United States Coast Guard Captains License Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the United States Coast Guard Captains License Exam. Study with engaging questions and detailed explanations. Achieve success in your exam with confidence!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


A vessel displaying the day shapes shown in ILLUSTRATION 11 is most likely ___________?

  1. Towing

  2. Conducting underwater operations

  3. Underway not making way or drifting

  4. Aground

The correct answer is: Aground

A vessel displaying day shapes, particularly the shape indicating it is aground, signifies that the vessel is currently unable to navigate freely. The specific day shape for a vessel that is aground is two cones, one on top of the other, with the points facing upward. This visual cue alerts other mariners that the vessel is not able to proceed on its own and may require assistance. Recognizing this day shape is crucial for other vessels in the vicinity to understand the situation and to take appropriate precautions, such as maintaining a safe distance to avoid collisions or navigating the area carefully due to potential hazards. The presence of this day shape underscores the need for mariners to be vigilant and informed about the conditions of other vessels on the water, particularly in scenarios where the vessel's mobility is compromised.