MCA CoC Emergency Procedures & Fire Fighting 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the MCA's required content of a vessel's Muster List?
- Each crew member's emergency station, duties, life-saving appliance assignments, and actions for each type of emergency (Correct answer)
- Only the location of life jackets and liferafts
- Only the names of officers with key emergency responsibilities
- A general description of emergency procedures without individual assignments
Correct answer: Each crew member's emergency station, duties, life-saving appliance assignments, and actions for each type of emergency
The Muster List (or Emergency Station Bill) must list every crew member's assigned emergency station, their specific duties during each emergency (fire, flooding, abandonment), and the life-saving appliances they are responsible for.
Question 2: Under SOLAS, how often must abandon ship drills be conducted?
- At least once a month for all crew members on passenger vessels; at least once every 3 months on cargo vessels (Correct answer)
- Annually only
- Before every voyage
- Only when new crew join the vessel
Correct answer: At least once a month for all crew members on passenger vessels; at least once every 3 months on cargo vessels
SOLAS requires abandon ship drills on passenger vessels to involve all crew at least once a month. On cargo vessels, musters and drills must occur within 24 hours of departure if more than 25% of crew are new, and at least once every 3 months.
Question 3: What is the 'MAYDAY' equivalent for a vessel on fire at sea?
- MAYDAY on Channel 16 — fire is a distress situation requiring immediate assistance (Correct answer)
- PAN PAN — fire is classified as urgency, not distress
- SECURITE — fire is classified as a safety announcement
- There is a separate fire-specific radio procedure
Correct answer: MAYDAY on Channel 16 — fire is a distress situation requiring immediate assistance
Fire on board constituting a threat to the vessel or persons is a distress situation. A MAYDAY call on Channel 16 (or DSC distress alert on Channel 70) is the appropriate signal. The nature of distress 'fire' can be specified in the DSC alert.
Question 4: What are the three methods of extinguishing a fire?
- Cooling (removing heat), smothering (removing oxygen), and starvation (removing fuel) (Correct answer)
- Flooding, venting, and chemical suppression
- Sprinklers, foam, and halon
- Isolation, suppression, and evacuation
Correct answer: Cooling (removing heat), smothering (removing oxygen), and starvation (removing fuel)
Fire is extinguished by removing one or more elements of the fire triangle: cooling with water (removing heat), smothering with CO2 or foam (removing oxygen), or starvation by removing or cutting off fuel. Most extinguishing agents act on more than one element.
Question 5: What type of fire extinguisher should NEVER be used in a machinery space on board ship?
- Water extinguisher — risk of electrical shock and steam explosion near hot machinery (Correct answer)
- CO2 extinguisher
- Foam extinguisher
- Dry powder extinguisher
Correct answer: Water extinguisher — risk of electrical shock and steam explosion near hot machinery
Water extinguishers must never be used in machinery spaces due to the risk of electrocution from live electrical systems and the risk of a steam/fat explosion if water contacts hot oils or burning fuel. CO2 or foam systems are appropriate for machinery spaces.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a 'fire patrol' on a vessel?
- Regular inspection of the vessel, particularly accommodation and public spaces, to detect fire early and check fire detection equipment (Correct answer)
- Guarding the fire-fighting equipment from unauthorised use
- Checking the fire hoses are properly pressurised
- Ensuring the fire pumps are running
Correct answer: Regular inspection of the vessel, particularly accommodation and public spaces, to detect fire early and check fire detection equipment
Fire patrols involve crew regularly walking through the vessel (particularly accommodation, galley, and public areas) to detect smoke, heat, or fire at an early stage before automatic detection activates, and to verify fire-fighting equipment is in place and ready.
MCA CoC Emergency Procedures & Fire Fighting 1
What is the MCA's required content of a vessel's Muster List?