Free Tanker Familiarization Emergency Procedures Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A high-pressure alarm sounds from the cargo pump room's fixed gas detection system, indicating a significant hydrocarbon leak. What is the most critical initial action for the watch officer to take?
- Send an assistant to the pump room to visually confirm the leak.
- Trip the emergency stop for all cargo pumps and shut down relevant valves. (Correct answer)
- Immediately activate the general alarm and muster the crew.
- Start the pump room's ventilation system at maximum speed.
Correct answer: Trip the emergency stop for all cargo pumps and shut down relevant valves.
The absolute first priority in a pump room leak is to stop the flow of cargo to prevent the situation from worsening and limit the amount of flammable vapor released. Activating alarms and mustering is a concurrent or immediate next step, but stopping the pumps is the most critical initial action to mitigate the hazard.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of the Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan (SMPEP) for a tanker carrying noxious liquid substances?
- To provide detailed instructions for routine tank cleaning operations.
- To list the contact information for the ship's charterers and owners.
- To provide procedures for the crew to follow in the event of a cargo spill. (Correct answer)
- To document the ship's inert gas system operational parameters.
Correct answer: To provide procedures for the crew to follow in the event of a cargo spill.
The SMPEP, as required by MARPOL Annex II, is the master document outlining the ship's procedures, reporting requirements, and contacts to be used in the event of an actual or potential pollution incident involving noxious liquid substances.
Question 3: In the event of a person being overcome by toxic vapors in an enclosed space, which of the following actions is a critical part of the emergency rescue procedure?
- The rescue team must don Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) before entering. (Correct answer)
- Immediately enter the space to pull the victim out as quickly as possible.
- Open all hatches to ventilate the space before attempting entry.
- Lower a fire hose into the space to disperse the vapors with water spray.
Correct answer: The rescue team must don Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) before entering.
Enclosed space rescue procedures mandate that the rescue team must never enter an unsafe atmosphere without proper personal protective equipment, primarily SCBA, to ensure their own safety before they can attempt to rescue the casualty. Entering without SCBA is likely to create more victims.
Question 4: While a tanker is transferring cargo alongside a terminal, the emergency shutdown (ESD) link is activated. What is the immediate consequence for the tanker's cargo system?
- The ship's main engine automatically shuts down.
- All mooring lines are automatically released to allow for a quick departure.
- The ship's inert gas generator starts at maximum capacity.
- Cargo transfer pumps stop and manifold valves close automatically. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Cargo transfer pumps stop and manifold valves close automatically.
The ESD system is designed to rapidly and safely stop the cargo transfer in an emergency. Activating the link, either from the ship or shore, will trip the cargo pumps and close the relevant manifold valves to isolate the ship and shore systems and stop the flow of product in a controlled manner.
Question 5: What is the main function of the fixed deck foam system on an oil tanker?
- To clean the deck after a minor cargo spill.
- To suppress vapors by creating a foam blanket over a liquid pool fire on deck. (Correct answer)
- To cool the superstructure during a fire in the accommodation block.
- To inert the cargo tanks prior to loading operations.
Correct answer: To suppress vapors by creating a foam blanket over a liquid pool fire on deck.
The deck foam system is a large-scale firefighting installation required by SOLAS. Its purpose is to combat major fires on the cargo deck by delivering a foam solution that spreads across the surface of the burning liquid, creating a blanket that cools the fuel and cuts off the oxygen supply, thereby extinguishing the fire and suppressing vapor release.
Question 6: Which of the following is a critical immediate action following a collision that has caused a breach in a cargo tank below the waterline?
- Immediately commence discharging the damaged tank to a shore facility.
- Fill the adjacent ballast tanks to counteract the list.
- Activate the general alarm, muster the crew, and assess the damage and stability. (Correct answer)
- Request immediate towage to the nearest port for repairs.
Correct answer: Activate the general alarm, muster the crew, and assess the damage and stability.
In any major incident like a collision, the master's immediate priorities are the safety of the crew and the ship. This involves sounding the alarm, mustering personnel, and conducting a rapid but thorough assessment of the ship's structural integrity, stability, and the extent of pollution before any corrective action can be safely taken.
