AB Lifesaving and Survival Craft 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum sustained speed requirement for a rescue boat?
- 4 knots
- 6 knots (Correct answer)
- 8 knots
- 10 knots
Correct answer: 6 knots
SOLAS requires rescue boats to be capable of at least 6 knots in calm water when loaded with full complement.
Question 2: A survival craft's painter must be long enough to allow the craft to drift clear of the vessel before inflation occurs. What is the minimum length required by SOLAS?
- 10 meters
- 15 meters
- 20 meters (Correct answer)
- 25 meters
Correct answer: 20 meters
SOLAS requires the painter to be at least 20 meters long to ensure the raft drifts clear before inflating.
Question 3: If a lifeboat or rescue boat falls into the water from its davits due to a sudden lurch of the vessel, what is this type of accident called?
- Free fall launch failure
- Inadvertent launch (Correct answer)
- Gravity davit failure
- Controlled descent failure
Correct answer: Inadvertent launch
An inadvertent launch occurs when a survival craft is unintentionally released, a common cause of serious accidents during drills.
Question 4: What is the correct way to enter a liferaft from a vessel that is sinking rapidly?
- Dive headfirst into the center of the raft
- Step into the raft from the vessel's rail if possible, or jump feet first into the water (Correct answer)
- Slide down the hull and grab the boarding ramp
- Wait until the vessel is fully submerged
Correct answer: Step into the raft from the vessel's rail if possible, or jump feet first into the water
If possible, step directly into the raft; if you must enter the water, jump feet first away from the raft to avoid injury.
Question 5: When using a hand-held flare, how should you hold it?
- Horizontally, pointed at the target vessel
- Downward and slightly away from the body on the leeward side (Correct answer)
- Directly overhead for maximum visibility
- At a 45-degree angle toward the wind
Correct answer: Downward and slightly away from the body on the leeward side
Hold the flare downwind, slightly away from the body, to prevent burning drips from falling on you or the raft.
Question 6: In a survival situation, what is the recommended daily water ration per person when fresh water is limited?
- 0.5 liters
- 1 liter (Correct answer)
- 1.5 liters
- 2 liters
Correct answer: 1 liter
The recommended minimum ration is approximately 0.5 liters per day for initial survival, though 1 liter is more sustainable for longer periods.
Question 7: What does the acronym SART stand for in the context of maritime search and rescue?
- Search and Rescue Transponder (Correct answer)
- Safety Apparatus Radio Transmitter
- Survival Alert Radio Technique
- Signal and Rescue Technology
Correct answer: Search and Rescue Transponder
SART stands for Search And Rescue Transponder; it responds to 9 GHz radar pulses to show a pattern on the searching vessel's radar screen.
AB Lifesaving and Survival Craft 4
What is the minimum sustained speed requirement for a rescue boat?