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.


7: The mooring line labeled "F" is called a __________. (D044DG )


7: The mooring line labeled "F" is called a __________. (D044DG )


8: What is NOT an advantage of filler cargo?


61: Deckhands onboard towing vessels shall be divided into 3 watches when on a trip exceeding __________.

    Y a. 600 miles
    N b. 700 miles
    N c. 800 miles
    N d. 1000 miles

111: You are the licensed Master of a towing vessels operating between New York and Tampa, Florida. If you carry four (4) deckhands onboard, how many must be able seamen?

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

135: Corrosive liquids and acids should have which kind of label?

    N a. Skull and crossbones
    N b. Yellow and white
    N c. Red and white
    Y d. White and black

150: Protective clothing must be worn while sampling hazardous cargo on a tankship, and as a minimum includes __________.

    N a. a hood or hard hat
    Y b. a face mask or goggles
    N c. boots
    N d. chemical resistant gloves

207: A towing vessel's capability is BEST measured by horsepower, maneuverability, displacement, and __________.

    N a. stability
    N b. propeller design
    Y c. bollard pull
    N d. towing winch horsepower

296: You are on a course of 000°T and put the rudder right 30°. In which direction will the transfer be measured?

    N a. 000°T
    Y b. 090°T
    N c. 180°T
    N d. 270°T

355: Generally, you can best keep a vessel under steering control when the vessel has __________.

    Y a. headway
    N b. sternway
    N c. no way on, with engines stopped
    N d. no way on, with engines full ahead

370: Cottonseed oil is classed as a __________.

    Y a. combustible liquid
    N b. flammable liquid
    N c. flammable solid
    N d. poison B

481: Which U.S. agency assigns an official number to a vessel?

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

497: Which type of fiber towing hawser is preferred for towing astern?

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

505: Which form of navigation may be suspended without notice under defense planning?

    N a. celestial
    N b. piloting
    Y c. electronic
    N d. None of the above

552: Which type of bridle is the most effective for a heavy ocean tow?

    N a. Nylon because of its strength
    N b. Polypropylene because it floats and is easier to handle
    Y c. Stud link anchor chain for chafe resistance and strength
    N d. Wire rope for flexibility and strength

553: A bridle for an ocean tow consists of __________.

    Y a. two chains of equal length
    N b. a single nylon pendant rove through a heavy ring free to move on the pendant
    N c. two long legs of wire rope shackled to a fishplate
    N d. a single length of heavy chain with both ends secured on deck to welded pad eyes

579: 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. booster pump being lined up in the wrong direction
    N d. ship's pump speeding up

583: Which factor(s) must you consider when making up a towing bridle?

    N a. The horsepower of the tug
    N b. The desired amount of swing in the tow hook up
    N c. The weight of the tow
    Y d. All of the above

693: The effect of excessive catenary in shallow water may be __________.

    N a. dragging the towing hawser along the bottom and chafing it
    N b. snagging sunken or submerged objects
    N c. slowing, stopping or endangering the towing operation by placing the tug in irons
    Y d. All of the above

825: Who is responsible for establishing watches aboard a U.S. vessel?

    N a. The owner of the vessel
    N b. The company that operates the vessel
    N c. The company that charters the vessel
    Y d. The Master of the vessel

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

949: Cargo pump relief valves are piped to the __________.

    N a. cargo pump pressure gauges
    N b. crossover lines interconnecting two pumps
    Y c. suction side of pumps
    N d. atmosphere through pump vents

961: Which log includes a statement of the conduct, ability, and character of each crew member on the completion of a voyage?

    Y a. Official Logbook
    N b. Department Logbook
    N c. Crew Logbook
    N d. Smooth Logbook

961: Which log includes a statement of the conduct, ability, and character of each crew member on the completion of a voyage?

    Y a. Official Logbook
    N b. Department Logbook
    N c. Crew Logbook
    N d. Smooth Logbook

975: The "Mode" selector switch on the autopilot steering stand is used to select any of the following with the EXCEPTION of __________.

    N a. automatic pilot steering
    N b. hand-electric steering
    N c. non-followup steering
    Y d. rudder adjustment

996: With a following sea, a vessel will tend to __________.

    N a. heave to
    N b. pound
    N c. reduce speed
    Y d. yaw

1071: In some cases, the 50% duty on all foreign repairs made to American flag merchant vessels may be remitted. Which work does NOT come under the remitting policy of U.S. Customs?

    Y a. Chipping, painting, and scaling by foreign labor
    N b. Repairs to hull structural damage
    N c. Repairs due to damage done by heavy weather
    N d. Repairs to the main propulsion machinery

1122: Freeing ports on a vessel with solid bulwarks __________.

    N a. prevent stress concentration in the bulwark
    N b. permit easy jettison of deck cargo in an emergency
    N c. provide openings through the bulwarks for mooring lines
    Y d. allow water shipped on deck to flow off rapidly

1174: Compared to manila line, size for size, nylon line __________.

    N a. has less strength than manila line
    Y b. has more strength than manila line
    N c. is equivalent to manila line
    N d. will rot quicker than manila line

1200: Your vessel's operators send a message that your vessel has been consigned to Voluntary Naval Control of Shipping. The message will refer you to __________.

    N a. the Light List
    N b. the International Code of Signals (PUB 102)
    Y c. Radio Aids to Navigation (PUB 117)
    N d. the Coast Pilot

1254: Under identical load conditions, nylon, when compared with natural fiber line, will stretch __________.

    N a. less and have less strength
    N b. more and have less strength
    Y c. more and have greater strength
    N d. less and have greater strength

1306: You are making mooring lines fast to bitts, stern to, as in some Mediterranean ports. A swell is liable to make the vessel surge. How should you tie up?

    Y a. Use manila or synthetic fiber hawsers only.
    N b. Use wires only from the stern and each quarter.
    N c. Use synthetic fiber and/or manila hawsers as required.
    N d. Use wires from each quarter and manila hawsers from the stern.

1404: Galvanizing would not be suitable for protecting wire rope which is used for __________.

    Y a. cargo runners
    N b. mooring wires
    N c. shrouds
    N d. stays

1603: Which weakens a line the LEAST?

    N a. Clove hitch
    N b. Long splice
    Y c. Short splice
    N d. Square knot

1702: Your containership has a container displaying a hazardous cargo placard. The placard has the number 2282 on it. This indicates that it is carrying what cargo?

    N a. Isoheptene
    N b. Phosphine
    N c. Furan
    Y d. Hexanols

1720: Your vessel is to dock bow first at a pier. Which line will be the most useful when maneuvering the vessel alongside the pier?

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

1761: Load lines for U.S. vessels are assigned by __________.

    N a. the U.S. Coast Guard
    Y b. the American Bureau of Shipping
    N c. Lloyd's Register of Shipping
    N d. the National Cargo Bureau

1766: When anchoring in a current, you should __________.

    N a. drop the anchor with the bow headed downstream
    N b. back your vessel into the current
    Y c. anchor while stemming the current
    N d. All of the above

1886: The knot lettered R is a __________. (DO30DG )

    Y a. double becket bend
    N b. bowline
    N c. fisherman's bend
    N d. round turn and two half hitches

1887: A small light tackle with blocks of steel or wood that is used for miscellaneous small jobs is called a __________.

    N a. snatch block
    N b. threefold purchase
    Y c. handy-billy
    N d. chockablock

1920: Which form of navigation may be suspended without notice under defense planning?

    Y a. electronic
    N b. celestial
    N c. piloting
    N d. None of the above

1941: The helm command "Left twenty" means __________.

    N a. change course twenty degrees to the left
    Y b. put the rudder left twenty degrees
    N c. put the rudder hard left for the first twenty degrees of swing
    N d. put the rudder left twenty degrees and then ease back as the vessel starts swinging

2076: A person who sees someone fall overboard should __________.

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

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

2102: A seaman deserts the vessel in a foreign port. What should the Master do with any of the deserter's personal effects remaining on board?

    N a. Sell them at auction and deposit the money in the ship's morale or welfare fund.
    N b. Donate them to a local charity upon return to the United States.
    Y c. Transfer them to the appropriate district court of the U.S. at the end of the voyage.
    N d. Inventory them, make an appropriate entry in the Official Logbook and dispose of them at sea.

2205: On the fully containerized ship, approximately one-third or more of the cargo is on deck above the rolling center. Top stowed containers are subject to __________.

    Y a. accelerations greater than on conventional vessels
    N b. accelerations less than on conventional vessels
    N c. accelerations the same as on conventional vessels
    N d. no accelerations

2629: Each open lifeboat carried on a vessel on an international voyage must have __________.

    N a. hand-propelling gear
    Y b. a davit span with at least 2 lifelines
    N c. a mast and a sail
    N d. a motor

2716: A channel is stated as having a controlling depth of 38 feet. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. At least 80% of the channel is cleared to the charted depth.
    N b. At least 50% of the channel is cleared to the charted depth.
    Y c. 100% of the channel width is clear to 38 feet.
    N d. The sides of the channel conform to at least 50% of the controlling depth.

2926: Many sheath-screw davits have markings to indicate the maximum angle to which they should be cranked out. If the angle is exceeded, the davit __________.

    N a. may jam against the stops
    N b. will not automatically position the boat at the embarkation station
    Y c. screw may come out of the sheath
    N d. will chafe against the falls and may cause their failure

2969: Fog can form in any season on the Great Lakes, but it is most likely to occur over open waters in __________.

    N a. summer and early autumn
    N b. autumn and early winter
    N c. winter and early spring
    Y d. spring and early summer

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.

3030: The piping that routes an oil cargo from the manifold to underdeck pipelines is known as a __________.

    N a. cargo fill
    Y b. line drop
    N c. transfer
    N d. branch line

3134: When using two tugs to assist in mooring a large, deeply laden ship, the most powerful tug is usually placed __________.

    Y a. forward to control the bow
    N b. amidships to move the entire vessel evenly
    N c. aft to assist the ship's rudder and propeller
    N d. anywhere, since the maneuverability of the tug governs the placement not the power

3242: What term indicates the line drawn at the top of the flat plate keel?

    Y a. Base line
    N b. Molded line
    N c. Designer's waterline
    N d. Keel line

3439: Horizontal fore or aft motion of a vessel is known as __________.

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

3570: As look-out, you spot an object 45° off your port bow. You should report the object as __________.

    Y a. broad on the port bow
    N b. 3 points on the port bow
    N c. 3 points forward of the port beam
    N d. on the port beam

3586: The last shot of an anchor cable is usually painted __________.

    N a. white
    N b. international orange
    N c. yellow
    Y d. red

3742: It is good practice to use long towlines for ocean tows because the __________.

    N a. wear on the towline is equalized
    N b. weight of the towline increases the towing force
    Y c. dip in the towline absorbs shock loads
    N d. danger of overriding is reduced

4154: What should you be concerned with when loading and securing vehicles aboard a Ro-Ro vessel?

    N a. That all fuel is drained from the vehicles' tanks to prevent fire hazard
    Y b. The size, weight, and center of gravity of vehicle/cargo unit
    N c. The preferred stowage of vehicles is athwartships wherever possible
    N d. The vehicles' brakes should not be set to allow for adjusting the lashings

4254: Which of the following statement(s) is/are TRUE regarding twin pedestal cranes?

    N a. Each single boom is of the partial-level luffing type and is capable of limited rotation.
    N b. A slew drive system provides for rotation of each crane.
    N c. Maintenance logs and records are to be kept for each crane.
    Y d. All of the above