GSK exit exam questions and answers — Set 18 — General Ship Knowledge

Set 18 of the General Ship Knowledge (GSK) exit exam bank — 30 of 585 questions, with the correct option marked and a one-line explanation for every one. Read it end to end, jump to a single set, or search it — then sit the same bank as a timed paper. The real DG Shipping exit exam is 30 marks with 15 to pass.

These are the bank's original groupings. Practising deals the whole bank out again every time you reshuffle, so a practice “Set 3” is a different 30 questions each time — the set numbers below are the source file's, and are only used here so the key stays navigable. Options are listed in their original order with fixed letters; when you practise, those move too.

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Set 18 — 30 GSK exit exam questions with answers

1. The three-letter point NNE lies at

A. 011.25 degrees
B. 067.5 degrees
C. 022.5 degrees
D. 045 degrees

Answer: C — 022.5 degrees

North-North-East lies midway between North (000) and North-East (045), that is 22.5 degrees. Three-letter points lie halfway between a cardinal and an intercardinal point.

2. 'Boxing the compass' means

A. Covering the compass when not in use
B. Naming all 32 points of the compass in order
C. Fitting the compass into its binnacle
D. Correcting the compass for deviation

Answer: B — Naming all 32 points of the compass in order

Boxing the compass is reciting the 32 points in correct order, clockwise from North. It is a required skill for steering ratings under syllabus 2.3.1 so they can understand and report directions.

3. The gyro compass reads 120 degrees and the gyro error is 2 degrees low. The true heading is

A. 120 degrees
B. 118 degrees
C. 124 degrees
D. 122 degrees

Answer: D — 122 degrees

When the gyro error is low the gyro reads less than the true value, so the error is added: 120 + 2 = 122 degrees true. Applying gyro error is listed in the syllabus under 2.3.1.

4. In case of total electrical power failure on the bridge, the compass that continues to show the ship's heading is the

A. Gyro repeater on the bridge wing
B. Magnetic compass
C. Gyro repeater at the steering position
D. Gyro compass

Answer: B — Magnetic compass

The gyro compass and its repeaters need electrical power, whereas the magnetic compass is directed by the earth's magnetism and needs no electricity. That is why every ship also carries a magnetic compass.

5. Gyro repeaters are normally fitted at the

A. Forecastle and poop deck
B. Steering position and on the bridge wings
C. Chart table only
D. Engine control room only

Answer: B — Steering position and on the bridge wings

Repeaters show the master gyro heading at places where it is needed: at the steering position for the helmsman and on the bridge wings for taking bearings, as stated in the syllabus 2.3.1.

6. The helm order 'Midships' means

A. Put the rudder to the fore-and-aft position, zero rudder angle
B. Steer the ship towards the middle of the channel
C. Reduce the rudder angle to five degrees
D. Steady the ship on her present heading

Answer: A — Put the rudder to the fore-and-aft position, zero rudder angle

Under the SMCP, 'Midships' means the rudder is to be held in the fore-and-aft (zero) position. The helmsman repeats the order and reports 'Wheel midships' once the rudder indicator shows zero.

7. The helm order 'Steady as she goes' means the helmsman must

A. Put the wheel hard over and hold it
B. Steer the compass heading the ship has at the moment the order is given
C. Hand over the wheel to the relieving helmsman
D. Return to the course steered at the start of the watch

Answer: B — Steer the compass heading the ship has at the moment the order is given

'Steady as she goes' requires the helmsman to note the heading at the time of the order and steer that heading, reporting it back to the officer, for example 'Steady on 076'.

8. The helm order 'Nothing to port' means

A. Do not use any port rudder at all
B. Do not allow the ship's head to go to port of the ordered course
C. Ease the rudder to midships from port
D. Put the rudder hard to port

Answer: B — Do not allow the ship's head to go to port of the ordered course

According to the SMCP wheel orders, 'Nothing to port' means avoid any heading to port of the ordered course, for example when there is danger on that side. It is one of the orders listed in syllabus 2.3.2.

9. On receiving the helm order 'Starboard ten', the correct action by the helmsman is to

A. Alter the ship's course by 10 degrees to starboard
B. Repeat the order and wait for confirmation before moving the wheel
C. Repeat the order, apply 10 degrees of starboard rudder and report 'Wheel starboard ten'
D. Apply 10 degrees of starboard rudder without replying

Answer: C — Repeat the order, apply 10 degrees of starboard rudder and report 'Wheel starboard ten'

Helm orders must be repeated, carried out and confirmed. The helmsman repeats the order, applies the stated rudder angle and reports when the rudder indicator shows it, so the officer knows it has been executed.

10. The helm order 'Hard-a-starboard' means

A. Alter course to starboard slowly
B. Hold the wheel firmly in the midships position
C. Put the rudder fully over to starboard
D. Apply 20 degrees of starboard rudder

Answer: C — Put the rudder fully over to starboard

'Hard-a-starboard' means the rudder is to be put to the maximum angle to starboard allowed by the steering gear. It is used for large, quick alterations such as emergency collision avoidance or man overboard.

11. When steering by follow-up (FU) hand steering, the rudder

A. Keeps moving as long as the lever is held over
B. Moves to the angle set on the wheel and stops there
C. Is moved directly by mechanical rods from the wheel
D. Is controlled automatically by the gyro compass

Answer: B — Moves to the angle set on the wheel and stops there

In follow-up mode the rudder follows the wheel: when the wheel is set to a given angle, the rudder moves to that angle and stops. This differs from non-follow-up steering, where the rudder moves only while the control is held.

12. When steering in non-follow-up (NFU) mode, the rudder

A. Is controlled by the autopilot
B. Follows the angle set on the steering wheel
C. Returns to midships automatically when the control is released
D. Moves only while the tiller or button is held and stays where it is when released

Answer: D — Moves only while the tiller or button is held and stays where it is when released

NFU steering acts like a direct on-off control of the steering gear. The rudder moves while the control is held and stops at that angle when released, so the helmsman must watch the rudder angle indicator closely.

13. Under SOLAS Chapter V, the change-over from automatic to manual steering and vice versa shall be made

A. Only by the electrical officer
B. Only by the master
C. By, or under the supervision of, a responsible officer
D. By the helmsman on his own decision

Answer: C — By, or under the supervision of, a responsible officer

SOLAS regulation V/24 requires that change-over between automatic and manual steering is made by, or under the supervision of, a responsible officer, usually the OOW. A rating carries it out only on the officer's order.

14. Under SOLAS Chapter V, the ship's steering gear shall be checked and tested by the ship's crew before departure within

A. 12 hours
B. 24 hours
C. 48 hours
D. 6 hours

Answer: A — 12 hours

SOLAS regulation V/26 requires checks and tests of the steering gear within 12 hours before departure, including the main and auxiliary steering gear, remote control systems and rudder angle indicator response.

15. Under SOLAS Chapter V, emergency steering drills are to be carried out at least once every

A. Month
B. Year
C. Three months
D. Six months

Answer: C — Three months

SOLAS regulation V/26 requires emergency steering drills at least once every three months, including direct control from the steering gear compartment and the communication procedure with the bridge.

16. The echo sounder on the bridge measures the

A. Distance to other ships
B. Speed of the ship through the water
C. Height of the tide
D. Depth of water below the ship's transducer

Answer: D — Depth of water below the ship's transducer

The echo sounder transmits a sound pulse downward from a transducer in the hull and measures the time taken for the echo to return from the seabed, which is converted into the depth below the ship.

17. An electromagnetic log measures the ship's

A. Depth of water
B. Speed through the water
C. Heading
D. Speed over the ground

Answer: B — Speed through the water

The electromagnetic log senses the voltage induced by water flowing past a sensor in a magnetic field, which is proportional to the ship's speed through the water. A Doppler log in bottom-track mode can give speed over the ground.

18. Marine radar determines the range of a target by

A. Measuring the brightness of the target's lights
B. Measuring the time taken for a transmitted radio pulse to return as an echo
C. Receiving the target ship's AIS signal
D. Using satellite positions

Answer: B — Measuring the time taken for a transmitted radio pulse to return as an echo

Radar transmits short radio pulses through a rotating scanner; the time between transmission and the return of the echo gives the range, and the scanner direction gives the bearing of the target.

19. Which of the following is NOT a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)?

A. LORAN-C
B. GPS
C. GLONASS
D. Galileo

Answer: A — LORAN-C

GPS (USA), GLONASS (Russia) and Galileo (European Union) are satellite navigation systems. LORAN-C was a shore-based low-frequency radio navigation system and does not use satellites.

20. The geodetic datum used by GPS for position fixing is

A. ED 50
B. Tokyo Datum
C. OSGB 36
D. WGS 84

Answer: D — WGS 84

GPS positions are referred to the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84). The syllabus requires trainees to know this, because a chart on a different datum needs a correction before GPS positions are plotted.

21. The main purpose of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) is to

A. Record bridge conversations for accident investigation
B. Automatically exchange ship identity, position, course and speed with other ships and shore stations
C. Alert the OOW if he falls asleep
D. Measure the ship's speed through water

Answer: B — Automatically exchange ship identity, position, course and speed with other ships and shore stations

AIS enhances safety, security and environmental protection by automatically exchanging identity and voyage data between ships and with shore stations, helping to identify and track vessels and improving the watchkeeper's situational awareness.

22. The Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) is fitted on ships mainly to

A. Transmit the ship's position to the flag State every six hours
B. Record the crew's working and rest hours
C. Store data such as bridge audio, VHF communications, position and radar images for investigation after an accident
D. Display electronic charts

Answer: C — Store data such as bridge audio, VHF communications, position and radar images for investigation after an accident

The VDR, like an aircraft 'black box', securely stores key data from before and during an incident so that investigators can reconstruct events. A simplified version (S-VDR) is fitted on some existing cargo ships.

23. The Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) is designed to

A. Give warning of approaching ships
B. Warn of shallow water ahead
C. Raise an alarm if the officer on watch does not reset it within a set time, indicating he may be incapacitated
D. Detect fire on the bridge

Answer: C — Raise an alarm if the officer on watch does not reset it within a set time, indicating he may be incapacitated

BNWAS monitors bridge activity. If the OOW does not acknowledge it within the set period, alarms are raised first on the bridge and then to the master or back-up officer, guarding against a sleeping or incapacitated watchkeeper.

24. Under the LRIT system, ships automatically transmit their position to the flag Administration

A. Every hour
B. Four times a day, every 6 hours
C. Once a day
D. Only when requested by a port

Answer: B — Four times a day, every 6 hours

Long Range Identification and Tracking (SOLAS V/19-1) requires ships on international voyages to transmit identity, position and time automatically at 6-hour intervals, i.e. four times a day, unless more frequent reports are requested.

25. A course recorder on the bridge

A. Records the engine revolutions
B. Plots the ship's position on the chart
C. Continuously records the ship's heading against time
D. Records the conversations on the bridge

Answer: C — Continuously records the ship's heading against time

The course recorder draws a continuous record of the ship's heading against time, taken from the gyro compass. It shows how well the course was steered and when alterations were made.

26. A satellite EPIRB used in GMDSS transmits its distress alert on

A. 2182 kHz
B. 156.8 MHz
C. 9 GHz
D. 406 MHz

Answer: D — 406 MHz

Cospas-Sarsat satellite EPIRBs transmit on 406 MHz, carrying a coded identity of the ship, and usually a GNSS position, to rescue coordination centres. 156.8 MHz is VHF channel 16 and 9 GHz is the X-band radar frequency.

27. When a radar SART is activated and interrogated by a ship's X-band radar, it appears on the radar screen as

A. A line of 12 dots extending outward from the SART's position
B. A flashing red light
C. A circle around the own ship
D. A single bright spot

Answer: A — A line of 12 dots extending outward from the SART's position

A radar SART responds to 9 GHz radar pulses with a series of signals that appear as a line of 12 dots outward along its bearing. The dot nearest the own ship marks the survival craft's position.

28. If a ship's EPIRB is accidentally activated, the correct action is to

A. Switch it off and say nothing to avoid a penalty
B. Leave it transmitting until the next port
C. Switch it off and inform the nearest coast station or rescue coordination centre to cancel the false alert
D. Throw it overboard

Answer: C — Switch it off and inform the nearest coast station or rescue coordination centre to cancel the false alert

False alerts waste search and rescue resources. GMDSS procedure is to stop the transmission and immediately notify the RCC or coast station to cancel the alert. The syllabus stresses avoidance of false distress alerts.

29. VHF channel 16 (156.8 MHz) is used for

A. Routine port operations only
B. Ship-to-ship conversations of any length
C. Digital selective calling only
D. Distress, urgency and safety traffic and for calling

Answer: D — Distress, urgency and safety traffic and for calling

Channel 16 is the international VHF distress, urgency, safety and calling channel and must be kept clear. After establishing contact, routine traffic is moved to a working channel; DSC uses channel 70.

30. Under the IMDG Code, dangerous goods are divided into

A. 7 classes
B. 9 classes
C. 12 classes
D. 5 classes

Answer: B — 9 classes

The IMDG Code, following the UN classification, divides dangerous goods into nine classes, some with divisions, such as explosives, gases, flammable liquids and corrosives. Ratings must recognise the class labels on cargo and stores.

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GSK exit exam questions and answers — Set 18 — General Ship Knowledge

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