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.


49: Flammable liquid means any liquid which gives off flammable vapors at or below __________.


77: When steering a vessel, a good helmsman will __________.


117: If two mooring lines are to be placed on the same bollard, which method is BEST?


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

    Y a. Master of the vessel
    N b. steamship company
    N c. U.S. Custom Service
    N d. U.S. Coast Guard

290: What is NOT a form used by ice support services to disseminate information?

    N a. Ice Analyses
    N b. Ice Forecasts
    N c. Ice Outlooks
    Y d. Ice Bulletins

499: Your tank vessel is loaded down to her marks, and you find that she has too much trim by the stern. To adjust the trim, you may __________.

    N a. add ballast forward
    N b. load more cargo forward
    Y c. shift bunkers forward
    N d. All of the above

548: Using the graph shown, if the dry bulb temperature is 55°F (13°C) and the wet bulb is 50°F (10°C), what is the relative humidity? (D008DG )

    N a. 55%
    Y b. 70%
    N c. 75%
    N d. 82%

591: What will NOT be found on the Certificate of Inspection of an ocean going tankship?

    N a. Manning requirements
    Y b. Minimum freeboard permitted
    N c. Grade(s) of cargoes that the vessel may carry
    N d. Waters upon which the vessel may be operated

617: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "A" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

    N a. onshore stern line
    Y b. offshore stern line
    N c. after breast line
    N d. after spring line

696: A vessel traveling down a narrow channel, especially if the draft is nearly equal to the depth of the water, may set off the nearer side. This effect is known as __________.

    N a. smelling the bottom
    N b. squatting
    N c. bank suction
    Y d. bank cushion

816: Water may boil up around the stern of a vessel in a channel due to __________.

    N a. slack water when upbound
    Y b. shallow water
    N c. a cross current
    N d. a head current

847: When towing astern what equipment should be stowed ready for use near the towline?

    N a. First aid kit
    Y b. Axe or cutting torch
    N c. Fire extinguisher
    N d. Chafing gear

1037: After an IOPP Certificate is issued to an inspected vessel, how many other surveys of the vessel's pollution prevention equipment are conducted during the period of validity of the certificate?

    N a. None
    N b. One
    N c. Two
    Y d. Three

1086: When taking a Pilot from a pilot vessel in a seaway, which way should you head your vessel if the ladder is on the leeward side?

    N a. Bow to the sea and no way on your vessel
    N b. Sea on the lee quarter with ship moving ahead slowly
    Y c. Sea on the weather bow and ship moving ahead slowly
    N d. Sea on the quarter with sternway on the ship

1158: A vessel loads 100 tons of glass jars. The mate on watch discovers that some of the cartons have been damaged and has an exception made on the Bill of Lading. What is this document called?

    N a. Damage Bill of Lading
    N b. Letter of Indemnity
    N c. Non-negotiable Bill of Lading
    Y d. Unclean Bill of Lading

1158: A vessel loads 100 tons of glass jars. The mate on watch discovers that some of the cartons have been damaged and has an exception made on the Bill of Lading. What is this document called?

    N a. Damage Bill of Lading
    N b. Letter of Indemnity
    N c. Non-negotiable Bill of Lading
    Y d. Unclean Bill of Lading

1161: The document that the Master uses to attest to the truth of the manifest of cargo is called __________.

    N a. Master's Protest
    Y b. Oath of Entry
    N c. Owner's Oath
    N d. Shipper's Certification

1165: The Muster List ("Station Bill") shows each person's lifeboat station, duties during abandonment, basic instructions, and __________.

    Y a. all emergency signals
    N b. instructions for lowering the lifeboats
    N c. the time each weekly drill will be held
    N d. work schedule

1172: You are making a sharp turn in a channel and using a buoy four points on the bow to gauge your rate of turn. If you observe the buoy moving aft relative to you, what should you do?

    Y a. Increase the rate of turn
    N b. Decrease the rate of turn
    N c. Maintain a constant rate of turn
    N d. Decrease speed

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

1400: The half-breadth plan is __________.

    N a. an endwise view of the ship's molded form
    N b. a plan with the forebody to right of centerline and afterbody to the left of centerline
    N c. a longitudinal side elevation
    Y d. usually drawn for the port side only

1513: Which knot is suitable for hoisting an unconscious person?

    N a. Bowline in a bight
    Y b. French bowline
    N c. Fisherman's loop
    N d. Spider hitch

1584: The size of wire rope is determined by the __________.

    N a. number of strands
    N b. number of wires in each strand
    N c. circumference
    Y d. diameter

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

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

1661: Which document is NOT required by law to be posted aboard a vessel?

    N a. Certificate of Inspection
    Y b. Official Crew List
    N c. Officer's licenses
    N d. Muster list

1662: Under defense plans, operation of electronic aids to navigation may be temporarily suspended with __________.

    N a. one day's notice
    N b. thirty (30) days notice
    Y c. no notice
    N d. a week's notice

1700: Which letter designates the bilge strake of the vessel? (D001DG )

    N a. A
    N b. B
    N c. C
    Y d. D

1813: A snatch block would most likely be used as a __________.

    N a. boat fall
    Y b. fairlead
    N c. riding pawl
    N d. topping lift

1835: Your vessel's operators send a message that your vessel has been consigned to Naval Control of Shipping. The message will refer you to __________.

    Y a. Radio Aids to Navigation (PUB 117)
    N b. the Coast Pilot
    N c. the International Code of Signals (PUB 102)
    N d. the Light List

1838: You are docking a vessel. If possible, you should __________.

    N a. go in with the current
    Y b. go in against the current
    N c. approach the dock at a 90° angle and swing to
    N d. pass a mooring line to the dock with a heaving line and let the crew pull the vessel in

1842: The knot shown lettered W is a __________. (DO30DG )

    N a. clove hitch
    Y b. square knot
    N c. barrel hitch
    N d. stopper knot

1875: A seam is indicated by which letter in illustration D033DG? (D033DG )

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

1881: In time of war Naval Control of Shipping Authorities may give orders concerning the __________.

    N a. cargo to be loaded
    N b. final destination
    Y c. ship's route
    N d. All of the above

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

1974: In a national emergency, when communicating via the Navy, messages are sent by precedence. A message designated PRIORITY will be delivered within __________.

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

1981: The boom stops on a pedestal crane prevent the boom from __________.

    Y a. being raised too high
    N b. swinging at sea
    N c. overloading when not in use
    N d. being lowered too low

2026: After a seaman is discharged, at the end of the voyage, the final payment of wages due must be made, whichever is earliest, either within 24 hours after the cargo has been discharged, or __________.

    Y a. within 4 days after the seaman's discharge
    N b. prior to the vessel's departure on the next voyage
    N c. prior to loading any out-bound cargo
    N d. prior to any change of Master

2041: Which tackle arrangement has the LEAST mechanical advantage?

    Y a. Single whip
    N b. Gun tackle
    N c. Luff tackle
    N d. Twofold purchase

2182: What is the name of tackle number 4? (DO29DG )

    N a. Double whip
    N b. Luff tackle
    Y c. Two-fold purchase
    N d. 2-2 tackle

2385: You are on a multiple-product chemical tanker and will carry cargoes of butyric acid, propylene oxide, and octyl alcohol. Which statement is true?

    N a. Butyric acid is incompatible with octyl alcohol but not propylene oxide.
    Y b. Propylene oxide may not be stowed in a tank adjacent to butyric acid.
    N c. All of these cargoes are compatible.
    N d. Octyl alcohol is incompatible with both butyric acid and propylene oxide.

2593: On a transpacific voyage, you receive a message from your vessel's operators saying that your vessel has been consigned to voluntary Naval Control of Shipping. Further information is contained in __________.

    N a. the Light List
    Y b. Radio Aids to Navigation (PUB 117)
    N c. the International Code of Signals (PUB 102)
    N d. the Coast Pilot

2782: What is a wet cargo?

    N a. A liquid cargo carried in the deep tanks
    Y b. A canned or bottled liquid such as beer
    N c. A cargo that contains hygroscopic moisture
    N d. A cargo particularly susceptible to damage by moisture

2802: The single line located directly above the diamond is the __________. (D031DG )

    N a. load line
    N b. water line
    N c. freeboard line
    Y d. deck line

2896: You are proceeding against the current on a river in the Great Lakes System. You are meeting a downbound vessel. Both vessels are power-driven. The other vessel sounds one short blast. You must __________.

    N a. change course to port
    N b. hold course and speed
    N c. sound three short blasts
    Y d. sound one short blast

2952: Spontaneous heating of coal rapidly accelerates at the approximate minimum temperature of __________.

    N a. 88°F
    Y b. 100°F
    N c. 111°F
    N d. 119°F

2969: Fog can form in any season on the Great Lakes, but it is most likely to occur over open waters in __________.

    N a. summer and early autumn
    N b. autumn and early winter
    N c. winter and early spring
    Y d. spring and early summer

2977: You are proceeding under NCS (Naval Control of Shipping) when you wish to send a message concerning your ships diversion. Which precedence would you assign this message?

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

2994: Nearly half of all storms that enter the Great Lakes Basin during the period from October through May come from __________.

    N a. highs which originate in the east and east central USA
    N b. lows which originate in north central and western Canada
    N c. highs which originate in north eastern and eastern Canada
    Y d. lows which originate in the central and western USA

3026: Which type of fog is the most dense and widely spread of those that occur on the Great Lakes?

    N a. Steam fog
    Y b. Advection fog
    N c. Radiation fog
    N d. Lake effect fog

3032: Ice is often strong enough to halt navigation through the St. Lawrence Seaway by mid- __________.

    N a. October
    N b. November
    Y c. December
    N d. January

3072: A Great Lakes bulk ore vessel would use an "Iron Deckhand" to assist in __________.

    N a. unloading bulk cargo
    N b. steering the vessel
    N c. making the vessel fast to a dock
    Y d. removing hatch covers

3219: In a national emergency, when communicating via the Navy, messages are sent by precedence. A message designated PRIORITY will be delivered within __________.

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

3234: Rolling is angular motion of the vessel about what axis?

    Y a. Longitudinal
    N b. Transverse
    N c. Vertical
    N d. Centerline

3438: One advantage of chain over wire rope for a tow bridle is that chain __________.

    N a. is better suited for inland towing
    Y b. resists damage from chafing
    N c. handles more easily
    N d. equalizes towing forces better

3565: The safety stopper that prevents the anchor cable from running free if the cable jumps the wildcat is the __________.

    Y a. riding pawl
    N b. devil's claw
    N c. buckler plate
    N d. spill pipe

3722: The next-to-last shot of an anchor cable is usually painted __________.

    N a. white
    N b. international orange
    Y c. yellow
    N d. red

4068: What produces the MOST dangerous vapors?

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

4147: Which tensioning device is used with wire rope lashing to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

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

4207: Which piece of equipment is required to "twin-up" 30-ton pedestal cranes aboard a crane vessel?

    N a. Portable power swivel
    N b. 20-foot container spreader
    N c. 40-foot container spreader
    Y d. None of the above

4271: Which immediate action should the operator of a pedestal crane take if crane control is lost?

    N a. Sound the general alarm.
    Y b. Return the control levers to the neutral positions.
    N c. Notify port security.
    N d. Hold the control levers all the way down.