National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam (Sample Examination) Page 1 of 22
Choose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice Questions. 1. A ship's low-pressure CO 2 fixed fire extinguishing system is normally designed for a storage tank pressure and temperature of approximately. o (A) 14.7 psia and 0 degrees Fahrenheit o (B) 150 psig and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (C) 300 psig and 0 degrees Fahrenheit o (D) 1500 psig and 72 degrees Fahrenheit 2. When the cotton cover of a fire hose becomes oily or greasy, it should be washed with a solution of mild soapy fresh water and. (A) a soft-bristled brush o (B) paint thinner o (C) a wire brush o (D) cornstarch 3. In cleaning up an oil spill, the use of straw or reclaimed paper fibers would be an example of which type of oil removal? o (A) Mechanical removal o (B) Chemical agent removal (C) Absorbent removal o (D) None of the above 4. Which fire extinguisher is most prone to freezing when stowed in low temperatures? o (A) Halon 1211 (B) Foam o (C) Carbon dioxide o (D) Dry chemical Page 2 of 22
5. In accordance with 33 CFR Subchapter O(Pollution), which of the circumstances listed is an exception to the garbage discharge requirements in Annex V to MARPOL 73/78? (A) A person falls overboard, and a plastic ice chest is thrown for flotation. o (B) Garbage accumulation onboard has exceeded storage space. o (C) The garbage to be discharged will sink. o (D) The destination port or terminal cannot receive garbage. 6. Your ship has run aground and it is necessary to determine whether or not a compartment has flooded. Therefore, you should. (A) tap the bulkhead with a hammer to check for a water level o (B) open the watertight door and take a quick look o (C) feel the bulkhead to see if it is hot o (D) open the hatch dogs on the side away from the hinges 7. If you see an individual fall overboard, you should. o (A) throw a life ring overboard o (B) hail "Man Overboard" o (C) pass the word to the bridge (D) all of the above 8. Which of the following hazards is associated with the handling of petroleum products? o (A) Asphyxiation o (B) Fire o (C) Explosion (D) All of the above 9. The distance between the bottom of the hull and the waterline is called. o (A) freeboard o (B) reserve buoyancy (C) draft o (D) tonnage Page 3 of 22
10. Which of the following statements is true concerning Halon 1301 fire extinguishing equipment? o (A) Halon extinguishes the fire by smothering action. o (B) The agent cannot be used on electrical fires because it leaves a residue. o (C) The agent is highly toxic at normal room temperature. (D) For portable extinguishers, the agent is only available in a 2 pound unit. 11. A vessel's center of gravity is lowered when the. o (A) freeboard is increased (B) tanks are ballasted o (C) trim is increased o (D) reserve buoyancy increases 12. During cargo operations, a deck fire has occurred due to a leaking cargo line. You should FIRST. (A) stop the transfer of cargo o (B) prevent the spread of fire with a foam dam o (C) apply CO 2 on the burning fuel at its source o (D) blanket the cargo spill with foam 13. The most critical part of the bunkering operations, which can result in an oil spill, is when the. o (A) pumping operation is first started (B) tanks are being topped off o (C) system is being lined up o (D) hose joints are made up 14. Pitching is the rising and falling motion of the bow of a ship oscillating about which axis? (A) Transverse o (B) Centerline o (C) Longitudinal o (D) Vertical Page 4 of 22
15. Tankers carrying cryogenic cargoes, such as LNG, are fitted with gas detector systems which are designed to activate an alarm at 30% of the lower explosive limit. If an LNG gas detector alarm sounds, this means. o (A) the detector is sampling a space in which 30 percent of the atmosphere is explosive (B) a flammable vapor concentration exists at the sample point, but it is too lean to burn o (C) an explosion is about to take place o (D) the detector sensor is sampling a space where the cargo vapor concentration is 30 percent by volume 16. When compared to other fire extinguishing agents, water fog. o (A) has the greatest ability to produce foam (B) has the greatest cooling ability o (C) will completely remove toxic fumes from the air o (D) will completely remove combustible vapors from the air 17. The symbol shown in the illustration and is used as the reference from which transverse measurements are made is. Illustration SF-0022 (A) 5 o (B) 4 o (C) 3 o (D) 1 18. Which of the following limitations is correct regarding gas or filter masks? o (A) A maximum of only 30 minutes of protection is afforded with a single canister when in atmospheres containing highly toxic gases. o (B) All canisters must be discarded within 24 hours when the seal becomes broken. (C) A canister is reliable for up to 5 years from the date of manufacture, as long as the seal is unbroken. o (D) All of the above. Page 5 of 22
19. If a vessel rolls to the starboard side, and there are no movable or moving weights onboard, the center of gravity will. o (A) move to starboard o (B) move to port o (C) move directly down (D) stay in the same position 20. Who is responsible for lowering the survival craft? o (A) Roustabout o (B) First man aboard o (C) Last man aboard (D) Helmsman 21. When preparing to pump flammable liquids with a centrifugal pump, you should. o (A) draw a small quantity of liquid to prime the pump (B) check for gland leakage and any fire hazard o (C) have a standby pump running with the discharge valve closed o (D) lift the relief valve by hand to check its operation 22. All of the following are part of the fire triangle EXCEPT. o (A) fuel o (B) oxygen o (C) heat (D) electricity 23. If emergency welding repairs must be made to the upper area of a fuel tank, the tank and/or adjacent compartments may need to be. o (A) filled with water o (B) gas freed o (C) inerted (D) all of the above as necessary Page 6 of 22
24. While retrieving the survival craft, the engine should be stopped. (A) when the craft clears the water o (B) when the cable has been attached o (C) on approach to the platform o (D) at the embarkation 25. Combustible gas indicators incorporate the use of a/an. (A) Wheatstone bridge o (B) inflatable bag o (C) vapor-detecting carbon compound o (D) sensitive liquid chemical 26. A fire that has developed in a pile of rubber gasket material would be classified as a. (A) class "A" o (B) class "B" o (C) class "C" o (D) class "D" 27. The amount of garbage disposed must be entered into the records maintained by each ship and stated in. o (A) barrels, measured in 55 gallon drums o (B) weight in either kilogram or pounds o (C) cubic yards convertible to long tons (D) cubic meters 28. In a typical automatic fire alarm system, all zone circuits are always connected. (A) to the detecting cabinet o (B) to the trouble alarm supervising resistor o (C) in parallel o (D) in series Page 7 of 22
29. By definition, an example of a flammable liquid is. o (A) animal and vegetable oils o (B) caustic potash o (C) kerosene (D) gasoline 30. When fighting a shipboard fire, crew members securing doorways, hatches, and applying cooling water to adjacent decks and bulkheads, while monitoring the spread of heat and smoke, are setting a. o (A) safety perimeter o (B) cooling zone (C) fire boundary o (D) buffer zone 31. Which of the fire extinguishing agents listed can be used to effectively combat a class "B" fire? o (A) Dry chemical o (B) Foam o (C) CO 2 (D) All of the above 32. If additional weight is placed on the main deck of the vessel shown in the illustration. Illustration SF-0023 o (A) KB will go down o (B) GM will increase (C) G will rise o (D) K will rise 33. The most important characteristic of a fire extinguishing agent to be used on electrical fires is for the agent to be. o (A) easily removable o (B) wet o (C) flame resistant (D) non-conducting Page 8 of 22
34. Which of the following conditions is true concerning flammable liquid vapors with a concentration above the upper explosive limit? (A) The mixture is too rich to burn. o (B) Conditions are perfect for combustion. o (C) The vapor is about to explode. o (D) The mixture is too lean to burn. 35. An oxygen indicator will detect. o (A) the presence of harmful amounts of carbon monoxide o (B) concentrations of explosive gas (C) an oxygen deficiency in a space o (D) all of the above 36. An immersion suit should be equipped with a/an. o (A) air bottle for breathing o (B) whistle and hand-held flare (C) whistle, strobe light, and reflective tape o (D) whistle, hand-held flare, and sea dye marker 37. A hand portable CO 2 fire extinguisher is effective on burning oil only. o (A) if applied in connection with foam o (B) to prevent rekindling (C) if applied promptly o (D) if attempts to extinguish the fire with low velocity fog have failed 38. In order to prevent the unnecessary release of hydrocarbons to atmosphere, when taking on departure ballast, one method used is to. (A) allow entering ballast to displace the inert gas to a tank where cargo is currently being discharged o (B) manually open the pressure/vacuum device o (C) use blowers to purge the inert gas from tanks o (D) completely open the mast riser valve Page 9 of 22
39. Wooden shoring, with a cross-sectional dimension of 4" X 4" should not be longer than. o (A) 8 feet (B) 10 feet o (C) 16 feet o (D) 20 feet 40. The wooden shoring shown in the illustration is bearing against the hatch coaming and is supporting a load in the direction indicated by the arrows. Which of the following statements is correct for this condition? Illustration SF-0018 o (A) Shore "A" will support the greatest load. o (B) Shore "A" will not slip under load. (C) Shore "B" will support the load without it cracking. o (D) Shore "B" will crack at the pointed end. 41. Why is it important for double bottom fuel oil tanks not to be topped off when loading fuel at cold temperatures? o (A) Increased viscosity of the product needs higher loading pressure, which increases the chances of a spill. (B) A temperature rise of the fuel will cause an overflow from the tank vent. o (C) Fueling valve may become stuck closed and cause the fuel oil to spill before the valve can be opened. o (D) Air pockets may cause the fuel to bubble out of the ullage hole. 42. Low velocity water fog is used in firefighting as a. o (A) barrier against radiant heat o (B) smothering agent o (C) cooling agent (D) all of the above 43. A simple precaution to reduce the possibility of accidental fires in the paint locker, is to. o (A) label the fixed firefighting system o (B) store paint cans on metal shelves only (C) not allow oily rags to accumulate in the space o (D) place a portable fire extinguisher immediately outside the locker Page 10 of 22
44. A fire in a pile of dunnage would be classified as a. (A) class "A" o (B) class "B" o (C) class "C" o (D) class "D" 45. If a fire ignites in the engine room as a result of a high-pressure fuel oil leak, you should FIRST. o (A) secure the ventilation o (B) secure the generator o (C) find a soda acid extinguisher (D) shut off the fuel oil supply 46. If the chemical material is a mixture, what must the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) identify? (A) The name of each hazardous ingredient. o (B) Other similar mixtures of liquids, solids or gases. o (C) Paints or coatings that are safe to use with it. o (D) None of the above. 47. Your vessel is taking on bunkers from a shore side facility. If oil begins flowing from one tank vent, which of the following actions should be taken FIRST? o (A) Close the valve on the tank vent line. o (B) Set out drip pans and sawdust and begin to mop up the spill. (C) Signal the shore control point to shutdown. o (D) Open the intake valve to an adjacent tank. 48. In accordance with 46 CFR Subchapter Q, which statement is true concerning the repair of life preservers? o (A) Large holes can be repaired. o (B) They can be repaired by a reliable seamstress. (C) Tapes or straps may not be repaired, but may be replaced. o (D) They must be tested for buoyancy before being continued in use. Page 11 of 22
49. Which of the devices listed would be safe to use in a compartment with insufficient oxygen? o (A) Wet handkerchief. (B) Self-contained breathing apparatus. o (C) Dust or gas mask. o (D) Canister type mask. 50. The blocking open or absence of fire dampers can contribute to. o (A) the accumulation of explosive gases o (B) faster cooling of the fire (C) the fire spreading by way of the ventilation system o (D) fixed foam systems to be ineffective 51. A specific document which identifies a chemical, and lists its physical properties, health hazards, required controls, firefighting procedures, cleanup methods, waste disposal, and the safe handling and storage requirements, is commonly called a. o (A) Physical/Chemical Characteristics Document o (B) Hazardous Chemical Information Sheet (C) Material Safety Data Sheet o (D) Hazardous Chemical Loading Document 52. When required to work in an area where explosive gases may accumulate, you should use tools which are. o (A) approved by the Coast Guard o (B) high carbon steel o (C) fixed with a ferrous cover (D) non-sparking 53. What is the purpose of opening the doors and portholes in figure 2 of the illustration? Illustration SF- 0013 o (A) To keep the hose teams cool. o (B) To allow water used to fight the fire to flow out of the superstructure. (C) To allow venting of combustion products from the fire to the atmosphere. o (D) To provide air flow around the compartment in order to contain the fire. Page 12 of 22
54. While adrift in an inflatable life raft in hot, tropical weather. o (A) the canopy should be deflated so that it will not block cooling breezes o (B) the pressure valve may be periodically opened to prevent excessive air pressure (C) deflating the floor panels may help to cool personnel o (D) the entrance curtains should never be opened 55. A tank or compartment is "gas free" when there is an absence of dangerous concentrations of. o (A) any combustible liquid o (B) all flammable liquids (C) flammable or toxic gases o (D) residues from cargo oil 56. In the illustration shown, the sea painter is identified as item number. Illustration SF-0043 o (A) 3 o (B) 6 (C) 7 o (D) 9 57. Paints and solvents used aboard a vessel should be. o (A) drained into a common container after each use (B) returned to the paint locker after each use o (C) stowed safely at the work site until work is completed o (D) covered with a fine mesh screen to protect from ignition sources 58. If an incorrect entry were made in the Oil Record Book, you should. o (A) notify the ship's officer in charge (B) draw a single line through the wrong entry and initial it o (C) erase the entry and rewrite it o (D) completely black it out and make the correct entry alongside Page 13 of 22
59. The wooden plug fitted tightly in the vent of a damaged tank may prevent the tank from. o (A) collapsing o (B) developing free surface moments o (C) developing free surfaces (D) filling completely 60. What is the usual effect of moving weight from low in the vessel to above the main deck? o (A) The stability is increased. (B) The stability is decreased. o (C) The draft is increased. o (D) The reserve buoyancy is decreased. 61. Kapok life jackets require proper care and should NOT be. o (A) stowed near open flame or where smoking is permitted o (B) used as seats, pillows, or foot rests o (C) left on open decks (D) all of the above 62. The upper explosive limit (UEL) of a mixture of flammable vapors and air is defined as. o (A) that concentration above which there is just enough flammable vapor to produce an explosion (B) that concentration above which the mixture is too rich to burn o (C) the percentage of flammable vapor by volume in air sufficient to create an explosion o (D) the percentage of oxygen present in the air sufficient to support combustion 63. In accordance with 33 CFR Subchapter O (Pollution), when off loading garbage to another ship, your records must identify that ship by name and which of the following? o (A) operator's name of record o (B) home port o (C) master's name (D) official number Page 14 of 22
64. You are in compartment "A", shown in the illustration, and suspect a fire in compartment "B". In order to check for and confirm the fire in compartment "B" you should. Illustration SF-0005 (A) feel the bulkhead o (B) tap the bulkhead o (C) open the watertight door o (D) move a lighted candle along watertight door seal 65. Which of the following procedures reduces the possibility of an interior ventilation duct fire from rapidly spreading? o (A) Having a portable CO 2 ready at each duct opening. o (B) Keeping the duct exterior clean. o (C) Having a fire hose charged at each duct opening. (D) Keeping the duct interior clean. 66. To prevent oily rags from spontaneously igniting they should be. o (A) kept in the paint locker o (B) kept in nonmetal containers o (C) cleaned thoroughly for reuse (D) discarded as soon as possible 67. Excessive free surface occurring in tanks carrying liquid cargo should be avoided in order to. (A) maintain good stability o (B) maintain hog and sag o (C) prevent oil pollution o (D) all of the above 68. In the Oil Record Book, a comprehensive list of operational items are grouped into operational sections. Each section is codified by a/an. (A) letter o (B) abbreviation o (C) number o (D) all of the above Page 15 of 22
69. Reserve buoyancy is the. o (A) unoccupied space below the waterline (B) volume of intact space above the waterline o (C) difference between buoyancy in salt and fresh waters o (D) excess of the buoyant force over gravitational force 70. Which of the following statements is true concerning the Halon 1301 fire extinguishing agent? o (A) The agent is less effective than carbon dioxide. (B) Halon extinguishes the fire by a chain breaking reaction. o (C) The agent cannot be used on electrical fires because it leaves a residue. o (D) The agent is highly toxic as stored in pressurized cylinders. Page 16 of 22
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners SF-0005 2/8/2017 Adapted for testing purposes only from Damage Controlman NAVEDTRA 14057 Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 17 of 22
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners SF-0013 Adapted for testing purposes only from Marine Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Fire Safety 1/17/2017 U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 18 of 22
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners SF-0018 1/17/2017 Adapted for testing purposes only from Damage Controlman NAVEDTRA 14057 Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 19 of 22
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners SF-0022 Vessel Dimensional Data Symbols 1/25/2017 Adapted for testing purposes only from Merchant Marine Deck Examination Reference Material, Operating Manual for Deep Driller Copyright 1989 COMDTPUB P16721.29 Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 20 of 22
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners SF-0023 Stability Calculations 1/25/2017 Adapted for testing purposes only from LA DAGE, Stability and Trim for the Ship s Officer, Third Edition Copyright 1983 by Cornell Maritime Press, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 21 of 22
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners SF-0043 2/13/2017 Adapted for testing purposes only from MEURN, Survival Guide for the Mariner, Second Edition Copyright 1993 Cornell Maritime Press, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 22 of 22