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.


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?


113: You hear air escaping from the liferaft just after it has inflated. You should __________.


312: The spray of water in low-velocity fog will have __________.


693: You are operating a fire hose with an applicator attached. If you put the handle of the nozzle in the vertical position you will __________.

    N a. produce high-velocity fog
    Y b. produce low-velocity fog
    N c. produce a straight stream
    N d. shut off the water

794: An oiler was badly burned and you are communicating with a passenger ship that has a doctor and hospital on board. You want to rendezvous in a certain position so the oiler can be evacuated for medical treatment. Which code should your message contain?

    N a. MAF
    Y b. MAB
    N c. MAA
    N d. MAE

817: An accommodation ladder or other equally safe and convenient means must be provided for a pilot whenever the distance from the sea level is more than __________.

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

853: When whistle signals are used for launching lifeboats, one short blast means __________.

    N a. "use the float-free method only"
    Y b. "lower all boats"
    N c. "raise all boats"
    N d. "drill is over, secure all boats"

959: 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-0020

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

968: Which condition is necessary for a substance to burn?

    N a. The temperature of the substance must be equal to or above its fire point.
    N b. The air must contain oxygen in sufficient quantity.
    N c. The mixture of vapors with air must be within the "explosive range."
    Y d. All of the above

1063: Gasoline tank vent lines on board small passenger vessels must be fitted with removable flame screens __________.

    N a. and 30 square inches of louvers
    N b. three inches in diameter with a check valve to prevent water from entering in heavy weather
    N c. three inches in circumference inside the fill pipe
    Y d. consisting of a single screen of at least 30 X 30 mesh, corrosion resistant wire

1110: Limit switches on gravity davits should be tested by __________.

    N a. the engineers, from a panel in the engine room
    N b. shutting off the current to the winch
    Y c. pushing the switch lever arm while the winch is running
    N 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

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.

1314: Under normal conditions a liferaft is released from its cradle by __________.

    N a. cutting the restraining strap
    N b. unscrewing the turnbuckle on the back of the cradle
    N c. lifting one end of the raft
    Y d. pushing the plunger on the center of the hydrostatic release

1342: If there's a fire aboard your vessel, you should FIRST __________.

    N a. notify the Coast Guard
    Y b. sound the alarm
    N c. have passengers put on life preservers
    N d. cut off air supply to the fire

1530: Which vessel in ocean service is not subject to Annex V of MARPOL 73/78?

    N a. A 20-foot sailing vessel
    N b. A 26-foot tug and tow
    N c. An uninspected 35-foot passenger vessel
    Y d. A Navy Destroyer

1558: A Halon 1301 cylinder is periodically tested for weight loss and pressure loss. What minimum percentage of the full pressure can be lost before the cylinder must be recharged?

    N a. 3%
    N b. 5%
    Y c. 10%
    N d. 15%

1818: In which Sea Area must a compulsory vessel carry either INMARSAT or HF SITOR equipment?

    N a. This equipment must be carried at all times at sea regardless of where the vessel will be operating.
    Y b. This equipment partially satisfies the carriage requirement for vessels operating in Sea Area A3.
    N c. This equipment satisfies in full the carriage requirement for vessels operating in Sea Area A2.
    N d. HF SITOR equipment partially satisfies the carriage requirement for vessels operating in Sea Area A3, but INMARSAT equipment must be carried to satisfy the requirement when the vessel is in Sea Area A4.

2020: Free communication will adversely affect transverse stability only when the flooded space is __________.

    Y a. off-center
    N b. on the centerline
    N c. completely flooded
    N d. open to the sea above and below the waterline

2062: You are running before the wind in a fresh breeze. The boom may be prevented from accidentally jibing by using a(n) __________.

    N a. buntline
    N b. clewline
    N c. outhaul
    Y d. preventer

2122: Your drafts are: FWD 6'-00", AFT 6'-06". From past experience, you know that the vessel will increase her draft 1 inch for every 6 tons loaded. There is rig water on board and 17 tons of deck cargo. How many more tons of cargo can be loaded and still maintain the same trim? (D037DG )

    N a. 14 tons
    Y b. 18 tons
    N c. 24 tons
    N d. 33 tons

2129: Which of the following statements relating to AMVER (Automated Mutual-assistance Vessel Rescue) is TRUE?

    N a. The AMVER system does not reduce the time lost for vessels responding to calls for assistance.
    N b. An AMVER participant is not relieved of the obligation to give 24 hour advance notice to the U.S. Coast Guard before entering a U.S. port from offshore.
    Y c. There is no cost to the ship or owner for messages sent within the AMVER system.
    N d. An AMVER participant is under greater obligation to render assistance to a vessel in distress than a non-participant.

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

2362: A tankerman who permits or causes oil to go into a navigable waterway may be punished federally by __________.

    N a. fine
    N b. imprisonment
    N c. suspension or revocation of tankerman's document
    Y d. All of the above

2374: You are offloading garbage to another ship. Your records must identify that ship by name and show her __________.

    N a. home port
    N b. next port-of-call
    N c. Master
    Y d. official number

2491: The platform that supports the derrickman when tripping pipe is called the __________.

    N a. Texas deck
    N b. water table
    N c. stabbing board
    Y d. monkey board

2571: You have abandoned ship in rough weather. After picking up other survivors in your liferaft, what should you do next?

    Y a. Close up the entrances.
    N b. Top up the buoyancy tubes.
    N c. Prepare for the arrival of rescue units.
    N d. Decide on food and water rations.

2632: What is the proper first aid for LPG in the eye?

    N a. Apply an ice pack to the eye.
    N b. Keep the eyelid closed.
    Y c. Flush the eye with plenty of water.
    N d. Rub the eye area clean.

2645: Keeping the draft of a MODU at or below the load line mark will insure that the unit has adequate __________.

    N a. reserve ballast
    Y b. reserve buoyancy
    N c. lightweight displacement
    N d. critical motions

2724: Your vessel's drafts are: FWD 18'-03", AFT 18'-09"; and the KG is 22.6 feet. Use the selected stability curves in the blue pages of the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the angle of list if the center of gravity is shifted 1.4 feet off the centerline.

    N a. 18°
    Y b. 22°
    N c. 26°
    N d. 30°

2749: Your vessel's drafts are: FWD 19'-03", AFT 21'-03". The LCG of the forepeak is 200 feet forward of amidships. How many tons of ballast must be pumped into the forepeak in order to have a drag of 1 foot? (Use the reference material in Section 1, the blue pages, of the Stability Data Reference Book)

    Y a. 62 tons
    N b. 68 tons
    N c. 74 tons
    N d. 78 tons

2766: How do you know how many passengers you may carry? (small passenger vessel regulations)

    N a. As many as possible
    Y b. The amount on the Certificate of Inspection
    N c. Use your own judgment
    N d. No more than 40 passengers

2926: The sailing drafts are: FWD 16'-06", AFT 17'-04" and the GM is 2.6 feet. Use the information in Section 1, the blue pages, of the Stability Data Reference Book, to determine the available righting arm at 15° inclination.

    N a. 0.4 foot
    Y b. 0.8 foot
    N c. 1.2 feet
    N d. 1.9 feet

3041: Under the Pollution Regulations, garbage disposal records must be kept __________.

    N a. one year
    Y b. two years
    N c. until the end of the voyage
    N d. until the next Coast Guard inspection

3166: You are underway with a tow consisting of six barges containing hazardous chemicals. Which statement is FALSE concerning a cargo information card?

    N a. It must be carried in the pilothouse, readily available for each chemical carried.
    Y b. It must be posted on the lead barge of the tow only.
    N c. It must be posted on each barge on the tow.
    N d. It contains information on procedure for spills or leaks.

3434: The SS AMERICAN MARINER is ready to load the cargo listed. There is already 4260 tons of cargo on board with a KG of 25.8 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-0130

    N a. KG 24.6 feet
    N b. KG 25.0 feet
    N c. KG 25.4 feet
    Y d. KG 25.9 feet

3553: The DEEP DRILLER is loaded as shown in Sample Load Form #3 (Preparing to Drill). What is the margin on the maximum allowable KG while drilling?

    Y a. 4.58 feet
    N b. 5.24 feet
    N c. 6.27 feet
    N d. 6.94 feet

3611: Each life jacket light that has a non-replaceable power source must be replaced __________.

    N a. every 6 months after initial installation
    N b. every 12 months after initial installation
    N c. every 24 months after initial installation
    Y d. on or before the expiration date of the power source

3630: A passenger vessel is required to have a supervised patrol when __________.

    Y a. there are passengers berthed on board
    N b. navigating in excess of eight hours
    N c. the vessel has substantial wood in its construction
    N d. there is no automatic fire-detection system installed

3633: The KG of the DEEP DRILLER increases from 57 feet to 59 feet while drilling at a 60 foot draft during an ice storm. What action should be taken?

    N a. Continue drilling operations while waiting for the ice to melt
    Y b. Reduce the deck load until you reach the allowable KG for draft
    N c. Notify the USCG that the rig is temporarily above the allowable KG
    N d. Deballast to reach the allowable KG

3668: The SS AMERICAN MARINER is loaded with the cargo shown. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the amount of liquid loading required in the double bottom tanks to meet a one compartment standard. ST-0146

    N a. 920 tons
    N b. 1120 tons
    N c. 1245 tons
    Y d. 1545 tons

3683: While drilling loaded as shown in Sample Load Form #4 (Drilling), the DEEP DRILLER suffers a sudden unexpected starboard and aft inclination. The wind and waves are light. What might have caused the inclination?

    N a. Mooring lines 6 and 7 have failed.
    Y b. The drilling crew has dumped the mud.
    N c. The drill string has broken.
    N d. Ballast tanks have equalized into tank 10S.

3694: When administering artificial respiration, it is MOST important to __________.

    N a. monitor blood pressure
    Y b. clear airways
    N c. use the rhythmic pressure method
    N d. know all approved methods

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

4081: Visual inspections of survival craft on offshore drilling units, to ensure operational readiness, must be conducted at least once a __________.

    Y a. week
    N b. month
    N c. quarter
    N d. year

4136: If one hydraulic pump of an electro-hydraulic steering unit fails, the vessel's steering can be initially and best maintained by using the __________.

    N a. trick wheel
    N b. accumulator
    Y c. standby pump
    N d. telemotor

4635: How much drill water is required for transfer between drill water tanks #25 and #26 in order to correct the list of the COASTAL DRILLER with total transverse moments of -6,800 ft-kips?

    N a. 200 kips from tank #26 to tank #25
    N b. 200 kips from tank #25 to tank #26
    N c. 100 kips from tank #26 to tank #25
    Y d. 100 kips from tank #25 to tank #26

5062: You are making a heavy lift with the jumbo boom. Your vessel displaces 8530 T. The 40-ton weight is on the pier and its center is 65' to starboard of the centerline. The head of the boom is 115' 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 5°. What is the GM with the cargo stowed?

    N a. 2.96 ft
    N b. 3.18 ft
    N c. 3.46 ft
    Y d. 3.77 ft

5274: The type davits shown are __________. (D008SA )

    N a. round-bar davits
    N b. radial davits
    Y c. gravity davits
    N d. quadrantal davits

5806: Damage stability is the stability __________.

    N a. which exists when the wind speed is less than 50 knots
    N b. before collision
    Y c. after flooding
    N d. at the maximum load

6077: Operation of the valve control release on a fixed CO2 system must immediately __________.

    N a. release CO2 to the protected space
    Y b. secure all mechanical ventilation in the protected space
    N c. sound the rig's general alarm signal for a fire
    N d. sound an alarm in the ballast control room

6303: The most doubtful and unpredictable factor in a mooring system is the __________.

    Y a. ability of the anchors to hold in a seabed
    N b. anchor chain catenary length
    N c. variability of the fairlead
    N d. angle of the flukes

6743: The required fireman's outfits required for MODU's are not to be used for any other purpose EXCEPT for the __________.

    N a. oxygen and explosion meter when it is used for detection of flare gases
    Y b. self-contained breathing apparatus, when used as protection from gas leaking from a refrigeration unit
    N c. boots and gloves that are made of rubber or electrically non-conductive material, if used when repairing electrical equipment
    N d. lifeline, if used by personnel entering a compartment which might be deficient of oxygen

6801: Where must the 0mster or person in charge of a MODU record the date of each test of emergency lighting and power systems and the condition and performance of the equipment?

    N a. On the Certificate of Inspection
    N b. On the Muster List ("Station Bill")
    N c. In the Operations Manual
    Y d. In either the official or unofficial log

8285: The bypass valve on a self-contained breathing device should be opened if __________.

    N a. you are entering a space containing poisonous vapors
    N b. you are entering a space containing explosive gases
    Y c. the regulator of the breathing apparatus malfunctions
    N d. the facepiece of the breathing device is too tight

8493: What is the value of KML for the DEEP DRILLER at a draft of 60 feet?

    N a. 59.63 feet
    N b. 60.16 feet
    N c. 61.68 feet
    Y d. 61.13 feet

8683: With no environmental forces on the DEEP DRILLER, the average of the forward drafts is 61.0 feet, and the average of the aft drafts is 59.0 feet. KGL is 51.13 feet. What is the value of LCG?

    N a. -0.12 foot
    N b. 0.12 foot
    N c. 2.11 feet
    Y d. 2.35 feet

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

9327: Accumulations of oily rags should be __________.

    N a. kept in nonmetal containers
    Y b. discarded as soon as possible
    N c. cleaned thoroughly for reuse
    N d. kept in the paint locker

9497: Stability is determined principally by the location of the point of application of two forces: the upward-acting buoyant force and the __________.

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