STCW Firefighting Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) cylinder pressure is typically considered the minimum safe working pressure before a firefighter must exit?
- 10 bar
- 25 bar (Correct answer)
- 50 bar
- 75 bar
Correct answer: 25 bar
Most shipboard SCBA protocols require exit when pressure drops to 25 bar (approximately 1/4 tank) to allow safe egress time.
Question 2: A 'backdraft' explosion occurs when:
- Foam is applied too quickly to a fuel fire
- Fresh oxygen is suddenly introduced into a smoldering, oxygen-depleted fire compartment (Correct answer)
- A CO2 system is activated in a wet environment
- Water contacts superheated metal surfaces
Correct answer: Fresh oxygen is suddenly introduced into a smoldering, oxygen-depleted fire compartment
Backdraft occurs when a compartment's fire has consumed available oxygen but unburned gases ignite explosively when fresh air enters.
Question 3: What is the correct procedure when a fire hose nozzle team encounters heavy smoke at a cabin doorway?
- Open the door quickly and advance immediately
- Stay low, feel the door for heat, crack it slowly while ready with the hose (Correct answer)
- Ventilate by opening all nearby portholes first
- Retreat and wait for the smoke to clear
Correct answer: Stay low, feel the door for heat, crack it slowly while ready with the hose
Feeling the door for heat and opening slowly prevents backdraft and allows the team to apply water before advancing.
Question 4: Foam concentrate is mixed with water to produce foam. A typical 3% AFFF concentrate means:
- 3 liters of foam per minute flow rate
- 3 parts concentrate to 97 parts water (Correct answer)
- 3% of the foam is air
- The foam lasts 3 minutes before breakdown
Correct answer: 3 parts concentrate to 97 parts water
3% AFFF means 3 parts concentrate mixed with 97 parts water to create the foam solution.
Question 5: Under STCW, what minimum firefighting training must an officer of the watch possess?
- Basic firefighting (proficiency in firefighting and fire prevention) (Correct answer)
- Advanced firefighting certificate
- Fire prevention awareness only
- Shipboard emergency response training
Correct answer: Basic firefighting (proficiency in firefighting and fire prevention)
STCW requires all seafarers to hold proficiency in basic firefighting, which includes fire prevention and firefighting fundamentals.
Question 6: What does the term 'smothering' mean in the context of fire extinguishment?
- Rapidly cooling the fuel below its flash point
- Eliminating the oxygen supply to the fire (Correct answer)
- Removing the fuel source from the fire
- Interrupting the chemical chain reaction
Correct answer: Eliminating the oxygen supply to the fire
Smothering extinguishes fire by cutting off its oxygen supply, starving it of the oxidizer it needs to continue burning.
Question 7: A fire is discovered in the paint locker. The FIRST action by the officer on watch should be:
- Activate the fixed extinguishing system immediately
- Sound the general alarm and notify the master (Correct answer)
- Apply a portable extinguisher and assess the situation
- Close all ventilation and begin evacuation
Correct answer: Sound the general alarm and notify the master
Sounding the general alarm and notifying the master ensures all crew are alerted and the organized fire response can begin immediately.
STCW Firefighting Techniques 3
Which SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) cylinder pressure is typically considered the minimum safe working pressure before a firefighter must exit?