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.


47: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) and wish to send a message warning of a hurricane. Which precedence would you assign this message?


80: You are on a cargo vessel carrying portable tanks of dangerous cargoes in bulk. Which statement is TRUE?


93: A lookout can leave his station __________.


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

149: A standard net barrel of petroleum products is __________.

    Y a. 42 gallons at 60°F
    N b. 48 gallons at 70°F
    N c. 50 gallons at 50°F
    N d. 60 gallons at 100°F

154: A look-out at the bow sights an object on your port side. How many bell strokes should he sound?

    N a. One
    Y b. Two
    N c. Three
    N d. Four

156: When heading on a course, you put your rudder hard over. The distance traveled parallel to the direction of the original course from where you put your rudder over to any point on the turning circle is known as __________.

    Y a. advance
    N b. head reach
    N c. tactical diameter
    N d. transfer

257: The distance between the surface of the liquid and the tank top in a cargo tank is called __________.

    N a. thievage
    N b. innage
    Y c. ullage
    N d. tankage

297: Commercial ships or other persons or agencies requiring the assistance of Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers should first contact __________.

    N a. the Canadian Coast Guard
    Y b. Ice Sarnia
    N c. the Ice Navigation Center
    N d. the icebreaker assigned to the area

378: In preparation for receiving chilled reefer cargo, the reefer space has been precooled for over twenty-four hours. Loading may begin when the space has been cooled to a temperature between __________.

    N a. -10°F (-23°C) and +10°F (-12°C)
    N b. 12°F (-11°C) and 20°F (-7°C)
    Y c. 28°F (-2°C) and 40°F ( 4°C)
    N d. 42°F (6°C) and 55°F (13°C)

422: Which method should be used to secure a synthetic fiber line to two bitts?

    Y a. Two round turns on the bitt closest to the strain and then figure eights
    N b. Two round turns on the bitt farthest from the strain and then figure eights
    N c. Figure eights and then a round turn at the top of both bitts
    N d. Only figure eights are necessary on both bitts

433: When a tow is trimmed by the stern it is said to __________.

    N a. hog
    N b. sag
    Y c. drag
    N d. list

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

510: You have loaded dangerous cargo on your vessel and must fill out a Dangerous Cargo Manifest. In which publication would you find the requirements to complete this form?

    N a. 33 CFR - Navigation and Navigable Waters
    Y b. 46 CFR - Shipping
    N c. IMCO - Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization
    N d. IMDG - International Maritime Dangerous Goods

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

575: What is a correct reply to a pilot's request, "How's your head"?

    N a. "Steady"
    N b. "Checked"
    Y c. "Passing 200°"
    N d. "Eased to 10° rudder"

602: Which emergency equipment should you keep near the towing bitts?

    N a. A self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
    N b. A boat hook and a spanner wrench
    Y c. A fire ax and/or cutting torch
    N d. A Stokes litter basket

657: Which space(s) is(are) deducted from gross tonnage to derive net tonnage?

    N a. Companions and booby hatches
    N b. Open structures
    Y c. Spaces for the exclusive use of the officers or crew
    N d. Water ballast spaces

682: The mooring line labeled "H" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

    N a. forward breast line
    Y b. offshore bow line
    N c. offshore spring line
    N d. onshore bow line

843: If the Master of a US-flag towing vessel replaces any crew member with a non-US citizen, he/she must ensure that the ___________ .

    N a. replacement holds a license or document equivalent in experience and training to a mariner holding US credentials
    N b. replacement can communicate with other crew members to the extent required by regulations
    N c. vessel is on a foreign voyage, outside US jurisdiction, and not operating above the US outer continental shelf
    Y d. all of the above

908: You must load as much of a large shipment of case goods as possible into a hold which has 24,400 cubic feet of space. Each case measures 2 feet by 2 feet by 4 feet and weighs 448 pounds. If you allow for broken stowage of 15%, how many long tons can be loaded?

    N a. 54
    N b. 207
    Y c. 259
    N d. 351

916: A condition where two currents meet at the downstream end of a middle bar can be determined by a __________.

    N a. small whirlpool
    N b. smooth patch of water
    Y c. V-shaped ripple with the point of the V pointing downstream
    N d. V-shaped ripple with the point of the V pointing upstream

926: Usually the most gentle way of riding out a severe storm on a larger vessel is __________.

    N a. head on at slow speeds
    N b. hove to
    Y c. running before the seas
    N d. to rig a sea anchor

962: You are the person in charge of a 199-GT uninspected towing vessel engaged in towing from New York to Mexico and then returning, a distance in excess of 600 miles. Which statement is FALSE?

    Y a. The crew members are required to sign articles.
    N b. All deck crew members are to have a Merchant Mariner's Document.
    N c. Able seamen are required in the deck crew.
    N d. The sailors shall be divided into three watches.

1024: A natural fiber rope can be ruined by dampness because it may __________.

    Y a. rot
    N b. shrink
    N c. stretch
    N d. unlay

1039: When cleaning cargo tanks with portable machines, how is the machine grounded?

    N a. Bonding wires are secured from the machine to a convenient location on deck.
    N b. The machines must maintain physical contact with the deck at the Butterworth opening.
    Y c. The water supply hoses contain internal wires that act as conductors
    N d. The water jets impinging on the vessel's structure form a pathway to ground.

1136: Your vessel is to dock bow first at a pier without the assistance of tugboats. Which line will be the most useful when maneuvering the vessel alongside the pier?

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

1142: The hitch used to secure the standing part of a gantline to the horns of a stage is a __________.

    Y a. marlinespike hitch
    N b. clove hitch
    N c. blackwall hitch
    N d. Killick hitch

1190: A normal safe working load for used nylon rope in good conditon is __________.

    N a. 10% of its breaking strain
    Y b. 25% of its breaking strain
    N c. 33% of its breaking strain
    N d. 50% of its breaking strain

1300: Tonnage openings must be closed by means of __________.

    N a. press board
    N b. steel hatch boards
    Y c. steel plates
    N d. wooden hatch boards

1302: Reinforcing frames attached to a bulkhead on a vessel are called __________.

    N a. side longitudinals
    N b. intercostals
    Y c. stiffeners
    N d. brackets

1330: Beams are cambered to __________.

    N a. increase their strength
    Y b. provide drainage from the decks
    N c. relieve deck stress
    N d. All of the above

1334: Close link chain of not less the 3/4" (or the wire rope equivalent) is required for lashing deck cargoes of timber. What size flexible wire rope would provide the strength equivalent to 3/4" chain, using a safety factor of 5?

    N a. 9/16"
    Y b. 1"
    N c. 1 1/4"
    N d. 1 3/8"

1384: The wire rope used for cargo handling on board your vessel has a safe working load of eight tons. It shall be able to withstand a breaking test load of __________.

    N a. 32 tons
    Y b. 40 tons
    N c. 48 tons
    N d. 64 tons

1460: Weight concentration in which area will cause a vessel's bottom to be subjected to tension stresses?

    N a. Aft
    Y b. Amidships
    N c. At both ends
    N d. Forward

1588: You are aboard a single-screw vessel (right-hand propeller) going full ahead with good headway. The engine is put astern and the rudder is placed hard left. The stern of the vessel will swing to __________.

    Y a. starboard until headway is lost and then to port
    N b. port
    N c. port until headway is lost and then may possibly swing to starboard
    N d. port slowly at first and then quickly to port

1625: All inspected vessels on unrestricted ocean routes must have equipment on board for testing an individual's __________.

    N a. blood
    Y b. breath
    N c. urine
    N d. All of the above

1655: Which knot represents a double blackwall hitch? (DO30DG )

    N a. F
    N b. G
    Y c. L
    N d. R

1717: With a large tow astern, there is immediate danger to the tug in the event of the __________.

    Y a. tug losing power
    N b. tow line parting
    N c. bridle twisting
    N d. tow broaching

2007: The helm command "shift your rudder" means __________.

    N a. double your rudder angle or go to full rudder
    Y b. change from right rudder to left rudder an equal number of degrees
    N c. bring your rudder amidships
    N d. check the swing of the vessel

2228: 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 listed. Based on this data what is the transfer for a turn of 60°? (D035DG )

    Y a. 140 yards (126 meters)
    N b. 180 yards (162 meters)
    N c. 225 yards (203 meters)
    N d. 270 yards (243 meters)

2268: The helm command "shift your rudder" means __________.

    N a. check the swing of the vessel
    N b. double your rudder angle or go to full rudder
    N c. bring your rudder amidships
    Y d. change from right rudder to left rudder, or vice versa, an equal number of degrees

2528: Which entry on a dangerous cargo manifest concerning the classification of a cargo is correct?

    Y a. Class 8
    N b. Class 3 - flammable liquid
    N c. Division 2.2 - nonflammable gas
    N d. All of the above are correct

2578: According to regulations when, if ever, may cargo hatches on Great Lakes vessels, with more than 6 feet of freeboard, be left uncovered or open while the vessel is being navigated?

    N a. If a Mate deems it necessary for ship's maintenance
    Y b. At the discretion of the Master, for reasonable purposes
    N c. On the authority of the Bosun
    N d. The hatch may never be uncovered

2589: The angle at which the anchor flukes penetrate the soil is the __________.

    N a. burial angle
    N b. penetration angle
    Y c. fluke angle
    N d. holding angle

2590: Which method of adjusting mooring lines is MOST useful for leaving a boat free to rise and fall with the tide?

    Y a. Crossing the spring lines
    N b. Slacking all forward running lines while keeping all after running lines taut
    N c. Doubling up on spring or breast lines
    N d. Slacking bow and stern lines

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

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

3431: A high cube container is designed specifically to __________.

    Y a. carry low density cargoes
    N b. protect fragile cargoes
    N c. stow cargoes with concentrated weights such as machinery
    N d. carry cargoes of very low stowage factors

3489: You are lifting a 5-ton weight with a single whip rove on a swinging boom set at an angle of 60° to the horizontal. Use the formula for the size of a shackle with a safe working load and determine the minimum size shackle that should be used to secure the head block to the boom?

    N a. 1 inch
    N b. 1 3/8 inch
    N c. 1 1/2 inch
    Y d. 1 7/8 inch

3652: You are lifting a one-ton weight with a swinging boom. When comparing the stresses in the rig with the boom at 20° to the horizontal to the stresses when the boom is at 60° to the horizontal, which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The stress on the topping lift is greater at 60°.
    N b. The thrust on the boom is greater at 20°.
    N c. The stress on the heel block is less at 20°.
    Y d. The stress on the masthead fairlead for the topping lift is greater at 20°.

4012: The purpose of item G is to __________. (D024DG )

    N a. distribute the vessel's thrust over a wider area
    N b. prevent the towboat from capsizing if item I should part
    Y c. prevent the knee from shifting when the rudder is put hard over
    N d. keep the barges from shifting fore and aft

4013: What is the minimum size required before a vessel can be documented?

    N a. 26 feet; end-to-end over the deck excluding sheer
    N b. 100 gross tons
    Y c. 5 net tons
    N d. 26 feet between perpendiculars

4038: Which cargo would require a dangerous cargo manifest?

    Y a. Cotton
    N b. Wheat
    N c. Sugar
    N d. Lumber

4047: Your vessel is to dock bow in at a pier. Which line will be the most useful when maneuvering the vessel alongside the pier?

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

4068: What produces the MOST dangerous vapors?

    Y a. Anhydrous ammonia
    N b. Camphor oil
    N c. Methyl alcohol
    N d. Pentane

4068: What produces the MOST dangerous vapors?

    Y a. Anhydrous ammonia
    N b. Camphor oil
    N c. Methyl alcohol
    N d. Pentane

4235: What describes a twin crane lift?

    N a. Single crane hoisting 30 tons
    Y b. Two cranes on a single pedestal hoisting 60 tons
    N c. Two sets of twin cranes hoisting 120 tons
    N d. All of the above

4239: Which safety precaution(s) should be observed during crane operations?

    N a. Checking for proper lifting from beneath the load during cargo operations
    Y b. Using the proper slings or other lifting devices during cargo operations
    N c. Relaying communications to port agents on the pier during cargo hoists
    N d. All of the above

4268: Which statement is TRUE concerning the tandem working arrangement of pedestal cranes when completing a quad lift?

    N a. The cargo discharge can be accomplished with controlled pendulation.
    Y b. The discharge is slow due to the size of the cargo and all the cranes working together.
    N c. The cargo discharge can be performed in port or at anchor.
    N d. The cranes enable the handling of heavy cargos without shoreside assistance.