USCG Safety: 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.


66: The galley on your cargo vessel has an area of 2,900 square feet. What will fulfill the requirements for fire protection?


110: A vertical shift of weight to a position above the vessel's center of gravity will __________.


112: Your small vessel is broken down and rolling in heavy seas. You can reduce the possibility of capsizing by __________.


126: Which portable fire extinguisher is classified as a type B-III extinguisher?

    N a. 12 gallon soda acid
    N b. 20 gallon foam
    N c. 30 pound carbon dioxide
    Y d. 20 pound dry chemical

254: If you wanted to ask a nearby vessel if he had a doctor on board, you would hoist the flag signal __________.

    Y a. AM
    N b. AL
    N c. AN 1
    N d. MA

348: A man has suffered a burn on the arm. There is a reddening of the skin but no other apparent damage. Using standard MEDICAL terminology, this is a __________.

    N a. Minor burn
    N b. Superficial burn
    N c. Extremity burn
    Y d. First-degree burn

607: The "Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act" applies to which towboat?

    N a. A 100 GT towboat, 24 feet in length
    N b. A 90-foot towboat tied to the pier
    Y c. A 60-foot towboat pushing ahead
    N d. A 400 GT towboat anchored

928: A fire in the radio transmitter would be of what class?

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

987: Which extinguishing agent will cool down a heated bulkhead in the least amount of time?

    N a. Water stream
    Y b. Water fog or spray
    N c. Steam
    N d. Dry chemical

1014: Which signal would be used by a shore rescue unit to indicate "Landing here highly dangerous"?

    N a. The firing of a white star signal
    Y b. Horizontal motion with a white flag
    N c. Vertical motion of a white light
    N d. Code letter "K" by blinker light

1056: U.S.C.G. approved buoyant work vests are considered to be items of safety equipment and may be worn by members of the crew __________.

    N a. in lieu of life preservers during fire drills
    N b. in lieu of life preservers during boat drills
    N c. in lieu of life preservers during an actual emergency
    Y d. when carrying out duties near a weather deck's edge

1222: After each reading of an oxygen indicator, the instrument should be purged with __________.

    N a. CO2
    Y b. fresh air
    N c. the tested compartment's air
    N d. water

1300: Blocks and falls used as lifeboat gear must be designed with a minimum safety factor of __________.

    N a. 4, based on the breaking strength
    N b. 5, based on the maximum allowable stress
    Y c. 6, based on the maximum working load
    N d. 8, based on the normal working load

1581: When using the oxygen indicator, which reaction from the needle should you expect as a sample is drawn into the instrument?

    N a. Rise to the correct reading and then, slowly fall to zero as the oxygen in the sample is consumed
    Y b. Move back and forth and finally stabilize at the correct reading after about 10 seconds
    N c. Rise to the correct reading immediately and then rise slowly to a false reading as the operating temperature increases
    N d. Slowly rise to the correct reading and then remain stationary

1637: Which is a disadvantage of Halon as a fire extinguishing medium?

    N a. Conducts electricity
    N b. Difficult to store
    N c. Large volume necessary to be effective
    Y d. Ineffective in powdered metal fires

1777: The transfer procedures required to be followed on tankships shall contain __________.

    N a. a list of each port of discharge
    Y b. a line diagram of the vessel's transfer piping
    N c. a current crew list
    N d. the duties by name of each person in charge required for each transfer operation

1859: The parts of the sail shown are correctly labeled EXCEPT the __________. (D003SL )

    N a. head
    N b. leach
    Y c. luff
    N d. tack

1984: You have 550 tons of below deck tonnage including liquid mud. Your existing deck cargo is 120 tons with a VCG above the deck of 2.6 feet. What is the maximum additional deck cargo tonnage you are permitted to load? (See illustration D036DG, stability letter for M.V. Hudson) (D036DG )

    N a. 20 tons
    N b. 60 tons
    Y c. 120 tons
    N d. 240 tons

2146: Aboard damaged vessels, the MOST important consideration is preserving __________.

    N a. bilge pumping capacity
    Y b. reserve buoyancy
    N c. level attitude
    N d. instability

2395: A negative metacentric height __________.

    Y a. should always be immediately corrected
    N b. will always cause a vessel to capsize
    N c. always results from off-center weights
    N d. All of the above are correct

2499: What is an example of a grade B flammable liquid?

    N a. Allyl alcohol
    N b. Phenol
    N c. Acetaldehyde
    Y d. Carbon disulfide

2616: According to the Chemical Data Guide, the flash point for motor gasoline is __________.

    Y a. -40°F
    N b. 100°C
    N c. 199°C
    N d. 495°F

2643: Stanchions prevent the entire deck load on a MODU from being carried by the __________.

    N a. bulkheads
    N b. stringers
    Y c. frames and beam brackets
    N d. deck longitudinals

2680: You are loading benzyl chloride and a small quantity spills on deck. According to the Chemical Data Guide, which of the following may be used as a substitute for water for the cleanup procedure?

    N a. Alcohol
    N b. Sodium bisulfite
    Y c. Sodium carbonate
    N d. Soda ash solution

2715: The certificate of inspection of a MODU will specify the __________.

    Y a. number of licensed personnel required on board
    N b. maximum load line draft
    N c. maximum water depth for drilling
    N d. next date for an inclining experiment

2775: The SS AMERICAN MARINER arrived in port with drafts of: FWD 28'-08", AFT 29'-05'. Cargo was loaded and discharged as indicated. Use sheet 2 in the white pages of the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the final drafts. ST-0081

    N a. FWD 28'-11", AFT 28'-11"
    N b. FWD 29'-01", AFT 28'-09"
    N c. FWD 29'-03", AFT 28'-07"
    Y d. FWD 29'-05", AFT 28'-05"

2815: A vessel heading WNW is on a course of __________.

    N a. 270.0°
    Y b. 292.5°
    N c. 315.0°
    N d. 337.5°

2955: For a floating MODU, the center of buoyancy and the metacenter are in the line of action of the buoyant force __________.

    N a. only when there is positive stability
    N b. only when there is negative stability
    N c. only when there is neutral stability
    Y d. at all times

2982: The SS AMERICAN MARINER is ready to bunker with drafts of FWD 11'-01", AFT 15'-01". After all bunkers are on board, soundings indicate the tonnages shown. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the free surface correction. ST-0091

    N a. 1.20 feet
    N b. 0.92 foot
    Y c. 0.73 foot
    N d. 0.61 foot

3015: An inclined semisubmersible with a very short rolling period about a constant angle of list is likely to have __________.

    Y a. an off-center TCG
    N b. an LCG greater than level vessel LCB
    N c. a negative GM
    N d. excessive free surfaces

3067: The canopy of your liferaft should __________.

    Y a. go into place as your liferaft is inflated
    N b. be put up after everyone is aboard
    N c. be put up only in severe weather
    N d. be used as a sail if the wind is blowing

3112: An 85 foot uninspected towing vessel with a crew of ten (10) persons on board must carry at LEAST __________. (Uninspected Vessel Regulations)

    N a. 10 approved ring life buoys and 10 approved life preservers
    N b. 10 approved work vests
    Y c. 10 approved life jackets and 1 approved ring life buoy
    N d. 11 approved life preservers

3115: For a MODU with transverse inclination, an increase in GMT causes __________.

    N a. list to stabilize at an angle of loll
    Y b. list to decrease
    N c. trim to decrease
    N d. list to increase

3131: Damage stability of a MODU is the stability __________.

    N a. which exists when the wind speed is less than 50 knots
    N b. before collision
    Y c. after flooding
    N d. at survival draft

3143: The instructions for rescue boats and liferafts on an OSV must be approved by the __________.

    N a. lease operator
    N b. Minerals Management Service
    Y c. Coast Guard
    N d. person-in-charge of the unit

3209: In the illustration shown, the floating sheath knife is indicated as item number __________. (D014SA )

    Y a. 2
    N b. 8
    N c. 13
    N d. 16

3258: Assuming that the recommended hatch loading sequence is followed, how many long tons of iron ore may be loaded through hatch No. 20 while using a single belt loader to arrive at a desired mean keel draft of 24'-10"? (Use the Guidance Manual for Loading M.V. GRAND HAVEN.)

    N a. 1540 tons
    N b. 1590 tons
    Y c. 1645 tons
    N d. 1670 tons

3470: According to the regulations for lifeboat falls, which action must be taken with the falls no later than 5-year intervals?

    N a. Proof tested
    N b. End-for-ended
    Y c. Renewed
    N d. Weight tested

3670: On a passenger vessel with stateroom accommodations, which space would NOT be required to be checked by the patrol between 10 pm and 6 am?

    N a. galley
    N b. public spaces with an automatic fire detection system
    Y c. pilothouse
    N d. weather decks

3695: In storm conditions, when the environmental conditions are such that the DEEP DRILLER has disconnected the marine riser, the two leeward mooring lines should be __________.

    N a. tightened
    N b. slacked slightly
    Y c. completely slacked
    N d. adjusted to give the same line tensions as the windward lines

3730: The symptoms of heat exhaustion are __________.

    N a. slow and strong pulse
    N b. flushed and dry skin
    N c. slow and deep breathing
    Y d. pale and clammy skin

3922: You have abandoned ship and are in an inflatable raft that has just inflated. You hear a continuous hissing coming from a fitting in a buoyancy tube. What is the cause of this?

    N a. The saltwater is activating the batteries of the marker lights on the canopy.
    N b. The inflation pump is in automatic operation to keep the tubes fully inflated.
    N c. A deflation plug is partially open allowing the escape of CO2.
    Y d. Excess inflation pressure is bleeding off and should soon stop.

3986: A fire is discovered in the bow of your vessel while making way. The wind is from ahead at 35 knots. You should __________.

    N a. remain on course and hold speed
    N b. remain on course but slack the speed
    N c. change course to put the wind on either beam and increase speed
    Y d. change course and put the stern to the wind

4170: The color of the signal flares sent up by a submarine surfacing from periscope depth is __________.

    N a. yellow
    N b. red
    N c. green
    Y d. white

4331: On the COASTAL DRILLER, a noticeable increase in the level indicator while extracting the legs from the soil indicates __________.

    N a. the legs are free
    Y b. one or two legs are stuck
    N c. a punch-through is occurring
    N d. the legs are being extracted through a punch-through soil layer

4537: What is the weight in long tons of 180 barrels of 15 pound per gallon drilling mud?

    N a. 522.67 long tons
    Y b. 50.63 long tons
    N c. 34.84 long tons
    N d. 3.38 long tons

4573: The total leg load reactions on an independent leg, self-elevating unit include static and __________.

    Y a. environmental loading
    N b. variable loading
    N c. fixed loading
    N d. basic loading

4785: What should you do with your emergency position indicating radio beacon if you are in a liferaft in a storm?

    Y a. Bring it inside the liferaft and leave it on.
    N b. Bring it inside the liferaft and turn it off until the storm passes.
    N c. Leave it outside the liferaft and leave it on.
    N d. Leave it outside the liferaft but turn it off.

5085: A mobile offshore drilling unit must display obstruction lights when it is on the waters over the Outer Continental Shelf and is __________.

    N a. under tow
    Y b. fixed to the seabed
    N c. underway
    N d. All of the above

6397: A well kick while drilling from a MODU will cause __________.

    Y a. increased fluid level in the mud pits
    N b. decreased fluid level in the mud pits
    N c. increased cuttings on the shale shaker
    N d. decreased cuttings on the shale shaker

6507: Especially in adverse weather, risk of collision with an offshore supply vessel increases when the vessel is moored to what side of the unit?

    Y a. Upwind
    N b. Downwind
    N c. Crosswind
    N d. Downcurrent

7307: All VHF marine band radios operate in the simplex mode, which means that __________.

    Y a. only one person may talk at a time
    N b. only two persons may talk at the same time
    N c. the radio only transmits
    N d. the radio only receives

7371: The condition where a MODU on the end of a tow line is riding a wave crest at the same time as its tug rides a wave crest is known as riding in __________.

    N a. synchronism
    N b. harmony
    N c. check
    Y d. step

8303: On a MODU, if there is a probability of encountering H2S during the drilling of a well, air movers (bug blowers) should be installed to dilute concentration of H2S at the __________.

    N a. pipe rack
    N b. crown block
    Y c. shale shaker
    N d. All of the above

8307: The sense of smell cannot be depended upon to detect H2S because __________.

    N a. it has a smell similar to petroleum products
    N b. hydrogen sulfide gas is odorless
    Y c. the sense of smell is deadened by the gas
    N d. it is better to rely on eye irritation as a detector

8421: If an engine shuts down due to high jacket water temperature, what action should be taken?

    N a. Open crankcase explosion covers
    Y b. Allow engine to cool gradually
    N c. Slowly add cool water to the expansion tank
    N d. Back flush the cooling water system

8605: On offshore drilling units, the lifeboat motors shall be operated in the ahead and astern position at least once each __________.

    N a. day
    Y b. week
    N c. month
    N d. year

8761: The full period of motion of the DEEP DRILLER while tripping is 7 seconds and the maximum pitch angle as seen on the inclinometers is 4°. From the standpoint of critical motion, the motion is __________.

    N a. unsatisfactory, place setback in the pipe racks
    N b. satisfactory, continue tripping
    Y c. unsatisfactory, deballast to survival draft
    N d. satisfactory, but prepare to hang off

9365: When flammable liquids are handled in a compartment on a vessel, the ventilation for that area should be __________.

    Y a. operated continuously while vapors may be present
    N b. operated intermittently to remove vapors
    N c. available on standby for immediate use
    N d. shut down if an explosive mixture is present

9397: CATEGORY I EPIRB's transmit on frequencies that are monitored by __________.

    Y a. orbiting satellites in space
    N b. commercial radio stations
    N c. private, commercial, and military aircraft
    N d. Both A & C