OUPV Deck General and Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a bilge pump on a vessel?
- To pump fuel into the engine
- To remove water that accumulates in the bilge (Correct answer)
- To circulate coolant through the engine
- To fill ballast tanks
Correct answer: To remove water that accumulates in the bilge
A bilge pump removes water that collects in the lowest part of the vessels hull (the bilge), preventing flooding and maintaining stability.
The bilge is the lowest interior area of the hull where water naturally collects from rain, spray, condensation, or minor leaks. Bilge pumps, either manual or electric, remove this water and discharge it overboard. USCG regulations require vessels to have adequate means of pumping or bailing.
Question 2: What is the correct procedure for securing a vessel to a dock using spring lines?
- Run lines perpendicular to the dock
- Use forward and after spring lines running at angles to prevent fore-and-aft movement (Correct answer)
- Tie only to the bow cleat
- Use a single line from midship
Correct answer: Use forward and after spring lines running at angles to prevent fore-and-aft movement
Spring lines run at angles from the vessel to the dock, preventing the vessel from moving forward or backward along the dock.
Spring lines are dock lines that run at an angle between the vessel and the dock to control fore-and-aft movement. A forward spring line runs from the bow area aft to the dock, preventing forward movement. An after spring line runs from the stern area forward to the dock, preventing backward movement.
Question 3: What is the minimum freeboard concern for a loaded vessel?
- The vessel must have at least 6 inches of freeboard at all times
- Sufficient freeboard to prevent waves from entering the vessel and maintain stability (Correct answer)
- Freeboard only matters for vessels over 65 feet
- There is no minimum freeboard requirement
Correct answer: Sufficient freeboard to prevent waves from entering the vessel and maintain stability
A vessel must maintain sufficient freeboard to prevent water from entering and to ensure adequate stability.
Freeboard is the distance from the waterline to the lowest point of the deck edge. Insufficient freeboard means waves can wash over the deck, adding weight that further reduces stability and potentially causing progressive flooding and capsizing.
Question 4: What material should NOT be used to clean up a fuel spill on deck?
- Oil-absorbent pads
- Sawdust or absorbent material
- Water from a fire hose to wash it overboard (Correct answer)
- Rags contained in a proper disposal bag
Correct answer: Water from a fire hose to wash it overboard
Washing fuel overboard with water is an environmental violation. Fuel spills must be contained and absorbed using proper absorbent materials.
Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and MARPOL, discharging oil or fuel into navigable waters is illegal and subject to significant fines. Fuel spills on deck must be contained using absorbent pads, booms, or granular absorbents.
Question 5: What does the term draft refer to on a vessel?
- The height of the mast above the waterline
- The vertical distance from the waterline to the lowest point of the hull (Correct answer)
- The speed at which the vessel can travel
- The angle of the rudder
Correct answer: The vertical distance from the waterline to the lowest point of the hull
Draft is the vertical distance between the waterline and the deepest point of the vessels hull, determining the minimum water depth needed for safe navigation.
Draft (or draught) is the vertical distance from the waterline to the lowest point of the vessels keel or running gear. It determines the minimum depth of water required for safe navigation. Draft increases as a vessel is loaded and decreases as it burns fuel or offloads weight.
Question 6: What is the proper way to coil a line for storage on a vessel?
- In figure-eight patterns only
- In clockwise loops for right-laid (twisted) line to prevent kinking (Correct answer)
- In any direction as long as it is off the deck
- Wrapped tightly around a cleat
Correct answer: In clockwise loops for right-laid (twisted) line to prevent kinking
Right-laid (standard twisted) line should be coiled clockwise to work with the natural twist of the line and prevent kinking.
Standard three-strand twisted line is right-laid, meaning the strands twist clockwise. Coiling in a clockwise direction works with this natural twist, preventing kinks and tangles. Braided line, which has no natural twist, can be coiled in figure-eight patterns.
OUPV Deck General and Safety 2
What is the purpose of a bilge pump on a vessel?