STCW Maritime Safety 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When abandoning ship, what is the correct order of priority for survival craft?
- Liferafts first, then lifeboats
- Lifeboats first, then liferafts (Correct answer)
- Use whichever is nearest
- Deploy all simultaneously
Correct answer: Lifeboats first, then liferafts
Lifeboats are boarded first because they offer better protection and survival conditions; liferafts are used if lifeboats are unavailable or damaged.
Question 2: Under STCW, a Basic Safety Training certificate must be renewed every:
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 5 years (Correct answer)
- It never expires
Correct answer: 5 years
STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) certificates are valid for 5 years and must be renewed through refresher training.
Question 3: Which extinguishing agent is most appropriate for an electrical fire aboard ship?
- Water
- Foam
- CO2 (Correct answer)
- Dry sand
Correct answer: CO2
CO2 is the preferred agent for electrical fires because it is non-conductive and leaves no residue that damages equipment.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a 'deadman' alarm system on a vessel?
- Detect hull flooding
- Alert if a watchkeeper becomes incapacitated (Correct answer)
- Monitor engine room temperatures
- Activate the anchor windlass
Correct answer: Alert if a watchkeeper becomes incapacitated
A deadman (or watchman) alarm requires the watchkeeper to respond at regular intervals; failure to respond triggers a bridge alarm indicating possible incapacitation.
Question 5: A distress flare must be held at arm's length and pointed in which direction when ignited?
- Directly overhead
- Downwind and slightly downward (Correct answer)
- Into the wind
- Perpendicular to the vessel
Correct answer: Downwind and slightly downward
Handheld flares should be held downwind and tilted slightly downward to prevent burning debris from falling on the user or survival craft.
Question 6: The STCW Manila Amendments of 2010 introduced requirements for seafarers related to:
- Cargo securing only
- Medical fitness standards only
- Security duties, leadership, and updated training standards (Correct answer)
- Engine room automation
Correct answer: Security duties, leadership, and updated training standards
The 2010 Manila Amendments updated STCW to include enhanced security training, leadership and management competencies, and new standards for watch officers.
Question 7: Which personal life-saving appliance provides the most thermal protection in cold water?
- Lifejacket
- Lifebuoy
- Immersion suit (Correct answer)
- Work vest
Correct answer: Immersion suit
An immersion (survival) suit provides thermal insulation to significantly delay hypothermia, far exceeding the protection of a standard lifejacket.
STCW Maritime Safety 3
When abandoning ship, what is the correct order of priority for survival craft?