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.


217: The holding capability of an anchor is primarily determined by the __________.


225: For safety reasons, when assistance towing __________.


280: Your ship is in a neutral port when full Naval Control of Shipping is established. You may expect to be boarded and instructed by a(n) __________.


334: The space above the engine room is called the __________.

    Y a. fidley
    N b. gold locker
    N c. middle hatch
    N d. noble

346: A vessel is equipped with a single right-handed screw. With rudder amidships and calm wind, the vessel will most likely back __________.

    N a. straight astern
    Y b. to port
    N c. to starboard
    N d. in no particular direction

349: The periodic weight testing of a vessel's cargo booms may be performed by the __________.

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

366: When backing down with sternway, the pivot point of a vessel is __________.

    N a. at the bow
    N b. about one-third of the vessel's length from the bow
    Y c. about one-quarter of the vessel's length from the stern
    N d. aft of the propellers

429: A tank is loaded with 9,000 barrels of gasoline. The temperature of the product is 90°F (32°C), and it has a coefficient of expansion of .0008. What is the net amount of cargo loaded?

    N a. 8856 bbls
    Y b. 8784 bbls
    N c. 8820 bbls
    N d. 9216 bbls

485: To clean a dirty fiber towing hawser used in ocean towing, you should __________.

    N a. use lye or other mild detergent
    Y b. wash it with fresh water, dry and store it
    N c. wash it with salt water
    N d. use cleaning fluid on nylon, dacron and other synthetic lines

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

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

705: A tug may be in danger of tripping when __________.

    N a. towed sideways by an overwhelming force on the towline
    N b. her tow moves parallel to and forward on either side of the tug
    N c. the tow is no longer directly astern but moves up on her quarter
    Y d. All of the above

914: When natural fiber rope gets wet, the __________.

    N a. overall strength of the line will decrease
    Y b. line shrinks in length
    N c. line will become more elastic
    N d. line will be easier to handle

918: Ten triangular piles of piping on the pier are to be loaded - each pile has a 20 foot base, is 15 feet high and 30 feet long. If the breadth of the hold is 60 feet and the piping is to be stowed fore and aft in a 30 foot space, how high will it stow?

    N a. 16.6 feet
    Y b. 25.0 feet
    N c. 50.0 feet
    N d. 75.0 feet

934: Which method is used to detect rot in manila lines?

    Y a. Opening the strands and examining the inner fibers
    N b. Measuring the reduction in circumference of the line
    N c. Observing for the appearance of mildew on the outer surface
    N d. Feeling the surface of the line for broken fibers

956: When a vessel is swinging from side to side off course due to quartering seas, the vessel is __________.

    N a. broaching
    N b. pitchpoling
    N c. rolling
    Y d. yawing

995: The maneuver which will return your vessel in the shortest time to a person who has fallen overboard is __________.

    Y a. a single turn with hard rudder
    N b. engine(s) crash astern, no turn
    N c. a Williamson Turn
    N d. two 180° turns

1011: After your vessel has been involved in a casualty, you are required to make your logbooks, bell books, etc., available to __________.

    N a. attorneys for opposition parties
    N b. marine surveyors
    Y c. U.S. Coast Guard officials
    N d. All of the above

1030: If an attempt is made to hoist a load that exceeds the capacity of an electric winch, an overload safety device causes a circuit breaker to cut off the current to the winch motor __________.

    N a. when the line pull reaches the rated winch capacity
    Y b. after the line pull exceeds the rated winch capacity
    N c. after a short build-up of torque
    N d. immediately

1081: You are Master of a U.S. flag vessel which was dry docked for bottom cleaning in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Upon return to a U.S. port, you must __________.

    Y a. file a customs' form for duty on this repair
    N b. file no extra reports
    N c. file a report of the dry docking with the U.S.C.G. Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection
    N d. obtain a U.S. Coast Guard diver to certify the work

1088: As Master or person in charge, you must notify the U.S. Coast Guard if an injury leaves a crewman unfit to perform routine duties for more than __________.

    N a. 24 hours
    N b. 48 hours
    N c. 72 hours
    Y d. Any amount of time

1243: You are on watch at sea and find it prudent to call the Master to the bridge due to traffic congestion. The moment that the Master officially relieves you of the conn is whenever __________.

    N a. a watchstander announces "Captain's on the bridge"
    N b. you call the Captain to the bridge in a traffic situation
    Y c. the Master specifically informs you that he has the conn
    N d. the Captain states the course being steered

1323: "Ease the rudder" means to __________.

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

1346: The best method of determining if a vessel is dragging anchor is to note __________.

    N a. the amount of line paid out
    N b. how much the vessel sheers while at anchor
    N c. any change in the tautness of the anchor chain
    Y d. changes in bearings of fixed objects onshore

1466: When dropping anchor, you are stationed at the windlass brake. The most important piece(s) of gear is(are) __________.

    N a. a hard hat
    N b. a long sleeve shirt
    N c. gloves
    Y d. goggles

1477: Under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act of 1936, a vessel will be liable for damage to a cargo when the damage arises out of __________.

    N a. delays due to seizure of the vessel
    N b. fire caused by fault of the carrier
    N c. strikes or lockouts
    Y d. improper stowage

1553: The correct way to make an eye in a wire rope with clips is to place the clips with the __________.

    N a. first and third U-bolts on the bitter end and the second U-bolt on the standing part
    N b. first and third U-bolts on the standing part and the second U-bolt on the bitter end
    Y c. U-bolts of all clips on the bitter end
    N d. U-bolts of all clips on the standing part

1573: Which statement about splices is TRUE?

    N a. A back splice is used to permanently connect two lines together.
    Y b. A long splice is used to connect two lines that will pass through narrow openings.
    N c. A short splice is used to temporarily connect two lines.
    N d. In splicing fiber rope, you would splice with the lay of the line.

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

1643: The splice designed to pass easily through a block is called a(n) __________.

    N a. eye splice
    N b. short splice
    Y c. long splice
    N d. block splice

1671: The number of certificated able seamen and lifeboatmen required on a vessel is determined by the __________.

    N a. International Maritime Organization
    N b. Corps of Engineers
    Y c. Coast Guard
    N d. American Bureau of Shipping

1690: Molded depth is measured from the __________.

    Y a. inside of the shell
    N b. outside of the shell
    N c. top of the center vertical keel
    N d. top of the garboard stake

1707: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) when it becomes necessary to send a distress message. What precedence would you assign this message?

    N a. R (ROUTINE)
    N b. Z (FLASH)
    N c. P (PRIORITY)
    Y d. O (IMMEDIATE)

1716: Which is the correct procedure for anchoring a small to medium size vessel in deep water?

    N a. Let the anchor fall free from the hawsepipe, but apply the brake at intervals to check the rate of fall.
    N b. Back the anchor slowly out of the hawsepipe a few feet, and then let it fall in the normal fashion.
    N c. Let the anchor fall off the brake right from the hawsepipe, but keep a slight strain on the brake.
    Y d. Under power, back the anchor out until it is near, but clear, of the bottom before letting it fall.

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

1794: A "figure eight" knot is used to __________.

    N a. be a stopper
    N b. shorten a line
    N c. join lines of equal size
    Y d. keep a line from passing through a sheave

1929: How many tons of salt water can be loaded into a flat-ended cylindrical tank with a diameter of 5 feet and a length of 10 feet?

    N a. 22.44 T
    N b. 11.22 T
    N c. 7.48 T
    Y d. 5.61 T

1980: What is the name of the mark indicated by the letter C? (DO03DG )

    Y a. Fresh water line
    N b. Tropical water line
    N c. Summer water line
    N d. Winter North Atlantic water line

2139: You are proceeding to the area of reported distress. When you arrive at the reported position, the vessel in distress is not sighted. What type of search should be conducted?

    N a. Sector search
    Y b. Expanding square
    N c. Track crawl
    N d. Parallel track search

2144: "Hard right rudder" means __________.

    N a. jam the rudder against the stops
    N b. put the rudder over quickly to 15 degrees right rudder
    N c. meet a swing to the right, then return to amidships
    Y d. put the rudder over to the right all the way

2310: How do you determine the weight of the vessel that is supported by the ground when a vessel has run aground?

    N a. This requires extensive calculation and is usually performed only by a naval architect not by a ship's officer.
    N b. Determine the point where aground and the draft at that point, then calculate it using the grounding formula.
    Y c. Use the hydrostatic tables and enter with the mean draft before grounding and the mean draft after grounding.
    N d. Use the inclining experiment formula and substitute the change of trim for the angle of list.

2344: An example of an anchor which has a stock is a __________.

    N a. Bruce anchor
    N b. Dunn anchor
    N c. Hook anchor
    Y d. Danforth anchor

2365: A six-strand composite rope made up of alternate fiber and wire strands around a fiber core is called __________.

    Y a. spring lay
    N b. lang lay
    N c. cable lay
    N d. alternate lay

2489: A post on a dock or wharf used to secure mooring lines or hawsers is called a __________.

    N a. bitt
    Y b. bollard
    N c. cleat
    N d. capstan

2558: A sling is a device used in __________.

    Y a. hoisting cargo aboard a vessel
    N b. hoisting personnel aboard a vessel
    N c. securing a small boat to a large vessel
    N d. hoisting the anchor

2608: Most very large ocean going vessels, such as bulk carriers and large tankers, tend to squat __________.

    Y a. by the bow
    N b. by the stern
    N c. at the end nearest the bottom
    N d. evenly fore and aft

2659: The shearing stresses on a ship's structure are usually greatest at __________.

    N a. the bow
    N b. the stern
    N c. midships
    Y d. the ship's quarter-length points

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

3069: Atmospheres laden with coal dust or grain dust caused by loading these cargoes __________.

    N a. require loading operations to be shut down until the atmosphere clears
    N b. are toxic to human life
    N c. are subject to spontaneous combustion
    Y d. may be explosive in some concentrations

3211: With the buttress securing system, containers of different heights must be stowed __________.

    N a. on the bottom tier on deck
    N b. in the hold
    N c. next to the buttress tower
    Y d. on the top tier

3280: What is NOT accepted as the required shipping papers on a manned and loaded tank barge?

    N a. Bill of Lading
    N b. Manifest
    N c. Shipping document
    Y d. Logbook entry

3347: The opening in the deck beneath the anchor windlass that leads to the chain locker is the __________.

    N a. hawsepipe
    N b. fallpipe
    N c. drop-pipe
    Y d. spill pipe

3374: Angular motion about the longitudinal axis of a vessel is known as __________.

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

3519: Strengthening damaged bulkheads by using wood or steel is called __________.

    N a. bracing
    N b. battening
    N c. blocking
    Y d. shoring

3616: A tug in irons is __________.

    N a. rudder bound
    N b. being tripped by the towline
    Y c. unable to maneuver
    N d. broached

3644: You are drifting in a locale where there is no current. As a rule, your vessel will lie __________.

    N a. bow to the wind
    Y b. beam to the wind
    N c. stern to the wind
    N d. with the wind on the quarter

4175: Which of the following is NOT necessary, prior to loading or discharging cargo on a Ro-Ro vessel?

    N a. Turn on ventilation for cargo holds.
    N b. Lower the stern ramp.
    Y c. Turn on the red cargo light.
    N d. Raise/open the stern door.

4183: Which of the following lashing gear used aboard Ro-Ro vessels should be maintained when not in use?

    N a. Chain
    N b. Wire rope
    N c. Webbing
    Y d. All of the above

4251: Which action(s) is/are included in crane operations?

    N a. Single-mode set-up & operation
    N b. Twin-mode set-up & operation
    N c. Normal boom stowage and shutdown operation
    Y d. All of the above

4440: You are standing the wheelwatch when you hear the cry, "Man overboard, starboard side". You should instinctively __________.

    N a. give full left rudder
    N b. throw a life ring to mark the spot
    N c. put the rudder amidships
    Y d. give full right rudder