CMC - Certified Marine Chemist Regulatory Compliance and Standards Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Marine Chemist issues a certificate for a vessel's cargo tank which includes specific requirements for continuous mechanical ventilation. Two days later, the shipyard experiences a power failure, disabling the required ventilation. According to NFPA 306, what is the immediate status of the Marine Chemist's certificate for that tank?
- It remains valid for 24 hours to allow for power restoration.
- It is automatically rendered invalid. (Correct answer)
- It converts to a 'Safe for Entry' certificate only.
- It must be re-signed by the Shipyard Competent Person to remain active.
Correct answer: It is automatically rendered invalid.
NFPA 306, Section 8.4, 'Responsibility for Maintaining the Conditions,' makes it clear that if any of the prescribed conditions on the certificate change, the certificate becomes invalid. The failure of required ventilation is a significant change in conditions, thus immediately invalidating the certificate.
Question 2: A vessel's fuel oil purifier has been removed and taken to a land-side machine shop within the shipyard's boundaries for welding repairs. Which standard(s) contain the primary governing requirements that a Marine Chemist must follow to certify the part as safe for hot work?
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910 only, as it is now in a general industry setting.
- USCG 46 CFR Subchapter F, as it is a part from a regulated vessel.
- NFPA 306, as it applies to vessels and land-side spaces within a shipyard or waterfront facility. (Correct answer)
- NFPA 51B only, as it is the primary standard for welding and cutting.
Correct answer: NFPA 306, as it applies to vessels and land-side spaces within a shipyard or waterfront facility.
The scope of NFPA 306 explicitly applies to vessels during repair AND to land-side confined spaces located within the boundaries of a shipyard or waterfront facility. Since the purifier is a part from a vessel that contained a flammable liquid and the repair is happening within the shipyard, NFPA 306 is the primary standard for the Marine Chemist's evaluation.
Question 3: According to NFPA 306, what are the requirements for the calibration of test instruments used by a Marine Chemist?
- Calibration must be performed by an external laboratory annually.
- A functional test (bump test) is required before each day's use, with full calibration performed semi-annually.
- The accuracy of the instruments shall be verified or calibrated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. (Correct answer)
- Instruments must be calibrated monthly, and records must be kept for 1 year.
Correct answer: The accuracy of the instruments shall be verified or calibrated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
NFPA 306, Section 6.1 'Calibration and Function Verification,' requires that instruments used by the Marine Chemist be verified or calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions. While daily functional checks are a best practice, the standard explicitly defers to the manufacturer's recommended procedures for formal calibration.
Question 4: A vessel is being prepared for a long-term 'cold' lay-up. According to NFPA 312, which is referenced by NFPA 306 for this activity, what is the general requirement for the vessel's cargo tanks that previously held flammable liquids?
- Tanks must be filled with water and a corrosion inhibitor.
- Tanks must be inerted to below 5% oxygen for the duration of the lay-up.
- Tanks must be kept gas-free. (Correct answer)
- Tanks must be certified 'Safe for Hot Work' prior to being secured.
Correct answer: Tanks must be kept gas-free.
For vessel lay-up, safety guidelines generally require that all cargo tanks, pump rooms, and associated piping that contained flammable or combustible products be cleaned and maintained in a gas-free condition to eliminate the fire and explosion hazard during the unattended period.
Question 5: A Marine Chemist is certifying a refrigerated hold on a fishing vessel for entry. The refrigeration system utilizes ammonia (NH3). Which value represents the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) that the chemist must test for?
- 10 ppm
- 100 ppm
- 35 ppm
- 50 ppm (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 50 ppm
According to OSHA, the legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) for ammonia is 50 ppm averaged over an 8-hour work shift (TWA). While other organizations like NIOSH and ACGIH recommend lower limits (e.g., 25 ppm TWA), the OSHA PEL is the mandatory federal limit in the United States.
Question 6: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1915, what is the minimum period that a shipyard employer must retain a Marine Chemist's certificate after the completion of the work it pertains to?
- For the duration of the employee's employment plus 30 years.
- For 3 months. (Correct answer)
- For 5 years.
- Until the vessel leaves the facility or for 30 days, whichever is longer.
Correct answer: For 3 months.
OSHA 29 CFR 1915.16(a) states that the employer shall retain the Marine Chemist's certificate and any shipyard competent person's test records for a period of at least 3 months from the date of the completion of the job for which the certificate was generated.
CMC - Certified Marine Chemist Regulatory Compliance and Standards Questions and Answers 1
A Marine Chemist issues a certificate for a vessel's cargo tank which includes specific requirements for continuous mechanical ventilation.
Two days later, the shipyard experiences a power failure, disabling the required ventilation.
According to NFPA 306, what is the immediate status of the Marine Chemist's certificate for that tank?