Ship Driver General Ship Knowledge 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the term for the right-hand side of a vessel when facing forward?
- Port
- Starboard (Correct answer)
- Stern
- Bow
Correct answer: Starboard
Starboard is the right-hand side of a vessel when looking toward the bow.
Question 2: What does the term 'draft' refer to on a ship?
- The vertical distance from the waterline to the keel (Correct answer)
- The total length of the hull
- The width at the widest point
- The height of the mast
Correct answer: The vertical distance from the waterline to the keel
Draft is the depth of the vessel below the waterline, measured to the bottom of the keel.
Question 3: Which part of a ship is the 'bow'?
- The rear
- The front (Correct answer)
- The bottom
- The left side
Correct answer: The front
The bow is the forward-most part of a ship's hull.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a ship's keel?
- To store fuel
- To provide structural backbone and stability (Correct answer)
- To anchor the vessel
- To house the engine
Correct answer: To provide structural backbone and stability
The keel runs along the bottom centerline and provides the main structural strength and stability.
Question 5: What does 'beam' measure on a vessel?
- The length
- The width at its widest point (Correct answer)
- The depth below water
- The freeboard
Correct answer: The width at its widest point
Beam is the maximum width of a vessel.
Question 6: What is 'freeboard'?
- The distance from the waterline to the main deck (Correct answer)
- The space below the keel
- The cargo hold area
- The bridge height
Correct answer: The distance from the waterline to the main deck
Freeboard is the vertical distance from the waterline to the upper edge of the deck.
Question 7: What color navigation light is shown on the port side of a vessel?
- Green
- Red (Correct answer)
- White
- Yellow
Correct answer: Red
The port (left) side displays a red navigation light at night.
Ship Driver General Ship Knowledge 2
What is the term for the right-hand side of a vessel when facing forward?