National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners (Sample Examination) Page 1 of 11
Chose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice Questions. 1. In reference to accidental oil pollution, the most critical time during bunkering is when. o (A) hoses are being blown down (B) final topping off is occurring o (C) hoses are being disconnected o (D) you first start to receive fuel 2. Your tank vessel is loaded down to her marks, and you find that she has too much trim by the stern. Which of the following actions would reduce the excessive trim? (A) shift bunkers forward o (B) discharge cargo from the after tanks o (C) load more cargo forward o (D) add ballast forward 3. Where would be the most likely location for a liquid cargo fire to occur on a tanker? o (A) at the vent header o (B) in the midships house (C) in the pumproom o (D) at the main deck manifold 4. What is litmus paste is used to determine? o (A) innage o (B) the tank datum point (C) thievage o (D) ullage 5. What causes the most frequent incidents of pollution during tanker operations? o (A) collisions o (B) routine discharge of oil during ballasting and tank crude oil washing o (C) groundings (D) loading and discharging Page 2 of 11
6. Each pressure gage used in an oil transfer operation must be accurate to within what percent? o (A) 1 percent o (B) 3 percent o (C) 5 percent (D) 10 percent 7. What is the distance between the surface of the liquid and the tank top in a cargo tank called? o (A) innage o (B) thievage (C) ullage o (D) tankage 8. Which of the following would be classified as grade "C" petroleum product? (A) Reid vapor pressure of 5 psia, flash point of 70 F. o (B) Reid vapor pressure of 7 psia, flash point of 85 F. o (C) Reid vapor pressure of 14 psia, flash point of 60 F. o (D) Reid vapor pressure above 8 1/2 psia but less than 14 psia. 9. Which statement about the use of portable electric lights in petroleum product tanks is TRUE? (A) They must be explosion-proof, self-contained, battery-fed lamps. o (B) No portable electric equipment of any type is allowed. o (C) The fixture must be explosion-proof and the line must have a ground wire. o (D) They can be used only when the compartment is gas free. 10. Which of the following choices does not depict the tank inerting process on a tank vessel? o (A) the introduction of nitrogen gas into a tank with the objective of reducing the oxygen content to below 8% by volume o (B) the introduction of inert gas into a cargo tank during cargo discharge operations to replace the volume of discharged cargo (C) the introduction of oxygen into a gas free tank prior to entry o (D) the introduction of inert gas into a gas free tank with the objective of reducing the oxygen content to below 8% by volume Page 3 of 11
11. It would be prudent to perform which of the following actions prior to the commencement of bunkering? o (A) close the lids on the vents o (B) plug the vents (C) plug the scuppers o (D) plug the sounding pipes 12. What are the flammable limits for motor gasoline? (A) 1.4% to 7.6% mixture in air o (B) 0.9% to 5.9% mixture in air o (C) 2.5% to 12.8% mixture in air o (D) 5.3% to 7% mixture in air 13. The condition of asphyxia arises from which of the following? (A) an inadequate supply of oxygen o (B) too much oxygen o (C) sleep deprivation o (D) improper caloric intake 14. U.S. regulations state that a person may not transfer oil or hazardous materials to or from a vessel unless each person in charge has signed which of the following documents? o (A) machinery log o (B) Oil Record Book o (C) valve inspection record (D) Declaration of Inspection 15. Who must supervise functions aboard a tanker or tank barge such as connecting, disconnecting, and topping off? o (A) any certificated tankerman o (B) the master of the vessel o (C) the officer of the watch (D) the person designated as "person in charge" Page 4 of 11
16. Which statement is TRUE concerning combustible gas indicators? o (A) They will detect a lack of oxygen. o (B) One sample of air is adequate to test a tank. o (C) They are calibrated to read the percentage chance of explosion. (D) They do not work properly where there is a lack of oxygen. 17. When is it acceptable to use power-driven or manually-operated spark producing devices in the pumproom, where grades A, B, C, and D liquid cargoes are involved? o (A) when all cargo tanks are empty o (B) when the vessel is gas free o (C) when all cargo tanks have been inerted (D) when the compartment itself is gas free 18. Under which of the following conditions will the blowers of an inert gas generation system aboard a tanker remain operational? o (A) boiler combustion control indicates high oxygen level o (B) the cooling water supply to the scrubbers is lost (C) The tank atmosphere above 8% oxygen o (D) high temperature of the inert gas being delivered to the cargo tanks 19. Your vessel is taking on cargo oil when a small leak develops in the hose. You order the pumping stopped. Before you resume pumping, which of the following action should you perform? o (A) notify the terminal superintendent (B) replace the hose o (C) place a large drip pan under the leak and plug the scuppers o (D) repair the hose with a patch 20. When providing first aid to a victim of gas poisoning, what is the MOST important symptom to check for? o (A) unconsciousness o (B) slow and weak pulse (C) suspension of breathing o (D) cold and moist skin Page 5 of 11
21. When loading a tanker, you should perform which of the following functions to ensure a safe operation? o (A) keep the seamen on watch on standby in the messroom o (B) keep a strain on the loading hoses (C) close valves by closing them down, re-opening one or two turns, and re-closing o (D) load only one tank at a time 22. If a repair team is to enter a confined space for repair work, what minimum level of oxygen should be present? o (A) 18% o (B) 19% o (C) 20% (D) 21% 23. When stripping a tank, what is caused by excessive air in the suction line? o (A) increase of suction (B) loss of suction o (C) an overpressurized line o (D) back pressure 24. Protective clothing must be worn while sampling hazardous cargo on a tankship. This clothing includes which of the following at a minimum? (A) a face mask or goggles o (B) chemical resistant gloves o (C) boots o (D) a hood or hard hat 25. When loading bulk liquid cargo, what is the first action you should take if a cargo valve jammed open? o (A) Call the owner, operator, or terminal supervisor. o (B) Run out the vessel or terminal fire hose. o (C) Unplug the deck scuppers. (D) Order the dock man to shut down. Page 6 of 11
26. Which of the following describes the flash point temperature of a liquid? o (A) that a liquid must reach before it will flow readily o (B) at which a liquid will explode (C) at which a liquid will give off inflammable vapors o (D) at which a liquid will burn steadily 27. What are flame screens used for? (A) prevent flames from entering tanks o (B) contain flammable fumes o (C) keep flames and sparks from getting out of an engines exhaust system o (D) protect firefighters from flames 28. In special cases, the Commandant of the Coast Guard may permit cargo piping to pass through machinery spaces. This is permitted provided that the only cargo carried through such piping is(are) which of the following? o (A) LFG (B) grade E o (C) grades D or E o (D) grades A or B 29. What is a cofferdam? o (A) Area the product is loaded into (B) Void or empty space separating two tanks o (C) Opening in the deck used for cleaning a tank o (D) Tube fitted to an ullage hole 30. What is the standard net barrel for petroleum products? o (A) 50 gallons at 50 Celsius o (B) 48 gallons at 70 Fahrenheit (C) 42 gallons at 60 Fahrenheit o (D) 60 gallons at 100 Saybolt Page 7 of 11
31. What is the primary function of a flame screen on a tank vessel? o (A) permits vapors to exit but not enter a tank o (B) prevents the passage of flammable vapors o (C) prevents inert gas from leaving a tank (D) permits the passage of vapor but not of flame 32. According to U.S. regulations, which conditions would not disqualify a nonmetallic hose as being suitable for use in transferring oil? (A) A leak in the flange gasket while hydrostatically testing the hose. o (B) A small cut in the hose cover which just pierces the reinforcement. o (C) A slight oil seepage between the hose and flange connection. o (D) Evidence of internal or external deterioration. 33. Which of the following conditions will result in an automatic shut down of the flue gas inert gas system? o (A) Low temperature water leaving the scrubber seal. (B) High temperature gas discharge from inert gas blowers. o (C) Oxygen content of the gas falls below 5%. o (D) High temperature gas entering the scrubber. 34. For all loading operations, the terminal must supply the vessel with a means in which the vessel's designated person in charge may stop the flow of oil to the vessel, insuring immediate shutdown in the event of a hose rupture, tank overflow, etc. Which of the following choices will accomplish this task as required by 33 CFR? o (A) a loudhailer from the vessel bridge o (B) a signal-board on the bridge (C) a pneumatically or mechanically operated device o (D) a specific sequence of lights 35. Which statement is TRUE concerning insulating flanges? o (A) The measured resistance value after installation should be less than 1,000 ohms. o (B) After the insulating flange is installed, hot-work may be performed on deck. o (C) Switching off a cathodic protection system may be substituted for using an insulating flange. (D) They should be inspected and tested periodically to ensure that the insulation is clean and in good condition. Page 8 of 11
36. The person in charge on the vessel and the person in charge at the facility must hold a meeting before starting the transfer of oil. Who must decide to start the transfer? (A) Both persons in charge o (B) The person in charge on the vessel o (C) The person in charge of either place that is doing the pumping o (D) The person in charge at the facility 37. Which of the following describes the depth of a product in a tank? o (A) Outage o (B) Thievage o (C) Ullage (D) Innage 38. Your vessel is taking on cargo oil when a small leak develops in the hose. You order the pumping stopped. What action should you take before you resume pumping? o (A) repair the hose with a patch (B) replace the hose o (C) place a large drip pan under the leak and plug the scuppers o (D) notify the terminal superintendent 39. While loading bulk oil, you notice oil on the water near the barge. Which of the following actions should you carry out FIRST? o (A) Notify the Coast Guard (B) Stop loading o (C) Search the vessel for leaks o (D) Notify terminal superintendent 40. What would likely happen if you were exposed to a 100% methane atmosphere for more than 15 minutes? (A) suffocate o (B) be severely burned o (C) break out in a cyrogenic rash o (D) become quite ill due to the toxic nature of the gas Page 9 of 11
41. What is the lowest temperature at which the vapors of a flammable liquid will ignite and cause selfsustained combustion in the presence of a spark or flame? o (A) autoignition temperature (B) fire point o (C) vaporization temperature o (D) flash point 42. Which of the following describes intrinsically safe equipment? o (A) an electrical circuit normally limited to instrumentation in hazardous areas o (B) electrical circuits under 12 volts (C) an electrical circuit in which a spark is incapable of causing the ignition of a given explosive mixture o (D) electrical circuits under 2 amperes 43. What is the maximum allowable oxygen content within the ships cargo tanks, inert gas piping and the vapor recovery system? o (A) 4% o (B) 5% (C) 8% o (D) 10% 44. Which of the following is an example of a example of a grade D product? o (A) aviation gas grade 115/145 o (B) commercial gasoline (C) kerosene o (D) heavy fuel oil 45. According to U.S. regulations, which of the following conditions would disqualify a nonmetallic hose as being suitable for use in transferring oil? o (A) A cut in the cover which makes the reinforcement visible. (B) Evidence of internal or external deterioration. o (C) A blown gasket when hydrostatic test pressure is applied. o (D) The hose has not been tested in the last 180 days. Page 10 of 11
46. Which of the following does not require cargo transfer operations on a tank vessel to be stopped? o (A) a large, fresh oil spill is discovered immediately adjacent to the side of the tanker (B) a tug comes alongside while the tanker is loading grade D and E cargoes o (C) there is a fire on the dock or on a nearby vessel o (D) there is an electrical storm in the vicinity 47. According to U.S. regulations, no person may connect or disconnect an oil transfer hose or engage in any other critical oil transfer operation on a tank vessel unless which of the following is met? (A) the designated person in charge supervises that procedure o (B) that person holds a valid port security card o (C) that person holds a tankerman assistant endorsement o (D) that person holds a license as master, mate, or engineer 48. What does the MARPOL 73/78 convention deal with? o (A) International Convention of Safety of Life at Sea (B) International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships o (C) International Convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping o (D) International Marine Organization Gas Carrier Code 49. On tankers using manually operated tank valves, what does the deck hand wheel indicator register? o (A) oxygen content of the tank o (B) level of oil in the tank o (C) exact lift position of the tank valve disk, through 100% of its operation (D) approximate number of turns the tank valve has been opened 50. If a cargo of kerosene were considered "too lean" to explode, then it must be which of the following? (A) below the "explosive range" o (B) within the "explosive range" o (C) above the "lower explosive limit" o (D) above the "explosive range" Page 11 of 11