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Deck · 3,245 questions

Safety - USCG Exam Questions

Firefighting, lifesaving appliances and survival craft, emergency procedures, first aid, and pollution prevention regulations.

Every question below is a real U.S. Coast Guard exam question with four choices. Answer one and the correct choice is revealed instantly, with the USCG reference and illustration where the question uses one.

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All Safety questions

Questions 1–100 of 3,245 · page 1 of 33

  1. #1 What should you do if you have transmitted a distress call a number of times on channel 16 and have received no reply?
  2. #2 The distress message of a ship should include considerable information which might facilitate the rescue. This information should __________.
  3. #3 What is the spoken emergency signal for a distress signal over a VHF radio?
  4. #4 You are in a lifeboat broadcasting a distress message. What information would be essential to your rescuers?
  5. #5 You are underway in the Gulf of Mexico when you hear a distress message over the VHF radio. The position of the sender is about 20 miles south of Galv...
  6. #6 You are underway in mid-ocean, when you hear a distress message over the VHF radio. The position of the sender is 20 miles away. What action should yo...
  7. #7 You are underway in mid-ocean when you hear a distress message. The position of the sender is 150 miles away. No other vessel has acknowledged the dis...
  8. #8 You can indicate that your vessel is in distress by __________.
  9. #9 When a vessel signals her distress by means of a gun or other explosive signal, the firing should be at intervals of approximately __________.
  10. #10 Distress signals may be __________.
  11. #11 A man aboard a vessel, signaling by raising and lowering his outstretched arms to each side, is indicating __________.
  12. #12 All of the following are recognized distress signals under the Navigation Rules EXCEPT __________.
  13. #13 A distress signal __________.
  14. #14 One of the signals, other than a distress signal, that can be used by a rescue boat to attract attention is a/an __________.
  15. #15 Which system has the least effective radius of operation?
  16. #16 What is the action that a GMDSS Radio Operator should take when a DSC distress alert is received?
  17. #17 What is the primary purpose for Digital Selective Calling (DSC)?
  18. #18 When sending a DSC call, the vessel's __________.
  19. #19 What does the DSC control unit do if the GMDSS Radio Operator fails to insert updated information when initiating a DSC distress alert?
  20. #20 If a GMDSS radio operator initiates a DSC distress transmission but does not insert a message, what happens?
  21. #21 Which channel and mode should be used when initiating a Distress alert transmission?
  22. #22 When should the emergency position-indicating radio beacon be activated after abandoning a vessel?
  23. #23 When will the float-free emergency position indicating radio beacon be activated after abandoning ship?
  24. #24 Which piece of required GMDSS equipment is the primary source of transmitting locating signals?
  25. #25 Which task is NOT the responsibility of the GMDSS Radio Operator?
  26. #26 What does "EPIRB" stand for?
  27. #27 Which shipboard equipment will detect a signal from a SART?
  28. #28 After you activate your emergency position indicating radio beacon, you should __________.
  29. #29 What should you do with your emergency position indicating radio beacon if you are in a liferaft in a storm?
  30. #30 Which EPIRB transmits a distress alert that is received and relayed by an INMARSAT satellite?
  31. #31 How can rescue personnel detect that a SART is transmitting in the immediate vicinity?
  32. #32 What would most likely prevent a SART's signal from being detected?
  33. #33 Which statement concerning satellite EPIRBs is TRUE?
  34. #34 What is the required amount of time that a SART's battery must be able to operate the unit in the standby mode?
  35. #35 Which equipment is the primary source of generating a locating signal?
  36. #36 How can a SART's effective range be maximized?
  37. #37 How can the SART's audible tone monitor be used?
  38. #38 Which conditions will normally cause a SART to operate in the active mode?
  39. #39 Which statement concerning locating signals in the GMDSS is FALSE?
  40. #40 Which statement concerning homing signals in the GMDSS is FALSE?
  41. #41 After having activated the emergency position indicating radio beacon, you should __________.
  42. #42 If you have to abandon ship, the EPIRB can be used to __________.
  43. #43 Each vessel in ocean and coastwise service must have an approved EPIRB. An EPIRB __________.
  44. #44 What should you do with your emergency position indicating radio beacon if you are in a lifeboat during storm conditions?
  45. #45 You have abandoned ship and after two days in a liferaft you can see an aircraft near the horizon apparently carrying out a search pattern. You should...
  46. #46 You are aboard a liferaft in a storm. What should you do with your Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon?
  47. #47 CATEGORY I EPIRB's transmit on frequencies that are monitored by __________.
  48. #48 Which system is least likely to be affected by atmospheric disturbances?
  49. #49 Which system is least likely to be subject to fading or static interference?
  50. #50 What is usually the first step for a GMDSS Radio Operator to take when initiating a distress priority message via INMARSAT?
  51. #51 Which system provides maximum communications range?
  52. #52 What is the best way to test the INMARSAT-C terminal?
  53. #53 Which statement concerning exposure to radiation is TRUE?
  54. #54 How is a distress message normally initiated through INMARSAT?
  55. #55 What is the best method to overcome the effects of shadowing when attempting to place an INMARSAT-B call?
  56. #56 For GMDSS, which statement concerning compulsory vessels is TRUE?
  57. #57 What periodic inspection is required in order to remain in compliance with the regulations regarding GMDSS ship radio station inspections?
  58. #58 On which vessels is GMDSS required?
  59. #59 How often must a compulsory vessel's GMDSS radio station be inspected?
  60. #60 What is required during an annual FCC inspection?
  61. #61 What is a GMDSS functional or carriage requirement for compulsory vessels?
  62. #62 At sea, how must all required GMDSS equipment (other than survival craft equipment) be proven operational?
  63. #63 What is the minimum permit or license requirement of a GMDSS Radio Maintainer?
  64. #64 What is the minimum license requirement of a GMDSS Radio Operator?
  65. #65 What are the vessel equipment and personnel requirements for GMDSS?
  66. #66 Which statement concerning GMDSS Radio Operator requirements is FALSE?
  67. #67 What is a functional or carriage requirement for compulsory vessels?
  68. #68 For GMDSS, when may a compulsory vessel not be allowed to leave port?
  69. #69 What are the conditions, under GMDSS, whereby a ship is NOT allowed to depart from any port?
  70. #70 Which communications functions must all vessels be capable of performing under GMDSS as defined by the International Maritime Organization?
  71. #71 Which documents are required by GMDSS for vessels on international voyages (other than the Great Lakes)?
  72. #72 Which documents are required by Part 80 of the FCC Rules for vessels on international voyages (other than the Great Lakes)?
  73. #73 Where can GMDSS regulations pertaining specifically to U.S.-flag vessels be found?
  74. #74 In which Sea Area must a compulsory vessel carry either INMARSAT or HF SITOR equipment?
  75. #75 How long must GMDSS Radio Logs be retained by the licensee when they relate to a distress situation or disaster?
  76. #76 How long must GMDSS Radio Logs be retained onboard the ship in original form?
  77. #77 How long must the GMDSS radio log be retained on board before sending it to the shoreside licensee?
  78. #78 Which statement is TRUE?
  79. #79 Where should the GMDSS radio log be kept on board ship?
  80. #80 Which statement pertaining to log keeping is TRUE?
  81. #81 Where is the GMDSS Radio Logbook kept aboard ship?
  82. #82 If you log a distress message, it must include the __________.
  83. #83 How often does a coast radio station that regularly broadcasts traffic lists transmit the list?
  84. #113 What is the primary equipment for receiving MSI?
  85. #114 Define the acronym MSI.
  86. #115 Which categories of NAVTEX messages may not be selectively rejected through receiver programming?
  87. #116 Which category of NAVTEX messages may be rejected in some receivers, BUT SHOULD NOT?
  88. #117 To ensure receipt of all relevant MSI, a NAVTEX receiver should be turned on at least how many hours prior to departure from port?
  89. #118 Which system is most likely to be affected by atmospheric disturbances?
  90. #119 A distress frequency used on radiotelephone is __________.
  91. #120 How does a coast radio station communicating by HF radio normally identify itself?
  92. #121 What is the international distress frequency for radiotelephones?
  93. #122 Which system is most likely to be subject to fading or static interference?
  94. #123 Which word is an international distress signal when transmitted by radiotelephone?
  95. #124 What would be used to call all stations in your vicinity by radiotelephone?
  96. #125 A vessel in distress should send by radio telephone the two tone alarm signal followed immediately by the __________.
  97. #126 How should the letter "D" be pronounced when spoken on the radiotelephone?
  98. #127 The Coast Guard broadcasts routine weather reports on channel __________.
  99. #128 The reception of weak radio signals may be improved by "opening up" the squelch control. What is the normal setting of the squelch control?
  100. #129 When using the International Code of Signals to communicate, the end of a radiotelephone transmission is indicated by the signal __________.

Safety questions: what to expect

Q How many Safety questions are in the Deck pool?

There are 3,245 Safety questions on this site, every one released by the U.S. Coast Guard or taken from the National Maritime Center's sample examinations, with its correct answer. The exam draws its Safety module from the same pool.

Q What score do I need to pass the Safety module?

Most USCG exam modules, including Safety, require 70 percent to pass. Rules of the Road modules require 90 percent.

Q Are these the real USCG Safety exam questions?

Yes. They are the published U.S. Coast Guard questions, matched to the National Maritime Center's 2026 sample examinations. Answer any question to see the correct choice, the USCG reference and the illustration where the question uses one.

Other Deck modules

About the Deck question pool

The Deck pool holds the current U.S. Coast Guard questions for every deck credential, from Able Seaman and the OUPV six-pack up to unlimited Master. Each question is multiple choice with four options, graded instantly, with the USCG reference shown where one exists.