PCOC PCOC Environmental Protection and Pollution Prevention 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a Vessel Pollution Placard required on vessels 26 feet and over?
- To advertise pump-out station locations
- To notify passengers of the legal prohibition against overboard trash and garbage discharge (Correct answer)
- To show the vessel's environmental certification number
- To list the vessel's sewage treatment device type
Correct answer: To notify passengers of the legal prohibition against overboard trash and garbage discharge
Federal law requires vessels 26 feet and over to display a pollution placard notifying occupants that dumping trash and garbage overboard is prohibited.
Question 2: What color is the required MARPOL garbage disposal placard that must be posted on vessels 26 feet and over?
- Blue and white
- Red and white
- Yellow and black
- White with black text (Correct answer)
Correct answer: White with black text
The required MARPOL Annex V garbage disposal placard must be durable, at least 4 by 9 inches, and displayed in a prominent location in white with black text.
Question 3: Which of the following may legally be discharged overboard by a recreational vessel beyond 3 nautical miles from shore?
- Plastic bags
- Food waste that has been ground to less than 1 inch (Correct answer)
- Styrofoam cups
- Fishing line
Correct answer: Food waste that has been ground to less than 1 inch
Ground food waste (less than 1 inch) may be discharged beyond 3 nautical miles under MARPOL Annex V, but plastics are always prohibited.
Question 4: What should a boater do with used oil, filters, and batteries from their vessel?
- Dilute with water and discharge slowly overboard
- Dispose of at a marina hazardous waste collection facility or recycling center (Correct answer)
- Burn them aboard in an approved incinerator
- Bury them ashore at least 100 feet from the waterline
Correct answer: Dispose of at a marina hazardous waste collection facility or recycling center
Used oil, filters, and batteries are hazardous materials that must be taken to a marina collection facility or certified recycling center — never dumped overboard.
Question 5: A fuel spill during refueling at a marina can be prevented primarily by which practice?
- Fueling the tank as quickly as possible to reduce evaporation
- Not topping off the tank and using an absorbent pad at the fill nozzle (Correct answer)
- Fueling away from other boats so spills don't spread
- Anchoring in deep water before refueling
Correct answer: Not topping off the tank and using an absorbent pad at the fill nozzle
Leaving room for fuel expansion and using an absorbent pad at the fill nozzle are the most effective ways to prevent fuel spills during refueling.
Question 6: Which practice best protects sensitive aquatic habitats such as seagrass beds and coral reefs when operating a pleasure craft?
- Running at full speed to minimize time over sensitive areas
- Anchoring in the center of seagrass beds to avoid prop wash near edges
- Using a mooring buoy or anchoring in sand/mud away from sensitive habitat (Correct answer)
- Allowing the prop to idle in shallow water to stir sediment
Correct answer: Using a mooring buoy or anchoring in sand/mud away from sensitive habitat
Using designated mooring buoys or anchoring in sand and mud far from sensitive habitats prevents prop and anchor damage to seagrass and coral.
PCOC PCOC Environmental Protection and Pollution Prevention 2
What is the purpose of a Vessel Pollution Placard required on vessels 26 feet and over?