National Maritime Center

National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners (Sample Examination) Page 1 of 15

Choose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice questions. 1. If you intend to land tulip bulbs from Holland in a U.S. port, who must inspect the bulbs? (A) An Animal and Plant Health Service Inspector o (B) The Quarantine Officer o (C) The Captain of the Port personnel o (D) All of the above 2. What is the meaning of a flag hoist consisting of the code letters "WM" (Whiskey Mike) when displayed by an icebreaker? o (A) "I am going ahead; follow me." o (B) "You should stop your vessel instantly." o (C) "Icebreaker support is finished." (D) "Icebreaker support is now commencing." 3. When selecting the fuel oil tanks for the "burn-out" of bunkers during a voyage consideration of all of the following must be taken with the EXCEPTION of. o (A) stability o (B) list o (C) trim (D) flashpoint 4. What do the York-Antwerp Rules relate to? o (A) The ship owner's responsibilities to provide a well-found vessel in a charter party (B) The settlement of general average claims o (C) Clearly state the minimum required number of officers and crew o (D) The navigation regulations that apply in the English Channel 5. When picking up your mooring at the buoy, which is the correct method? o (A) Stop upwind and up current and drift down on the buoy o (B) Approach the buoy with the wind and current astern (C) Approach the buoy with the wind and current ahead o (D) Approach the buoy with wind and sea abeam Page 2 of 15

6. Which term describes the time allowed for loading and discharging cargo in a charter party? (A) Lay days o (B) Dispatch o (C) Demurrage o (D) Charter hire 7. Which space cannot be deducted from gross tonnage when calculating net tonnage? o (A) Master's cabin o (B) Chain locker (C) Forepeak ballast tank o (D) Crew mess room 8. Which product(s) is(are) compatible with the product ethylene cyanohydrin? o (A) Isocyanates (B) Ammonia o (C) Nitric acid o (D) Sulfuric acid 9. How should you signal the crane operator to stop in an emergency? o (A) Extend arm with the palm down and hold this position rigidly. o (B) Place clasped hands in front of your body. o (C) Place both fists in front of the body with the thumbs pointing outward. (D) Extend arm and move hand rapidly right and left with the palm down. 10. What is the FIRST action to take if you detect oil around your tank vessel while discharging petroleum products? (A) Shut down operations o (B) Have the pumpman check the discharge piping o (C) Try to find out where the oil is coming from o (D) Call the Master Page 3 of 15

11. A mariner whose credential has been revoked shall not be issued another credential without which of the following? o (A) approval of the Officer-in-Charge, Marine Inspection o (B) taking a new examination (C) approval of the Commandant o (D) approval of an administrative law judge 12. When is the effect of wind on exposed areas of the vessel most noticeable? o (A) When turning o (B) When going full ahead o (C) When going slow ahead (D) When backing 13. Which of the following terms best defines the spontaneous mixing of a tank's liquid contents when a heavier layer forms above a less dense lower layer? o (A) flash over o (B) boil off o (C) cascading (D) rollover 14. Where can the deepest water when rounding a bend in a river be located? o (A) Toward the center of the river just before the bend, then change course for the river's center after the bend o (B) In the center of the river o (C) Toward the inside of the bend (D) Toward the outside of the bend 15. On a ship's crane, the load chart relates the allowable load to the combination of the boom length and. o (A) cable strength o (B) boom strength o (C) winch speed (D) load radius Page 4 of 15

16. Who carries the total responsibility for shipping and discharging the seamen on a vessel? o (A) U.S. Custom Service o (B) steamship company (C) Master of the vessel o (D) U.S. Coast Guard 17. While heaving in the anchor prior to entering the wildcat you observe three white links on each side of a blue link. What does this indicate? (A) There are three shots on deck o (B) There are three fathoms in the water o (C) There are three fathoms on deck o (D) There are six shots on deck 18. Your vessel is at a dock taking bunkers. If oil begins to flow out of a tank vent, what should you do FIRST? (A) Signal the shore control point to shut down. o (B) Set out drip pans and sawdust and begin to mop up the spill. o (C) Close the valve on the tank vent line. o (D) Open the intake valve to an adjacent tank. 19. When carrying a full or nearly full load of bulk ore in a general cargo type vessel, how should the ore be loaded? o (A) Toward the forward bulkhead of all holds o (B) Along the centerline (C) In accordance with the vessels stability information booklet o (D) Toward the after bulkhead of all holds 20. You are on a multiple-product chemical tanker and will carry cargoes of isophorone, ethylenediamine, and creosote. Which of the following is TRUE? o (A) All of these cargoes are incompatible. o (B) Isophorone is incompatible with ethylenediamine but may be stowed adjacent to creosote. o (C) Ethylenediamine is compatible with isophorone but both are incompatible with creosote. (D) All of these cargoes are compatible. Page 5 of 15

21. You are planning to anchor in an area where several anchors have been lost due to fouling. What precaution should you take? o (A) Use a stern anchor with a scope of 8 or more to 1 o (B) Only anchor using both anchors not set in bottom o (C) Anchor with scope of 8 or more to 1 (D) Fit a crown strap and work wire to the anchor 22. You are on watch at night in clear visibility and the vessel has just been anchored. What is the first thing that you should do after the anchor has been let go? o (A) Turn off the running lights and turn on the anchor lights o (B) Lower the accommodation ladder and illuminate it o (C) Stop the engines (D) Take bearings to obtain ship's position 23. Prior to being able to sail, each vessel that carries grain in bulk must have a certificate of loading. Which organization issues this certificate? o (A) American Bureau of Shipping o (B) Lloyds of London (C) National Cargo Bureau o (D) U.S. Salvage 24. What is required of an access to a cargo pumproom in a tank vessel carrying grade D liquid cargo? (A) from the open deck o (B) away from galleys, living quarters, or navigation spaces o (C) isolated from sources of vapor ignition o (D) only from areas equipped with power ventilation systems 25. Ice concentration is measured in tenths. What concentration range of ice corresponds to "Close Pack"? o (A) 9-10 tenths (B) 7-8 tenths o (C) 4-6 tenths o (D) 1-3 tenths Page 6 of 15

26. Which will most likely occur when your vessel enters shallow water? o (A) Rudder action will become more effective o (B) The vessel's list will decrease o (C) An increase in speed will occur (D) The vessel's trim will change 27. A precaution you should take before bunkering is to. o (A) plug the vents (B) plug the scuppers o (C) close the lids on the vents o (D) plug the sounding pipes 28. You are 15 feet off a pier and docking a vessel using only a bow breast line and stern breast line. Once the slack is out of both lines you begin to haul in on the bow breast line. What is the effect on the vessel? o (A) The stern will come in and the bow will remain the same distance off the pier. o (B) The bow will come in and the stern will go out. o (C) The bow and stern come in equally closer toward the pier. (D) The bow will come in and the stern will remain the same distance off the pier. 29. Which is an example of a modern anchor which has a stock? o (A) Baldt anchor o (B) Articulated anchor o (C) Flipper Delta anchor (D) Danforth anchor 30. To determine the weight capacity of a deck in a cargo hold, which reference would you refer to? (A) The deck capacity plan o (B) The cubic capacity tables o (C) The deadweight scale o (D) The general arrangement plan Page 7 of 15

31. Which statement is TRUE concerning toluene? o (A) The boiling point is 174 F. (B) It is an aromatic hydrocarbon. o (C) Its Reid Vapor Pressure is 9.4. o (D) It is classified as a grade A flammable liquid. 32. Which shallow water effect will increase dramatically if you increase your ship's speed past its "critical speed"? (A) Squatting o (B) Smelling the bottom o (C) Sinkage o (D) Bank cushion 33. Anyone voluntarily surrendering their Merchant Mariner Credential to a U.S. Coast Guard investigating officer signs a statement indicating which of the following? o (A) They may be issued a new credential in 5 years after passing another written examination o (B) All title to the credential is given up for 5 years (C) Any rights with respect to a hearing are waived o (D) All of the above 34. As a ship moves through the water, it drags with it a body of water called the wake. Which term defines the ratio of the wake speed to the ship's speed? o (A) Speed of advance (B) Wake fraction o (C) Wake distribution o (D) Propeller velocity 35. On an inspected vessel, when may a stability test be dispensed with? o (A) Coast Guard does not have a qualified inspector available o (B) projected cost is unreasonable (C) Coast Guard has the approved stability test results of a sister vessel o (D) vessel is of a proven design Page 8 of 15

36. How should you signal the crane operator to use the main hoist? o (A) Extend arm with the thumb pointing up and flex the fingers in and out for as long as the load movement is desired. (B) First tap the top of your head with your fist, and then proceed to use regular signals. o o (C) First tap your elbow with one hand, and then proceed to use regular signals. (D) Use one hand to give any motion signal, and place the other hand motionless in front of the hand giving the motion signal. 37. You are on a vessel that carries liquefied gasses in bulk. The person on watch is required to have what information about the cargo easily accessible? o (A) Port of loading (B) Firefighting procedures o (C) Name and address of consignee o (D) Exact quantity on board 38. Which statement about tunnel bow thrusters fitted to large vessels is TRUE? o (A) They are fully effective at all drafts. o (B) Because of their location, most modern installations have as much power as a tug. (C) When going astern at slow speed, they provide effective steering control. o (D) They are effective on most vessels at speeds up to 10 knots. 39. Which is a common occurrence when a vessel is running into shallow water? o (A) The vessel is more responsive to the rudder o (B) The wake is less pronounced (C) "Squat" will cause a decrease in bottom clearance and an increase in draft o (D) All of the above 40. Given a dry bulb temperature of 78 F and wet bulb temperature of 66.5 F, what is the dew point? o (A) 47.0 F o (B) 51.5 F (C) 59.0 F o (D) 70.0 F Page 9 of 15

41. You are in charge of a U.S. documented vessel. Under title 46 of the United States Code, if you fail to report a complaint of a sexual offense, which action(s) may be taken against you? (A) Civilly charged and fined o (B) Held personally liable by the victim and sued o (C) Criminally charged and jailed o (D) All of the above are correct. 42. A tanker is loaded with 8,000 barrels of fuel oil. The temperature of the cargo is 50 F. API gravity is 37. The volume correction factor (VCF) is.0005. What is the net amount in gallons of cargo loaded? o (A) 334,320 (B) 337,680 o (C) 437,800 o (D) 442,200 43. What is one of the main purposes of dunnage? o (A) To support weakened bulkheads o (B) To secure the tarpaulins in place o (C) To act as ballast for light vessels (D) To provide ventilation and drainage for cargo 44. In a tank vessel constructed in 1970, carrying grade A, B, C, or D liquid cargo, what is required to isolate cargo pumps from sources of vapor ignition? o (A) cofferdams o (B) general cargo spaces (C) gastight bulkheads o (D) passageways or living quarters 45. No hot work shall be performed on board a vessel with hazardous materials as cargo unless the work is approved by the. (A) local U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port o (B) American Bureau of Shipping o (C) harbormaster o (D) National Cargo Bureau Page 10 of 15

46. The S.S. Sheet Bend arrives in New York after encountering heavy weather on a voyage from Cape Town. Who will note the maritime protest for the Master? o (A) Collector of Customs (B) Notary Public o (C) Officer in Charge Marine Inspection o (D) U.S. Shipping Commissioner 47. You are docking a vessel. When are the wind and current most favorable in this situation? o (A) When they are crossing your course, in opposite directions to the other o (B) When they are crossing your course, both in the same direction o (C) When they are both setting you on the pier (D) When they are both parallel to the pier from ahead 48. Your vessel is on an extended foreign voyage. Several vacancies have occurred in your unlicensed crew through sickness and repatriation. Which statement is correct? o (A) Aliens may be employed except that all U.S. flag vessels must maintain no less than 90% U.S. citizens in the crew. o (B) Seamen to fill vacancies must be flown from U.S. to join the vessel in the foreign port. (C) Qualified aliens may be employed to fill the vacancies. o (D) Vacancies can only be filled by U.S. citizens with valid Merchant Mariner's Documents. 49. A maritime lien may be placed against which item(s)? (A) The vessel, cargo, or freight o (B) Objects that are fixed and immovable, such as wharves o (C) The vessel only o (D) Any assets that a ship's owner may have 50. An International Tonnage Certificate will be issued to a vessel when it meets several requirements. Which is one of the requirements? o (A) Will engage in intercoastal trade (B) Must be 79 or more feet in length o (C) Admeasure over 100 GT o (D) Has been issued a Certificate of Inspection Page 11 of 15

51. How can fracture damage to the end links of the anchor cable, or to the anchor ring be eliminated? o (A) Install the connecting shackle with the bow towards the anchor o (B) Use a smaller diameter connecting shackle o (C) Ensure that the swivel is well lubricated and free to turn (D) secure a piece of wood to the anchor ring 52. While operating your oceangoing vessel you must keep a record of any discharge or disposal of garbage. When should these entries be made? o (A) Before the end of the voyage (B) At the time the garbage was disposed o (C) Before arriving at your next port o (D) No later than 24 hours after disposal of the garbage 53. A shipper of cargo aboard your vessel offers a letter of indemnity for the cargo. This is done in order to obtain which document? (A) Clean Bill of Lading o (B) Through Bill of Lading o (C) Straight Bill of Lading o (D) Order Bill of Lading 54. The Immigration and Naturalization Service is concerned with which document on a vessel making preliminary entry into a U.S. port from a foreign port? o (A) Shipping Articles o (B) Curio List o (C) Certified Cargo Manifest (D) Crew List form I-418 55. Most of your vessel's superstructure is forward. How will the vessel lie when drifting with no way on? o (A) With the wind off the starboard beam (B) With the wind from abaft the beam o (C) With the wind off the port beam o (D) With the wind from ahead Page 12 of 15

56. How long must the operator of each vessel engaged in a vessel-to-vessel oil transfer operation keep a signed copy of the declaration of inspection for? o (A) 10 days (B) 1 month o (C) 6 months o (D) 1 year 57. You are standing watch on entering port and the Master gives a rudder command which conflicts with a rudder command from the Pilot. You should ensure the helmsman which action? (A) Obeys the Master's commands o (B) Asks the Pilot if he has relinquished control o (C) Obeys the Pilot's commands o (D) Brings the rudder to a position midway between the two conflicting positions 58. Which statement about the hospital space on a cargo ship is TRUE? o (A) The hospital space must have both a bathtub and shower. o (B) A hospital is required on all vessels with a crew of 12 or more if it makes overnight voyages. (C) If a ship has a crew of forty-five who do not have their own room, the hospital must have four berths. o (D) The hospital may be used for disciplinary confinement if it is not being used for treatment. 59. Which statement is TRUE concerning the placard entitled "Discharge of Oil Prohibited"? o (A) It must be located in a conspicuous place in the wheelhouse. o (B) It is required on all vessels. (C) It must be located at the bilge and ballast pump control station. o (D) All of the above 60. While proceeding up a narrow waterway you observe a vessel berthed in the river with slack mooring lines. Which is the most prudent action to take FIRST? o (A) Give 5 short blasts on the whistle o (B) Call the US Coast Guard o (C) Contact the moored vessel (D) Reduce the speed of your vessel Page 13 of 15

61. What is an example of a grade A flammable liquid? (A) iso-propylamine o (B) Ethyl acetate o (C) Acetone o (D) Morpholine 62. You are signing on crew members. The minimum number of people required aboard, and the qualifications of each, is listed on which document? (A) Certificate of Inspection o (B) Articles of Agreement o (C) Crew list o (D) Fo'c'sle card 63. A vessel in Great Lakes service shall carry anchors in accordance with standards established by which group? o (A) The U.S. Coast Guard o (B) The underwriters of the vessel (C) The American Bureau of Shipping o (D) The Canadian Coast Guard 64. How does the effect known as "bank suction" act on a single-screw vessel proceeding along a narrow channel? o (A) It pulls the bow toward the bank. o (B) It pushes the entire vessel away from the bank. o (C) It heels the vessel toward the bank. (D) It pulls the stern toward the bank. 65. Your vessel is being assisted through an ice field in Thunder Bay by the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Alexander Henry. The starboard lookout reports that the icebreaker has run up the code flag "N" (November). Which action should you take? (A) Stop your engines o (B) Reduce speed o (C) Reverse your engines o (D) Stop your vessel instantly Page 14 of 15

66. What are the health hazard ratings for a product of triethylbenzene? o (A) 2,2,2 (B) 1,1,1 o (C) 0,1,1 o (D) Unavailable 67. Your ship has loaded 9,000 barrels of fuel oil at a cargo temperature of 35 C (95 F). API gravity is 44. The volume correction factor (VCF) is.0005. You are bound to New Jersey from Venezuela. How many barrels would you expect to unload if the cargo temperature is 55 F at the discharge port? o (A) 9,090 o (B) 8,910 o (C) 9,180 (D) 8,820 68. Who is responsible for the preparation of muster lists and signing of same? o (A) The owner of the vessel (B) The Master of the vessel o (C) The Chief Officer of the vessel o (D) The United States Coast Guard 69. Which factor is MOST important in preventing sweat damage within a cargo hold? o (A) Dew point of the outside atmosphere o (B) Temperature of the cargo (C) Dew point of the cargo hold o (D) Outside air temperature 70. Which single-letter signal, when used by icebreakers on the Great Lakes, may be made by using the ship's whistle? (A) M o (B) E o (C) I o (D) None Page 15 of 15