Towing Vessels – Western Rivers, Revision & Practice Exams

You are berthed at a cargo facility where you have just completed discharging a dangerous cargo. You must complete topside repairs involving hot-work before sailing. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

1. Hot-work repairs at such a facility are prohibited.
2. The Captain of the Port may give specific approval to make hot-work repairs. ✓
3. You can make repairs with permission of the facility owner since you are empty and the cargo is on the facility.
4. The repair area must be inspected by a marine surveyor to ensure that it can be done safely.

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act requires the person in charge of a vessel to immediately notify the Coast Guard as soon as he knows of any oil discharge. Failure to notify the Coast Guard can lead to a monetary fine and imprisonment up to what duration?

1. 5 years ✓
2. 3 years
3. 2 years
4. 1 years

What is the minimum size required before a vessel can be documented?

1. 5 net tons ✓
2. 26 feet; end-to-end over the deck excluding sheer
3. 26 feet between perpendiculars
4. 100 gross tons

Which is TRUE concerning the stowage of life jackets?

1. They must be stowed in readily accessible locations ✓
2. They are required to be stowed in messrooms
3. They are required to be stowed in a central location
4. They are always locked in watertight containers

Which condition would most likely result in fog?

1. Airborne dust particles
2. Dew point falling below the air temperature
3. Warm moist air blowing over warm water
4. Warm moist air blowing over cold water ✓

A fire starting by spontaneous combustion can be expected in which condition?

1. Clean mattresses are stored in contact with an electric light bulb.
2. Paints, varnish, or other liquid flammables are stowed in a dry stores locker.
3. Oily rags are stowed in a metal pail. ✓
4. Inert cargoes such as pig iron are loaded in a wet condition.

Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, which is TRUE of a preferred channel buoy?

1. It shall be solid red
2. It shall be horizontally-banded red and green ✓
3. It shall be vertically-striped red and white
4. It shall be solid green

Which defines the controlling depth of the river?

1. The least available water in a channel which limits the draft of boats and tows ✓
2. The edge of a dredged channel
3. The minimum depth of the river prescribed in the channel maintenance program
4. The highest level to which the river may rise without flooding

Where can the deepest water when rounding a bend in a river be located?

1. Toward the center of the river just before the bend, then change course for the river's center after the bend
2. Toward the inside of the bend
3. In the center of the river
4. Toward the outside of the bend ✓

Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, which is TRUE of a daymark on the right descending bank?

1. It will indicate the gage reading
2. It shall be green in color ✓
3. Must contain yellow retro-reflective markings
4. It will have an odd number

You are using a radar in which your own ship is shown at the center, and the heading flash always points to 0°. If bearings are measured in relation to the flash, what type of bearings are produced?

1. Compass
2. True
3. Magnetic
4. Relative ✓

You are ascending a river and exchanging navigational information via radiotelephone with a descending vessel. If the descending vessel advises you to "watch for the set" above point X, what would you expect to encounter above point X?

1. Shallow water
2. Slack water
3. A sideways movement of your vessel ✓
4. An increase in current velocity

The Light List shows a lighted aid to navigation on the right bank. In which situation can the light be seen on the port side of a vessel?

1. When the vessel is crossing the river
2. When the vessel is ascending the river ✓
3. When the vessel is proceeding towards sea
4. When the vessel is descending the river

If a single screw tug equipped with flanking rudders is to be turned in a confined circle, when going astern, which is the best action to take to make the stern move to port?

1. The rudder is hard to port and the flanking rudders are hard to port ✓
2. All of the rudders are hard to starboard
3. The rudder is amidships and the flanking rudders are hard to port
4. The rudder is hard to port and the flanking rudders are hard to starboard

Which fitting is a caval? Illustration WR001DG

1. A
2. B ✓
3. C
4. D

Your vessel is chartered under a time charter party. Under this type of charter party, what is your responsibility as Master?

1. It is solely to the charterer for all matters pertaining to cargo and ship administration
2. It is to the owner for vessel administration and to the charterer for cargo operations and schedule ✓
3. It is solely to the owner, as under normal conditions
4. It is solely to the cargo shippers and consignees

Which of the following describes why topside icing, which is usually off-center, decreases vessel stability?

1. It increases the draft
2. It increases the height of the center of gravity ✓
3. It reduces the pocketing of free surface
4. It increases the displacement

A loaded hopper barge carrying independent tanks has placards with alternating red and white quadrants on each side and at both ends. Which statement concerning this barge is TRUE?

1. The cargo will spontaneously ignite if released to the atmosphere.
2. The barge should be spotted as far away from the towboat as possible.
3. You must operate this barge as a lead barge.
4. The barge must be in a protected position within the tow. ✓

When underway and proceeding ahead, as the speed increases, what happens to the pivot point?

1. The pivot point will move lower
2. The pivot point will move forward ✓
3. The pivot point will remain stationary
4. The pivot point will move aft

What should be done with lines or gear NOT in use?

1. Secured or stowed out of the way ✓
2. They should be conspicuously marked
3. Stowed anywhere
4. Left on deck

Which item refers to a fore and aft wire? Illustration D024DG

1. A
2. B ✓
3. E
4. G

What is the purpose of a striker plate?

1. Provides surface for applying force on machinery
2. Absorbs machinery vibration
3. Prevents valve stem over-travel
4. Provides landing surface for the sounding bob ✓

When a new crew member arrives aboard your towboat, he/she is required to receive a safety orientation. Which is a topic required by regulation to be addressed in the orientation?

1. A Background Security questionnaire
2. Emergency egress procedures ✓
3. Company Human Resource Policies
4. Advanced First Aid

A towing vessel is required to be fitted with radar if which of the following is TRUE?

1. The towboat is used solely for assistance towing
2. The towboat is 200 gross tons and used exclusively on the Western Rivers ✓
3. The towboat is less than 12 meters (39.4 feet) in length
4. A fleeting towboat pushing a barge ahead to make up a tow

Your towboat that was constructed in 01/2017 is equipped with a self-priming fixed fire pump. What is the required flow rate of the pump?

1. 60 gpm
2. 80 gpm ✓
3. 100 gpm
4. 120 gpm

What does a slow and easy motion of a vessel in a waterway indicate?

1. A small GM ✓
2. A large GZ
3. A low center of gravity
4. A stiff vessel

If you must jump overboard from a vessel into the water, what does the correct posture include?

1. Body straight and arms held tightly at the sides for feet first entry into the water
2. Knees bent and held close to the body with both arms around legs
3. Both hands holding the life preserver below the chin with knees bent and legs crossed
4. Holding down the life preserver against the chest with one arm crossing the other, covering the mouth and nose with a hand, and feet together ✓

You are picking up an unconscious person that has fallen overboard. For safety reasons how should the towboat's yawl approach the person?

1. With the current on your starboard side upstream of the victim
2. With the victim downstream of the yawl
3. With the victim upstream of the yawl ✓
4. With the current perpendicular to the yawl

Which towing vessel(s) is/are exempt from carrying radar?

1. A vessel used solely in a limited area, such as a barge fleeting area.
2. A vessel exempted, in writing, by the Captain of the Port.
3. A vessel used solely for pollution response or assistance towing.
4. All of the above ✓

Your towboat has just been involved in a collision. Which is the FIRST action you should take?

1. Contact the Company Office
2. Turn on the Not Under Command Lights
3. Sound the general alarm ✓
4. Start the fire pump

What would light gray smoke from a diesel engine probably indicate?

1. High compression temperature
2. Overload condition ✓
3. Excess combustion air
4. Excessive lube oil consumption

What are drawbridges equipped with radiotelephones required to display?

1. A black and white diamond marked with RT 16 and the working channel
2. A sign giving notice of the radiotelephone and its calling and working channels ✓
3. A day signal of a yellow diamond marked with the call sign
4. A white sign with the number 16 and the call sign on it

What volume of the Coast Guard Light List is used for the Mississippi River system?

1. V ✓
2. II
3. IV
4. I

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding automatic identification systems (AIS)?

1. AIS cannot be used to make passing arrangements because the ship-to-ship text messaging feature is for emergency use only.
2. AIS can be used to make passing arrangements via ship-to-ship text messaging relieving a vessel operator from making such arrangements via bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone or signaling intent to pass via whistle signals.
3. AIS cannot be used to make passing arrangements because the system is not capable of this type of ship-to-ship communications.
4. AIS can be used to make passing arrangements via ship-to-ship text messaging, but a vessel operator is not relieved from the requirement to sound whistle signals or make arrangements via bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone. ✓