DWO Emergency Procedures & Safety 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How should a vessel officer respond when a crew member falls overboard?
- Immediately stop the engines and call the Coast Guard
- Throw a lifebuoy, post a lookout, sound the alarm, and maneuver to recover (Correct answer)
- Sound three short blasts and proceed to anchor
- Deploy the rescue boat before alerting the Master
Correct answer: Throw a lifebuoy, post a lookout, sound the alarm, and maneuver to recover
The immediate actions for man overboard are to throw a lifebuoy, post a lookout to keep visual contact, sound the alarm, and begin recovery maneuvers.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a hydrostatic release unit (HRU) on a liferaft?
- To inflate the liferaft automatically when immersed
- To release the liferaft from its cradle at a set water depth (Correct answer)
- To activate the EPIRB when the vessel sinks
- To seal the liferaft canopy during deployment
Correct answer: To release the liferaft from its cradle at a set water depth
An HRU automatically releases the liferaft from its cradle when submerged to approximately 1.5–4 meters, allowing it to float free.
Question 3: What color pyrotechnic signal should be used to indicate distress at sea?
- White
- Green
- Orange
- Red (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Red
Red pyrotechnic signals—including red parachute flares and red hand flares—are the internationally recognized distress signals at sea.
Question 4: Under the ISM Code, who bears ultimate responsibility for the safe operation of a vessel?
- The Deck Watch Officer on duty
- The Company (ship operator or owner) (Correct answer)
- The Classification Society
- The Port State Control authority
Correct answer: The Company (ship operator or owner)
The ISM Code places ultimate responsibility for safe ship operation and environmental protection with the Company, which must establish a Safety Management System.
Question 5: What does a continuous ringing of the ship's bell for about five seconds every minute signal?
- Vessel underway in restricted visibility
- Vessel at anchor in fog warning of collision risk (Correct answer)
- General emergency alarm
- Vessel aground fog signal supplement
Correct answer: Vessel at anchor in fog warning of collision risk
A vessel at anchor in fog rapidly rings the bell for about five seconds every minute as a sound signal; three strokes before and after may be added to warn of collision risk.
Question 6: When conducting a rescue boat drill, at what minimum speed must the rescue boat complete a trial maneuver?
- 4 knots
- 6 knots (Correct answer)
- 8 knots
- 10 knots
Correct answer: 6 knots
SOLAS requires rescue boats to be capable of at least 6 knots forward speed and 2 knots astern when fully equipped.
Question 7: What is the proper procedure for fighting a fire in a ship's engine room using a fixed CO2 system?
- Activate CO2, then evacuate the engine room
- Evacuate and close all openings, then activate the CO2 system (Correct answer)
- Activate CO2 while crew in SCBA remain inside to monitor
- Open ventilation to dilute smoke before activating CO2
Correct answer: Evacuate and close all openings, then activate the CO2 system
All personnel must evacuate the engine room and all openings must be closed to seal the space before activating the fixed CO2 total flooding system.
DWO Emergency Procedures & Safety 3
How should a vessel officer respond when a crew member falls overboard?