1. The beam of a vessel refers to the ____.
- A. Depth between decks
- B. Internal cubic capacity
- C. Moulded depth of the vessel
- D. Width of the vessel
Answer: D — Width of the vessel
Beam is the breadth or width of the ship, usually measured at the widest point. Moulded depth is the vertical distance from the keel to the deck, and internal capacity is expressed as tonnage.
2. The pivoting point of a fully loaded vessel with normal trim proceeding ahead at sea speed is ____.
- A. Right at the bow
- B. About one-third of the vessel's length from the bow
- C. About one-half of the vessel's length from the bow
- D. About two-thirds of the vessel's length from the bow
Answer: B — About one-third of the vessel's length from the bow
When making headway, the pivot point moves forward to roughly one-third of the length from the bow (about a quarter to a third). This is the point about which the ship appears to turn when the rudder is applied.
3. The upward slope of a ship's bottom from the keel to the bilge is known as ____.
- A. Camber
- B. Slope
- C. Deadrise
- D. Keel height
Answer: C — Deadrise
Deadrise, or rise of floor, is the upward slope of the bottom from the keel to the turn of the bilge. Camber is the transverse curvature of the deck, which is higher at the centreline.
4. What are the normal duty hours for a watchkeeper?
- A. 6 hours on and 6 hours off
- B. 4 hours on and 8 hours off
- C. 4 hours on and 4 hours off
- D. 8 hours on and 8 hours off
Answer: B — 4 hours on and 8 hours off
The traditional three-watch system on merchant ships divides the day into six 4-hour watches, so each watchkeeper stands 4 hours on and 8 hours off, twice a day, within STCW rest-hour limits.
5. Crude oil tankers carry
- A. Naphtha
- B. Crude oil
- C. Kerosene
- D. Chemical cargoes
Answer: B — Crude oil
Crude oil tankers carry unrefined petroleum from oil fields to refineries. Refined products such as naphtha and kerosene are carried in product tankers, and chemicals in IBC Code chemical tankers.
6. When backing down with sternway, the pivot point of a vessel is ____.
- A. About one-quarter of the vessel's length from the stern
- B. At the bow
- C. About one-third of the vessel's length from the bow
- D. Aft of the propellers
Answer: A — About one-quarter of the vessel's length from the stern
With sternway the pivot point moves aft to about a quarter of the length from the stern, so the bow swings widely while the stern moves little when turning.
7. The forecastle is at the
- A. Stern of the ship
- B. Fore part of the ship
- C. Amidships
- D. Above the bridge
Answer: B — Fore part of the ship
The forecastle (fo'c'sle) is the raised deck structure at the bow of the ship, housing windlass, mooring equipment and stores. The poop is at the stern.
8. The cargo hold of a cellular container ship has which of the following fittings inside?
- A. Cell guides
- B. Pillars
- C. Hatch boards
- D. Tween decks
Answer: A — Cell guides
Container holds are fitted with vertical cell guides that locate and restrain stacked containers, so they need no lashings below deck. Pillars and tween decks would obstruct the cells.
9. A passenger ship is any ship which carries more than ____.
- A. 4 passengers
- B. 6 passengers
- C. 9 passengers
- D. 12 passengers
Answer: D — 12 passengers
SOLAS Chapter I, Regulation 2 defines a passenger ship as a ship which carries more than twelve passengers. Ships carrying twelve or fewer passengers are treated as cargo ships for SOLAS purposes.
10. What term indicates the outward curvature of the hull above the waterline?
- A. Sheer
- B. Tumble home
- C. Deadrise
- D. Flare
Answer: D — Flare
Flare is the outward spread of the hull sides above the waterline, mainly seen in the bow region, which helps throw spray clear and adds reserve buoyancy. Tumble home is the opposite, an inward curvature of the sides.
11. The head of the engine department is the ____.
- A. Master
- B. Chief Engineer
- C. Second Engineer
- D. Chief Officer
Answer: B — Chief Engineer
The Chief Engineer heads the engine department and is responsible to the Master for the operation and maintenance of the propulsion plant and all machinery. The Second Engineer is his deputy.
12. Ultra large crude carriers (ULCC) can carry cargo up to about ____.
- A. 200,000 tonnes
- B. 300,000 tonnes
- C. 400,000 tonnes
- D. 500,000 tonnes
Answer: D — 500,000 tonnes
ULCCs are the largest tankers, generally above about 320,000 tonnes deadweight and ranging up to around 500,000 tonnes or more. VLCCs cover the range of roughly 200,000 to 320,000 tonnes deadweight.
13. What term indicates the length measured along the summer load line from the fore side of the stem to the after side of the rudder post?
- A. Length overall
- B. Register length
- C. Length between perpendiculars
- D. Length on the waterline
Answer: C — Length between perpendiculars
Length between perpendiculars is measured on the summer load line from the forward perpendicular, where the load line meets the fore side of the stem, to the after perpendicular at the after side of the rudder post or rudder stock centre.
14. Bulk carriers are designed to transport ____.
- A. Crude oil
- B. Containers
- C. Heavy lifts
- D. Dry bulk cargo
Answer: D — Dry bulk cargo
Bulk carriers are single-deck ships with large holds designed to carry unpackaged dry bulk cargoes such as grain, coal, iron ore and cement. Crude oil is carried in tankers and containers in container ships.
15. What term indicates the curvature of the decks in a longitudinal direction?
- A. Deadrise
- B. Camber
- C. Sheer
- D. Flare
Answer: C — Sheer
Sheer is the fore-and-aft curvature of the deck, rising towards the bow and stern from amidships. It increases reserve buoyancy at the ends and helps keep the deck dry. Camber is the transverse curvature.
16. The total weight of cargo, fuel, water, stores, passengers and crew and their effects that a ship can carry is the ____.
- A. Bale cubic
- B. Deadweight
- C. Gross tonnage
- D. Loaded displacement
Answer: B — Deadweight
Deadweight is the difference between the loaded displacement and the lightship displacement, i.e. the total weight of cargo, fuel, fresh water, stores, crew, passengers and effects a ship can carry. Gross tonnage is a volume measure.
17. Accommodation space on a ship is provided ____.
- A. On one deck only
- B. On two decks only
- C. On three decks only
- D. On multiple decks depending on crew strength
Answer: D — On multiple decks depending on crew strength
The number of accommodation decks varies with ship type, size and the number of crew carried, so accommodation is arranged on as many decks as required. There is no fixed single number of decks for all ships.
18. Multipurpose ships generally have ____.
- A. No cargo handling gear
- B. To use shore cranes to discharge cargo
- C. Their own cargo handling gear to discharge cargo
- D. No high-capacity cranes
Answer: C — Their own cargo handling gear to discharge cargo
Multipurpose ships are designed to trade to ports with limited facilities and carry general, project and container cargo, so they are usually fitted with their own cranes or derricks, often of high capacity, to load and discharge cargo.
19. The highest place on a ship which houses antennas is ____.
- A. The bridge
- B. The monkey island
- C. The foremast
- D. The aft mast
Answer: B — The monkey island
The monkey island is the open deck on top of the wheelhouse, the highest accessible platform on the ship. It carries the radar scanners, radio antennas, standard compass and navigation light mast.
20. When underway and proceeding ahead, as the speed increases the pivot point tends to ____.
- A. Move aft
- B. Move forward
- C. Move lower
- D. Remain stationary
Answer: B — Move forward
When a ship gathers headway the pivot point moves forward from near amidships towards a position about one quarter to one third of the length from the bow. With sternway it moves aft towards the stern.
21. A vessel will squat when it proceeds underway ____.
- A. Only in deep water
- B. Only in shallow water
- C. In all depths of water
- D. Only in narrow channels
Answer: C — In all depths of water
Squat is the bodily sinkage and change of trim caused by increased flow velocity and reduced pressure around the hull. It occurs in all depths of water, but becomes much more pronounced in shallow water and confined channels, varying roughly with speed squared.
22. Which term refers to the transverse curvature of the deck?
- A. Deadrise
- B. Camber
- C. Freeboard
- D. Flare
Answer: B — Camber
Camber, or round of beam, is the athwartships curvature of the deck, higher at the centreline than at the sides. It allows water on deck to drain towards the scuppers and adds some strength to the deck.
23. Vehicles are loaded on to a Ro-Ro ferry through the ____.
- A. Hatch cover
- B. Tween deck
- C. Bulbous bow
- D. Ramp
Answer: D — Ramp
Ro-Ro ferries are designed so that vehicles drive on and off under their own power via bow, stern or side ramps connected to the shore. Hatch covers are used for lift-on/lift-off cargo, not wheeled cargo.
24. The upward slope of a vessel's bottom from the keel to the bilge is called ____.
- A. Camber
- B. Sheer
- C. Rake
- D. Rise of bottom
Answer: D — Rise of bottom
Rise of bottom, also called rise of floor or deadrise, is the upward slope of the bottom plating from the keel out to the turn of the bilge. Camber and sheer refer to deck curvature, and rake to the inclination of stem or masts.
25. What is the Safety Management System (SMS)?
- A. Part of SOLAS for the safety of crew only
- B. Part of the Company's policies and procedures for first aid
- C. Part of the ISM Code which requires documented work procedures to ensure safe performance
- D. Part of STCW which provides for safe manning
Answer: C — Part of the ISM Code which requires documented work procedures to ensure safe performance
The ISM Code requires every company to develop, implement and maintain a Safety Management System, a structured and documented system including procedures, instructions and checklists that ensure safe operation of ships and protection of the environment.
26. The distance a vessel moves parallel to the original course from the point where the rudder is put over to any point on the turning circle is called the ____.
- A. Advance
- B. Drift angle
- C. Pivoting point
- D. Transfer
Answer: A — Advance
Advance is the distance travelled in the direction of the original course from the moment the rudder is put over, usually quoted for a 90° change of heading. Transfer is the corresponding distance measured at right angles to the original course.
27. How does bank suction act on a single-screw vessel proceeding along a narrow channel?
- A. It pulls the stern toward the bank
- B. It heels the vessel toward the bank
- C. It pushes the entire vessel away from the bank
- D. It pulls the bow toward the bank
Answer: A — It pulls the stern toward the bank
Restricted flow between the hull and a nearby bank creates a low-pressure area that draws the stern towards the bank, while the pressure build-up at the bow pushes it away (bank cushion). The vessel therefore tends to sheer away from the bank.
28. As a watchkeeper, when should you relieve the previous watchkeeper?
- A. 15 to 30 minutes before the start of your watch
- B. 5 minutes before your watch
- C. Exactly on time
- D. 1 hour before your watch starts
Answer: A — 15 to 30 minutes before the start of your watch
Good watchkeeping practice and company SMS procedures require the relieving officer to arrive about 15 to 30 minutes early to adjust night vision and be fully briefed on the ship's position, traffic, navigational situation and standing orders before taking over.
29. What international regulatory requirements govern management and organisation on board?
- A. MARPOL
- B. OPA 90
- C. STCW alone
- D. STCW and the ISM Code of the IMO
Answer: D — STCW and the ISM Code of the IMO
STCW sets the standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for personnel, while the ISM Code requires a company Safety Management System defining responsibilities, authority and procedures on board. Together they govern shipboard management and organisation.
30. What does ISM stand for in the ISM Code?
- A. International Security Mandate
- B. Internal Safety Management
- C. International Safety Management
- D. Internal Security Management
Answer: C — International Safety Management
ISM stands for International Safety Management. The ISM Code, made mandatory by SOLAS Chapter IX, provides an international standard for the safe management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention.
