1. Can hooks are used for loading
- A. Pipes
- B. Gunny bags
- C. Drums
- D. Machinery cases
Answer: C — Drums
Can hooks are specialized lifting attachments used for handling drums. They provide a secure grip around the circumference of the drum, allowing for safe and efficient hoisting.
2. Preventer guy is used when the derrick is working as a
- A. Union purchase
- B. Jumbo derrick
- C. Swinging derrick
- D. Stulcken derrick
Answer: A — Union purchase
A preventer guy is a critical component used when the derrick is rigged for a union purchase. It provides additional stability and control, preventing excessive swinging of the cargo block and ensuring safe operation.
3. A cruise liner carries
- A. Grain cargo
- B. Stowaways
- C. Passengers
- D. Ro Ro cargo
Answer: C — Passengers
A cruise liner's primary function is to carry passengers for leisure and travel. Unlike cargo vessels, its main payload consists of people enjoying a voyage.
4. Access to cargo holds is through
- A. Fore castle
- B. Booby hatch
- C. Engine room
- D. Accommodation
Answer: B — Booby hatch
Access to cargo holds is typically gained through a 'booby hatch', which is a small hatchway providing entry from the deck into the upper part of the hold. This is a standard access point for personnel and equipment.
5. Details of the SWL of the shackles and blocks used for the derrick are given in the
- A. Ships chaptericulars
- B. Capacity plan
- C. General Arrangement plan
- D. Rigging plan
Answer: D — Rigging plan
The rigging plan details the configuration of cargo gear, including derricks and cranes, and specifies the Safe Working Load (SWL) for all associated components like blocks and shackles. This document is essential for safe lifting operations.
6. Machinery cases loaded in the cargo hold should be lashed with
- A. Twist locks
- B. Wire and turnbuckles
- C. Heaving lines
- D. Nets
Answer: B — Wire and turnbuckles
Machinery cases loaded in cargo holds must be securely lashed using wire ropes and turnbuckles. This method provides the necessary tension and strength to prevent movement during the ship's motion at sea.
7. Side guys are used on
- A. Derricks
- B. Gantry cranes
- C. Chain blocks
- D. Cranes
Answer: A — Derricks
Side guys are primarily used with derricks to control their athwartship movement and provide lateral stability. They are essential for positioning the derrick accurately over the cargo.
8. Bottle screw is used for
- A. Dunnage
- B. Putting screws
- C. Tightening man ropes
- D. Tightening wire ropes
Answer: D — Tightening wire ropes
A bottle screw, also known as a turnbuckle, is used to adjust and tighten wire ropes. By rotating the central body, it shortens the wire rope assembly, providing adjustable tension.
9. Safe working load of cargo gear is the
- A. Minimum weight which can be lifted safely
- B. Minimum stress or weight required to break it
- C. Total weight required to stretch the wire
- D. Maximum weight which can be lifted safely
Answer: D — Maximum weight which can be lifted safely
The Safe Working Load (SWL) of cargo gear is the maximum weight that can be lifted safely under normal operating conditions. Exceeding this limit can lead to failure of the equipment and potential accidents.
10. The crane controls are placed in the
- A. Master’s cabin
- B. Owner’s cabin
- C. Stevedore’s cabin
- D. Driver’s cabin
Answer: D — Driver’s cabin
Crane controls are located in the driver's cabin, often referred to as the operator's cabin or crane house. This provides the crane operator with a clear view of the lifting operation and direct control over the machinery.
11. A wire rope should be condemned if more than:
- A. 10% of the wires are broken in a length of eight diameters
- B. 12% of the wires are broken in a length of eight diameters
- C. 20% of the wires are broken in a length of eight diameters
- D. 9% of the wires are broken in a length of eight diameters
Answer: A — 10% of the wires are broken in a length of eight diameters
Standard seamanship practice and cargo gear rules require a wire rope to be discarded when more than 10% of its total wires are broken in any length of eight rope diameters, since strength is then seriously reduced.
12. In IALA Region A, the starboard side of a channel, when approaching from seaward, is marked by a ____.
- A. green buoy
- B. red buoy
- C. yellow buoy
- D. black and yellow buoy
Answer: A — green buoy
In IALA Region A, which includes Indian waters, starboard-hand lateral marks are green with a conical topmark and are kept on the starboard side when entering from seaward. Port-hand marks are red with a can topmark.
13. Which International Code flag is hoisted when a vessel is handling dangerous cargo?
- A. Flag B
- B. Flag C
- C. Flag A
- D. Flag D
Answer: A — Flag B
Flag B means 'I am taking in, discharging or carrying dangerous goods'. It is flown by day, with an all-round red light at night, when tankers and ships handle dangerous cargo in port.
14. What is the most likely cause of a particle in the eye?
- A. Sharp objects
- B. Fall
- C. Flying dust
- D. Lack of oxygen
Answer: C — Flying dust
Foreign bodies in the eye usually come from airborne dust, rust or paint flakes, especially during chipping, grinding or in windy conditions on deck. Wearing safety goggles is the main preventive measure.
15. The two distinct departments on a ship are:
- A. Crew department and officers department
- B. Engine rating department and deck rating department
- C. Nautical (deck) department and engine department
- D. Cabin department and deck department
Answer: C — Nautical (deck) department and engine department
Shipboard organisation is broadly divided into the deck (nautical) department, responsible for navigation, cargo and seamanship, and the engine department, responsible for propulsion and machinery. The catering staff usually work under the deck department.
16. Welding without proper eye protection can cause ____.
- A. damage to eyesight (arc eye)
- B. improved night vision
- C. no harm if done quickly
- D. only a skin rash on the hands
Answer: A — damage to eyesight (arc eye)
Welding arcs emit intense ultraviolet and infrared radiation. Without a welding shield of the correct filter shade, even brief exposure can cause arc eye (photokeratitis), and repeated exposure can permanently damage eyesight.
17. Who is responsible for your safety on board?
- A. Only the Master
- B. Only the safety officer
- C. You yourself, along with the company and ship's officers
- D. Nobody, as accidents cannot be prevented
Answer: C — You yourself, along with the company and ship's officers
Under the ISM Code the company and officers provide safe procedures and equipment, but every seafarer is also responsible for working safely, using PPE and following procedures. Safety on board is therefore partly your own responsibility.
18. Before doing hot work outside a designated workshop, you must ____.
- A. obtain a hot work permit
- B. only inform the cook
- C. just keep a bucket of water nearby
- D. do nothing further, as no permit is needed
Answer: A — obtain a hot work permit
Hot work such as welding, burning or grinding can ignite flammable vapours or materials. The Safety Management System requires a hot work permit, with risk assessment, gas testing and fire precautions, before any hot work outside the workshop.
19. Entering an enclosed space without following safe working procedures can kill you by ____.
- A. suffocation due to oxygen deficiency or toxic gases
- B. sunburn
- C. seasickness
- D. dehydration
Answer: A — suffocation due to oxygen deficiency or toxic gases
Enclosed spaces may be deficient in oxygen or contain toxic or flammable gases. Without ventilation, atmosphere testing and an entry permit as required by IMO Resolution A.1050(27), entrants can be overcome quickly and suffocate.
20. If a senior officer asks you to perform a dangerous task without proper safety measures, you should ____.
- A. refuse and point out the missing safety measures
- B. do it quickly to get it over with
- C. do it and report the matter later
- D. ask another rating to do it instead
Answer: A — refuse and point out the missing safety measures
Every crew member has the right and duty to stop work that is unsafe. The task should only proceed once the required safety measures, such as permits, PPE and risk assessment, are in place, as encouraged by the ISM Code safety culture.
21. Safety shoes are mainly used to protect the ____.
- A. feet and toes
- B. hands and fingers
- C. eyes
- D. ears
Answer: A — feet and toes
Safety shoes have steel or composite toe caps and slip-resistant, oil-resistant soles that protect the feet and toes from falling objects, crushing and slipping. Hands and fingers are protected by safety gloves.
22. Which PPE must be worn while using a chipping hammer?
- A. Safety gloves and safety goggles
- B. Only a cap
- C. Only a life jacket
- D. No PPE is needed
Answer: A — Safety gloves and safety goggles
Chipping throws off sharp flakes of rust and paint that can injure the eyes and hands. Safety goggles protect the eyes, gloves protect the hands, and ear protection is also advisable with pneumatic hammers.
23. A boiler suit is worn on board to ____.
- A. protect the body from hazards such as hot surfaces, oil and dirt
- B. replace the life jacket
- C. replace the safety harness
- D. keep the body warm only in winter
Answer: A — protect the body from hazards such as hot surfaces, oil and dirt
The boiler suit is basic PPE that covers the whole body, giving protection against hot surfaces, oil, grease, chemicals splashes and dirt. It does not replace specific equipment such as life jackets or harnesses.
24. Working in high-noise areas without proper ear protection can cause ____.
- A. permanent hearing damage
- B. improved hearing
- C. damage to the eyes only
- D. no harm at all
Answer: A — permanent hearing damage
Prolonged exposure to high noise levels, such as in engine rooms, can cause permanent noise-induced hearing loss. The IMO Code on Noise Levels on Board Ships requires ear protection where noise exceeds 85 dB(A).
25. Lack of confidence is an example of which type of barrier to communication?
- A. Internal (personal) barrier
- B. Physical barrier
- C. Mechanical barrier
- D. Environmental noise barrier
Answer: A — Internal (personal) barrier
Internal or personal barriers arise within the individual, such as lack of confidence, fear, emotions or attitudes. External barriers include physical noise, distance and faulty equipment.
26. Which of the following is a basic need for communication?
- A. Self-expression
- B. Avoiding all contact with others
- C. Keeping information secret
- D. Ignoring instructions
Answer: A — Self-expression
People communicate to share information, give instructions, build relationships and express themselves. Self-expression, conveying one's thoughts and feelings, is recognised as one of the basic needs that communication fulfils.
27. Non-verbal communication refers to ____.
- A. body language, gestures and facial expressions
- B. speaking out aloud
- C. talking on the telephone
- D. making announcements on the public address system
Answer: A — body language, gestures and facial expressions
Non-verbal communication conveys messages without words, through gestures, posture, facial expressions, eye contact and hand signals. On board, hand signals to a crane operator are an important example.
28. Verbal communication mainly involves ____.
- A. the use of spoken words
- B. hand gestures only
- C. facial expressions only
- D. body posture only
Answer: A — the use of spoken words
Verbal communication uses words to convey a message, most commonly by speaking, for example face-to-face, by radio or telephone. Gestures, expressions and posture are forms of non-verbal communication.
29. What is the most important personal hygiene practice for a catering rating to prevent food-borne illness on board?
- A. Cleaning the galley floor once a week
- B. Wearing a clean cap only while serving meals
- C. Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling food and after using the toilet
- D. Tasting each dish before it is served
Answer: C — Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling food and after using the toilet
Hand washing with soap and water before handling food and after visiting the toilet is the single most effective way of preventing transfer of germs to food. The GP rating syllabus stresses personal hygiene of galley, pantry and mess-room staff.
30. In the ship's provision cold room, raw meat should be stored
- A. On the top shelf above cooked food
- B. Mixed with vegetables to save space
- C. At room temperature until it is cooked
- D. Separately from cooked food, and below it, to avoid cross-contamination
Answer: D — Separately from cooked food, and below it, to avoid cross-contamination
Raw meat can drip juices containing bacteria, so it is kept separate from and below cooked or ready-to-eat food. This prevents cross-contamination, a basic rule of hygiene in provision stores.
