AB Deck General and Safety 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a 'sea anchor' when deployed from a lifeboat?
- To anchor the lifeboat to the seabed in shallow water
- To slow the lifeboat's drift and keep its bow headed into the wind and seas (Correct answer)
- To mark the position of the lifeboat for rescuers
- To provide drag for rowing in calm conditions
Correct answer: To slow the lifeboat's drift and keep its bow headed into the wind and seas
A sea anchor is a parachute-like device streamed from the bow to slow drift and maintain the bow-to-sea orientation in heavy weather.
Question 2: What is the MARPOL Annex I concerned with?
- Prevention of pollution by sewage from ships
- Prevention of pollution by oil from ships (Correct answer)
- Prevention of air pollution from ships
- Prevention of pollution by noxious liquid substances
Correct answer: Prevention of pollution by oil from ships
MARPOL Annex I covers regulations for the prevention of pollution by oil, including discharge standards and required equipment like ORBs.
Question 3: What does the term 'trim' refer to when describing a vessel's condition?
- The angle of list from side to side
- The difference in draft between the bow and stern (Correct answer)
- The depth of the keel below the waterline
- The height of the center of gravity above the keel
Correct answer: The difference in draft between the bow and stern
Trim is the difference between the forward draft and the after draft; a vessel trimmed by the stern has a deeper draft aft than forward.
Question 4: Which of the following is a requirement for all immersion suits carried on US vessels?
- They must be bright orange or red in color (Correct answer)
- They must be inspected and serviced every 6 months
- They must be stowed in individual waterproof bags
- They must be approved by the International Maritime Organization only
Correct answer: They must be bright orange or red in color
SOLAS and USCG regulations require immersion suits to be bright red or orange to aid visibility during search and rescue operations.
Question 5: When navigating in a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), what must a vessel do when crossing a separation lane?
- Cross at a very shallow angle to minimize time in the lane
- Cross at as nearly as practicable at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow (Correct answer)
- Only cross at designated crossing points
- Sound one prolonged blast before crossing
Correct answer: Cross at as nearly as practicable at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow
Under COLREGS Rule 10, a vessel crossing a traffic lane shall do so on a heading as nearly as practicable at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow.
Question 6: What is the purpose of the 'Plimsoll mark' (load line mark) on a vessel's hull?
- To indicate the vessel's registered tonnage
- To indicate the maximum safe loading depth in various conditions and water types (Correct answer)
- To mark the vessel's midship point for stability calculations
- To show the height of the propeller below the waterline
Correct answer: To indicate the maximum safe loading depth in various conditions and water types
The Plimsoll mark indicates the maximum draft (deepest safe loading level) for a vessel in different seasons and water densities.
Question 7: Under the COLREGS, Rule 5 requires every vessel to maintain a proper lookout. Which of the following BEST describes this requirement?
- A licensed officer must be on the bridge at all times
- A lookout must be posted only in restricted visibility
- Every vessel shall maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing at all times (Correct answer)
- Radar watch substitutes for a physical lookout in clear weather
Correct answer: Every vessel shall maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing at all times
Rule 5 requires every vessel to maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing, as well as all available means, at all times to make a full appraisal of the situation.
AB Deck General and Safety 5
What is the purpose of a 'sea anchor' when deployed from a lifeboat?