Coast Guard Test Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under what authority does the U.S. Coast Guard conduct boardings of vessels on the high seas and in U.S. waters?
- 14 U.S.C. § 522 (formerly § 89) (Correct answer)
- The Jones Act
- The Magnuson-Stevens Act
- The Posse Comitatus Act
Correct answer: 14 U.S.C. § 522 (formerly § 89)
14 U.S.C. § 522 grants the Coast Guard authority to make inquiries, examinations, searches, seizures, and arrests upon the high seas and U.S. waters.
Question 2: A 'right of visit' boarding of a foreign-flagged vessel on the high seas is generally authorized to verify what?
- The vessel's claimed nationality (Correct answer)
- The crew's wages
- The vessel's fuel efficiency
- The captain's citizenship only
Correct answer: The vessel's claimed nationality
The right of visit allows boarding to verify a vessel's nationality when there is reasonable suspicion it is stateless or falsely flagged.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of the Coast Guard's Alien Migrant Interdiction Operations (AMIO)?
- To interdict and prevent illegal maritime migration (Correct answer)
- To collect customs duties
- To inspect commercial fishing gear
- To license recreational boaters
Correct 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.
Question 4: Which zone extends 12 nautical miles from the baseline and is where a coastal state exercises full sovereignty?
- Territorial sea (Correct answer)
- Exclusive Economic Zone
- Contiguous zone
- High seas
Correct answer: Territorial sea
The territorial sea extends 12 nautical miles from the baseline and is subject to the coastal state's full sovereignty.
Question 5: A boarding officer discovers narcotics hidden aboard a vessel subject to U.S. jurisdiction. What is the appropriate first step?
- Secure the evidence and maintain chain of custody (Correct answer)
- Immediately release the vessel
- Discard the narcotics overboard
- Allow the crew to leave the scene
Correct answer: Secure the evidence and maintain chain of custody
Securing evidence and documenting chain of custody preserves the integrity of the case for prosecution.
Question 6: What document authorizes the Coast Guard to board and search certain foreign vessels under a bilateral counterdrug agreement?
- A ship rider or bilateral agreement (Correct answer)
- A recreational boating permit
- A fishing quota license
- A cargo manifest
Correct answer: A ship rider or bilateral agreement
Bilateral agreements, sometimes using ship riders from the flag state, authorize the Coast Guard to board vessels of partner nations.
Question 7: The Contiguous Zone extends how far from the baseline?
- 24 nautical miles (Correct answer)
- 12 nautical miles
- 200 nautical miles
- 3 nautical miles
Correct answer: 24 nautical miles
The Contiguous Zone extends 24 nautical miles from the baseline, where a state may enforce customs, immigration, and sanitary laws.
Coast Guard Test Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement 2
Under what authority does the U.S.
Coast Guard conduct boardings of vessels on the high seas and in U.S. waters?