CMI Marine Accident Investigation Procedures 5

Question 1

When calculating the speed of a vessel involved in a collision using ARPA/radar data preserved in a VDR, the investigator should account for which additional variable to obtain true speed over ground?

Accepted Answer

Current set and drift experienced in the area at the time

Answer

Speed through water (from radar/ARPA or log) differs from speed over ground; current set and drift must be added vectorially to determine the vessel's actual ground track.

Question 2

A 'near miss' or 'near accident' report is valuable to a marine safety investigator primarily because:

Accepted Answer

It reveals latent hazards and system weaknesses before they result in a catastrophic accident

Answer

Near-miss data exposes the same causal factors and latent deficiencies that produce accidents, allowing corrective action before a fatality or major loss occurs.

Question 3

In marine fire casualty investigations, which piece of evidence is most useful for determining the fire's point of origin?

Accepted Answer

Burn pattern analysis and char depth measurements within compartments

Answer

Physical burn patterns and char depth measurements objectively trace fire propagation back to its origin point, supplementing (and sometimes correcting) witness accounts or sensor data.

Question 4

A vessel grounds on a charted shoal in clear weather. The investigation reveals the electronic chart display (ECDIS) was set to a raster chart with incorrect datum offset. This best illustrates which category of causal factor?

Accepted Answer

Equipment/technology factor with human factors implications

Answer

An ECDIS datum offset error is an equipment/technology factor, but its presence on the bridge without correction implicates human factors (training, watchkeeping, verification procedures) as well.

Question 5

When a marine investigator identifies a safety recommendation arising from a casualty investigation, what is the most critical quality standard that recommendation must meet?

Accepted Answer

It must be specific, actionable, and directed at the party with authority to implement it

Answer

Effective safety recommendations are specific and actionable, directed to the entity (operator, flag administration, IMO) actually empowered to make the identified change.

(CMI) Certified Marine Investigator Practice Test

(CMI) Certified Marine Investigator Practice Test

CMI Marine Accident Investigation Procedures 5