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.


10: You are scheduled to load a bulk shipment of steel turnings. Which statement is TRUE?


24: A crack in the deck plating of a vessel may be temporarily prevented from increasing in length by __________.


136: Under the federal regulations, what minimum level of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) constitutes a violation of the laws prohibiting Boating Under the Influence of Alcohol (BUI) on commercial vessels?


344: The purpose of a bilge well is to __________.

    N a. afford access to the shell through the double bottoms
    Y b. collect water to be pumped out
    N c. provide access for the pneumercator
    N d. provide a base line for sounding measurements

546: A twin-screw ship going ahead on the starboard screw only tends to move __________.

    N a. in a straight line
    Y b. to port
    N c. from side to side
    N d. to starboard

561: Which space cannot be deducted from gross tonnage when calculating net tonnage?

    N a. Crew messroom
    Y b. Forepeak ballast tank
    N c. Master's cabin
    N d. Chain locker

589: The terminal indicates to you that they are going to use a booster pump to assist the discharging operation. You start the discharge and in a few minutes the pressure drops sharply. This could be a result of the __________.

    Y a. booster pump coming on the line and discharging properly
    N b. booster pump failing to start
    N c. ship's pump speeding up
    N d. booster pump being lined up in the wrong direction

631: At least one reinspection shall be made on each vessel holding a Certificate of Inspection valid for two years. This inspection shall be held between the tenth and fourteenth months of the duration period of the certificate and shall be __________.

    N a. at the discretion of the inspector, but in no greater detail than required for original certification
    N b. at the discretion of the inspector, but in no lesser detail than required for original certification
    Y c. generally similar in scope to the inspection required for certification, but in less detail
    N d. equivalent to the inspection required for certification

650: A crew member has just fallen overboard off your port side. Which action should you take?

    N a. Immediately put the rudder over hard right.
    Y b. Immediately put the rudder over hard left.
    N c. Immediately put the engines astern.
    N d. Wait until the stern is well clear of the man and then put the rudder over hard right.

704: Laying out a line in successive circles flat on deck with the bitter end in the center is known as __________.

    N a. coiling
    N b. faking
    Y c. flemishing
    N d. lining

738: How many board feet of dunnage are there in a draft 3 feet wide, 1-1/2 feet high, and 14 feet long?

    N a. 526
    Y b. 756
    N c. 876
    N d. 906

808: You are loading a cargo of cases into a hold which has a bale cubic of 44,000. The cargo consists of cases measuring 4 ft by 2 ft by 1.5 ft. Estimated broken stowage is 15%. What is the maximum number of cases which can be stowed in the hold?

    N a. 3096
    Y b. 3116
    N c. 3136
    N d. 3156

965: While steering by autopilot you notice that the vessel has deviated 15 degrees from course and there is no corrective rudder being applied. As a standard operating procedure you should first __________.

    N a. check the setting of the rudder adjustment
    N b. check the setting of the weather adjustment
    Y c. switch to hand steering
    N d. immediately engage the trick wheel

1052: A term used to describe the dip in a towline that acts as a shock absorber is __________.

    Y a. catenary
    N b. step
    N c. shock dip
    N d. bight

1061: A vessel arrives at the port of San Francisco from Yokohama, Japan. The passengers fill out the Baggage Declaration and Entry form. A passenger has baggage arriving on another vessel. How must this baggage be handled for U.S. Customs purposes?

    N a. It need not be declared at this time.
    Y b. It must be declared on the same form and marked "Unaccompanied Baggage".
    N c. It must be declared on another form entitled "Continuation Sheet".
    N d. It must be declared only if the other vessel's name is known.

1150: In ship construction, frame spacing is __________.

    N a. greater at the bow and stern
    Y b. reduced at the bow and stern
    N c. uniform over the length of the vessel
    N d. uniform over the length of the vessel, with the exception of the machinery spaces, where it is reduced due to increased stresses

1154: Which line would be least likely to kink?

    Y a. Braided
    N b. Left-handed laid
    N c. Right-handed laid
    N d. Straight laid

1196: You are landing a single-screw vessel, with a right-hand propeller, starboard side to the dock. When you have approached the berth and back the engine, you would expect the vessel to __________.

    N a. lose headway without swinging
    Y b. turn her bow toward the dock
    N c. turn her bow away from the dock
    N d. head into the wind, regardless of the side the wind is on

1216: It is easier to dock a right-hand, single-screw vessel __________.

    N a. starboard side to the wharf
    N b. either side to the wharf
    Y c. port side to the wharf
    N d. stern to the wharf

1301: If, after examination by the Quarantine Officer, your vessel is found to have a specific deficiency, you may be issued __________.

    N a. Bill of health
    N b. Free Pratique
    N c. Notice to Comply
    Y d. Controlled Free Pratique

1357: The area indicated by the letter G is known as the __________. (D033DG )

    N a. entrance
    N b. stringer plate
    Y c. turn of the bilge
    N d. garboard

1436: How many feet are there in 2 shots of anchor chain?

    N a. 50
    N b. 60
    Y c. 180
    N d. 360

1491: While underway, part of your cargo is damaged by fire. In marine insurance terms this partial loss is called __________.

    N a. absolute total loss
    N b. constructive total loss
    N c. general average
    Y d. particular average

1491: While underway, part of your cargo is damaged by fire. In marine insurance terms this partial loss is called __________.

    N a. absolute total loss
    N b. constructive total loss
    N c. general average
    Y d. particular average

1518: Your vessel is being towed and back-up wires have been installed. Back-up wires carry the towing load in the event that the __________.

    N a. bridle legs part
    Y b. towing bitt or pad eye fails
    N c. bight ring fails
    N d. main towing hawser parts

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

1677: A vessel is entering port and has a Pilot conning the vessel. The Master is unsure that the Pilot is taking sufficient action to prevent a collision. What should the master do?

    Y a. Recommend an alternative action and if not followed relieve the Pilot.
    N b. Nothing; the Pilot is required by law and is solely responsible for the safety of the vessel.
    N c. Direct the Pilot to stop the vessel and anchor if necessary until the situation clears.
    N d. State his concerns to the Pilot but do not interfere with the handling of the vessel.

1734: Which knot reduces the strength of a line by the LEAST amount?

    N a. Bowline
    N b. Clove hitch
    N c. Sheet bend
    Y d. Two half hitches

1738: Which vessel is required by regulations to have an Official Logbook?

    Y a. A 100-gross ton tug on a trip between Baltimore, Maryland, and San Pedro, California.
    N b. A 199-gross ton tug on a coastwise trip of 610 miles.
    N c. A 66-gross ton tug operating between states.
    N d. All of the above

1816: Which picture shown represents a square knot? (DO30DG )

    Y a. W
    N b. R
    N c. P
    N d. H

1902: The joint indicated by letter D is a __________. (D033DG )

    N a. seam
    Y b. butt
    N c. span
    N d. sheet line

2011: The structural member indicated by the letter K is a __________. (D033DG )

    N a. longitudinal frame
    N b. stringer
    N c. girder
    Y d. floor

2047: Progressive flooding is controlled by securing watertight boundaries and __________.

    N a. transferring water ballast
    N b. jettisoning cargo
    Y c. pumping out flooded compartments
    N d. abandoning ship

2091: When operating in an area where sea ice and icebergs are present, which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. Icebergs may travel in a direction many degrees different from the sea ice.
    N b. Both icebergs and sea ice will move in approximately the same direction and at the same speed.
    N c. Icebergs and sea ice will move in the same direction, but at different speeds due to the sail effect of the berg.
    N d. Icebergs and sea ice will move in the same direction, but the iceberg will move slower because of its underwater bulk.

2131: If you carry packaged hazardous cargoes on a break bulk vessel bound foreign, you must __________.

    N a. stow the hazardous cargoes on deck available for jettisoning if necessary
    N b. remove the hazardous cargo labels from a portable tank after the tank is emptied
    Y c. have the shipping papers indicate the proper shipping name and the technical name of n.o.s. cargoes
    N d. log the receipt of hazardous cargoes in the Official Logbook

2206: You are using tackle number 6 in illustration DO29DG to lift a weight of 300 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 )

    Y a. 80 lbs.
    N b. 69 lbs.
    N c. 55 lbs.
    N d. 50 lbs.

2224: When improperly tied, which knot shown is called a granny or thief's knot? (D030DG )

    N a. F
    N b. M
    N c. R
    Y d. W

2236: Another name for the garboard strake is the __________.

    Y a. A strake
    N b. Z strake
    N c. side keel plate
    N d. stringer plate

2260: Cargo that gives off fumes that may contaminate other cargo is known as a(n) __________.

    N a. delicate cargo
    N b. dirty cargo
    N c. toxic cargo
    Y d. odorous cargo

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

2354: What is the area of a circle with a diameter of 21 feet after a sector of 72° has been removed?

    Y a. 277.09 square ft.
    N b. 149.43 square ft.
    N c. 69.27 square ft.
    N d. 52.78 square ft.

2530: Your vessel has gone aground in waters where the tide is falling. The BEST action you can take is to __________.

    Y a. set out a kedge anchor
    N b. shift the vessel's load aft and repeatedly surge the engine(s) astern
    N c. shift the vessel's load forward and wait until the next high tide
    N d. slowly bring the engine(s) to full speed astern

2562: As you hold a piece of manila line vertically in front of you, the strands run from the lower left to the upper right. Which type of line is this?

    Y a. Right-hand laid
    N b. Cable-laid
    N c. Sennet-laid
    N d. Water-laid

2580: You want to double the strength of a mooring line by using two lines. To accomplish this, the second line must __________.

    N a. be 1 1/2 times the diameter of the first
    N b. be married to the first
    N c. not cross the first
    Y d. be of the same length

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

2718: On Great Lakes vessels, midsummer load lines apply __________.

    N a. April 16 through April 30 and September 16 through September 30
    Y b. May 1 through September 15
    N c. July 16 through August 30
    N d. June 16 through September 16

2746: Which of the Great Lakes experiences the least amount of water level fluctuation between seasonal high and low water marks?

    N a. Lake Huron
    N b. Lake Erie
    Y c. Lake Superior
    N d. Lake Michigan

2752: Which is a correct reply to a Pilot's request, "How's your head"?

    Y a. "Passing 040°"
    N b. "Steady"
    N c. "Checked"
    N d. "Eased to 15° rudder"

2836: Which of the Great Lakes is generally the last to reach its seasonal low and seasonal high water marks?

    Y a. Lake Superior
    N b. Lake Michigan
    N c. Lake Huron
    N d. Lake Ontario

3024: How should you signal the crane operator to dog everything?

    N a. Place both fists in front of your body with thumbs pointing toward each other.
    Y b. Clasp hands in front of your body.
    N c. Extend arm with the palm down and hold this position rigidly.
    N d. Extend arm with the thumb pointing up, and flex the fingers in and out.

3066: A list man would expect to see any of the following light signals EXCEPT __________.

    N a. two red lights
    N b. one green light
    N c. one white light
    Y d. one amber light

3068: While loading a cargo of grain, your vessel develops a list to starboard. This will be corrected by __________.

    N a. the compensating tanks on the high side
    Y b. the list man changing the discharge location of the chutes
    N c. allowing the grain to level itself as the hold fills to the spar deck level
    N d. trimming the final loading cone by hand

3141: What is NOT a securing system used on a containership?

    N a. Lashing system
    Y b. Stacking system
    N c. Locking system
    N d. Buttress system

3260: When underway with a tow, you must notify the Coast Guard of which casualty?

    N a. Damage to property amounting to $1,500
    N b. Loss of bridge-to-bridge radio capability
    N c. An injury requiring first aid
    Y d. Loss of main propulsion

3440: The circular steel structure installed around the propeller of a towboat is the __________.

    Y a. nozzle
    N b. shroud
    N c. strut
    N d. hood

3464: The ultimate or maximum strength of a wire rope is referred to as the __________.

    N a. operating strength
    N b. working load
    Y c. breaking strength
    N d. lifting load

3542: The Certificate of Inspection on a passenger vessel of over 100 gross tons must be posted __________.

    N a. in the Master's office
    N b. on the bridge
    Y c. in a conspicuous place where observation by the passengers is likely
    N d. in the passengers' dining room or, where there is no dining room, in the lounge area

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

4024: An icebreaker displaying a flag hoist which consists of the code letters "WO" (Whiskey Oscar) is indicating that __________.

    Y a. icebreaker support is finished
    N b. icebreaker support is commencing
    N c. the icebreaker is icebound
    N d. the icebreaker is beset

4875: The crane manufacturer's operating tables are posted near the __________.

    N a. crane pedestal
    N b. wire-rope locker
    N c. main deck
    Y d. crane controls