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.


55: Most minor spills of oil products are caused by __________.


152: What is the function of the bypass valve on the self-contained breathing apparatus?


536: A fully loaded motor-propelled lifeboat must be capable of attaining a speed of at least __________.


591: The SS AMERICAN MARINER has the following drafts: FWD 09'-00", AFT 15'-11". 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-0014

    N a. 2.82 feet
    N b. 2.97 feet
    N c. 3.15 feet
    Y d. 3.24 feet

612: The service life of distress signals must be not more than __________.

    Y a. forty two months from the date of manufacture
    N b. thirty six months from the date of the last inspection
    N c. twenty four months from the date of approval
    N d. twelve months from the date of purchase

671: When signaling a course using the International Code of Signals, the signal __________.

    N a. must be followed by "T", "M" or "C" to indicate if it is true, magnetic or compass
    N b. should be preceded by the letters CSE
    N c. should include the compass deviation if a compass course is signaled
    Y d. always indicates a true course unless indicated otherwise in the message

678: Fire may be spread by which means?

    N a. Conduction of heat to adjacent surfaces
    N b. Direct radiation
    N c. Convection
    Y d. All of the above

796: When discharging a portable CO2 fire extinguisher, you should NOT hold the horn of the extinguisher because the horn __________.

    N a. becomes extremely hot
    Y b. becomes extremely cold
    N c. could come off in your hands
    N d. is placed directly in the flames

852: Which statement concerning the application of dry chemical powder is FALSE?

    Y a. At temperatures of less than 32°F, the extinguisher must be recharged more often.
    N b. When possible, the fire should be attacked from windward.
    N c. The stream should be directed at the base of the fire.
    N d. Directing the stream into burning flammable liquid may cause splashing.

891: On small passenger vessels, cooling water for the exhaust lines from an internal combustion engine must be __________.

    Y a. obtained from the engine's cooling water system or from a separate engine-driven pump
    N b. chemically treated to prevent corrosion
    N c. flushed and changed periodically
    N d. obtained from a fresh water storage tank or an expansion tank

1157: When using the combustible gas indicator, a special filter for filtering the incoming sample must be used if the atmosphere being tested contains vapors of __________.

    N a. sour crude
    Y b. leaded gasoline
    N c. CO2
    N d. chlorine

1275: A documented vessel's name is marked on a clearly visible exterior area of both sides of the bow and on the stern in block letters not less than __________.

    N a. 6 inches in height
    N b. 5 inches in height
    Y c. 4 inches in height
    N d. 3 inches in height

1307: Firefighting foam is only effective when the foam __________.

    N a. penetrates to the bottom of the fire
    N b. is kept saturated with low-velocity water fog
    N c. mixes with the burning fuel oil
    Y d. completely covers the top of the burning liquid

1350: 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-0036

    N a. 2.45 feet
    N b. 1.95 feet
    Y c. 1.05 feet
    N d. 0.90 foot

1386: If the metacentric height is large, a vessel will __________.

    N a. be tender
    N b. have a slow and easy motion
    Y c. be stiff
    N d. have a tendency to yaw

1448: After making the required notification that a large oil spill into the water has occurred, the FIRST action should be to __________.

    N a. apply straw or sawdust on the oil
    Y b. contain the spread of the oil
    N c. throw grains of sand into the oil
    N d. have the vessel move out of the spill area

1476: Your vessel has 3 lifeboats on each side. The aftermost boat on the starboard side is designated as boat number __________.

    N a. 6
    Y b. 5
    N c. 3
    N d. 3 STARBOARD

1492: You have abandoned ship. There are several rafts in the water. One of the FIRST things to do is __________.

    N a. separate the rafts as much as possible to increase chances of detection
    N b. transfer all supplies to one raft
    N c. transfer all the injured to one raft
    Y d. secure the rafts together to keep them from drifting apart

1498: The spread of fire is prevented by __________.

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

1538: Your oceangoing vessel is required to have a waste management plan. This plan must be in writing and describe procedures for __________.

    Y a. collecting and discharging garbage
    N b. disposing waste from marine sanitation devices
    N c. reducing the amount of shipboard waste
    N d. segregating the different types of shipboard waste

1725: The most effective treatment for warming a crew member suffering from hypothermia is __________.

    N a. running or jumping to increase circulation
    N b. raising body temperature rapidly by placing hands and feet in hot water
    Y c. bundling the body in blankets to rewarm gradually
    N d. laying prone under heat lamps to rewarm rapidly

1863: On offshore drilling units, each storage battery for emergency lighting and power systems must be tested every six months under actual connected load for a period of at least __________.

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

1892: What is the required amount of time that a SART's battery must be able to operate the unit in the standby mode?

    N a. 8 hours
    N b. 2 days
    N c. 3 days
    Y d. 4 days

1918: Which equipment is not a source of locating signals?

    N a. EPIRB's that transmit on 406 MHz
    Y b. Survival craft VHF transceivers that provide a beacon on 121.5 MHz
    N c. COSPAS-SARSAT EPIRBs
    N d. SARTs operating on 9 GHz

1941: On offshore drilling units, boat drills must be conducted at least __________.

    Y a. monthly
    N b. quarterly
    N c. daily
    N d. annually

2194: Your vessel is damaged with no list, but down by the stern. There is progressive flooding and trim by the stern is increasing. What is the effect on transverse stability after the deck edge at the stern is submerged?

    N a. KB increases, increasing BM and therefore GM
    N b. KG increases due to the weight of the added water on deck
    Y c. BM decreases from loss of water plane and greater volume.
    N d. There is no effect on transverse stability.

2212: In order to maintain speed while changing course from a close reach to a broad reach, the sails should be __________.

    N a. lowered
    N b. reefed
    N c. hauled in
    Y d. eased out

2235: You are aboard a vessel which is near a platform engaged in oil exploration. Under U.S. pollution regulations, you may NOT discharge garbage if you are within __________.

    Y a. 1650 feet (500 meters)
    N b. 1750 feet (533 meters)
    N c. 1970 feet (600 meters)
    N d. 2500 feet (762 meters)

2363: Use the material in Section 1, the blue pages, of the Stability Data Reference Book. If the KG is 22.0 feet, and the drafts are: FWD 23'-06", AFT 24'-03"; at what angle will the vessel lose positive stability?

    N a. 76°
    N b. 84°
    N c. 89°
    Y d. 98°

2751: The requirements for special welding procedures on a MODU must be contained in the __________.

    N a. vessel plans
    N b. Coast Guard file
    Y c. construction portfolio
    N d. construction plans

3202: Which of these approved lifesaving devices must a small passenger vessel carrying passengers for hire carry for each person on board? (small passenger vessel regulations)

    N a. Buoyant cushion
    Y b. Life jacket
    N c. Ring buoy
    N d. Buoyant vest

3357: What must be carried out in order to launch and inflate an inflatable liferaft?

    N a. Pull on the hydrostatic release, pull on the sea painter.
    Y b. Push on the hydrostatic release, pull on the sea painter.
    N c. Push on the hydrostatic release, push on the sea painter.
    N d. Pull on the hydrostatic release, push on the sea painter.

3573: The DEEP DRILLER in transit is level at 23.0 feet draft. Strong winds are blowing from the starboard. A careful load form calculation determines that the TCG is 2.0 feet to starboard. What is the value of the wind heeling moment?

    N a. 4,339 foot-long tons
    Y b. 26,033 foot-long tons
    N c. 39,050 foot-long tons
    N d. 78,099 foot-long tons

3627: The DEEP DRILLER is drilling on location at a 60 foot draft. Waves are approaching within 2 feet of the underside of the spider deck. You should __________.

    Y a. suspend drilling operations and deballast to a 45 foot draft
    N b. continue drilling while ballasting to a 20 foot draft maximum air gap
    N c. deballast when the waves just begin to hit the underside of the spider deck
    N d. reduce tension on all anchor chains to increase draft

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

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

4165: 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 height of the transverse metacenter?

    N a. 61.19 feet
    N b. 62.80 feet
    N c. 62.99 feet
    Y d. 62.94 feet

4393: Environmental loading consists of the forces caused by wind, waves, and __________.

    N a. drilling
    N b. soil reactions
    N c. temperature
    Y d. current

4402: The SS AMERICAN MARINER has on board 6584 tons of cargo with an LCG-FP of 277.84 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-0161

    N a. LCG-FP 271.2 feet
    N b. LCG-FP 272.1 feet
    N c. LCG-FP 273.6 feet
    Y d. LCG-FP 274.6 feet

4575: What precaution should be taken when testing a line throwing gun?

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

4655: The COASTAL DRILLER is loaded as shown in the Sample Load Form #1 (Rig Move). If the drill water in drill water tanks #6 and #25 are discharged, what is the new draft?

    N a. 8.26 feet
    Y b. 10.66 feet
    N c. 10.88 feet
    N d. 11.10 feet

4667: The COASTAL DRILLER is loaded as shown in the Sample Load Form #1 (Rig Move). If the contents of #6 and #7 drill water tanks are discharged, what would be the new height of the longitudinal metacenter?

    N a. 249.47 feet
    N b. 250.16 feet
    Y c. 252.92 feet
    N d. 253.90 feet

5122: You are scheduled to load 3700 tons of cargo, 45 tons of crew effects and stores and 427 tons of fuel. Use the blue pages of the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the vessel's mean draft in fresh water.

    N a. 17'-01"
    N b. 17'-00"
    Y c. 17'-10"
    N d. 18'-00"

5363: The COASTAL DRILLER, when underway was loaded as shown in Sample Load Form #1 (Rig Move). It is now preloaded at minimum air gap waiting for all settling to take place. The preload, weighing 7,191.7 kips, has LM 870,196 ft-kips and TM 2,158 ft-kips. What is the starboard leg reaction?

    N a. 7,026 kips
    N b. 7,099 kips
    N c. 7,144 kips
    Y d. 7,180 kips

5385: While preloading, the COASTAL DRILLER has a total weight of 21,401 kips. The LM are 2,560,416 ft-kips, and the TM are -6,206 ft-kips. What is the starboard leg reaction?

    Y a. 7,099 kips
    N b. 7,134 kips
    N c. 7,151 kips
    N d. 7,203 kips

5525: What does the proof test load of an anchor chain demonstrate?

    N a. The breaking strength of the anchor chain
    Y b. Strength of the anchor chain to a specified limit
    N c. Adequate holding power for new bottom conditions
    N d. Safe working load of the anchor chain

5557: The holding power of an anchor is the __________.

    N a. maximum sustained vertical load an anchor will resist before dragging
    Y b. maximum sustained horizontal load an anchor will resist before dragging
    N c. maximum sustained vertical load an anchor will resist before the mooring line breaks
    N d. maximum sustained horizontal load an anchor will resist before the mooring line breaks

5725: Given the same water depth and line tension, the catenary length of a 90 pound/foot mooring chain in comparison to the catenary length of a 19 pound/foot wire rope mooring line will be __________.

    N a. longer
    N b. identical
    Y c. shorter
    N d. indeterminable

6271: During storm conditions on a MODU, the mooring tensions should be adjusted so that __________.

    N a. all mooring lines have a different tension
    N b. the leeward lines have higher tension than the windward lines
    Y c. the maximum tension of the most heavily loaded line does not exceed the safe working load
    N d. all horizontal tension forces on the windward lines are no greater than the vertical tension forces

6551: When referring to quantity of barite in a P-tank, ullage is the __________.

    N a. distance of the barite surface above the tank bottom
    N b. percentage of barite in the tank
    Y c. distance of the barite surface below the tank cover
    N d. total weight of barite in UPC (ullages per centimeter)

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

7373: When a semisubmersible rig under tow experiences pounding on the forward transverse brace, the surest way to alleviate the condition would be to __________.

    N a. adjust the length of the tow line
    N b. have the tug slow down
    Y c. ballast down
    N d. change course

7703: The average of the forward and after drafts is the __________.

    Y a. mean draft
    N b. true mean draft
    N c. mean of the calculated drafts
    N d. draft at the center of flotation

7785: The result of multiplying a weight by a distance is a __________.

    Y a. moment
    N b. force
    N c. couple
    N d. center of gravity location

8051: The "off-load" release system on a survival craft is designed to be activated __________.

    Y a. when there is no load on the cable
    N b. when there is a load on the cable
    N c. only when the doors are closed
    N d. when the engine is started

8093: What is the displacement of the DEEP DRILLER with a draft of 19.5 feet in fresh water?

    Y a. 11,932.8 long tons
    N b. 12,232.8 long tons
    N c. 12,602.9 long tons
    N d. 18,919.8 long tons

8327: When H2S has been encountered on a MODU, or is anticipated, monitoring devices must sound an alarm (which differs from the lower concentration alarm) or otherwise warn employees when concentration of H2S reaches or exceeds how many parts per million?

    N a. 20
    Y b. 50
    N c. 100
    N d. 200

8701: The DEEP DRILLER is loaded as shown in Sample Load Form #4 (Drilling). While the unit is deballasting, starboard valve 19 fails in the closed position. You may deballast from tank 9S by pumping from tank 8S by opening valves 20 and __________.

    N a. 35
    N b. 21
    Y c. 18
    N d. 17

8715: Starboard ballast pump #1 on the DEEP DRILLER has failed. To deballast from tank C2SA using starboard ballast pump #2, it is necessary to open the manual valve and which motor driven valves?

    Y a. 15, 34, 35, 36, 46, 48
    N b. 16, 27, 32, 35, 36, 48
    N c. 15, 33, 43, 48
    N d. 14, 34, 35, 36, 46, 48

9593: A semisubmersible floating in sea water displaces 717,500 cubic feet. What is the displacement?

    N a. 11,211 long tons
    N b. 11,498 long tons
    N c. 19,977 long tons
    Y d. 20,500 long tons