Mixed Deck — All Coast Guard Test Topics Flashcards
100 cards from real Coast Guard Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Mixed Deck — All Coast Guard Test Topics flashcards as text
What does a series of five or more short, rapid blasts on a vessel's horn indicate?
Answer: Danger or doubt signal
Five or more short, rapid blasts is the internationally recognized danger or doubt signal.
A squall is best described as:
Answer: A sudden, sharp increase in wind speed lasting several minutes
A squall is a sudden, brief, violent increase in wind speed, often accompanied by rain, and typically lasts only a few minutes before subsiding.
What does the acronym NAVTEX stand for?
Answer: Navigational Telex
NAVTEX (Navigational Telex) is an international automated direct-printing service that broadcasts maritime safety information including weather warnings and navigational notices.
What causes radiation fog most commonly found in harbors and estuaries during early morning hours?
Answer: Nocturnal radiative cooling of land and the air just above it
Radiation fog forms when land radiates heat at night, cooling the surface air to its dew point; it is common in sheltered bays and rivers after clear, calm nights.
When towing a disabled vessel, what is a key safety concern?
Answer: The towline breaking and snapping back
A towline under tension can snap and recoil dangerously, so crew must stay clear of the line.
How frequently must inflatable life rafts on inspected vessels be serviced?
Answer: Annually or per manufacturer's requirements at an approved service station
Inflatable life rafts must be serviced annually or per manufacturer's specifications at a Coast Guard-approved service station to ensure reliability in an emergency.
The prolonged blast of a whistle lasts approximately how long?
Answer: Four to six seconds
A prolonged blast is defined as lasting from four to six seconds.
What is the primary purpose of the Coast Guard's Alien Migrant Interdiction Operations (AMIO)?
Answer: To interdict and prevent illegal maritime migration
AMIO interdicts undocumented migrants at sea to prevent loss of life and enforce immigration law before migrants reach U.S. shores.
What flotation gear reduces heat loss and is worn by survivors in cold water?
Answer: Immersion (survival) suit
An immersion suit insulates the body and provides buoyancy to slow hypothermia in cold water.
When a Coast Guard boarding team detects a vessel not stopping after clear signals, what is this called?
Answer: Failure to heave to
Failure to heave to occurs when a vessel refuses to stop after a lawful order, and it is itself a federal offense.
What is the meaning of a quick-flashing light on a buoy?
Answer: The buoy marks a point requiring special caution, such as a channel bend or junction
Quick-flashing lights (flashing more than 50 times per minute) are used to mark points requiring extra attention, such as channel bends, junctions, or isolated dangers.
During a boarding, use of force by Coast Guard members must always be what?
Answer: Reasonable and proportional to the threat
Coast Guard use-of-force policy requires force to be reasonable and proportional to the threat encountered.
What is a Digital Selective Calling (DSC) controller used for?
Answer: To send automated distress signals with vessel identity and GPS position at the push of a button
A DSC controller sends an automated digital distress alert containing the vessel's MMSI number, GPS position, and distress nature, greatly speeding up rescue response.
A 'vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States' under the MDLEA includes which of the following?
Answer: A stateless vessel
The MDLEA defines stateless vessels as subject to U.S. jurisdiction, allowing enforcement action against them.
What does 'deepwater port' refer to in federal law?
Answer: An offshore facility licensed to transfer oil from large tankers to shore via pipeline, beyond state waters
Under the Deepwater Port Act, a deepwater port is a fixed or floating offshore facility licensed to transfer oil or natural gas from vessels to pipelines leading to shore.
What information must be included in a properly formatted MAYDAY call?
Answer: MAYDAY spoken three times, vessel name, position, nature of distress, number of persons, and any other relevant information
A complete MAYDAY call includes: MAYDAY x3, vessel name x3, position, nature of distress, number of persons aboard, any other pertinent information, and OVER.
What is an Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) activity and how does the Coast Guard regulate it?
Answer: Activities like offshore drilling on the continental shelf beyond state waters; Coast Guard has exclusive safety jurisdiction
OCS activities include offshore energy operations beyond state waters; the Coast Guard has exclusive federal jurisdiction over safety and environmental protection on these facilities.
The Coast Guard's polar icebreakers contribute to national defense by ensuring access to which strategic region?
Answer: The Arctic and Antarctic
Polar icebreakers ensure U.S. strategic access to the Arctic and Antarctic.
What color is a standard Coast Guard-approved distress flare at night?
Answer: Red
Red aerial and handheld flares are the recognized nighttime visual distress signals.
What is the international distress signal frequency for VHF radio?
Answer: Channel 16
VHF Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) is the international distress, safety, and calling frequency monitored by the Coast Guard.