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.


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


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


187: What represents poor sanitary procedures?


233: Most enclosed lifeboats will right themselves after capsizing IF the __________.

    N a. lower ballast tanks are filled with water
    N b. fuel tanks are not less than half full
    Y c. passengers are strapped to their seats
    N d. sea anchor is deployed to windward

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

548: A shipmate chokes suddenly, cannot speak, and starts to turn blue. You should __________.

    Y a. perform the Heimlich maneuver
    N b. make the victim lie down with the feet elevated to get blood to the brain
    N c. immediately administer CPR
    N d. do nothing until the victim becomes unconscious

614: Your vessel is damaged and listing to port. There is a short rolling period around the angle of list. The port side freeboard is reduced to 1 foot. There is no trim and the weather is calm. You should FIRST __________.

    N a. press up a slack double bottom tank on the port side
    N b. fill an empty centerline double bottom tank
    Y c. pump out a slack marine portable tank located on the portside amidships
    N d. jettison the anchors and anchor cables

627: Distress flares and smoke signals for small passenger vessels __________.

    N a. are not required aboard vessels on runs of less than 30 minutes duration
    N b. must be Coast Guard approved and stowed in a portable, watertight container
    N c. must be marked with an expiration date not more than 42 months from the date of manufacture
    Y d. All of the above

760: With certain exceptions a suitable rescue boat is required __________.

    Y a. on most "T-Boats" more than 65 feet in length
    N b. on most "T-Boats" regardless of length
    N c. only on "K-Boats"
    N d. None of the above

831: The spread of fire is prevented by __________.

    N a. heating surfaces adjacent to the fire
    N b. leaving combustibles in the endangered area
    Y c. shutting off the oxygen supply
    N d. All of the above

903: On a vessel displacing 8,000 tons, what is the reduction in metacentric height due to free surface when a tank 45 feet long and 45 feet wide is partly filled with salt water?

    Y a. 1.22 feet
    N b. 1.16 feet
    N c. 1.13 feet
    N d. 1.10 feet

1185: If the steersman of your lifeboat gives the command "Way enough", you should __________.

    N a. complete the stroke, hold your oar out from the boat and level with the water
    N b. dip the blade of your oar into the water and leave it there
    N c. lift your oar to a vertical position
    Y d. complete the stroke, raise your oar slightly, swing it forward, and place it in the boat

1231: A "T-Boat" accident resulting in loss of life, serious injury or more than $25,000 property damage must be reported to __________.

    N a. the Maritime Administration (MARAD)
    Y b. the Coast Guard
    N c. the owner or his insurance agent
    N d. All of the above

1261: On small passenger vessels, when must watchmen patrol throughout the vessel to guard against and give alarm in case of fire or other danger?

    N a. At all times outside normal work hours
    N b. At all times when the vessel is underway
    Y c. During the nighttime when the vessel carries overnight passengers
    N d. When the rest of the crew is asleep

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

1434: Halon fire extinguishers are NOT effective when used on which types of fires?

    N a. Fires in electrical equipment
    N b. Flammable oils and greases
    N c. Class "A" fires in ordinary combustibles
    Y d. Materials containing their own oxygen

1437: You are in a lifeboat when you sight the stars. You will be heading due north when you head for Polaris which is indicated by which letter? (D007SA )

    Y a. F
    N b. G
    N c. J
    N d. K

1561: Which is NOT a mandatory part of the shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan?

    N a. Reporting requirements
    Y b. Diagrams
    N c. Steps to control a discharge
    N d. National and local coordination

1570: Which is a mandatory section of the shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan?

    Y a. Reporting requirements
    N b. Removal equipment list
    N c. Planned exercises
    N d. List of individuals required to respond

1573: The searchlight on a survival craft must be capable of operating 3 hours continuously or 6 hours intermittently if operated in cycles of __________.

    N a. 5 minutes on and 10 minutes off
    N b. 10 minutes on and 5 minutes off
    Y c. 15 minutes on and 5 minutes off
    N d. 15 minutes on and 10 minutes off

1611: How should longitude 116°54.9'E be written when preparing an AMVER report?

    N a. Q1169
    N b. 116.9E
    Y c. 11655E
    N d. 117E

1614: You may have to give artificial respiration after a/an __________.

    N a. drowning
    N b. electrocution
    N c. poisoning
    Y d. All of the above

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

1824: Most recreational sailing craft have triangular sails and are said to be __________.

    N a. Gaff rigged
    N b. Spinnaker rigged
    Y c. Marconi rigged
    N d. Square rigged

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

1858: A sailing vessel with the wind coming from 180° relative would be __________.

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

1874: Automatic fire dampers in ventilation systems are operated by use of a __________.

    N a. remote operated valve
    N b. C02 system pressure switch
    Y c. fusible link
    N d. heat or smoke detector

1899: Your vessel displaces 684 tons and measures 132'L by 31'B. What is the reduction in GM due to free surface if the fish hold (32'L by 29'B by 9'D) is filled with 2 feet of water? (Each foot of water weighs 26.5 tons)

    N a. 2.17 feet
    N b. 2.32 feet
    Y c. 2.52 feet
    N d. 3.01 feet

2375: An entry of water, gas, oil, or other formation fluid into the wellbore is called a __________.

    N a. blowout
    Y b. kick
    N c. gusher
    N d. flow

2399: Sixty (60) tons of cargo are raised with a heavy lift boom 45 feet from the centerline. The vessel's displacement including the weight lifted is 18,400 tons. The angle of list caused by the suspended weight is 1.5°, KM is 28.75 ft., and BM is 17.25 ft. What is the KG?

    N a. 11.65 feet
    N b. 22.85 feet
    Y c. 23.15 feet
    N d. 23.82 feet

2480: According to the Chemical Data Guide, what is NOT a recommended extinguishing agent for an ethyl chloride fire?

    N a. CO2
    Y b. Alcohol foam
    N c. Dry chemical
    N d. Water fog

2496: What type of vent system would a barge of acrylonitrile have?

    N a. Open
    Y b. Pressure-vacuum
    N c. Safety relief
    N d. Rupture disk

2528: Which action should you take after sending a false Distress alert on VHF?

    N a. Send a DSC cancellation message on Ch-70.
    Y b. Make a voice announcement to cancel the alert on Ch-16.
    N c. Make a voice announcement to cancel the alert on Ch-13.
    N d. Make a voice announcement to cancel the alert on Ch-22A.

2623: Between the side frames on a MODU, support for the deck beams is provided by __________.

    Y a. stanchions
    N b. brackets
    N c. web frames
    N d. deck stringers

2685: The number of certificated able seamen and lifeboatmen required on a MODU is determined by the __________.

    N a. Minerals Management Service
    N b. Corps of Engineers
    Y c. Coast Guard
    N d. American Bureau of Shipping

2776: The lubber's line of a magnetic compass __________.

    N a. always shows true north direction
    Y b. indicates the vessel's heading
    N c. is always parallel to the vessel's transom
    N d. is located on the compass card

2898: Painters on life floats shall be not less than __________. (small passenger vessel regulations)

    N a. 20 feet in length
    N b. 30 feet in length
    N c. 70 feet in length
    Y d. 100 feet in length

2982: The SS AMERICAN MARINER is ready to bunker with drafts of FWD 11'-01", AFT 15'-01". After all bunkers are on board, soundings indicate the tonnages shown. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the free surface correction. ST-0091

    N a. 1.20 feet
    N b. 0.92 foot
    Y c. 0.73 foot
    N d. 0.61 foot

3076: The SS AMERICAN MARINER is ready to bunker with drafts of FWD 11'-01", AFT 15'-01". After all bunkers are on board, soundings indicate the tonnages shown. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the free surface correction. ST-0103

    N a. 0.87 foot
    N b. 0.98 foot
    Y c. 1.14 feet
    N d. 1.25 feet

3206: Your tow contains a barge carrying carbon tetrachloride. What is NOT required?

    N a. Cargo warning signs on barge
    N b. Cargo information card on barge
    N c. Cargo information card in pilothouse
    Y d. Certificated tankerman on towboat

3220: All vessels not required to have a power driven fire pump shall carry __________. (small passenger vessel regulations)

    N a. a suitable, detachable pump usable for fire fighting purposes
    Y b. at least three 2-1/2 gallon fire buckets
    N c. an emergency hand fire and bilge pump
    N d. not less than three hand fire pumps

3240: When a vessel is required to have a power-driven fire pump, the pump may also be used for __________. (small passenger vessel regulations)

    N a. the drinking water supply system
    Y b. the bilge pump
    N c. engine cooling water
    N d. None of the above

3334: Inflatable liferafts are provided with __________.

    N a. a portable radio
    N b. an oil lantern
    N c. canned milk
    Y d. a towing bridle

3419: Using the Guidance Manual for Loading M.V. Grand Haven, determine the amount of ballast required in tank No. 5 (P & S) to maintain drafts of 17'-00" forward and 22'-06" aft for a vessel loaded with grain which has a test weight of 35 lbs.

    N a. 785 tons each
    N b. 820 tons each
    Y c. 880 tons each
    N d. 900 tons each

3446: To release the davit cable of a davit launched liferaft, you must __________.

    Y a. pull the release lanyard
    N b. pull the hydraulic release
    N c. push the release button
    N d. pull on the ratchet handle

3534: When a passenger vessel's plans must be permanently exhibited, they are NOT required to show information on the __________.

    N a. fire detection system
    N b. portable fire extinguishers
    Y c. lifeboats, liferafts, and life preservers
    N d. ventilation systems

4048: Fire protection and manning regulations for towing vessels state that the Master or person in charge must ensure that all crew members who have not participated in the drills or received the safety orientation _____________ .

    N a. receive a safety orientation or view a videotape before the vessel gets underway
    N b. view a videotape on safety procedures within 48 hours of reporting for duty
    Y c. receive a safety orientation within 24 hours of reporting for duty
    N d. none of the above

4084: A towing vessel is NOT required to be fitted with radar if it is ____________ .

    N a. used occasionally to assist vessels in distress
    Y b. used solely for pollution response
    N c. less than 49 feet in length
    N d. towing alongside

4107: The DEEP DRILLER is loaded as shown in the Sample Load Form #2 (Ballasting to Survival). What is the VCG of the added liquid if 100.76 long tons of ballast are added to Ballast Tank #8S?

    N a. 1.35 feet
    N b. 6.95 feet
    N c. 8.30 feet
    Y d. 15.26 feet

4164: The color of the signal flares sent up by a submarine about to surface from periscope depth is __________.

    Y a. white
    N b. yellow
    N c. red
    N d. green

5958: You are wearing a breathing apparatus inside a tank. How many tugs on the lifeline should you give to indicate that you are advancing?

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

6605: All fire hoses on mobile offshore drilling units must be tested to a pressure of at least __________.

    N a. 100 psi
    Y b. 110 psi
    N c. 120 psi
    N d. 130 psi

6813: The Master or person in charge of a mobile offshore drilling unit shall ensure the crane record book shows __________.

    N a. the name of the operator
    Y b. the American Petroleum Institute name plate data
    N c. the average load in pounds each usage
    N d. All of the above

6853: Regulations require that line throwing equipment on mobile offshore drilling units be tested at regular intervals. What entry should be made in the logbook?

    N a. No entry is required unless it is an official logbook.
    N b. An entry is required only if there is a failure.
    Y c. Only the date of the test
    N d. The name of the person making the test

7845: When the bypass valve of a self-contained breathing device is opened, the air flows __________.

    Y a. directly to the facepiece
    N b. directly to the air supply bottle
    N c. through the regulator
    N d. from the bottle into the atmosphere

8173: When elevating the COASTAL DRILLER in 100 feet of water, the unit should be placed at an air gap of __________.

    Y a. 35 feet
    N b. 32 feet
    N c. 30 feet
    N d. 25 feet

8347: All diesel engines are classified as __________.

    N a. four cycle
    Y b. compression ignition
    N c. vacuum ignition
    N d. external combustion

8702: An oil fire is classified as class __________.

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

9331: Paints and solvents on a vessel should be __________.

    N a. stored safely at the work site until work is completed
    Y b. returned to the paint locker after each use
    N c. covered at all times to protect from ignition sources
    N d. stored in a suitable gear locker

9521: Aboard a vessel, dividing the sum of the vertical moments by the total weight yields the vessel's __________.

    Y a. height of the center of gravity
    N b. vertical moments
    N c. righting moments
    N d. inclining moments