National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners (Sample Examination) Page 1 of 7
Choose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice Questions. 1. Which is usually the most gentle way of riding out a severe storm on a larger vessel? o (A) Head into the seas at slow speeds o (B) Rig a sea anchor (C) Running before the seas o (D) Hove to 2. A natural fiber rope can be ruined by dampness. How is the line ruined? o (A) It stretches o (B) It will unlay (C) It begins to rot o (D) It shrinks 3. A snatch block would most likely be used as a. o (A) boat fall o (B) topping lift o (C) riding pawl (D) fairlead 4. What type of knot in illustration D030DG below is indicated by the Letter "E"? (A) Timber and half hitch o (B) Stopper hitch o (C) Blackwall hitch o (D) Bowline on a bight 5. Which type of shackle or hook should be used When making up a tow connection? o (A) Round pin shackles o (B) Safety hooks o (C) Plain eye hooks (D) Safety shackles Page 2 of 7
6. When being towed by one tug, how should the towing bridle be connected? (A) To heavy bitts with figure eights o (B) To the pad eyes with pelican hooks o (C) To the pad eyes with safety hooks o (D) All of the above 7. Why is the effect of ocean current usually more evident on a tug and tow than on a tug navigating independently? o (A) The current will offset the tow o (B) The towline catches the current o (C) The current causes yawing (D) The speed of the tug and tow is less 8. You are approaching a ship that is broken down and are preparing to take her in tow. BEFORE positioning your vessel to pass the towline, which action should you take? o (A) Install chafing gear on the towline (B) Compare the rate of drift between the ships o (C) Have traveling lizards rigged to guide the towline while it is paid-out o (D) Secure the bitter end of the towing hawser to prevent loss if the tow is slipped 9. You are steaming in a heavy gale and find it necessary to heave to. Under most circumstances, how is this best accomplished? o (A) Increasing the speed and taking the sea broad on the bow (B) Taking the sea fine on the bow and reducing the speed o (C) Going slow astern and taking the seas on the quarter o (D) Stopping the engines and drifting beam to the seas 10. What imminent danger results from tripping? o (A) Your tug being pulled backwards by your tow (B) Capsizing your tug o (C) The barge(s) collide with the stern o (D) The stern of the tug submerges causing flooding into engine room Page 3 of 7
11. The choice of length of tow bridle legs is governed by which of the following? o (A) Capability of retrieving gear o (B) Freeboard of the unit being towed o (C) The expected towing forces (D) The need to reduce yaw 12. Under which condition is a tug likely to be tripped? o (A) While making up to tow a large oil rig o (B) When the tug exerts maximum bollard pull with the tow close astern (C) When the towing hawser leads forward of the quarter o (D) When the tow "jumps" on the line 13. Where is the best location to install a towing hook? (A) Just aft of amidships o (B) On the fantail o (C) Forward of the towing bitts o (D) Near the Norman Pins 14. When you have a tow alongside, why should your stern extend aft of the tow? (A) To obtain better steering control o (B) It will provide a better lead for your lines o (C) To let the barge deflect floating objects from your propeller o (D) To avoid obscuring your stern light 15. If the situation arose where it became necessary to tow a disabled vessel, which statement is TRUE concerning the towing line? (A) There should be a catenary so the line dips into the water. o (B) The towing line between the two vessels should be clear of the water. o (C) The towing line should be taut at all times between the vessels. o (D) None of the above. Page 4 of 7
16. Which trait makes Nylon line dangerous? o (A) Nylon line kinks when wet o (B) Nylon line breaks down when wet (C) Nylon line can stretch 40 percent o (D) Nylon line is not elastic 17. A "loose" tow may cause all of the following EXCEPT which choice? o (A) Damage to the towing vessel and tow o (B) Loss of maneuverability o (C) Lines to part (D) A saving in the transit time 18. Which is TRUE when paying out nylon line from around the bitts? o (A) You can controllably pay out the line even with a single turn (B) Stand clear of the bitts and use two or more round turns under your figure eights o (C) No extra turns are necessary since nylon has a high coefficient of friction o (D) Stand with your foot on the bight of the line 19. What is a "carrick bend" is used for? o (A) To add strength to a weak spot in a line o (B) As a stopper to transfer a line under strain o (C) To join lines of different sizes (D) To join two hawsers 20. The vessel shown in illustration D025DG has broken down and you are going to take her in tow. The wind is on her starboard beam. Both vessels are making the same amount of leeway. Where should you position your vessel when you start running lines? o (A) A o (B) B (C) C o (D) D Page 5 of 7
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners D025DG 5/23/2016 Adapted for testing purposes only Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 6 of 7
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners D030DG 5/23/2016 Adapted for testing purposes only Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 7 of 7