The responsibility for safety and security rests with everybody on board the vessel. General house-keeping rules should be followed. Which of the listed rules is the most important?
Always use gloves when using grinding machines.
Keep tools within easy reach during work.
Keep your working area clean and tidy.
Do not carry lighters or matches when working outdoors.
What is the main difference between a stuffing box gland and a mechanical seal on a centrifugal pump?
If packing fails the pump can be kept running by tightening the glands, but if a mechanical seal fails it must be renewed to stop the leakage.
The sealing surface of a mechanical seal is usually parallel to the shaft, but sealing surface of a packed gland is perpendicular to the shaft.
Packed stuffing box glands are subject to wear but mechanical seals are not.
Packed stuffing box glands must be cooled by liquid, but mechanical seals do not require any cooling.
What is the signal actuated by a fire detection system?
A visual and audible alarm signal at the control panel.
An audible signal at the control panel.
A visual signal at the control panel.
An audible and visual signal consisting in 7 short signals followed by a long one.
As per international regulations, the minimum inert gas pressure required to be maintained in slop tanks if slops are retained on board is:
Where does the excess steam discharge to when the boiler safety valves operate due to the boiler pressure being too high?
The atmosphere via the atmospheric line.
The normal carbon content of Crude Oil is in the range of:
What is the emergency frequency of MF (Medium Frequency) radio?
During cargo or bunker operations, oil response equipment is to be:
Used elsewhere in the ship.
Hot work is to be carried out close to a smoke detector in the engine room. What precautions should be taken?
Notify Deck Officer and Engineer Officer in charge. The loop for the smoke detector should be isolated while work is done and normal precautions for hot work taken including permit to work.
Disconnect or cover up the smoke detector.
No special precautions except for having a watch man and a fire extinguisher available.
Notify Deck Officer in charge that a fire alarm may occur.
Shipboard Emergency Drills must be carried out at least (OPA-90):
What does the word “pyrotechnics” mean?
Pyrotechnics are the items which are capable of self-contained chemical reactions for the production heat, light, smoke and/or sound.
Pyrotechnics are items that are used to produce technical solutions to the complex problems.
Pyrotechnics are used to ensure that the correct technical proportions are used to start the system functioning.
Pyrotechnics is a group word to cover all the required activities in the event of a man overboard.
The small amounts of cargo found in the cargo tanks before loading is referred to as OBQ, which means:
OPB (Observed Preliminary Volume).
TSV (Total Surveyed Volume).
ROB (Remaining On Board).
On a fire patrol at night you see smoke coming from a closed cabin door. What action should you take first?
Activate the nearest fire alarm button and advise bridge of the location of the fire.
Get the nearest fire extinguisher and then open the door to see what the situation is.
Take a look inside the cabin to see what the situation is.
As most people are sleeping, call a friend and ask him to assist in putting out the fire.
What is the capacity of the required portable fluid extinguishers?
Not more than 20 litres and not less than 12 litres.
Not more than 13,5 litres and not less than 9 litres.
When operating a propulsion installation consisting of medium speed diesel engines driving a controllable pitch propeller it is possible to operate the combination of engine speed and propeller pitch in a number of different ways. What would be the main reason for operating with constant speed and variable pitch?
To allow the engine to be operated with a load sensing governor instead of a speed sensing governor.
To allow rapid load change and thrust reversal when manoeuvring.
To obtain maximum propeller efficiency over the load range of the engine.
To allow constant speed operation of a shaft generator while the engine load changes with pitch variation.
During maintenance of a pneumatically operated, diaphragm actuated control valve the diaphragm is found to be split. Select, from the options given, a suitable material to use to make a temporary replacement if there is no spare diaphragm available.
Natural rubber sheet of approximately the same thickness and elasticity as the original diaphragm material.
Cotton reinforced rubber insertion sheet of smaller thickness but similar strength as the original diaphragm material.
Natural rubber sheet of greater thickness and lower elasticity as the original diaphragm material.
Cotton reinforced rubber insertion sheet of approximately the same thickness but less elasticity than the original diaphragm material.
What measures should be taken when handling mail?
Open any mail that looks suspicious.
X-ray or scan parcels before opening them.
Wear rubber gloves and protective clothing when opening suspicious looking mail.
Tear open letters with your hands.
An alarm signal consisting of seven short blast followed by one prolonged blast is sounded by the ship’s whistle and alarm bells. What are you to do?
Go to your lifeboat station.
Go to (or remain in) your cabin and await further orders.
Report on the bridge (deck crew) or engine room (engine crew) for further orders.
What is the correct name of the equipment shown in the sketch?
What types of fire extinguishers shall be used in the engine room?
Fire extinguishers of the handy-size types only.
Fire extinguishers filled with fresh water only.
Fire extinguishers equipped for powder or CO2 only.
Any fire extinguisher with a weight of less than 100 lbs.
What would be the effects of a ship passing into shallow waters?
The vessel has a tendency to swing to port with a single fixed-pitch right-hand turning propeller.
The speed is not affected, but more rudder is required to steer the ship.
There is no noticeable difference in performance of the ship.
The ship is less responsive to both rudder and propeller.
During maintenance work in the engine room or on deck it is often necessary to work aloft (work at a height above the plates or the deck). When working aloft onboard the ship what is the most important safety precaution that should be taken?
Wear a safety harness securely attached to ship’s structure.
Wear a safety helmet and goggles.
Lash the bottom of the ladder to a fixed point.
Keep all the tools required for the work in a bucket.
Which of the following areas may be possible restricted areas? Review all answers.
Which of the following answers would most appropriately describe shell plating damage to the vessel?
My vessel has sustained damage to shell plating below the waterline.
My vessel has sustained damage to shell plating below the waterline in way of No. 3 cargo hold, starboard side.
My vessel has sustained damage to shell plating in way of No. 3 cargo hold.
My vessel has sustained damage to shell plating above the waterline.
What is the correct understanding of the term “Lapse Rate” when used in Meteorology?
The rate of increase of the wind associated with a Tropical Revolving Storm.
The delay in temperature reduction associated with the wet bulb thermometer of a hygrometer.
The change in the temperature associated with the passing of the warm front of a frontal depression.
The change of the temperature in the atmosphere with height above sea level.
How many rocket parachute flares are carried in each liferaft with SOLAS B pack?
What kind of permits have to be obtained before starting hot work in tanks?
Hot work permit + Permit for entry.
What method shall be used when hauling survivors out of the sea (state of survivors is critical)?
What would be the most probable cause of high temperature readings for the bearings in a diesel engine?
Lubricating oil pressure too low.
Charge air pressure too low.
Jacket cooling water temperature too high.
With reference to the efficiency of cargo pumps on oil tankers, the abbreviation NPSH stands for:
Necessary Pumping Suction Hazard.
Natural Pumping Standard Height.
Nominal Pressure Suction Head.
Net Pressure Suction Head.
During inspection of a high pressure fuel pump for a medium speed diesel engine it is observed that the upper leading edge and the lower helical edge of the pump plunger have suffered from erosion damage. Select the correct action to take to remedy this from the options given.
Renew only the plunger if the barrel appears undamaged.
Renew the plunger and barrel insert as a pair.
Smooth away the damaged area with a grinder and polishing stone and refit it.
Replace the complete pump with a new or reconditioned spare.
With reference to the efficiency of cargo pumps on oil tankers, the abbreviation NPSH stands for:
Net Pressure Suction Head.
Necessary Pumping Suction Hazard.
Nominal Pressure Suction Head.
Natural Pumping Standard Height.
Is it necessary to cool the samples taken from a diesel engine cooling water system before carrying out tests to determine the concentration of treatment chemicals?
No, the samples should be heated to approximately 95 °C.
Yes, the samples should be cooled to approximately 25 °C.
Yes, the samples should be cooled to approximately 50 °C.
No, the test should be carried out at system temperature.
The engine room rating has been assisting with ballast operations during a period of engine room watch duty. Ballast operations have stopped for a couple of hours while stores are being taken. What action should the rating take during this break in operations?
Just keep the pumps running and the valves for the ballast tanks open to save time when operations are restarted. The tanks will just overflow through the air vents.
Just stop the pumps and close the pump suction and discharge valves. Leave the valves for the ballast tanks open to save time later.
Shut the valves for the ballast tanks but keep the pumps running and discharging overboard to save time later.
Stop all of the ballast pumps and close all of the ballast valves as soon as operations are stopped. Ballast lines should always be closed except when they are being used.
Unfortunately an insect has become lodged in the ear. How to remove the insect?
By using rubber vacuum pump and suck the foreign body out.
Hold one hand across your nose and blow hard. Since the nose-channel is closed, the air will escape through the ears instead. And so will the foreign body.
Gently flood the casualty’s ear with terpid water so that the insect will float out.
By using a Q-tip and carefully try to get the insect out.
An engine room rating is assisting the duty engineer during a period of UMS operation. After completing the tasks they have been busy with the engineer and rating leave the engine room which is returned to UMS mode. The rating realises that an oil tank filling valve has been left open. What action should be taken?
Inform the duty engineer immediately so that the engine room can be re-entered and the valve can be shut.
Inform another crewmember that he is going back into the engine room to close the valve.
Just leave the valve open as it is unsafe to enter the engine room alone. The high alarm will sound to notify the engineer when the tank is full.
Re-enter the engine room straight away and shut the valve.
What special equipment can often provide assistance in locating a survival craft or man overboard and in the water?
A sectored search pattern.
Welding and burning are two operations which give the highest risk of a fire on board ship. Which of the following safety precautions may be regarded as the most important in order to minimise this particular risk?
The area where the welding is to take place and adjacent spaces to be cleaned and all unnecessary materials and objects to be removed.
Only holders of a welding certificate should be allowed to carry out welding or burning on board ships.
Only use electrodes from a well known manufacturer.
Electric welding plants should be controlled by a responsible engineer before use.
What is the minimum number of channels required for the portable two-way VHF’s for survival craft?
What is the main purpose for taking diesel engine crankshaft deflections?
To allow calculation of the load on each of the bearings.
To check for weardown of the bottom end bearings.
To check that the shafting is in a straight line.
To check for weardown of the main bearings.
An airway should be used when:
The patient has stopped breathing.
The patient is unconscious.
The patient is breathing on his own but is doing so with great difficulty.
Patient has injury in the mouth.
In carbon dioxide fire-fighting systems for use in machinery spaces the fixed piping system shall be such that:
85 % of the gas can be discharged into the space within 2 minutes.
100 % of the gas can be discharged into the space within 2 minutes.
100 % of the gas can be discharged into the space within 3 minutes.
70 % of the gas can be discharged into the space within 1 minute.
The purpose of the demister unit within the Inert Gas System is:
To remove sulphur oxides.
To remove water from the IGS stream.
Which of the options given is the main reason for using a ring spanner to tighten the brass nuts on the cover studs of a pump casing?
It can be adjusted to the exact size of the nut.
It will allow the nuts to be tightened correctly.
The nuts can be tightened more with this type of spanner.
It will minimise the risk of slipping off the nut or damaging the nuts.
What is the emergency channel on VHF?
For how long should the self contained air support system on a totally enclosed lifeboat having its engine running be capable of providing safe and breathable air?
The following information must be given on the SART:
The date of replacement of the hydrostatic release unit.
The name of the operator.
Date of replacement of the batteries.
Give the meaning of the following symbol:
Remote controlled fire pumps.
International shore connection.
A detector that is activated by a rise of temperature is:
An engine room rating is given the task of retightening the flanges of a pipe that has been replaced in the engine room. Which of the following tightening procedures should be followed?
Gradually tighten all of the bolts working diagonally across and around the flange.
Start with the top bolt and fully tighten each in turn moving clockwise around the flange.
Start with the bottom bolt and partially tighten each bolt in turn working counter clockwise around the flange. Repeat to fully tighten.
Fully tighten each bolt in turn and work diagonally across and around the flanges.
In a refrigeration system what is the most likely cause of the compressor suction pressure being too law and causing the compressor to short cycle?
System overcharged with refrigerant.
Insufficient cooling water flow through the condenser.
Expansion valve stuck open.
System undercharged with refrigerant.
An engine room rating is assisting in the maintenance of some of the valves on the low pressure steam range. Which packing material, from the options given, would be the best choice for repacking the gland of a low pressure steam valve?
Lead covered cotton packing.
What type of fire integrity must be provided for an engine control room?
What is generally considered as the minimum safe time period before opening a crankcase door after the oil mist detector alarm has activated and the engine has been stopped?
After at least 20 minutes.
After at least 10 minutes.
After at least 5 minutes.
An engine room rating notices that the guard on a running pump is hanging loose due to a missing bolt on the support bracket and it is catching the shaft coupling. What is the best action to take as a repair method?
Try and fit a new bolt while the pump is running to permanently fix the guard in place.
Inform the watchkeeper so that the pump can be stopped and a new bolt can be fitted to permanently fix the guard in place.
Fasten the guard back in place with a piece of rope with the pump running as a temporary repair.
Place a sheet of metal in front of the guard to deflect any parts that may fly off as a temporary repair.
What are the lists called that give the position and task during a lifeboat drill for all persons on board the ship?
What would you do if you are told to operate a piece of mechanical equipment which you are not familiar with?
Seek advice from your superior before attempting to operate it.
Ensure that all safety guards and devices are disconnected.
Try and guess how the equipment should be operated.
Ignore the request to operate the equipment.
Why should boiler sootblowers normally only be operated in the correct sequence?
To ensure soot is cleared progressively from the bottom tubes to the top and toward the boiler uptakes.
To minimise loss of steam pressure.
So that the operator does not forget which sootblowers have been used.
To avoid excess stress in the boiler.
An engine room rating is assisting in the maintenance of some of the valves on the low pressure steam range. Which packing material, from the options given, would be the best choice for repacking the gland of a low pressure steam valve?
Lead covered cotton packing.
What is the correct name of the part highlighted in the sketch?
Cylinder air start valve.
While assisting the watchkeeper with routine cleaning of the fuel oil separator the watch rating is requested to clean the plate stack. Which of the options given is the preferred method for such a task?
Soak the dirty plates in a solvent for an hour and then stand them on the engine room deck to drain off.
Scrape the plates as clean as possible with a packing knife and then wash them with a high pressure water hose.
With the plate stack in position fill the purifier bowl with clean diesel oil and quickly switch it on and off to wash the plates.
Soak the plates in a suitable solvent until all of the dirt has loosened off and wipe clean with rags.
What is meant by the term “segregation”?
The process of electronically transferring the data on cargoes loaded on a vessel between the load port and the discharge port, such that import documentation is prepared in advance of the vessel’s arrival.
The stowage of cargoes when calculated by a computerized load program.
The planned, separated stowage of cargoes that may react dangerously with each other in the event of leakage or other damage.
The planned adjacent stowage of packaged goods, thereby confining a listed hazard within the same area of the ship.
A seawater pipe is holed due to corrosion causing frequent bilge alarms. Which of the given temporary repair methods would be the preferred option to remedy the problem until the pipe can be replaced?
Cover the hole with rubber insertion held in place with a jubilee clip.
Cover all of the affected area with fibre glass tape and resin/fibre.
Wrap duct tape around the pipe in way of the hole.
Drive a steel taper pin into the hole to seal it.
What is the first action that should be taken by the rating on boiler watch in the event of a flame failure on the boiler?
Call the engineer on watch.
Stop the feed water pump.
How much liferaft capacity should be provided on a conventional cargo ship of more than 85 meters in length?
100 % of the complement if it can be readily launched on either side of the ship. If it cannot be readily launched on either side, 100 % must be provided on each side.
50 % of the complement on each side of the ship.
75 % of the complement on each side of the ship.
25 % of the complement on each side of the ship.
What actions should the Officer of the Watch take when the ship’s steering gear fails?
All of the suggested answers.
Request the engine room to check the steering gear.
Call the Master and advise him of the situation.
Display the NUC signal and consider stopping the engines.
High Voltage (HV) cables are smaller than low voltage cables for a given power rating. Why is this?
The HV cable carries a smaller current and therefore requires less copper.
The HV cable uses higher quality copper conductors and therefore requires them to be a smaller cross-sectional area.
The HV cable uses Aluminium conductors and therefore requires them to be a smaller cross-sectional area.
The HV cable has a thinner wall of special insulation material.
What is the disadvantage of using chemicals on an oil-spill on the water?
The water gets a white colour, which makes it easy to detect the oil-spill.
It is difficult to apply chemicals if there is any wind.
The chemicals make it difficult to remove the oil from the water.
It is difficult to apply the chemicals if the oil drifts away from the ship’s side.
What will a cadet find in the maintenance manual?
A cadet will find a lubricating chart in the maintenance manual.
A cadet will find grease in the maintenance manual.
A cadet will find machinery spare parts in the maintenance manual.
A cadet will find grease nipples in the maintenance manual.
Which of these are indicators that an individual may be a drug smuggler?
The individual makes small local purchases.
The individual is disinterested in the ship’s cargo.
The individual wears bulky or out of season clothing.
The individual spends his or her free time hanging out with others.
What do you call the method used for bone-soft part injuries?
The use of combustible material is restricted in the accommodation spaces in order to:
Reduce cost of construction.
Prevent occurrence of fire and explosion.
Contain and suppress fire and explosion in the compartment of origin.
The examples of Aromatic Hydrocarbons will include:
Benzene, Toluene and Xylene.
Hydrogen Sulphide and Carbon Monoxide.
Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Peroxide.
Propane, Butane and Pentane.
Why is it important that the combustion chamber of a boiler is properly ventilated prior to ignition?
To avoid an explosion in case any oil vapours are present from oil leakage into the furnace.
To ensure that there is sufficient air for proper combustion.
To remove any deposits from the furnace wall.
To cool the surfaces of the boiler furnace in case they give premature ignition of the burner.
What should be the first action to be taken in the event of the water level disappearing out of the boiler water level gauge glass?
Close the main steam stop valve.
Secure all of the burners.
Close the feed water stop valve.
What signal, if any, is specified in SOLAS as the “Abandon ship” signal?
Six short blasts followed by one long blast.
The “Abandon ship” signal is not specified, only the general emergency alarm signal is stated.
Seven short blasts followed by one long blast.
The insulation resistance (IR) to earth of a new galley hot-plate is measured to be 30 Mohm. When three identical hot-plates on the same supply are tested together their combined IR will be:
An important quantity which is useful in circuit analysis is known as conductance G (Siemens). Which of the formulas A to D expresses the conductance for this circuit?
What are the lists called that give the position and task during a lifeboat drill for all persons on board the ship?
What kind of extinguishing-remedy would you choose to put out an electrical fire?
Combination of powder and water.
Dry extinguishing remedy.