Free practice test
MARINA deck officer practice test
A free MARINA deck officer mock exam with 30 questions. Take it against the clock and the pass mark, or read through the answers: every one is explained, so you learn from each mistake.
Reviewed by Ramon Curto, Nautical teacher at IECNPC
- 30 questions
- 25 minutes
- Pass: 24 of 30
This is our practice format, not the official one: check the current exam format with the exam authority.
This mock covers only the parts our question bank teaches: the steering and sailing rules, lights and shapes, sound signals, and IALA buoyage. The official exam also tests other subjects, so study those from the official syllabus.
These are IALACOLREG's own study questions, not official exam questions.
Take it as a timed test
25 minutes on the clock. The answers stay hidden until you finish, then you see your score against the pass mark.
Questions and answers
1.A vessel joining a traffic lane from the side should:
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Correct answer: B. Join at as small an angle as practicable to the traffic flow
Rule 10(b)(iii): when joining from the side, shall do so at as small an angle as practicable to the general direction of traffic flow.
2.In thick fog another vessel is detected only by ARPA and is not in sight. Its bearing is steady and range is closing fast. Which rule governs the avoiding action?
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Correct answer: C. Rule 19 — restricted visibility, because vessels are not in sight
Rule 11 restricts Section II (including crossing, head-on and overtaking) to vessels in sight of one another. A target detected only on radar is not 'in sight'; Rule 19 governs instead.
3.If there is any doubt about whether risk of collision exists:
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Correct answer: C. The risk shall be deemed to exist
Rule 7(a): if there is any doubt, such risk shall be deemed to exist.
4.In a narrow channel, in sight of the vessel ahead, you intend to overtake her on her port side. Which whistle signal do you give?
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Correct answer: C. Two prolonged blasts followed by two short blasts
Rule 34(c)(i): two prolonged followed by two short blasts means 'I intend to overtake you on your port side'; two prolonged and one short is for her starboard side. Prolonged-short-prolonged-short is the agreement signal of the vessel being overtaken (Rule 34(c)(ii)).
5.Two sailing vessels in sight approach with risk of collision, neither overtaking, and have wind on different sides. Which gives way?
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Correct answer: B. The vessel with wind on port side gives way
Rule 12(a)(i): when each has wind on a different side, the vessel with wind on port side keeps out of the way.
6.Do special marks normally replace suitable lateral or cardinal marks?
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Correct answer: C. No, as a rule they do not take the place of those marks
R1001: special marks generally do not replace suitable lateral or cardinal marks; they indicate an area or feature described in charts and publications.
7.Under Rule 36, a vessel trying to attract attention may direct her searchlight beam:
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Correct answer: A. In the direction of the danger, without embarrassing any vessel
Rule 36: any vessel may direct the beam of her searchlight in the direction of the danger, in such a way as not to embarrass any vessel.
8.If an emergency wreck marking buoy carries a RACON, which Morse letter does it transmit?
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Correct answer: D. D (dash–dot–dot)
The RACON on an emergency wreck marking buoy, if fitted, is coded Morse D (dash–dot–dot).
9.What colours does an isolated danger mark have?
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Correct answer: A. Black with one or more red horizontal bands
An isolated danger mark is black with one or more red horizontal bands; its topmark, if fitted, is two black spheres.
10.Under the normal arrangement in Rule 23(a), a power-driven vessel of 50 metres or more underway must show:
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Correct answer: B. Two masthead lights, sidelights, and sternlight
Rule 23(a): vessels 50m+ must show two masthead lights (forward and aft), sidelights, and sternlight.
11.Which sound signal is listed in Annex IV (Rule 37) as a distress signal?
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Correct answer: B. A continuous sounding with any fog-signalling apparatus
Rule 37 / Annex IV: a continuous sounding with any fog-signalling apparatus is a distress signal. Five short and rapid blasts is the Rule 34(d) doubt signal; short-prolonged-short is the Rule 35(g) anchor warning; four short blasts is the Rule 35(k) pilot identity signal.
12.In a narrow channel, a vessel should keep to:
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Correct answer: C. As near the outer limit on her starboard side as is safe and practicable
Rule 9(a): a vessel shall keep as near to the outer limit on her starboard side as is safe and practicable.
13.On a South cardinal mark, how long does the long flash after the six quick or very quick flashes last?
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Correct answer: A. At least 2 seconds
The South cardinal light is VQ(6)+LFl 10 s or Q(6)+LFl 15 s, and the long flash lasts at least 2 s.
14.You sight a cardinal mark with both cones pointing down and a light showing six quick flashes followed by one long flash. What is the safe action?
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Correct answer: C. Pass south of the mark
Two cones down and the 6+1 light rhythm identify a South Cardinal mark, meaning the safe water lies to the south of the mark.
15.Where it is impracticable for a seaplane or WIG craft to show the lights and shapes prescribed in Part C, she must:
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Correct answer: B. Exhibit lights and shapes as closely similar as possible in characteristics and position to those prescribed
Rule 31: where compliance is impracticable, seaplanes and WIG craft shall exhibit lights and shapes as closely similar in characteristics and position as possible.
16.For a vessel of 50m or more, the masthead light must be visible at:
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Correct answer: C. 6 nautical miles
Rule 22: masthead light of vessels 50m+ must be visible at a minimum of 6 nautical miles.
17.Which light could a lit safe water mark show?
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Correct answer: D. White, one long flash every 10 s
A safe water light, if fitted, is white: isophase, occulting, one long flash every 10 s, or Morse A. White Fl(2) marks an isolated danger; VQ(9) a West cardinal.
18.If circumstances admit, action to avoid collision shall be:
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Correct answer: B. Positive, made in ample time
Rule 8(a) requires action in accordance with Part B and, if circumstances admit, positive action made in ample time with due regard to good seamanship.
19.A vessel under oars at night, if she does not exhibit the lights for sailing vessels, shall:
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Correct answer: C. Have ready an electric torch or lantern showing a white light, to exhibit in time to prevent collision
Rule 25(d): a vessel under oars may exhibit the lights prescribed for sailing vessels; if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light to be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.
Study Rule 25: Sailing Vessels Underway and Vessels Under Oars
20.A cardinal mark and an isolated danger mark can both warn of a danger. What does the cardinal mark tell you that the isolated danger mark does not?
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Correct answer: D. The side of the danger where the safe water lies
A cardinal mark names the quadrant in which the safe water lies, so you pass on its named side. An isolated danger mark instead shows a danger of limited extent with navigable water all around it. Neither gives a passing distance: take that from charts and nautical publications.
21.When Rule 34(a) whistle signals are supplemented by light signals, what is the interval between successive signals?
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Correct answer: B. Not less than ten seconds
Rule 34(b)(ii): each flash lasts about one second, the interval between flashes is about one second, and the interval between successive signals is not less than ten seconds.
22.A 'short blast' is defined as a blast of about:
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Correct answer: B. One second
Rule 32(b): a short blast means a blast of about one second's duration.
23.The day shape for a power-driven vessel towing astern when the tow exceeds 200 metres is:
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Correct answer: C. A diamond shape
Rule 24(a)(v): a diamond shape is shown where it can best be seen if the tow exceeds 200 metres, measured from the stern of the towing vessel to the after end of the tow.
24.Rule 33(a) lets the bell or gong be replaced by other equipment with the same sound characteristics, provided that:
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Correct answer: A. Manual sounding of the prescribed signals is always possible
Rule 33(a): the bell or gong or both may be replaced by other equipment having the same respective sound characteristics, provided that manual sounding of the prescribed signals shall always be possible.
25.Two power-driven vessels in sight meet on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses with risk of collision. Under Rule 14, each shall:
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Correct answer: B. Alter course to starboard
Rule 14(a): each shall alter course to starboard so that each passes on the port side of the other.
26.Navigation lights must be displayed:
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Correct answer: B. From sunset to sunrise and, if carried, also by day in restricted visibility
Rule 20(b) requires prescribed lights from sunset to sunrise. Under 20(c), those lights, if carried, must also be shown by day in restricted visibility and may be shown in other circumstances when deemed necessary.
27.A masthead light shows over an arc of:
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Correct answer: C. 225 degrees
Rule 21(a): masthead light shows over an arc of 225 degrees from dead ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on each side.
28.At night in IALA Region B, what light does a lit port-hand lateral mark show?
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Correct answer: D. A green light
In Region B the port-hand mark is green, and its light, when fitted, is green too; red marks and red lights are on the starboard side.
29.A vessel at anchor in restricted visibility rings the bell rapidly for about 5 seconds. At what intervals?
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Correct answer: A. Not more than one minute
Rule 35(g): a vessel at anchor shall at intervals of not more than one minute ring the bell rapidly for about 5 seconds. Most underway fog signals use intervals of not more than 2 minutes instead.
30.For vessels in sight of one another, an overtaking vessel:
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Correct answer: B. Shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken
Rule 13(a): any vessel overtaking shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.
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