National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners (Sample Examination) Page 1 of 14
Choose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice Questions. 1. The maneuvering information required to be posted in the wheelhouse must be based on certain conditions. Which of the following is NOT one of these conditions? o (A) The hull must be clean. (B) The depth of the water must be at least one and one-half times the draft. o (C) There must be no current. o (D) There must be calm weather-wind 10 knots or less and a calm sea. 2. Which defines the process of "Block stowage"? o (A) Separation cloths to separate different kinds of cargo o (B) To have the cargo on pallets (C) Stowing all the cargo for a port in the same area o (D) Using port marks on the cargo 3. A vessel has been surveyed in a foreign port and found unseaworthy as a result of neglect. A seaman on this vessel is entitled to discharge and which of the following? o (A) One month's pay only o (B) Transportation to the port of engagement o (C) One month's pay or transportation to the nearest U.S. port, whichever is the least amount (D) One month's pay or transportation to the nearest U.S. port, whichever is the greater amount 4. Which of the signals listed is required to be displayed at night while bunkering at a dock? o (A) One red light over a white light (B) One red light o (C) One red light over a yellow light o (D) Two red lights 5. Which international body is responsible for drafting the convention prohibiting marine pollution (MARPOL)? o (A) The Maritime Advisory Council o (B) The International Association of Shipping o (C) The Association of Seafaring Nations (D) The International Maritime Organization Page 2 of 14
6. While assigned to a 150 GRT vessel, you are required to sign "foreign" articles on a voyage from New Orleans to which port? o (A) Houston, Texas o (B) Veracruz, Mexico (C) Cristobal Colon, Panama o (D) Kingston, Jamaica 7. 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 8. When an azimuth of the Sun has been taken and the deviation of the standard magnetic compass computed, the watch officer should record the results. o (A) on the compass deviation card o (B) in the vessel's Official Logbook o (C) on a Napier diagram (D) in the compass deviation log 9. Which is the best method to stop a vessel from dragging anchor in a sand bottom? (A) Pay out more anchor cable o (B) Back the engines o (C) Swing the rudder several times to work the anchor into the bottom o (D) Reduce the length of the cable 10. A vessel to which Annex V to MARPOL 73/78 applies is located in a MARPOL designated special area, 14 nautical miles from nearest land. What type of garbage is permitted to be discharged? (A) Food waste ground to less than 1" o (B) Metal ground to less than 1" o (C) Glass ground to less than 1" o (D) Paper products ground to less than 1" Page 3 of 14
11. 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 12. You are shifting a gas free tank barge to dry dock for repairs. The barge must have onboard which document? o (A) A Permit to Proceed and Hot Work Permit o (B) A Gas Free Certificate (C) A valid Certificate of Inspection o (D) All of the above 13. You are preparing to load fuel oil on a vessel of 300 gross tons constructed after June 30, 1974. Before loading, which statement is TRUE concerning fuel oil tank vents? o (A) The vents are not obstructed by on-deck cargo in a ten foot radius o (B) All vents are opened and the flame screen removed for efficient flow (C) Each vent must have a fixed containment with a capacity for at least one half barrel o (D) Each vent is required to have a fire extinguisher within the immediate area 14. What is the period of validity of a Merchant Mariner Credential? (A) 5 years o (B) 1 year o (C) 3 years o (D) 2 years 15. 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 Page 4 of 14
16. 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. 17. 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 18. You are on watch and the Pilot has the conn. The Master has temporarily gone below. The Pilot orders a course change which you are certain will put the vessel into imminent danger. Which should be your initial response? (A) Countermand the order and immediately notify the Master o (B) Make an appropriate entry in the deck log concerning the Pilot's order o (C) Immediately sound a short ring on the general alarm o (D) Immediately call the Master and await further orders from him 19. Which space(s) is(are) deducted from gross tonnage to derive net tonnage? (A) Boatswain's stores o (B) Passenger spaces o (C) Companions and booby hatches o (D) All of the above 20. What is a serving mallet used for? o (A) Forcing fids into a line (B) Covering wire or fiber rope o (C) Dogging hatches o (D) Splicing lines Page 5 of 14
21. What is the flash point of a Grade D liquid? (A) greater than 80 F and less than 150 F o (B) 212 F or greater o (C) 150 F or greater but less than 212 F o (D) 80 F or less 22. You are anchoring in 16 fathoms of water. On a small to medium size vessel, which statement is TRUE? o (A) The scope should always be less than 5 times the depth of the water (B) The anchor should be lowered to within 2 fathoms of the bottom before being dropped o (C) The anchor may be dropped from the hawsepipe o (D) The scope should always be at least ten times the depth of the water 23. Which term describes damage to cargo caused by fumes or vapors from liquids, gases, or solids? o (A) Vaporization o (B) Oxidation o (C) Contamination (D) Tainting 24. 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 25. Which term(s) are in the category of "oil" as used in the Oil Pollution Regulations? o (A) Oil refuse o (B) Fuel oil o (C) Sludge (D) All of the above Page 6 of 14
26. 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. 27. Which of the following is the compliment of the stern line? o (A) The breast line o (B) The quarter cross spring line (C) The head line o (D) The bow cross spring line 28. Your load line certificate expires on 27 May 1988. The vessel is surveyed on that date and is found satisfactory. You are sailing foreign the same day. Which statement is TRUE? (A) The existing certificate is extended for a period of up to 150 days. o (B) The existing certificate is extended until the first foreign port of call where a new certificate will be issued by the local surveyor. o (C) The existing certificate is endorsed as valid for a five year period commencing 27 May 1988. o (D) A new certificate must be issued before you sail. 29. When oil is accidentally discharged overboard, an entry is required to be made in which log? (A) The Oil Record Book o (B) The engine rough log o (C) The Deck Maintenance Logbook o (D) The deck rough log 30. 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. (A) flashpoint o (B) list o (C) trim o (D) stability Page 7 of 14
31. When loading a tanker, you should. (A) Close valves by closing them down, reopening one or two turns, and re-closing o (B) Load only one tank at a time o (C) Keep a strain on the loading hoses o (D) Keep the seamen on watch on standby in the messroom 32. What is the name of tackle number 12 as shown in illustration D029DG below? (A) Threefold purchase o (B) Gin tackle o (C) Davit tackle o (D) Deck tackle 33. Your oceangoing vessel has medical waste to be disposed of ashore. How many hours advance notice must you give the port or terminal? o (A) 6 o (B) 12 (C) 24 o (D) 48 34. Which type of line is best able to withstand sudden shock loads? o (A) Polypropylene o (B) Dacron o (C) Manila (D) Nylon 35. 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 Page 8 of 14
36. Which agency assigns Load lines for U.S. vessels? o (A) The National Cargo Bureau o (B) The U.S. Coast Guard (C) The American Bureau of Shipping o (D) The Lloyd's Register of Shipping 37. What is meant by the term "two-blocked"? (A) The bottom block touches the top block. o (B) You have two blocks. o (C) The line has jumped the sheaves. o (D) There are turns in the fall. 38. Where should an application for a waiver of any requirements of the regulations for oil transfer operations be submitted? o (A) To the nearest Coast Guard office o (B) To the District Commander o (C) To the Commandant (D) To the Captain of the Port 39. To determine the number of portable fire extinguishers required on an inspected vessel, you should check which document? o (A) The Muster List ("Station Bill") (B) The Certificate of Inspection o (C) The Safety of Life at Sea Certificate o (D) The hot work permit 40. All U.S. Flag vessels engaged in foreign trade are required to be which of the following? o (A) Class Endorsed (B) Registry Endorsed o (C) Licensed o (D) Enrolled Page 9 of 14
41. What is the purpose of a devil's claw? o (A) It prevent the windlass from engaging (B) It acts as a chain stopper o (C) It controls the wildcat o (D) It will prevent the chain from fouling on deck 42. The signal man assisting the crane operator has his arm extended with the palm down and holds this position rigidly. This is the signal to. o (A) swing (B) stop o (C) hoist o (D) lower 43. You are on a large merchant vessel entering a U.S. port. There is a Pilot on board and he has the conn. Which statement is TRUE? o (A) The Pilot is solely responsible for the internal working of the ship. (B) The Master is responsible for the safe navigation of the ship and the Pilot is employed for his local knowledge. o (C) The Pilot is solely responsible for the safe maneuvering of the ship only if he is required to be on board by law. o (D) The Pilot becomes solely responsible for the safe navigation of the vessel only if the Master relinquishes the conn. 44. Which item do you NOT have to provide for the Coast Guard representative at the time of a stability test? o o (A) General arrangement plans of decks; holds and inner bottoms. (B) Capacity plans showing the vertical and longitudinal centers of gravity of stowage spaces and tanks. (C) A stability letter. o (D) Tank sounding tables and draft mark locations. Page 10 of 14
45. Which wire rope purchase(s) is/are optional with a 30-Ton pedestal crane? (A) Rider block o (B) Luff o (C) Hoist o (D) All of the above 46. Which statement about the deck line is TRUE? o (A) The top of the deck line is marked at the highest point of the freeboard deck, including camber, at the midships point. o (B) On a vessel with a rounded stringer-sheer plate, the deck line is marked where the stringer plate turns down from the plane of the deck line. o (C) The deck edge is marked at the intersection of the freeboard deck with the side shell, at the lowest point of sheer, with the vessel at even trim. (D) A vessel with wooden planks on a steel deck will have the deck line marked at the intersection of the upper line of the wood sheathing with the side shell. 47. Which document is NOT required by law to be posted aboard a vessel? o (A) Certificate of Inspection o (B) Muster List o (C) Officer's licenses (D) Official Crew List 48. The load chart of a crane enables the operator to combine the load radius with boom length to determine the. (A) allowable load o (B) minimum horsepower required o (C) hoist rope strength o (D) maximum counter weight required 49. Which is the BEST method of determining if a vessel is dragging anchor? o (A) Observe how much the vessel sheers while at anchor o (B) Note any change in the tautness of the anchor chain (C) Observe changes in bearings of fixed objects onshore o (D) Observe the amount of line paid out Page 11 of 14
50. In illustration D038DG below, what part of the anchor is indicated by the letter "K"? o (A) Shank (B) Ring o (C) Crown o (D) Bending shot Page 12 of 14
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners D029DG 5/23/2016 Adapted for testing purposes only Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 13 of 14
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners D038DG 5/23/2016 Adapted for testing purposes only Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 14 of 14