USCG Master Rivers 500-1600 GRT

As master on watch under Inland Rule 5, you must maintain a proper lookout by:

• ASight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate to the circumstances
• BAIS alone when traffic density is low
• CRadar only in restricted visibility
• DVisual observation only when the vessel is less than 500 GRT

Under Inland Rule 7(a), if there is any doubt whether risk of collision exists, such risk shall be:

• ADeemed to exist
• BIgnored until AIS confirms a CPA under 0.5 nm
• CAssumed only inside a lock approach
• DDetermined solely by the give-way vessel

The steering and sailing rules of Section II, Rules 11 through 18, apply only to vessels:

• AIn sight of one another
• BOperating in restricted visibility
• COf 20 metres or more in length
• DUnderway and making way through the water

Under the Inland Rules, three short blasts on the whistle mean:

• AI am operating astern propulsion
• BI intend to overtake you on your starboard side
• CI am altering my course to port
• DI am in doubt as to your intentions

Under Rule 22, the minimum visibility range required for the masthead light of a vessel of 50 metres or more in length is:

• A6 miles
• B3 miles
• C2 miles
• D1 mile

Under Inland Rules on the Western Rivers or waters specified by the Secretary, a power-driven vessel proceeding downbound with a following current shall:

• AHave the right-of-way over an upbound vessel and propose the manner of passage; the upbou…
• BAlways keep to the starboard side of the channel and never sound signals
• CYield to all upbound traffic because following current makes her less maneuverable
• DAnchor if another vessel is within 1 mile ahead

Under Inland Rule 34, when power-driven vessels are in sight of one another and meeting or crossing with risk of collision, a short blast means:

• AI intend to leave you on my port side (and requires an answering agreement signal under I…
• BI am already altering my course to port under International Rules only
• CI am operating astern propulsion
• DI am in doubt

Rule 19(d) gives a second caution to a vessel taking avoiding action on radar information alone. So far as possible she must avoid an alteration of course toward:

• AA vessel abeam or abaft the beam
• BAny vessel forward of the beam
• CThe nearest land
• DThe centre of a traffic separation scheme

A vessel engaged in towing alongside or pushing ahead on the Western Rivers, when required to exhibit lights, typically shows towing identification lights in addition to:

• ASidelights and sternlight (and special light arrangements for the tow as required by the…
• BOnly a single white all-round light
• CTwo green lights only
• DNo sidelights when the tow is less than 200 meters

Under Inland Rules, when vessels are in sight and one is in doubt as to the intentions or actions of the other, the vessel in doubt shall immediately:

• ASound at least five short and rapid blasts on the whistle
• BSound one prolonged blast only
• CExtinguish all navigation lights
• DAnchor without signaling

In a crossing situation under the Inland Rules (not involving special Western Rivers exceptions), the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall:

• AKeep out of the way and, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of…
• BStand on and increase speed
• CAlways sound two short blasts and hold course
• DIgnore the other vessel if both are less than 1600 GRT

A vessel not under command exhibits which lights when making way at night?

• ATwo all-round red lights in a vertical line, sidelights, and a sternlight
• BOnly two all-round red lights with no sidelights even when making way
• CThree all-round green lights
• DA single white masthead light only

Safe speed under Rule 6 must be determined so that you can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances. Factors include:

• AVisibility, traffic density, maneuverability, background lights, wind/current/sea state,…
• BOnly the vessel's maximum continuous rating
• COnly the speed of the downbound vessel ahead
• DOnly whether the vessel is over or under 1600 GRT

Under Inland Rule 14 (head-on situation), when two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision, each shall alter course to:

• AStarboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other
• BPort so that each shall pass on the starboard side of the other
• CPort only if the other vessel is towing
• DEither side without signaling

A dredge that is restricted in her ability to maneuver and has an obstruction on her port side shows, in addition to the ordinary restricted-in-ability-to-maneuver signals:

• ATwo all-round red lights or two balls on the port side, and two all-round green lights or…
• BTwo all-round green lights on the port side and two red on the starboard side
• COne white light on each side of the vessel
• DNothing additional, because the ball-diamond-ball signal covers it

In restricted visibility, a power-driven vessel making way shall sound which fog signal at intervals of not more than two minutes?

• AOne prolonged blast
• BTwo prolonged blasts
• COne short blast
• DFive short and rapid blasts

On Western Rivers, a vessel crossing a river shall keep out of the way of:

• AA power-driven vessel ascending or descending the river (Inland Rule 9 / river-crossing p…
• BOnly recreational craft under 20 meters
• CNo vessel; crossing vessels always have priority
• DOnly vessels showing NUC lights

Under Rule 8, any action to avoid collision shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be:

• APositive, made in ample time, and with due regard to the observance of good seamanship
• BDelayed until the vessels are within one ship length
• CA succession of small course changes only
• DTaken only by the stand-on vessel

A vessel at anchor of less than 50 meters in length shall exhibit by night:

• AAn all-round white light where it can best be seen
• BTwo all-round red lights
• CSidelights and a sternlight only
• DThree all-round green lights

Under Rule 17, the stand-on vessel shall keep her course and speed, but when it becomes apparent that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action, the stand-on vessel:

• AMay take action to avoid collision by her maneuver alone, and shall take such action as w…
• BMust maintain course and speed until collision occurs
• CMust reverse engines only and never alter course
• DMust sound one prolonged blast only

Under Inland Rules, two short blasts by a power-driven vessel in a meeting or crossing situation mean:

• AI intend to leave you on my starboard side
• BI am operating astern propulsion
• CI am in doubt as to your intentions
• DI am altering course to starboard under International Rules only

A towing vessel with a tow more than 200 meters in length underway at night exhibits how many masthead lights in a vertical line (in addition to other required lights) under the standard power-driven towing arrangement?

• AThree masthead lights in a vertical line
• BOne masthead light only
• CFive masthead lights
• DNo masthead lights if pushing ahead

Under Rule 9 (narrow channels), a vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway. On rivers with heavy commercial tows, this means the master of a limited-tonnage power-driven vessel should:

• AExpect small craft not to impede deep-draft or channel-bound tows, while still applying t…
• BAssume small craft always have right-of-way in the channel
• CIgnore Rule 9 because it applies only on the high seas
• DSound five short blasts continuously whenever a recreational boat is within 2 miles

Risk of collision shall be deemed to exist if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel:

• ADoes not appreciably change
• BChanges rapidly and steadily
• CIs always abaft the beam
• DIs only displayed on AIS

A vessel engaged in fishing, when underway and not at anchor, shows by night (among other lights as applicable):

• ATwo all-round lights in a vertical line, red over white (or green over white when trawlin…
• BOnly sidelights
• CThree red lights in a vertical line always
• DA single yellow towing light only

The master of a limited-tonnage river vessel retains overall responsibility for the vessel even when:

• AA pilot is embarked and has the conn
• BThe chief engineer is on watch in the engineroom
• CA mate is designated officer of the watch
• DAll of the above

Adequate scope improves an anchor's holding power mainly because it:

• AKeeps the pull on the shank more nearly horizontal so the flukes dig in rather than being…
• BIncreases the weight of the anchor itself
• CReduces the area of the flukes in contact with the bottom
• DPrevents the vessel from swinging with wind or current

A breast line run from the vessel to the dock as nearly at right angles as possible is used to:

• AHold the vessel in against the face of the dock and control her distance off
• BStop her ranging ahead and astern along the dock
• CTake the weight when the vessel is warped along the berth
• DReplace the anchor when moored in a strong current

The report 'the cable is up and down' from the forecastle means that:

• AThe chain leads vertically from the hawse to the anchor, which is about to break out of t…
• BThe anchor is clear of the water and secured in the hawse
• CThe cable has been veered to its full length
• DThe anchor is dragging along the bottom

For a limited-tonnage river master, standing orders to the mate on watch should primarily ensure:

• AClear criteria for calling the master, maintaining a proper lookout, safe speed, and navi…
• BThat the mate never adjusts engine RPM without shore office approval
• CThat AIS is turned off in all harbors
• DThat the lookout is optional when the mate is alone on the bridge

Mixing wire and synthetic lines in the same mooring pattern, leading in the same direction, is poor practice because:

• AThe wire takes almost the whole load before the synthetic has stretched, so the wire part…
• BThe two materials corrode each other on contact
• CWire cannot be used on a vessel that also carries synthetic line
• DSynthetic line always parts before wire regardless of arrangement

A single-screw vessel with a right-handed propeller is backing with the rudder amidships. Transverse thrust typically walks the stern to:

• APort (bow swings to starboard)
• BStarboard (bow swings to port)
• CNeither side; transverse thrust does not exist astern
• DPort only when the vessel is in salt water

When heaving up the anchor, if the chain tends dead ahead and grows vertical as the vessel comes over the anchor, the anchor is said to be aweigh when it:

• ABreaks out and is clear of the bottom
• BIs still buried with slack chain only
• CIs secured in the hawsepipe
• DHas been slipped at the bitter end

On inland river tows, facing wires, jockey wires, and backing lines are used primarily to:

• AHold barges tightly together as a unit so the tow handles as a single vessel
• BReplace navigation lights on the lead barge
• CMeasure current speed in the channel
• DIndicate draft marks on each barge

A standard shot of anchor chain is:

• A15 fathoms, or 90 feet
• B10 fathoms, or 60 feet
• C20 fathoms, or 120 feet
• D25 fathoms, or 150 feet

Load line marks include fresh water marks because:

• AFresh water is less dense than salt water, so the same weight of ship floats deeper in it
• BLoad line marks may be submerged at will on inland waters
• CLoad line rules apply only to vessels on international voyages
• DFreeboard is measured from the keel to the truck of the mast

When entering a lock with a tow, a primary seamanship objective is to:

• AControl approach speed and alignment so the tow enters square and can be checked without…
• BEnter at maximum speed to minimize lock cycle time
• CIgnore lockmaster signals if AIS shows clear
• DCast off all face wires before the approach

Bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone communications on inland waters are primarily used to:

• AExchange navigational intentions and arrange safe meeting, overtaking, and lock traffic i…
• BReplace the requirement to keep a visual lookout
• CDiscuss personal business on Channel 16 only
• DTransmit entertainment broadcasts to the crew

A vessel's official logbook (or official recordkeeping as required for the vessel class) is important because it:

• ADocuments required entries such as drills, casualties, draft, and other statutory or comp…
• BIs optional entertainment for the crew
• CReplaces charts and publications
• DIs only required on oceans routes

When pushing a string of barges ahead in a strong following current approaching a bend, the master should be most concerned that:

• AThe tow may become hard to check and may set toward the outside of the bend or the bank
• BCurrent has no effect on tows under 1600 GRT
• CThe tow will automatically take the inside of every bend
• DFollowing current always improves stopping distance

Pollution prevention as a master responsibility includes:

• APreventing oil, garbage, and hazardous substance discharges; maintaining response plans/e…
• BDischarging bilge oily water only at night
• CAssuming inland waters have no pollution rules
• DLeaving all pollution duties solely to the engine room with no bridge oversight

Cargo and barge security on a river tow requires the master to ensure:

• ABarges are properly made up, hatches/covers secured as required, and cargo is loaded and…
• BOnly the lead barge needs to be secured
• CCargo securing is never required in fresh water
• DDraft is irrelevant if the tow is less than 1600 GRT

A proper watch relief on the bridge should include transfer of:

• APosition, course and speed, traffic, weather/current, navigational hazards, equipment sta…
• BOnly the GPS latitude
• COnly the coffee pot location
• DNothing if the watch has been quiet

When docking a single-screw vessel port-side-to with a right-handed propeller, masters often prefer that side because:

• ABacking kicks the stern to port, helping walk the stern in toward the pier
• BRight-handed propellers have no transverse thrust
• CPort-side landings are required by Inland Rule 9
• DThe rudder has maximum authority when backing with no headway

Navigation Safety Regulations (33 CFR Part 164, as applicable) and company SMS practices commonly require the master to ensure:

• AVoyage planning, proper charts/publications, bridge equipment checks, and navigational wa…
• BThat charts are optional if the captain has done the run before
• CThat only paper charts from 1980 are used
• DThat AIS is the sole means of collision avoidance

Man overboard procedures should emphasize:

• AImmediate alarm, continuous lookout on the person, Williamson or other appropriate turn a…
• BWaiting 15 minutes before maneuvering
• CTurning off all radios
• DProceeding to the next lock before reporting

When a barge breakaway occurs, the master's immediate priorities include:

• AAlert traffic and the Coast Guard as required, track the barges, and take safe action to…
• BIgnore the barges if they are empty
• CLeave the scene without reporting
• DAssume only the lockmaster is responsible

Draft readings should be taken:

• AAt the marks provided, carefully and in a consistent manner, and recorded when required f…
• BOnly once per year
• COnly from the bridge wing without looking at the marks
• DOnly in salt water