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.


104: In the International Code of Signals, the code signal meaning "I require immediate assistance" is __________.


109: Your vessel has a displacement of 10,000 tons. It is 350 feet long and has a beam of 55 feet. You have timed it's full rolling period to be 15.0 seconds. What is your vessel's approximate GM?


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


129: A life float on a fishing vessel must be equipped with __________.

    N a. a righting line
    N b. red hand flares
    Y c. pendants
    N d. drinking water

162: The function of the bypass valve on the self-contained breathing apparatus is to __________.

    N a. control the pressure of the oxygen as it enters the body
    Y b. allow the wearer to manually give himself oxygen
    N c. release excess heat which would otherwise cause the bottle to explode
    N d. allow exhaled gases to pass outside the bottle

208: What is the primary purpose of a splint applied in first aid?

    N a. Control bleeding
    N b. Reduce pain
    Y c. Immobilize a fracture
    N d. Reset the bone

246: On a vessel of 125,000 GT on an international voyage, how many international shore connection flange(s) must be provided?

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

365: What is the minimum fuel-oil discharge-containment needed for a 100 gross ton vessel constructed after June 30,1974?

    Y a. At least 5 gallons
    N b. At least 1 barrel
    N c. At least 2 barrels
    N d. At least 3 barrels

366: You have determined that a cargo space on a freight vessel is 45 feet by 36 feet by 62 feet. How many pounds of carbon dioxide is required for this space?

    N a. 1674
    N b. 2511
    Y c. 3348
    N d. 5022

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

    N a. distress position
    Y b. spoken words "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday"
    N c. ship's name
    N d. ship's call letters

1075: Prior to lowering the lifeboat, the most important item to check is the __________.

    N a. oars
    N b. sail
    Y c. boat plug
    N d. life preservers

1786: Which statement concerning reserve sources of energy for GMDSS is FALSE?

    N a. While the ship is at sea, there must be available at all times a supply of electrical energy sufficient to operate the radio installations and to charge any batteries used as part of a reserve source of energy.
    Y b. Both the VHF and MF/HF installations must be simultaneously supplied.
    N c. A means of ensuring a continuous supply of electrical power must be provided to all GMDSS equipment that could be affected by an interruption in power.
    N d. If a uninterrupted power supply or equivalent is used to supply power to the ship's GPS receiver or other source of positional information, a means must be provided to ensure the continuous supply of the information in the event of a failure to the ship's main or emergency source of power.

1788: Which channel is designated as the VHF follow-on communications channel and is required in all portable survival craft equipment?

    N a. Channel 6
    N b. Channel 13
    Y c. Channel 16
    N d. Channel 70

1788: Which channel is designated as the VHF follow-on communications channel and is required in all portable survival craft equipment?

    N a. Channel 6
    N b. Channel 13
    Y c. Channel 16
    N d. Channel 70

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

1946: You have 8 containers of steward's supplies each measuring 6'L by 6'B by 6'H and weighing 1.5 tons each. Each container is stowed on deck. What is the maximum VCG permitted of the remaining cargo if you are carrying rig water and load to maximum capacity? (Refer to trim and stability letter for M.V. Surveyor.) (D037DG )

    N a. 1.00 foot
    N b. 1.33 feet
    Y c. 1.48 feet
    N d. 2.00 feet

1970: What product is considered a noxious liquid substance for regulatory purposes?

    Y a. Octanol
    N b. Acetonitrile
    N c. Hog grease
    N d. Carbon black hose

2236: A vessel is limited to a maximum draft of 25'-11". The present drafts are: FWD 24'-10", AFT 23'-02". How much more cargo can be loaded and where should it be located if a drag of 18 inches is desired? (Use the reference material in Section 1, the blue pages, of the Stability Data Reference Book)

    N a. 345 tons 124 feet aft of the tipping center
    N b. 525 tons 18 feet forward of the tipping center
    N c. 640 tons 74 feet aft of the tipping center
    Y d. 690 tons 62 feet aft of the tipping center

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

2431: A device used to enlarge the size of an existing bore hole, having teeth arranged on its outside circumference to cut the formation as it rotates is a(n) __________.

    N a. enlarger bit
    N b. casing bit
    Y c. hole opener
    N d. casing opener

2530: Regulations require that cargo pumprooms on tank barges (constructed in 1965) carrying grades B or C liquid cargoes have power ventilation systems which can completely change the air in __________.

    N a. 1 minute
    Y b. 3 minutes
    N c. 5 minutes
    N d. 10 minutes

2568: Your vessel's drafts are: FWD 27'-06", AFT 28'-02"; and the KG is 21.3 feet. Use the selected stability curves in the blue pages of the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the righting arm at 15° inclination.

    N a. 0.3 foot
    N b. 1.3 feet
    Y c. 1.5 feet
    N d. 1.8 feet

2677: The SS AMERICAN MARINER has the liquid loading shown. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the KG of the liquid load. ST-0075

    N a. 4.0 feet
    Y b. 5.6 feet
    N c. 6.0 feet
    N d. 6.8 feet

2770: Branch venting from safety relief valves on barges shall be constructed to discharge the gas at a vertical height above the weather deck to a minimum of __________.

    N a. 6 feet
    N b. 8 feet
    Y c. 10 feet
    N d. 12 feet

2864: The sailing drafts are: FWD 22'-08", AFT 23'-04" and the GM is 4.6 feet. Use the information in Section 1, the blue pages, of the Stability Data Reference Book, to determine the available righting arm at 20° inclination.

    Y a. 2.1 feet
    N b. 2.4 feet
    N c. 2.8 feet
    N d. 3.2 feet

2892: Regulations define the bulkhead deck as __________. (subdivision and stability regulations)

    N a. any deck extending from stem to stern
    Y b. the uppermost deck to which transverse watertight bulkheads extend
    N c. the lowermost deck to which transverse watertight bulkheads extend
    N d. the uppermost complete deck

2942: Vessels in ocean service shall carry __________. (small passenger vessel regulations)

    N a. life floats for 50% of all persons on board
    N b. buoyant apparatus for all persons on board
    Y c. sufficient inflatable buoyant apparatus for all persons on board
    N d. life jackets for 50% of all persons on board

2972: Regulations require that approved buoyant work vests __________. (small passenger vessel regulations)

    N a. may not be carried on inspected vessels
    N b. may be substituted for 10% of the required life jackets
    N c. shall be stowed in a place inaccessible to passengers
    Y d. shall be stowed separately from the required life jackets

2999: The use of portable electrical equipment in the pumproom on tank barges is prohibited unless __________.

    N a. the pumproom is gas-free
    N b. spaces with bulkheads common to the pumproom are either gas-free, inert, filled with water, or contain grade E liquid
    N c. all other compartments in which flammable vapors and gases may exist are closed and secured
    Y d. All of the above

3023: A semisubmersible which flops between forward and aft angles of trim is likely to have __________.

    Y a. KML less than KGL
    N b. an off-center LCG
    N c. LCG greater than LCB
    N d. KML greater than KMT

3024: Your sailing drafts are: FWD 17'-07", AFT 18'-05" and the GM is 3.4 feet. What will be the angle of list if #4 port double bottom (capacity 140 tons, VCG 2.6 feet, and 26 feet off the centerline) is filled with saltwater? (Use the data in Section 1, the blue pages, of the Stability Data Reference Book)

    N a. Less than 1°
    N b. 3°
    Y c. 6°
    N d. 9°

3160: Fixed ballast, if used, may be __________. (small passenger vessel regulations)

    N a. discharged or moved at any time
    Y b. moved temporarily for examination or repair of the vessel, when done under the supervision of an inspector
    N c. moved under the supervision of the owner, Master or shipyard
    N d. moved under any condition except extreme emergency

3493: The longitudinal distance between draft marks for the DEEP DRILLER is __________.

    N a. 122'-09"
    Y b. 164'-00"
    N c. 260'-00"
    N d. 260'-05"

3518: The groups "AA" and "AB" are used in conjunction with what other group in signaling by flashing light?

    N a. WA
    N b. RQ
    N c. CS
    Y d. RPT

3677: The DEEP DRILLER, while loaded as shown in the Sample Load Form #4 (Drilling), suffers damage to the starboard aft column below the waterline. Pumping from tanks 8S and 9S is not sufficient to prevent increasing starboard list and stern down trim. You should consider counterflooding in tank __________.

    N a. 1S
    Y b. 1P
    N c. C2BP
    N d. 10P

3688: You are administering chest compressions during CPR. Where on the victim's body should the pressure be applied?

    Y a. Lower half of the sternum
    N b. Tip of the sternum
    N c. Top half of the sternum
    N d. Left chest over the heart

3813: The sounding in tank 1P of the DEEP DRILLER is 7.58 feet. What are the vertical moments for this quantity of ballast?

    N a. 729 ft-long tons
    Y b. 991 ft-long tons
    N c. 19,609 ft-long tons
    N d. 27,652 ft-long tons

4240: Both an approved B-V semi-portable fire-extinguishing system and a fixed fire-extinguishing system are required to protect the engine room on towing vessels whose construction was contracted for on or after __________. (Uninspected Vessel Regulations)

    N a. February 1, 2002
    Y b. August 27, 2003
    N c. April 29, 2004
    N d. April 29, 2005

4283: When underway at a draft of 10.5 feet in a severe storm, the COASTAL DRILLER has a maximum allowed KG of __________.

    Y a. 40 feet
    N b. 50 feet
    N c. 55 feet
    N d. 65 feet

4296: You have called another vessel by flashing light and he has answered your call properly. You now send your call sign "DE KLIS". He should respond with __________.

    N a. TTTT
    N b. his own call letters
    Y c. KLIS, DE, his own call letters
    N d. R

4597: While loaded as shown in the COASTAL DRILLER Sample Load Form #3 (Drilling), 236 kips are discharged from 80 feet AF0 and 19.79 feet to port of the centerline. What is the resulting starboard leg reaction?

    N a. 4,281 kips
    N b. 5,382 kips
    Y c. 5,459 kips
    N d. 5,537 kips

4611: On the COASTAL DRILLER, the level of water in each of two pump bilge pits is monitored by __________.

    N a. visual sight gages
    N b. low and high level alarms
    Y c. hydrostatic alarm switches
    N d. OSS units (overflow sequence selector units)

4662: Most covered lifeboats will right themselves after capsizing if the __________.

    N a. lower ballast tanks are filled with water
    N b. sea anchor is deployed to windward
    N c. fuel tanks are not less than half full
    Y d. passengers are strapped to their seats

4706: You are making a heavy lift with the jumbo boom. Your vessel displaces 7940 T. The 45-ton weight is on the pier and its center is 60' to starboard of the centerline. The head of the boom is 110' above the base line and the center of gravity of the lift when stowed on deck will be 50' above the base line. As the jumbo boom takes the strain the ship lists to 4.5°. What is the GM with the cargo stowed?

    N a. 4.82
    Y b. 4.64
    N c. 4.30
    N d. 3.97

5245: To maintain a high state of readiness against the possibility of damage and subsequent flooding while aboard the DEEP DRILLER, you should __________.

    N a. post a watch in the pump room
    N b. keep tanks no more than half filled
    Y c. cap sounding tubes except when in use
    N d. keep bilge pumps operating continuously

5435: The COASTAL DRILLER is operating with a wave clearance of about 20 feet. The out-of-level alarm sounds and the unit is found to be inclined 0.5 degree bow down. The recommended course of action is to __________.

    N a. prepare to take action in case inclination increases
    N b. jack the hull up on the bow leg
    Y c. jack the hull down on the aft two legs
    N d. transfer weight, such as drill water, toward the stern

5435: The COASTAL DRILLER is operating with a wave clearance of about 20 feet. The out-of-level alarm sounds and the unit is found to be inclined 0.5 degree bow down. The recommended course of action is to __________.

    N a. prepare to take action in case inclination increases
    N b. jack the hull up on the bow leg
    Y c. jack the hull down on the aft two legs
    N d. transfer weight, such as drill water, toward the stern

5537: Why should you soak an anchor?

    Y a. It can prevent the anchor from slipping during pretensioning.
    N b. It will lubricate all the moving parts of a stock anchor.
    N c. It will increase the maximum breaking strength of the anchor chain.
    N d. It will make it easier to disassemble the anchor for repair.

5568: You are tending the lifeline of a man who entered a compartment using a breathing apparatus. How many tugs on the lifeline indicate the man should back out?

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

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

5645: On a semisubmersible drilling unit, increasing riser tension reduces __________.

    N a. list
    N b. KM
    N c. KG
    Y d. GM

5737: Given the same water depth and line tension, the holding power of a 19 pound/foot wire rope mooring system in comparison to the holding power of a 90 pound/foot chain mooring system will be __________.

    Y a. weaker
    N b. equal
    N c. greater
    N d. indeterminable

5757: What determines the minimum size of an anchor buoy?

    N a. Environmental conditions
    Y b. Water depth
    N c. Regulatory bodies
    N d. Deck space on work boat

6042: Canvas sails, when not in use, may be damaged if __________.

    N a. left in the sunlight
    Y b. stowed wet
    N c. folded frequently
    N d. washed with soap and water

6571: To determine the number of portable fire extinguishers required on a mobile offshore drilling unit, you should check the __________.

    N a. hot work permit
    Y b. Certificate of Inspection
    N c. Safety of Life at Sea Certificate
    N d. Operations Manual

7005: Chemical burns are caused by the skin coming in contact with __________.

    Y a. acids or alkalies
    N b. diesel oil
    N c. acids, but not alkalies
    N d. alkalies, but not acids

8837: A jack-up with a calculated moment to change list one inch (MCL1") of 1,200 foot-kips intends to transfer 100 kips of weight in a transverse direction. How far should the weight be transferred to change the draft on the port side from 11.5 to 11.0 feet?

    N a. 12 feet
    N b. 48 feet
    N c. 120 feet
    Y d. 144 feet

9257: The shear rams of a MODU blowout preventer stack are used in emergency well control to __________.

    N a. close and seal around the drill pipe
    N b. close and seal around casing
    Y c. cut off pipe inside the preventer stack
    N d. close and seal around drill collars

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

9587: The DEEP DRILLER is loaded as shown in the Sample Load Form #1 (Transit). What is the new transverse free surface correction (FSCT) if the entire contents of Salt Water Ballast Tanks 1P and 1S are discharged?

    Y a. 0.46 foot
    N b. 0.71 foot
    N c. 1.08 feet
    N d. 1.44 feet