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.


50: A vessel is entering port and has a Pilot conning the vessel. The Master is unsure that the Pilot is taking sufficient action to prevent a collision. What should the Master do?


58: Odorous cargoes are those that __________.


97: Chafing gear should be placed __________.


180: Your tank vessel is loading a hazardous cargo. The allowance for expansion is based on ambient temperatures of what maximum range?

    N a. 0°C to 100°C
    N b. -10°C to 90°C
    Y c. -18°C to 46°C
    N d. -40°C to 50°C

187: You are standing the wheel watch on entering port and the Master gives you a rudder command which conflicts with a rudder command from the Pilot. What should you do?

    N a. Ask the Pilot if he relinquishes control.
    N b. Obey the Pilot.
    Y c. Obey the Master.
    N d. Bring the rudder to a position midway between the two conflicting positions.

233: A vessel brought alongside should be fended off the towing vessel by __________.

    N a. crew members using their arms
    N b. a boat hook
    Y c. fenders
    N d. No fending is necessary due to the rugged construction of most towing vessels.

233: A vessel brought alongside should be fended off the towing vessel by __________.

    N a. crew members using their arms
    N b. a boat hook
    Y c. fenders
    N d. No fending is necessary due to the rugged construction of most towing vessels.

265: Which statement is TRUE about hooks and shackles?

    N a. Hooks are stronger than shackles of the same diameter.
    Y b. Shackles are stronger than hooks of the same diameter.
    N c. Hooks and shackles of the same diameter are of equal strength.
    N d. All the above may be true, depending on the hook's or shackle's overall length.

282: The owner, agent, Master or person-in-charge of a "T-Boat" involved in a marine casualty causing injury that requires professional medical treatment must __________.

    N a. immediately notify the nearest USCG MSO, MIO, or Group Office
    N b. keep all voyage records and make them available to Coast Guard investigators
    N c. file a written report (CG2692) of the casualty within five days
    Y d. All of the above

307: Which type of chemical testing is NOT required of merchant marine personnel?

    N a. Pre-employment
    N b. Periodic
    N c. Random
    Y d. Annual

309: When planning the loading or discharging of a VLCC (100,000 DWT+) what is the most important consideration?

    N a. Draft and trim
    Y b. Limits of the bending moments
    N c. Rate of discharging
    N d. Rate of loading

522: You are onboard a 120 GT uninspected sea going tug which carries one Master and one Mate of Towing Vessels and four (4) seamen when underway. How many of the four seamen must have a rating as able seamen if the voyage is under 600 miles?

    N a. 4
    N b. 3
    Y c. 2
    N d. 1

612: When backing down with sternway, the pivot point of a vessel is __________.

    N a. at the bow
    N b. about one-third of the vessel's length from the bow
    N c. aft of the propellers
    Y d. about one-quarter of the vessel's length from the stern

701: The Safety Equipment Certificate shows that the vessel conforms to the standards of the __________.

    N a. U.S. Coast Guard
    N b. American Bureau of Shipping
    N c. American Salvage Association
    Y d. S.O.L.A.S. Convention

705: A tug may be in danger of tripping when __________.

    N a. towed sideways by an overwhelming force on the towline
    N b. her tow moves parallel to and forward on either side of the tug
    N c. the tow is no longer directly astern but moves up on her quarter
    Y d. All of the above

710: Which statement is FALSE, concerning the Williamson turn?

    N a. In a large vessel (VLCC) much of the headway will be lost thereby requiring little astern maneuvering.
    N b. When the turn is completed, the vessel will be on a reciprocal course and nearly on the original track line.
    N c. The initial actions are taken at well defined points and reduce the need for individual judgment.
    Y d. The turn will return the vessel to the man's location in the shortest possible time.

771: What does a Visaed Alien Crew List which is made and submitted to the U.S. Consul for visa show?

    N a. All aliens aboard
    N b. All crew members
    Y c. Nonresident aliens aboard
    N d. Registered aliens aboard

784: Marline is __________.

    N a. four-stranded sisal line
    N b. three-stranded cotton line
    N c. sail twine
    Y d. two-stranded hemp cord

786: You are on a single-screw vessel with a right-handed propeller, and you are making headway. When you enter shallow water, __________.

    N a. you will have better rudder response
    N b. your speed will increase without a change in your throttle
    Y c. your rudder response will become sluggish
    N d. your vessel will tend to ride higher

787: While assigned to a 120 GRT vessel, you are required to sign "foreign" articles on a voyage from New York City to which port?

    N a. Halifax, Canada
    Y b. Long Beach, California
    N c. Veracruz, Mexico
    N d. Saint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles

797: A U.S. or foreign flag vessel that does not comply with the Officers Competency Certificates Convention of 1936 may be detained by certain designated officials. These officials include all of the following EXCEPT a/an ___________ .

    N a. Coast Guard officer
    N b. employee of the U.S. Customs Service
    N c. Coast Guard petty officer
    Y d. State Police officer

934: Which method is used to detect rot in manila lines?

    Y a. Opening the strands and examining the inner fibers
    N b. Measuring the reduction in circumference of the line
    N c. Observing for the appearance of mildew on the outer surface
    N d. Feeling the surface of the line for broken fibers

948: Twenty-five hundred (2500) tons of iron ore with a stowage factor of 17 is stowed in a cargo hold. The dimensions of the hold are 55 feet long and 45 feet wide and 35 feet high. What is the height of the center of gravity of the ore above the bottom of the hold?

    N a. 7.8 feet
    Y b. 8.6 feet
    N c. 17.1 feet
    N d. 34.6 feet

955: In which case is the IOPP Certificate of an inspected vessel NOT invalidated?

    Y a. The required oily-water separator malfunctions.
    N b. The ship is transferred to Liberian registry.
    N c. An annual survey is conducted fifteen months after the date of certificate issuance.
    N d. A 15 ppm oily-water separator is replaced by a 100 ppm oily-water separator.

955: In which case is the IOPP Certificate of an inspected vessel NOT invalidated?

    Y a. The required oily-water separator malfunctions.
    N b. The ship is transferred to Liberian registry.
    N c. An annual survey is conducted fifteen months after the date of certificate issuance.
    N d. A 15 ppm oily-water separator is replaced by a 100 ppm oily-water separator.

960: Gross tonnage indicates the vessel's __________.

    N a. displacement in metric tons
    N b. total weight including cargo
    Y c. volume in cubic feet
    N d. draft in feet

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

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

1026: When making way in heavy seas you notice that your vessel's screw is being lifted clear of the water and racing. One way to correct this would be to __________.

    N a. increase speed
    Y b. decrease speed
    N c. move more weight forward
    N d. shift the rudder back and forth several times

1064: Which factor is most likely to impair the strength and durability of synthetic line?

    N a. Dry rot
    N b. Mildew
    Y c. Sunlight
    N d. Washing with mild soap

1068: You shall notify the nearest Coast Guard Marine Inspection Office as soon as possible when your vessel has been damaged in excess of __________.

    N a. $1,000
    N b. $1,500
    N c. $10,000
    Y d. $25,000

1090: A chock __________.

    N a. is a deck fitting used to shackle gear to the deck
    N b. permits easy jettisoning of deck cargo in an emergency
    N c. prevents stress concentration in the bulwark
    Y d. provides openings through the bulwark for mooring lines

1133: To properly rig the downhaul to your stage for lowering, you must __________.

    N a. take only figure eights around the horns
    Y b. take 2 or 3 round turns around the stage and then belay the downhaul around the horns
    N c. take 2 round turns around the stage and then dip the third turn to form a clove hitch
    N d. pass the downhaul through the bridle formed by the standing part and then take round turns

1149: You are on anchor watch. As an aid to preventing thievery on the vessel you should __________.

    N a. show running lights, anchor lights and deck lights
    N b. only show the required anchor lights and keep the rest of the vessel darkened
    N c. maintain water on deck with firehoses led out and all-purpose nozzles attached
    Y d. show anchor lights, deck lights and cargo lights hung over the vessel's side

1300: Tonnage openings must be closed by means of __________.

    N a. press board
    N b. steel hatch boards
    Y c. steel plates
    N d. wooden hatch boards

1320: A cofferdam is __________.

    N a. any deck below the main deck and above the lowest deck
    N b. a member that gives fore-and-aft strength
    Y c. made by placing two bulkheads a few feet apart
    N d. a heavy fore-and-aft beam under the deck

1356: If your vessel is dragging her anchor in a strong wind, you should __________.

    N a. shorten the scope of anchor cable
    Y b. increase the scope of anchor cable
    N c. put over the sea anchor
    N d. put over a stern anchor

1465: The maneuver which will return your vessel in the shortest time to a person who has fallen overboard is __________.

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

1648: When steaming through an anchorage, a shipmaster should __________.

    N a. avoid crossing close astern of the anchored ships
    Y b. avoid crossing close ahead of the anchored ships
    N c. keep the ship moving at a good speed to reduce set
    N d. transit only on a flood tide

1665: Which picture in illustration DO30DG represents a sailmaker's whipping? (DO30DG )

    N a. E
    N b. F
    N c. J
    Y d. K

1857: The knot lettered T in illustration DO30DG is a __________. (DO30DG )

    N a. round turn and two half hitches
    Y b. French bowline
    N c. carrick bend
    N d. stopper hitch

2121: Which statement concerning the lashings of containers with solid bar or wire rope lashings is TRUE?

    Y a. Stack weights should be less when using a solid bar lashing as compared to a wire lashing.
    N b. Stack heights may be increased when using a solid bar lashing.
    N c. Stack heights should be reduced when using a solid bar lashing.
    N d. Solid bars should be used for lashing the first tier only, with wire lashings on the higher tier(s).

2154: A vessel has a charter party for one voyage to carry a full load of manganese from Durban, South Africa, to Baltimore, Maryland, at a stipulated rate per ton. Which type of contract is involved?

    N a. Bareboat charter party
    Y b. Voyage charter party
    N c. Demise charter party
    N d. Time charter party

2246: Cargoes that might leak from containers are known as __________.

    N a. dirty cargoes
    N b. caustic cargoes
    Y c. wet cargoes
    N d. bulk cargoes

2263: You are using tackle number 1 in illustration DO29DG to lift a weight of 100 lbs. If you include 10 percent of the weight for each sheave for friction, what is the pull on the hauling part required to lift the weight? (DO29DG )

    N a. 50 lbs.
    N b. 55 lbs.
    N c. 100 lbs.
    Y d. 110 lbs.

2267: The knot lettered K in illustration DO30DG is a __________. (DO30DG )

    Y a. sailmaker's whipping
    N b. carrick bend
    N c. barrel hitch
    N d. stopper

2289: A seaman you have just discharged has a Continuous Discharge Book. Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. The record of entry in the continuous discharge book shall agree with the entry made in the Ship's Articles.
    N b. If the vessel was on coastwise articles, the record of discharge will be made in the Official Logbook.
    N c. An entry should be made in the book and a Certificate of Discharge issued to the seaman.
    N d. A Certificate of Discharge form should be attached to the book.

2469: While cranking out a quadrantal davit, slippage of the quadrant due to excessive wear or failure of the teeth in the quadrant will cause the __________.

    Y a. davit arm to pivot on the traveling nut and the head to fall outboard
    N b. traveling nut to lock up in place on the worm gear
    N c. limit switch to engage and hold the traveling nut in position
    N d. winch brake to lock in position and prevent lowering the boat

2604: The joint formed when two steel plates are placed end-to-end is called a __________.

    N a. bevel
    N b. seam
    Y c. butt
    N d. bond

2872: The Sheer Plan __________.

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

3173: In a national emergency, when communicating via the Navy, messages are sent by precedence. A message designated FLASH will be delivered within __________.

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

3300: You are heading into the sea during rough weather. Having too much weight forward can cause your small boat to __________.

    N a. broach
    Y b. plunge into the wave
    N c. rise rapidly over the wave
    N d. list

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

3381: A half-height container is used __________.

    N a. to carry cargoes of low density
    N b. when stowage space is limited
    Y c. to carry cargoes such as steel products or drums
    N d. to double the stowage capacity of the vessel

3464: The ultimate or maximum strength of a wire rope is referred to as the __________.

    N a. operating strength
    N b. working load
    Y c. breaking strength
    N d. lifting load

3680: What is the penalty for willfully damaging cargo?

    Y a. Forfeiture of wages equal to the value of the damage and, if ordered by the court, imprisonment for not more than 12 months
    N b. Fine equal to the value of the damage plus a 1000 dollar penalty and/or imprisonment not to exceed 2 years
    N c. Fine not to exceed the value of the damage and/or imprisonment not to exceed 18 months
    N d. Revocation of Merchant Mariner's Document (and license if applicable), fine equal to the value of the damage or imprisonment for not more than 2 years

4066: What is the MOST irritating to the skin?

    N a. Carbon disulfide
    N b. Ethyl alcohol
    N c. Isoprene
    Y d. Oleum

4188: The most important safety consideration during loading or discharge aboard a Ro-Ro vessel is __________.

    N a. having all crewmembers and longshoremen wear hard hats
    Y b. the thorough ventilation of all cargo spaces
    N c. ensuring that visitors cannot come aboard
    N d. having the outboard anchor down

4210: Pedestal cranes have limit switches to restrict the movement of which function?

    N a. Luff rate limits
    Y b. Slew travel limits
    N c. Swivel power limits
    N d. Slew rate limits

4212: What is another name for the boom of a crane?

    N a. Lift
    N b. Rider
    Y c. Jib
    N d. All of the above

4232: The 30 ton capacity pedestal cranes shown in the illustration can lift a maximum weight of how many tons in the twin mode? (D049DG )

    N a. 15 tons
    N b. 30 tons
    Y c. 60 tons
    N d. 120 tons