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.


55: You are in charge of a U.S. documented vessel. Under title 46 of the United States Code, if you fail to report a complaint of a sexual offense, you may be __________.


244: "Hard right rudder" means __________.


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


310: Operators of Uninspected Passenger Vessels are required to keep their Coast Guard License aboard __________.

    N a. only when operating more than one mile from shore
    N b. only when operating at night
    Y c. only when carrying passengers for hire
    N d. At all times

444: A metal object on the pier resembling a tree stump and made to receive mooring lines is a __________.

    N a. bight
    Y b. bollard
    N c. chock
    N d. camel

500: What would NOT require that a detailed report of the release of hazardous cargo be made to the Department of Transportation?

    N a. The valve on an empty portable tank that contained acetone is accidentally opened and some of the residue escapes to the open sea.
    N b. A carboy of nitric acid is broken on deck while loading and is flushed overboard with no injury or damage.
    Y c. Part of your deck cargo of five gallon cans of paint is damaged and leaking so you jettison them to eliminate the fire hazard.
    N d. Heavy weather causes damage to packages of a hazardous liquid that is subsequently pumped out at sea through the bilge pumping system.

516: You are going ahead on twin engines with rudder amidships. Your starboard engine stalls. To continue on course, you should __________.

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

577: You are signing on a crew. A man presents a Merchant Mariner's Document that you suspect has been tampered with. Which action should you take?

    N a. Confiscate the document and deliver it to the Coast Guard.
    N b. Sign the man on and notify the Coast Guard at the first U.S. port of call.
    Y c. Refuse to sign the man on articles until authorized by the Coast Guard.
    N d. Refuse to sign the man on and notify the FBI of unauthorized use of a federal document.

723: What safety precautions must you take when maneuvering on a towing hook?

    N a. The engines must be operated on the slow bell.
    Y b. Clear the afterdeck and fantail of personnel.
    N c. Lash the hook closed so it does not open accidentally.
    N d. The towing winch engine must be running.

751: A document which has a list of names, birthplaces, and residences of persons employed on a merchant vessel bound from a U.S. port on a foreign voyage and is required at every port is called the __________.

    Y a. Certified Crew List
    N b. Crew Manifest
    N c. Shipping Articles
    N d. Muster List ("Station Bill")

796: When you enter shallow water, you would expect your rudder response to __________.

    Y a. be sluggish and your speed to decrease
    N b. be sluggish and your speed to increase
    N c. improve and your speed to decrease
    N d. improve and your speed to increase

882: The owner or Master of a towing vessel that tows astern must keep records of the towline(s) that include all of the following information EXCEPT _____________ .

    N a. the towline's initial minimum breaking strength as determined by the manufacturer
    Y b. an invoice showing the cost of the towline
    N c. the towline's nautical miles of use or time in service
    N d. the history of loading of the towline

898: You must load as much of a large shipment of case goods as possible into a hold which has 24,000 cubic feet of space. Each case measures 2 feet by 2-1/2 feet by 4 feet and weights 448 pounds. If you allow for broken stowage of 15%, how many long tons can be loaded?

    N a. 280
    N b. 233
    Y c. 204
    N d. 190

971: A journal kept by the officer of the watch in which day to day happenings are recorded regarding the deck department is the __________.

    N a. cargo record book
    Y b. deck rough log
    N c. bell book
    N d. Official Logbook

1061: A vessel arrives at the port of San Francisco from Yokohama, Japan. The passengers fill out the Baggage Declaration and Entry form. A passenger has baggage arriving on another vessel. How must this baggage be handled for U.S. Customs purposes?

    N a. It need not be declared at this time.
    Y b. It must be declared on the same form and marked "Unaccompanied Baggage".
    N c. It must be declared on another form entitled "Continuation Sheet".
    N d. It must be declared only if the other vessel's name is known.

1112: What is an advantage of the 6X37 class of wire rope over the 6X19 class of wire rope of the same diameter?

    Y a. Greater flexibility
    N b. More resistance to corrosion
    N c. More resistance to elongation
    N d. Lower weight per foot

1117: The knot used to form the bridle at the standing part of a gantline rigged to a stage is a __________.

    N a. sheet bend
    N b. carrick bend
    N c. fisherman's bend
    Y d. bowline

1119: A single fitting installed in a pipeline that either blanks off the pipe or allows a full flow passage of a liquid through the pipe is referred to as a __________.

    N a. blind flange
    N b. pivot coupling
    N c. quick-release coupling
    Y d. spectacle flange

1200: Your vessel's operators send a message that your vessel has been consigned to Voluntary Naval Control of Shipping. The message will refer you to __________.

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

1234: Which type of line will stretch the most when under strain?

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

1248: A declaration made by the Master before a U.S. Consul, giving particulars regarding heavy weather or other incidents which may have caused damage to the vessel or cargo, through no fault of the vessel, her officers, or crew is a(n) __________.

    N a. cargo addendum
    N b. exception report
    N c. Master's declaration
    Y d. note of protest

1298: A Master should file a marine note of protest if __________.

    N a. cargo was received at ship side which was damaged in land transit
    N b. longshore labor went on strike in the port causing undue vessel delay
    N c. portions of his vessel's cargo were illegally impounded in a foreign port
    Y d. the vessel encountered heavy weather which might have caused cargo damage

1336: When picking up your mooring at the buoy, the correct method is to __________.

    N a. approach the buoy with the wind and current astern
    Y b. approach the buoy with the wind and current ahead
    N c. approach the buoy with wind and sea abeam
    N d. stop upwind and up current and drift down on the buoy

1451: The implied condition(s) with respect to the doctrine of deviation in a marine insurance policy is(are) __________.

    N a. that the cargo be discharged from the vessel with customary dispatch
    N b. that the voyage be commenced in a reasonable time
    N c. that the voyage be pursued over the usual and direct route
    Y d. All of the above

1463: On a small boat, which knot is best suited for attaching a line to the ring of an anchor?

    N a. Clove hitch
    N b. Figure-eight knot
    Y c. Fisherman's bend
    N d. Overhand knot

1476: How is the size of chain determined?

    N a. Length of link in inches
    Y b. Diameter of metal in link in inches
    N c. Links per fathom
    N d. Weight of stud cable in pounds

1556: When anchoring, good practice requires 5 to 7 fathoms of chain for each fathom of depth. In deep water you should use __________.

    N a. the same ratio
    N b. more chain for each fathom of depth
    Y c. less chain for each fathom of depth
    N d. two anchors with the same ratio of chain

1593: A long splice in a line __________.

    Y a. is used in running rigging
    N b. doubles the size of the line
    N c. is only used on fiber rope
    N d. is very weak

1782: When evacuating a seaman by helicopter lift, which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The vessel should be stopped with the wind dead ahead during the hoisting operation.
    Y b. Flags should be flown to provide a visual reference as to the direction of the apparent wind.
    N c. The drop line should be grounded first then secured as close to the hoist point as possible.
    N d. The hoist area should be located as far aft as possible so the pilot will have a visual reference while approaching.

1798: You are on a single-screw vessel with a left-handed propeller making no way in the water. How will your vessel react when you apply right rudder?

    N a. Bow will kick to starboard
    N b. Bow will kick to port
    Y c. Rudder alone has no effect on the vessel
    N d. Stern will kick to port, then slowly swing to starboard

1967: Using the graph shown, if the dry bulb temperature is 92°, and the wet bulb temperature is 85°, what is the relative humidity in a cargo hold? (D008DG )

    Y a. 75%
    N b. 81%
    N c. 84%
    N d. 88%

2085: What purpose does a bridge fitting serve when lashing containers?

    N a. Ties a container stack to the deck
    N b. Ties a container to the container below it
    N c. Restrains racking loads
    Y d. Restrains the container against horizontal motion

2100: The primary purpose of a load line is to establish required __________.

    Y a. minimum freeboard
    N b. GM
    N c. transverse stability
    N d. fresh water allowances

2109: What is NOT an item that requires the vessel to be dry-docked?

    N a. Inspection of tail shaft liner
    N b. Repacking and grinding of skin valves
    Y c. Verification of load line measurements
    N d. Belt gauging

2127: The maneuver which will return your vessel to a person who has fallen overboard in the shortest time is __________.

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

2264: When you "end for end" a wire rope, you __________.

    N a. cut off the free end and bitter end of the rope
    N b. splice two wire ropes together
    Y c. remove the wire rope from the drum and reverse it so that the free end becomes the bitter end
    N d. remove the wire rope from the drum and turn it over, so the wire bends in the opposite direction

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

2360: Splices made in nylon should __________.

    N a. be long splices only
    Y b. have extra tucks taken
    N c. be short splices only
    N d. be around a thimble

2375: You are on a multiple-product chemical tanker and will carry cargoes of ethanolamine, methyl acrylate, and glycerine. Which statement is true?

    N a. All of these cargoes are mutually incompatible.
    N b. Glycerine may be stowed adjacent to methyl acrylate but must be segregated from ethanolamine.
    N c. Methyl acrylate and ethanolamine are compatible but both must be segregated from glycerine.
    Y d. Glycerine is compatible with both of the other cargoes.

2466: The pillar shape that gives the greatest strength for the least weight is the __________.

    N a. octagonal pillar
    N b. "H" Beam pillar
    N c. "I" Beam pillar
    Y d. circular type pillar

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

2606: You are approaching the pilot station with the wind fine on the starboard bow and making about 3 knots. You can help to calm the seas by taking what action just before the pilot boat comes along on the port side?

    N a. Backing full
    N b. Stopping the engines
    N c. Giving right full rudder
    Y d. A short burst of ahead full with left full rudder

2791: What is the period of validity of a Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate?

    N a. 72 months
    Y b. 60 months
    N c. 48 months
    N d. 42 months

2795: The York-Antwerp Rules relate to the __________.

    N a. minimum required number of officers and crew
    Y b. settlement of general average claims
    N c. ship owner's responsibilities to provide a well-found vessel in a charter party
    N d. navigation regulations that apply in the English Channel

3000: The pipe used to connect two separate piping systems on a tank vessel is known as a __________.

    Y a. crossover
    N b. transfer
    N c. connection
    N d. junction

3086: Which statement concerning the navigation of a vessel in ice is FALSE?

    N a. Anchoring in the presence of ice is not recommended except in an emergency.
    N b. Towing a vessel through an ice field is not recommended except in an emergency.
    N c. The "Free and Proceed" system of escorting a beset vessel cuts down on the number of freeing operations.
    Y d. When anchoring in ice, it is advisable to increase the scope of the chain over what is normally used for non-icing conditions.

3165: When steering a vessel, a good helmsman does NOT __________.

    N a. consider steering a vessel a highly responsible job
    Y b. use as much rudder as possible to keep the vessel on course
    N c. use as little rudder as possible to keep the vessel on course
    N d. advise his relief of the course being steered

3165: When steering a vessel, a good helmsman does NOT __________.

    N a. consider steering a vessel a highly responsible job
    Y b. use as much rudder as possible to keep the vessel on course
    N c. use as little rudder as possible to keep the vessel on course
    N d. advise his relief of the course being steered

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

3327: The upward slope of a vessels bottom from the keel to the bilge is called __________.

    N a. camber
    N b. sheer
    N c. rake
    Y d. rise of bottom

3462: Under U.S. law, what is the penalty for assaulting the Master?

    N a. Fine of not more than $1000
    N b. Fine of not more than $500 and/or imprisonment for not more than 1 year
    Y c. Imprisonment for not more than 2 years
    N d. Revocation of the Merchant Mariner's Document (and license if applicable)

3541: You have orders to load cargoes of carbon disulfide, diisopropylamine and pyridine on your multi-product tankship. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Carbon disulfide may be carried in NOS. 1 and 2 center tanks and diisopropylamine in NOS. 1 and 2 wing tanks.
    N b. Pyridine and diisopropylamine may be carried in tanks having a common header vent.
    N c. Carbon disulfide must be separated from pyridine by two barriers (cofferdams, voids, empty tanks, etc.).
    Y d. A tank of pyridine may be used to separate a tank of carbon disulfide from a tank of diisopropylamine.

3710: A new crewman reports on board. He must be trained in the use of the ship's lifesaving appliances within what time period?

    N a. 2 months
    N b. 1 month
    Y c. 2 weeks
    N d. Before sailing

4010: You have completed a crude oil wash. What action should be taken with the oil in the lines running to the washing machines?

    Y a. Open a COW nozzle forward and one aft and drain the line into the after tank by gravity
    N b. Blow the line out using compressed air
    N c. Pull a suction using the supply line pump
    N d. Close off all valves in the system and leave the oil in the line primed for the next crude oil wash

4014: The facewire refers to item __________. (D024DG )

    Y a. I
    N b. H
    N c. B
    N d. A

4069: The horizontal fore-and-aft movement of a vessel is called __________.

    N a. yaw
    N b. sway
    N c. heave
    Y d. surge

4101: Which of the following is a characteristic of a Ro-Ro vessel?

    N a. Passenger tours available upon docking
    N b. Long port stays necessary to secure vehicles
    Y c. Short in port turnaround times
    N d. Heavy vehicles only require lightweight securing equipment

4150: Which of the following is/are TRUE regarding lashing requirements to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. The securing of cargo on flats and trailers and in containers must be adequate to withstand both road and sea motions
    N b. The generally recommended lash angle cannot be greater than 45 degrees relative to the deck in any direction.
    N c. It is necessary for an adequate number of securing points on the vehicles themselves in order that lashings may be properly and safely utilized.
    Y d. All the above

4280: Which statement is FALSE concerning a tagline as used with a 30-ton pedestal crane?

    Y a. Taglines are wire rope purchases that raise and lower the jib.
    N b. Taglines are wire ropes for horizontal positioning of the rider block.
    N c. Taglines can be fastened to corners of vehicles or containers.
    N d. The crane might not have taglines installed in its rigging system.

4282: Which statement is TRUE concerning a tagline as used with a 30-ton pedestal crane?

    N a. Taglines are wire rope purchases that raise and lower the jib.
    N b. Taglines can be fastened to the corners of the jib when lifting containers.
    Y c. The crane might not have taglines installed in its rigging system.
    N d. The taglines are wire rope purchases that raise and lower the topping lift.