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.


68: The MOST important element in administering CPR is __________.


82: You are fighting a class "B" fire with a portable dry chemical extinguisher. The discharge should be directed __________.


119: What would be considered a vessel under the International Rules of the Road?


142: You are in the Baltic Sea which is a special area listed in ANNEX V of MARPOL. How many miles from land must you be to discharge ground rags, glass, and bottles into the sea?

    N a. 3
    N b. 12
    N c. 25
    Y d. Must be retained aboard

209: The number 2 lifeboat on a tanker would be found __________.

    Y a. on the port side
    N b. on the starboard side
    N c. abaft #1 lifeboat on the port side
    N d. abaft #1 lifeboat on the starboard side

268: What is NOT a treatment for traumatic shock?

    N a. Keep the patient warm but not hot.
    N b. Have the injured person lie down.
    Y c. Massage the arms and legs to restore circulation.
    N d. Relieve the pain of the injury.

477: The radiotelephone required by the "Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act" is for the exclusive use of __________.

    N a. the Master or person in charge of the vessel
    N b. a person designated by the Master
    N c. a person on board to pilot the vessel
    Y d. All of the above

522: A spanner is a __________.

    N a. cross connection line between two main fire lines
    Y b. special wrench for the couplings in a fire hose line
    N c. tackle rigged to support a fire hose
    N d. None of the above

534: Your vessel has been damaged and is taking on water, but you do not require immediate assistance. You would preface a message advising other vessels of your situation with __________.

    N a. Mayday-Mayday-Mayday
    Y b. Pan-Pan (3 times)
    N c. Securite-Securite-Securite
    N d. SOS-SOS-SOS

696: For each person it is certified to carry, a lifeboat on an oceangoing passenger vessel must be provided with all of the following EXCEPT __________.

    N a. 3 liters of water
    N b. 1 unit of provisions
    N c. 1 seasickness kit
    Y d. 1 life preserver

722: 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-0016

    N a. FWD 23'-03", AFT 27'-00"
    Y b. FWD 23'-07", AFT 26'-07"
    N c. FWD 24'-01", AFT 26'-02"
    N d. FWD 24'-06", AFT 25'-10"

761: Which when removed, will result in the extinguishment of a fire?

    Y a. Oxygen
    N b. Carbon dioxide
    N c. Sodium
    N d. Nitrogen

879: To operate a portable CO2 extinguisher continuously in the discharge mode __________.

    Y a. slip the "D yoke" ring in the lower handle over the upper handle
    N b. reinsert the locking pin
    N c. open the discharge valve
    N d. invert the CO2 extinguisher

897: Which statement is TRUE concerning carbon dioxide?

    N a. It is lighter than air.
    Y b. It is an inert gas.
    N c. It is used mostly on class A fires.
    N d. All of the above

901: 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%
    N b. replaced in its proper location if weight loss is no more than 25%
    Y c. labeled empty and recharged as soon as possible
    N d. labeled empty and replaced in its proper location regardless of weight

936: If your vessel is equipped with inflatable liferafts, how should they be maintained?

    N a. Have your crew check them annually.
    N b. They do not need any maintenance.
    Y c. Have them sent ashore to an approved maintenance facility annually.
    N d. Have them serviced by the shipyard annually.

1056: U.S.C.G. approved buoyant work vests are considered to be items of safety equipment and may be worn by members of the crew __________.

    N a. in lieu of life preservers during fire drills
    N b. in lieu of life preservers during boat drills
    N c. in lieu of life preservers during an actual emergency
    Y d. when carrying out duties near a weather deck's edge

1176: Your vessel is required to have an impulse-projected line throwing appliance. The auxiliary line must __________.

    N a. be of a light color
    N b. be 250 meters in length
    Y c. have a breaking strength of 9000 lbs
    N d. be made of synthetic material

1182: An oxygen indicator can be used to determine if there is __________.

    Y a. sufficient oxygen in a compartment to support life
    N b. combustible gases present
    N c. hydrogen gas present
    N d. All of the above

1205: On board small passenger vessels, storage batteries containing an electrolyte must be set in trays constructed of __________.

    N a. a fireproof material
    Y b. a material resistant to damage by the electrolyte
    N c. a porous material that permits drainage of any acid overflow
    N d. suitably strong to hold the weight of the batteries

1252: When fighting a fire with a portable dry chemical fire extinguisher, the stream should be directed __________.

    N a. over the top of the flames
    N b. off a bulkhead into the fire
    N c. in front of the fire
    Y d. at the base of the fire

1295: If you must land on a beach with an oar-propelled lifeboat through a heavy surf, the recommended method is to __________.

    N a. keep the bow directly in toward the beach, and tow the sea anchor off the stern
    N b. ride in on the back of a large breaker
    Y c. keep the bow into the seas with the sea anchor out over the bow, and row to meet the breaking waves
    N d. head directly into the beach by staying between the crests of the waves

1331: A Certificate of Financial Responsibility attests that the vessel __________.

    Y a. has financial backing to meet any liability resulting from the discharge of oil
    N b. has the minimum required amount of P & I and hull insurance
    N c. will assume the responsibility for any damage or loss to the shipper
    N d. has financial reserves to meet reasonable expected crew costs of an intended voyage

1417: A vessel is "listed" when it is __________.

    N a. down by the head
    N b. down by the stern
    Y c. inclined due to off-center weight
    N d. inclined due to wind

1787: Which GMDSS control selection may result in limited receiving range?

    N a. Setting the squelch control to its minimum level
    N b. The power switch is set to the "high" output position resulting in receiver over loading
    Y c. Setting the squelch control to its maximum level
    N d. Setting the channel selection switch midway between channels 6 and 16

2019: You have 38 containers of ships stores each measuring 6'L by 6'B by 5'H and weighing 0.6 ton 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? (See illustration D037DG, stability letter for M.V. Surveyor) (D037DG )

    N a. 0.54 foot (0.16 meter)
    Y b. 1.06 feet (0.32 meter)
    N c. 1.35 feet (0.41 meter)
    N d. 1.64 feet (0.50 meter)

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

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

2250: Which cargo is considered volatile?

    N a. Bunker C
    N b. Turkey-red oil
    N c. Sweet oil
    Y d. iso-Propylamine

2417: Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. Key letters or abbreviations may not be used in GMDSS radio logbooks under any circumstance.
    N b. Urgency communications do not need to be entered in the GMDSS radio log.
    N c. Both of the above
    Y d. None of the above

2432: You are loading propanolamine and spill a small quantity on deck. According to the Chemical Data Guide, you would expect its odor to be __________.

    N a. sweet
    N b. similar to turpentine
    Y c. fishy
    N d. similar to ammonia

2442: The international shore connection __________.

    Y a. allows hook up of fire fighting water from shore facilities
    N b. satisfies pollution prevention requirements
    N c. allows emergency use of the fire main for deballasting
    N d. permits discharge of waste oil to shore facilities

2449: You are loading epichlorohydrin onto your barge. According to the Chemical Data Guide, you could expect to detect a leak by smell if the concentration in air was at least __________.

    N a. 2 ppm
    Y b. 10 - 25 ppm
    N c. 40 ppm
    N d. 105 ppm

2511: When lowering a personnel net to pick up personnel from a boat, the personnel basket should be __________.

    Y a. lowered over open water
    N b. tied to the vessel with a tag line
    N c. dropped in the water
    N d. tied to the rig with a tag line

2583: How can rescue personnel detect that a SART is transmitting in the immediate vicinity?

    Y a. The SART's blips on the PPI will become arcs and eventually become concentric circles.
    N b. The DSC unit will react to the SART's signal and respond with the two-tone autoalarm.
    N c. The SART can provide an approximate location to within a two nautical mile radius per IMO standards.
    N d. The SART signal appears as a target which comes and goes; the effect of heavy swells on a SART.

2611: The central longitudinal structural hull strength member of the lower hulls of semisubmersible MODU's is called the __________.

    N a. stress plate
    Y b. keel
    N c. rider plate
    N d. main beam

2619: 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-0073

    N a. 1171.5 tons
    N b. 1311.0 tons
    N c. 1503.0 tons
    Y d. 1710.5 tons

2869: Mechanical gearing of deck machinery such as the windlass or towing engine should __________.

    N a. be open to view so, if a foreign object gets in the gearing, the operator can immediately stop the machinery
    Y b. have a guard over the gearing
    N c. be painted a contrasting color from the base color in order to call attention to the gearing
    N d. not be operated if there is any crew within 10 feet of the machinery

2904: The sailing drafts are: FWD 24'-03", AFT 25'-03" and the GM is 5.5 feet. Use the information in Section 1, the blue pages of the Stability Data Reference Book, to determine the available righting arm at 30° inclination.

    N a. 2.6 feet
    N b. 2.9 feet
    N c. 3.2 feet
    Y d. 3.5 feet

2953: When the height of the metacenter has the same value as the height of the center of gravity, the metacentric height is equal to __________.

    N a. the height of the metacenter
    N b. the height of the center of gravity
    N c. the same as half the height of the metacenter
    Y d. zero

2978: Which equipment is not required for a life float? (small passenger vessel regulations)

    N a. Paddles
    N b. Light
    N c. Painter
    Y d. Compass

2983: The height of the metacenter above the keel will vary depending on the __________.

    Y a. draft and beam of the drilling unit
    N b. displacement and deadweight of the drilling unit
    N c. buoyancy and trim of the drilling unit
    N d. tonnage and deadweight of the drilling unit

3112: An 85 foot uninspected towing vessel with a crew of ten (10) persons on board must carry at LEAST __________. (Uninspected Vessel Regulations)

    N a. 10 approved ring life buoys and 10 approved life preservers
    N b. 10 approved work vests
    Y c. 10 approved life jackets and 1 approved ring life buoy
    N d. 11 approved life preservers

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

3495: The SS AMERICAN MARINER arrived in port with drafts of: FWD 17'-10", AFT 19'-06". Cargo was loaded and discharged as indicated. Use sheet 2 in the white pages of the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the final drafts. ST-0134

    N a. FWD 16'-10", AFT 21'-02"
    N b. FWD 17'-00", AFT 21'-00"
    N c. FWD 17'-02", AFT 20'-10"
    Y d. FWD 17'-04", AFT 20'-08"

3742: A rescuer can most easily determine whether or not an adult victim has a pulse by checking the pulse at the __________.

    Y a. carotid artery in the neck
    N b. femoral artery in the groin
    N c. brachial artery in the arm
    N d. radial artery in the wrist

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

3833: Among the valves to open on the DEEP DRILLER, if you have to transfer ballast from Tank 1P to Tank 10S using #1 ballast pump, is valve __________.

    Y a. 33 Starboard
    N b. 44 Starboard
    N c. 33 Port
    N d. 44 Port

3845: On the DEEP DRILLER, among the valves to open when transferring ballast from Tank 1S to Tank 10P using the #1 ballast pump is valve __________.

    N a. 33 Starboard
    N b. 44 Starboard
    Y c. 33 Port
    N d. 44 Port

4501: The COASTAL DRILLER is in transit at a draft of 10.0 feet. It loads 216.43 kips of weight aboard. What is the new draft?

    N a. 10.2 feet
    Y b. 10 feet 2 inches
    N c. 10 feet 3 inches
    N d. 10 feet 4 inches

4525: Preload tank 22B on the COASTAL DRILLER contains 5.0 feet of preload. It is decided to complete filling the tank. What is the TCG of the added liquid?

    N a. 65.60 feet
    N b. 65.74 feet
    N c. 65.77 feet
    Y d. 65.83 feet

4537: What is the weight in long tons of 180 barrels of 15 pound per gallon drilling mud?

    N a. 522.67 long tons
    Y b. 50.63 long tons
    N c. 34.84 long tons
    N d. 3.38 long tons

5425: The COASTAL DRILLER, loaded as shown in the Sample Load Form #3 (Drilling), dumps all the mud in pits 1, 2, 3, and 4. What is the new LCG?

    N a. 122.02 feet AFO
    N b. 125.03 feet AFO
    Y c. 125.63 feet AFO
    N d. 131.46 feet AFO

6625: Each hose in the fuel transfer system for helicopter refueling must meet the standards of the __________.

    Y a. Federal Aviation Administration
    N b. Corps of Engineers
    N c. National Fire Protection Association
    N d. National Transportation Safety Board

6695: Each buoyant work vest on a MODU must be __________.

    Y a. Coast Guard approved
    N b. marked with the name of the unit
    N c. equipped with a water light
    N d. All of the above

7047: What are symptom(s) of a ruptured appendix?

    N a. Dilated pupils and shallow breathing
    N b. Diarrhea and frequent urination
    Y c. Muscle tenseness in almost the entire abdomen
    N d. Extreme sweating and reddening skin

8421: If an engine shuts down due to high jacket water temperature, what action should be taken?

    N a. Open crankcase explosion covers
    Y b. Allow engine to cool gradually
    N c. Slowly add cool water to the expansion tank
    N d. Back flush the cooling water system

8621: What is the transverse shift in the center of gravity if 200 short tons are placed 10 feet to port of the centerline on a MODU with TCG 0.7 foot starboard of the centerline, and the displacement is 9,000 short tons?

    N a. 0.03 foot
    N b. 0.20 foot
    Y c. 0.23 foot
    N d. 0.62 foot

9153: The two factors which make underwater hull repair of a MODU difficult are accessibility and the __________.

    N a. availability of tools
    N b. shape of the hull
    Y c. pressure exerted by the water
    N d. threat of progressive flooding

9231: The transverse free surface correction of a floating MODU displacing 24,000 long tons is 1.0 foot. When the MODU is deballasted by discharging 8,000 long tons of ballast, the FSMT decreases by 4,000 ft-long tons. What is the new FSCT?

    N a. 1.50 feet
    Y b. 1.25 feet
    N c. 1.00 foot
    N d. 0.83 foot