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.


145: Which statement concerning an accidental oil spill in the navigable waters of the U.S. is TRUE?


295: The preferred type of pollution control for oil spills on the water is(are) __________.


414: A vessel in distress should send by radio telephone the two tone alarm signal followed immediately by the __________.


641: You are on a supply run to an offshore drilling rig. On board is the cargo listed. What is the height above the main deck of the center of gravity of the cargo? ST-0015

    N a. 1.76 feet
    Y b. 1.97 feet
    N c. 2.21 feet
    N d. 2.32 feet

670: Which action will affect the trim of a vessel?

    N a. Moving high weights lower
    N b. Adding weight at the tipping center
    Y c. Moving a weight forward
    N d. All of the above

719: A fire hose has a __________.

    N a. male coupling at both ends
    N b. female coupling at both ends
    N c. female coupling at the nozzle end and a male coupling at the hydrant end
    Y d. male coupling at the nozzle end and a female coupling at the hydrant end

976: Inflatable liferafts carried on passenger vessels must be annually __________.

    N a. overhauled by the ship's crew
    N b. sent to the Coast Guard for servicing
    N c. sent to the steamship company shore repair facility
    Y d. sent to a Coast Guard approved service facility

1173: On small passenger vessels all connections to electrical conductors MUST be __________.

    Y a. made within enclosures
    N b. served and parceled with the lay, turned and wormed the other way
    N c. installed only by a licensed marine electrician
    N d. inspected annually by the Coast Guard

1194: Which operation should be done when launching an inflatable liferaft by hand?

    N a. Open the liferaft casing.
    N b. Turn the valve on the CO2 cylinder to start inflation.
    Y c. Make sure the operating cord is secured to the vessel before throwing it over the side.
    N d. After inflation, detach operating cord from liferaft.

1230: The purpose of the tricing pendants is to __________.

    N a. control the fore and aft motion of a lifeboat during lowering
    N b. control the outboard swing of a lifeboat during lowering
    N c. provide suspensions for the manropes
    Y d. hold a lifeboat next to the embarkation deck while loading

1273: In launching a covered lifeboat, what would safely lower the lifeboat from inside the lifeboat cabin?

    N a. Frapping line
    N b. Tricing line
    N c. Rottmer release
    Y d. Winch remote control wire

1273: In launching a covered lifeboat, what would safely lower the lifeboat from inside the lifeboat cabin?

    N a. Frapping line
    N b. Tricing line
    N c. Rottmer release
    Y d. Winch remote control wire

1290: Which davit type may be operated by one man?

    N a. Quadrantal
    Y b. Gravity
    N c. Sheath-screw
    N d. Radial

1379: Which statement about inert gas pressures in a cargo tank is TRUE?

    N a. The pressures of the inert gas in the tank may create excessive pressure at the pump while discharging.
    Y b. Gas pressures should be maintained at the highest permissible level throughout the discharging process.
    N c. High gas pressures may cause pyrophoric oxidation in the tank.
    N d. High gas pressures may cause loss of suction when stripping.

1457: When choosing extinguishers to fight a Class "B" fire do NOT use __________.

    N a. carbon dioxide
    N b. dry chemical
    N c. foam (stored-pressure type)
    Y d. water (cartridge-operated)

1467: Your vessel has a forward draft of 26'-11" and an after draft of 29'-07". How many tons of cargo can be loaded before the vessel reaches a mean draft of 28'-06" if the TPI is 69?

    N a. 204 tons
    Y b. 207 tons
    N c. 210 tons
    N d. 213 tons

1472: You are reading the draft marks in illustration D032DG. The water level forward is 4 inches below the 11, and the water level aft is 2 inches below the top of the 11. What is the mean draft? (D032DG )

    N a. 11'-08"
    N b. 11'-06"
    N c. 11'-04"
    Y d. 11'-00"

1678: Your vessel is 79 feet long with 20 people aboard. The coaming of a deck above the lowest weather deck (except an exposed forecastle deck) must be at least __________.

    N a. 6" high
    N b. 12" high
    N c. 24" high
    Y d. Not required

1722: Where are remote readouts for oxygen concentration, pressure, and temperature of an inert gas system required to be located?

    N a. Bridge and engine control consoles
    N b. Bridge and tank(s) being inerted
    N c. Main deck and engine control consoles
    Y d. Cargo control and engine control consoles

1729: The purpose of the deck seal in an inert gas system is to prevent __________.

    Y a. flammable vapors from entering machinery space
    N b. flue gas escaping to atmosphere
    N c. inert gas escaping to atmosphere
    N d. air entering inert gas system

1874: Automatic fire dampers in ventilation systems are operated by use of a __________.

    N a. remote operated valve
    N b. C02 system pressure switch
    Y c. fusible link
    N d. heat or smoke detector

1888: The liquid mud tanks on your vessel measure 18'L by 10'B by 6'D. The vessel's displacement is 944 T and the specific gravity of the mud is 1.9. What is the reduction in GM due to 2 of the tanks being slack?

    N a. .08 foot
    Y b. .16 foot
    N c. .45 foot
    N d. .90 foot

1923: Except as provided by approved special examinations, each offshore drilling unit must be dry-docked at least once during every __________.

    N a. 12 month period
    N b. 18 month period
    Y c. 24 month period
    N d. 36 month period

1933: The Sailing Plan, required by vessels participating in AMVER, must be sent __________.

    N a. within 12 hours of departure
    N b. within 24 hours of departure
    Y c. within a few hours before or after departure
    N d. prior to departure

2112: You are sailing the navigable waters of the United States. You must have a currently corrected copy (or extract) of the __________.

    N a. List of Lights
    Y b. Tide Tables
    N c. Sailing Directions
    N d. H.O. 249 Sight Reduction Tables

2270: When a vessel is inclined at a small angle the center of buoyancy will __________.

    N a. remain stationary
    Y b. move toward the low side
    N c. move toward the high side
    N d. move to the height of the metacenter

2280: A vessel displaces 140,000 cubic feet of saltwater in a light condition. After loading 7500 tons of cargo and 200 tons of fuel, water and stores, she is "full and down". The vessel's light displacement is __________.

    N a. 3000 tons
    N b. 3500 tons
    Y c. 4000 tons
    N d. 4500 tons

2318: A vessel's drafts are FWD 19'-02", AFT 23'-10". Use the information in Section 1, the blue pages, of the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the final drafts if 98 tons of fuel is pumped 116 feet forward.

    N a. FWD 19'-04", AFT 23'-06"
    Y b. FWD 19'-07", AFT 23'-04"
    N c. FWD 19'-09", AFT 23'-01"
    N d. FWD 19'-09", AFT 23'-06"

2446: If a GMDSS radio operator initiates a DSC distress transmission but does not insert a message, what happens?

    N a. The transmission is aborted and an alarm sounds to indicate this data must be provided by the operator.
    N b. The transmission is not initiated and "ERROR" is indicated on the display readout.
    Y c. The transmission will be made with "default" information provided automatically.
    N d. The receiving station will poll the DSC unit of the vessel in distress to download the necessary information

2548: According to regulations, which grade(s) of cargo may be carried in tanks that are vented only with gooseneck vents and flame screens?

    N a. B only
    N b. B or C
    N c. C or D
    Y d. D or E

2576: When the GMDSS Radio Operator on watch hears "SECURITE" spoken three times he can expect to receive a message concerning __________.

    Y a. the safety of navigation or important meteorological warnings
    N b. the safety of a vessel or a person is in jeopardy
    N c. a vessel in need of immediate assistance
    N d. a coast station traffic list

2821: A vessel heading SE is on a course of __________.

    N a. 112.5°
    Y b. 135.0°
    N c. 157.5°
    N d. 180.0°

2883: Life jackets should be stowed in __________.

    N a. survival craft
    N b. messrooms
    Y c. readily accessible locations
    N d. locked watertight containers

2992: A 98 GT uninspected towing vessel with a 1500 B.H.P. engine capability would be required to carry how many type B-II hand portable fire extinguishers on board? (Uninspected Vessel Regulations)

    N a. 2
    Y b. 4
    N c. 6
    N d. 8

3102: Which type of fixed fire-extinguishing system is approved for use on board uninspected vessels? (Uninspected Vessel Regulations)

    Y a. Carbon dioxide
    N b. Steam smothering
    N c. Chemical foam
    N d. All of the above

3135: While the DEEP DRILLER is operating loaded as shown in Sample Load Form #4 (Drilling), casing is accidentally dropped over the port side. If the port forward inclination is slowly increasing, which tank is probably damaged?

    Y a. 1P
    N b. 2P
    N c. 1S
    N d. 3P

3284: Unless the COI is endorsed for adults only, there shall be provided a number of approved life jackets suitable for children equal to at least __________. (small passenger vessel regulations)

    N a. 20% of the passengers carried
    Y b. 10% of the total number of persons carried
    N c. 10% of the passengers carried
    N d. 20% of the total number of persons carried

3414: A rigid lifesaving device designed to support survivors in the water is a __________.

    N a. rigid liferaft
    Y b. life float
    N c. inflatable liferaft
    N d. survival capsule

3554: You are underway in mid-ocean, when you hear a distress message over the VHF radio. The position of the sender is 20 miles away. What action should you take?

    Y a. Immediately acknowledge receipt of the distress message.
    N b. Defer acknowledgment for a short interval so that a coast station may acknowledge receipt.
    N c. Do not acknowledge receipt until other ships nearer to the distress have acknowledged.
    N d. Do not acknowledge because you are too far away to take action.

3760: Symptoms of sea sickness include __________.

    N a. fever and thirst
    Y b. nausea and dizziness
    N c. stomach cramps and diarrhea
    N d. reddening of skin and hives

3946: Fusible-link fire dampers are operated by __________.

    N a. a mechanical arm outside the vent duct
    Y b. the heat of a fire melting the link
    N c. electrical controls on the bridge
    N d. a break-glass and pull-cable system

4157: The DEEP DRILLER is loaded as shown in the Sample Load Form #3 (Preparing to Drill). If the liquid mud in mud pit #4 (see table 8) is dumped, what would be the new height of the center of gravity corrected for longitudinal free surface effects?

    N a. 50.29 feet
    Y b. 53.55 feet
    N c. 53.92 feet
    N d. 54.24 feet

4275: The independent-leg drilling unit is the best jack-up rig selection for drilling at locations with __________.

    N a. soft even bottoms
    Y b. firm uneven bottoms
    N c. deep water
    N d. shallow water

4475: While the COASTAL DRILLER is elevated, the out-of-level alarm indicates that hull inclination exceeds 0.3°. What should you do?

    N a. Raise the high corner.
    N b. Raise the low corner.
    N c. Raise unit to proper air gap and inspect for damage.
    Y d. Confirm operation of out-of-level alarm.

4625: The order to abandon a MODU should only be given by the __________.

    Y a. Offshore Installation Manager
    N b. Barge Engineer
    N c. Ballast Control Operator
    N d. Rig Safety Supervisor

4753: Because there is a possibility of fuel oil being discharged overboard from a full fuel oil tank, it is decided to transfer 25 kips from tank #14 to tank #13. See COASTAL DRILLER Sample Load Form #1 (Rig Move). What would be the change in transverse moments with this transfer?

    N a. 56 ft-kips
    N b. 979 ft-kips
    N c. 1035 ft-kips
    Y d. 2010 ft-kips

4815: What is the maximum amount of variables that may be taken aboard the COASTAL DRILLER while loaded as shown in the Sample Load Form #3 (drilling)?

    N a. 1000 kips
    N b. 681 kips
    N c. 89 kips
    Y d. 0 kips

5038: The SS AMERICAN MARINER has drafts of: FWD 22'-03", AFT 25'-05". Use the white pages of the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the drafts if you ballast the forepeak with 97 tons of seawater.

    N a. FWD 22'-10.7", AFT 25'-00.9"
    N b. FWD 22'-11.3", AFT 25'-00.3"
    N c. FWD 22'-11.9", AFT 24'-11.7"
    Y d. FWD 23'-00.5", AFT 24'-11.1"

5408: One of the first actions to be taken by survivors when they have boarded an inflatable liferaft is to __________.

    N a. stream the sea anchor
    Y b. take an anti-seasickness pill
    N c. open the pressure relief valve
    N d. drink at least one can of water

5591: The major cause of anchor buoy pendant wire failures is __________.

    N a. corrosion
    Y b. rough weather
    N c. defective sockets
    N d. mishandling

5598: Fire dampers prevent the spread of fire by __________.

    N a. direct contact
    N b. radiation
    Y c. convection
    N d. conduction

5601: Your semisubmersible drilling unit is moving onto a location in shallow water with a very hard bottom. What is the most effective means of maintaining your position at this location during severe weather?

    N a. Running out all the anchor chain available
    Y b. Piggyback all anchors and pretension to above the expected tensions
    N c. Install fluke angle blocks on all your LWT anchors
    N d. Remove fluke angle blocks on all your LWT anchors

5673: The DEEP DRILLER may remain at operating draft instead of deballasting to survival draft when __________.

    N a. critical motion limits have been exceeded
    N b. waves approach within two feet of the spider deck
    Y c. the maximum wave height is less than 64 feet
    N d. winds are greater than 70 knots

5677: The DEEP DRILLER may remain at operating draft instead of deballasting to survival draft when __________.

    Y a. critical motion limits have not been exceeded
    N b. waves approach within two feet of the spider deck
    N c. the maximum wave height is greater than 64 feet
    N d. winds are greater than 70 knots

5767: A shepherd's crook is used to __________.

    N a. lower spring buoys into the water
    Y b. find an anchor after the buoy has been lost
    N c. transfer a pennant wire to the anchor handling boat
    N d. clean chain as it is hauled into the rig

7401: In evacuation from a MODU, an individual without the option of a survival craft or liferaft should enter the water on the leeward side, except when __________.

    N a. there is a rescue craft in the area
    N b. water temperature is below 40°F
    Y c. there is a severe list to the windward side of the MODU
    N d. a rigid survival craft is in the area

8383: What does a pyrometer measure on a diesel engine?

    N a. Water temperature
    N b. Water pressure
    Y c. Exhaust temperature
    N d. Air box pressure

8887: In observing rig motion while under tow, the period of roll is the time difference between __________.

    N a. zero inclination to full inclination on one side
    N b. full inclination on one side to full inclination on the other side
    Y c. full inclination on one side to the next full inclination on the same side
    N d. zero inclination to the next zero inclination

9375: After extinguishing a paint locker fire using the fixed CO2 system, the next action is to have the space __________.

    N a. opened and burned material removed
    Y b. left closed with vents off until all boundaries are cool
    N c. checked for oxygen content
    N d. doused with water to prevent reflash

9517: Aboard a vessel, dividing the sum of the transverse moments by the total weight yields the vessel's __________.

    N a. vertical moments
    Y b. transverse position of the center of gravity
    N c. inclining moments
    N d. righting moments