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.


35: Which statement is TRUE of a gasoline spill?


128: A seaman has a small, gaping laceration of the arm that is not bleeding excessively. What can be done as an alternative to suturing to close the wound?


232: You are tending the lifeline of a person who has entered a compartment wearing a breathing apparatus. How many tugs of the lifeline mean "Are you all right"?


285: The use of sinking and dispersing chemical agents for removal of surface oil is __________.

    N a. the most common method used in the United States
    N b. too expensive for common use
    N c. generally safe to sea life
    Y d. authorized only with prior approval of the Federal On-Scene Coordinator

552: When water pressure of 100 psi is used in conjunction with an inline proportioner for the production of the mechanical foam, a 5-gallon can of liquid foam will last __________.

    Y a. 1-1/2 minutes
    N b. 2-1/2 minutes
    N c. 5 minutes
    N d. 15 minutes

563: Which item is of the most use in getting a lifeboat away from a moving ship?

    N a. The falls
    Y b. Boat hook
    N c. Boat painter
    N d. Sea painter

692: Why should foam be banked off a bulkhead when extinguishing an oil fire?

    N a. To coat the surrounding bulkheads with foam in case the fire spreads
    N b. To cool the bulkhead closest to the fire
    N c. To prevent any oil on the bulkheads from igniting
    Y d. To prevent agitation of the oil and spreading the fire

971: When should you first have any food or water after boarding a lifeboat or liferaft?

    N a. After 12 hours
    Y b. After 24 hours
    N c. Within 48 hours
    N d. Some food and water should be consumed immediately and then not until 48 hours later

1040: General requirements for a vessel's radiotelephone station log are that __________.

    N a. logs must be kept in an orderly manner
    N b. erasures are not allowed
    N c. it must identify the vessel's name and official number
    Y d. All of the above

1054: By day, the signal meaning, "This is the best place to land" is a __________.

    N a. vertical motion of a red flag
    Y b. vertical motion of a white flag or the arms
    N c. white smoke signal
    N d. white star rocket

1137: One gallon of low expansion foam solution will produce about __________.

    Y a. 10 gallons of foam
    N b. 25 gallons of foam
    N c. 100 gallons of foam
    N d. 500 gallons of foam

1211: A crew member suffering from hypothermia should be given __________.

    N a. a small dose of alcohol
    Y b. treatment for shock
    N c. a large meal
    N d. a brisk rub down

1416: You will extinguish a fire when you remove __________.

    N a. nitrogen
    Y b. oxygen
    N c. sodium
    N d. carbon dioxide

1487: A vessel's heavy displacement is 24,500 tons with light displacement of 13,300 tons. Fully loaded it carries 300 tons of fuel and stores. What is the vessel's deadweight?

    N a. 10,900 tons
    Y b. 11,200 tons
    N c. 13,000 tons
    N d. 24,200 tons

1568: The SS AMERICAN MARINER is ready to load the cargo listed. There is already 2464 tons of cargo on board with a KG of 27.3 feet. Use the white pages of the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the final KG of all the cargo after loading is completed. ST-0042

    N a. KG 27.0 feet
    N b. KG 27.8 feet
    Y c. KG 28.6 feet
    N d. KG 29.8 feet

1762: You are operating a liftboat. When jacking down and free of the bottom you should __________.

    N a. raise one leg at a time
    N b. not be concerned about any list
    Y c. raise all legs simultaneously
    N d. have the crane standing upright

1850: Your voyage planning indicates you will arrive at a waypoint in longitude 49°16.3 W at 0947 ZT on 3 March 1988. How should this date be entered into an AMVER report?

    Y a. 031247Z
    N b. 030947P
    N c. 124733 MAR
    N d. 309473

1978: How should you try to right a capsized small sailing vessel?

    N a. Position all personnel at the stern and rock the vessel upright.
    N b. Position all personnel around the mast and lift the vessel upright.
    Y c. Lock the centerboard in the down position, stand on the centerboard, and pull on a shroud or a halyard.
    N d. Put the centerboard in the up position and have all personnel haul in on the line attached to the mast.

2004: You have 420 tons of below deck tonnage and 180 tons of above deck cargo on board. You must load 140 tons of liquid mud below deck. How much more deck cargo can you load? (See illustration D036DG, stability letter for M.V. Hudson.) (D036DG )

    Y a. 60 tons
    N b. 100 tons
    N c. 180 tons
    N d. 240 tons

2010: Your vessel measures 128 feet long by 21 feet in beam. If the natural rolling period at a draft of 7'-06" is 6 seconds, what is the GM?

    N a. 1.56 feet
    Y b. 2.37 feet
    N c. 2.55 feet
    N d. 2.74 feet

2015: A shroud is __________.

    N a. a light sail
    N b. a topmast stay
    N c. a sheet
    Y d. standing rigging

2016: Your vessel measures 125 feet long by 17 feet in beam. If the natural rolling period at a draft of 7'-09" is 6 seconds, what is the GM?

    N a. 0.95 foot
    N b. 1.25 feet
    Y c. 1.55 feet
    N d. 1.78 feet

2040: You have 360 tons of below deck tonnage and 145 tons of above deck cargo on board. You must load 220 tons of liquid mud below deck. How much more deck cargo can you load? (See illustration D036DG, stability letter for M.V. Hudson.) (D036DG )

    N a. 22 tons
    N b. 48 tons
    Y c. 94 tons
    N d. 239 tons

2065: By regulation, cargo tank atmosphere must be inert before and during which operation?

    N a. crude oil washing
    N b. topping off
    N c. stripping
    Y d. All of the above

2071: The generators on your rig have shut down, leaving you without navigation lights. Which emergency signal would you transmit over the VHF radio to alert vessels in the area of your predicament?

    N a. Mayday, Mayday, Mayday
    N b. Pan, Pan, Pan
    Y c. Security, Security, Security
    N d. Lights out, Lights out, Lights out

2120: You have 480 tons of below deck tonnage including liquid mud. Your existing deck cargo is 200 tons with a VCG above the deck of 2.8 feet. What is the maximum additional cargo tonnage you are permitted to load? (See illustration D036DG, stability letter for M.V. Hudson.) (D036DG )

    N a. 34 tons
    Y b. 62 tons
    N c. 134 tons
    N d. 186 tons

2367: The person or company, either proprietor or lessee, actually operating an oil well or lease is the __________.

    N a. production company
    N b. company representative
    N c. drilling contractor
    Y d. operator

2462: If a leak occurred while loading diethylenetriamine, the chemical data guide indicates you would smell an odor similar to __________.

    Y a. ammonia
    N b. rotten eggs
    N c. gasoline
    N d. None of the above

2805: A vessel heading NNW is on a course of __________.

    N a. 274.5°
    N b. 292.0°
    N c. 315.5°
    Y d. 337.5°

3159: Fusible-link fire dampers are operated by __________.

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

3205: On a sailing vessel, it is best to approach a person in the water by placing them on your __________.

    N a. leeward side
    Y b. windward side
    N c. bow
    N d. transom

3567: What are the maximum vertical moments including free surface moments permitted on the DEEP DRILLER at a draft of 60 feet if the winds are greater than 70 knots?

    Y a. 942,120 foot-tons
    N b. 946,271 foot-tons
    N c. 974,441 foot-tons
    N d. 1,059,885 foot-tons

3603: While anchored in 600 feet water depth, 3,150 feet of chain is deployed for line #8. Tension on that line is 220 kips. According to the DEEP DRILLER Operating manual, how much of that chain lies along the bottom?

    N a. 994 feet
    Y b. 1,422 feet
    N c. 1,728 feet
    N d. 2,550 feet

3649: A man aboard a vessel, signaling by raising and lowering his outstretched arms to each side, is indicating __________.

    N a. danger, stay away
    N b. all is clear, it is safe to pass
    N c. all is clear, it is safe to approach
    Y d. a distress signal

3710: Which statement is CORRECT with respect to inserting an airway tube?

    Y a. Only a trained person should attempt to insert an airway tube.
    N b. A size 2 airway tube is the correct size for an adult.
    N c. The airway tube will not damage the victim's throat.
    N d. Inserting the airway tube will prevent vomiting.

3729: A crew member suffering from hypothermia should be given __________.

    N a. a small dose of alcohol
    Y b. treatment for shock
    N c. a large meal
    N d. a brisk rub down

3833: Among the valves to open on the DEEP DRILLER, if you have to transfer ballast from Tank 1P to Tank 10S using #1 ballast pump, is valve __________.

    Y a. 33 Starboard
    N b. 44 Starboard
    N c. 33 Port
    N d. 44 Port

3886: Which type EPIRB must each ocean-going OSV carry?

    N a. Class A
    N b. Class B
    N c. Class C
    Y d. Category I

3925: Among the valves that must be opened on the DEEP DRILLER to pump bilge water out of the port pump room using both bilge pumps is valve __________.

    N a. 26
    N b. 28
    N c. 36
    Y d. 41

3974: In the illustration, the sea anchor is shown as item number_____. (D014SA )

    N a. 7
    N b. 13
    N c. 15
    Y d. 14

4106: In the event of a fire, the doors to a stair tower must be closed to prevent the spread of fire by __________.

    N a. conduction
    N b. ventilation
    N c. radiation
    Y d. convection

4107: The DEEP DRILLER is loaded as shown in the Sample Load Form #2 (Ballasting to Survival). What is the VCG of the added liquid if 100.76 long tons of ballast are added to Ballast Tank #8S?

    N a. 1.35 feet
    N b. 6.95 feet
    N c. 8.30 feet
    Y d. 15.26 feet

4231: A tanker loads at a terminal within the tropical zone. She will enter the summer zone five days after departing the loading port. She will burn off about 45 tons/day and daily water consumption is 8 tons. How many tons may she load over that allowed by her summer load line?

    N a. 225
    N b. 235
    N c. 245
    Y d. 265

4511: The height of the transverse metacenter of the Coastal Driller at a displacement of 13,050 kips is __________.

    N a. 143.81 feet
    N b. 144.61 feet
    Y c. 144.93 feet
    N d. 145.73 feet

4622: The SS AMERICAN MARINER has drafts of: FWD 26'-04", AFT 28'-08". Use the white pages of the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the drafts if you ballast the forepeak with 101 tons of seawater.

    N a. FWD 27'-00.6, AFT 28'-01.7"
    Y b. FWD 27'-01.2", AFT 28'-02.5"
    N c. FWD 27'-01.8", AFT 28'-03.1"
    N d. FWD 27'-02.4", AFT 28'-03.7"

4807: The COASTAL DRILLER is loaded as shown in the Sample Load Form #1 (Rig Move). What is the new transverse free surface correction (FSCT) if the entire contents of drill water tanks 6 and 7 are discharged?

    N a. 2.24 feet
    N b. 2.14 feet
    N c. 2.10 feet
    Y d. 1.67 feet

4812: The SS AMERICAN MARINER is ready to bunker with drafts of FWD 21'-04", AFT 26'-04". 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-0170

    Y a. 0.54 ft
    N b. 0.62 ft
    N c. 0.80 ft
    N d. 0.85 ft

5365: The COASTAL DRILLER, when underway was loaded as shown in Sample Load Form #1 (Rig Move). It is now preloaded at minimum air gap waiting for all settling to take place. The preload, weighing 7,191.7 kips, has LM 870,196 ft-kips and TM 2,158 ft-kips. What is the port leg reaction?

    N a. 7,026 kips
    N b. 7,099 kips
    Y c. 7,144 kips
    N d. 7,180 kips

5487: A measurement device for inspecting anchor chain is the __________.

    N a. slide rule
    Y b. go-no-go gauge
    N c. derrick tape
    N d. amp probe

5527: With adaptor blocks/chocks in place on an LWT stock anchor, the trip angle will be __________.

    N a. 20°
    Y b. 30°
    N c. 40°
    N d. 50°

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

6553: While taking on fuel oil from an offshore supply vessel, the transfer hose leaks, causing a sheen in the water. You should __________.

    N a. continue transfer operations
    N b. repair the leak with duct tape
    N c. reduce the rate of transfer
    Y d. immediately shut down operations

6594: How many B-II fire extinguishers must be in the machinery space of a 175-foot long fishing vessel propelled by engines with 2500 brake horsepower?

    N a. 2
    Y b. 3
    N c. 4
    N d. 5

6737: Each EPIRB required on a MODU shall be tested using the integrated test circuit and output indicator every __________.

    N a. week
    N b. two weeks
    Y c. month
    N d. two months

7318: A cabinet or space containing the controls or valves for the fixed firefighting system must be __________.

    Y a. posted with instructions on the operation of the system
    N b. ventilated and equipped with explosion-proof switches
    N c. painted with red and black diagonal stripes
    N d. equipped with a battery powered source of emergency lighting

7407: Which VHF channel should you avoid using as a working channel?

    N a. 7A
    N b. 8
    N c. 9
    Y d. 16

8981: The important initial stability parameter, GM, is the __________.

    Y a. metacentric height
    N b. height of the metacenter above the keel
    N c. height of the center of buoyancy above the keel
    N d. height of the center of gravity above the keel

9098: When a rescue vessel approaches a lifeboat in heavy seas, the person in charge of the lifeboat should __________.

    N a. tie up to the rescue vessel
    N b. transfer only those personnel who are not seasick
    Y c. wait for calmer weather before transferring personnel
    N d. transfer all personnel immediately

9501: Stability is determined principally by the location of the point of application of two forces: the downward-acting gravity force and the __________.

    N a. upward-acting weight force
    N b. downward-acting weight force
    Y c. upward-acting buoyant force
    N d. environmental force

9541: When the height of the metacenter is the same as the height of the center of gravity of a vessel, the upright equilibrium position is __________.

    N a. stable
    Y b. neutral
    N c. unstable
    N d. negative