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.


32: The explosive range of a fuel lies between the lower explosive limit and the __________.


203: How does the effect known as "bank suction" act on a single-screw vessel proceeding along a narrow channel?


271: Total responsibility for shipping and discharging the seamen is that of the __________.


319: Static electricity may be built up by the __________.

    N a. flow of petroleum through pipes
    N b. spraying or splashing of petroleum
    N c. settling of solids or water in petroleum
    Y d. All of the above

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

357: What does the proof test load of an anchor chain demonstrate?

    N a. Breaking strength of the chain
    Y b. Strength of the chain to a specified limit
    N c. Adequate holding power for new bottom conditions
    N d. Safe working load of the chain

414: To "ease" a line means to __________.

    N a. cast off
    N b. double up so that one line does not take all the strain
    Y c. pay out line to remove most of the tension
    N d. slack it off quickly

483: A fiber towing hawser is readied for service by __________.

    N a. spooling it on a winch cathead
    N b. coiling it in a counterclockwise direction on the fantail
    Y c. faking it on deck in a fore and aft direction
    N d. spooling it on a reel lying on its side to prevent rolling

504: Anchors are prevented from running out when secured by the __________.

    N a. brake
    N b. devil's claw
    N c. pawls
    Y d. All of the above

544: If the winch should fail while you are hauling in the anchor, what prevents the anchor cable from running out?

    N a. Chain stopper
    N b. Devil's claw
    N c. Hawse ratchet
    Y d. Riding pawl

555: A chain bridle is used when towing astern because it __________.

    N a. is easy to connect
    Y b. provides an effective catenary and absorbs shock due to its weight
    N c. makes rigging a swivel unnecessary
    N d. prevents the tow from yawing by the drag of the chains in a seaway

558: A heated bulkhead has the effect on a hygroscopic commodity of __________.

    N a. causing moisture to accumulate against the bulkhead
    N b. lowering the vapor pressure of the commodity
    N c. lowering the dew point of the air
    Y d. raising the vapor pressure of the commodity

558: A heated bulkhead has the effect on a hygroscopic commodity of __________.

    N a. causing moisture to accumulate against the bulkhead
    N b. lowering the vapor pressure of the commodity
    N c. lowering the dew point of the air
    Y d. raising the vapor pressure of the commodity

702: When paying off seamen in a foreign port, where a United States consul is not available, the release must be executed by the seamen and the __________.

    N a. representative of the foreign country
    N b. local port authority representative
    Y c. Master of the vessel
    N d. ship's union delegate

726: A common occurrence when a vessel is running into shallow water is that __________.

    N a. the wake is less pronounced
    N b. the vessel is more responsive to the rudder
    Y c. "squat" will cause a decrease in bottom clearance and an increase in draft
    N d. All of the above

735: A heavy steel curved arch constructed athwartships and above the after deck on a towing vessel is sometimes called a __________.

    N a. main brace
    Y b. tow span
    N c. jockey bar
    N d. None of the above

852: How can the Coast Guard determine that a crew member is "able to understand any order spoken by the officers"?

    Y a. Require a demonstration by the officer and the crew member
    N b. Require a written test
    N c. Require that an interpreter be provided
    N d. All of the above

859: To insure proper seating when closing a valve on a tank, the valve should be __________.

    N a. closed against the stop and the locking pin inserted
    Y b. closed, opened a half turn, and then closed again
    N c. set up as tight as possible by hand
    N d. set up tight using a valve wrench

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

1019: A tank holds 400 tons of sea water when filled. How many tons of liquid of specific gravity 0.9300 will it hold when filled to 90% capacity?

    Y a. 326.6
    N b. 343.2
    N c. 377.6
    N d. 390.2

1064: Which factor is most likely to impair the strength and durability of synthetic line?

    N a. Dry rot
    N b. Mildew
    Y c. Sunlight
    N d. Washing with mild soap

1198: The most probable position of the object of a search at any given time is the __________.

    Y a. datum position
    N b. incident position
    N c. reported position
    N d. dead-reckoning position

1227: 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 __________.

    Y a. shift the selector switch to the other steering pump
    N b. signal the engineroom to stop the engines
    N c. call the engineroom
    N d. call the Master

1276: When moored with a Mediterranean moor, the ship should be secured to the pier by having __________.

    Y a. a stern line and two quarter lines crossing under the stern
    N b. a stern line, 2 bow lines, and 2 quarter lines leading aft to the pier
    N c. all regular lines leading to the pier in opposition to the anchor
    N d. two bow lines and two midship lines leading aft to the pier

1310: Which statement is TRUE concerning protection of double bottom tanks against excessive pressure?

    N a. Each vent for the tank must be equal to the area of the tank filling line.
    N b. The tanks must be protected by overflows.
    Y c. The total area of the vents or the overflow shall be at least 125% of the area of the fill line.
    N d. There must be twice as much vent area as the area of the fill line.

1328: The declaration made by the Master when he anticipates hull and/or cargo damage due to unusual weather conditions is a __________.

    Y a. Note of Protest
    N b. Notice of Casualty
    N c. Portage Bill
    N d. Bottomry Bond

1396: Lifting the anchor from the bottom is called __________.

    N a. broaching the anchor
    N b. shifting the anchor
    N c. walking the anchor
    Y d. weighing the anchor

1478: What does "in step" refer to in regards to towing?

    N a. The towed vessel follows exactly in the wake of the towing vessel.
    N b. There is no catenary in the towing hawser.
    N c. When turning, both the towed and towing vessels turn at the same time.
    Y d. Both the towed and towing vessels reach a wave crest or trough at the same time.

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)

1762: What is the perimeter of a circle with a radius of 2.5 feet?

    N a. 7.86 ft
    Y b. 15.71 ft
    N c. 19.63 ft
    N d. 22.71 ft

1805: In towing it is desirable for the tug and the tow to ride wave crests simultaneously because __________.

    Y a. shock loading on the tow line is reduced
    N b. towing speed is improved
    N c. the tow is more visible from the tug
    N d. the catenary of the towline is reduced

1870: The knot lettered S is a __________. (DO30DG )

    N a. bowline
    Y b. blackwall hitch
    N c. half hitch
    N d. hook hitch

1976: Which letter indicates a longitudinal? (D033DG )

    N a. C
    N b. E
    Y c. L
    N d. M

1977: On a crane, the boom indicator tells the operator what angle the boom angle is compared to the __________.

    N a. vertical position
    Y b. horizontal position
    N c. boom stop angle
    N d. minimum radius angle

1982: You are using tackle number 8 to lift a weight of 100 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 )

    N a. 120 lbs.
    N b. 55 lbs.
    Y c. 40 lbs.
    N d. 37 lbs.

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

2030: Safety equipment on board vessels must be approved by the __________.

    Y a. U.S. Coast Guard
    N b. Safety Standards Bureau
    N c. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
    N d. National Safety Council

2052: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) when it becomes necessary to send a distress message. Which precedence would you assign this message?

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

2137: The securing systems for containers were developed to prevent container movement during which ship motion?

    N a. Surge
    Y b. Roll
    N c. Sway
    N d. Yaw

2162: A crew has signed on for a 3-month voyage. Fourteen days into the voyage a seaman is improperly discharged at the first port of call. How much pay is he entitled to receive?

    N a. 14 days
    N b. 1 month's
    Y c. 14 days and one month's extra
    N d. double wages (28 days)

2189: You are conducting trials to determine the maneuvering characteristics of your vessel. While making a turn you take the ranges and bearings of an isolated light with the results shown. Based on this information, what is the transfer for a turn of 75°? (D034DG )

    N a. 340 yards (306 meters)
    Y b. 280 yards (252 meters)
    N c. 230 yards (207 meters)
    N d. 190 yards (171 meters)

2287: In a national emergency, when communicating via the Navy, messages are sent by precedence. A message designated IMMEDIATE will be delivered within __________.

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

2506: A tow of 9 barges is made up three abreast and three long. The towboat is faced up to the center string which is known as the __________.

    N a. main string
    Y b. push string
    N c. power string
    N d. face string

2539: The distance between rivets in a row is known as the __________.

    N a. arm
    Y b. pitch
    N c. gage
    N d. rivet distance

2548: What is the accepted standard for wire rope falls used in connection with the lifeboat gear?

    N a. Six by seven galvanized wire rope
    N b. Six by twenty-four improved plow steel wire rope
    N c. Six by thirty-seven preformed fiber-core wire rope
    Y d. Six by nineteen regular-lay filler wire rope

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.

2918: What is the period of validity of a De-Rat certificate?

    N a. Specific voyage
    Y b. 6 months
    N c. 1 year
    N d. 2 years

2939: A vessel operating on the Great Lakes, and whose position is south of an approaching eastward-moving storm center, would NOT experience __________.

    N a. a falling barometer
    N b. lowering clouds and drizzle
    Y c. a southwest to west wind
    N d. rain or snow

3036: Which statement about ships operating in ice is FALSE?

    N a. Light and partly loaded ships should be ballasted as deeply as possible.
    Y b. In brash-filled channels, operating with a shallow draft forward is most effective.
    N c. Traditionally, operating ships light in the ice has been effective in the spring.
    N d. Good searchlights should be available in the event of night navigation with or without icebreaker escort.

3248: The rope which is the lightest is __________.

    N a. manila
    N b. nylon
    Y c. polypropylene
    N d. dacron

3434: The Scharnow turn should be used in a man overboard situation only when __________.

    N a. the man can be kept in sight from the bridge while maneuvering
    N b. the turn is started immediately when the man goes over
    Y c. there has been sufficient time elapsed since the man went over to complete the maneuver
    N d. the vessel has twin screws to assist in making the turn

3442: The part of the anchor indicated by the letter J is the __________. (D038DG )

    N a. crown
    N b. shank
    Y c. bill
    N d. tip

3447: The best method to secure a tow line to a cleat is to __________.

    Y a. take a turn around the cleat, then figure-eights, and a half-hitch
    N b. make figure-eights, followed by a half-hitch, then a figure-eight knot
    N c. take a turn, a half turn, and a figure-eight
    N d. take several turns around the cleat only

3460: You would NOT secure a line to a __________.

    N a. kevel
    Y b. stand pipe
    N c. button
    N d. timber head

4006: No hot work shall be performed on board a vessel with hazardous materials as cargo unless the work is approved by the __________.

    N a. American Bureau of Shipping
    Y b. local U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port
    N c. National Cargo Bureau
    N d. harbormaster

4143: Which tensioning device is used with wire rope lashing to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Chain lever
    N b. Buckle tensioner
    Y c. Adjust-a-matic tensioner
    N d. Ratchet tensioner

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

4231: The 30 ton capacity pedestal cranes shown in the illustration can lift a maximum weight of how many tons in the single mode? (D047DG )

    N a. 15 tons
    Y b. 30 tons
    N c. 60 tons
    N d. 120 tons

4236: What is another description for a tandem crane lift?

    N a. Single crane hoisting 30 tons
    N b. Twin cranes hoisting 60 tons
    Y c. Quad lift hoisting 120 tons
    N d. All of the above

4390: When a helmsman receives the command "Right 15 degrees rudder," the helmsman's immediate reply should be __________.

    N a. "Rudder is right 15 degrees"
    N b. "Aye Aye Sir"
    N c. No reply is necessary, just carry out the order
    Y d. "Right 15 degrees rudder"