Use the formula for the size of a shackle with a safe working load and determine the minimum size shackle that should be used to secure the head block to the boom?

    N a. 1 3/8 inch
    N b. 1 1/2 inch
    Y c. 1 3/4 inch
    N d. 1 7/8 inch

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

3172: The signal man assisting the crane operator has his hands clasped in front of his body. This is the signal to __________.

    Y a. dog everything
    N b. stop
    N c. stand-by
    N d. prepare for signal

3560: What should look-outs report?

    N a. Discolored water
    N b. Shoals
    N c. Floating objects
    Y d. All of the above

3712: When should a crane boom-up so high that the boom hits the stops?

    N a. Only if the load has not exceeded the limit at that angle
    N b. Only if the load contains non-hazardous materials
    N c. Only if necessary to perform a given lift
    Y d. Never

3960: The line with the most stretch is __________.

    N a. manila
    Y b. nylon
    N c. polypropylene
    N d. dacron

4069: The horizontal fore-and-aft movement of a vessel is called __________.

    N a. yaw
    N b. sway
    N c. heave
    Y d. surge

4125: Which variable factor affects the initial lashing requirements aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Age of vehicle or cargo unit
    Y b. Size and weight of vehicle/cargo unit
    N c. Reputation of shipper concerning condition of cargo
    N d. Air pressure in the vehicles tires

4136: A disadvantage of using chain lashing on heavy vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels is that it __________.

    N a. can wrap around cargo
    N b. is easily damaged
    N c. is affected by temperature
    Y d. does not absorb shock

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.

4205: Which piece of equipment is required to "twin-up" 30-ton pedestal cranes aboard a crane vessel?

    N a. Portable power swivel
    Y b. Equalizing beam
    N c. 20-foot container spreader
    N d. 40-foot container spreader