SAMS Safety Systems and Equipment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under SOLAS regulations, what is the minimum number of independent bilge pumps required on a cargo ship?
- One portable pump
- Two power-driven bilge pumps (Correct answer)
- Three bilge pumps of any type
- One fixed and one portable pump
Correct answer: Two power-driven bilge pumps
SOLAS requires at least two power-driven bilge pumps connected to the bilge main on cargo ships.
Question 2: A Type I PFD is designed primarily for use in which situation?
- Calm inland waters with nearby rescue
- Rough or remote waters where rescue may be delayed (Correct answer)
- Racing and high-speed boating
- Shallow water swimming near a dock
Correct answer: Rough or remote waters where rescue may be delayed
Type I PFDs provide the most buoyancy and are designed for offshore, rough, or remote waters where rescue may be slow.
Question 3: When inspecting an inflatable life raft, a surveyor finds the hydrostatic release unit (HRU) has exceeded its service date. What is the correct action?
- Note it in the report but no immediate action needed
- Replace the HRU before the vessel operates (Correct answer)
- Test the HRU manually to confirm function
- Increase inspection frequency to quarterly
Correct answer: Replace the HRU before the vessel operates
An expired HRU must be replaced before the vessel operates, as it is a critical safety device that auto-releases the raft if the vessel sinks.
Question 4: Which federal regulation governs the carriage of visual distress signals (VDS) on recreational vessels on coastal waters?
- 46 CFR Part 25
- 33 CFR Part 175 (Correct answer)
- 46 CFR Part 160
- 33 CFR Part 183
Correct answer: 33 CFR Part 175
33 CFR Part 175 establishes equipment requirements for recreational vessels, including visual distress signals on coastal and offshore waters.
Question 5: A surveyor observes that a vessel's fire extinguisher gauge needle is in the green zone but the inspection tag is 4 years old. What should the surveyor note?
- The extinguisher is serviceable since the gauge reads correctly
- The extinguisher requires annual inspection and the 4-year gap is a deficiency (Correct answer)
- Tags are optional on vessels under 65 feet
- The extinguisher should be replaced immediately regardless of gauge
Correct answer: The extinguisher requires annual inspection and the 4-year gap is a deficiency
NFPA 10 and USCG regulations require annual inspection of portable fire extinguishers; a 4-year gap without inspection is a deficiency.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a sea cock (seacock) in a vessel's through-hull fitting?
- To regulate engine cooling water flow rate
- To allow isolation of the hull opening to prevent flooding (Correct answer)
- To provide a connection point for the bilge pump hose
- To reduce drag by streamlining the through-hull opening
Correct answer: To allow isolation of the hull opening to prevent flooding
A seacock allows the crew to quickly shut off a through-hull fitting to prevent flooding if the connected system fails or hose breaks.
Question 7: According to ABYC standards, double-clamping of hose connections below the waterline is required when the hose inside diameter exceeds what measurement?
- 1/2 inch
- 1 inch (Correct answer)
- 1-1/2 inches
- 2 inches
Correct answer: 1 inch
ABYC H-27 requires double hose clamps on all hose connections below the waterline when the hose ID exceeds 1 inch.
SAMS Safety Systems and Equipment 2
Under SOLAS regulations, what is the minimum number of independent bilge pumps required on a cargo ship?