Question and Answers

In event of an oil spill , List of National Contact points and Authorities as stated in your SOPEP manual shall always be contacted. In case the pollution happens in the US waters... the QI ( Qualified Individual ) must be contacted.

Oil tankers have a lesser freeboard than general cargo ships of the same LBP. They are considered to be safer ships for following reasons- 1. They have much smaller openings on the main deck. 2. They have greater subdivision 3. The cargo of oil has generally more buoyancy than the bulk cargo or general cargo 4. They have more pumps to quickly control the water ones in case of an bilging or flooding incident 5. Cargo oil has a permeability off about 5% compared to grain cargo/bulk cargo which has a permeability of about 50-60% 6. Oil tankers have greater (more)

The best and perhaps the only way to reduce the squat is to reduce the vessel’s speed.

The biggest threats here are pollution and fire. 1. Report / Raise the alarm 2.Activate the Emergency shut down devices/ trips 3. Inform loading/receiving trial of the same and ask them to stop pumping in case you are loading cargo 4. Raise the oil containment procedures 5. Follow emergency procedures as per the SOPEP 6. Fire fighting equipment shall be rigged and fire fighting team should be standby 7. Wilden pumps shall be used in order to transfer the oil to the slop tanks 8. In case oil goes over board national Contact points as per the SOPEP shall be (more)

Uprights are used to secure the timber cargo when loaded at height so that it does not topple and go overboard..........

The variation in atmospheric pressure reading gives an early indication of the weather that may be encountered depending upon the fact that whether the pressure is rising or falling. For eg rapidly falling pressure reading may indicate formation of low pressure area nearby the vessel and that tough weather is likely to be experienced. Hence, atmospheric pressure readings are quite useful in predicting the weather pattern vessel may encounter.

The Tidal Diamonds are the symbols marked usually on British Admiralty Charts that indicates the direction and speed of the Tidal Streams at particular location. The Tidal streams are given in the form of the table and tidal diamonds are marked in the first row. The Tidal diamonds are marked by purple color rhombus and contains Alphabetical letter starting from A, B, C and so on... The Tidal diamonds accompanies the position (mentioned in Latitude and Longitude) next to it and refers to the position on the chart on which the calculated tidal stream is expected.

Apparent trim is the value of the trim obtained after subtracting the VISUAL aft draft from the VISUAL forward draft. True trim is the value of the trim obtained after subtracting the CORRECTED AFT draft from the CORRECTED forward draft. The CORRECTED DRAFTS are the drafts at perpendiculars.

The Moisture Content of the cargo determines whether the cargo would develop flow state or not. The higher the Moisture content, higher the chances that the Cargo will shift (due to development of flow state). The Moisture content at which the Cargo develops Flow State is called the Flow Moisture Point (FMP). The value of Moisture Content at which the cargo can be safely transported is called Transportable Moisture Limit or TML. The TML is usually 90% of the FMP.

Lightening holes are used to access the tank in ford/aft/athwartship direction. They also reduce the overall weight of the plates and gives strength to the overall design through the grid structure

A Document of Compliance issued by the Flag State (or RO on behalf of the Flag State) is valid for a maximum of 5 years and certifies: • that the construction and equipment of the ship was found to comply with the provisions of regulation II-2/54 of SOLAS 74, as amended, and • that the ship is suitable for the carriage of those classes of dangerous goods as specified in the appended Schedules to the certificate, subject to any provisions of the IMDG Code and the Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes (BC Code) for the individual substances (more)

NOx compliance depends upon the design requirements of engines onboard. Compliance is insured by EIAPP ( Engine international air pollution prevention certificate) issued by the manufacturer of the engine. IAPP( international air pollution prevention certificate) issued by class. EIAPP is issued by the manufacturer of the Engines stating that the engine comply with the NOx requirements. IAPP is issued by the Class after physical verification of the compliance post fitting of engines onboard. The procedure to verify compliance throughout the ships life is stated in NOx technical file maintained onboard which tells you what all parameters you are suppose to (more)

The Code of Safe Practice for Ships Carrying Timber Deck Cargoes, 2011 (2011 TDC Code) is non-mandatory and applies to all ships of 24 m or more in length carrying a TIMBER DECK CARGO. The Code aims to ensure that stowage and cargo securing arrangements for timber deck cargoes enable a safe yet rational securing of the cargo so that it is satisfactorily prevented from shifting. The 2011 TDC Code also includes alternative design principles, taking into account the acceleration forces cargo may be subjected to throughout the voyage. More specifically, the 2011 TDC Code provides: Practices for safe transportation (more)

Loading precautions for wheat - 1. Check whether regularly and be ready to close holds in case of any precipitation. 2. Check that The loading should always be carry out evenly. 3.All empty spaces shall be carefully filled by the loading hopper/spout/grab, to maximise the usage of grain capacity and reduce scope of shifting 4. No naked lights on deck/ no smoking 5. Loading grain gives rise to dust so ask the personnel to use dust masks/ face shield etc. 6. Visual checks shall be done in order to ensure that no ‘rotten’ cargo is being loaded. So visually verify (more)

The FPD or Fall preventer device has two ends usually fitted D-Shackle arrangement for fixing manually. One end is fixed to the Floating Block of the Lifeboat falls and the other end is fixed to the Eye on the Boat. The attached picture shows the arrangement.

Rule 13 (Overtaking) ALWAYS supersedes Rule 18 (Responsibility between Vessels). So, in this case it is the Responsibility of the Overtaking vessel (NUC Vessel) in this case to keep clear of you. Own vessel has to give ”wake up signal” of five short blasts on the ship’s whistle. If no action is taken by other vessel, give wide alteration to Port and take a round turn after passing by the stern of the NUC vessel.

The boat hook is Mainly used for docking/undocking of boat. Additionally, it may be used to retrieve fallen objects from the sea.