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.


20: You are carrying triethylamine, methyl methacrylate and isoprene in your multiple-product tankship. Which of the following statements is true?


30: You are planning the stowage of two incompatible products on your multiple-product tankship. What will NOT provide the minimum required segregation?


53: The objective of shoring a damaged bulkhead is to __________.


78: Which is an example of cargo damage caused by inherent vice?

    N a. Sublimation of chemicals
    Y b. Heating of grain
    N c. Stevedore damage
    N d. Wear and tear

124: Bilge soundings indicate __________.

    N a. the amount of condensation in the hold
    N b. whether the cargo is leaking or not
    N c. whether the vessel is taking on water
    Y d. All of the above

158: A claim for cargo damages may be held against the ship owner if such damage is the result of failure of the ship's officers to __________.

    N a. correct all defects in the ship's construction
    Y b. ensure the fitness and safety of cargo spaces
    N c. ensure adequate packaging of the cargo
    N d. prevent delays due to quarantine restrictions

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

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

204: What does the helm command "shift the rudder" mean?

    Y a. Put the rudder over to the opposite side, the same number of degrees it is now.
    N b. Put the rudder amidships and hold the heading steady as she goes.
    N c. Shift the rudder control to the alternate steering method.
    N d. Stop the swing of the ship.

332: The helm command "Meet her" means __________.

    N a. steer more carefully
    Y b. use rudder to check the swing
    N c. decrease the existing rudder angle
    N d. note the course and steady on that heading

337: On a coastwise tugboat of 199 GT, on a voyage over 600 miles, what percentage of the deck crew (excluding licensed officers) must hold a document of able seaman?

    Y a. 65%
    N b. 50%
    N c. 25%
    N d. 0%

342: You are on a multiple-product chemical tanker with orders to load diethylamine. What is NOT a requirement for transporting this cargo?

    N a. You must have two toxic vapor detectors or the pumproom must meet special requirements.
    N b. Each crew member must be provided with an emergency escape breathing apparatus.
    Y c. A person taking cargo samples must wear protective clothing.
    N d. If you are also carrying allyl alcohol, the venting systems must be segregated.

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

638: Ship's officers should check every cargo compartment after it is filled with bulk grain to ensure __________.

    N a. all lighting circuits are energized
    Y b. all void spaces are filled
    N c. the correct grade of cargo has been loaded
    N d. the heavier grade is in the lower hold

645: A vessel's Certificate of Documentation __________.

    N a. may be retained by the owner at the home port OR kept on the vessel
    N b. must be posted under transparent material in the pilothouse
    Y c. must be carried on board
    N d. must be kept on file at the corporate offices of the owner or operator

659: You are planning to use the crude oil washing system on your tankship. What is required to prevent electrostatic buildup in the tanks?

    N a. The portable machines must be set at the proper drop for the first wash before the fixed machines are used.
    Y b. The source tank for the tank cleaning machines must have least one meter decanted from it.
    N c. The inert gas system must reduce the oxygen content in the tanks to a maximum of 18%.
    N d. The fixed machines must be operated simultaneously with the portable machines to equalize the electrostatic potential.

678: Prior to being able to sail, each vessel that carries grain in bulk must have a certificate of loading issued by the __________.

    N a. American Bureau of Shipping
    N b. Lloyds of London
    Y c. National Cargo Bureau
    N d. U.S. Salvage

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

    N a. It pulls the bow toward the bank.
    Y b. It pulls the stern toward the bank.
    N c. It pushes the entire vessel away from the bank.
    N d. It heels the vessel toward the bank.

731: A Deratization Exemption Certificate is valid for a period of __________.

    N a. no time limit so long as Certificate of Sanitation is valid
    N b. no time limit so long as no evidence of rodents aboard
    N c. 1 year
    Y d. 6 months

798: How many cubic feet of space is required to stow 775 tons of a cargo with a stowage factor of 25? (estimated broken stowage is 15%)

    N a. 12,916
    Y b. 22,794
    N c. 25,833
    N d. 29,397

865: A nylon line is rated at 15,000 lbs. breaking strain. Using a safety factor of 5, what is the safe working load (SWL)?

    Y a. 3,000 lbs
    N b. 5,000 lbs
    N c. 15,000 lbs
    N d. 65,000 lbs

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

950: The upward slope of a ships bottom from the keel to the bilge is known as __________.

    N a. camber
    N b. slope
    Y c. deadrise
    N d. keel height

1169: Static electricity may be built up by the __________.

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

1179: The most likely time for oil pollution while bunkering is when __________.

    Y a. final topping off is occurring
    N b. first starting to receive fuel
    N c. hoses are being blown down
    N d. hoses are disconnected and being capped

1245: While on watch at sea you must maintain a proper lookout at all times. On a 700-foot cargo vessel being hand-steered during daylight hours in good visibility and clear of any navigational hazards, the lookout may be __________.

    N a. the helmsman
    Y b. the mate on watch
    N c. Either A or B
    N d. Neither A nor B

1287: The term "shift the rudder" means __________.

    Y a. change from right (left) to left (right) rudder an equal amount
    N b. use right or left rudder
    N c. check, but do not stop the vessel from swinging
    N d. put the rudder amidships

1411: The time allowed for loading and discharging cargo in a charter party is referred to as __________.

    N a. charter hire
    N b. demurrage
    N c. dispatch
    Y d. lay days

1468: What will NOT reduce yawing of a tow?

    N a. Increasing the length of the towing hawser
    N b. Trimming the tow by the stern
    Y c. Stowing deck loads forward
    N d. Drogues put over the stern

1484: A metal eye spliced into a wire is called a __________.

    N a. cyclops
    N b. fish eye
    Y c. thimble
    N d. chip

1558: When making up a tow connection, you should use __________.

    N a. safety hooks
    N b. plain eye hooks
    N c. round pin shackles
    Y d. screw pin shackles

1564: What is the main reason to slush a wire rope?

    N a. Keep the wire soft and manageable
    Y b. Lubricate the inner wires and prevent wear
    N c. Prevent kinking
    N d. Prevent rotting

1603: Which weakens a line the LEAST?

    N a. Clove hitch
    N b. Long splice
    Y c. Short splice
    N d. Square knot

1612: Which of the pictures in illustration DO30DG represents a stopper? (DO30DG )

    N a. E
    Y b. N
    N c. R
    N d. S

1635: In illustration D044DG, the mooring line labeled "B" is called a(n) __________. (DO44DG )

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

1672: You are to load a consignment of lumber. Each piece measures 2-inches thick, 10-inches wide and 16-feet long. There are 30,000 pieces in the shipment. How many board feet would be listed on the Bill of Lading?

    Y a. 800,000
    N b. 1,200,000
    N c. 1,440,000
    N d. 14,400,000

1680: In vessel construction, the garboard strake is __________.

    Y a. located next to and parallel to the keel
    N b. located next to and parallel to the gunwale
    N c. another term for the bilge keel
    N d. another term for the rub rail

1750: A grapnel is a __________.

    N a. device for securing a chain topping lift
    N b. hook to prevent the anchor cable from slipping
    Y c. device used to drag for a submerged cable or line
    N d. type of clam bucket used for discharging bulk cargo

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

2074: You are proceeding to a distress site. The survivors are in liferafts. What will make your ship more visible to the survivors?

    N a. Steering a sinuous course
    N b. Steering a zig-zag course
    Y c. Turning on all available deck lights at night
    N d. Dumping debris over the side to make a trail to your vessel

2169: What is the mechanical advantage of tackle number 8? (DO29DG )

    Y a. 3
    N b. 1.5
    N c. 1
    N d. 0.5

2192: The part of a windlass which physically engages the chain during hauling or paying out is the __________.

    N a. devil's claw
    N b. bull gear
    Y c. wildcat
    N d. cat head

2195: 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 as listed. Based on this data what is the transfer for a turn of 180°? (D035DG )

    N a. 745 yards
    N b. 770 yards
    Y c. 840 yards
    N d. 890 yards

2451: A safety shackle is identified by its __________.

    N a. shape
    Y b. pin
    N c. certification stamp
    N d. color code

2632: The horizontal flat surfaces where the upper stock joins the rudder are the __________.

    N a. rudder keys
    Y b. rudder palms
    N c. lifting flanges
    N d. shoes of the rudder

2690: When must the Master of a vessel log the position of load line marks in relation to the surface of the water in the Official Logbook?

    N a. Once a day
    N b. At the change of every watch
    N c. Only when in fresh or brackish water
    Y d. Prior to getting underway

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

2946: Which single-letter signal, when used by icebreakers on the Great Lakes, may be made by using the ship's whistle?

    N a. E
    N b. I
    Y c. M
    N d. None

2958: The bow thruster generally is ineffective at __________.

    Y a. over 3 knots headway
    N b. at any speed astern
    N c. at any speed ahead
    N d. over 1 knot sternway

3061: In a national emergency, when communicating via the Navy, messages are sent by precedence. A message designated IMMEDIATE will be delivered within __________.

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

3088: A "check" line is __________.

    N a. a safety line attached to a man working over the side
    N b. used to measure water depth
    Y c. used to slow the headway of a barge
    N d. used to measure the overhead height of a bridge

3239: Which term indicates the rise in height of the bottom plating from the plane of the base line?

    Y a. Deadrise
    N b. Camber
    N c. Molded height
    N d. Sheer

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

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

3484: You are on watch and see a man fall overboard. Which man- overboard turn should NOT be used in this situation?

    Y a. Scharnow
    N b. Single turn
    N c. Racetrack
    N d. Williamson

4024: An icebreaker displaying a flag hoist which consists of the code letters "WO" (Whiskey Oscar) is indicating that __________.

    Y a. icebreaker support is finished
    N b. icebreaker support is commencing
    N c. the icebreaker is icebound
    N d. the icebreaker is beset

4049: Tugs sometimes shackle a length of chain in the towline in order to __________.

    N a. take the wear should the towline drag bottom
    N b. assure that if the towline is overstressed it will part close to the bridle
    N c. prevent the towline from whipping should it part
    Y d. put spring in the towline

4155: Which factor(s) should be considered when loading vehicles or trailers aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. Layout of decks
    N b. Vertical clearances
    N c. Tie-down and lashing
    Y d. All of the above

4206: Which piece(s) of equipment is/are required to "twin-up" 30-ton pedestal cranes aboard a crane vessel?

    Y a. Equalizing beam
    N b. Portable power swivel
    N c. 20-foot container spreader
    N d. All of the above

4221: What does item "D" refer to in this illustration of a 30-ton pedestal crane? (D045DG )

    N a. Heel block
    N b. Gin block
    N c. Rider block
    Y d. Hook block

4238: Most pedestal crane power is provided by __________.

    Y a. Electro-hydraulic units
    N b. Steam units
    N c. Independent internal combustion power units
    N d. All of the above

4247: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding crane operations?

    N a. Radio communications allow the crane operator to disregard the use of hand signals.
    Y b. The crane operators and signalman must be familiar with the correct hand signals.
    N c. The forward cranes can be operated from the bridge.
    N d. The aft cranes can be operated from the aft steering station.