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USCG Stability Practice Test

10 Stability questions from 5 of the National Maritime Center’s published sample exams, each with the NMC’s answer key. Questions that need an illustration, a chart or a reference book are left out.

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

Take a quiz of 10 drawn at random, or read the 10 sample questions and answers below.

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10 at random from all 10, with each answer as soon as you pick.

10 sample Stability 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 · Master TV to Master Less than 500 Gross Registered Tons

    Your vessel measures 122 feet long by 18 feet in beam. If the natural rolling period at a draft of 6'-09" is 5 seconds, what is the GM?

    • A.2.1 feet
    • B.2.5 feet (correct answer)
    • C.1.4 feet
    • D.2.9 feet

    Answer: B. 2.5 feet

    Related regulation: NVIC 05-86 Encl.1 — Voluntary Standards for U.S. Uninspected Commercial Fishing Vessels — Enclosure (1)

  2. Question 2 · Master/Chief Mate of Unlimited Tonnage

    A cargo vessel of 9,000 tons displacement is carrying a slack deep tank of molasses (SG 1.4). The tank measures 20 feet long and 30 feet wide. What will be the reduction in metacentric height due to free surface, with the vessel floating in sea water (SG 1.026)?

    • A..142 ft.
    • B..177 ft.
    • C..195 ft. (correct answer)
    • D..212 ft.

    Answer: C. .195 ft.

    Related regulation: IMO IGC Code MSC.370(93) Ch.4 — IMO IGC Code Chapter 4 — CARGO CONTAINMENT

  3. Question 3 · Master TV to Master Less than 500 Gross Registered Tons

    What is the displacement of a barge which measures 85' x 46' x 13' and is floating in salt water with a draft of ten feet?

    • A.17.5 tons
    • B.500 tons
    • C.1452 tons
    • D.1117 tons (correct answer)

    Answer: D. 1117 tons

    Related regulation: 46 CFR 45.77 ↗ — Salt water freeboard

  4. Question 4 · Master/Chief Mate Offshore Supply Vessels

    What is the displacement of a barge which measures 85' x 46' x 13' and is floating in salt water with a draft of ten feet?

    • A.500 tons
    • B.1452 tons
    • C.1117 tons (correct answer)
    • D.17.5 tons

    Answer: C. 1117 tons

    Related regulation: 46 CFR 45.77 ↗ — Salt water freeboard

  5. Question 5 · Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons

    Your vessel measures 122 feet long by 18 feet in beam. If the natural rolling period at a draft of 6'-09" is 5 seconds, what is the GM?

    • A.2.1 feet
    • B.2.9 feet
    • C.1.4 feet
    • D.2.5 feet (correct answer)

    Answer: D. 2.5 feet

    Related regulation: NVIC 05-86 Encl.1 — Voluntary Standards for U.S. Uninspected Commercial Fishing Vessels — Enclosure (1)

  6. Question 6 · Master/Chief Mate Offshore Supply Vessels

    The liquid mud tanks on your vessel measure 20'L by 18'B by 7'D. The vessel's displacement is 866 T and the specific gravity of the mud is 1.8. What is the reduction in GM due to a pair of these tanks (p/s) being slack?

    • A.0.24 foot
    • B.0.56 foot
    • C.0.95 foot
    • D.1.12 feet (correct answer)

    Answer: D. 1.12 feet

    Related regulation: NVIC 03-69 Encl.1 — Z Nomograph Method of Calculating Available GM — Enclosure (1)

  7. Question 7 · Master TV to Master Less than 500 Gross Registered Tons

    At all angles of inclination, which is the true measure of a vessel's stability?

    • A.Metacentric height
    • B.Inclining moment
    • C.Displacement
    • D.Righting moment (correct answer)

    Answer: D. Righting moment

    Related regulation: 46 CFR 174.145 ↗ — Intact stability requirements

  8. Question 8 · Second Mate to Master

    Your vessel has a beam of 40 feet, and you observe a still water rolling period of 20 seconds. What is the vessel's metacentric height?

    • A.0.3 ft.
    • B.0.5 ft.
    • C.0.8 ft. (correct answer)
    • D.1.1 ft.

    Answer: C. 0.8 ft.

  9. Question 9 · Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons

    Which term is given to the upward slope of a vessels bottom from the keel to the bilge?

    • A.Rise of floor (correct answer)
    • B.Rake
    • C.Sheer
    • D.Camber

    Answer: A. Rise of floor

  10. Question 10 · Second Mate to Master

    Which is the primary type of welding employed in shipyards in the construction of cargo vessels?

    • A.brazing
    • B.thermite welding
    • C.electric arc (correct answer)
    • D.pressure welding

    Answer: C. electric arc

Exams these questions come from

Choose one when you start the quiz. A question can appear in more than one exam, so these add up to more than 10.

  • Master TV to Master Less than 500 Gross Registered Tons3 questions
  • Master/Chief Mate Offshore Supply Vessels3 questions
  • Master Less than 500-1600 Gross Registered Tons2 questions
  • Second Mate to Master2 questions
  • Master/Chief Mate of Unlimited Tonnage1 questions

More USCG practice tests

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.