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100+ Free USCG Mate 1600 Practice Questions

Pass your USCG Mate Less Than 500/1600 GRT (Near Coastal) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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A vessel with a very small or negative GM in calm water may exhibit:

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B
C
D
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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: USCG Mate 1600 Exam

265

Module Questions on ONC04 Path

USCG ONC04 sample exams

8

Required Exam Modules

USCG ONC04 sample exams

90%

Rules/Plot Passing Score

USCG sample exams

80%

Nav Problems Passing Score

USCG sample exams

$95

Exam Fee

NMC fee schedule

$240

Typical Original Total Fee

Evaluation + exam + issuance

As of May 13, 2026, the USCG ONC04 Mate Less Than 500/1600 GRT Near Coastal sample-exam structure spans roughly 265 questions across eight modules. Most modules require 70% to pass, while Rules of the Road and Chart Plot require 90% and Navigation Problems requires 80%. The mate-level exam differs from the Master 100/500 path in its emphasis on STCW mate-of-watch duties, bridge resource management, watchkeeping handover, and supporting the master rather than command-level decisions.

Sample USCG Mate 1600 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your USCG Mate 1600 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1As the mate on watch, you take over the bridge during a planned course change in heavy traffic. Under STCW bridge-watchkeeping principles, what should you do?
A.Accept the watch immediately so the relieved officer can leave the bridge
B.Delay the formal handover until the maneuver is complete
C.Take the conn and complete the maneuver alone without input
D.Sign the handover log and then start a new plan from scratch
Explanation: STCW Section A-VIII/2 and standard bridge-watchkeeping guidance say the relieving officer should not take over the watch while a maneuver or other action to avoid danger is being executed. The handover is delayed until the maneuver is complete so positive control is not interrupted.
2Under Rule 5 of the COLREGS, the mate on watch must maintain a proper lookout by:
A.Radar alone in restricted visibility
B.Sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate to the circumstances
C.AIS only when other vessels are within 6 nautical miles
D.Visual observation only, since electronics can be misleading
Explanation: Rule 5 requires every vessel to maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing and by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances. The mate on watch uses visual observation, radar, AIS, VHF, and dedicated lookouts together to assess collision risk.
3Under Rule 7, what is one of the principal means by which the mate on watch determines whether risk of collision exists?
A.Watching for a change in the masthead light color
B.Using systematic radar observation including long-range scanning, plotting, or equivalent analysis
C.Calling the other vessel on Channel 13 and asking
D.Waiting until the CPA is less than 0.5 nautical miles
Explanation: Rule 7(b) directs that proper use shall be made of radar equipment if fitted and operational, including long-range scanning and radar plotting or equivalent systematic observation of detected objects. The bearing-rate compass observation in 7(d) is the other classic method.
4Two power-driven vessels are meeting head-on at night and each sees both sidelights of the other. Under Rule 14, each vessel shall:
A.Hold course and speed and pass port to port without action
B.Alter course to starboard so each passes on the port side of the other
C.Alter course to port so each passes on the starboard side of the other
D.Stop and exchange whistle signals before maneuvering
Explanation: Rule 14 says when two power-driven vessels meet on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision, each shall alter course to starboard so that each passes on the port side of the other.
5Under Rule 13, a vessel is considered to be overtaking when she is approaching another vessel from a direction more than:
A.11.25 degrees abaft her beam
B.22.5 degrees abaft her beam
C.45 degrees abaft her beam
D.90 degrees abaft her beam
Explanation: Rule 13(b) defines overtaking as approaching another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft her beam, that is, at night where the overtaking vessel can see only the sternlight of the vessel being overtaken.
6In a crossing situation between two power-driven vessels, under Rule 15 the vessel that has the other on her starboard side shall:
A.Maintain course and speed as the stand-on vessel
B.Keep out of the way of the other and, if circumstances admit, avoid crossing ahead
C.Sound five short blasts and stop
D.Turn to port to clear the other vessel's bow
Explanation: Rule 15 makes the vessel with the other on her starboard side the give-way vessel. She shall keep out of the way and shall, if circumstances admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.
7Under Rule 17, the stand-on vessel may take action to avoid collision by her maneuver alone:
A.Only after sounding the danger signal
B.Only after VTS authorizes the maneuver
C.As soon as it becomes apparent that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action
D.Only after collision is unavoidable
Explanation: Rule 17(a)(ii) permits the stand-on vessel to take action by her maneuver alone as soon as it becomes apparent that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action in compliance with the Rules. She is not required to wait until collision cannot be avoided by give-way action alone.
8Under Rule 19 in restricted visibility, you detect a vessel by radar alone forward of the beam. The Rule says you shall, so far as possible, avoid:
A.An alteration of course to starboard for a vessel forward of the beam
B.An alteration of course to port for a vessel forward of the beam other than for a vessel being overtaken
C.Reducing speed below bare steerageway
D.Sounding any fog signals until visual contact is made
Explanation: Rule 19(d)(i) directs that, so far as possible, the vessel shall avoid an alteration of course to port for a vessel forward of the beam, other than for a vessel being overtaken. The intent is to avoid turning across the other vessel's track.
9A power-driven vessel of 60 meters length underway at night shall exhibit, in addition to sidelights and a sternlight:
A.One masthead light only
B.Two masthead lights, the after one higher than the forward one
C.Three masthead lights in a vertical line
D.An all-round yellow light over the masthead lights
Explanation: Rule 23 requires power-driven vessels of 50 meters or more in length to show two masthead lights, with the after one higher than the forward one, in addition to sidelights and a sternlight. Vessels under 50 meters may show only one masthead light but may show the second.
10A vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling at night shall display:
A.Two all-round red lights in a vertical line
B.An all-round red light over an all-round white light
C.Two all-round green lights in a vertical line
D.An all-round white light only
Explanation: Under Rule 26(c), a vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling exhibits two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower white. Trawlers under 26(b) instead show green over white.

About the USCG Mate 1600 Exam

The USCG Mate Less Than 500/1600 GRT exam (ONC04) is the knowledge-test path for the mate-of-watch officer credential on Near Coastal vessels under 1,600 gross registered tons. The official sample-exam structure emphasizes COLREGS, deck seamanship and safety, stability, navigation fundamentals, chart plotting, and navigation problems at the operational watch-officer level rather than master-command level.

Assessment

ONC04 Near Coastal path uses eight modules: Q100 Rules of the Road (50), Q139 Deck General (50), Q140 Deck-related General (50), Q141 Deck Safety (70), Q142 Stability (15), Q105 Navigation General (70), Q108 Chart Plot (10), and Q109 Navigation Problems (15).

Time Limit

Up to 3.5 hours per module

Passing Score

70% most modules; 90% Rules of the Road and Chart Plot; 80% Navigation Problems

Exam Fee

$95 exam fee; $240 typical original application total (U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center (NMC) / Regional Exam Centers)

USCG Mate 1600 Exam Content Outline

18.9% of exam questions

Rules of the Road

COLREGS/Inland Rules at the mate-of-watch level: lookout, risk of collision, steering and sailing rules, lights, day shapes, sound signals, restricted visibility, narrow channels, and TSS.

37.7% of exam questions

Deck General

Seamanship, line handling, anchoring, pilot transfer, ship construction, watchkeeping handover under STCW A-VIII/2, bridge resource management, pilotage support, and master's standing orders.

26.4% of exam questions

Deck Safety

Required safety equipment, firefighting, survival craft, emergency response, first aid, GMDSS distress, MARPOL pollution prevention, drills, weather, and heavy-weather preparation.

5.7% of exam questions

Stability

GM, KG, KM, free surface effect, trim, roll period, loading effects, and basic stability terminology at the operational level.

26.4% of exam questions

Navigation General

Charts and publications, aids to navigation, tides and currents, compass error, bearings, piloting, dead reckoning, ECDIS, radar/ARPA, and weather interpretation.

3.8% of exam questions

Chart Plot

Course, speed, time, distance, set and drift, fixes by visual bearings and radar ranges, and standard chart-plotting symbology.

5.7% of exam questions

Navigation Problems

Calculation-driven problems covering speed-time-distance, set and drift effects, and course-to-steer through current.

How to Pass the USCG Mate 1600 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70% most modules; 90% Rules of the Road and Chart Plot; 80% Navigation Problems
  • Assessment: ONC04 Near Coastal path uses eight modules: Q100 Rules of the Road (50), Q139 Deck General (50), Q140 Deck-related General (50), Q141 Deck Safety (70), Q142 Stability (15), Q105 Navigation General (70), Q108 Chart Plot (10), and Q109 Navigation Problems (15).
  • Time limit: Up to 3.5 hours per module
  • Exam fee: $95 exam fee; $240 typical original application total

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

USCG Mate 1600 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Overprepare for Rules of the Road because it is a 50-question module with a 90% pass standard.
2Drill mate-of-watch scenarios: handover under STCW A-VIII/2, master's standing orders, and when to call the master.
3Memorize lights, day shapes, and sound signals so you can identify the vessel situation from a short fact pattern.
4Treat bridge resource management as testable content, not just soft skill: teamwork, assertiveness, and shared situation awareness.
5Practice anchoring, mooring, and pilot-transfer questions in scenario form so you answer like a working deck officer.
6Use stability questions to internalize free-surface effect, GM, KG, trim, and roll period rather than memorizing single facts.
7Build a chart-plot routine: largest scale, fix every 15 minutes, parallel indexing for cross-track, and standard symbology.
8Drill set-and-drift and course-to-steer problems with both the vector triangle and quick mental approximations.
9Take timed sets of 50 questions to build the Coast Guard module rhythm and decide when to skip and return.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the USCG Mate Less Than 500/1600 GRT exam?

On the ONC04 Near Coastal path, the Coast Guard module structure totals roughly 265 questions across eight modules: Q100 Rules of the Road (50), Q139 Deck General (50), Q140 Deck-related General (50), Q141 Deck Safety (70), Q142 Stability (15), Q105 Navigation General (70), Q108 Chart Plot (10), and Q109 Navigation Problems (15).

What passing score do I need?

Most modules require 70% to pass. Rules of the Road and the Chart Plot module are stricter and require 90%. Navigation Problems requires 80%. Mate-level candidates need especially strong mastery of collision-avoidance rules and chart-plotting accuracy.

How is the Mate 1600 exam different from the Master 100 or Master 500 exam?

The Mate Less Than 500/1600 GRT exam emphasizes the duties of a mate of watch (officer in charge of a navigational watch) rather than a master in command. Expect more questions on bridge resource management, watchkeeping handover, master's standing orders, supporting pilotage, and STCW A-VIII/2 watchkeeping principles compared with the master-level exams.

How long is each module?

The current Coast Guard sample exams list a maximum time allowed of 3.5 hours per module. Because the ONC04 path is modular, total testing time depends on which modules you take and whether you schedule them together or across separate REC sessions.

How much does the Mate 1600 exam cost?

The current NMC fee schedule lists a $95 examination fee. For a typical original officer endorsement application, the breakdown is $100 evaluation, $95 examination, and $45 issuance, totaling about $240. STCW course costs, medical exam, and drug testing are separate.

Can I take the exam remotely?

No. The Mate Less Than 500/1600 GRT exam is administered in person at U.S. Coast Guard Regional Exam Centers (RECs). There is no approved remote-testing option for this credential.

What calculator can I bring?

The NMC calculator policy page states that, effective January 1, 2024, the Texas Instruments TI-30XIIS is the accepted scientific calculator model for examinations that require one. Programmable, graphing, or memory-retaining devices are not acceptable for REC testing.