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.


2: You are standing the wheelwatch when you hear the cry, "Man overboard starboard side". You should instinctively __________.


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


140: Your tankship is carrying a 30% solution of hydrogen peroxide. The cargo containment system must have a permanent inert gas system. While discharging this cargo the inert gas system must maintain a minimum pressure of __________.


218: What is the main purpose of dunnage?

    N a. To act as ballast for light vessels
    Y b. To provide ventilation and drainage for cargo
    N c. To secure the tarpaulins in place
    N d. To support weakened bulkheads

221: A vessel arrives in a foreign port and the Master is informed that the vessel is being sold to foreign interests. The new owners request that the crew remain on board to complete the voyage. Under these circumstances, the crew __________.

    Y a. has the right to an immediate discharge and transportation to original port of engagement
    N b. must remain on board
    N c. must comply with the decision made by the Master
    N d. must remain aboard until the vessel is delivered to the new owners at a mutually agreed upon port

267: Which statement is NOT true concerning the stowage of class 1 explosives?

    N a. Class 1.1 explosives may be stowed with class 9 dangerous substances
    N b. Class 1.4 explosives must be "separated from" a stow of class 5.1 oxidizing materials.
    Y c. Class 1.4 explosives may not be stowed in the same hold with class 6.1 poisons.
    N d. Class 1.4 explosives must be "separated from" a stow of class 8 corrosive materials.

270: The disadvantage of using a heaving line to pass a towline is that __________.

    N a. it increases the likelihood of collision between the towing vessel and the disabled vessel
    Y b. recreational boaters tend to make the heaving line fast to the towed vessel as if it were the towline
    N c. the monkey fist may injure someone
    N d. it may reduce the catenary and increase yawing

455: A vessel having continuous closely spaced transverse strength members is __________.

    N a. longitudinally framed
    Y b. transversely framed
    N c. cellular framed
    N d. web framed

506: With rudders amidships and negligible wind, a twin-screw vessel moving astern with both engines backing will back __________.

    N a. to port
    N b. to starboard
    Y c. in a fairly straight line
    N d. in a circular motion

631: At least one reinspection shall be made on each vessel holding a Certificate of Inspection valid for two years. This inspection shall be held between the tenth and fourteenth months of the duration period of the certificate and shall be __________.

    N a. at the discretion of the inspector, but in no greater detail than required for original certification
    N b. at the discretion of the inspector, but in no lesser detail than required for original certification
    Y c. generally similar in scope to the inspection required for certification, but in less detail
    N d. equivalent to the inspection required for certification

666: You are proceeding at a slow speed with your starboard side near the right bank of a channel. If your vessel suddenly sheers toward the opposite bank, the best maneuver would be __________.

    N a. full ahead, hard left rudder
    Y b. full ahead, hard right rudder
    N c. full astern, hard left rudder
    N d. full astern, hard right rudder

703: The operator of an uninspected vessel MUST assist people affected by an accident if he or she can do so without __________.

    Y a. serious danger to his or her own vessel
    N b. further damaging the other vessel
    N c. undue delay
    N d. creating a panic on either vessel

713: How do the height and location of a tug's towing bitts relate to the danger of tripping?

    Y a. The further forward and closer to amidships the more readily the tug will trip.
    N b. Placement further aft permits more effective pulling, better steering and eliminates the danger of tripping.
    N c. Installing the bitts down low lowers the center of gravity.
    N d. The height and position of towing bitts has no significance.

745: When carrying a cargo of asphalt or molten sulfur, which are carried at temperatures of over 300°F, one of the biggest dangers is __________.

    Y a. water in the tanks or pipelines
    N b. having the cargo too cool
    N c. explosion of vapors after discharge
    N d. inadequate ullage space

825: Who is responsible for establishing watches aboard a U.S. vessel?

    N a. The owner of the vessel
    N b. The company that operates the vessel
    N c. The company that charters the vessel
    Y d. The Master of the vessel

915: What is the period of validity of a Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate?

    N a. 6 months
    N b. 12 months
    N c. 24 months
    Y d. 60 months

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

992: 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)

    N a. 29.49 numeral
    Y b. 31.97 numeral
    N c. 33.61 numeral
    N d. 35.12 numeral

1010: When the longitudinal strength members of a vessel are continuous and closely spaced, the vessel is __________.

    N a. transversely framed
    Y b. longitudinally framed
    N c. intermittently framed
    N d. web framed

1011: After your vessel has been involved in a casualty, you are required to make your logbooks, bell books, etc., available to __________.

    N a. attorneys for opposition parties
    N b. marine surveyors
    Y c. U.S. Coast Guard officials
    N d. All of the above

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

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

1108: In which casualty case is it UNNECESSARY to notify the local Coast Guard Marine Safety Office?

    N a. A seaman is injured and in the hospital for four days.
    N b. Nylon mooring line parts while the vessel is tied up and kills a harbor worker who was on the pier.
    N c. Your vessel is backing from a dock and runs aground, but is pulled off by tugs in 30 minutes.
    Y d. Your vessel strikes a pier and does $1,500 damage to the pier but none to the vessel.

1138: A vessel arrives in the port of Los Angeles from a foreign port and discharges some of its inward foreign cargo. What additional manifest is required?

    N a. Discharge Manifest
    N b. Inward Foreign Manifest
    N c. Pro Forma Manifest
    Y d. Traveling Manifest

1171: If you intend to land tulip bulbs from Holland in a U.S. port, they must be inspected by the __________.

    Y a. Animal and Plant Health Service Inspector
    N b. Captain of the Port personnel
    N c. Quarantine Officer
    N d. All of the above

1196: You are landing a single-screw vessel, with a right-hand propeller, starboard side to the dock. When you have approached the berth and back the engine, you would expect the vessel to __________.

    N a. lose headway without swinging
    Y b. turn her bow toward the dock
    N c. turn her bow away from the dock
    N d. head into the wind, regardless of the side the wind is on

1304: A nylon line is rated at 12,000 lbs. breaking strain. Using a safety factor of 5, what is the safe working load (SWL)?

    N a. 2,000 lbs.
    Y b. 2,400 lbs.
    N c. 12,000 lbs.
    N d. 60,000 lbs.

1381: The Master of a vessel may tender a Notice of Readiness to the charterer when the vessel __________.

    N a. has completed the terms of the charter party
    Y b. is in all respects ready to load
    N c. is in all respects ready to sail
    N d. is safely moored or at a suitable anchorage

1559: It is permissible to place an eye splice in wire rope used as cargo gear providing the splice is made using __________.

    N a. two tucks with whole strands and one tuck with one-half strand
    Y b. three tucks with whole strands and two tucks with 1/2 the wire cut from the tucking strand
    N c. three tucks with whole strands
    N d. two tucks with whole strands and three tucks with half strands

1582: Which is an example of failure to exercise due diligence?

    Y a. Overloading
    N b. Sailing short of union manning requirements
    N c. Sailing with less than 30% reserve fuel oil supply
    N d. Sailing short of being full and down

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

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

1660: The strake on each side of the keel is called a __________.

    N a. sheer strake
    N b. gatewood strake
    N c. insulation strake
    Y d. garboard strake

1666: While anchoring your vessel, the best time to let go the anchor is when the vessel is __________.

    N a. dead in the water
    Y b. moving slowly astern over the ground
    N c. moving fast ahead over the ground
    N d. moving fast astern over the ground

1687: What is the perimeter of a circle with a radius of 4.2 feet?

    Y a. 26.39 ft
    N b. 21.19 ft
    N c. 17.81 ft
    N d. 13.20 ft

1829: The term "shift your rudder" means __________.

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

1943: In order to pay out or slack a mooring line which is under strain, you should __________.

    N a. sluice the line
    Y b. surge the line
    N c. stopper the line
    N d. slip the line

1975: The knot lettered F in illustration DO30DG is a __________. (DO30DG )

    N a. becket bend
    N b. square knot
    N c. fisherman's bend
    Y d. round turn and two half hitches

2095: You are using a racetrack turn to recover a man overboard. The vessel is first steadied when how many degrees away from the original heading?

    N a. 60° to 70°
    N b. 90°
    N c. 135°
    Y d. 180°

2129: The exact and complete identification of all cargo on board must be found on the __________.

    Y a. Cargo Manifest
    N b. Mate's Receipt
    N c. Hatch Report
    N d. Loading List

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

2181: When relieving the helm, the new helmsman should know the __________.

    Y a. course per magnetic steering compass
    N b. gyro error
    N c. variation
    N d. maximum rudder angle previously used

2299: You are on a multiple-product chemical tanker and will carry cargoes of isophorone, ethylenediamine, and creosote. Which of the following is TRUE?

    Y a. All of these cargoes are compatible.
    N b. Isophorone is incompatible with ethylenediamine but may be stowed adjacent to creosote.
    N c. All of these cargoes are incompatible.
    N d. Ethylenediamine is compatible with isophorone but both are incompatible with creosote.

2346: What is the volume of a sphere with a radius of 11 feet?

    N a. 506.75 cubic ft.
    N b. 696.78 cubic ft.
    Y c. 5,575.28 cubic ft.
    N d. 44,593.82 cubic ft.

2510: Mooring lines should be turned end-for-end occasionally. This is because __________.

    N a. a line is weakened by constantly pulling on it in one direction
    Y b. normal wear on the line is thus distributed to different areas
    N c. it prevents the line from kinking or unlaying
    N d. it prevents permanent misalignment of the line's internal strands

2554: The welds used to attach stiffeners to a plate are known as __________.

    N a. butt welds
    N b. seam welds
    Y c. fillet welds
    N d. plate welds

2570: When a line is laid down in loose, looping figure-eights, it is said to be __________.

    Y a. faked
    N b. flemished
    N c. coiled
    N d. chined

2936: Storms that enter the Great Lakes Basin from the west and northwest at a peak in October are the products of pressure systems known as __________.

    N a. Northwesters
    Y b. Alberta lows
    N c. Fata morgana
    N d. Polar highs

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)

2990: When cutting regular-lay wire rope, what is the minimum number of seizings to be placed on each side of the cut?

    N a. One
    N b. Two, and three on rope diameters over 1 inch
    Y c. Three, and more on larger diameter wire ropes
    N d. Four

3094: Your vessel is underway and approaching an overhead obstruction on Lake Superior. Given the following information, determine the clearance between your vessel and the obstruction. Highest point on vessel: 74 ft. Lowest point of obstruction: 126 (LWD) Monthly lake level: +2 (LWD) International Great Lakes Datum: 600.0 (182.88 meters)

    N a. 474 feet
    N b. 400 feet
    N c. 175 feet
    Y d. 50 feet

3098: A weight of 1,000 short tons is equivalent to __________.

    N a. 1,500 foot-pounds
    N b. 2,240 long tons
    N c. 2,000 pounds
    Y d. 2,000 kips

3176: The part of the anchor indicated by the letter G is the __________. (D038DG )

    N a. fluke
    N b. shank
    Y c. tripping palm
    N d. crown

3220: If you are guilty of failure to properly perform your duties as Master of Uninspected Towing Vessels, which of the following actions may NOT be taken?

    N a. Issuance of a letter of warning
    N b. Suspension of your license
    N c. Revocation of your license
    Y d. A fine placed against your license

3339: Pitching is angular motion of the vessel about what axis?

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

3456: The vertical movement of a vessel in the water is called __________.

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

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

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

4067: When steering a vessel, a good helmsman does NOT __________.

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

4152: Which of the following statement(s) is/are TRUE regarding lashing requirements to secure vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels?

    N a. It is imperative that the securing of cargo on flats and trailers and in containers be adequate for both road and sea motions.
    N b. The movements experienced by road borne cargo differ significantly from the roll and sway movements of a ship at sea.
    N c. It is necessary for adequate number and strength of securing points on the vehicles themselves in order that lashings may be properly and safely utilized.
    Y d. All the above

4171: While loading or discharging vehicles, which is the most important safety consideration aboard a Ro-Ro vessel?

    Y a. Preventing the asphyxiation of personnel below decks
    N b. Notifying the engine room prior to completing operations
    N c. Calling out the deck department for all hands periodically
    N d. Ensuring that a fuel barge cannot come alongside

4267: Which statement is TRUE concerning the tandem working arrangement of pedestal cranes when completing a quad lift?

    Y a. The discharge is slow due to the size of the cargo and all the cranes working together.
    N b. The cargo discharge can be accomplished with controlled pendulation.
    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.