RICAS Communication Skills 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the international distress signal for ships?
- Mayday (Correct answer)
- Help
- SOS via radio
- Emergency
Correct answer: Mayday
'Mayday' is the internationally recognized voice distress signal, derived from the French 'm'aider' (help me), used when a vessel faces grave and imminent danger.
Question 2: What do port and starboard refer to?
- Left and right sides of a vessel respectively (Correct answer)
- Front and back of a vessel
- Top and bottom decks
- Anchor positions
Correct answer: Left and right sides of a vessel respectively
Port is the left side (red light) and starboard is the right side (green light) when facing the bow (front) of the vessel.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a ship's logbook?
- To record all navigational, weather, and operational events (Correct answer)
- To store personal journals
- To track food supplies only
- To list crew phone numbers
Correct answer: To record all navigational, weather, and operational events
The ship's log is a legal document recording navigational data, weather conditions, engine operations, and all significant events during a voyage.
Question 4: What is dead reckoning in navigation?
- Estimating current position based on a known past position and course/speed (Correct answer)
- Using GPS only
- Following the stars
- Guessing the location
Correct answer: Estimating current position based on a known past position and course/speed
Dead reckoning calculates the current position by applying known speed, time elapsed, and course steered from the last known position.
Question 5: What is the purpose of running lights on a vessel?
- To indicate the vessel's size, type, and direction of travel at night (Correct answer)
- To illuminate the deck
- To signal distress
- To improve crew visibility
Correct answer: To indicate the vessel's size, type, and direction of travel at night
Navigation lights help other vessels determine a ship's size, type, status, and direction of travel during periods of reduced visibility.
Question 6: What does the term 'bearing' mean in maritime navigation?
- The direction of an object relative to north or the ship's heading (Correct answer)
- The weight the ship can carry
- The speed of the vessel
- The depth of the water
Correct answer: The direction of an object relative to north or the ship's heading
A bearing is the compass direction from the observer to an object, measured in degrees from north (true or magnetic) or from the ship's heading (relative).
RICAS Communication Skills 1
What is the international distress signal for ships?