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PSCRB exit exam questions and answers — Set 11 — Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats

Set 11 of the Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSCRB) exit exam bank — 30 of 389 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 11 — 30 PSCRB exit exam questions with answers

1. In rough weather, when should a lifeboat on gravity davits normally be lowered to the water from the embarkation position?

  • A. Steadily and continuously, so that it is released on the crest of a wave
  • B. In short stages, stopping frequently above the waves
  • C. Slowly at first and then free-fall the last few metres
  • D. Only when the ship is beam-on to the sea
Answer: A — Steadily and continuously, so that it is released on the crest of a wave
In a seaway, a steady continuous descent with the hooks released as a crest lifts the boat avoids the craft hanging and swinging against the hull, or being dropped into a trough with the falls still attached.

2. For how long must a lifeboat engine be capable of operating out of the water after starting from cold with the lifeboat in the stowed position?

  • A. Not less than 1 hour
  • B. Not less than 30 seconds
  • C. Not less than 24 hours
  • D. Not less than 5 minutes
Answer: D — Not less than 5 minutes
The LSA Code requires the engine and starting arrangements to be capable of operating for not less than 5 minutes after starting from cold with the lifeboat out of the water, so the engine can be started and tested before launching.

3. Which type of engine must be fitted to a SOLAS lifeboat?

  • A. A petrol (spark-ignition) outboard engine
  • B. A compression-ignition (diesel) engine
  • C. A gas-turbine engine
  • D. An electric motor run from the ship's mains
Answer: B — A compression-ignition (diesel) engine
LSA Code paragraph 4.4.6.1 requires every lifeboat to be powered by a compression-ignition engine and prohibits the use of any engine whose fuel has a flashpoint of 43 degrees C or less.

4. An engine must NOT be used in any lifeboat if its fuel has a closed-cup flashpoint of

  • A. 100 degrees C or more
  • B. 60 degrees C or more
  • C. 80 degrees C or more
  • D. 43 degrees C or less
Answer: D — 43 degrees C or less
LSA Code paragraph 4.4.6.1 states that no engine shall be used for any lifeboat if its fuel has a flashpoint of 43 degrees C or less (closed cup test), to reduce the risk of fire in the confined boat.

5. A lifeboat engine fitted with a power starting system must have

  • A. Two independent rechargeable energy sources
  • B. A starting system supplied from the ship's main switchboard only
  • C. One sealed non-rechargeable battery
  • D. A compressed-air bottle charged from the engine room
Answer: A — Two independent rechargeable energy sources
The LSA Code requires the engine to be provided with either a manual starting system or a power starting system with two independent rechargeable energy sources, so that failure of one source does not prevent starting.

6. The lifeboat engine must remain capable of operating when the lifeboat is flooded up to

  • A. The underside of the engine bed
  • B. The level of the engine cylinder heads
  • C. The centreline of the crankshaft
  • D. The thwarts
Answer: C — The centreline of the crankshaft
The LSA Code requires the engine and its accessories to be capable of operating with the lifeboat flooded up to the centreline of the crankshaft, so propulsion is maintained even after water has entered the boat.

7. Lifeboat engine-starting, radio and searchlight batteries may be recharged from the ship's power supply at a voltage not exceeding

  • A. 110 V
  • B. 440 V
  • C. 50 V
  • D. 220 V
Answer: C — 50 V
The LSA Code requires means for recharging lifeboat batteries from the ship's power supply at a supply voltage not exceeding 50 V, disconnectable at the embarkation station, or by a solar battery charger.

8. What type of portable fire-extinguishing equipment must be provided in a motor lifeboat?

  • A. A water fire bucket only
  • B. A fire hose connected to the bilge pump
  • C. Equipment of an approved type suitable for extinguishing oil fires
  • D. A fixed CO2 flooding system
Answer: C — Equipment of an approved type suitable for extinguishing oil fires
The LSA Code requires every motor lifeboat to carry portable fire-extinguishing equipment of an approved type suitable for extinguishing oil fires, because the main fire risk in the boat is from engine fuel and lubricating oil.

9. In a lifeboat suspended from two falls, the release mechanism must be designed so that

  • A. The forward hook releases first
  • B. Each hook is released by a separate person
  • C. Both hooks are released simultaneously
  • D. The after hook releases first
Answer: C — Both hooks are released simultaneously
LSA Code paragraph 4.4.7.6 requires the release mechanism to release all hooks simultaneously; releasing one hook before the other would leave the boat hanging by one end and could throw the occupants into the sea.

10. What is the purpose of a fall preventer device (FPD) fitted to a lifeboat's on-load release hooks?

  • A. To provide an alternative load path that prevents the boat falling if the hooks open accidentally during drills or maintenance
  • B. To release the hooks automatically when the boat is waterborne
  • C. To slow the lowering speed of the lifeboat
  • D. To prevent the falls from unwinding off the winch drum
Answer: A — To provide an alternative load path that prevents the boat falling if the hooks open accidentally during drills or maintenance
IMO guidance (MSC.1/Circ.1327) introduced fall preventer devices as an interim measure to secure the lifeboat independently of the hook if the on-load release opens unintentionally, protecting crew during drills and maintenance.

11. Under SOLAS III/20 and resolution MSC.402(96), what operational test must be carried out on lifeboat on-load release gear at least once every five years?

  • A. A test with the lifeboat empty and the falls slack
  • B. A visual inspection only, with the boat in the stowed position
  • C. An overload test at 2.5 times the safe working load
  • D. An operational test under a load of 1.1 times the total mass of the lifeboat with full complement and equipment
Answer: D — An operational test under a load of 1.1 times the total mass of the lifeboat with full complement and equipment
SOLAS III/20.11 requires the on-load release gear to be thoroughly examined annually and, at least every five years, operationally tested under a load of 1.1 times the total mass of the lifeboat when loaded with its full complement and equipment.

12. What is the minimum carrying capacity required of a rescue boat under the LSA Code?

  • A. Five seated persons and a person lying on a stretcher
  • B. Three seated persons
  • C. Ten seated persons and two stretchers
  • D. Six persons standing
Answer: A — Five seated persons and a person lying on a stretcher
LSA Code chapter V requires rescue boats to be capable of carrying at least five seated persons and a person lying on a stretcher, enough to carry its crew and recover a casualty who needs to be kept horizontal.

13. A rescue boat must be capable of manoeuvring at speeds of up to 6 knots and maintaining that speed for at least

  • A. 4 hours
  • B. 1 hour
  • C. 24 hours
  • D. 30 minutes
Answer: A — 4 hours
The LSA Code requires rescue boats to be capable of manoeuvring at speeds up to 6 knots and maintaining that speed for a period of at least 4 hours, giving enough endurance for search and recovery work.

14. At what minimum speed must a rescue boat be able to tow the largest liferaft carried on the ship, loaded with its full complement and equipment?

  • A. 2 knots
  • B. 4 knots
  • C. 1 knot
  • D. 6 knots
Answer: A — 2 knots
The LSA Code requires every rescue boat to have sufficient mobility and manoeuvrability to tow the largest liferaft carried on the ship, loaded with its full complement and equipment or the equivalent, at a speed of at least 2 knots.

15. The recovery time of a rescue boat loaded with its full complement and equipment must not exceed

  • A. 30 minutes in rough seas
  • B. 2 minutes in any conditions
  • C. 5 minutes in moderate sea conditions
  • D. 15 minutes in calm water
Answer: C — 5 minutes in moderate sea conditions
SOLAS regulation III/17 requires the rescue boat recovery time to be not more than 5 minutes in moderate sea conditions when the boat is loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment.

16. Under SOLAS III/19, how often should rescue boats, wherever reasonable and practicable, be launched with their assigned crew aboard and manoeuvred in the water?

  • A. Once a year at the safety equipment survey
  • B. Once every six months
  • C. Each month, and in any case at least once every three months
  • D. Once a week
Answer: C — Each month, and in any case at least once every three months
SOLAS regulation III/19 requires rescue boats, other than lifeboats that are also rescue boats, wherever reasonable and practicable to be launched each month with their assigned crew aboard and manoeuvred in the water, and in any case at least once every three months.

17. Under what condition may a petrol-driven outboard engine be fitted to a rescue boat?

  • A. Only if the boat carries a fixed CO2 system
  • B. Petrol engines are never permitted in rescue boats
  • C. The fuel tanks must be specially protected against fire and explosion
  • D. Only if the boat is never used in drills
Answer: C — The fuel tanks must be specially protected against fire and explosion
The LSA Code allows rescue boats to be fitted with an inboard engine or an outboard motor, and permits petrol-driven outboard engines with an approved fuel system provided the fuel tanks are specially protected against fire and explosion.

18. Inflated rescue boats must be stowed

  • A. Fully inflated at all times
  • B. Partly inflated to reduce stress on the fabric
  • C. Inflated only in tropical waters
  • D. Deflated in a valise and inflated only before launching
Answer: A — Fully inflated at all times
The LSA Code requires inflated rescue boats to be maintained at all times in a fully inflated condition, so that they are ready to launch immediately without any inflation delay.

19. What is the purpose of the kill-cord (emergency stop lanyard) on a rescue boat outboard engine?

  • A. To lift the engine when beaching
  • B. To start the engine in cold weather
  • C. To connect the fuel tank to the engine
  • D. To stop the engine automatically if the helmsman is thrown from the steering position
Answer: D — To stop the engine automatically if the helmsman is thrown from the steering position
The kill-cord is attached to the helmsman; if he is thrown overboard or away from the controls, the cord pulls out and stops the engine, preventing a runaway boat and propeller injuries to persons in the water.

20. Before starting a rescue boat outboard engine, the gear lever should be placed in

  • A. Neutral
  • B. Full ahead
  • C. Any position, as the propeller is disconnected
  • D. Astern
Answer: A — Neutral
Starting in neutral prevents the boat moving off unexpectedly and protects persons near the propeller; most outboards have a start-in-gear protection which prevents starting unless neutral is selected.

21. After starting an outboard engine, a steady stream of water from the tell-tale outlet indicates that

  • A. The engine is running in astern gear
  • B. Cooling water is circulating through the engine
  • C. The bilge is being pumped out
  • D. The fuel tank is full
Answer: B — Cooling water is circulating through the engine
Outboard engines are cooled by sea water drawn in by an impeller pump; the tell-tale jet shows water is circulating. No jet means the engine must be stopped to prevent overheating and impeller damage.

22. Why should an outboard engine not be run for long out of the water?

  • A. The water pump impeller and engine will be damaged by lack of cooling water
  • B. The propeller will over-speed and shear the drive pin
  • C. The fuel will freeze in the carburettor
  • D. The battery will discharge completely
Answer: A — The water pump impeller and engine will be damaged by lack of cooling water
The water pump impeller is lubricated and cooled by the water it pumps; running out of water destroys the impeller quickly and the engine then overheats. Tests out of water use a flushing device supplying water.

23. Before starting a rescue boat outboard engine with a separate portable tank, what must be checked on the fuel tank?

  • A. That the tank air vent is open and the fuel line is primed
  • B. That the tank contains only lubricating oil
  • C. That the tank is completely sealed with the vent closed
  • D. That the tank is disconnected from the engine
Answer: A — That the tank air vent is open and the fuel line is primed
With the vent closed a vacuum forms as fuel is drawn off and the engine stops; the vent must be open and the fuel line primed, usually by squeezing the primer bulb until firm, before starting.

24. When approaching a beach or shallow water in a rescue boat fitted with an outboard engine, the engine should be

  • A. Removed from the transom before approaching
  • B. Left fully down with the kill-cord removed
  • C. Run at full speed to drive the boat onto the beach
  • D. Tilted up to protect the propeller and lower unit from grounding
Answer: D — Tilted up to protect the propeller and lower unit from grounding
Tilting the outboard as the water shoals protects the propeller, skeg and gearcase from striking the bottom, while keeping enough immersion for the cooling water intake until the boat is clear.

25. When launching a rescue boat from a ship making headway, how should the painter be rigged?

  • A. Secured to the after end of the boat and led aft
  • B. Not rigged, as it would capsize the boat
  • C. Held in the hand of the bowman only
  • D. Led well forward and secured on the ship so the boat rides alongside under control after release
Answer: D — Led well forward and secured on the ship so the boat rides alongside under control after release
A painter led forward allows the released boat to tow alongside under control on the ship's way; the coxswain can then start, sheer away and release the painter once the boat is running, rather than being swept aft.

26. The Williamson turn as a man-overboard manoeuvre is most useful because it

  • A. Keeps the person in the water on the weather side throughout
  • B. Brings the ship back onto its original track on a reciprocal course, even when the person was lost some time earlier
  • C. Requires no change of rudder
  • D. Is the fastest manoeuvre to stop the ship
Answer: B — Brings the ship back onto its original track on a reciprocal course, even when the person was lost some time earlier
The Williamson turn returns the ship to its original track on a reciprocal heading, making it suited to night, poor visibility or delayed reports where the person is not in sight, though it is slower than a single turn.

27. In a search and rescue operation, who is designated to coordinate search and rescue operations within a specified area at the scene?

  • A. The master of the vessel in distress
  • B. The coxswain of the first rescue boat to arrive
  • C. The Rescue Coordination Centre's duty radio operator
  • D. The On-Scene Coordinator (OSC)
Answer: D — The On-Scene Coordinator (OSC)
Under the IAMSAR Manual, the SAR Mission Coordinator designates an On-Scene Coordinator to coordinate the search and rescue facilities at the scene; often this is the master of the first suitable ship to arrive.

28. As a rescue boat comes alongside a person in the water, the coxswain should

  • A. Keep the engine in gear at full speed
  • B. Steer the boat directly over the person
  • C. Approach stern-first with the engine racing
  • D. Stop or disengage the propeller when close to the person
Answer: D — Stop or disengage the propeller when close to the person
The propeller is a serious hazard to a person in the water; the boat should approach slowly, and the propeller is disengaged or the engine stopped when close enough for the crew to reach and recover the casualty.

29. In a man-overboard situation from a ship, which action should be taken immediately by the person who sees the casualty fall?

  • A. Go to the bridge to report personally before doing anything else
  • B. Launch the rescue boat alone
  • C. Jump in to assist the person
  • D. Raise the alarm, throw a lifebuoy and keep the person in sight while pointing at them
Answer: D — Raise the alarm, throw a lifebuoy and keep the person in sight while pointing at them
The first observer must raise the alarm, throw a lifebuoy (preferably with light and smoke signal) and continuously watch and point at the casualty; losing sight of a person in the water is a major cause of failed recovery.

30. When a rescue boat is towing a liferaft and slack occurs in the towline in a seaway, the coxswain should

  • A. Shorten the line to less than 5 m
  • B. Increase to full speed to keep the line taut
  • C. Cut the towline and leave the raft
  • D. Adjust speed and towline length to keep the line from snatching
Answer: D — Adjust speed and towline length to keep the line from snatching
Snatching of the towline in a seaway can damage the raft's towing patch or capsize it; speed and towline length should be adjusted, usually lengthening the line in heavier seas, so both craft ride in step.

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