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DG Exit Exam
Answer Key

GSK exit exam questions and answers — Set 6 — General Ship Knowledge

Set 6 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 6 — 30 GSK exit exam questions with answers

1. A bowsing tackle is used to

  • A. Tow the life raft
  • B. Lash the lifeboat to the davits
  • C. Keep the lifeboat close to the embarkation deck
  • D. Lowering the lifeboat oars
Answer: C — Keep the lifeboat close to the embarkation deck
A bowsing tackle is a system of ropes and blocks used to secure a lifeboat snugly against the ship's side or davit while it is in its stowed position, preventing movement and ensuring stability.

2. On joining the ship the crew members should familiarize themselves with the

  • A. Muster list
  • B. Crew list
  • C. Contents of the lifeboat
  • D. Menu
Answer: A — Muster list
Upon joining a ship, crew members must familiarize themselves with the Muster List. This document details emergency duties, muster stations, and procedures, ensuring each crew member knows their role in various emergency scenarios.

3. A tank entry permit is to be completed before entering into the

  • A. Ballast comchapterment
  • B. Meat room
  • C. Steering gear comchapterment
  • D. Battery room
Answer: A — Ballast comchapterment
A tank entry permit is required before entering confined spaces that may contain hazardous substances or an oxygen-deficient atmosphere. Ballast tanks, particularly those that have contained chemicals or are used for cargo, require this permit due to potential gas hazards.

4. An oil fire can be extinguished by

  • A. Cutting off the fuel supply
  • B. Smothering with foam
  • C. Cooling with a water jet
  • D. Removing the burning material
Answer: B — Smothering with foam
Oil fires (Class B) are effectively extinguished by smothering the fuel surface with foam. This prevents oxygen from reaching the fuel, thus extinguishing the fire, and also provides a cooling effect.

5. The pump room in a tanker should be ventilated

  • A. Only when there is a gas leak
  • B. When the pumps are running
  • C. Prior entry
  • D. After entering
Answer: C — Prior entry
The pump room on tankers must be ventilated prior to entry to disperse any accumulated flammable or toxic gases. This is a critical safety procedure to prevent ignition or exposure to hazardous atmospheres before personnel enter.

6. Safety helmet is used to protect the head

  • A. From getting wet
  • B. Against adverse weather
  • C. From falling objects
  • D. From inflammable gases
Answer: C — From falling objects
Safety helmets are a fundamental piece of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) designed to protect the wearer's head from injury caused by falling objects or impacts during work on a vessel.

7. When the low pressure alarm sounds on the SCBA the user should

  • A. Remove the face mask
  • B. Vacate the comchapterment immediately
  • C. Monitor the pressure in the bottles
  • D. Close the air bottle valve
Answer: B — Vacate the comchapterment immediately
When the low-pressure alarm sounds on a SCBA, it signifies a critically low air supply. The user must immediately and safely exit the hazardous atmosphere to avoid suffocation or running out of air.

8. An enclosed space entry permit is to be completed before entering into the

  • A. Forepeak store
  • B. Provision store
  • C. Paint store
  • D. Loaded cargo hold
Answer: D — Loaded cargo hold
A loaded cargo hold, especially if carrying certain types of cargo, can pose risks of hazardous atmosphere (e.g., toxic gases, oxygen deficiency) and must be entered under a permit system. This ensures proper gas testing and ventilation procedures are followed.

9. The ullage tape lowered into a cargo tank of a tanker should be earthed to prevent

  • A. Tank going empty
  • B. Pump running dry
  • C. Tank overflow
  • D. Static hazards
Answer: D — Static hazards
Eathing the ullage tape when measuring cargo tanks prevents the buildup of static electricity, which could lead to sparks and potentially ignite flammable cargo vapors. This is a vital safety measure on tankers.

10. FFA on board means

  • A. Fixed fire appliances
  • B. Fire fighting appliances
  • C. Fire fighting arrangements
  • D. Foam fire apparatus
Answer: B — Fire fighting appliances
FFA is the standard maritime abbreviation for Fire Fighting Appliances, which includes all equipment and systems used on board for combating fires, such as extinguishers, hoses, and fixed systems.

11. The objective of Marpol is to

  • A. Improve cleanliness on board
  • B. Prevent and control pollution from ships
  • C. Improve safety in accommodation
  • D. Ensure adequate stability for ships
Answer: B — Prevent and control pollution from ships
MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) is the primary international convention aimed at preventing and minimizing pollution of the marine environment from ships, covering both accidental and operational discharges.

12. Risk assessment is carried out to

  • A. Assess the time required for a job
  • B. Identify the risks involved with a chaptericular task
  • C. Fill up the required forms
  • D. Decide how many people are required for a job
Answer: B — Identify the risks involved with a chaptericular task
Risk assessment is a systematic process to identify potential hazards associated with a specific task, evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm, and implement control measures to mitigate risks. It is crucial for ensuring a safe working environment.

13. The SOPEP locker contains

  • A. Pyrotechnics and distress equipment
  • B. Machinery spares
  • C. Hold cleaning equipment
  • D. Oil spill containment equipment
Answer: D — Oil spill containment equipment
The SOPEP (Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan) locker is designated to store equipment for responding to oil spills. This includes items like oil booms, sorbents, and containment tools necessary to mitigate pollution events.

14. Boiler suit is used to protect the body

  • A. In wet weather
  • B. When working on deck
  • C. Against chemical contamination
  • D. When using the washing machine
Answer: B — When working on deck
A boiler suit, often referred to as overalls, provides general protection to clothing and skin from dirt, grease, and minor abrasions, commonly encountered when working in machinery spaces or on deck.

15. After every use, a fire hose must

  • A. Be stowed in a safety equipment locker
  • B. Have their couplings removed
  • C. Be tested to a pressure of 4 Kg/cm2
  • D. Be hung up to dry and later correctly stowed
Answer: D — Be hung up to dry and later correctly stowed
After use, fire hoses must be inspected, dried thoroughly to prevent degradation, and then correctly stowed to ensure they are ready and accessible for immediate deployment during an emergency.

16. Ship's galley is provided with the following for cooking

  • A. Diesel oil burners
  • B. Electric hot plates
  • C. Fuel oil burners
  • D. LPG burners
Answer: B — Electric hot plates
Modern ships primarily use electric hot plates and ovens in their galleys for cooking. While other methods exist, electric appliances are favored for their safety, efficiency, and ease of control onboard.

17. During bunkering the following sign should be displayed prominently

  • A. No smoking
  • B. Shore leave stopped
  • C. Visitors prohibited
  • D. Restricted area
Answer: A — No smoking
During bunkering operations, stringent safety precautions are mandatory. The 'No smoking' sign is a critical visual warning to prevent ignition sources near flammable cargo or fuels.

18. EEBD is used for

  • A. Going on deck in heavy weather
  • B. Emergency escape
  • C. Boarding survival craft
  • D. Fighting fires
Answer: B — Emergency escape
EEBD (Emergency Escape Breathing Device) is a self-contained breathing apparatus designed to provide breathable air for a limited duration, allowing personnel to escape from hazardous atmospheres, such as those with toxic gases or smoke.

19. Before lifting a lifeboat from the water, it must be ensured that

  • A. Engine is going astern
  • B. Fall wires are clear and hooked securely
  • C. Bottom plug is shipped tight
  • D. Sea anchor is streamed
Answer: B — Fall wires are clear and hooked securely
Before lifting a lifeboat, ensuring the fall wires are clear of obstructions and securely attached to the designated lifting points is paramount for safe and successful recovery. The bottom plug must also be shipped, but fall wire security is the immediate lifting prerequisite.

20. When lifting up weights, one should

  • A. Sit on knees and lift weight with a straight back
  • B. Keep arms outstretched and pick up weights
  • C. Keep the legs and arms straight
  • D. Keep knees straight and lift weight with bent arms
Answer: A — Sit on knees and lift weight with a straight back
When lifting heavy weights, the correct ergonomic technique involves bending the knees and keeping the back straight to utilize leg muscles and minimize strain on the spine, thereby preventing injury.

21. Emergency escape routes should be kept

  • A. Open always
  • B. Open when needed
  • C. Locked in port
  • D. Locked at sea
Answer: A — Open always
Emergency escape routes must be kept clear and unobstructed at all times to ensure safe and rapid evacuation during an emergency, regardless of location or operational status.

22. Immersion suit is used to prevent

  • A. Hypothermia
  • B. Heat burns
  • C. Drowning
  • D. Injuries
Answer: A — Hypothermia
An immersion suit is specifically designed to protect the wearer from hypothermia, which is a dangerous drop in body temperature, when entering cold water.

23. "Smothering" during fire fighting is achieved by

  • A. Covering with CO2
  • B. Cutting contact with air
  • C. Cutting fuel supply
  • D. Removing heat
Answer: B — Cutting contact with air
Smothering a fire involves cutting off the oxygen supply to the fuel. This is achieved by excluding air from the fire, thereby preventing combustion.

24. Match the term "ONE SHORT BLAST" with the most suitable answers given below:

  • A. One prolonged blast every two minutes
  • B. Five short blasts
  • C. Altering course to Starboard
  • D. One prolonged blast followed by two short
Answer: C — Altering course to Starboard
According to COLREGs, one short blast signifies intention to alter course to starboard while keeping out of the way of other vessels. This is a fundamental rule of the road.

25. When you see oil slick in the water at anchorage

  • A. Keep the lifeboat close to the embarkation deck
  • B. Do nothing
  • C. Lowering the lifeboat oars
  • D. Report to the duty officer
Answer: D — Report to the duty officer
An oil slick at anchorage indicates a potential pollution incident. This must be immediately reported to the duty officer to initiate appropriate response procedures as per MARPOL regulations.

26. Before you start welding you must obtain a

  • A. Enclosed place permit
  • B. Shore leave permit
  • C. Hot work permit
  • D. Cold work permit
Answer: C — Hot work permit
Welding is considered a 'hot work' activity due to the potential ignition sources it generates. A hot work permit is mandatory to ensure safety precautions are in place before commencing such operations.

27. When receiving LSA/FFA items on board, all items must be

  • A. Of approved type
  • B. Received in good packing
  • C. Open it and check contents against delivery order
  • D. Cheaply available
Answer: A — Of approved type
When receiving Life Saving Appliances (LSA) or Fire Fighting Appliances (FFA) on board, it is essential that all equipment is of an approved type and meets regulatory standards (e.g., SOLAS, LSA Code).

28. Fire extinguishing medium in cargo tank of tanker is

  • A. Dry Powder
  • B. Foam
  • C. CO 2
  • D. Sea water
Answer: B — Foam
For tankers, foam is the primary extinguishing medium for cargo tank fires. It effectively cools the surface and forms a barrier, suppressing flammable vapors.

29. A working aloft permit is to be completed before working on the

  • A. Navigational bridge deck
  • B. Mast house on deck
  • C. Fore mast
  • D. Aft deck
Answer: C — Fore mast
Working aloft refers to any work performed at a height, such as on the fore mast, and requires a specific permit to ensure all safety precautions are taken.

30. During rough weather or at night before going on deck you must inform

  • A. Duty officer
  • B. Duty engineer
  • C. Bosun
  • D. Chief officer
Answer: A — Duty officer
Before venturing on deck in hazardous conditions like rough weather or at night, it is imperative to inform the duty officer. This ensures someone is aware of your location and activity for safety.

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