STCW Seafarer Safety & Emergency Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a 'MAYDAY' distress call is received on VHF Channel 16, what is the immediate obligation of the vessel receiving the call?
- Switch to a working channel and continue normal operations
- Acknowledge the call and render assistance if possible (Correct answer)
- Relay the message to the Coast Guard only and stand by
- Maintain radio silence to avoid interfering with rescue coordination
Correct answer: Acknowledge the call and render assistance if possible
Under SOLAS and international law, all vessels receiving a MAYDAY must acknowledge and provide assistance if able without serious danger to their own vessel or crew.
Question 2: What does the term 'muster' refer to in shipboard emergency procedures?
- The inspection of lifesaving appliances by the chief officer
- The assembly of all crew and passengers at designated stations (Correct answer)
- The process of launching lifeboats during an emergency
- The inventory count of emergency equipment
Correct answer: The assembly of all crew and passengers at designated stations
Mustering refers to assembling crew and passengers at their designated muster stations as directed by the ship's muster list.
Question 3: Under STCW, how often must abandon ship drills be conducted on passenger ships?
- Once per month
- Once per week (Correct answer)
- Once every two weeks
- Once per voyage
Correct answer: Once per week
SOLAS requires abandon ship drills on passenger ships to be conducted weekly, ensuring crew proficiency.
Question 4: What is the correct action if a crew member discovers a fire in a cargo hold?
- Open the hold to fight the fire with portable extinguishers
- Sound the alarm, report to the bridge, and close all openings to the hold (Correct answer)
- Immediately flood the hold with water from a fire hose
- Wait to confirm the fire before alerting others to avoid a false alarm
Correct answer: Sound the alarm, report to the bridge, and close all openings to the hold
Sounding the alarm and closing openings to limit oxygen supply are the immediate priorities; fighting a hold fire alone is extremely dangerous.
Question 5: What information must be included in a distress message sent via DSC (Digital Selective Calling)?
- Ship's name, nature of distress, and cargo manifest
- MMSI number, nature of distress, and position (Correct answer)
- Port of departure, destination, and number of persons on board
- Ship's flag state, owner contact, and insurance details
Correct answer: MMSI number, nature of distress, and position
A DSC distress alert automatically includes the MMSI, and operators must follow up with voice details including nature of distress and position.
Question 6: Which type of fire extinguisher is most appropriate for fighting a Class B fire involving flammable liquids?
- Water extinguisher
- CO2 or dry chemical extinguisher (Correct answer)
- Wet chemical extinguisher
- Sand bucket only
Correct answer: CO2 or dry chemical extinguisher
CO2 and dry chemical extinguishers are effective on Class B fires involving flammable liquids, whereas water can spread the fire.
Question 7: What is the purpose of the 'Search and Rescue Transponder' (SART) carried on lifeboats?
- To communicate voice messages with rescue vessels
- To emit a radar signal that helps rescuers locate the survival craft (Correct answer)
- To automatically broadcast the ship's last known position on VHF
- To activate the ship's EPIRB remotely
Correct answer: To emit a radar signal that helps rescuers locate the survival craft
A SART responds to 9 GHz radar pulses from search aircraft or ships, producing a distinctive pattern that pinpoints the lifeboat's location.
STCW Seafarer Safety & Emergency Procedures 2
When a 'MAYDAY' distress call is received on VHF Channel 16, what is the immediate obligation of the vessel receiving the call?