National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners Able Seaman Unlimited, Limited, Special, Special OSV, Sail, Fishing Industry (Sample Examination) Page 1 of 17
Choose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice Questions. 1. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When is a vessel which is fishing, required to show sidelights and a stern light? (A) when underway and making way o (B) if underway o (C) when dead in the water o (D) when at anchor 2. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which signal, other than a distress signal, can be used by a vessel to attract attention? o (A) Burning barrel o (B) Continuous sounding of a fog signal apparatus (C) Searchlight beam o (D) Orange smoke signal 3. On approaching the English Channel on course 080 T, you note the symbol YBY near a charted buoy. How should you pass this buoy? o (A) eastward of the buoy o (B) southward of the buoy (C) westward of the buoy o (D) northward of the buoy 4. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which is a distress signal? o (A) Sounding 5 short blasts on the whistle (B) A flaming barrel of oil on deck o (C) Answering a one blast whistle signal with two blasts o (D) Firing of green star shells Page 2 of 17
5. INLAND ONLY Two power-driven vessels are crossing within a half a mile of each other as shown in illustration D042RR below. Vessel "A" sounds one short blast on the whistle, what does this signal mean? (A) "I intend to leave you on my port side" o (B) "I am altering my course to starboard" o (C) "I intend to leave you on my starboard side" o (D) None of the above 6. You are on course 090 T when you sight a flashing white light with a characteristic of VQ(9)10s. You immediately change course to 030 T. After one hour, you sight another flashing white light with the characteristic of VQ. You must pass well. o (A) east of this buoy (B) north of this buoy o (C) south of this buoy o (D) west of this buoy 7. How many degrees are there on a compass card? (A) 360 o (B) 380 o (C) 390 o (D) 420 8. Which type of daymark is used to mark the starboard side of the channel when entering from sea? o (A) Red and white octagon (B) Red triangle o (C) Green square o (D) Black and white diamond 9. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Two vessels are meeting head-on. How must the vessels pass? o (A) The vessels should determine which will alter course by sounding whistle signals. o (B) Both vessels should alter course to port and pass starboard to starboard. o (C) One vessel must alter course while the other must continue on its course. (D) Both vessels should alter course to starboard and pass port to port. Page 3 of 17
10. INLAND ONLY You sight a vessel displaying an alternating red and yellow light. What does this light indicate? (A) a vessel engaged in public safety activities o (B) a law enforcement vessel o (C) a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver o (D) a vessel in distress 11. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You see the lights shown in illustration D077RR below. This could be which of the following? o (A) A vessel pushing barges ahead o (B) A stationary dredge o (C) A pipeline (D) A vessel towing barges astern 12. When outbound from a U.S. port, a buoy displaying a flashing red light indicates. o (A) a junction with the preferred channel to the left o (B) a sharp turn in the channel to the right (C) the port side of the channel o (D) a wreck to be left on the vessel's starboard side 13. You sight a spar buoy with the topmark shown in illustration D027NG below. You must take which of the following actions? o (A) pass to the east of the buoy o (B) pass to the south of the buoy o (C) pass to the north of the buoy (D) keep well clear of the buoy and pass on either side 14. Which of the following traits possessed by an articulated light makes it superior to other types of buoys? (A) It has a reduced watch circle o (B) It is equipped with strobe lights o (C) The radar reflectors return better signals o (D) The fog horn signal travels farther to sea Page 4 of 17
15. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which is TRUE for barges being towed at night? (A) must be lighted at all times o (B) need not be lighted o (C) must be lighted only if towed astern o (D) must be lighted only if manned 16. What is the compass course of a vessel heading WSW? o (A) 202.5 o (B) 225.0 (C) 247.5 o (D) 271.0 17. A buoy marking a wreck will show a(n). o (A) occulting green light and may be lettered (B) white light FL (2) and a topmark of 2 black spheres o (C) continuous quick white light and may be numbered o (D) yellow light and will be numbered 18. What is an advantage of the magnetic compass aboard vessels? o (A) All points on the compass rose are readily visible. o (B) It does not have to be checked as often. (C) It is reliable due to it's essential simplicity. o (D) Compass error is negligible at or near the earth's magnetic poles. 19. When entering a channel from seaward, the numbers on buoys. o (A) are marked in 6 inch figures with retro-reflective material (B) increase with the even numbers to starboard o (C) are the same as their Light List number o (D) decrease with the odd numbers to starboard Page 5 of 17
20. What does the helm command "Nothing to the left" mean? (A) Steer right of the ordered course o (B) Only use left rudder o (C) Steer left of the ordered course o (D) Leave any buoys on the port side 21. INLAND ONLY A fleet of moored barges extends into a navigable channel. What is the color of the lights on the barges? o (A) Red o (B) Yellow (C) White o (D) Amber 22. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When navigating in thick fog with the radar on, which action should you take? o (A) station the look-out in the wheelhouse to keep a continuous watch on the radar o (B) keep the radar on the shortest available range for early detection of approaching vessels (C) station a look-out as low down and far forward as possible o (D) secure the sounding of fog signals until a vessel closes within five miles 23. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement concerning whistle signals is FALSE? o o o (A) A pilot vessel may sound an identity signal on the whistle. (B) A vessel at anchor may sound one short, one prolonged, and one short blast. (C) When a pushing vessel and a vessel pushed are connected in a composite unit, the unit sounds the fog signal of a power-driven vessel. (D) A vessel engaged in towing in fog shall sound a fog signal at intervals of less than one minute. 24. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel which displays the day signal shown in illustration D006RR below may be engaged in which task? o (A) pilotage duty o (B) fishing with trawling gear (C) submarine cable laying o (D) mineclearance Page 6 of 17
25. The Coast Guard Captain of the Port has excluded all traffic from a section of a port, while a regatta is taking place. The buoys marking this exclusion area will be. o (A) marked with a spherical topmark o (B) nun- or can-shaped to conform to the overall direction of navigation (C) orange and white o (D) yellow 26. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which situation would be a "special circumstance" under the Rules? (A) More than two vessels meeting o (B) Vessel at anchor o (C) Two vessels crossing o (D) Speed in fog 27. What should look-outs report? o (A) Discolored water o (B) Shoals o (C) Floating objects (D) All of the above 28. In the IALA Maritime Buoyage System, what is a red and white vertically-striped buoy used to indicate? o (A) isolated danger mark o (B) special mark not primarily used for navigation o (C) cardinal mark (D) safe water mark 29. Which type of daymark is used to mark the port side of the channel when entering from sea? o (A) Black and white diamond o (B) Red and white octagon o (C) Red triangle (D) Green square Page 7 of 17
30. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which of the the signals, other than a distress signal, can be used by a vessel to attract attention? o (A) A burning barrel (B) The vessel's searchlight o (C) An orange smoke signal o (D) A red star shell 31. INLAND ONLY At night, a barge moored in a slip used primarily for mooring purposes shall exhibit which of the following? (A) No required lights o (B) A flashing yellow light at each corner o (C) A red light at the bow and stern o (D) A white light at each corner 32. What is a CORRECT reply to a pilot's request, "How's your head"? (A) "Passing 50 " o (B) "Steady" o (C) "Checked" o (D) "Eased to 10 rudder" 33. INLAND ONLY When shall signals be sounded by a power-driven vessel intending to overtake another vessel? o (A) If both are in sight of one another o (B) If the vessel is within half a mile of that vessel (C) If the vessel is power-driven, and are in sight of one another o (D) If another power-driven vessel is within half a mile 34. What does the helm command "Steady as you go" mean? (A) Steer the course you are on now o (B) Steer the course when the swing stops o (C) Maintain the rate of swing o (D) Don't allow the vessel to swing off course so much Page 8 of 17
35. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are the watch officer on a power-driven vessel and notice a large sailing vessel approaching from astern. Which action should you take? (A) hold your course and speed o (B) slow down o (C) sound two short blasts and change course to port o (D) sound one short blast and change course to starboard 36. Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, the topmark of a red and white vertically-striped buoy shall be. o (A) X-shaped (B) a single red sphere o (C) a single red cone o (D) two black spheres 37. You are standing the wheel watch on entering port and the Master gives you a rudder command which conflicts with a rudder command from the Pilot. What should you do? (A) Obey the Master. o (B) Ask the Pilot if he relinquishes control. o (C) Bring the rudder to a position midway between the two conflicting positions. o (D) Obey the Pilot. 38. When entering from seaward, a buoy displaying a single-flashing red light indicates. (A) the starboard side of the channel o (B) a sharp turn in the channel to the right o (C) a junction with the preferred channel to the left o (D) a wreck to be left on the vessel's port side 39. A nun buoy will. o (A) be green in color (B) have an even number o (C) be cylindrical in shape o (D) be left to port when entering from seaward Page 9 of 17
40. As you enter a U.S. channel from seaward the numbers on the buoys. o (A) increase with the can buoys being even numbered (B) increase with the can buoys being odd numbered o (C) increase in channels going to the north or west, and decrease in channels going to the south or east o (D) decrease with the can buoys being even numbered 41. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When does the rule regarding look-outs apply? o (A) between dusk and dawn o (B) in heavy traffic o (C) in restricted visibility (D) All of the above 42. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What does five or more short blasts on a vessel's whistle indicate? o (A) The vessel is altering course to starboard o (B) The stand-on vessel and will maintain course and speed (C) There is doubt that another vessel is taking sufficient action o (D) The vessel is altering course to port 43. The lubber's line on a magnetic compass indicates. o (A) a relative bearing taken with azimuth circle (B) the direction of the vessel's head o (C) magnetic north o (D) compass north 44. The maximum distance at which a light may be seen under existing visibility conditions is called. o (A) nominal range o (B) geographic range (C) luminous range o (D) charted range Page 10 of 17
45. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog, you hear a vessel sound one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts on the whistle. What does this signal indicate? o (A) A vessel aground o (B) A vessel engaged in pilotage duty o (C) A vessel being towed (D) A vessel towing 46. A special mark (yellow buoy), if lighted, may exhibit which light rhythm? o (A) Occulting o (B) Morse "A" (C) Flashing o (D) Equal interval 47. You are sailing south on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) when you sight a red nun buoy with a yellow square painted on it. Which statement is TRUE? o (A) ICW traffic should not proceed beyond the buoy unless the crossing waterway is clear of all traffic. (B) You should leave the buoy to port. o o (C) The buoy is off station and should be ignored as a navigational mark. (D) The waterway in that area has shoaled and the available depth of water is less than the project depth. 48. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which is TRUE for a self-propelled dredge NOT engaged in dredging, but proceeding to a dredging location at night? (A) be required to show the lights of a power-driven vessel underway o (B) be required to show the lights of a stationary dredge o (C) not be required to show any lights o (D) be required to show the lights characteristic of a dredge 49. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND For the purpose of the Rules, except where otherwise required, the term. (A) "vessel" includes seaplanes o (B) "vessel engaged in fishing" includes a vessel fishing with trolling lines o (C) "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver" includes fishing vessels o (D) "seaplane" includes non-displacement craft Page 11 of 17
50. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on vessel "A" pushing a barge ahead and meeting vessel "B" as shown in illustration D012RR below. How should the vessels pass? o (A) Vessel "A" should maintain course and vessel "B" alter course. (B) Both vessels must alter course to starboard and pass port to port. o (C) Both vessels must alter course to port and pass starboard to starboard. o (D) The vessels should determine which will alter course by sounding whistle signals. Page 12 of 17
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners D027NG 5/23/2016 Adapted for testing purposes only Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 13 of 17
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners D006RR 5/24/2016 Adapted for testing purposes only Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 14 of 17
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