STCW Firefighting Techniques 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under STCW, who is responsible for ensuring that fire drills are conducted on passenger ships at least once a week?
- The chief engineer
- The safety officer
- The master (Correct answer)
- The officer of the watch
Correct answer: The master
The master is ultimately responsible for ensuring all required drills, including weekly passenger ship fire drills, are conducted per SOLAS requirements.
Question 2: A 'fire damper' in a ship's ventilation system is designed to:
- Increase airflow to ventilate smoke from a fire
- Automatically close to prevent fire and smoke spread through ductwork (Correct answer)
- Filter smoke particles from recirculated air
- Regulate temperature in accommodation spaces
Correct answer: Automatically close to prevent fire and smoke spread through ductwork
Fire dampers automatically close upon detection of heat or smoke, preventing fire and combustion gases from traveling through ventilation ducts to other compartments.
Question 3: What is the significance of a ship's 'A-class' fire division?
- It is constructed of steel and can withstand fire for 60 minutes without flame passage (Correct answer)
- It is made of non-combustible material requiring no fire rating
- It separates cargo holds from the main deck only
- It is a temporary barrier erected during firefighting operations
Correct answer: It is constructed of steel and can withstand fire for 60 minutes without flame passage
A-class divisions are steel structures that prevent flame and smoke passage and maintain structural integrity for at least 60 minutes under standard fire test conditions.
Question 4: During a firefighting operation, a crew member collapses inside a smoke-filled space. The FIRST priority of the rescue team is:
- Extinguish the fire before attempting rescue
- Don SCBA and enter with a lifeline to retrieve the casualty (Correct answer)
- Ventilate the space before entering
- Call for medical assistance and wait at the entrance
Correct answer: Don SCBA and enter with a lifeline to retrieve the casualty
A trained rescue team wearing SCBA and using a lifeline must enter immediately to retrieve the collapsed crew member, as every second counts in a smoke environment.
Question 5: The primary reason for maintaining fire hoses in a flaked (figure-eight) storage pattern rather than tightly coiled is to:
- Prevent UV degradation of the hose material
- Allow rapid, kink-free deployment under pressure (Correct answer)
- Reduce the hose storage footprint in lockers
- Enable quick visual inspection of the hose condition
Correct answer: Allow rapid, kink-free deployment under pressure
Flaked storage allows fire hoses to run out quickly without kinking or tangling when deployed rapidly under emergency conditions.
Question 6: Which extinguishing agent is most effective on a Class D (metal) fire involving magnesium?
- Water
- CO2
- Dry powder (standard ABC)
- Dry sand or specialized metal fire powder (e.g., Met-L-X) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Dry sand or specialized metal fire powder (e.g., Met-L-X)
Metal fires require specialized dry agents such as Met-L-X or dry sand; water and CO2 can react violently with burning metals like magnesium.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a 'fire control plan' that must be permanently exhibited on board ships per SOLAS?
- To show the evacuation routes for passengers and crew
- To provide a schematic of fire zones, detection systems, suppression systems, and firefighting equipment locations (Correct answer)
- To list the duties of each crew member during a fire
- To document past fire incidents and corrective actions taken
Correct answer: To provide a schematic of fire zones, detection systems, suppression systems, and firefighting equipment locations
The fire control plan provides a detailed schematic of the ship's fire safety systems so firefighters and port authorities can quickly locate equipment and understand fire zone boundaries.
STCW Firefighting Techniques 5
Under STCW, who is responsible for ensuring that fire drills are conducted on passenger ships at least once a week?