MTC Marine Technician Safety & Environmental Practices 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which EPA regulation governs the proper handling, recovery, and recycling of refrigerants in marine air conditioning systems?
- Section 608 of the Clean Air Act (Correct answer)
- MARPOL Annex VI
- OSHA 1910.119 Process Safety Management
- 40 CFR Part 112 Spill Prevention
Correct answer: Section 608 of the Clean Air Act
EPA Section 608 of the Clean Air Act prohibits the venting of regulated refrigerants and requires certified technicians and approved recovery equipment.
Question 2: When disposing of used marine engine oil, a technician must ensure it is:
- Delivered to a licensed waste oil collection facility or recycler (Correct answer)
- Diluted with diesel and burned in the vessel's main engine
- Discharged overboard only beyond 12 nautical miles
- Labeled and stored indefinitely aboard the vessel
Correct answer: Delivered to a licensed waste oil collection facility or recycler
Used oil is a regulated hazardous waste and must be taken to a licensed facility; burning in engines or overboard discharge is prohibited.
Question 3: A technician is working in a yacht's keel bilge and experiences sudden dizziness. The FIRST response is to:
- Exit the space immediately and alert a co-worker (Correct answer)
- Increase the local ventilation fan speed
- Call 911 before moving
- Drink water and rest inside the bilge
Correct answer: Exit the space immediately and alert a co-worker
Sudden dizziness in a confined or poorly ventilated space signals possible atmospheric hazard; immediate egress is the life-saving priority.
Question 4: What minimum sound signal must a vessel under 12 meters make in restricted visibility under Inland and International Rules?
- One prolonged blast every two minutes if under power (Correct answer)
- Three short blasts every two minutes
- One short blast every minute
- Continuous sounding of a bell for five seconds every minute
Correct answer: One prolonged blast every two minutes if under power
Rule 35 requires a power-driven vessel making way in restricted visibility to sound one prolonged blast at intervals of not more than two minutes.
Question 5: Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom 2012 / GHS), how many pictograms can appear on a single label?
- As many as necessary to convey all hazards present (Correct answer)
- A maximum of three
- Exactly one per chemical
- No more than two per label
Correct answer: As many as necessary to convey all hazards present
GHS labels may carry multiple pictograms — one for each applicable hazard class — with no stated upper limit.
Question 6: Which fire suppression system is most commonly installed in the engine rooms of recreational vessels over 26 feet to meet ABYC/NFPA 10 standards?
- Fixed clean-agent automatic suppression system (Correct answer)
- Sprinkler system using fresh water
- CO2 total flooding system rated for crew compartments
- Dry chemical hand-held units only
Correct answer: Fixed clean-agent automatic suppression system
ABYC and NFPA 10 recommend fixed clean-agent (e.g., FM-200, Novec 1230) automatic systems for enclosed engine compartments on larger recreational vessels.
Question 7: A vessel's oil record book must be kept available for inspection for how long after the last entry?
- Three years (Correct answer)
- One year
- Five years
- Six months
Correct answer: Three years
MARPOL Annex I and US law require the oil record book to be retained for three years after the last entry and made available to inspection on request.
MTC Marine Technician Safety & Environmental Practices 3
Which EPA regulation governs the proper handling, recovery, and recycling of refrigerants in marine air conditioning systems?