AB Safety Procedures & Emergency Response 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When conducting an abandon ship drill, how often must these drills be held according to SOLAS?
- Once per month (Correct answer)
- Once per week
- Once every three months
- Once per voyage
Correct answer: Once per month
SOLAS requires abandon ship and fire drills to be held at least once a month on vessels engaged on international voyages.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a painter line attached to a liferaft?
- To steer the liferaft
- To secure the raft to the deck for boarding
- To connect the raft to the ship and allow the hydrostatic release to work (Correct answer)
- To attach the raft to a rescue vessel
Correct answer: To connect the raft to the ship and allow the hydrostatic release to work
The painter line connects the liferaft to the ship so that as the vessel sinks, tension on the painter activates the hydrostatic release mechanism, inflating and freeing the raft.
Question 3: Which signal is used to summon crew members to their emergency stations?
- Seven or more short blasts followed by one long blast on the ship's whistle (Correct answer)
- Three long blasts on the ship's whistle
- Continuous sounding of the ship's whistle
- Three short blasts on the ship's whistle
Correct answer: Seven or more short blasts followed by one long blast on the ship's whistle
The general emergency alarm is seven or more short blasts followed by one long blast on the ship's whistle and/or the internal alarm system.
Question 4: A CO2 fixed fire suppression system has been activated in the cargo hold. When is it safe to re-enter?
- Immediately after the system activates
- After 10 minutes with a fan running
- Only after the space has been ventilated and tested with a gas detector (Correct answer)
- After 30 minutes
Correct answer: Only after the space has been ventilated and tested with a gas detector
Re-entry into a CO2-flooded space is only permitted after thorough ventilation and confirmation by an approved gas detector that oxygen levels are safe.
Question 5: What does a 'man overboard' drill primarily practice?
- Crew rescue swimming techniques
- Vessel maneuvering, crew mustering, and recovery operations (Correct answer)
- Distress signal transmission procedures
- Medical treatment of hypothermia victims
Correct answer: Vessel maneuvering, crew mustering, and recovery operations
Man overboard drills practice the entire response sequence including vessel maneuvers such as the Williamson Turn, crew mustering, and deploying recovery equipment.
Question 6: What is the function of a hydrostatic release unit (HRU) on a liferaft?
- It manually inflates the liferaft
- It automatically releases the liferaft when submerged to a depth of 1.5-4 meters (Correct answer)
- It signals distress when submerged
- It releases the painter line from the liferaft
Correct answer: It automatically releases the liferaft when submerged to a depth of 1.5-4 meters
An HRU automatically releases the liferaft from its cradle when the vessel sinks to a depth of 1.5 to 4 meters, allowing the raft to float free and inflate.
Question 7: When using an EPIRB manually, what must the operator do to activate it?
- Submerge it in seawater
- Remove the protective cap and extend the antenna, then switch to ON (Correct answer)
- Press the distress button three times
- Remove and replace the battery to trigger activation
Correct answer: Remove the protective cap and extend the antenna, then switch to ON
Manual EPIRB activation requires removing the protective cap, extending the antenna, and switching the unit to the ON or MANUAL position.
AB Safety Procedures & Emergency Response 3
When conducting an abandon ship drill, how often must these drills be held according to SOLAS?