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.


6: Which statement about a tunnel bow thruster is TRUE?


58: Odorous cargoes are those that __________.


65: Under title 46 of the United States Code, the person in charge of a documented vessel who fails to report a complaint of a sexual offense may be __________.


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

    N a. use as much rudder as possible to keep the vessel on course
    N b. apply rudder to move the compass card towards the lubbers line when off course
    Y c. repeat back to the watch officer any rudder commands before executing them
    N d. keep the rudder amidships except when changing course

95: You should keep clear of __________.

    Y a. any line under a strain
    N b. lines that are paying out
    N c. lines that are coiled down only
    N d. None of the above are correct

203: 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.
    N b. It pushes the entire vessel away from the bank.
    Y c. It pulls the stern toward the bank.
    N d. It heels the vessel toward the bank.

211: A seaman is entitled by law to a release from Foreign Articles when __________.

    N a. intoxicated
    Y b. the vessel is overloaded
    N c. there is a change of home port
    N d. there is a change of Master

246: The force exerted by a propeller which tends to throw the stern right or left is called __________.

    N a. slip
    Y b. sidewise force
    N c. rotational force
    N d. thrust

263: Which type of hull damage should be repaired FIRST?

    N a. Damage below the waterline
    N b. Damage to interior watertight boundaries
    N c. Damage in way of machinery rooms
    Y d. Damage at or just above the waterline

392: Which statement is TRUE concerning insulating flanges?

    Y a. They should be inspected and tested periodically to ensure that the insulation is clean and in good condition.
    N b. Switching off a cathodic protection system may be substituted for using an insulating flange
    N c. The measured resistance value after installation should be less than 1,000 ohms.
    N d. After the insulating flange is installed, hot work may be performed on deck.

395: The vertical motion of a floating vessel in which the entire hull is lifted by the force of the sea is known as __________.

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

400: You are on a containership carrying a tank container that had been filled with sodium hydroxide solution. The container is empty but has not been cleaned. Which, if any, placard is required?

    N a. No placard is required; the tank openings must be sealed
    N b. Empty placard with corrosive placard
    N c. Residue label with the UN number
    Y d. Black and white corrosive placard

451: What is official proof of a vessel's ownership?

    Y a. Certificate of Documentation
    N b. Bill of Lading
    N c. Transfer Certificate
    N d. Logbook

468: Sweat damage in a hatch full of canned goods in cartons will occur when the __________.

    N a. air temperature is higher than the temperature of the cargo
    N b. air temperature is lower than the temperature of the cargo
    Y c. dew point is higher than the temperature of the cargo
    N d. dew point is lower than the temperature of the cargo

527: What equipment is NOT used to protect a towing hawser?

    N a. Hawser boards and chafing gear
    Y b. Halyards and snaphooks
    N c. Seizing wire, rope yarn and marline
    N d. Norman pins and tow spans

578: When loading a container vessel, the operation is basically that of vertical loading. The important factors to be considered when loading containers are port of discharge, __________.

    N a. available dunnage, and chocking
    N b. crushability, and inherent vice
    N c. sweat, and weight
    Y d. weight, and refrigeration

621: Which document shows details of a tank vessel, cargoes it may carry, manning and safety equipment required?

    N a. Safety Construction Certificate
    N b. Cargo Gear Certificate
    Y c. Certificate of Inspection
    N d. Declaration of Inspection

624: A serving mallet is used in __________.

    Y a. covering wire or fiber rope
    N b. forcing fids into a line
    N c. dogging hatches
    N d. splicing lines

697: What imminent danger results from tripping?

    N a. A crew member being knocked over the side
    Y b. Capsizing your tug
    N c. Your tug being pulled backwards by your tow
    N d. The tow being thrown off course

725: By law, a user of marijuana shall be subject to __________.

    N a. loss of pay during the period of such use
    N b. reprimand by the US Coast Guard
    Y c. revocation of license or certificate
    N d. termination of employment

749: Butadiene, inhibited, is labeled as a __________.

    N a. combustible liquid
    Y b. flammable gas
    N c. flammable liquid
    N d. flammable solid

874: Which type of line would have the LEAST resistance to mildew and rot?

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

964: To coil a left-hand laid rope, you should coil the line in __________.

    N a. a clockwise direction only
    Y b. a counterclockwise direction only
    N c. an alternating clockwise and counterclockwise direction
    N d. either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction

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

1130: The fittings used to secure a watertight door are known as __________.

    N a. clamps
    N b. clasps
    Y c. dogs
    N d. latches

1146: While your vessel is docked port side to a wharf, a sudden gale force wind causes the vessel's bow lines to part. The bow begins to fall away from the dock, and no tugs are immediately available. Which measure(s) should you take FIRST?

    N a. Call the Master and the deck gang.
    N b. Slip the stern lines, let the vessel drift into the river, and then anchor.
    Y c. Let go the starboard anchor.
    N d. Obtain assistance and attempt to put some new bow lines out.

1240: Bilge keels are fitted on ships to __________.

    N a. assist in dry dock alignment
    N b. improve the vessel's stability
    N c. protect the vessel from slamming against piers
    Y d. reduce the rolling of the vessel

1280: Vertical structural members attached to the floors that add strength to the floors are called __________.

    N a. boss plates
    N b. buckler plates
    Y c. stiffeners
    N d. breast hooks

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

1493: The knot used to join two lines of different diameter is a __________.

    N a. square knot
    N b. carrick bend
    Y c. becket bend
    N d. sheepshank

1577: You are the Chief Mate of a 30,000-DWT tankship. The vessel is engaged in trade with another country signatory to MARPOL 73/78. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The Certificate of Inspection serves as prima facie evidence of complying with MARPOL 73/78.
    Y b. The IOPP Certificate for an inspected vessel is valid for 5 years.
    N c. An IOPP Certificate is invalidated if the ship carries cargoes outside the classes authorized thereon.
    N d. An IOPP Certificate is renewed at each inspection for certification.

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

1674: Which is NOT a type of seizing?

    N a. Flat seizing
    N b. Racking seizing
    N c. Throat seizing
    Y d. Tube seizing

1729: The greatest strain, when lifting a load with the jumbo purchase, is on __________.

    N a. all of the parts, dividing the load equally
    Y b. the hauling part because it must absorb the frictional losses of all the sheaves
    N c. the parts in the movable block
    N d. the standing part because it is directly connected to the weight

1790: Which space(s) is(are) exempt when measuring gross tonnage?

    N a. Auxiliary machinery spaces above the uppermost continuous deck
    N b. Steering gear room
    N c. Part of the wheelhouse used to control vessel
    Y d. All of the above

1924: The knot lettered I as shown is a __________. (DO30DG )

    N a. square knot
    N b. round knot
    Y c. bowline on a bight
    N d. timber hitch

1958: When tandem tug towing, the more powerful of the two tugs should be __________.

    N a. the lead tug
    Y b. behind the lead tug
    N c. towing at a right angle to the smaller tug
    N d. towing at a faster speed than the smaller tug

1997: What is the name of tackle number 12? (DO29DG )

    Y a. Threefold purchase
    N b. Davit tackle
    N c. Deck tackle
    N d. Gin tackle

2062: The vessel shown has broken down and you are going to take her in tow. The wind is on her starboard beam. She is making more leeway than you. Where should you position your vessel when you start running lines? (DO25DG )

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

2091: When operating in an area where sea ice and icebergs are present, which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. Icebergs may travel in a direction many degrees different from the sea ice.
    N b. Both icebergs and sea ice will move in approximately the same direction and at the same speed.
    N c. Icebergs and sea ice will move in the same direction, but at different speeds due to the sail effect of the berg.
    N d. Icebergs and sea ice will move in the same direction, but the iceberg will move slower because of its underwater bulk.

2171: The order of importance in addressing damage control is __________.

    N a. control flooding, control fire, repair structural damage
    N b. restore vital services, control fire, control flooding
    N c. control fire, restore vital services, control flooding
    Y d. control fire, control flooding, repair structural damage

2351: What is the area of a circle with a diameter of 12 feet after a sector of 86° has been removed?

    N a. 108.57 square ft.
    Y b. 86.08 square ft.
    N c. 28.65 square ft.
    N d. 27.14 square ft.

2384: What is the volume of a sphere with a radius of 3 feet?

    Y a. 113.08 cubic ft.
    N b. 96.57 cubic ft.
    N c. 37.69 cubic ft.
    N d. 28.23 cubic ft.

2629: Each open lifeboat carried on a vessel on an international voyage must have __________.

    N a. hand-propelling gear
    Y b. a davit span with at least 2 lifelines
    N c. a mast and a sail
    N d. a motor

2688: What would have the greatest affect on a vessel's longitudinal strength?

    N a. Collision damage to the bow, forward of the collision bulkhead
    Y b. Grounding damage to the bilge strake, just aft of midships
    N c. Extensive corrosion to the centerline deck plating
    N d. Damage to the side shell, midway between the bilge and the stringer plate

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

2732: Flanking rudders effect a vessel's heading because of the __________.

    Y a. effect of the propeller flow on the rudders
    N b. water flow due to the vessel's movement through the water
    N c. tunnel affect of the water flow past opposing rudders
    N d. discharge current being channeled to impinge on the vessel's deadwood

2798: The primary purpose of the stud is to prevent the anchor chain from __________.

    Y a. kinking
    N b. distorting
    N c. elongating
    N d. breaking

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.

3066: A list man would expect to see any of the following light signals EXCEPT __________.

    N a. two red lights
    N b. one green light
    N c. one white light
    Y d. one amber light

3116: You are lifting a 5-ton weight with a single whip rove on a swinging boom set at an angle of 20° 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 3/8 inch
    N b. 1 1/2 inch
    Y c. 1 3/4 inch
    N d. 1 7/8 inch

3204: What term indicates the immersed body of the vessel forward of the parallel mid-body?

    N a. Run
    N b. Flare
    Y c. Entrance
    N d. Sheer

3350: It is not advisable to use nylon for alongside towing because it __________.

    Y a. stretches too much
    N b. is too expensive for everyday towing usage
    N c. binds on the cleats
    N d. parts too readily

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

3465: Which type of anchor is illustrated? (D038DG )

    Y a. Stockless
    N b. Danforth
    N c. Old-fashioned
    N d. Kedge

3600: A helmsman receives the command "Right 15 degrees rudder." The helmsman's IMMEDIATE reply should be __________.

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

3691: On the cargo manifest, the gross weight of a box containing cargo is the weight of the __________.

    N a. cargo
    N b. box
    Y c. cargo and box
    N d. rate weight

3776: The tankship Northland is loaded as shown. Use the salmon colored pages in the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the sagging numeral. (Get Table Data)

    Y a. 29.70 numeral
    N b. 33.63 numeral
    N c. 49.82 numeral
    N d. 58.33 numeral

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

4270: Which immediate action should the operator of a pedestal crane take if crane control is lost?

    Y a. Let go of both control levers and return to neutral position.
    N b. Call the engine room.
    N c. Disconnect the power to the pedestal.
    N d. Call the electrician.