Towing Vessel License Practice Test: Western Rivers

Steersman, Pilot and Master on the Mississippi system: pushing barges, locks, bends, crossings, river aids. Coast Guard exam code TV03.

167 real questions from the Coast Guard National Maritime Center's public sample exams, free. Rules of the Road needs 90%. Every other module needs 70%.

Passing score: Coast Guard pass marks module by module, and the retest rules

What's free: daily rounds, the Brig, the drills and the Pass Meter, for every license. Your first module test is free too. After that, the full Exam Room is $19, once. No subscription.

What's on the test

The Q426 Chart Plot (Mississippi River) module is done on a paper chart at the exam, so it isn't here. Practice it with the chart and tools.

10 sample questions

1. For the purpose of the Inland Navigation Rules, the term "Inland Waters" includes which of the following?

   • A.The coastline of the United States out to one mile offshore
   • B.The Great Lakes on the United States side of the boundary
   • C.The waters surrounding any islands of the U.S.
   • D.Any lakes within state boundaries
   Show answer

   B. The Great Lakes on the United States side of the boundary

   Q100, Rules of the Road: International & Inland

2. When passing a moored vessel in a narrow channel which actions will help minimize wake damage?

   • A.Stay on outside of channel and make a notation in the log book
   • B.Reduce speed and make a notation in the bell book
   • C.Check the rudder several times while passing the vessel
   • D.Go half astern when abeam of the moored vessel
   Show answer

   B. Reduce speed and make a notation in the bell book

   Q160, Deck General

3. Which color of rockets, shells, or rocket parachute flares are used to indicate that the vessel is in distress and requires immediate assistance?

   • A.Green
   • B.Red
   • C.White
   • D.Yellow
   Show answer

   B. Red

   Q161, Deck Safety

4. When is a lookout permitted to leave his station?

   • A.15 minutes before the end of the watch
   • B.Only when properly relieved
   • C.At the end of the watch
   • D.At any time
   Show answer

   B. Only when properly relieved

   Q170, Deck General / Safety

5. In fog you observe your radar and determine that risk of collision exists with a vessel which is 2 miles off your port bow. Which action should you take?

   • A.Take avoiding action as soon as possible
   • B.Sound five short and rapid blasts at two-minute intervals
   • C.Hold course and speed until the other vessel is sighted
   • D.Stop your engines
   Show answer

   A. Take avoiding action as soon as possible

   Q100, Rules of the Road: International & Inland

6. Failure to notify the Coast Guard of an oil spill can carry a prison sentence of what duration?

   • A.Not more than 1 year
   • B.Not more than 2 years
   • C.Not more than 3 years
   • D.Not more than 5 years
   Show answer

   D. Not more than 5 years

   Q160, Deck General

7. Which extinguishing agent is/are suitable to combat a class B fire in an engine compartment?

   • A.Carbon dioxide
   • B.Dry chemical
   • C.Foam
   • D.All of the above
   Show answer

   D. All of the above

   Q170, Deck General / Safety

8. Which would influence a magnetic compass?

   • A.Electrical wiring
   • B.Radio
   • C.Iron pipe
   • D.All of the above
   Show answer

   D. All of the above

   Q171, Navigation General: Near Coastal

9. Which is TRUE for a vessel using a traffic separation scheme?

   • A.only anchor in the separation zone
   • B.avoid anchoring in areas near the termination of the scheme
   • C.use the separation zone for navigating through the scheme if she is hindering other traffic due to her slower speed
   • D.avoid crossing traffic lanes, but if obliged to do so, shall cross on as small an angle as is practical
   Show answer

   B. avoid anchoring in areas near the termination of the scheme

   Q100, Rules of the Road: International & Inland

10. What does the process of faking down a line mean?

    • A.To coil it down on deck
    • B.To stow the line below
    • C.To arrange the line on deck in long bights
    • D.To put a whipping on the line
    Show answer

    C. To arrange the line on deck in long bights

    Q347, Deck General

What the study guide does

• Short daily rounds of 10 questions, with a streak.
• Practice tests built like the real one, scored with the real pass marks (first one free, then $19 once for the full Exam Room).
• The Brig: questions you miss come back until you get them right twice.
• Pass Meter: your chance of passing every module if you sat it today, worked out from your own answers.
• Lights, shapes and sound signal drills (Rules 21-35).