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.


4: Considering manning requirements for US flag vessels, your 2 watch cargo vessel has a deck crew of 20 people, exclusive of officers. How many of these people do the manning regulations require to be able seamen?


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 __________.


311: The Shipping Articles shall be signed by each seaman and the __________.


313: With the exception of a Coast Guard approved commercial hybrid Personal Flotation Device (PFD), which type of life preserver must be carried for each person on board an uninspected passenger vessel?

    Y a. Type I
    N b. Type II
    N c. Type III
    N d. None of the above

445: Where are the towing bitts best placed for towing purposes?

    N a. Near the centerline and over the rudders
    N b. On each side of the vessel near the stern
    Y c. Forward of the rudder post and close to the tug's center of pivot
    N d. As far aft as possible

476: You are backing on twin engines with rudders amidships, when your port engine stalls. To continue backing on course, you should __________.

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

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

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

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

581: The Certificate of Inspection for your tankship authorizes the carriage of grade A and lower products. Which chemical may NOT be carried unless it is specifically endorsed on the Certificate of Inspection?

    N a. Amylene
    N b. Diisobutyl Phthalate
    N c. Oleic acid
    Y d. Vinyl acetate

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

691: On U.S. flag vessels, which certificate is always issued by the Coast Guard?

    N a. Load Line Certificate
    Y b. Safety Equipment Certificate
    N c. Safety Construction Certificate
    N d. Register of cargo gear

744: When using natural-fiber rope, you should NEVER __________.

    N a. dry the line before stowing it
    N b. reverse turns on winches periodically to keep out kinks
    Y c. try to lubricate the line
    N d. use chafing gear

769: The owner or Master of a towing vessel must ensure that each person that directs and controls the movement of the vessel knows all of the following EXCEPT ___________ .

    N a. the effects of maneuvering on the vessel and its tow
    N b. the speed and direction of any current for the area being transited
    N c. how to apply variation and deviation to readings from a magnetic compass
    Y d. the ownership of the vessel(s) being towed

777: Before a Master relieves a Pilot of the conn, the __________.

    N a. Master must always request the Pilot to take corrective action
    Y b. Master should foresee any danger to the vessel on the present course
    N c. Master should agree to sign a release of liability form
    N d. vessel must be in extremis

802: You are on watch at sea on course 090°T. A man falls overboard on your starboard side. You immediately start a Williamson Turn. Which action is NOT a part of a Williamson Turn?

    Y a. Stop the engines until clear of the man.
    N b. Come right full rudder until the vessel heads 150°T.
    N c. Shift the helm to left full rudder.
    N d. Continue with left rudder until on course 270°T.

828: Your vessel's available bale cubic capacity is 625,000 and her available cargo capacity is 10,000 deadweight tons. Disregarding broken stowage, how many tons of pyrite (stowage factor - 13) and how many tons of cork (s.f. - 150) must be loaded to be full and down?

    Y a. 6387 tons pyrite, 3613 tons cork
    N b. 6721 tons pyrite, 3279 tons cork
    N c. 7500 tons pyrite, 2500 tons cork
    N d. 9133 tons pyrite, 867 tons cork

851: Your vessel (185 GT) is on a voyage between New York and San Francisco. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The maintenance of an Official Logbook is optional.
    N b. The vessel must be on foreign articles.
    N c. This is considered a coastwise voyage.
    Y d. An Official Logbook must be maintained.

880: The projecting lugs of the rudderpost which furnish support to the rudder are called __________.

    N a. bases
    Y b. gudgeons
    N c. pintles
    N d. rudder lugs

985: You have the "conn" at the time the helmsman who is steering by hand reports that the rudder is not responding to the wheel. Your FIRST action should be to __________.

    N a. call the engineroom and report that you have lost steering
    N b. signal the engineroom to stop the engines
    Y c. shift the selector switch to the other steering system
    N d. call the Master

992: The tankship Northland is loaded as shown. Use the salmon colored pages in the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the sagging numeral. (Get Table Data)

    N a. 29.49 numeral
    Y b. 31.97 numeral
    N c. 33.61 numeral
    N d. 35.12 numeral

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

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

1206: You are landing a single-screw vessel with a left-handed propeller, starboard side to the dock. As you approach the dock you back your engine with your rudder amidships. You would expect the vessel to __________.

    N a. lose headway without swinging
    N b. turn its bow towards the dock
    Y c. turn its stern towards the dock
    N d. drift away from the dock

1253: You are preparing to relieve the mate on watch while underway at sea. The watch should not be transferred __________.

    N a. during an engine speed change
    N b. while the Master is on the bridge
    Y c. during a collision avoidance maneuver
    N d. All of the above

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

1637: Which statement about a vessel's stability while dry-docking is TRUE?

    Y a. Every ton of weight bearing on the blocks acts as if a ton of weight was removed at keel level.
    N b. When the ship touches the blocks, the beam for stability purposes increases to the beam of the dry-dock.
    N c. The stability of the vessel increases as a dock is pumped out due to the support of the keel blocks.
    N d. As the dock begins to support the weight of the vessel, stability calculations are based on the ship and dock as a single unit.

1689: The mooring line shown as "C" is called a __________. (DO44DG )

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

1733: Separating both blocks of a tackle to prepare it for reuse is called __________.

    N a. chockablocking
    N b. out-hauling
    Y c. over-hauling
    N d. two-blocking

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

1841: If a tow sinks in shallow water, you should __________.

    N a. release it immediately
    N b. attempt to beach it before it goes under
    Y c. pay out cable until it's on the bottom and place a buoy on the upper end
    N d. shorten cable to keep it off the bottom

1962: The maximum draft to which a vessel can legally be submerged is indicated by the __________.

    Y a. load line mark
    N b. Certificate of Inspection
    N c. Muster List ("Station Bill")
    N d. tonnage mark

1990: Upon receipt of a distress message, a merchant vessel is bound to proceed to the scene of the distress. Under which of the following cases would this NOT be true?

    N a. The vessel would arrive at the distress scene more than 36 hours after the receipt of the initial distress message.
    N b. There are vessels closer to the distress scene that are proceeding to assist.
    Y c. The Master of the vessel in distress has requisitioned another vessel, and that vessel has accepted the requisition.
    N d. You are on a tank vessel and the distress involves a major fire on board the other vessel.

1998: When towing in an open seaway, it is important to use a towing line __________.

    N a. made only of wire rope, due to possible weather conditions
    N b. that will have the tow on a crest while your vessel is in a trough
    Y c. that will have the tow on a crest while your vessel is on a crest
    N d. with little dip to gain maximum control of the tow

2009: A cargo of canned foodstuffs is packed in cartons. Each carton is 36 cubic feet and weighs 380 pounds. What is the stowage factor of the cargo?

    N a. 9.5
    N b. 62
    Y c. 212
    N d. 237

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

2081: A seaman is reported missing in the morning and was last seen after coming off the mid-watch. Which type of turn would you use to return to the track-line steamed during the night?

    Y a. Williamson
    N b. Racetrack
    N c. 180° turn
    N d. Anderson

2084: A copy of the Articles of Agreement, less the signatures, is required to be posted. This document is called the __________.

    Y a. Fo'c'sle Card
    N b. Articles Copy
    N c. Voyage Agreement
    N d. Shipping Articles

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

2110: Your ship is carrying hazardous cargo. During a daily inspection, you notice that some of the cargo has shifted and several cases are broken. You should FIRST __________.

    N a. call out the deck gang to jettison the cargo
    N b. log the facts in the rough log and inform the Chief Mate later
    N c. make a determination of the seriousness of the breakage, and do what you think best
    Y d. report the facts immediately to the Master, who will make a decision

2179: A design modification of an anchor chain which prevents kinking is the __________.

    N a. detachable link
    Y b. stud link
    N c. Kenter link
    N d. connecting link

2203: A Chinese stopper (two lines) will hold best when you __________.

    N a. fasten the bitter ends to the mooring line with half hitches
    Y b. twist the ends together and hold them in the direction of the pull
    N c. twist the ends together and hold them in the direction opposite to the pull
    N d. twist the ends together and hold them at right angles to the mooring line

2235: You are conducting trials to determine the maneuvering characteristics of your vessel. While making a turn, you take ranges and bearings of an isolated light with the results as shown. Based on this information, what is the advance for a turn of 75°? (D034DG )

    Y a. 800 yards (720 meters)
    N b. 860 yards (774 meters)
    N c. 910 yards (819 meters)
    N d. 955 yards (860 meters)

2283: What is the area of a circle with a radius of 2 feet after a sector of 86° has been removed?

    N a. 2.39 sq. ft
    N b. 3.02 sq. ft
    Y c. 9.55 sq. ft
    N d. 12.57 sq. ft

2301: In towing, chocks are used to __________.

    Y a. protect the towline from chafing
    N b. secure the end of the towline on the tug
    N c. stop off the towline while retrieving it
    N d. absorb shock loading on the towline

2311: In a national emergency, when communicating via the Navy, messages are sent by precedence. A message designated FLASH will be delivered within __________.

    Y a. 10 minutes if possible
    N b. 1 to 6 hours
    N c. 30 minutes to 1 hour
    N d. 3 hours to start of business the following day

2504: A seaman may have all or part of his wages deposited by allotment to a bank or savings institution. Which of the following is NOT a requirement for this type of allotment?

    Y a. The account must be either a checking or savings account.
    N b. The institution must be insured by the FSLIC or FDIC.
    N c. The account must be opened by the seaman and maintained in the seaman's name.
    N d. All of the above are requirements.

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

2547: In a national emergency, when communicating via the Navy, messages are sent by precedence. A message designated IMMEDIATE will be delivered within __________.

    N a. 3 hours to start of business the following day
    Y b. 30 minutes to 1 hour
    N c. 1 to 6 hours
    N d. 10 minutes if possible

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

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

2769: You will be advised of any hazardous areas due to the fallout of a nuclear explosive by a message with the code word __________.

    Y a. MERWARN
    N b. NUCLEAR
    N c. FALLOUT
    N d. FALLWARN

2852: On a small passenger vessel the collision bulkhead is __________.

    N a. amidships forward of the engine room
    N b. just forward of the steering compartment
    N c. in the engine room
    Y d. A distance of 5% to 15% of the waterline length abaft the stem measured at the load waterline

2911: The wooden plug inserted in the vent of a damaged tank should be removed if you are going to __________.

    Y a. pump from the damaged tank
    N b. fight a fire
    N c. abandon ship
    N d. use the crossover system

2980: What is a step in attaching a poured metal socket to a wire rope?

    Y a. Etch the wire with acid.
    N b. Install a wire seizing on the wire that will be inside the socket.
    N c. Ensure the fiber core is well lubricated.
    N d. Pour molten babbitt metal into the socket.

3042: A Great Lakes vessel bound for Anticosti Island is exempt from the IMO Grain Regulations if the vessel meets all of the following standards EXCEPT __________.

    N a. the metacentric height corrected for free surface must meet regulatory minimums throughout the voyage
    Y b. slack surfaces should be in a mound
    N c. the longitudinal strength of the vessel must not be imperiled
    N d. the Master must ascertain the expected weather conditions enroute

3544: Wire rope should be renewed when the __________.

    N a. outer wires are rusted
    Y b. outer wires are worn to half their original diameter
    N c. inner core appears dry
    N d. certification period expires

3550: When can a look-out leave his duty station?

    N a. 15 minutes before the end of the watch
    N b. At the end of the watch
    Y c. When properly relieved
    N d. At any time

3820: When making a Scharnow turn, the __________.

    N a. rudder must be put over towards the side the man went over
    N b. initial turn direction is away from the side the man went over
    Y c. rudder is put hard over and the initial turn is maintained until about 240° from the original course
    N d. man overboard must be not more than 300 feet astern when starting the turn

4127: Which lashing device(s) would be used in securing heavy vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Buckle or ratchet tensioner
    N b. Webbing
    Y c. Chain
    N d. All of the above

4244: What is meant by the term "luffing the boom" of a crane?

    N a. Stopping the boom
    Y b. Topping or lowering the boom
    N c. Moving the boom left or right
    N d. All of the above