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.


180: Which is TRUE of a "stiff" vessel?


228: Which is the most serious type of fracture?


380: You are fighting a fire in a cargo hold on your vessel. Which action is most important concerning the stability of the vessel?


438: A crew member has suffered frostbite to the toes of both feet. You should __________.

    Y a. immerse the feet in warm water
    N b. warm the feet with a heat lamp
    N c. warm the feet at room temperature
    N d. rub the feet

444: A call between any two ship stations on an intership working frequency shall have a maximum duration of __________.

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

597: The "Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act" applies to __________.

    N a. every towing vessel of 16 feet or over in length while navigating
    N b. every vessel of 50 GT and upward, carrying one or more persons for hire
    N c. all aircraft operating on the water
    Y d. every power-driven vessel of 20 meters and upward while navigating

623: In how many locations must lifeboats be installed on a mobile offshore drilling unit?

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

773: When using the lifeboat compass, you must be careful to __________.

    N a. set it on the centerline of the boat
    N b. apply the correction for compass error
    N c. keep metal objects away from it
    Y d. All of the above

861: The SS AMERICAN MARINER will sail with the load shown. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the drafts. ST-0017

    Y a. FWD 26'-09", AFT 28'-00"
    N b. FWD 27'-00", AFT 27'-10"
    N c. FWD 27'-03", AFT 27'-07"
    N d. FWD 27'-06", AFT 27'-04"

864: A crew member suddenly becomes blind in both eyes. Which code should your message contain?

    N a. MNJ
    N b. MNM
    Y c. MNO
    N d. MNI

884: The single letter G, sent by an icebreaker to an assisted vessel, means __________.

    N a. "I require a pilot"
    N b. "Longitude follows"
    Y c. "I am going ahead; follow me"
    N d. "Do not follow me"

973: You are on a vessel that has a metacentric height of 1.0 foot and a beam of 40 feet. What can you expect the rolling period of the vessel to be?

    N a. 15.2 seconds
    N b. 15.9 seconds
    N c. 17.0 seconds
    Y d. 17.6 seconds

986: According to Coast Guard Regulations (CFR 33), the shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan must include __________.

    N a. all information ordinarily provided in the Oil Record Book
    Y b. an explanation and purpose of the plan
    N c. a one-line schematic of the plan to be implemented
    N d. the operating instructions for any and all oily-water separators installed aboard the vessel

999: A documented vessel operating over 50 miles offshore must carry an inflatable liferaft with a __________.

    Y a. SOLAS A pack
    N b. SOLAS B pack
    N c. coastal pack
    N d. small vessel pack

1038: You are piloting a vessel, which is required to have a radiotelephone, on the navigable waters of the United States. You must __________.

    N a. maintain a listening watch and communicate in English
    N b. use the bridge-to-bridge VHF-FM designated frequency only to exchange navigational information or necessary tests
    N c. have on board an operator who holds a restricted radiotelephone operator permit or higher license, as well as a FCC ship station license
    Y d. All of the above

1121: In shown, number 1 operates the __________. (D011SA )

    N a. releasing gear
    N b. McCluny hook
    N c. sea painter
    Y d. Fleming gear

1136: The breaking strength of the service lines of the rockets used with an impulse-projected, rocket type line throwing appliances is __________.

    N a. 300 lbs
    Y b. 500 lbs
    N c. 1000 lbs
    N d. 1500 lbs

1148: Spontaneous combustion is most likely to occur in __________.

    Y a. rags soaked in linseed oil
    N b. overloaded electrical circuits
    N c. dirty swabs and cleaning gear
    N d. partially loaded fuel tanks

1377: On a vessel of 34,000 tons displacement, a tank 80 ft. long, 60 ft. wide and 30 ft. deep is half filled with fresh water (SG 1.000) while the vessel is floating in saltwater (SG 1.026). What is the free surface constant for this tank?

    N a. 2661
    N b. 2819
    Y c. 40100
    N d. 42213

1526: Which type of portable fire extinguishers is NOT designed for use on flammable liquid fires?

    N a. Foam
    N b. Dry chemical
    Y c. Water (cartridge-operated)
    N d. Carbon dioxide

1801: Each ship having an inert gas system must have a portable instrument to measure concentrations of hydrocarbon vapor in inert atmospheres and also to measure __________.

    N a. nitrogen
    Y b. oxygen
    N c. carbon dioxide
    N d. water vapor

1834: The liquid mud tanks on your vessel measure 20'L by 18'B by 7'D. The vessel's displacement is 986 T and the specific gravity of the mud is 1.6. What is the reduction in GM due to 2 of these tanks being slack?

    N a. .09 foot
    N b. .45 foot
    Y c. .88 foot
    N d. 1.35 feet

1910: Which visual distress signal is acceptable for daylight use only?

    N a. Hand-held red flare
    N b. Self-contained rocket-propelled parachute red flare
    Y c. Hand-held orange smoke distress flare
    N d. Red aerial pyrotechnic flare

2014: Your vessel measures 131 feet long by 20 feet in beam. If the natural rolling period at a draft of 8'-03" is 6 seconds, what is the GM?

    N a. 1.26 feet
    N b. 1.74 feet
    N c. 1.93 feet
    Y d. 2.15 feet

2079: Your vessel displaces 479 tons. The existing deck cargo has a center of gravity of 3.0 feet above the deck and weighs 16 tons. If you load 23 tons of anchor and anchor chain with an estimated center of gravity of 9 inches above the deck, what is the final height of the CG above the deck?

    N a. 0.33 foot
    N b. 1.00 foot
    N c. 1.45 feet
    Y d. 1.67 feet

2176: According to regulations, cargo pump rooms, on the tank vessels handling grades A, B, or C liquid cargo, shall be equipped with power ventilation of the exhaust type having capacity sufficient to effect a complete change of air in not more than __________.

    N a. 1 minute
    N b. 2 minutes
    Y c. 3 minutes
    N d. 5 minutes

2225: Which system is least likely to be affected by atmospheric disturbances?

    N a. NAVTEX
    Y b. INMARSAT
    N c. MF NBDP
    N d. HF NBDP

2264: Where a propeller shaft passes through the hull, water is prevented from entering by means of a __________.

    Y a. stuffing box
    N b. propeller boss
    N c. seacock
    N d. stop-water

2288: A major health hazard of the product tert-butylamine is that it______.

    N a. can be absorbed through the skin
    Y b. causes irreversible damage to eye tissue
    N c. is a very unstable product
    N d. All of the above

2322: What is NOT a requirement of cargo piping installed in tank vessels carrying grade D or E cargo ONLY?

    Y a. The cargo piping system shall be fixed.
    N b. Flanged joints shall be used for pipe sizes exceeding 2 inches in diameter.
    N c. Piping through bunker spaces may be run through a pipe tunnel.
    N d. Connections at bulkheads must be made so that the plating does not form part of a flanged joint.

2383: What is the minimum license requirement of a GMDSS Radio Operator?

    N a. Holding the Marine Radio Operator Permit is a pre-requisite before the GMDSS Radio Operator Endorsement can be obtained.
    N b. Holding the General Radiotelephone Operator License with RADAR endorsement is sufficient.
    Y c. Holding a valid GMDSS Radio Operator License is sufficient.
    N d. Holding either the General Radiotelephone Operator License or the First or Second Class Radiotelegraph License with GMDSS Radio Maintainer's Endorsement is sufficient.

2481: Which action should be taken on receipt of a GMDSS Distress alert?

    N a. Read the display screen and/or printout.
    N b. Silence the alarm.
    N c. Listen for any follow up voice/TELEX transmission on the appropriate frequency.
    Y d. All of the above

2515: Before personnel are lifted from a vessel in a personnel basket, the vessel should be ________________________

    Y a. directly under the boom
    N b. moving away from the boom
    N c. stopped dead in the water
    N d. tied to the boom

2827: For a floating MODU, true mean draft is always the __________.

    N a. average of the observed drafts
    Y b. draft at the center of flotation
    N c. draft corresponding to the calculated displacement
    N d. mean of the calculated drafts

2896: Your vessel is certificated to carry 50 persons. You are required to have __________. (small passenger vessel regulations)

    N a. 50 adult life jackets
    N b. 40 adult life jackets and 10 child life jackets
    Y c. 50 adult life jackets and 5 child life jackets
    N d. 50 adult life jackets and 2 child life jackets

3074: Your sailing drafts are: FWD 17'-07", AFT 18'-03" and the GM is 2.8 feet. What will be the angle of list if the #4 starboard double bottom (capacity 141 tons, VCG 2.6 feet, and 23.8 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. 6°
    Y b. 8°
    N c. 10°
    N d. 12°

3332: When fueling has been completed __________.

    N a. the fuel tank fill pipe should be left open to allow vapors to vent from the tank
    N b. the engine should be started immediately to prevent vapor lock in the fuel line
    Y c. all hatches should be opened and all compartments should be ventilated
    N d. open the fuel line and drain a small amount of gasoline into the bilge to clear the line of sediment

3510: When required, the steering gear, whistle, and the means of communication between the pilothouse and the engine room on a passenger vessel shall be tested by an officer of the vessel within a period of not more than how many hours prior to departure?

    N a. 4
    N b. 8
    Y c. 12
    N d. 24

3548: You are on a Mariner class cargo vessel. Your drafts are: FWD 26'-06", AFT 28'-02". You wish to increase the calculated GM of 2.7' to 2.9'. What tanks should you ballast? (Use the white pages in the Stability Data Reference Book.)

    N a. Tanks: DB1
    Y b. Tanks: DB1, DT1
    N c. Tanks: DB2
    N d. Tanks: DB1, DT1, DT6

3594: After having activated the emergency position indicating radio beacon, you should __________.

    N a. turn it off for 5 minutes every half-hour
    N b. turn it off and on at 5 minute intervals
    N c. turn it off during daylight hours
    Y d. leave it on continuously

4053: The DEEP DRILLER, loaded as shown in the Sample Load Form #4 (Drilling), discharges a non-liquid load of 275.8 long tons from a position 130 feet above the keel, 40 feet forward of amidships, and 30 feet to port of the centerline. What is the resulting trim angle?

    N a. 3.49 degrees to the stern
    N b. 4.69 degrees to the stern
    Y c. 5.18 degrees to the stern
    N d. 5.68 degrees to the stern

4071: The DEEP DRILLER is loaded as shown in the Sample Load Form #1 (Transit). What are the new LM (longitudinal moments) if the entire contents of Salt Water Ballast Tanks 1P and 1S are discharged?

    Y a. 5,191 ft-tons
    N b. 13,414 ft-tons
    N c. 31,992 ft-tons
    N d. 69,175 ft-tons

4195: The motions of the COASTAL DRILLER during a normal transit when wind speeds are less than 70 knots are limited by __________.

    N a. stability
    N b. deck edge immersion
    N c. wave heights
    Y d. leg strength

4325: Lowering the hull of the COASTAL DRILLER and refloating should be done in favorable weather conditions with wave heights not more than __________.

    N a. three feet
    N b. four feet
    Y c. five feet
    N d. six feet

4336: The SS AMERICAN MARINER has on board 5486 tons of cargo with an LCG-FP of 277.84 feet. See the distribution of the cargo to be loaded. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the final LCG-FP of the cargo. ST-0160

    N a. LCG-FP 271.2 feet
    N b. LCG-FP 272.1 feet
    Y c. LCG-FP 273.6 feet
    N d. LCG-FP 274.6 feet

4402: The SS AMERICAN MARINER has on board 6584 tons of cargo with an LCG-FP of 277.84 feet. See the distribution of the cargo to be loaded. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the final LCG-FP of the cargo. ST-0161

    N a. LCG-FP 271.2 feet
    N b. LCG-FP 272.1 feet
    N c. LCG-FP 273.6 feet
    Y d. LCG-FP 274.6 feet

4545: What is the VCG of the drill water in the COASTAL DRILLER's #1 Drill Water Tank, if the weight in the tank is 388.32 kips?

    N a. 7.25 feet
    N b. 7.50 feet
    Y c. 7.75 feet
    N d. 8.00 feet

4693: The COASTAL DRILLER, with no trim, is at a true mean draft of 10 feet and 10 inches. TM is -6,800 ft-kips. Using only tanks #1, #25, and #26, how many kips of drill water must be transferred to level the jack-up?

    N a. Transfer 53.1 kips each from #25 and #26 forward to #1
    N b. Transfer 100 kips from #26 to #25
    N c. Transfer 200 kips from #25 to #26
    Y d. Transfer 100 kips from #25 to #26

4778: The SS AMERICAN MARINER has on board 5540 tons of cargo with an LCG-FP of 272.20 feet. See the distribution of the cargo to be loaded. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the final LCG-FP of the cargo. ST-0169

    N a. LCG-FP 266.5 feet
    Y b. LCG-FP 267.8 feet
    N c. LCG-FP 268.4 feet
    N d. LCG-FP 269.2 feet

5081: What color are obstruction lights on mobile offshore drilling units that are located on the waters of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf seaward of the line of demarcation?

    Y a. White
    N b. Red
    N c. Yellow
    N d. Blue

5121: What danger is presented if a waterspout passes over a MODU?

    N a. Heavy rains could cause downflooding.
    N b. Visibility could be restricted by low clouds.
    N c. Large waves could cause structural damage.
    Y d. Personnel may be injured by loose deck gear blown by the wind.

5153: A semisubmersible floating in sea water displaces 20,000 long tons. She has vertical moments of 1,000,000 foot-long tons. What is the change in KG if 500 long tons are placed aboard at a KG of 120 feet?

    N a. 1.22 feet upward
    Y b. 1.71 feet upward
    N c. 1.75 feet upward
    N d. 2.93 feet upward

6619: The SS AMERICAN MARINER has on board 6450 tons of cargo with an LCG-FP of 270.89 feet. See the distribution of the cargo to be loaded. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the final LCG-FP of the cargo. ST-0194

    N a. LCG-FP 267.12 feet
    N b. LCG-FP 268.48 feet
    Y c. LCG-FP 270.97 feet
    N d. LCG-FP 273.06 feet

7321: The reception of weak radio signals may be improved by "opening up" the squelch control. What is the normal setting of the squelch control?

    Y a. Just past the point where background noise is cut off
    N b. Completely closed with the volume at the highest level
    N c. Completely open with the volume at the lowest level
    N d. None of the above

7365: What is the minimum required GMT for the DEEP DRILLER in winds less than 70 knots while at a draft of 60 feet?

    N a. 0.17 foot
    N b. 2.62 feet
    Y c. 4.34 feet
    N d. 9.12 feet

8782: Control of fire should be addressed __________.

    N a. immediately after restoring vital services
    Y b. immediately
    N c. following control of flooding
    N d. following establishment of fire boundaries

8901: The Safety of Life at Sea Convention was developed by the __________.

    N a. U.S. Coast Guard
    N b. American Bureau of Shipping
    Y c. International Maritime Organization
    N d. American Institute of Maritime Shipping

8911: If a victim is unconscious, you should first look for evidence of __________.

    N a. high fever
    N b. head injury
    N c. broken limbs
    Y d. irregular breathing

9113: After using a Halon extinguisher, it should be __________.

    N a. put back in service if more than 50% of the charge remains
    N b. repainted
    N c. discarded
    Y d. recharged

9565: The LCG of a vessel may be found by dividing displacement into the __________.

    N a. longitudinal center of gravity of the vessel
    N b. sum of the vertical moments of the vessel
    Y c. sum of the longitudinal moments of the vessel
    N d. longitudinal baseline of the vessel