National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners (Sample Examination) Page 1 of 17
Choose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice Questions. 1. What is the name given to a smooth, tapered pin, usually of wood, used to open up the strands of a rope for splicing? o (A) Bench hook o (B) Awl (C) Fid o (D) Batten 2. What imminent danger results from tripping? o (A) Your tug being pulled backwards by your tow o (B) The barge(s) collide with the stern (C) Capsizing your tug o (D) The stern of the tug submerges causing flooding into engine room 3. A vessel reduces speed without backing. Which item is the primary factor that determines the rate that her speed through the water decreases? o (A) The number of propellers (B) The vessel's displacement o (C) The sea state o (D) The vessel's horsepower 4. Two vessels are abreast of each other and passing port to port in a confined waterway. What should you expect as your bow approaches the screws of the other vessel? (A) Your bow will sheer towards the other vessel. o (B) Your bow will sheer away from the other vessel. o (C) Your draft will significantly decrease. o (D) Your speed will significantly increase. 5. What is the TLV of cyclohexanol? o (A) 20 ppm o (B) 30 ppm o (C) 40 ppm (D) 50 ppm Page 2 of 17
6. You observe a V-shaped ripple with the point of the V pointing upstream in a river. What may this indicate? o (A) A submerged rock, not dangerous to navigation (B) A towed-under buoy o (C) A sunken wreck, not dangerous to navigation o (D) All of the above 7. What can be used to prevent a flammable atmosphere from occurring in a tank container? o (A) a combustion stabilizer (B) inert gas o (C) an oxidizer o (D) a vortex eliminator 8. The possibility of wake damage can be reduced by following which action? o (A) Passing close aboard to the moored vessel (B) Slow down when passing moored vessels o (C) Apply rudder in both port and starboard directions o (D) Alternate engine speeds 9. When are Operators of Uninspected Passenger Vessels required to keep their Coast Guard credential aboard their vessel? (A) only when carrying passengers for hire o (B) only when operating more than one mile from shore o (C) only when operating at night o (D) At all times 10. The static bollard pull of a tug is measured in tons and consists of the brake horsepower of the tug's engine divided by 100 and multiplied by which factor? o (A) 0.5 (B) 1.3 o (C) 3.0 o (D) 10 Page 3 of 17
11. If your JP-5 barge has operated in salt water for less than 1 month in the 12 month period since it was last dry-docked, when is it required to be hauled out again? (A) 60 months since last dry-docking o (B) 36 months since last dry-docking o (C) 24 months since last dry-docking o (D) 12 months since last dry-docking 12. Which flash point would indicate a grade D combustible liquid? o (A) 40 F (B) 95 F o (C) 79 F o (D) 155 F 13. Safety goggles or glasses are NOT normally worn during which task? (A) Handling wire rope or natural fiber line o (B) Using a rotary grinder with an installed shield o (C) Letting go the anchor o (D) Painting with a spray gun 14. Cargo tanks on barges fitted with goose neck vents and flame screens are limited to carrying which grade of cargo? o (A) A and below o (B) B and below o (C) C and below (D) D and E only 15. Which term defines the strainer at the bottom of a bilge suction pipe to prevent clogging? (A) Rose box o (B) Bellmouth o (C) Flange o (D) Pipe cap Page 4 of 17
16. A ballasted vessel sinks enroute to a dry dock. Under these circumstances, the vessel's owner can claim which loss? (A) Actual total loss o (B) Particular average o (C) General average o (D) Constructive total loss 17. Which would be the BEST condition for your vessel to enter into pack ice? (A) The vessel has a drag of not more than 2 to 3 feet o (B) The vessel is ballasted so the forefoot is near the surface o (C) The vessel is on an even keel o (D) The vessel is trimmed slightly by the head 18. To facilitate passing the end of a large rope through a block, you could use which line? o (A) A gantline o (B) A head line (C) A reeving line o (D) A sail line 19. In which case is the IOPP Certificate of an inspected vessel NOT invalidated? o (A) The ship is transferred to Liberian registry. o (B) A 15 ppm oily-water separator is replaced by a 100 ppm oily-water separator. (C) The required oily-water separator malfunctions. o (D) An annual survey is conducted fifteen months after the date of certificate issuance. 20. When is direct voice communication allowed in place of an internal communication system between the engine room and the operating station on a towing vessel? o (A) When the vessel is ruled to be an "existing vessel" o (B) When the vessel is less than 26 meters in length o (C) When a person's voice can be heard better than a portable radio with existing background noise (D) When the controls at the operation station are within 10 feet of the engine room access Page 5 of 17
21. What purpose does a tow hook serve? o (A) To prevent the towing hawser from fouling the propeller o (B) To recover the towing hawser from a barge o (C) To help pick up the towing hawser from the water (D) To quickly connect or release the towing hawser 22. Which towing equipment can be used to prevent the tripping of a tug? o (A) Chafing boards (B) Gob ropes o (C) Drogues o (D) Bridles 23. The final inspection responsibility for seeing that a tank barge is provided with the required equipment and fittings in good and serviceable condition prior to loading cargo rests with the. o (A) charterer through the Master of the towing vessel o (B) terminal operator o (C) owner of the barge (D) tankerman or person in charge of loading 24. According to MARPOL Annex V and 33 CFR, how is garbage containing plastic permitted to be disposed of? o (A) Grinding to less than 1" and discharging at least 25 nautical miles from nearest land o (B) Grinding to less than 1" and discharging at least 12 nautical miles from nearest land o (C) Discharging when at least 12 nautical miles from nearest land (D) Incinerating offshore 25. What is NOT a basic shiphandling rule for navigating in ice concentrations on the Great Lakes? (A) Transit ice along pressure ridges when possible. o (B) Work with the ice movement, not against. o (C) Keep moving - even very slowly, but keep moving. o (D) Excessive speed means ice damage. Page 6 of 17
26. What affect does shallow water have on a vessel's stopping distance? o (A) There is no difference in the stopping distance. o (B) The stopping distance is shorter. (C) The stopping distance is longer. o (D) The propeller is more effective when going astern in shallow water. 27. What is the purpose of a "check" line? (A) A line used to slow the headway of a barge o (B) A safety line attached to a man working over the side o (C) A line used to measure the overhead height of a bridge o (D) A line used to measure water depth 28. Which knot in illustration D030DG below represents a single becket bend? o (A) E o (B) F o (C) G (D) H 29. Your containership has a container displaying a hazardous cargo placard. The placard has the number 2206 on it. This indicates that it is carrying what cargo? (A) Isocyanates, n.o.s. o (B) Hexanols o (C) Propadiene, inhibited o (D) Xylenol 30. Keeping the draft at or below the load line mark will insure that the vessel has which of the following? o (A) Normal rolling periods (B) Reserve buoyancy o (C) Adequate ballast o (D) Minimaul displacement Page 7 of 17
31. When you enter shallow water, which describes your vessel's rudder response and speed variations? o (A) The response will improve and your speed will increase o (B) The response will improve and your speed will decrease o (C) The response will be sluggish and your speed will increase (D) The response will be sluggish and your speed will decrease 32. What equipment is NOT used to protect a towing hawser? o (A) Seizing wire, rope yarn and marline o (B) Hawser boards and chafing gear o (C) Norman pins and tow spans (D) Halyards and snap hooks 33. Where should towlines be inspected for chafing? o (A) Areas as it passes through chocks o (B) Areas where it is attached to the disabled vessel o (C) Areas where it passes over the stern of the towing vessel (D) All of the above 34. Which personal lifesaving device(s) is(are) approved for use on an uninspected towboat 150 feet in length? o (A) Buoyant vest or cushion (B) Life preserver o (C) Special purpose safety device o (D) All of the above 35. Your vessel is broken down and rolling in heavy seas. How can you reduce the danger of capsizing? (A) Rigging a sea anchor o (B) Constantly shifting the rudder o (C) Move all passengers to the stern o (D) Move all passengers to one side of the boat Page 8 of 17
36. Both an approved B-V semi-portable fire extinguishing system and a fixed fire extinguishing system are required to protect the engine room on uninspected towing vessels whose construction was contracted for on or after what date? o (A) February 1, 2002 o (B) April 29, 2005 o (C) April 29, 2004 (D) August 27, 2003 37. The control panel of a fire detection system must have all of the following EXCEPT which item? (A) A way to bypass the entire panel if it malfunctions o (B) A power-available light o (C) An audible alarm to notify the crew and identify the origin of the fire o (D) A means to silence audible alarms while maintaining visible alarm lights 38. Which may indicate the proximity of pack ice? o (A) Rapid changes in seawater salinity o (B) Frequent changes in air temperature (C) White glare on clouds on the horizon o (D) Icebergs 39. Which method requires prior approval to be used when cleaning up an oil spill? o (A) Suction equipment o (B) Skimmers o (C) Sorbent booms (D) Chemical agents 40. Where can the number of certificated lifeboatmen required for a vessel be found? (A) Certificate of Inspection o (B) Muster List ("Station Bill") o (C) Lifeboat manual o (D) Register or Enrollment Page 9 of 17
41. According to the regulations, what fire safety control feature is required in quick-closing shut off valves? o (A) Electrical cut off switch o (B) A water spray actuator (C) A fusible link o (D) Manual cut off switch 42. When discharging cargo from a tank barge, in which case may the cargo pass through or over the towing vessel? o (A) When off-loading grade C cargo o (B) With permission from the person in charge of the towing vessel o (C) With permission from the person in charge of the shore facility (D) In no case 43. What is NOT considered maritime property in a salvage claim? o (A) Sea plane o (B) Cargo o (C) Semi-submerged shipwreck (D) Buoys 44. In illustration D024DG below, what is the purpose of item "G"? (A) To prevent the knee from shifting when the rudder is put hard over o (B) To prevent the towboat from capsizing if item I should part o (C) To distribute the vessel's thrust over a wider area o (D) To keep the barges from shifting fore and aft 45. What is meant by the term "broaching to"? o (A) Having the vessel head toward the sea (B) Being turned broadside to the sea o (C) Having the vessel filled with water o (D) Running before a sea Page 10 of 17
46. In accordance with U.S. regulations which of the following is the proper label name for a class 4.3 substance? o (A) Spontaneously combustible o (B) Flammable solid o (C) Flammable liquid (D) Dangerous when wet 47. In general, an un-reinforced vessel can safely navigate in ice provided the concentration does not exceed how many tenths? o (A) 9-10 tenths o (B) 6-8 tenths o (C) 4-6 tenths (D) 1-3 tenths 48. A U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker, while escorting ships in ice, has sounded four short and one long blasts on the whistle. What does this indicate? o (A) The vessel has its engines full astern, stay clear o (B) The vessel is increasing the distance between vessels (C) The vessel has become icebound, Stop o (D) The vessel is increasing speed; watch for broken ice 49. What is the period of validity of a Safety Management Certificate? (A) 60 months o (B) 48 months o (C) 42 months o (D) 36 months 50. Which is the most effective method for towing and maneuvering on rivers and other restricted waters where wave action is limited? o (A) Towing on the hip o (B) Towing alongside and parallel to the vessel it is towing (C) Directly astern and pushing the tow o (D) Towing on a hawser Page 11 of 17
51. Fire protection regulations for towing vessels allow you to use a nonmetallic flexible hose in fuel line installations EXCEPT under which condition? o (A) When used in lengths of not more than 30 inches (B) When it is fitted with Coast Guard approved garden hose fittings o (C) When it is reinforced with wire braid o (D) It is visible and easily accessible 52. Fire protection regulations for towing vessels require that drills be conducted on board the vessel as if there were an actual emergency. Drills include all of the following, EXCEPT which item? o (A) Testing all alarm and detection systems o (B) Breaking out and using the vessel's emergency equipment (C) Participation by selected crew members o (D) One person putting on protective clothing, if the vessel is so equipped 53. When backing down with sternway, where will the pivot point of a vessel be located? o (A) The pivot point will be about one-third of the vessel's length from the bow o (B) The pivot point will shift to the bow o (C) The pivot point will be aft of the propellers (D) The pivot point will be about one-quarter of the vessel's length from the stern 54. When towing astern what equipment should be stowed ready for use near the towline? o (A) Fire extinguisher o (B) First aid kit o (C) Chafing gear (D) Axe or cutting torch 55. In some cases, the 50% duty on all foreign repairs made to American flag merchant vessels may be remitted. Which work does NOT come under the remitting policy of U.S. Customs? o (A) Repairs due to damage done by heavy weather (B) Chipping, painting, and scaling by foreign labor o (C) Repairs to hull structural damage o (D) Repairs to the main propulsion machinery Page 12 of 17
56. Under which condition should a Master file a marine note of protest? (A) If the vessel encountered heavy weather which might have caused cargo damage o (B) If portions of his vessel's cargo were illegally impounded in a foreign port o (C) If cargo was received at ship side which was damaged in land transit o (D) If longshore labor went on strike in the port causing undue vessel delay 57. You are underway in heavy weather and your bow is into the seas. Which action should you take to prevent pounding? o (A) Increase the speed of the vessel o (B) Secure all loose gear on your vessel (C) Decrease the speed of the vessel o (D) Put the seas on a 85 degree angle from the bow 58. In illustration D024DG below, which item is rigged to transmit the thrust from one barge to another when backing down? o (A) B (B) C o (C) I o (D) H 59. You are on a multiple-product chemical tanker and will carry cargoes of ethanolamine, methyl acrylate, and glycerine. Which statement is true? o (A) Methyl acrylate and ethanolamine are compatible but both must be segregated from glycerine. o (B) All of these cargoes are mutually incompatible. (C) Glycerine is compatible with both of the other cargoes. o (D) Glycerine may be stowed adjacent to methyl acrylate but must be segregated from ethanolamine. 60. Which type of carrier accepts without discrimination all legal cargoes of a shipper? o (A) Private (B) Common o (C) Tramp o (D) Industrial Page 13 of 17
61. The turning circle of a vessel making a turn over 360 degrees is the path followed by which item? o (A) Centerline o (B) Bridge o (C) Bow (D) Center of gravity 62. 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 63. Which item in illustration D024DG below, parting which item is one of the greatest hazards of pushing ahead? o (A) A o (B) B o (C) F (D) I 64. Providing you are not in a special area, such as the Mediterranean or Red Sea, how many nautical miles from land must you be to throw wooden dunnage into the sea? o (A) 3 nm o (B) 6 nm o (C) 12 nm (D) It is prohibited to discharge dunnage into the sea 65. Your vessel is carrying 84,000 barrels of oil for discharge. The cargo hoses have an inside diameter of 14 inches. When four hoses are connected to the manifold, the container around the manifold must hold at a minimum how many barrels? o (A) Three (B) Four o (C) Twelve o (D) Sixteen Page 14 of 17
66. You are on a 30,000 DWT tankship engaged in trade to another country signatory to MARPOL 73/78. Which statement is TRUE? (A) The IOPP Certificate is valid for 5 years. o (B) AN IOPP Certificate is renewed at each inspection for certification. o (C) An IOPP Certificate is invalid if the ship carries cargoes outside the classes authorized thereon. o (D) The Certificate of Inspection is prima facie evidence of compliance with MARPOL 73/78. 67. Which uninspected vessel is required to carry an efficient daylight signaling lamp? o (A) 299 GT towing vessel on a coastwise voyage o (B) 199 GT towing vessel on a coastwise voyage o (C) 99 GT towing vessel on Inland Waters (D) 199 GT towing vessel on an international voyage 68. When more than one vessel is being assisted by an icebreaker, distances between vessels should be constant. Which signal should be given by a vessel which is ahead of another and whose speed suddenly begins to drop? (A) A flag hoist consisting of the code figure "5" o (B) Four short blast on the whistle o (C) A flag hoist consisting of the code letters "FE" (Foxtrot-Echo) o (D) A flag hoist consisting of the code figure "4" 69. What is NOT required on an uninspected towing vessel? (A) Certificate of Inspection o (B) Operators Credential o (C) FCC Station License o (D) Certificate of Documentation 70. Unless extremely flexible wire rope is used, the sheave diameter should always be as large as possible. Which is the Coast Guard rule for correct sheave diameter? o (A) 10 times the wire rope diameter o (B) Match the rope diameter o (C) 2 times the wire rope diameter (D) 20 times the wire rope diameter Page 15 of 17
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners D024DG 5/23/2016 Adapted for testing purposes only Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 16 of 17
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners D030DG 5/23/2016 Adapted for testing purposes only Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 17 of 17