AB Lifesaving and Survival Craft 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the required service interval for an inflatable liferaft under SOLAS?
- Every 6 months
- Every 12 months (Correct answer)
- Every 24 months
- Every 5 years
Correct answer: Every 12 months
Inflatable liferafts must be serviced at an approved service station every 12 months (or as otherwise specified).
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a tripping line attached to a sea anchor on a liferaft?
- To increase drag and slow the raft
- To collapse the sea anchor for retrieval (Correct answer)
- To connect the sea anchor to additional equipment
- To prevent the sea anchor line from tangling
Correct answer: To collapse the sea anchor for retrieval
Pulling the tripping line collapses the sea anchor, allowing it to be retrieved without hauling against full water resistance.
Question 3: Under US regulations, how frequently must lifeboat/rescue boat drills be conducted on cargo vessels?
- Once per month
- Once per week (Correct answer)
- Every two weeks
- Once per voyage
Correct answer: Once per week
SOLAS requires crew to participate in at least one abandon ship and fire drill every week on cargo vessels.
Question 4: What factor most significantly affects the time to loss of consciousness from hypothermia in water?
- Physical fitness level
- Water temperature (Correct answer)
- Victim's age
- Swimming ability
Correct answer: Water temperature
Water temperature is the most critical factor; cold water rapidly conducts heat away from the body, causing hypothermia much faster than cold air.
Question 5: When a liferaft is boarded after abandoning ship, what should be the first action?
- Activate the EPIRB and signal for help
- Cut the painter line if the vessel is sinking (Correct answer)
- Take a headcount and inventory supplies
- Deploy the sea anchor
Correct answer: Cut the painter line if the vessel is sinking
The painter must be cut once all survivors are aboard if the sinking vessel could pull the raft under.
Question 6: What information is encoded in a 406 MHz EPIRB signal that helps SAR authorities identify the vessel?
- Vessel speed and heading
- Vessel's MMSI or unique identification code (Correct answer)
- Number of persons on board
- Vessel's last port of call
Correct answer: Vessel's MMSI or unique identification code
The 406 MHz signal encodes the vessel's unique identification (MMSI or hexadecimal ID), allowing SAR authorities to access registration information.
Question 7: What is the correct procedure if a liferaft capsizes in rough seas?
- Abandon the raft and swim to calmer water
- Use the righting straps on the bottom of the raft to right it (Correct answer)
- Signal for help and wait for rescue
- Deflate the raft partially to stabilize it
Correct answer: Use the righting straps on the bottom of the raft to right it
Righting straps are located on the underside of inflatable liferafts; a person stands on the CO2 cylinder and pulls them to flip the raft upright.
AB Lifesaving and Survival Craft 5
What is the required service interval for an inflatable liferaft under SOLAS?