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.


65: 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 __________.


65: 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 __________.


86: The turning circle of a vessel making a turn of over 360 degrees is the path followed by the __________.


97: Chafing gear should be placed __________.

    Y a. at all wearing points of mooring lines
    N b. at the bitter ends of all standing rigging
    N c. around running rigging
    N d. on wire rope only

127: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "C" is called a __________. (DO44DG )

    Y a. breast line
    N b. shore line
    N c. spring line
    N d. stern line

161: A seaman leaves a vessel before it sails from a foreign port. He informs the Chief Officer that he won't return. After the vessel sails, the Chief Officer finds the seaman's work clothes in his locker. How should the Master handle this matter?

    Y a. Log the seaman as a deserter.
    N b. Log the seaman as a fail to join.
    N c. Log the seaman for misconduct.
    N d. Take no action.

302: You are on a multiple-product chemical tanker with orders to load diethylamine. What is NOT a requirement for transporting this cargo?

    N a. You must have two toxic vapor detectors or the pumproom must meet special requirements.
    N b. Each crew member must be provided with an emergency escape breathing apparatus.
    Y c. A person taking cargo samples must wear protective clothing.
    N d. If you are carrying propionic acid also, the venting systems must be segregated.

356: It is possible, and sometimes necessary, to strengthen the deck of a vessel for carriage of deck cargo by __________.

    N a. placing bunker on the deck
    N b. building a stage on which to place the cargo
    N c. welding steel "feet" to the deck, on which the cargo is placed
    Y d. erecting vertical pillars under the deck to support the cargo

486: You are backing on twin engines with rudders amidships. Your starboard engine stalls. To continue backing on course, you should __________.

    Y a. apply left rudder
    N b. apply right rudder
    N c. increase your engine speed
    N d. keep your rudder amidships

516: You are going ahead on twin engines with rudder amidships. Your starboard engine stalls. To continue on course, you should __________.

    Y a. apply left rudder
    N b. apply right rudder
    N c. increase engine speed
    N d. keep your rudder amidships

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

684: Right-laid line should be coiled __________.

    Y a. clockwise
    N b. counterclockwise
    N c. either clockwise or counterclockwise
    N d. on a reel

725: By law, a user of marijuana shall be subject to __________.

    N a. loss of pay during the period of such use
    N b. reprimand by the US Coast Guard
    Y c. revocation of license or certificate
    N d. termination of employment

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

771: What does a Visaed Alien Crew List which is made and submitted to the U.S. Consul for visa show?

    N a. All aliens aboard
    N b. All crew members
    Y c. Nonresident aliens aboard
    N d. Registered aliens aboard

798: How many cubic feet of space is required to stow 775 tons of a cargo with a stowage factor of 25? (estimated broken stowage is 15%)

    N a. 12,916
    Y b. 22,794
    N c. 25,833
    N d. 29,397

829: In terms of vessel manning, a watch is the ____________ .

    Y a. direct performance of deck or engine operations in a scheduled and fixed rotation
    N b. performance of maintenance work necessary for the vessel's safe operation, on a daily basis
    N c. performance of lookout duties
    N d. direct performance of cargo loading and discharge operations only

921: Which item must be entered in the official log?

    N a. All engine orders
    Y b. Drafts upon leaving port
    N c. Names of night mates and engineers
    N d. Number of cargo gangs on board

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

1059: You are cleaning the tanks after carrying a cargo of crude oil. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Washing water should be recirculated if possible because it has the same electric potential as the cargo tank being cleaned.
    N b. The hoses to portable cleaning machines should be disconnected before the machines are removed from the tank.
    N c. The principal hazard with steaming cargo tanks is raising the ambient temperature above the flame point of the cargo residue.
    Y d. Steam cleaning and water washing are both capable of generating electrostatic charges within a tank.

1141: A vessel has arrived in a U.S. port from a foreign voyage. Preliminary entry has been made. Formal entry at the U.S. Custom House must be made within how many hours after arrival (Sundays and holidays excepted)?

    N a. 12
    N b. 24
    Y c. 48
    N d. 72 without exception

1155: In the context of shiphandling, what would be the definition of shallow water?

    Y a. Water depth of less than twice a vessel's draft
    N b. Water depth of less than 1½ times a vessel's draft
    N c. Under keel clearance of twice a vessel's draft
    N d. Under keel clearance of less than 10 feet

1171: If you intend to land tulip bulbs from Holland in a U.S. port, they must be inspected by the __________.

    Y a. Animal and Plant Health Service Inspector
    N b. Captain of the Port personnel
    N c. Quarantine Officer
    N d. All of the above

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

1220: Who certifies the safe working load of cargo cranes on a vessel?

    N a. U.S. Coast Guard
    Y b. American Bureau of Shipping
    N c. Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
    N d. National Cargo Bureau

1311: Before arriving at the first U.S. port from foreign, you must fill out a Crewman's Landing Permit for each __________.

    N a. alien crewmember
    N b. crew member
    Y c. nonresident alien crewmember
    N d. unlicensed crew member

1336: When picking up your mooring at the buoy, the correct method is to __________.

    N a. approach the buoy with the wind and current astern
    Y b. approach the buoy with the wind and current ahead
    N c. approach the buoy with wind and sea abeam
    N d. stop upwind and up current and drift down on the buoy

1356: If your vessel is dragging her anchor in a strong wind, you should __________.

    N a. shorten the scope of anchor cable
    Y b. increase the scope of anchor cable
    N c. put over the sea anchor
    N d. put over a stern anchor

1484: A metal eye spliced into a wire is called a __________.

    N a. cyclops
    N b. fish eye
    Y c. thimble
    N d. chip

1696: Mooring with two bow anchors has which major advantage over anchoring with one bow anchor?

    N a. The vessel will not reverse direction in a tidal current.
    Y b. The radius of the vessel's swing will be shortened.
    N c. A mooring approach may be made from any direction.
    N d. The vessel will not swing with a change in wind.

1703: What is the stress on the hauling part when lifting a 4,200 lbs. weight using a threefold purchase rove to advantage? (Allow 10 percent of the weight per sheave for friction.)

    N a. 571.4
    N b. 715.2
    Y c. 960
    N d. 1066.7

1731: You are in charge of a 225-gross ton tug preparing to depart from Houston, Texas, with a loaded 2500-gross ton tank barge bound for New York. Prior to departure, regulations require that you __________.

    N a. record the status of all firefighting equipment
    Y b. record the barge's load line and draft readings
    N c. record the condition of the towing gear
    N d. have on board an Official Logbook in lieu of other forms of records

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

1800: The figure obtained by dividing the total volume of the ship in cubic feet (after omission of exempted spaces) by 100 is the __________.

    N a. bale cubic
    Y b. gross tonnage
    N c. light displacement
    N d. net tonnage

1880: You are using tackle number 11 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. 75 lbs.
    N b. 90 lbs.
    N c. 110 lbs.
    N d. 117 lbs.

1938: Towing a structure using two tugs approximately side by side, each using one hawser, is referred to as a __________.

    N a. tandem tow
    N b. Honolulu tow
    Y c. breasted tug tow
    N d. tandem tug tow

1944: The garboard strake is indicated by which letter? (D033DG )

    N a. A
    N b. B
    N c. G
    Y d. H

1961: A sufficient amount of chain must be veered when anchoring a vessel to ensure __________.

    N a. the vessel has enough room to swing while at anchor
    Y b. the anchor flukes bite into the ocean bottom
    N c. there is a sufficient scope of chain to keep the anchor on the bottom
    N d. there is more chain out than there is in the chain locker

2002: The structural member indicated by the letter K was fitted in segments between continuous longitudinals. It is known as which type of floor? (D033DG )

    Y a. Intercostal
    N b. Open
    N c. Lightened
    N d. Non-watertight

2074: You are proceeding to a distress site. The survivors are in liferafts. What will make your ship more visible to the survivors?

    N a. Steering a sinuous course
    N b. Steering a zig-zag course
    Y c. Turning on all available deck lights at night
    N d. Dumping debris over the side to make a trail to your vessel

2089: In addition to the load lines indicated in illustration D003DG, some vessels have a Winter North Atlantic line. Which statement about this load line mark is TRUE?

    N a. It is carried on VLCC/ULCC type vessels and allows reduced freeboard considering their size.
    N b. It is marked above line B in the diagram.
    N c. It is applied to vessels on restricted trade routes between the United Kingdom, Iceland, and Northern European countries.
    Y d. It applies only to vessels not exceeding 328 ft. navigating in the Winter North Atlantic zones.

2180: The weight of the container and its contents is supported on deck by what part(s)?

    Y a. Four lower corner castings
    N b. Bottom, side, and end rails
    N c. Bottom flooring, side, and end rails
    N d. Bottom flooring only

2195: You have determined the maneuvering characteristics of your vessel by taking the radar ranges and bearings of an isolated light while making a turn. The results are as listed. Based on this data what is the transfer for a turn of 180°? (D035DG )

    N a. 745 yards
    N b. 770 yards
    Y c. 840 yards
    N d. 890 yards

2204: While writing in the logbook at the end of your watch, you make an error in writing an entry. What is the proper way of correcting this error?

    N a. Blot out the error completely and rewrite the entry correctly.
    N b. Carefully and neatly erase the entry and rewrite it correctly.
    Y c. Cross out the error with a single line, write the correct entry, and initial it.
    N d. Remove this page of the log book and rewrite all entries on a clean page.

2479: Which type of weld testing can be used to detect internal flaws?

    N a. Magnetic particle
    N b. Dye penetrant
    Y c. Ultrasonic
    N d. Chemical reaction

2490: The best method of protecting that portion of a fiber anchor line nearest the anchor from chafing on the bottom is by __________.

    N a. using a small scope ratio
    Y b. replacing that portion with a short length of chain
    N c. using a hockle to keep that portion of the anchor line off the bottom
    N d. using a synthetic line

2494: The major components which determine the length of a catenary in a deployed anchor cable are water depth, cable weight, and __________.

    Y a. cable tension
    N b. water temperature
    N c. bottom conditions
    N d. water density

2551: What welding pattern is NOT used to permanently attach a stiffener to a plate?

    N a. Chain intermittent
    Y b. Tack
    N c. Continuous
    N d. Staggered intermittent

2551: What welding pattern is NOT used to permanently attach a stiffener to a plate?

    N a. Chain intermittent
    Y b. Tack
    N c. Continuous
    N d. Staggered intermittent

2604: The joint formed when two steel plates are placed end-to-end is called a __________.

    N a. bevel
    N b. seam
    Y c. butt
    N d. bond

2676: Who cannot commit the crime of barratry?

    N a. Master
    N b. Ship's officer(s)
    N c. Ship's unlicensed crewmember(s)
    Y d. Ship owner

2719: Which publication would give detailed information on the commercial vessel traffic reporting system for connecting waters from Lake Erie to Lake Huron?

    N a. United States Coast Pilot - Great Lakes #6
    N b. U.S. Coast Guard Light List - Vol. VII
    Y c. Code of Federal Regulations - Title 33
    N d. The appropriate Great Lakes Navigation Chart

2804: Which publication is NOT carried on board U.S. merchant vessels operating under Naval Control of Shipping?

    N a. Allied Control of Shipping Manual - Guide to Masters
    N b. Communications Supplement
    Y c. Tactical Control and Routing of Merchant Vessels
    N d. All of the above are carried on board

2842: By definition, a "spar deck" is the __________.

    N a. lower most continuous deck not broken by water tight bulkheads
    N b. after most weather deck above the main strength deck
    Y c. upper or weather deck above the main strength deck
    N d. deck of light construction below the main or strength deck

2890: A vessel cannot comply with all of the SOLAS requirements due to its construction. Where will this be indicated?

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

2979: Which statement about shipping coal is TRUE?

    N a. Anthracite will generate more methane than bituminous coal.
    N b. Coal should not be shipped while wet.
    Y c. Coal should be surface ventilated to remove methane gas.
    N d. The methane gas generated by coal will react with moisture on the ship's structure and accelerate corrosion.

3018: When turning a vessel in shallow water, which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The rate of turn is increased.
    N b. The rate of turn is decreased.
    Y c. The turning diameter increases.
    N d. The turning diameter remains the same.

3122: When a tug is "in irons", she __________.

    N a. is made fast to the dock with engines secured
    N b. is in dry dock
    Y c. may be in danger of being overrun by her tow
    N d. should pay out more towline

3493: 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.
    Y b. All crew members must have Merchant Mariner's Documents.
    N c. A licensed Chief Engineer is required.
    N d. Deck watches may be 6 and 6.

4247: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding crane operations?

    N a. Radio communications allow the crane operator to disregard the use of hand signals.
    Y b. The crane operators and signalman must be familiar with the correct hand signals.
    N c. The forward cranes can be operated from the bridge.
    N d. The aft cranes can be operated from the aft steering station.