AB Deck General and Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a vessel is required to sound a fog signal, how often must a power-driven vessel underway sound its horn?
- Every 30 seconds
- Every 2 minutes (Correct answer)
- Every 1 minute
- Every 5 minutes
Correct answer: Every 2 minutes
A power-driven vessel making way in restricted visibility must sound one prolonged blast at intervals of not more than 2 minutes.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a 'painter' on a lifeboat or rescue boat?
- To mark the boat with identification numbers
- To secure the boat to the ship's side for lowering
- To tow or secure the survival craft to the vessel (Correct answer)
- To attach the sea anchor
Correct answer: To tow or secure the survival craft to the vessel
A painter is a line used to tow or temporarily secure a lifeboat or rescue boat to the parent vessel.
Question 3: Under the COLREGS, which vessel is the 'stand-on' vessel in a crossing situation between two power-driven vessels?
- The vessel with the other on her port side
- The vessel with the other on her starboard side (Correct answer)
- The faster vessel
- The larger vessel
Correct answer: The vessel with the other on her starboard side
In a crossing situation, the vessel that has the other vessel on her starboard side is the stand-on vessel and must maintain course and speed.
Question 4: What does a single red flare fired from a distress rocket indicate?
- The vessel is at anchor
- Distress and need of assistance (Correct answer)
- A diver is below
- Man overboard on the port side
Correct answer: Distress and need of assistance
A rocket throwing red stars or a red parachute flare is an internationally recognized distress signal indicating need of assistance.
Question 5: What is the minimum number of immersion suits required on a US-flagged vessel?
- One for every officer only
- One for every person on board (Correct answer)
- Two per lifeboat
- One per watch stander
Correct answer: One for every person on board
US regulations require at least one immersion suit for every person on board a vessel.
Question 6: What action should an AB take immediately upon discovering a fire on board?
- Attempt to extinguish it before raising the alarm
- Sound the alarm, then fight the fire if safe to do so (Correct answer)
- Abandon ship immediately
- Report to the bridge and wait for orders
Correct answer: Sound the alarm, then fight the fire if safe to do so
The first priority is to sound the alarm to alert the crew, then attempt to fight the fire if it is safe to do so.
Question 7: What does the term 'freeboard' mean on a vessel?
- The distance from the waterline to the top of the keel
- The distance from the waterline to the main deck edge (Correct answer)
- The total height of the superstructure
- The distance between load lines on each side
Correct answer: The distance from the waterline to the main deck edge
Freeboard is the vertical distance measured from the waterline to the freeboard deck edge at the vessel's side amidships.
AB Deck General and Safety 2
When a vessel is required to sound a fog signal, how often must a power-driven vessel underway sound its horn?