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PST exit exam questions and answers — Set 2

Set 2 of the Personal Survival Techniques (PST) exit exam bank — 30 of 268 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 2 — 30 PST exit exam questions with answers

1. What is the primary function of the painter line on an inflatable life raft before launching?

  • A. Serves as operating line to trigger CO2 gas inflation cylinder when pulled
  • B. Used for tying crew bags
  • C. Acts as electric cable for canopy light
  • D. Secures sea anchor
Answer: A — Serves as operating line to trigger CO2 gas inflation cylinder when pulled
Unrolling the painter line (25-36m length) to its end operates the inflation valve mechanism to instantly inflate the raft.

2. What is the required length of a life raft painter line for a raft stowed at a height of 10 meters above the waterline?

  • A. At least 15 meters plus stowage height (minimum 25 meters total)
  • B. 10 meters
  • C. 5 meters
  • D. 100 meters
Answer: A — At least 15 meters plus stowage height (minimum 25 meters total)
SOLAS LSA Code mandates painter length to be at least 15m plus the distance from stowage position to waterline in lightest seagoing condition (min 28m for high stowage).

3. What safety feature prevents an inflatable life raft from over-inflating and bursting when CO2 gas discharges rapidly?

  • A. Safety relief valves fitted on each main buoyancy chamber
  • B. Manual drain cocks
  • C. Rubber expansion bellows
  • D. Automatic air release zipper
Answer: A — Safety relief valves fitted on each main buoyancy chamber
Overpressure relief valves automatically vent excess CO2 gas if pressure exceeds design operating limit (approx 2 psi / 0.14 bar).

4. What device inside a life raft container automatically activates the canopy light when the raft inflates?

  • A. Water-activated or mechanical pull-switch connected to battery pack
  • B. Solar panel switch
  • C. Manual toggle switch on roof
  • D. Remote control radio signal
Answer: A — Water-activated or mechanical pull-switch connected to battery pack
As inflation chambers expand, a mechanical pull pin or sea-water contact activates the lithium battery powering internal and top canopy lights.

5. How many hand flares are required in a SOLAS Pack A life raft equipment pack?

  • A. 6 red hand flares
  • B. 2 red hand flares
  • C. 10 red hand flares
  • D. 12 red hand flares
Answer: A — 6 red hand flares
SOLAS LSA Code requires 6 red hand-held flares (burning at >= 15,000 cd for >= 1 minute) per Pack A liferaft.

6. What type of first aid kit items are specially provided in a SOLAS life raft survival equipment pack?

  • A. Waterproof band-aids, burn treatment dressing, pain relievers, and anti-seasickness tablets
  • B. Surgical scalpel and bone saws
  • C. Penicillin injections
  • D. Intravenous blood bags
Answer: A — Waterproof band-aids, burn treatment dressing, pain relievers, and anti-seasickness tablets
Life raft first aid kits contain waterproof dressings, bandages, burn treatment, analgesics, and anti-motion sickness medication.

7. What is the purpose of the retro-reflective tape patches applied to life rafts, lifejackets, and immersion suits?

  • A. To reflect searchlight beams from rescue ships and helicopters for high visibility at night
  • B. To absorb solar heat
  • C. To prevent shark attacks
  • D. To seal fabric tears
Answer: A — To reflect searchlight beams from rescue ships and helicopters for high visibility at night
IMO-approved retro-reflective material reflects incoming light rays directly back to source, aiding night optical/infrared detection.

8. What is the function of the rain-water catchment system on a life raft canopy?

  • A. To collect rainwater into internal storage hoses and plastic collection bags for drinking
  • B. To wash raft floor
  • C. To cool CO2 cylinders
  • D. To fill ballast pockets
Answer: A — To collect rainwater into internal storage hoses and plastic collection bags for drinking
Canopy gutters channel rainwater into interior tubes, providing vital extra fresh water during prolonged ocean survival.

9. What action should survivors take when a rescue helicopter approaches a life raft for winch retrieval?

  • A. Allow winch hook to touch sea water first to discharge static electricity before touching hook
  • B. Grab winch hook while suspended in air
  • C. Tie winch cable to life raft arch tube
  • D. Stand up on upper canopy roof
Answer: A — Allow winch hook to touch sea water first to discharge static electricity before touching hook
Helicopters build high electrostatic charges; grounding the winch cable in sea water prevents severe electric shock to survivors.

10. What is the correct method for securing a rescue strap (strop) lowered from a search and rescue helicopter?

  • A. Pass strop over head and under both armpits, pull padded ring tight against chest, face winch operator
  • B. Hold strop by hands only
  • C. Loop strop around feet
  • D. Tie strop to lifejacket neck strap
Answer: A — Pass strop over head and under both armpits, pull padded ring tight against chest, face winch operator
The padded rescue strop goes under both arms, cinched tight in front so survivor cannot slip out during vertical lift.

11. What is the function of a buoyant rescue quoit and line attached to an inflatable life raft?

  • A. To throw to survivors in the water near the raft to haul them safely to the boarding ramp
  • B. To measure ocean depth
  • C. To tie up to dock posts
  • D. To anchor raft
Answer: A — To throw to survivors in the water near the raft to haul them safely to the boarding ramp
A buoyant ring (quoit) attached to at least 30m of floating line is thrown to nearby survivors in the water.

12. What is the purpose of the inflatable floor in a SOLAS life raft?

  • A. Provides thermal insulation against cold sea water under the floor
  • B. Increases raft speed
  • C. Stores spare paddles
  • D. Acts as fresh water tank
Answer: A — Provides thermal insulation against cold sea water under the floor
The double-layer inflatable floor traps air, insulating survivors' feet and bodies from hypothermic sea-water heat transfer.

13. Under SOLAS regulations, how often must inflatable life rafts be landed ashore for servicing at an authorized service station?

  • A. Every 12 months (annual servicing)
  • B. Every 5 years
  • C. Every 2 years
  • D. Only after actual deployment
Answer: A — Every 12 months (annual servicing)
SOLAS III/20.8 mandates annual inspection and pressure testing of inflatable life rafts and HRUs at approved servicing stations.

14. What marking must be clearly stenciled on the outside of an inflatable life raft container?

  • A. Maker's name, serial number, SOLAS pack type, capacity (number of persons), and date of last service
  • B. List of crew names
  • C. Ship radio callsign only
  • D. Fuel consumption rate
Answer: A — Maker's name, serial number, SOLAS pack type, capacity (number of persons), and date of last service
Containers must display approved capacity, pack type (A or B), servicing station mark, last service date, and drop height limit.

15. What is the function of the manual inflation valve (topping valve) on a life raft chamber?

  • A. Allows connection of hand pump to add air or depress button to vent over-pressure
  • B. Connects to ship's main air compressor
  • C. Fills raft with sea water
  • D. Drains fuel
Answer: A — Allows connection of hand pump to add air or depress button to vent over-pressure
Non-return topping valves allow topping-up inflation using bellows or manual pressure relief if chambers over-expand in tropical heat.

16. What color is mandated for the outer canopy of all SOLAS inflatable life rafts and lifeboats?

  • A. International High-Visibility Orange
  • B. Dark Navy Blue
  • C. Sea Green
  • D. Black
Answer: A — International High-Visibility Orange
High-contrast international orange provides maximum visual recognition against sea background for air and surface searchers.

17. What is the purpose of the radar reflector packed with a life raft equipment kit?

  • A. To enhance the life raft's radar cross-section signal on searching ships' radar screens
  • B. To generate electrical power
  • C. To mirror sunlight flashes
  • D. To receive satellite radio broadcasts
Answer: A — To enhance the life raft's radar cross-section signal on searching ships' radar screens
A metal corner reflector elevates radar echo intensity, making small fiber/rubber rafts visible to 3cm and 10cm marine radars.

18. What action should be taken if the CO2 system inflates only one main buoyancy tube of a life raft?

  • A. Board raft carefully, locate non-return transfer valves or use hand pump to inflate second chamber
  • B. Abandon raft and swim away
  • C. Puncture inflated tube with knife
  • D. Open bottom drain plug
Answer: A — Board raft carefully, locate non-return transfer valves or use hand pump to inflate second chamber
Each main tube supports full rated capacity; topping up upper/lower tubes via hand bellows restores full double-buoyancy structure.

19. What is the purpose of the safety whistle attached to a SOLAS lifejacket?

  • A. To sound audible distress signals to nearby rescuers in fog or low visibility
  • B. To scare away birds
  • C. To signal engine room watchkeepers
  • D. To blow water out of lifejacket
Answer: A — To sound audible distress signals to nearby rescuers in fog or low visibility
Non-pealable high-pitch safety whistles produce loud acoustic signals that penetrate sea noise to guide rescuers in darkness or fog.

20. What is the requirement for retro-reflective material patches on an inflatable life raft canopy?

  • A. Fitted around top arch, canopy sides, and floor bottom to reflect searchlights from any angle
  • B. Fitted inside floor storage bag only
  • C. Not required on life rafts
  • D. Fitted on CO2 cylinder only
Answer: A — Fitted around top arch, canopy sides, and floor bottom to reflect searchlights from any angle
Retro-reflective tape strips must be placed on top and sides of canopy and under hull (if capsized) for 360-degree night searchlight reflection.

21. What key responsibility belongs to seafarers performing watchkeeping duties for operational safety and hazard prevention under Personal Survival Techniques?

  • A. Leaving watchkeeping station unattended
  • B. Continuous monitoring of operational parameters and immediate reporting of anomalies
  • C. Bypassing safety trips during routine operations
  • D. Operating equipment beyond design pressure limits
Answer: B — Continuous monitoring of operational parameters and immediate reporting of anomalies
Continuous vigilance and prompt communication are core watchkeeping duties under STCW.

22. Which document contains detailed hazard data and emergency handling instructions for substances involved in regulatory compliance and STCW code requirements during Personal Survival Techniques?

  • A. Bill of Lading description
  • B. Ship's Cargo Manifest summary page
  • C. Safety Data Sheet (SDS) / Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
  • D. Crew List document
Answer: C — Safety Data Sheet (SDS) / Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Safety Data Sheets provide critical hazard identification, PPE requirements, and first aid response steps.

23. The number of lifebuoys on ship is dependent on:

  • A. Minimum of 15
  • B. What owners provide
  • C. Length of the vessel
  • D. Minimum of 10
Answer: C — Length of the vessel
SOLAS regulations specify the number of lifebuoys based on the length of the vessel (e.g., under 100m, 100-150m, etc.).

24. EPIRB stands for:

  • A. Escape Position Indicating Radar Beacon
  • B. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
  • C. Emergency Position Indicating Radar Beacon
  • D. Escape Position Indicating Radio Beacon
Answer: B — Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
EPIRB is the internationally recognized acronym for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, a device used to alert rescue authorities of a maritime distress situation.

25. Which of the following requirements for Immersion suit is correct?

  • A. All of the above
  • B. Allow the wearer to climb a vertical ladder of 5mtrs
  • C. Allow the wearer to jump from 4.5m
  • D. Donned within 2 minutes
Answer: A — All of the above
Immersion suits must meet stringent LSA code standards, including rapid donning, the ability to jump safely, and mobility for tasks like climbing ladders.

26. How much faster does the human body lose heat in the water?

  • A. 10
  • B. 26
  • C. 20
  • D. 36
Answer: B — 26
The human body loses heat approximately 26 times faster in water than in air of the same temperature, making cold water exposure a life-threatening emergency.

27. When person floating in the water in group, they should be in:

  • A. Help position
  • B. Huddle position
  • C. None of the above
  • D. Yoga position
Answer: B — Huddle position
The Huddle position reduces the exposed surface area of the body and promotes shared body heat among survivors, significantly delaying the onset of hypothermia.

28. How should the painter of a liferaft which is fitted with hydrostatic release unit be secured to the ship?

  • A. Directly to a secure point on the ship
  • B. Secured to the part of hydrostatic release that is designed to break free
  • C. It should not be secured anyway
  • D. Secured via weak link to a secured point on the ship
Answer: D — Secured via weak link to a secured point on the ship
The painter is the line that triggers the inflation of the raft; it must be connected via a weak link so the raft can break free if the ship sinks before the raft is manually released.

29. LTA is used as:

  • A. Heaving line
  • B. Mooring Line
  • C. Messenger line
  • D. Lashing line
Answer: C — Messenger line
LTA stands for Line Throwing Apparatus. It is used to fire a rocket-propelled line to another ship or shore as a messenger line for hauling heavier mooring or rescue lines.

30. Life jacket light shall be capable of providing luminous intensity of ______ for a period of ______:

  • A. .75cd/6hrs
  • B. .50cd/6hrs
  • C. .75cd/8hrs
  • D. .50cd/8hrs
Answer: C — .75cd/8hrs
SOLAS LSA Code requires that a life jacket light must provide a luminous intensity of at least 0.75 cd for a period of at least 8 hours.

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