Question and Answers

The advantages of the Mediterranean Moor are: • That more vessels can berth with restricted quay space. • Cargo ships can work both port and starboard sides into barges. • Tanker vessels can load/discharge through stern manifolds. • Roll on–Roll off (Ro-Ro) vessels can operate stern ramps. The disadvantages are: • The vessel is exposed from the shore. • Cargo ships are denied the use of shore side cranes. • Loading and discharge must take place into barges. • A boat is required to go ashore.

The rescue boat has two functions during an abandonment: (a) Recover persons from the water, preferably in a horizontal manner. (b) Marshall survival craft upwind and clear of toxics or the dangers associated with capsize of the parent vessel.

Risk assessment is a detailed and careful assessment of potential harmful factors that are contained within the nature of an operation. It is expected to classify the work and identify high, low and tolerable risk elements to personnel within the working environment. It is meant to provide an action plan which would permit ongoing operations to within limits of a tolerable risk. Check lists are employed to assess the Initial Risk and subsequent detailed parameters effecting the overall final assessment, prior to commencement of the work.

A boatswains chair to a gantline is connected via double sheet bend only.

Union Plates are employed on derricks which operate with a single span ‘topping lift’ as opposed to a ‘span tackle’, topping lift. The downhaul of the single span topping lift is shackled to the apex of the Union Plate, while the bull wire, and chain preventer are secured to the base of the plate. They are also employed to secure the runners and hook arrangement in a union purchase rig, where a triple swivel hook is not used.

Class I and II, explosive goods require a specially constructed magazine stowage.

No, passenger vessels are not allowed to carry Class I (explosives) dangerous goods.

(a) Low water rate/pressure in the scrubber. (b) High water level rate inside the scrubber. (c) High gas temperature. (d) Failure of inert gas blower. (e) High oxygen. (f) Power supply failure on automatic control. (g) Low water level in the deck water seal. (h) Low gas pressure. (i) High gas pressure.

Dunnage is wood plank boards laid under cargoes to provide ventilation and in some cases assist drainage of moisture from cargoes. Some cargoes require ‘double dunnage’. All dunnage must be clean and free of oil or grease contamination as this could spoil cargo quality. Dunnage can be used as a separation mode between cargo parcels but its prime function is to separate cargo from the steel decks and avoid cargo sweat.

The fouled anchor is the description given to when the anchor itself is fouled by some object like a cast off fishing wire, or even by its own cable turned around the fluke. A fouled hawse occurs when the vessel has moored with two anchors and ship’s anchor cables have become entwined, usually caused by a change in the wind direction, causing the vessel to swing in opposition to the lay of cables.

Short stay is a term used to express a short amount of visible cable at a steep angle from the hawse pipe to the water surface. Whereas long stay is a term which describes where the cable is in a more horizontal direction towards being parallel to the surface of the water. The cable is said to ‘grow’ from a shorter stay to a long stay aspect.

By watching the cable after applying the brake once the required scope has been played out. If the cable rises up, to long stay and then bows, to form a ‘catenary’, then rises again. This cable movement is an indication that the vessel is riding to her anchor not dragging her anchor. If the cable stays taught all the time it may be assumed that the anchor is dragging under the tension.

The ganger length is the term given to the few additional links found between the Anchor Crown ‘D’ Shackle and the first (1st) joining shackle. The ganger length may or may not have a swivel piece within it.

Good Holding Ground : Mud and clay Bad Holding Ground : Ooze, marsh, soft sand, rock, pebble.

Anchor Crown ‘D’ shackle, shank, arms, fluke, pea or bill, crown, tripping palms. The lower part of the anchor attached to the shank is termed the ‘head’ of the anchor.

Pump rooms on tankers are protected spaces and covered by a fixed fire extinguishing system, which is operated from outside of the compartment. (Usually a CO2 operation. Note: Pump rooms are treated as enclosed spaces.) After July 2002, under SOLAS II-2 Regulations 4, 5.10.3/4, cargo pump rooms were required to be fitted with gas detection/bilge alarm systems.

The emergency fire pump must be capable of delivering the required two jets of water to any part of the vessel and also be able to produce a pressure of 2.1 bar on a third additional hydrant.

I would check the condition of all the web straps that they are not worn and that they are secure about the body. Inspect the air content gauge and ensure that the bottle is full. When turning on the air valve I would listen for the ‘whistle’ alarm signal. When placing the mask over the face an even tension must be applied to the mask straps in order to create an airtight/smoke seal. This would be subsequently checked by shutting the air valve so that the wearer would experience the mask ‘crushing’ onto the face, so creating a partial vacuum. This denotes that the wearer is not drawing air from around the sealed mask, and is therefore providing an effective smoke seal. I would then open up the valve to allow the wearer to breath on demand. Finally, communication with the wearer and the control position would be checked to ensure a safe entry.

A fireman’s suit with boots and gloves; a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA); harness and safety line; a protective helmet; safety lamp; and a fireman’s hand axe with insulated handle.

Following treatment shall be provided to a hypothermic person - a). Remove any wet clothing from the person and replace by dry clothing if available. b). Place the person in a Thermal Protective Aid (TPA) if available. c). Huddle other people around the chilled person to generate body warmth. d). Ensure that the entrances to the survival craft are battened down in order to raise the internal temperature of the raft.

The casualty would experience discolouration of the skin, to a whiter pale shade. The lips could also turn bluish. When questioned the person may be incoherent. In acute hypothermia, loss of memory could be expected, pupil dilation and loss of consciousness could all follow.

Following steps shall be taken in order to beach the liferaft - a) Order all persons to secure their lifejackets, and cause the floor of the liferaft to be inflated. b) Carry out the operation in daylight onto a beach area which is rock free and without surf. c) Deploy the sea anchor and man the two paddles on approaching the shore line, attempting to fend off any rock obstructions.

To bring the lifeboat alongside the ship during launching, when the parent vessel has an adverse list.

Ship's pyrotechnics are valid for 3 years.

You should aim the rocket downwind – because the wind acts on the stretched line, not on the small rocket. This causes the line to ‘bow outward’ and allows the rocket to turn in towards the target area.