SVOP Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the SVOP exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 SVOP Exam Format at a Glance
📚 SVOP Topics to Study (33)
✍️ Sample SVOP Questions & Answers
1. What is the safest approach angle when coming alongside a dock in calm conditions?
A 30-degree approach lets you control speed and pivot the stern in at the last moment with a burst of reverse or a spring line. Steeper angles risk a broadside collision; too shallow reduces control.
2. Which of the following is NOT typically found in the title block or marginal notes of a Canadian nautical chart?
A nautical chart's title block and marginal notes contain essential static information like the scale, projection, units for depths and heights, and the reference datum. Real-time information, such as live vessel traffic, is dynamic and obtained from systems like AIS (Automatic Identification System), not printed on the chart itself.
3. What factors affect a vessel's ability to stop quickly in an emergency, and why is this important for passenger safety?
Stopping distance depends on speed (increases as the square of speed), displacement (heavier vessel = more momentum), hull form (planing hulls lose speed faster than displacement hulls), effectiveness of reverse thrust (astern power), and sea state (head sea assists stopping).
4. What steps should a commercial vessel operator take when encountering a medical emergency aboard?
Medical emergencies: assess ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation), administer first aid, contact MCTS on Ch 16 to request MEDICO (medical advice by radio), and proceed to the nearest appropriate medical facility or rendezvous with emergency services.
5. Under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), which of the following is the defining characteristic of an overtaking situation?
Rule 13(b) of the COLREGs defines a vessel as overtaking when it is 'coming up with another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft her beam'. This means the overtaking vessel is in a sector where, at night, it would only see the sternlight of the vessel ahead, but neither of its sidelights.
6. What is the best action to take if you see a man overboard?
The immediate and most crucial action when a person falls overboard is to shout "Man overboard!" loudly and clearly to alert everyone on board. Simultaneously, you must keep the person in sight at all times, pointing at them if necessary, to ensure they don't disappear from view while the vessel is maneuvered for recovery. This initial response is critical for a successful rescue.