U.S. COLREGs General Quiz

#1. Under Rule 35(c), what restricted visibility sound signal must be made by a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver when operating at anchor?

Rapid ringing of the bell for 5 seconds every minute

One prolonged blast followed by two short blasts at intervals of not more than 2 minutes

Sounding the gong rapidly for 5 seconds followed by one short blast

Two prolonged blasts every 2 minutes

Continuous sounding of the ship’s horn

#2. You are the watchkeeper on a power-driven vessel overtaking a tug with a tow on inland waters. You intend to overtake along her port side. Under Inland Rule 34(c), what whistle signal should you blow?

One short blast

Two short blasts

One prolonged blast followed by one short blast

Two prolonged blasts followed by two short blasts

Two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast

#3. Under Rule 26(c), what lights must a vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling exhibit when underway and making way?

Red over white all-round lights, sidelights, and sternlight

Green over white all-round lights, masthead light, and sternlight

White over red all-round lights, sidelights, and sternlight

Two all-round green lights in a vertical line and sidelights

Red over green all-round lights at the masthead and sternlight

#4. You are on watch on an underway power-driven vessel. You sight an approaching vessel displaying three all-round lights in a vertical line: red over white over red. What is your obligation under Rule 18?

Stand on because crossing rules take priority over light configurations

Keep out of the way of this vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver

Sound two short blasts and cross ahead of her

Maintain course and speed until she sounds an agreement signal

Direct her to steer clear via VHF Channel 16

#5. Under Rule 23(b), what distinctive light may an air-cushion vessel exhibit when operating in the non-displacement mode?

An intermittent flashing red beacon

An all-round flashing yellow (amber) light

An all-round flashing blue light

Two flashing white lights displayed horizontally

A steady green light placed above the forward masthead light

#6. Under 33 CFR 26.05, who is designated for the exclusive use of the bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone on board a vessel?

Any licensed deck crew member or deck cadet on duty

The master or person in charge of the vessel, or the person designated to pilot or direct vessel movement

The chief radio officer or communications operator

The helmsman on watch in the wheelhouse

The chief mate during cargo watch hours

#7. Under 33 CFR 90.3 (Interpretative Rule), what constitutes a ‘composite unit’ when a pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed ahead are rigidly connected?

Any tow connected by high-tensile wire rope with winch tensioning

Two vessels connected by mechanical means so they react to sea and swell as one vessel

Any push-boat connected by synthetic mooring hawsers

Any tug pushing a barge within a designated harbor district

Two vessels lashed side-by-side with heavy chain lashings

#8. Does the U.S. Inland Navigation Rules include a provision for a ‘vessel constrained by her draft’ or prescribe lights for such a vessel?

Yes; identical to International Rule 28 in all respects

No; Rule 28 is reserved/omitted in the Inland Rules and no such lights or privilege exist

Yes; but only on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway

Yes; she displays three black balls in a vertical line by day

Yes; but only for deep-draft tankers over 100,000 DWT

#9. You are navigating in fog and hear one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts every 2 minutes. Which vessel among the following could NOT be sounding this signal under Rule 35(c)?

A vessel not under command

A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver

A vessel engaged in fishing

A power-driven vessel making way through the water

A sailing vessel underway

#10. You are navigating on inland waters and encounter a dredge displaying two all-round red lights in a vertical line on her port side and two all-round green lights vertically on her starboard side. On which side should you pass?

On her port side where the red lights are displayed

On her starboard side where the green lights indicate the clear side

You must stop and wait for her to extinguish all red lights

Pass on either side provided speed does not exceed 5 knots

Anchor immediately and hail the dredge on Channel 13

#11. Under Inland Rule 24(c), what lights must a power-driven vessel exhibit when pushing ahead or towing alongside on inland waters other than the Western Rivers?

Two masthead lights in a vertical line, sidelights, and two towing lights in a vertical line

Two masthead lights in a vertical line, sidelights, and a sternlight

Two masthead lights in a vertical line, sidelights, and two yellow towing lights displayed vertically

A single masthead light, sidelights, and an all-round red light aft

Three masthead lights in a vertical line, sidelights, and an amber flashing light

#12. Under Rule 22(a), what is the minimum required luminous visibility range for the masthead light of a vessel 50 meters or more in length?

3 nautical miles

4 nautical miles

5 nautical miles

6 nautical miles

8 nautical miles

#13. You are the watch officer on an anchored vessel of 60 meters length at night in a designated anchorage. What lights must you display under Rule 30?

A single all-round white light forward

An all-round white light in the fore part and an all-round white light aft at a lower level

Two masthead lights, sidelights, and a sternlight

Two all-round red lights forward and two white lights aft

An all-round white light forward and deck working lights only

#14. You are the watch officer on a vessel entering a VTS Special Area under 33 CFR 161.13. Your vessel is towing astern. What specific operating requirement applies to your towline?

You must tow with a hawser length of exactly 300 meters

You must tow astern with as short a hawser as safety and good seamanship permits

You must disconnect the hawser and push the tow alongside

You must lengthen the towline to at least twice the vessel length

You must station a lookout on the towed vessel with an Aldis lamp

#15. Under Rule 30(d), what lights must a vessel aground exhibit at night in addition to the anchor lights prescribed for her length?

Two all-round green lights in a vertical line

Two all-round red lights in a vertical line

Three all-round white lights in a triangle

Two flashing yellow lights fore and aft

A single flashing amber beacon amidships

#16. Under 33 CFR 84.05 (Annex I), what is the horizontal sector of sidelights in the forward direction?

They must show from right ahead to exactly 90 degrees abeam

They must show right ahead and maintain minimum required intensity to within 1 degree outside the prescribed sector

They must overlap across the bow by at least 10 degrees

They must be visible only from 22.5 degrees abaft the beam forward

They must cut off completely at 45 degrees abaft the beam

#17. You are on watch on a power-driven vessel on inland waters. You sight a power-driven vessel crossing from your port side on a steady bearing. She fails to take avoiding action as the range decreases. Under Inland Rule 17(c), what course alteration should you avoid?

An alteration of course to starboard

An alteration of course to port for a vessel on your own port side

Slacken speed to allow her to pass

Backing engines full astern

Maintaining course and speed

#18. You are conning a vessel downbound with a following current on the Western Rivers. You meet an upbound power-driven vessel. Under Inland Rule 14(d), what right and duty does your vessel have?

The upbound vessel has right-of-way and dictates the passing manner

Your downbound vessel has the right-of-way, shall propose the manner of passage, and shall initiate the maneuver signals

Both vessels must immediately turn hard to starboard without signaling

The downbound vessel must yield the channel and stop engines

Both vessels must wait for VTS clearance before negotiating the bend

#19. Under Inland Rule 34(a)(ii), what signal must a vessel sound on inland waters if she does not agree with a proposed passing whistle signal, or is in doubt?

Two short blasts

At least five short and rapid blasts

One prolonged blast

Three short blasts

Four prolonged blasts

#20. You are conning a vessel in an inland canal. You hear an approaching power-driven vessel sound one short blast. You agree to pass port-to-port. What must you do under Inland Rule 34(a)(ii)?

Sound two short blasts to modify the proposal

Sound one short blast in agreement and take steps to execute the pass

Remain silent and alter course to starboard

Sound five short and rapid blasts

Answer on VHF Channel 13 without blowing the whistle

#21. You are conning a vessel in a harbor subject to Inland Rules. You reach an agreement to pass an oncoming power-driven vessel starboard-to-starboard via bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone. Under Inland Rule 34(h), what requirement applies to whistle signals?

Whistle signals are strictly required even after radiotelephone agreement

Whistle signals are not required, but if agreement is not reached, appropriate whistle signals must be sounded in timely manner

Whistle signals must be sounded 5 minutes after radio agreement

The give-way vessel must sound two short blasts regardless of the radio call

The stand-on vessel must sound at least five short blasts to confirm

#22. Under Rule 12(a)(i), when two sailing vessels approach with risk of collision and each has the wind on a different side, which vessel must keep out of the way?

The vessel with the wind on the starboard side

The vessel with the wind on the port side

The vessel running before the wind

The vessel carrying greater sail displacement

The vessel which is to leeward

#23. You are approaching a vessel displaying two all-round red lights in a vertical line at night, with sidelights and sternlight also illuminated. What type of vessel is this and what is her status?

A vessel aground

A vessel not under command, making way through the water

A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver, stopped in the water

A pilot boat on station engaged in pilotage operations

A vessel engaged in mine clearance operations

#24. Under Annex I, Section 9(a)(i), what is the required vertical position of the forward masthead light on a vessel 20 meters or more in length?

Not less than 3 meters above the hull

Not less than 6 meters above the hull, or if breadth exceeds 6 meters, not less than such breadth, up to 12 meters

Not less than 15 meters above the waterline

Not less than 4 meters above the deckhouse

Not less than 8 meters above the keel

#25. Under Rule 8(b), what characteristic is mandatory for any alteration of course and/or speed taken to avoid collision?

It must consist of several small, progressive heading changes

It shall, if circumstances admit, be large enough to be readily apparent to another vessel observing visually or by radar

It must be accompanied by an automatic Morse code whistle signal

It must be exactly 90 degrees away from the contact track

It must be executed only after slowing main engines to dead slow