Tanker Familiarization Emergency Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a fire breaks out in the pump room of a tanker, what is the FIRST action the officer in charge should take?
- Activate the fixed fire-fighting system immediately
- Sound the general alarm and muster the crew (Correct answer)
- Open pump room ventilation to clear smoke
- Contact the engine room to shut down pumps remotely
Correct answer: Sound the general alarm and muster the crew
Sounding the general alarm and mustering the crew is the first priority so all personnel are accounted for and emergency teams are mobilized.
Question 2: Which extinguishing agent is most effective and appropriate for a Class B fire in a tanker's cargo area?
- Water jet
- CO2 gas
- Dry chemical powder
- Foam (AFFF or FFFP) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Foam (AFFF or FFFP)
Foam smothers flammable liquid fires by cutting off oxygen and sealing the fuel surface, making it the preferred agent for cargo area fires.
Question 3: A tanker is taking on water in a cargo hold. After sealing the compartment, which action helps determine the rate of flooding?
- Sounding the hold at regular intervals (Correct answer)
- Checking the draft marks every hour
- Increasing ballast to stabilize trim
- Activating the bilge alarm system
Correct answer: Sounding the hold at regular intervals
Taking regular soundings of the flooding compartment gives a direct measurement of how quickly water is rising, allowing damage control to prioritize.
Question 4: During a cargo overflow emergency, after stopping the cargo pump, what is the NEXT immediate priority?
- Notify the port authority
- Close all relevant cargo valves (Correct answer)
- Record the spill volume in the log
- Deploy containment boom around the vessel
Correct answer: Close all relevant cargo valves
Closing all relevant cargo valves stops further product flow and limits the spill, which is the most critical immediate action after stopping the pump.
Question 5: A crew member is overcome by hydrocarbon vapors in a cargo void space. What must the rescuer do BEFORE entering?
- Ventilate the space for at least 10 minutes
- Don a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) (Correct answer)
- Test the atmosphere with a personal gas detector only
- Remove the victim using a rope from outside the entry point
Correct answer: Don a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
A rescuer must don SCBA before entering any atmosphere that may be oxygen-deficient or contain toxic/flammable vapors to avoid becoming a second casualty.
Question 6: What does 'ship's contingency plan' (also called SOPEP or SMPEP) primarily address?
- Fire and explosion procedures
- Oil and noxious liquid substance pollution emergencies (Correct answer)
- Crew medical emergency responses
- Search and rescue coordination
Correct answer: Oil and noxious liquid substance pollution emergencies
The Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP) / SMPEP outlines procedures for responding to pollution incidents involving oil or noxious liquid substances.
Question 7: During a grounding emergency on a tanker, why is it critical to sound all tanks and void spaces immediately?
- To confirm ballast quantities for port authorities
- To detect flooding or cargo ingress into damaged compartments (Correct answer)
- To calculate remaining cargo for lightering operations
- To verify structural integrity before calling salvors
Correct answer: To detect flooding or cargo ingress into damaged compartments
Sounding all tanks and void spaces after grounding quickly reveals which compartments are flooding or contaminated, guiding immediate damage control priorities.
Tanker Familiarization Emergency Procedures 2
When a fire breaks out in the pump room of a tanker, what is the FIRST action the officer in charge should take?