Mixed Deck — All SAMS Topics Flashcards

ABYC standard P-1 governs which system aboard recreational vessels?

Answer: Exhaust system installations

ABYC P-1 covers installation of exhaust systems for marine engines, including requirements for wet and dry exhaust configurations.

Under 33 CFR Part 164, vessels over 1,600 gross tons on certain US waters are required to carry which navigation equipment?

Answer: Voyage data recorder (VDR) and AIS transponder

33 CFR Part 164 requires certain larger vessels to carry navigation safety equipment including AIS transponders to improve collision avoidance.

When evaluating a sailboat's stability, which factor most directly relates to its resistance to capsizing?

Answer: Ballast-to-displacement ratio

A higher ballast-to-displacement ratio lowers the center of gravity and increases the righting moment, directly improving resistance to capsizing.

Which federal regulation governs the carriage of visual distress signals (VDS) on recreational vessels on coastal waters?

Answer: 33 CFR Part 175

33 CFR Part 175 establishes equipment requirements for recreational vessels, including visual distress signals on coastal and offshore waters.

You are the first surveyor on scene after a significant vessel fire has been extinguished. After ensuring the scene is safe to enter, which of the following is the most critical initial step in your damage assessment process?

Answer: Identify and secure all portable evidence, such as logs, damaged equipment, or remnants of the fire's origin.

While all steps are part of the process, the most critical initial action is to preserve the scene and secure evidence. This is crucial for determining the cause and origin of the fire. Interviewing crew and taking photos are done concurrently, but failing to secure portable evidence before it can be moved, lost, or altered can compromise the entire investigation.

What is the primary purpose of the sea trial component in a pre-purchase marine survey?

Answer: To evaluate machinery and systems under operational conditions

A sea trial allows the surveyor to evaluate engines, transmissions, steering, navigation equipment, and other systems under actual operating loads and conditions.

Which of the following would be inspected by a Hull and Machinery Surveyor during a survey?

Answer: Condition of hull plating and framing

During a Hull and Machinery survey, the surveyor meticulously inspects the structural components of the vessel, with the condition of hull plating and framing being a critical focus. These elements are fundamental to the vessel's structural integrity and seaworthiness. The surveyor looks for signs of corrosion, damage, fatigue, or deformation that could compromise the vessel's safety and operational capability.

What does 'average' mean in the context of marine cargo insurance?

Answer: A partial loss of or damage to the insured cargo or vessel

In marine insurance terminology, 'average' refers to a partial loss, distinguishing between 'particular average' (affecting one party) and 'general average' (shared loss).

A surveyor notices that a commercial vessel's fire hoses are stored in cabinets that are painted shut. What regulation does this violate?

Answer: 46 CFR requirements that fire-fighting equipment must be readily accessible for immediate use

46 CFR requires that fire hoses and fire-fighting equipment be readily accessible and immediately deployable in an emergency.

What is the primary purpose of a Stability Letter issued for a commercial vessel?

Answer: To certify that the vessel meets minimum stability criteria for its intended service

A Stability Letter certifies that a vessel has been assessed and meets stability standards, specifying loading limits and operational restrictions.

A cargo of copper concentrate is found to be liquefied in the hold during transit. Which pre-shipment test should have prevented this situation?

Answer: Flow Moisture Point (FMP) test to determine the Transportable Moisture Limit (TML)

The Flow Moisture Point test establishes the TML; concentrates with moisture content above the TML are prone to liquefaction and cargo shift, a serious safety hazard.

Which test is used in the field to detect moisture content in a fiberglass hull laminate without drilling?

Answer: Capacitance-type moisture meter

A capacitance-type moisture meter measures the dielectric constant of the laminate, which changes with moisture content, providing non-destructive readings.

When conducting an engine survey, a surveyor performs a compression test on a gasoline inboard engine. What would an uneven reading between cylinders most likely indicate?

Answer: Worn piston rings, a leaking valve, or a blown head gasket

Low or uneven cylinder compression typically points to worn piston rings, a leaking intake or exhaust valve, or a failed head gasket allowing combustion gases to escape.

SAMS members are prohibited from advertising their services using which of the following approaches?

Answer: Guaranteeing specific survey outcomes or appraisal values in advance

Guaranteeing outcomes before a survey is performed misrepresents professional capabilities and violates SAMS advertising ethics.

Which coring material is most resistant to moisture absorption in a sandwich-construction fiberglass hull?

Answer: Cross-linked PVC foam

Cross-linked PVC foam has a closed-cell structure that resists moisture absorption better than balsa or plywood core materials.

Under SAMS ethical standards, when must a surveyor update a previously issued survey report?

Answer: When the surveyor discovers that the original report contained a material error

SAMS requires surveyors to correct material errors in previously issued reports to ensure that professional records accurately reflect findings.

In preparing a damage survey report for litigation support, the surveyor must ensure the report:

Answer: Presents objective findings, methodology, and conclusions that can withstand cross-examination

Expert witnesses and litigation surveyors must provide objective, defensible findings; advocacy that omits unfavorable facts undermines credibility and ethics.

Which statement best describes SAMS's position on a member simultaneously performing appraisals and offering brokerage services on the same vessel?

Answer: It creates an inherent conflict of interest that compromises appraisal objectivity

Combining appraisal and brokerage roles on the same vessel creates a direct financial conflict of interest that undermines the independence required of SAMS members.

A marine surveyor finds bare copper conductors used throughout a vessel's bilge wiring. This is a concern primarily because:

Answer: Bare copper corrodes rapidly in the marine environment and may cause high-resistance connections

Bare copper in the bilge environment oxidizes and corrodes, creating high-resistance connections that can cause overheating and fire.

Which aluminum alloy series is most commonly used for marine hull plating due to its superior saltwater corrosion resistance?

Answer: 5000 series (magnesium alloy)

The 5000-series aluminum alloys (e.g., 5083, 5086) are industry standard for marine hull plating because their magnesium content provides excellent seawater corrosion resistance.