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PSCRB exit exam questions and answers — Set 1

Set 1 of the Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSCRB) exit exam bank — 30 of 160 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 1 — 30 PSCRB exit exam questions with answers

1. You are picking up a person who has fallen overboard. A rescue boat should be maneuvered to normally approach the victim with the

  • A. victim to windward
  • B. wind on your port side
  • C. victim to leeward
  • D. wind on your starboard side
Answer: C — victim to leeward
Approaching a person in the water with the victim to leeward allows the rescue boat to drift down onto the victim, preventing the hull from being blown over the person. This ensures the boat stays maneuverable and the victim remains protected by the boat's windward side.

2. Which will be the worst of emergencies that you would face, if that happens?

  • A. Collision
  • B. Grounding
  • C. Foundering
  • D. Flooding
Answer: C — Foundering
Foundering occurs when a ship fills with water and sinks, which is the ultimate, irreversible failure of a vessel's buoyancy. It represents the highest risk of total loss of life compared to flooding, collision, or grounding.

3. What is the biggest danger to life when your vessel has collided with another ship?

  • A. Building of Compartments
  • B. Oil Pollution
  • C. Possibility of Capsizing
  • D. Damage to the ship
Answer: C — Possibility of Capsizing
In a collision, the structural breach typically leads to rapid flooding and loss of stability. The danger of capsizing (turning over) is the most immediate threat to life as it restricts escape routes and prevents the launching of survival craft.

4. If the hydrostatic release mechanism for an inflatable life raft is not periodically serviced and becomes inoperative, it will NOT

  • A. free the life raft from a sinking vessel
  • B. release the dye-maker for the life raft
  • C. set the water lights on immersion
  • D. break the seal on the carbon dioxide cylinder
Answer: A — free the life raft from a sinking vessel
The hydrostatic release unit (HRU) is designed to release the painter line of a liferaft when submerged to a specific depth (usually 1.5–4 meters). If inoperative, it will not free the liferaft from the sinking vessel.

5. If you reach shore in a life raft, the first thing to do is

  • A. set the raft back out to sea so someone may spot it
  • B. find some wood for a fire
  • C. drag the raft ashore and lash it down for shelter
  • D. get the provisions out of the raft
Answer: C — drag the raft ashore and lash it down for shelter
Once ashore, the primary survival goal is to secure the raft to protect it from being blown away or damaged by the tide. This provides a stable shelter from the elements while awaiting rescue.

6. When a person who has fallen overboard is being picked up by a rescue boat, the boat should normally approach with the wind

  • A. ahead and the victim just off the bow
  • B. astern and the victim just off the bow
  • C. just off the bow and the victim to leeward
  • D. just off the bow and the victim to windward
Answer: C — just off the bow and the victim to leeward
When approaching a person in the water, the rescue boat should be positioned with the wind on the boat's side that keeps the victim on the leeward side of the boat. This keeps the boat from drifting onto the victim.

7. A person has fallen overboard and is being picked up with a rescue boat. If the person appears in danger of drowning, the rescue boat should be maneuvered to make

  • A. An approach from leeward
  • B. an approach across the wind
  • C. the most direct approach
  • D. an approach from windward
Answer: C — the most direct approach
If a person is in immediate danger of drowning, the rescue boat must execute the most direct approach. Time is the critical factor in preventing aspiration and cardiac arrest, overriding standard drifting-approach protocols.

8. If the hydrostatic release mechanism for an inflatable life raft is not periodically serviced and becomes inoperable, it will fail to

  • A. set the water lights on immersion
  • B. release the dye marker from the life raft
  • C. free the life raft from the vessel
  • D. break the seal on the carbon dioxide cylinder
Answer: C — free the life raft from the vessel
A hydrostatic release is specifically designed to free the liferaft's painter line from the deck stowage cradle when the vessel sinks. If it fails, the liferaft will remain attached to the sinking ship.

9. If you are forced to abandon ship in a lifeboat, you should

  • A. head for the nearest land
  • B. remain in the immediate vicinity
  • C. vote on what to do, so all hands will have a part in the decision
  • D. head for the closest sea-lanes
Answer: B — remain in the immediate vicinity
After abandoning ship, survival craft should remain in the immediate vicinity of the last known position. This makes it easier for SAR (Search and Rescue) aircraft and vessels to locate survivors using visual, radar, or EPIRB signals.

10. When making a permanent repair to an inflatable life raft using a repair kit, how long after the repair is made should you hold off 'topping up' the lost air?

  • A. You do not have to hold off
  • B. 12 hours
  • C. 24 hours
  • D. 2 hours
Answer: C — 24 hours
When making a permanent repair to an inflatable liferaft, the adhesive requires 24 hours to cure fully. Attempting to top up the air pressure before this time can break the seal of the patch and cause leaks.

11. What prevents an inflated liferaft from being pulled under by a vessel which sinks in water over 100 feet in depth?

  • A. The hydrostatic release
  • B. Nothing
  • C. The weak link in the painter line
  • D. A Rottmer release
Answer: C — The weak link in the painter line
The weak link in the painter line is designed to break under a specific load if the vessel sinks in deep water. This prevents the sinking ship from dragging the inflated liferaft down with it.

12. What is placed on the underside of an inflatable liferaft to help prevent it from being skidded by the wind or overturned?

  • A. Strikes
  • B. Sea anchor
  • C. Ballast bags
  • D. A keel
Answer: C — Ballast bags
Ballast bags are water-filled pockets attached to the bottom of the liferaft. These bags act as a counterweight to provide stability, which significantly reduces the risk of the raft capsizing or skidding in strong winds.

13. The purpose for the bag or box on top of some survival craft is to

  • A. increase area for radar detection
  • B. act as a sail in case of a power loss
  • C. steady the craft in heavy seas
  • D. right the craft in case of capsizing
Answer: D — right the craft in case of capsizing
The righting strap or bag on top of some liferafts is used by survivors to flip the raft over in the event it inflates upside down. Survivors lean on the bag to gain leverage and right the craft.

14. If your vessel is equipped with inflatable life rafts, how should they be maintained?

  • A. Have them sent ashore to an approved maintenance facility annually
  • B. Have your crew check them annually
  • C. Have them serviced by the shipyard annually
  • D. They do not need any maintenance
Answer: A — Have them sent ashore to an approved maintenance facility annually
SOLAS regulations and manufacturer guidelines require inflatable liferafts to be inspected and serviced annually by an approved, specialized maintenance facility to ensure their reliable inflation and structural integrity.

15. On most makes of inflatable life rafts, the batteries to operate the light on the inside of rafts can be made to last longer by

  • A. taking no action as they shut off automatically in daylight
  • B. operating the switch for the light
  • C. unscrewing the bulb during daylight
  • D. taking no action as there is no way of preserving power
Answer: B — operating the switch for the light
Operating the switch for the light allows the survivors to conserve the battery life. Keeping it off during the day or when visibility is not needed is the standard practice to ensure the light remains functional for nighttime signaling.

16. The No. 1 lifeboat on a ship would be found

  • A. aft of the forward lifeboat on the port side
  • B. on the starboard side
  • C. on the port side
  • D. aft of the forward lifeboat on the starboard side
Answer: B — on the starboard side
Per maritime convention, lifeboats on the starboard side are assigned odd numbers (1, 3, 5, etc.), while those on the port side are assigned even numbers (2, 4, 6, etc.). Therefore, No. 1 is on the starboard side.

17. The marine evacuation system shall be capable of transfer of persons from ship within

  • A. 10 min in the case of a passenger ship
  • B. 5 min in the case of a passenger ship
  • C. 30 min in the case of a passenger ship
  • D. 20 min in the case of a passenger ship
Answer: C — 30 min in the case of a passenger ship
Passenger ship safety requirements (SOLAS) mandate that the Marine Evacuation System (MES) must be capable of evacuating all persons on board within 30 minutes for passenger ships.

18. The marine evacuation system shall be capable of deployment

  • A. by three persons
  • B. by four persons
  • C. by two persons
  • D. by one person
Answer: D — by one person
Modern Marine Evacuation Systems (MES) are specifically engineered to be deployable by a single trained crew member. This ensures rapid emergency egress during a time-critical situation like a collision or fire.

19. If you must abandon a ship in VERY HEAVY SEAS, in a survival craft, when should you remove the safety pin and pull the hook release?

  • A. Only when waterborne
  • B. Upon first wave contact
  • C. One to three feet before first wave contact
  • D. Immediately upon launching
Answer: C — One to three feet before first wave contact
When launching in very heavy seas, the safety pin should be removed and the hook released just before the craft hits the water (approx. 1-3 feet). This ensures the craft is not lifted back up by a wave before it is properly waterborne.

20. Provided every effort is used to produce, as well as preserve body moisture content by avoiding perspiration, how long is it normally possible to survive without stored quantities of water?

  • A. Up to 3 days
  • B. 25 to 30 days
  • C. 15 to 20 days
  • D. 8 to 14 days
Answer: D — 8 to 14 days
Humans can typically survive for 8 to 14 days without water if they minimize water loss through perspiration and conserve energy. This duration assumes the person is in a sheltered, moderate-temperature environment.

21. The "off-load" release system on a survival craft is designed to be activated

  • A. when there is no load on the cable
  • B. only when the doors are closed
  • C. when the engine is started
  • D. when there is a load on the cable
Answer: A — when there is no load on the cable
An off-load release system is a safety feature that prevents the release of the liferaft or lifeboat from the davit until the full weight of the craft is supported by the water, preventing accidental premature release while suspended.

22. A life line must be connected to the life raft

  • A. all around
  • B. at the stern
  • C. at the bow
  • D. in the middle
Answer: A — all around
A life line must be fitted around the entire exterior of an inflatable liferaft. This allows survivors who are in the water to hold onto the raft or pull themselves aboard from any direction.

23. Your ship is sinking rapidly. A container containing an inflatable life raft has bobbed to the surface upon functioning of the hydrostatic release. Which action should you take?

  • A. Manually open the container and inflate the life raft with the hand pump.
  • B. Take no action because the painter will cause the life raft to inflate and open the container.
  • C. Swim away from the container so you will not be in danger as it goes down.
  • D. Cut the painter so it will not pull the life raft container down.
Answer: B — Take no action because the painter will cause the life raft to inflate and open the container.
The painter is permanently secured to the ship via a weak link. As the ship sinks, the tension on the painter triggers the inflation mechanism of the life raft, causing it to inflate and break the container. No manual intervention is required for the initial inflation.

24. The hand brake of a lifeboat winch is

  • A. manually disengaged when hoisting a boat
  • B. automatically engaged if lowering speed is excessive
  • C. applied by dropping the counterweighted lever
  • D. controlled by the centrifugal brake mechanism
Answer: C — applied by dropping the counterweighted lever
The hand brake of a gravity davit lifeboat winch is normally held in the 'off' position by a counterweighted lever. Releasing or 'dropping' this lever applies the brake, halting the descent of the lifeboat.

25. The sea painter of an inflatable life raft should be

  • A. stowed near the raft
  • B. faked out next to the case
  • C. free running on deck
  • D. secured to a permanent object on deck via a weak link
Answer: D — secured to a permanent object on deck via a weak link
The sea painter must be secured to a permanent, strong structural member of the ship using a weak link. This ensures that the painter remains attached long enough to trigger the inflation system but will break away once the life raft is fully inflated and the ship sinks.

26. To turn over an inflatable life raft that is upside down, you should pull on the

  • A. sea painter
  • B. manropes
  • C. righting strap
  • D. canopy
Answer: C — righting strap
Inflatable life rafts are designed with a specific righting strap underneath the floor. By standing on the CO2 cylinder side and pulling the strap, the weight of the person assists in flipping the raft over to its correct upright orientation.

27. The purpose of the tripping line on a sea anchor is to

  • A. aid in its recovery
  • B. maintain maximum resistance to broaching
  • C. direct the drift of the vessel
  • D. aid in casting off
Answer: A — aid in its recovery
The tripping line is a secondary line attached to the crown of the sea anchor. When it is time to recover the anchor, pulling the tripping line collapses the sea anchor, significantly reducing the drag and making it easier to haul aboard.

28. In normal conditions, in exterior spaces the minimum sound pressure levels for broadcasting emergency announcements shall be

  • A. 100 DB
  • B. 50 DB
  • C. 80 DB
  • D. 75 DB
Answer: C — 80 DB
SOLAS requirements for the Public Address system specify that in exterior spaces, the sound pressure level should be 80 dB to ensure that emergency announcements are audible above the ambient noise of wind, waves, and ship operations.

29. Sea sickness is caused by rolling or rocking motions which affect the fluids in the

  • A. Inner ear
  • B. Bladder
  • C. Stomach
  • D. Lower intestine
Answer: A — Inner ear
Sea sickness is a form of motion sickness triggered by the vestibular system located in the inner ear. The conflicting sensory input between visual cues and the body's movement causes the sensation of nausea.

30. Luminous intensity of hand flares should not be less than

  • A. 25000 CD
  • B. 20000 CD
  • C. None of the above
  • D. 15000 CD
Answer: D — 15000 CD
According to the LSA Code, hand flares must be capable of burning for at least one minute with a luminous intensity of not less than 15,000 candela. This ensures high visibility for search and rescue units.

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