Tanker Familiarization Safety and Emergency Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a cargo spill on a tanker, what is the FIRST action a crew member should take?
- Begin cleanup immediately using available materials
- Alert the officer on watch and sound the alarm (Correct answer)
- Don personal protective equipment before approaching
- Check the cargo manifest for the spilled substance
Correct answer: Alert the officer on watch and sound the alarm
Alerting the officer on watch and sounding the alarm ensures the emergency response team is mobilized before any individual action is taken.
Question 2: What does SOLAS Chapter II-2 primarily regulate on tankers?
- Crew certification requirements
- Fire protection, detection, and extinction (Correct answer)
- Cargo loading and stability limits
- Navigation and collision avoidance
Correct answer: Fire protection, detection, and extinction
SOLAS Chapter II-2 specifically addresses fire protection, detection, and extinction systems aboard vessels including tankers.
Question 3: Which gas detection reading in a cargo tank requires the space to be classified as 'too rich to burn'?
- Below 1% LEL
- Between 1% and 50% LEL
- Above 100% LEL (Upper Explosive Limit) (Correct answer)
- Exactly at 50% LEL
Correct answer: Above 100% LEL (Upper Explosive Limit)
A reading above the Upper Explosive Limit (UEL/100% LEL) means the atmosphere is too rich in hydrocarbon vapors to support combustion.
Question 4: An SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) used during a tanker emergency should be checked for serviceability:
- Only when assigned to a new crew member
- Before every emergency drill and before entering any enclosed space (Correct answer)
- Once per month during scheduled maintenance
- After each use only
Correct answer: Before every emergency drill and before entering any enclosed space
SCBA must be inspected before drills and before any enclosed-space entry to ensure it functions correctly when lives depend on it.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of an Emergency Shutdown (ESD) system on a tanker?
- To automatically ballast the vessel in heavy weather
- To stop cargo transfer operations quickly in case of emergency (Correct answer)
- To shut down the main engine in port
- To isolate the crew accommodation from cargo fumes
Correct answer: To stop cargo transfer operations quickly in case of emergency
The ESD system rapidly halts cargo transfer to prevent spills, fires, or explosions when an emergency condition is detected.
Question 6: When mustering at an emergency station on a tanker, crew members should bring:
- Their personal valuables and documents
- Their immersion suit and lifejacket (Correct answer)
- Extra food and water rations
- The vessel's logbooks
Correct answer: Their immersion suit and lifejacket
Immersion suits and lifejackets are essential survival equipment that must be worn or carried when mustering for abandon-ship emergencies.
Question 7: Which type of fire extinguishing agent is most appropriate for a Class B (flammable liquid) fire in a pump room?
- Water jet
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) or dry chemical (Correct answer)
- Wet chemical (Class K)
- Sand only
Correct answer: Carbon dioxide (CO2) or dry chemical
CO2 and dry chemical agents smother Class B fires without spreading the burning liquid the way a water jet would.
Tanker Familiarization Safety and Emergency Procedures 2
During a cargo spill on a tanker, what is the FIRST action a crew member should take?