Master/Chief Mate of Unlimited Tonnage, Revision & Practice Exams

Each crewmember has an assigned firefighting station. Where is this assignment listed?

1. On the firefighting plan
2. In the shipping articles
3. On the Certificate of Inspection
4. On the muster list ✓

Which statement concerning an accidental oil spill in the navigable waters of the U.S. is TRUE?

1. A warning broadcast must be made by radiotelephone.
2. The Corps of Engineers is responsible for the cleanup of the spill.
3. The person in charge must report the spill to the Coast Guard. ✓
4. The Department of Interior is responsible for the cleanup of the spill.

Which term defines when a vessel is swinging from side to side off course due to quartering seas?

1. Yawing ✓
2. Rolling
3. Pitchpoling
4. Broaching

Why: Yawing is the swinging of the bow from side to side off the intended heading, typical in quartering seas. Broaching is being thrown broadside in a trough; rolling is side-to-side rotation; pitchpoling is end-over-end capsizing.

On the cargo manifest, which term is used to describe the weight of the cargo inside a box?

1. Light weight
2. Net weight ✓
3. Rate weight
4. Gross weight

Why: Net weight is the cargo alone, tare weight is the empty box or packaging, and gross weight is both together. The weight of the contents inside the box is therefore the net weight.

Periodic surveys to renew the load line assignment must be made at which interval?

1. 18 months
2. Two years
3. Three years
4. Five years ✓

Why: Load line certificates are issued for five years, with renewal surveys at that interval; annual inspections in between verify nothing affecting the assignment has changed.

When oil is accidentally discharged into the water, what should you do after reporting the discharge?

1. Contain the oil and remove as much of it as possible from the water. ✓
2. Obtain your permit from the Corps of Engineers
3. Throw sand on the water to sink the oil.
4. Throw chemical agents on the water to disperse the oil.

Why: After notifying the Coast Guard, the regulations call for containing the spill and recovering the oil. Dispersants and sinking agents may not be used without authorization because they add to or hide the pollution.

A vessel puts into the port of Kobe, Japan to discharge cargo. While awaiting completion of the cargo operation, the vessel contracts with a local shipyard to have the hull chipped, scaled, and painted. How is the cost of this maintenance handled with the Collector of Customs?

1. A declaration is made and duty is charged on the materials only.
2. A declaration is made, but duty is charged on the labor only.
3. A declaration is required and duty is involved on the total cost. ✓
4. No declaration is required since this is considered routine maintenance.

While on cargo watch, you notice one of the containers of Class 1 explosive materials has been damaged and some of the contents has leaked onto the deck. In accordance with U.S. regulations what actions must be taken?

1. Repairs can be made onboard by the crew as long as the vessel remains in port
2. The incident must be reported to the stevedore and repairs can be done on the vessel
3. Contents may be set aside until it is convenient to offload them
4. The Master must report the incident to the COTP as soon as practical ✓

What best describes for how long a gas-free test is good?

1. For the instant that it is made ✓
2. Until valves in line with the tank or compartment are reopened
3. Until changes in temperature or pressure affect the vapor content in the space
4. For as long as is indicated on the gas-free certificate

What is an enclosure which will withstand ignition of a flammable gas, and which will prevent the transmission of any flame able to ignite a flammable gas, which may be present in the surrounding atmosphere called?

1. a flame proof screen
2. gas-safe enclosure
3. explosion proof ✓
4. primary gas barrier

What is NOT required as special safety equipment on a tankship carrying hazardous cargoes in bulk?

1. Shower and eyewash fountain
2. Two portable vapor detectors suitable for the cargoes carried ✓
3. Equipment to lift an injured person from a pumproom
4. A safety locker adjacent to the emergency shutdown station

A half-height container is used __________.

1. to double the stowage capacity of the vessel
2. when stowage space is ample
3. to carry cargoes such as steel products or drums ✓
4. to carry cargoes of low density

Maritime Administration personnel may be allowed in the pilothouse and on the navigation bridge. Who is responsible for these personnel while in these areas of the vessel?

1. The Chief Officer
2. The most senior person present from the Maritime Administration
3. The Navigational Officer
4. The Master of the vessel ✓

Your vessel is moored portside to and you are taking over the Deck Watch. Which item has the most impact on the safety of the vessel and crew?

1. The API and Flash Point of the bunker fuel
2. The operational state of the main engine ✓
3. The names of the visitors that have departed the vessel
4. The uncorrected local variation on the chart

Which lashing gear used aboard Ro-Ro vessels should be painted or soaked in oil when not in use?

1. Wire rope.
2. Chain ✓
3. Webbing
4. All of the above

Which is characteristic of a "special cargo"?

1. It must be stowed on deck.
2. Periodic inspection is required while in transit to prevent spoilage.
3. It is of high value or easily pilferable. ✓
4. The cargo gives off toxic gases when heated.

A marine chemist issues gas free certificates and is certified by which organization?

1. American Chemical Society
2. Mine Safety Appliance Association
3. National Fire Protection Association ✓
4. Marine Chemists Association

Why: Marine chemists who issue gas-free certificates are certificated by the National Fire Protection Association, which administers the marine chemist qualification program.

When attempting to enter a compartment containing a fire, which method of applying water is best?

1. Sweeping the compartment with a fog stream ✓
2. Solid stream directed toward the overhead
3. Straight stream directed into the center of the fire
4. High-velocity fog stream directed toward the overhead

Your cargo vessel is transiting pirate waters with a temporary security team onboard. The ship has been attacked and starts sinking. The decision has been made to abandon ship. During the muster, the security force leader is determined to be missing. What initial action should be taken?

1. Presume the security force leader is staying behind to defend the ship
2. Designate a crew member to search for the security force leader ✓
3. Designate a security team member to search for the security force leader
4. Presume the security force leader was killed in action

Your vessel is damaged and listing to port. The rolling period is long, and the vessel will occasionally assume a starboard list. Which action should you take FIRST?

1. Fill an empty double bottom tank on the starboard side
2. Transfer all possible movable weights from port to starboard
3. Pump out ballast from the port and starboard double bottom tanks
4. Press up a slack centerline double bottom tank ✓

The terms "ceiling" and "margin plate" are associated with which areas of the vessel?

1. The main deck
2. The crew's quarters
3. The engine room
4. The tank top ✓

Which type of weld testing can be used to detect internal flaws?

1. Chemical reaction
2. Radiographic ✓
3. Magnetic particle
4. Dye penetrant

What quality of a diesel fuel is most significant for efficient combustion?

1. Volatility ✓
2. Flash point
3. Specific heat
4. Viscosity

If you were being assisted by an icebreaker and he sent you the single letter "Q", what would he be telling you?

1. That his vessel is healthy
2. That he is shortening the distance between vessels
3. That he has his engines in reverse
4. To shorten the distance between vessels ✓

Why should all electrical appliances aboard a vessel be grounded and ground fault protected?

1. To protect personnel from electrical shock ✓
2. To increase their operating efficiency
3. To prevent them from falling when the vessel rolls
4. To prevent unauthorized personnel from operating them

What does reducing the liquid free surfaces in a vessel reduce?

1. The rolling period ✓
2. The metacentric height
3. Waterplane area
4. The vessel's draft

What prevents water running along the shaft of a leaking centrifugal pump from entering the shaft bearing?

1. Shaft seal
2. Lantern ring
3. Drain hole
4. Water flinger ✓

Using the information in Section 1, the blue pages, of the Stability Data Reference Book, determine the danger angle for permanent list if the KG is 22.4 feet, and the drafts are: FWD 19'-06", AFT 20'-00".

1. 12°
2. 24° ✓
3. 48°
4. 52°

Your sailing drafts are: FWD 21'-08", AFT 22'-04" and the GM is 3.2 feet. What will be the angle of list if the #6 port deep tank (capacity 201 tons, VCG 11.4 feet, and 25.5 feet off the centerline) is filled? (Use the data in Section 1, the blue pages, of the Stability Data Reference Book)

1. 2°
2. 4°
3. 6°
4. 8° ✓

The SS AMERICAN MARINER is ready to bunker with drafts of FWD 14'-04", AFT 17'-06". After all bunkers are on board, soundings indicate the tonnages shown in table ST-0180 below. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the free surface correction.

1. 1.15 feet
2. 1.25 feet
3. 1.31 feet
4. 1.48 feet ✓

Use the floodable length curve in Section 1, the blue pages, of the Stability Data Reference Book. If the curve represents 45 percent permeability and number 5 hold floods, the vessel will sink if the permeability exceeds what percent?

1. 66% ✓
2. 70%
3. 74%
4. 79%

You are loading in a port subject to the summer load line mark and bound for a port subject to the tropical load line mark. You will enter the tropical zone after steaming four days. You will consume 33 tons of fuel, water, and stores per day. The hydrometer reading at the loading pier is 1.006, and the average TPI is 66. What is the minimum freeboard required at the start of the voyage? Reference Table BL-0022 below.

1. 78 inches ✓
2. 82 inches
3. 86 inches
4. 88 inches

Your drafts are: FWD 24'-09", AFT 27'-02". Use the blue pages of the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the vessels displacement if you are in salt water.

1. 13,175 tons
2. 13,350 tons
3. 13,490 tons
4. 13,620 tons ✓

A cargo vessel of 9,000 tons displacement is carrying a slack deep tank of molasses (SG 1.4). The tank measures 20 feet long and 30 feet wide. What will be the reduction in metacentric height due to free surface, with the vessel floating in sea water (SG 1.026)?

1. .142 ft.
2. .177 ft.
3. .195 ft. ✓
4. .212 ft.

The SS AMERICAN MARINER has drafts of: FWD 28'-00", AFT 30'-04". Use the white pages of the Stability Data Reference Book to determine the drafts if you ballast the forepeak with 110.8 tons of seawater.

1. FWD 28'-08.2", AFT 29'-11.6"
2. FWD 28'-09.0", AFT 29' 11.0"
3. FWD 28'-09.8", AFT 29' 10.4" ✓
4. FWD 28'-10.6", AFT 29' 09.8"

You are loading in a port subject to the winter load line mark and bound for a port subject to the tropical load line mark. You will enter the summer zone after steaming four days, and you will enter the tropical zone after a total of seven days. You will consume 38 tons of fuel, water, and stores per day. The hydrometer reading at the loading pier is 1.004, and the average TPI is 72. What is the minimum freeboard required at the start of the voyage? Reference Table BL-0007 below.

1. 94 inches
2. 92 inches
3. 85 inches
4. 90 inches ✓

The SS AMERICAN MARINER has the liquid load shown in table ST-0098 below. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the LCG-FP of the liquid load.

1. 262.3 ft
2. 264.9 ft
3. 268.1 ft ✓
4. 270.3 ft

How are chart legends which indicate a conspicuous landmark printed?

1. In italics
2. With underlined letters
3. In boldfaced print
4. In capital letters ✓

What is the purpose of the "reference hand" on an aneroid barometer?

1. To adjust the barometer
2. To indicate any change in the reading of the barometer ✓
3. To provide a correction for height above sea level
4. To provide a correction for temperature changes

Charts should be corrected by using information published in which text?

1. American Practical Navigator
2. Notice to Mariners ✓
3. Coast Pilot
4. Light List

Why: The Notice to Mariners (and Local Notice to Mariners) is published specifically for correcting charts and publications, listing chart-by-chart changes to aids, depths, and hazards. The other publications are themselves corrected from it.

You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 13 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 100°T, 120 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 275°T at 25 knots. What course should you steer at 13 knots to have the maximum CPA?

1. 339°
2. 333° ✓
3. 326°
4. 320°

You are on course 042°T. To check the course of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

1. 090°
2. 132° ✓
3. 180°
4. 222°

If the gyrocompass error is east, what describes the error and the correction to be made to gyrocompass headings to obtain true headings?

1. The readings are too low (small numerically) and the amount of the error must be added to the compass to obtain true ✓
2. The readings are too high (large numerically) and the amount of the error must be added to the compass to obtain true
3. The readings are too low and the amount of the error must be subtracted from the compass to obtain true
4. The readings are too high and the amount of the error must be subtracted from the compass to obtain true

By what means are indications of the master gyrocompass sent to remote repeaters?

1. by transmitter ✓
2. by azimuth motor
3. by phantom element
4. by follow-up system

Which is TRUE as the temperature of the air reaches the dew point?

1. Fog may form ✓
2. Rain must develop
3. It begins to snow
4. Water freezes

What happens to the intensity of a hurricane as it reaches higher latitudes and cooler waters?

1. Remains the same
2. Increases
3. Decreases ✓
4. None of the above

When navigating in high latitudes and using a chart based on a Lambert conformal projection, which is TRUE?

1. The chart should not be used outside of the standard parallels
2. The course angle is measured at the mid-longitude of the track line
3. The distance cannot be measured directly from the chart
4. A straight line drawn on the chart approximates a great circle ✓

Why are low altitude sun sights not generally used?

1. The glare on the horizon causes irradiation errors.
2. Errors due to unusual refraction may exist. ✓
3. Modern sight reduction tables are not complete for low altitudes below 5°.
4. Sextants may have large errors at small angles of elevation.

The light characteristic of flashing is used in the Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers. Which example is required to utilize this characteristic?

1. Daymarks with no lateral significance
2. Preferred channel buoys
3. Lights marking the right descending bank ✓
4. Lights marking the left descending bank

During the month of October, which describes the Sun's declination?

1. The declination is south and decreasing
2. The declination is north and increasing
3. The declination is north and decreasing
4. The declination is south and increasing ✓

Your vessel is proceeding up a channel, and you see a pair of range lights that are in line ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 014°T, and the variation is 11°E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 009° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation?

1. 5°E
2. 5°W
3. 6°E
4. 6°W ✓

Why: Range true 014 minus variation 11E gives 003 magnetic. Heading on the range reads 009 by compass. Deviation = magnetic minus compass = 003 - 009 = 6W.

How often is The Local Notice to Mariners updated?

1. Usually monthly
2. Usually daily
3. Usually weekly ✓
4. Usually semiannually

Which kind of conditions would you observe as the eye of a storm passes over your vessel's position?

1. Flat calm seas, heavy rain, light winds, and an extremely low barometer
2. Huge waves approaching from all directions, clearing skies, light winds, and high pressure
3. Flat calm seas, heavy rain, light winds, and high pressure
4. Huge waves approaching from all directions, clearing skies, light winds, and an extremely low barometer ✓

Why: In the eye, winds fall light and skies often clear while the barometer reads its lowest, but seas, no longer driven from one direction, arrive huge and confused from all directions. The eye is the pressure minimum, so high-pressure options are wrong.

As it approaches, what will a typical warm front bring?

1. Rising temperatures and falling barometric pressure ✓
2. Rising barometric pressure and temperatures
3. Falling temperature and pressure
4. Falling temperatures and rising pressure

Which agency publishes the Light Lists?

1. United States Coast Guard ✓
2. National Ocean Service
3. Oceanographic Office
4. Army Corps of Engineers

Why: The U.S. Coast Guard publishes the Light List, describing lights, buoys, and other aids to navigation in U.S. waters. Charts and tide data come from the National Ocean Service.

Which type of precipitation is a product of the violent convection in thunderstorms?

1. Sleet
2. Snow
3. Freezing Rain
4. Hail ✓

The owner or Master of a towing vessel shall ensure that all tests and inspections of gear take place. When are these actions required to be logged?

1. Weekly, before 2400 Saturday
2. Daily, at 0800 local zone time
3. When a new Master assumes command ✓
4. Immediately after assuming the watch