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USCG Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels Practice Test

656 Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels questions from 4 of the National Maritime Center’s published sample exams, each with the NMC’s answer key, across 5 subjects. Questions that need an illustration, a chart or a reference book are left out.

The Coast Guard changed the title from Apprentice Mate (steersman) to Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels in 2024 (89 FR 93040); one of the NMC's sample exams still uses the old name.

The Rules of the Road questions are the NMC's deck officer Rules of the Road exam: 46 CFR 11.910 lists the Inland Navigational Rules as an exam subject for this endorsement, and the COLREGS unless the endorsement is limited to non-COLREGS waters.

470 of them come with the closest regulation or reference section, shown with the answer.

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10 sample Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels questions with answers

The same 10 on every visit. A related section is the closest match RegKnot found in the regulations and references; it is not part of the NMC’s answer key.

  1. Question 1 · Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels

    Which maritime radio system, consisting of a series of coast stations, transmits coastal warnings?

    • A.SAFESEA
    • B.NAVTEX (correct answer)
    • C.HYDROLANT/HYDROPAC
    • D.NAVAREA

    Answer: B. NAVTEX

    Further reading: Bowditch Art.3106 — Bowditch Ch.31 Maritime Safety Systems — 3106. NAVTEX

  2. Question 2 · Towing Vessels – Western Rivers

    Your tow is proceeding through a narrow section in the river. What actions can you take to avoid any sudden sheers of the vessel?

    • A.Reduce speed and stay to the outer limits of the channel
    • B.Increase speed and stay in the shallow section of water
    • C.Reduce speed and stay in the deepest part of the channel (correct answer)
    • D.Increase speed and stay to the outer limits of the channel

    Answer: C. Reduce speed and stay in the deepest part of the channel

    Related regulation: 33 CFR 83.09 ↗ — Narrow channels (Rule 9)

  3. Question 3 · Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels

    The highest frequency of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean occurs during which time frame?

    • A.August, September and October (correct answer)
    • B.April, May and June
    • C.January, February and March
    • D.July, November and December

    Answer: A. August, September and October

    Further reading: Bowditch Art.4003 — Bowditch Ch.40 Tropical Cyclones — 4003. Origin, Season and Frequency

  4. Question 4 · Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels

    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 (correct answer)

    Answer: D. Not more than 5 years

    Related regulation: 33 USC 1321 — Oil and hazardous substance liability

  5. Question 5 · Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels

    Which is usually the most gentle way of riding out a severe storm on a larger vessel?

    • A.Rig a sea anchor
    • B.Head into the seas at slow speeds
    • C.Running before the seas (correct answer)
    • D.Hove to

    Answer: C. Running before the seas

    Further reading: Bowditch Art.4015 — Bowditch Ch.40 Tropical Cyclones — 4015. Maneuvering to Avoid the Storm Center

  6. Question 6 · Apprentice Mate Steersman

    If you are going to head directly for Chesapeake Light from your 2111 fix, what is the course to make good?

    • A.199°T
    • B.190°T (correct answer)
    • C.196°T
    • D.193°T

    Answer: B. 190°T

    Related regulation: 33 CFR 167.203 ↗ — In the approaches to Chesapeake Bay: Southern approach

  7. Question 7 · Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels

    You are sailing south on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) when you sight a red nun buoy with a yellow square painted on it. Which of the following is TRUE?

    • A.The yellow square is in error and it should be a yellow triangle.
    • B.This buoy marks the end of the ICW in that geographic area.
    • C.You should leave the buoy on your port hand. (correct answer)
    • D.The yellow is retro-reflective material used to assist in sighting the buoy at night.

    Answer: C. You should leave the buoy on your port hand.

    Related regulation: 33 CFR 62.49 ↗ — Intracoastal Waterway identification

  8. Question 8 · Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels

    At 0500 zone time on 21 August, your DR position is LAT 47°00'N, LONG 125°15'W. You are steering 000°T at a speed of 9.8 knots. What is the zone time of sunrise?

    • A.0525 (correct answer)
    • B.0529
    • C.0531
    • D.0535

    Answer: A. 0525

    Further reading: Bowditch Art.2013 — Bowditch Ch.20 Sight Reduction — 2013. Finding Time of Meridian Transit

  9. Question 9 · Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels

    A List of Lights entry (L Fl) is a single flashing light which shows a long flash of not less than which duration?

    • A.1.0 second duration
    • B.1.5 seconds duration
    • C.2.0 seconds duration (correct answer)
    • D.3.0 seconds duration

    Answer: C. 2.0 seconds duration

    Related regulation: 46 CFR 111.75-17 ↗ — Navigation lights

  10. Question 10 · Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels

    According to the Lifesaving regulations in Subchapter W, fire and abandon ship drills must be held within 24 hours of leaving port if the percentage of the crew that has not participated in drills aboard that particular vessel in the prior month exceeds which percentage?

    • A.5%
    • B.10%
    • C.25% (correct answer)
    • D.40%

    Answer: C. 25%

    Related regulation: 46 CFR 199.180 — Training and drills

Exams these questions come from

Choose one when you start the quiz.

  • Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels418 questions
  • Apprentice Mate Steersman16 questions
  • Towing Vessels – Western Rivers142 questions
  • Rules of the Road (Deck Officer Endorsements)80 questions

Subjects these questions cover

Each subject has its own practice page, with questions from every exam that covers it.

Requirements for the endorsement

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The questions and answer keys are from the U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center’s published sample exams. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Maritime Center. A practice score does not predict your exam result; check the NMC for current exam requirements.