AB Ship Construction and Cargo 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A vessel is said to be 'hogging' when:
- The bow and stern are lower than amidships, causing the keel to sag
- The bow and stern are higher than amidships, causing the keel to arch upward (Correct answer)
- The ship lists heavily to one side
- The cargo is unevenly distributed port to starboard
Correct answer: The bow and stern are higher than amidships, causing the keel to arch upward
Hogging occurs when the middle of the ship is supported by a wave crest or heavy midships loading, causing the bow and stern to droop relative to amidships.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a ship's 'accommodation ladder'?
- To provide access between decks inside the vessel
- To provide a portable stairway for boarding the vessel from a dock or water level (Correct answer)
- To serve as an emergency fire escape from the bridge
- To allow cargo to be lowered to lighters alongside
Correct answer: To provide a portable stairway for boarding the vessel from a dock or water level
An accommodation ladder is a portable, adjustable stairway hung over the ship's side to allow personnel to board or disembark, especially at anchor.
Question 3: Which type of hatch cover is opened by folding sections to the side or ends of the hatch?
- Pontoon hatch cover
- Rolling hatch cover
- Folding (piggyback) hatch cover (Correct answer)
- Single-pull hatch cover
Correct answer: Folding (piggyback) hatch cover
Folding or piggyback hatch covers open by folding their panels in a piggyback arrangement to one end or side of the hatch coaming.
Question 4: In cargo stowage, 'separation' of incompatible goods is required primarily to:
- Maximize cargo capacity
- Prevent dangerous chemical reactions or contamination between incompatible cargoes (Correct answer)
- Reduce the ship's rolling motion
- Comply with customs documentation requirements
Correct answer: Prevent dangerous chemical reactions or contamination between incompatible cargoes
Incompatible dangerous goods must be separated to prevent fire, explosion, or toxic reactions if they come into contact due to leakage or accident.
Question 5: What is the 'deadweight tonnage' (DWT) of a vessel?
- The weight of the empty ship's hull and machinery
- The total weight of cargo, fuel, stores, crew, and passengers that a vessel can carry (Correct answer)
- The volume of all enclosed spaces on the ship
- The weight of the anchor and chain
Correct answer: The total weight of cargo, fuel, stores, crew, and passengers that a vessel can carry
Deadweight tonnage is the total mass a ship can safely carry, including cargo, fuel, ballast, provisions, crew, and passengers.
Question 6: What structural feature is designed to prevent a ship from rolling excessively in beam seas?
- Bow thruster
- Bilge keel (Correct answer)
- Chock
- Stem bar
Correct answer: Bilge keel
Bilge keels are fins welded along the bilge (curved turn of the hull) that dampen rolling motion by increasing resistance to roll.
Question 7: Which term describes the tendency of a vessel to turn her bow into the wind when underway?
- Lee helm
- Weather helm (Correct answer)
- List
- Trim by the bow
Correct answer: Weather helm
Weather helm is the tendency of a vessel's bow to turn toward the wind, requiring corrective helm to maintain a straight course.
AB Ship Construction and Cargo 5
A vessel is said to be 'hogging' when: