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.


149: A signal indicating zone time is preceded with the letter __________.


281: The gross weight of a fully charged CO2 bottle in a fixed CO2 system is 220 lbs. When the bottle is empty it weighs 120 lbs. What is the minimum acceptable gross weight of the CO2 bottle before it should be recharged by the manufacturer?


361: What can be used to measure the percentage of oxygen inside a chain locker?


476: What type of gauging is required for a cargo of formic acid?

    N a. Open
    Y b. Restricted
    N c. Closed
    N d. None of the above

709: What is the reduction in metacentric height due to free surface when a tank 60 ft. wide and 60 ft. long is partially filled with saltwater? (The vessel's displacement is 10,000 tons.)

    N a. 3.00 feet
    Y b. 3.09 feet
    N c. 3.15 feet
    N d. 3.20 feet

918: Fires which occur in energized electrical equipment, such as switchboard insulation, are class __________.

    N a. A
    N b. B
    Y c. C
    N d. D

960: Your vessel has just finished bunkering and has a small list due to improper distribution of the fuel oil. This list will cause __________.

    N a. a decrease in reserve buoyancy
    N b. a decrease in the maximum draft
    N c. the vessel to flop to port and starboard
    Y d. None of the above

1036: Life preservers must be marked with the __________.

    N a. stowage space assigned
    Y b. vessel's name
    N c. vessel's home port
    N d. maximum weight allowed

1119: A fill pipe for a gasoline tank on board a small passenger vessel must be __________.

    N a. arranged so neither liquid gasoline nor its vapors can overflow or escape inside the vessel
    N b. terminated on the weather deck and extend to within one-half of its diameter from the bottom of the tank
    N c. fitted with a suitably marked watertight deck plate or screw cap
    Y d. All of the above

1181: The SS AMERICAN MARINER is ready to load the cargo listed. There is already 4145 tons of cargo on board with a KG of 25.5 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-0031

    Y a. KG 25.0 feet
    N b. KG 25.6 feet
    N c. KG 26.2 feet
    N d. KG 26.8 feet

1512: Where are the draft marks required to be displayed on a ship?

    N a. Deep tanks
    N b. Voids
    N c. Midships near the waterline
    Y d. Area of water line near stem and stern

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

1848: Your vessel displaces 477 tons and measures 116'L x 31'B. You ship a large wave on the after deck. What is the reduction in GM due to free surface before the water drains overboard, if the after deck measures 54'L x 31'B and the weight of the water is 51.5 tons?

    N a. 6.43 feet
    N b. 6.75 feet
    N c. 6.99 feet
    Y d. 7.25 feet

1984: You have 550 tons of below deck tonnage including liquid mud. Your existing deck cargo is 120 tons with a VCG above the deck of 2.6 feet. What is the maximum additional deck cargo tonnage you are permitted to load? (See illustration D036DG, stability letter for M.V. Hudson) (D036DG )

    N a. 20 tons
    N b. 60 tons
    Y c. 120 tons
    N d. 240 tons

2059: What standing rigging supports the mast in the fore-and-aft and athwartships directions?

    N a. Sheets and guys
    N b. Guys and vangs
    N c. Vangs and shrouds
    Y d. Shrouds and stays

2132: On which vessels is GMDSS required?

    N a. All vessels capable of international voyages
    N b. Vessels operating outside of the range of VHF coastal radio stations
    Y c. SOLAS Convention ships of 300 gross tonnage or more.
    N d. Coastal vessels of less than 300 gross tons

2278: A cargo of 75 tons is to be lifted with a boom located 50 feet from the ship's centerline. The ship's displacement including the suspended cargo is 6,000 tons and GM is 6 feet. The list of the ship with the cargo suspended from the boom will be __________.

    N a. 5.00°
    N b. 5.40°
    Y c. 5.94°
    N d. 6.50°

2307: Why does a centrifugal bilge pump require priming?

    N a. To lubricate shaft seals
    Y b. Lack of ability to lift water level to impellers
    N c. Head pressure must equal discharge pressure
    N d. To overcome resistance of water in the discharge line

2419: Where should the GMDSS radio log be kept on board ship?

    N a. In the Captain's office
    N b. In the sea cabin
    Y c. At the GMDSS operating position
    N d. Anywhere on board the vessel

2441: A set of clamps that are latched onto the drill pipe to allow the driller to raise or lower the drill string out of or into the hole are the __________.

    N a. lifts
    N b. collars
    Y c. elevators
    N d. clamps

2563: The hoist line primarily used for lifting personnel on MODU cranes is called the __________.

    N a. personnel line
    Y b. whip line
    N c. main hoist line
    N d. pendant

2598: A vessel displaces 12,000 tons and has a KG of 22.8 feet. What will be the length of the remaining righting arm at an angle of inclination of 60° if the center of gravity shifts 1.8 feet transversely? (Use the information in Section 1, the blue pages, of the Stability Data Reference Book)

    N a. -1.6 feet
    N b. -0.1 foot
    N c. 1.2 feet
    Y d. 1.9 feet

2665: You are in the North Sea, which is a special area listed in ANNEX V of MARPOL. How many miles from land must you be to throw broken plywood dunnage over the side?

    N a. 6 nm
    N b. 12 nm
    N c. 25 nm
    Y d. Must be retained aboard

2794: Which would influence a magnetic compass?

    N a. Electrical wiring
    N b. Iron pipe
    N c. Radio
    Y d. All of the above

2806: A vessel heading NW is on a course of __________.

    N a. 274.5°
    N b. 292.5°
    Y c. 315.0°
    N d. 337.5°

3120: Before issuing an initial Certificate of Inspection, the construction arrangement and equipment of a vessel must be acceptable to the __________. (small passenger vessel regulations)

    N a. American Bureau of Shipping Surveyor
    N b. U.S. Salvage Marine Surveyor
    Y c. Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection
    N d. U.S. Customs Collector

3140: Hatches on small passenger vessels operating on exposed waters and exposed to the weather __________.

    Y a. must be watertight
    N b. must be open at all times
    N c. need not be watertight
    N d. None of the above

3179: What is NOT a requirement for storage batteries on tank barges?

    Y a. They may be located in cargo handling rooms
    N b. They must be located in well ventilated spaces
    N c. Each battery box must have a watertight lining
    N d. They must be secured against movement

3540: How should the letter "R" be pronounced when spoken on the radiotelephone?

    Y a. ROW ME OH
    N b. AR AH
    N c. ROA MA O
    N d. AR EE

3544: A message by flashing light consists of the call, the identity, the text, and the __________.

    N a. destination
    N b. answer
    N c. time
    Y d. ending

3613: You are in a survival craft broadcasting a distress message. What information would be essential to your rescuers?

    N a. The nature of the distress
    N b. The time of day
    N c. Your radio call sign
    Y d. Your position by latitude and longitude

3800: If you have to jump in the water when abandoning ship, your legs should be __________.

    N a. spread apart as far as possible
    N b. held as tightly against your chest as possible
    N c. in a kneeling position
    Y d. extended straight down and crossed at the ankles

3913: The DEEP DRILLER, at a draft of 60 feet, has 50,000 ft-tons of longitudinal moments. How much ballast should be transferred between tanks 1P and 10P to level the unit longitudinally?

    Y a. 45.3 long tons
    N b. 90.6 long tons
    N c. 118.1 long tons
    N d. 236.1 long tons

3996: The SS AMERICAN MARINER has the following drafts: FWD 08'-11.5", AFT 15'-11.5". Upon completion of loading and bunkering the items listed will be on board. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the minimum GM required to meet a one compartment standard. ST-0151

    N a. 2.85 feet
    N b. 2.65 feet
    Y c. 2.36 feet
    N d. 2.15 feet

4041: 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 new TCG?

    N a. -0.26 foot
    N b. -0.46 foot
    Y c. 0.46 foot
    N d. 0.61 foot

4167: The DEEP DRILLER is loaded as shown in the Sample Load form #3 (Preparing to Drill). If all the liquid mud (see table 8) is dumped, what would be the new metacentric height corrected for transverse free surface effects?

    Y a. 11.26 feet
    N b. 10.07 feet
    N c. 9.67 feet
    N d. 8.30 feet

4200: A vessel has a maximum allowable draft of 28 feet in salt water and a fresh water allowance of 8 inches. At the loading berth, the water density is 1.011. To what draft can she load in order to be at her marks when she reaches the sea? (The salt water density is 1.025.)

    N a. 27' 07.5"
    N b. 27' 08.5"
    N c. 28' 03.5"
    Y d. 28' 04.5"

4239: Either one approved B-V semi-portable fire-extinguishing system or a fixed fire-extinguishing system is required to protect the engine room on towing vessels whose construction was contracted for before __________. (Uninspected Vessel Regulations)

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

4264: Which statement about immersion suits is TRUE?

    Y a. Prior to abandonment, the suit allows body movement such as walking, climbing a ladder and picking up small objects.
    N b. The immersion suit seals in body heat and provides protection against hypoglycemia for weeks.
    N c. The suit is flameproof and provides protection to the wearer while swimming through burning oil.
    N d. The wearer of the suit is severely restricted and requires 1.5 times more time to climb a ladder than without the suit.

4481: The COASTAL DRILLER, with a draft of 10 feet 3 inches in seawater, has a displacement of __________.

    N a. 13,011 kips
    Y b. 13,336 kips
    N c. 13,445 kips
    N d. 14,637 kips

4574: The SS AMERICAN MARINER has on board 4824 tons of cargo with an LCG-FP of 277.45 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-0164

    N a. LCG-FP 267.7 feet
    N b. LCG-FP 268.4 feet
    Y c. LCG-FP 269.2 feet
    N d. LCG-FP 270.6 feet

4633: On the COASTAL DRILLER, when afloat, oily bilge discharge should be pumped through the __________.

    N a. overboard discharge
    N b. dump valves
    Y c. skimmer tanks
    N d. raw water header

4757: Because there is a possibility of fuel oil being discharged overboard from a full fuel oil tank, it is decided to transfer 25 kips from tank #14 to tank #13. See COASTAL DRILLER Sample Load Form #1 (Rig Move). What would be the change in longitudinal free surface moments?

    N a. 1492 ft-kips increase
    N b. 1034 ft-kips increase
    Y c. 674 ft-kips increase
    N d. 404 ft-kips increase

5077: The requirements for obstruction lights on mobile offshore drilling units apply on all waters __________.

    N a. outside the boundary lines that are covered by International Rules of the Road
    N b. outside the lines of demarcation that are covered by the U.S. navigational rules
    Y c. over the Outer Continental Shelf and on waters under the jurisdiction of the United States
    N d. over the prohibited zone defined in the Oil Pollution Control Act of 1961

5097: To have the ultimate authority for a mobile offshore drilling unit while it is under tow, a rig mover must __________.

    N a. hold an Able Seaman certificate and be designated as the person in charge of the rig
    Y b. hold a license as Offshore Installation Manager and be held as the person in charge of the rig
    N c. be certified by an approved classification society and be designated as the person in charge of the rig
    N d. be certified by the Minerals Management Service and be designated as the person in charge of the rig

5311: The COASTAL DRILLER, in field transit at a draft of 10 feet 0 inches with winds less than 70 knots, has a KGT of 39.0 feet and a KGL of 38.6 feet. The margin on the maximum allowable KG is __________.

    N a. 3.0 feet
    N b. 3.4 feet
    Y c. 26.0 feet
    N d. 26.4 feet

5461: Thirty-five percent of the breaking strength of an anchor cable is generally accepted as the __________.

    Y a. safe operating load
    N b. normal operating tension
    N c. emergency working load
    N d. allowable storm load

5633: In ballasting to survival draft, while in transit, due to extreme wind and wave loads, thrusters or propulsion, if available, should be used to __________.

    N a. reduce windward mooring tensions
    Y b. maintain vessel heading
    N c. maximize accelerations
    N d. increase speed of advance

5815: What device is used to measure the force exerted on the rig by a leg of the mooring system?

    N a. Advanced stability computer
    N b. Hole position indicator
    N c. Fathometer
    Y d. Load cell

8361: What is the effect of heated intake air on a diesel engine?

    N a. Increases efficiency
    N b. Increases engine horsepower
    N c. Increases engine life
    Y d. Reduces engine horsepower

8397: What is the best indication of the loading of a diesel engine?

    N a. Oil temperature
    N b. Manifold pressure
    Y c. Exhaust gas temperature
    N d. Fuel consumption

8405: The most serious effect of oxygen retained in a diesel engine jacket water cooling system is that it __________.

    Y a. causes corrosion
    N b. reduces the effectiveness of the coolant
    N c. can form air pockets which exclude coolant contact with hot surfaces
    N d. accelerates formation of hydrogen peroxide deposits

8681: The DEEP DRILLER, while loaded as shown in the Sample Load Form #5, loads 275.8 long tons. The resulting trim by the stern is 3 feet and list to port is 2 feet. What is the draft at the starboard aft draft mark?

    N a. 44 feet 6 inches
    N b. 47 feet 0 inches
    Y c. 47 feet 6 inches
    N d. 48 feet 6 inches

8713: Port ballast pump #1 on the DEEP DRILLER has failed. If you want to deballast the forward-port column using port ballast pump #2, it is necessary to open valves __________.

    Y a. 3, 34, 35, 36, 46, and 48
    N b. 4, 34, 35, 36, 46, and 48
    N c. 3, 34, 36, 46, and 48
    N d. 4, 34, 36, 46, and 48

8773: The muster list shows each rig hand's muster station, his duties during abandonment, basic instructions, and __________.

    Y a. all emergency signals
    N b. instructions for lowering the survival craft
    N c. the time each weekly drill will be held
    N d. work schedule

9205: When you are firing a pyrotechnic distress signal, it should be aimed __________.

    N a. horizontally and directly abeam of your vessel
    N b. at the vessel whose attention you want to attract
    N c. into the wind
    Y d. at greater than 60 degrees above the horizon

9287: What is the longitudinal shift in the center of gravity if 200 short tons is moved ten feet to port and 30 feet forward on a MODU with a displacement of 8,960 long tons?

    N a. 0.20 foot
    N b. 0.22 foot
    Y c. 0.67 foot
    N d. 0.84 foot

9382: Fire in an engine compartment is best extinguished with carbon dioxide gas (CO2) and by __________.

    Y a. completely closing the compartment
    N b. closing the compartment except for the ventilators
    N c. leaving the compartment open to the air
    N d. increasing the air flow to the compartment by blowers

9385: When personnel are lifted by a helicopter from an inflatable liferaft, the personnel on the raft should __________.

    Y a. deflate the floor of the raft to reduce the danger of the raft overturning
    N b. inflate the floor of the raft to provide for additional stability
    N c. remove their life preservers to prepare for the transfer
    N d. take in the sea anchor to prevent fouling of the rescue sling

9527: When the height of the metacenter is less than the height of the center of gravity, a vessel has which type of stability?

    N a. Stable
    N b. Neutral
    Y c. Negative
    N d. Positive