STCW Maritime Safety 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a vessel's Stability Booklet?
- List crew assignments
- Provide the master with data to ensure the vessel operates within safe stability limits (Correct answer)
- Record fuel consumption
- Document cargo ownership
Correct answer: Provide the master with data to ensure the vessel operates within safe stability limits
The Stability Booklet provides the master with loading conditions, stability curves, and limiting criteria to maintain safe ship stability in all conditions.
Question 2: Which regulation requires ships to carry a Safety Management System (SMS)?
- MARPOL Annex I
- ISM Code (SOLAS Chapter IX) (Correct answer)
- STCW Chapter VI
- Load Line Convention
Correct answer: ISM Code (SOLAS Chapter IX)
The International Safety Management (ISM) Code, implemented through SOLAS Chapter IX, requires all applicable vessels to have a documented Safety Management System.
Question 3: If a crew member is found unresponsive on deck, what is the correct initial response per STCW/maritime first aid?
- Move them immediately to a bunk
- Check for responsiveness and call for help before beginning assessment (Correct answer)
- Administer water
- Wait for a medical officer
Correct answer: Check for responsiveness and call for help before beginning assessment
The first step is to check responsiveness and immediately call for help, then begin a primary survey (ABC — airway, breathing, circulation).
Question 4: Under STCW, the 'watch' system requires that no watchkeeper should work more than how many hours in any 7-day period?
- 56 hours
- 70 hours
- 77 hours
- 84 hours (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 84 hours
STCW sets a maximum of 84 hours of work in any 7-day period to manage cumulative fatigue for watchkeepers.
Question 5: A rescue boat must be capable of being launched within what time frame from the time the order to abandon ship is given?
- 1 minute
- 3 minutes
- 5 minutes (Correct answer)
- 10 minutes
Correct answer: 5 minutes
SOLAS requires rescue boats to be capable of being launched in not more than 5 minutes under emergency conditions.
Question 6: What is the correct meaning of the International Code of Signals flag 'O' (Oscar)?
- My vessel is stopped and making no way
- Man overboard (Correct answer)
- I require a pilot
- I am carrying dangerous cargo
Correct answer: Man overboard
The 'O' (Oscar) flag in the International Code of Signals means 'Man overboard' and is flown to alert other vessels to the emergency.
Question 7: What minimum number of fire drills must be conducted on a passenger vessel each month under SOLAS?
- One drill every two months (Correct answer)
- One drill per month
- Two drills per month
- One drill per week
Correct answer: One drill every two months
SOLAS requires that each crew member participate in at least one fire drill and one abandon ship drill every month on passenger vessels.
STCW Maritime Safety 5
What is the purpose of a vessel's Stability Booklet?