Hull and Machinery Surveyors Flashcards
7 cards from real SAMS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Hull and Machinery Surveyors flashcards as text
A surveyor discovers that a vessel's sea cock is a gate valve rather than a ball valve on a below-waterline through-hull. What is the correct disposition?
Answer: Flag as a deficiency; gate valves are not acceptable sea cocks
ABYC and SAMS standards require sea cocks to be quarter-turn ball valves or equivalent; gate valves are not acceptable because they cannot be closed quickly in an emergency and are prone to seizure.
When inspecting a twin-screw vessel, the surveyor notes that the starboard propeller rotates clockwise when viewed from aft. What should the port propeller rotation be for optimal maneuverability?
Answer: Counter-clockwise (opposite rotation, outward-turning pair)
Standard twin-screw practice is outward-turning propellers: starboard turns clockwise (right-hand) and port turns counter-clockwise (left-hand) when viewed from astern, improving low-speed maneuverability.
During ultrasonic thickness testing of a steel hull, a surveyor obtains readings 20% below the original design scantlings. According to SAMS practice, how should this be reported?
Answer: As a significant deficiency requiring immediate structural evaluation
A 20% reduction in plating thickness represents significant structural wastage that requires evaluation by a naval architect or structural engineer before the vessel can be considered seaworthy.
Which document provides the primary regulatory framework for commercial vessel structural standards in the United States?
Answer: Classification society rules (ABS, DNV)
For commercial vessels, classification society rules (such as ABS or DNV) provide detailed structural scantling requirements that are referenced or adopted within US Coast Guard regulations.
A surveyor finds a crack in a GRP hull running parallel to and adjacent to a longitudinal stringer. What does this pattern most likely indicate?
Answer: Stress concentration from the stringer hard-point
Cracks parallel to stringers typically result from the hard-point stress concentration where the stringer terminates or changes section, causing the adjacent laminate to flex and fracture.
What is the purpose of the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS) Mentor Program for new members?
Answer: To pair candidates with experienced surveyors for supervised field training
SAMS Mentor Program pairs AMS candidates with experienced Accredited Marine Surveyors (AMS) for supervised field surveys, ensuring practical competency before full accreditation.
During a machinery survey, a surveyor finds that the raw water impeller housing shows deep grooving. What is the primary risk if the vessel operates without repair?
Answer: Loss of raw water cooling flow leading to engine overheating
A grooved impeller housing reduces the pump's ability to maintain adequate raw water flow, which can quickly lead to loss of engine cooling and thermal damage.