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?


186: Fire hose stations shall be marked in red letters and figures such as Fire Station No. "1", "2", "3", etc. The height of the letters and figures must be at least __________.


261: A person who willfully violates safety regulations may be fined up to $(SA)5,000 and __________.


470: A squeeze-grip type carbon-dioxide portable fire- extinguisher has been partially discharged. It should be __________.

    N a. replaced in its proper location if weight loss is no more than 15%
    Y b. labeled empty and recharged as soon as possible
    N c. replaced in its proper location regardless of weight
    N d. replaced in its proper location if weight loss is no more than 25%

470: A squeeze-grip type carbon-dioxide portable fire- extinguisher has been partially discharged. It should be __________.

    N a. replaced in its proper location if weight loss is no more than 15%
    Y b. labeled empty and recharged as soon as possible
    N c. replaced in its proper location regardless of weight
    N d. replaced in its proper location if weight loss is no more than 25%

610: The amount of freeboard which a ship possesses has a tremendous effect on its __________.

    N a. initial stability
    N b. free surface
    N c. permeability
    Y d. stability at large angles of inclination

655: The spread of fire is NOT prevented by __________.

    N a. shutting off the oxygen supply
    N b. cooling surfaces adjacent to the fire
    N c. removing combustibles from the endangered area
    Y d. removing smoke and toxic gases by ensuring adequate ventilation

656: The governor brake on a lifeboat winch shall be capable of controlling the speed of lowering a fully equipped lifeboat from a cargo ship at __________.

    N a. a safe speed only specified
    N b. not less than 120 feet per minute
    Y c. not more than 120 feet per minute
    N d. not more than 90 feet per minute

705: Your vessel is at a dock taking bunkers. If oil begins to flow out of a tank vent, what should you do FIRST?

    N a. Open the intake valve to an adjacent tank.
    N b. Set out drip pans and sawdust and begin to mop up the spill.
    Y c. Signal the shore control point to shut down.
    N d. Close the valve on the tank vent line.

737: When using the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR's) for Tank Vessels, you see T/O and B/C. What do the T and B tell you?

    N a. The waters in which vessels may operate
    N b. Special construction limitations
    N c. Grades of cargo which may be carried
    Y d. Type of vessel to which the regulation applies

965: What statement about immersion suits is TRUE?

    N a. Immersion suits should be worn while performing routine work on deck.
    Y b. No stowage container for immersion suits may be capable of being locked.
    N c. During the annual maintenance, the front zipper should be lubricated using light machine oil or mineral oil.
    N d. Any tear or leak will render the suit unserviceable and it must be replaced.

1285: You have abandoned ship and find yourself aboard a lifeboat in a heavy sea. Your boat is able to make way through the water. To prevent broaching, you should __________.

    N a. put the sea on your stern and run as fast as the boat will go
    N b. take no action to prevent broaching as this is a recommended maneuver in a heavy sea
    Y c. head the boat into the swells to take them at a 30 to 40 degree angle on either bow and run as slow as possible without losing steerage
    N d. place everyone as far forward in the boat as possible to keep the bow heavy

1477: A fire starts on your vessel while refueling. You should FIRST __________.

    N a. stop the ventilation
    Y b. sound the general alarm
    N c. determine the source of the fire
    N d. attempt to extinguish the fire

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

1502: A portable foam (stored-pressure type) fire extinguisher would be most useful in combating a fire in __________.

    N a. generators
    Y b. oil drums
    N c. the bridge controls
    N d. combustible metals

1548: You have abandoned your vessel. You are in a liferaft and have cleared away from your vessel. One of your FIRST actions should be to __________.

    N a. take measures to maintain morale
    N b. prepare and use radio equipment
    N c. identify the person in charge of liferaft
    Y d. search for survivors

1641: The most serious effect of air trapped in a non-treated diesel engine jacket water cooling system is that it __________.

    Y a. causes corrosion
    N b. reduces the ability of the system to cool the engine
    N c. can form pockets which block the flow of coolant through the system
    N d. accelerates formation of metal plating

1677: After an engine is started you should __________.

    N a. increase engine speed to insure adequate flow of oil to all parts of the engine
    N b. pay no attention unless there are unusual noises from the engine
    Y c. check operating pressures and temperatures, and check for leaks
    N d. run the engine at idle until the temperature has increased

1706: The major lift-producing part of a sail is the __________.

    Y a. leading edge
    N b. trailing edge
    N c. head
    N d. foil

1750: You are on an inerted tankship. A low pressure alarm must be set to cause an audible and visual alarm if the pressure in the tanks cannot be maintained at more than __________.

    Y a. 4" water gauge
    N b. 90% of the vacuum relief setting
    N c. 90% of the pressure drop through the scrubber
    N d. 90% of the vacuum assist fan

1882: A sailing vessel with the wind coming from 260° relative would be __________.

    N a. on a close reach
    Y b. on a broad reach
    N c. on a starboard tack
    N d. running before the wind

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

2089: On a vessel carrying grades A, B, C or D cargoes, enclosed spaces where sources of vapor ignition are normally present shall NOT be segregated from cargo tanks by __________. (vessel constructed after 1970)

    N a. cofferdams
    Y b. galleys
    N c. pump rooms
    N d. tanks used to carry liquids having a flash point of 150°F or above

2200: To check stability, a weight of 35 tons is lifted with the jumbo boom, whose head is 35 feet from the ship's centerline. The clinometer shows a list of 7.0° with the weight suspended. Displacement including the weight is 14,000 tons. The GM in this condition is __________.

    Y a. 0.71 foot
    N b. 0.95 foot
    N c. 1.26 feet
    N d. 2.01 feet

2256: The SS AMERICAN MARINER is ready to sail with the load shown. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the available GM. ST-0054

    N a. Available GM 6.8 ft
    N b. Available GM 5.4 ft
    N c. Available GM 4.1 ft
    Y d. Available GM 3.6 ft

2332: The amount of LFG that may be loaded into a given tank is determined by __________.

    N a. checking the loading sheet
    N b. loading to within 1 percent of outage
    N c. loading to within 10 percent of the safety relief valve setting
    Y d. filling to the maximum level indicated on the liquid level gauging device

2497: In MODU drilling operations, the term tripping means __________.

    N a. releasing the tongs from the drill pipe
    N b. welding hard metal to tool joints
    Y c. hoisting drill pipe out of and returning it to the wellbore
    N d. sliding a joint of drill pipe down to the pipe rack ramp

2536: To prevent the spread of fire by conduction you should __________.

    N a. shut off all electrical power
    N b. close all openings to the area
    Y c. cool the bulkheads around the fire
    N d. remove combustibles from direct exposure

2614: What is required in addition to the heat, fuel, and oxygen of the fire triangle to have a fire?

    N a. Smoke
    N b. Electricity
    N c. Pressure
    Y d. Chain reaction

2628: What normally helps in detecting escaping gas?

    N a. Running hand along pipe
    N b. Red flame
    Y c. Odor
    N d. Increase the line pressure

2840: If a vessel loads 400 tons of deck cargo resulting in a GM of -0.2 feet on 9000 tons of displacement, what will be the angle of loll? (Use the information in Section 1, the blue pages, of the Stability Data Reference Book)

    N a. 16°
    N b. 15°
    N c. 12°
    Y d. 9°

2889: Switchboards shall be ...... (small passenger vessel regulations)

    N a. Watertight.
    N b. Grounded to the main engine on a wooden hulled boat.
    Y c. The dead-front type, totally enclosed
    N d. Equipped with switch locks

3065: Which precaution should be taken when testing a line throwing gun?

    Y a. Never remove the line from the rocket.
    N b. Fire it at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the horizon.
    N c. Wear asbestos gloves.
    N d. All of the above

3172: Your vessel has a gasoline engine and a mechanical exhaust ventilation system. BEFORE starting the engine, the exhaust blower should be run long enough to __________.

    N a. warm up the exhaust blower motor
    N b. provide a proper supply of fresh air for the engine(s)
    N c. see the system is in good operating condition
    Y d. insure at least one complete change of air in the compartments concerned

3211: What is placed on the underside of an inflatable liferaft to help prevent it from being skidded by the wind or overturned?

    Y a. Ballast bags
    N b. A keel
    N c. Strikes
    N d. Sea anchor

3448: The SS AMERICAN MARINER is ready to load the cargo listed. There is already 3485 tons of cargo on board with a KG of 24.4 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-0131

    N a. KG 25.1 feet
    Y b. KG 25.6 feet
    N c. KG 26.0 feet
    N d. KG 26.5 feet

3479: A feature of an inflatable raft which helps keep people stationary in rough weather is __________.

    N a. lashings on the floor of the raft for the passenger's feet
    N b. straps from the overhead
    Y c. lifelines on the inside of the raft
    N d. ridges in the floor of the raft

3489: If the hydrostatic release mechanism for an inflatable liferaft is not periodically serviced and becomes inoperative, it will NOT __________.

    N a. set the water lights on immersion
    N b. release the dye-marker from the liferaft
    Y c. free the liferaft from a sinking vessel
    N d. break the seal on the carbon dioxide cylinder

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

3651: Distress signals may be __________.

    N a. red flares
    N b. smoke signals
    N c. sound signals
    Y d. Any of the above

3770: The abandon ship signal is __________.

    N a. a continuous ringing of general alarm bells for at least 10 seconds
    N b. a continuous ringing of the general alarm, and sounding of the ship's whistle
    Y c. more than 6 short blasts and 1 long blast of the ship's whistle and the same signal on the general alarm bells
    N d. a continuous sounding of the ship's whistle

3843: The sounding in tank 1P of the DEEP DRILLER is 7.58 feet. What are the longitudinal moments for this quantity of ballast?

    N a. 729 ft-long tons
    N b. 6,707 ft-long tons
    N c. 19,609 ft-long tons
    Y d. 27,652 ft-long tons

4050: The owner or Master of a towing vessel shall ensure that all tests and inspections of gear take place and are logged ___________ .

    Y a. when a new Master assumes command
    N b. daily, at 0800 local zone time
    N c. weekly, before 2400 Saturday
    N d. immediately after assuming the watch

4050: The owner or Master of a towing vessel shall ensure that all tests and inspections of gear take place and are logged ___________ .

    Y a. when a new Master assumes command
    N b. daily, at 0800 local zone time
    N c. weekly, before 2400 Saturday
    N d. immediately after assuming the watch

4082: A towing vessel is NOT required to be fitted with radar if it is ____________ .

    Y a. used solely for assistance towing
    N b. under 65 feet in length
    N c. used exclusively on the Western Rivers
    N d. pushing ahead

4299: When jumping into water upon which there is an oil-fire, you should __________.

    N a. enter the water midships on the leeward side of the vessel
    N b. enter the water midships on the windward side of the vessel
    N c. enter the water at the bow or stern on the leeward side of the vessel
    Y d. enter the water at the bow or stern on the windward side of the vessel

4457: Prior to entering a davit-launched liferaft, you should make sure that __________.

    Y a. the liferaft is well ventilated of excess carbon dioxide
    N b. all personnel have removed their life preservers to facilitate boarding
    N c. the door flap has been cut away and stowed inside the raft
    N d. All of the above

4605: How many independent bilge systems is the COASTAL DRILLER equipped with?

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

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.

5962: Your drafts are: FWD 25'-09", AFT 28'-03". Use the blue pages of the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the location of the center of flotation relative to amidships.

    N a. 2.6 feet forward
    N b. 2.1 feet forward
    Y c. at the center of flotation
    N d. 0.8 foot aft

6011: On a MODU, hand portable extinguishers are size(s) __________.

    N a. II only
    N b. II and III
    Y c. I and II
    N d. I only

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

6686: Your drafts are: FWD 24'-09", AFT 27'-02". Use the blue pages of the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the vessels displacement if you are in salt water.

    N a. 13,175 tons
    N b. 13,350 tons
    N c. 13,490 tons
    Y d. 13,620 tons

6693: The litter on a MODU must be able to __________.

    N a. carry at least two injured persons
    N b. float for at least two hours
    Y c. be used on the types of helicopters serving the unit
    N d. All of the above

8825: A jack-up, while level in transit at 10 feet draft, experiences a wind gust which results in a starboard draft of 11 feet 6 inches. What is the heel?

    N a. 1 foot 6 inches to starboard
    Y b. 3 feet to starboard
    N c. 3 feet to port
    N d. 1 foot 6 inches to port

8897: The international body responsible for drafting the convention prohibiting marine pollution (MARPOL) is the __________.

    N a. Maritime Advisory Council
    Y b. International Maritime Organization
    N c. International Association of Shipping
    N d. Association of Seafaring Nations

9361: The principal personnel hazard unique to Halon extinguishers is __________.

    N a. displacement of oxygen
    N b. skin irritation
    Y c. inhaling toxic vapors
    N d. eye irritation

9463: The value of the righting arm at an angle of loll is __________.

    N a. negative
    Y b. zero
    N c. positive
    N d. equal to GM

9483: A tank which is NOT completely full or empty is called __________.

    N a. pressed
    Y b. slack
    N c. inertial
    N d. elemental

9483: A tank which is NOT completely full or empty is called __________.

    N a. pressed
    Y b. slack
    N c. inertial
    N d. elemental