National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Exam (Sample Examination) Page 1 of 13
Choose the best answer to the following Multiple Choice Questions. 1. When collecting condensation for drinking water,. (A) a sponge used to mop up and store condensation must be kept salt free o (B) only condensation on the bottom of the canopy should be collected o (C) it should be strained through a finely woven cloth o (D) chlorine tablets should be used to make it drinkable 2. If flammable vapors have penetrated a gas free space, which of the following actions would be the most hazardous to perform? (A) Opening switches in the space to de-energize circuits. o (B) Closing switches adjacent to the space to operate vent fans. o (C) Leaving electrical circuits energized in the space. o (D) Securing all power to the space from a remote location. 3. The external flotation bladder on an immersion suit should be inflated. o (A) before you enter the water (B) after you enter the water o (C) after one hour in the water o (D) after you notice that your suit is losing buoyancy 4. Manufacturers of self-contained breathing apparatus use color-coded face pieces to indicate different sizes. Which of the following statements is true concerning the colors of SCBA face pieces? o (A) Size "Small" is green. o (B) Size "Large" (standard) is black. o (C) Size "Extra Large" is red. (D) All of the above. 5. 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 Page 2 of 13
6. 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 7. Which of the gases listed is the poisonous gas most likely to be found in a closed compartment involved in a fire? o (A) Nitrogen o (B) Hydrogen o (C) Carbon dioxide (D) Carbon monoxide 8. The most likely location for a liquid cargo fire to occur on a tanker would be. o (A) in the amidships house o (B) at the main deck manifold o (C) at the vent header (D) in the pump room 9. When inspecting a survival craft, you should check to make sure that the. o (A) sea anchor is deployed o (B) hydraulic starting system has been drained (C) hydraulic pressure is within the specified range o (D) steering controls are locked 10. The most effective method of extinguishing a class "A" fire is by. (A) quenching and cooling o (B) using non-conducting extinguishers o (C) blanketing and smothering o (D) using a sodium based dry chemical Page 3 of 13
11. The process that occurs when heat is generated by a chemical reaction within a substance and continues to a point of ignition is known as. o (A) chemical ignition o (B) chemical combustion o (C) radiation ignition (D) spontaneous combustion 12. Which of the methods shown in the illustration is the correct way to fit shoring? Illustration SF-0016 (A) A o (B) B o (C) C o (D) D 13. The explosive range of methane is 5% to 15% by volume in air. This means a vapor/air mixture of. o (A) 3 percent methane by volume is too rich to burn (B) 5 percent methane by volume will give a reading of 100 percent LEL on a combustible gas indicator o (C) 10 percent methane by volume is too rich to burn o (D) 20 percent methane by volume is too lean to burn 14. 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 15. Which of the following statements represents the correct action to take when three crew members discover a fire? o (A) One man report the fire, one man fight the fire, and one man act as a safety observer. o (B) One man report the fire, and the other two men fight the fire. (C) One man report the fire, one man fight the fire, and one man evacuate and secure the area. o (D) All three men fight the fire and report it immediately after it is extinguished. Page 4 of 13
16. Which of the following is required to be included in the fireman's (emergency) outfit? o (A) Chemical protection face shield o (B) Approved work vest (C) Self-contained breathing apparatus o (D) 5 cell approved flashlight 17. The explosive range of petroleum vapors when mixed with air is. o (A) 0% to 1% by volume (B) 1% to 6% by volume o (C) 6% to 12% by volume o (D) 12% to 20% by volume 18. Recharging a previously used cartridge-operated dry chemical fire extinguisher is accomplished by. (A) replacing the propellant cartridge and refilling it with powder o (B) authorized fire equipment servicing personnel only o (C) recharging the cartridge and refilling it with powder o (D) puncturing the cartridge seal after installation 19. The fire extinguishing equipment shown in the illustration is a large. Illustration SF-0009 o (A) Halon 1301 hose reel system o (B) CO 2 hose reel system o (C) light water hose reel system (D) dry chemical hose reel system 20. Which extinguishing agent is the best for use on electrical fires? o (A) Water fog o (B) Dry chemical o (C) Foam (D) CO 2 Page 5 of 13
21. Victual waste is. o (A) the final waste product of a manufacturing process o (B) the resultant sludge that is collected after water washing a boiler o (C) the final discharge of sewage treatment plants (D) any garbage that comes from food or food provisions 22. The weight of the liquid displaced by a vessel floating in sea water is equal to the. o (A) displaced submerged volume o (B) weight required to sink the vessel (C) total weight of the vessel o (D) reserve buoyancy 23. Which of the conditions listed is necessary for a substance to burn? o (A) The mixture of vapors with air must be between the LEL and the UEL. o (B) The air must contain oxygen in sufficient quantity. o (C) The temperature of the substance must be equal to or above its fire point. (D) All of the above. 24. 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. 25. 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 Page 6 of 13
26. The highest concentration of a harmful substance to which a person may be exposed without danger to health, is termed the. o (A) vapor pressure o (B) tolerance point (C) threshold limit value o (D) odor threshold 27. Which of the following conditions represents a particular advantage of using a positive pressure type self-contained breathing apparatus in an atmosphere that is immediately dangerous to life or health? o (A) The equipment is compact and the wearer can work in confined spaces without difficulty. o (B) The equipment used is lightweight and easy to wear by reducing physical strain on the wearer. o (C) The average operating time for most air cylinders is over an hour. (D) The positive pressure in the face piece prevents contaminated air from entering the face piece. 28. 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 29. Good housekeeping on a vessel prevents fires by. o (A) allowing better access in an emergency (B) eliminating potential fuel sources o (C) eliminating trip hazards o (D) improving personnel qualifications 30. Following a grounding, you can best determine that a SLACK fuel oil tank has been holed by. (A) sounding the tank o (B) waiting for the vessel to list o (C) examining tank boundaries o (D) checking fuel oil strainers Page 7 of 13
31. When using foam, a "Class B" fire is extinguished by. o (A) replacing the fuel o (B) cooling the surface (C) smothering the fire o (D) all of the above 32. In accordance with 33 CFR Subchapter O (Pollution), the Oil Record Book for all U.S. ships. o (A) is to be kept in the personal possession of the master o (B) is required to have entries recorded within 48 hours of completion of the particular operation (C) is the property of the U.S. government o (D) should not be used to record the accidental discharge of oil or oily mixtures 33. An extinguishing agent which effectively cools, dilutes combustible vapors and provides a heat and smoke screen is. o (A) dry chemical o (B) carbon dioxide o (C) Halon 1301 (D) water fog 34. 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 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 Page 8 of 13
36. The best means of combating an oil fire on the surface of the water surrounding a vessel tied to the pier, is to use. (A) foam directed against the vessel's side o (B) dry chemical around the fire o (C) water fog over the fire o (D) solid water streams directly into the fire 37. Before entering any space that has been sealed, its oxygen level should be tested. What level of oxygen in the space is equal to fresh air? o (A) 10.0% o (B) 15.8% (C) 20.8% o (D) 25.8% 38. A burning mattress is considered as which of the following classes of fire? (A) Class "A" o (B) Class "B" o (C) Class "C" o (D) Class "D" 39. 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 40. Which of the following statements is TRUE concerning life jackets? o (A) Buoyant vests may be substituted for life jackets. (B) Life jackets are designed to turn an unconscious person's face clear of the water. o (C) Life jackets must always be worn with the same side facing outwards to float properly. o (D) Lightly stained or faded life jackets will fail in the water and should not be used. Page 9 of 13
41. Using a sea anchor when in a life raft will. (A) reduce the drift rate of the life raft o (B) keep the life raft from turning over o (C) aid in recovering the life raft o (D) increase your visibility 42. According to 33 CFR Subchapter O (Pollution), an oceangoing ship of over 400 gross tons must be fitted with a standard discharge shore connection. What size bolt circle diameter is required for this shore connection to transfer oily ballast to a shore side reception facility? o (A) 125 mm (B) 183 mm o (C) 215 mm o (D) 250 mm 43. 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" 44. Which of the following is classified as a grade "E" combustible liquid? o (A) Very light naphtha (B) Bunker "C" o (C) Most commercial gasoline o (D) Benzene 45. In a cartridge-operated dry chemical type fire extinguisher, when the CO 2 cartridge is activated, the dry chemical is released from the extinguisher. (A) with the squeeze-grip on/off nozzle at the end of the hose o (B) with the squeeze-grip trigger on top of the container o (C) by squeezing the control valve carrying handle o (D) by turning the activating handle on the bottom of the container Page 10 of 13
46. 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 47. 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 48. In accordance with 33 CFR Subchapter O (Pollution), a shipboard oil pollution emergency plan is required to be reviewed. (A) annually only o (B) biennially only o (C) quad-annually only o (D) only once every five years 49. When approaching a fire from windward, you should shield firefighters from the fire by using an applicator and. o (A) foam spray (B) low-velocity fog o (C) a straight stream of water o (D) high-velocity fog 50. Static water pressure on the hull of a ship is greatest at the. o (A) bow o (B) stern o (C) boot topping (D) keel Page 11 of 13
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners SF-0009 2/10/2017 Adapted for testing purposes only from AMEREX, Skid Unit Brochure Amerex Corporation Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 12 of 13
National Maritime Center Providing Credentials to Mariners SF-0016 1/17/2017 Adapted for testing purposes only from Damage Controlman NAVEDTRA 14057 Further reproduction prohibited without permission Page 13 of 13