Skip to content
DG Exit Exam
Home
Answer Key

PST exit exam questions and answers — Set 3

Set 3 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.

Bank last rebuilt .

Practise these PST questions PST mock exit exam, 30 marks PST exit exam sets and syllabus

30 of 30 shown · Set 3

Nothing in this set matches that. Try a shorter word, or search the whole key.

Set 3 — 30 PST exit exam questions with answers

1. Lifeboat must be stowed in such a way that they can be launched in ______ mins:

  • A. 15 mins
  • B. 20 mins
  • C. 10 mins
  • D. 05 mins
Answer: C — 10 mins
SOLAS requires that for cargo ships, lifeboats must be capable of being boarded and launched in less than 10 minutes from the time the abandon ship signal is given.

2. A distress signal on deck:

  • A. NC Flag
  • B. Pyrotechnics
  • C. All of the above
  • D. Open fire
Answer: C — All of the above
In an emergency, all available means to attract attention, including pyrotechnics, fire, and recognized flag signals (like N over C), should be used.

3. SART stands for:

  • A. Search and Rescue Radar Transmitor
  • B. Search and Rescue Radar Transformer
  • C. Search and Rescue Radar Transmission
  • D. Search and Rescue Radar Transponder
Answer: D — Search and Rescue Radar Transponder
SART is the acronym for Search and Rescue Radar Transponder, which acts as a secondary aid to help rescue craft locate survivors via their onboard radar.

4. Your vessel has been in collision and you are not sure if your vessel is sinking or not, How will you handle this situation?

  • A. Wait and see how the situation is developing
  • B. Search for missing person, continue to monitor the situation and prepare for event management in case it becomes necessary
  • C. Make sure that the lifeboat has as much fuel as possible and make your course for nearest land
  • D. Leave the vessel and stay not closer than 5 NM
Answer: B — Search for missing person, continue to monitor the situation and prepare for event management in case it becomes necessary
In a potential sinking, the priority is to account for all personnel (search), maintain awareness of the ship's integrity (monitor), and prepare emergency systems (contingency).

5. What is a fire wire?

  • A. Wire for pulling fire hoses upto the top bridge
  • B. Wire for securing smoke divers
  • C. Wire for handling fire bucket
  • D. Wire for pulling burning ships off the pier
Answer: D — Wire for pulling burning ships off the pier
A fire wire is a wire rope provided on tankers at the bow and stern to enable tugs to pull the vessel away from a pier in the event of a fire.

6. Quantity of water in lifeboat per person:

  • A. 2Ltrs
  • B. 4Ltrs
  • C. 3Ltrs
  • D. 5Ltrs
Answer: C — 3Ltrs
SOLAS requires 3 liters of fresh water per person for lifeboats, which is sufficient for initial survival needs while awaiting rescue.

7. How many servival craft walkie talkie required as per SOLAS for a ship of more than 500GT?

  • A. 5
  • B. 1
  • C. 3
  • D. 2
Answer: D — 2
SOLAS requires a minimum of three two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus for ships of 500 GT and above to ensure communication between the survival craft and the rescuing vessel.

8. Quantity of water in Life raft per person:

  • A. 1.5 Ltrs
  • B. 2.5 Ltrs
  • C. 2 Ltrs
  • D. 3 Ltrs
Answer: A — 1.5 Ltrs
SOLAS standards for liferaft equipment specify a lower water requirement than for lifeboats, providing 1.5 liters of water per person.

9. What equipment is provided in Life raft to help you keep warm in cold weather?

  • A. TPA for each person
  • B. The floor of the raft has a second layer which can be inflated to help insulation in addition to the TPA
  • C. At least 10% or 2 TPA of the total crew
  • D. The floor of the raft has a second layer which can be inflated to give additional insulation from the cold
Answer: B — The floor of the raft has a second layer which can be inflated to help insulation in addition to the TPA
Insulated floors in liferafts help prevent conduction heat loss from the cold sea water, which is a critical design feature for survival in cold climates.

10. Which of the listed requirements do not corresponds to present regulation the life raft shall have:

  • A. Manually controlled lamp fitted inside the liferaft
  • B. Floor preventing the ingress of water
  • C. All entrances fitted with rigid boarding ramps for boarding the life raft
  • D. Manually controlled lamp visible of at least two miles fitted at the top of the canopy
Answer: C — All entrances fitted with rigid boarding ramps for boarding the life raft
Rigid boarding ramps are not a universal requirement for all liferafts; however, they must be designed for safe entry, and internal/external lights are standard safety features.

11. Your vessel have been in collision with another vessel, you are taking in water and you have to prepare for leaving the vessel. How will you act?

  • A. Assist your friends to collect their personal belonging
  • B. Just jump overboard and be ready
  • C. Collect your own personal belongings
  • D. Send a distress message and collect survival suits/Thermal bags
Answer: D — Send a distress message and collect survival suits/Thermal bags
A professional response involves immediate communication of the distress to authorities, followed by orderly preparation using thermal protection and survival equipment.

12. Which one of the listed requirements regarding the stowage of a survival craft corresponds to present SOLAS regulations? Each survival craft shall be stowed:

  • A. In a secure and sheltered position and protected from damage by fire and explosion
  • B. Wherever space is available
  • C. In a state of readiness so that two crew members can prepare
  • D. On the starboard side of the ship
Answer: C — In a state of readiness so that two crew members can prepare
SOLAS mandates that survival craft must be stowed in a state of readiness, so that two crew members can prepare them for launching within the prescribed time limits.

13. Which one of the listed requirements regarding LSA do not corresponds to present regulations?

  • A. All prescribed LSA shall be made of non-combustible or fire retardant material
  • B. All prescribed LSA shall be of a highly visible colour
  • C. All prescribed LSA shall be fitted with a retro reflective material which will assist in detection
  • D. All prescribed LSA shall be resistant to deterioration where exposed to sunlight
Answer: A — All prescribed LSA shall be made of non-combustible or fire retardant material
LSA is generally required to be fire-resistant; however, the term 'non-combustible' is a strict standard that may not apply to all individual components of every piece of life-saving equipment.

14. Which one of the listed requirements regarding launching appliances for survival craft and rescue boat do not corresponds to present regulation?

  • A. Launching appliances shall be constructed for minimum amount of routine maintainance
  • B. The launching mechanism shall be arranged for actuating from a position within the survival craft or rescue boat in addition to a position on the ships deck
  • C. Parts requiring regular maintenance by ships crew shall be readily accessible
  • D. All launching appliances shall be capable of recovering survival craft and rescue boats with their crew
Answer: D — All launching appliances shall be capable of recovering survival craft and rescue boats with their crew
Launching appliances are generally designed for launching, not for recovery, with the specific exception of designated rescue boats which must be recoverable.

15. Maximum carrying capacity of a lifeboat:

  • A. 100 Persons
  • B. 150 Persons
  • C. 25 Persons
  • D. 50 Persons
Answer: B — 150 Persons
Under current SOLAS regulations, the maximum carrying capacity of a lifeboat is limited to 150 persons.

16. An Immersion suit shall permit the person wearing it:

  • A. Jump from a height of not less than 4.5m
  • B. Perform normal duties associated with abandoning ship
  • C. All of the above
  • D. Climb up and down a vertical ladder of atleast 5m in length
Answer: C — All of the above
Immersion suits must allow the user to perform all necessary abandon-ship tasks, including climbing ladders and jumping from specified heights without sustaining injury.

17. Checking and servicing life rafts as per PMS is:

  • A. Once a year
  • B. Once in 5 years
  • C. Twice a year
  • D. Based on condition of Liferaft
Answer: A — Once a year
Liferafts must be serviced at an approved shore-based facility every 12 months (annually) to ensure the inflation system and emergency pack remain in operational condition.

18. Before lifting a Lifeboat from water it should be ensured that:

  • A. Engine is going astern
  • B. Falls wires are clear and secured tightly
  • C. Sea anchor is streamed
  • D. Bottom plug is secured tight
Answer: B — Falls wires are clear and secured tightly
Before lifting a lifeboat, it is critical to ensure that the falls wires are properly seated in the blocks and secured to the boat's releasing gear. This prevents the boat from tilting or dropping during the hoist, ensuring a stable and safe recovery process.

19. Which one of the routine test and inspection of LSA is not required by regulations:

  • A. General emergency alarm to be tested daily
  • B. Survival craft and Rescue boats with launching appliances shall be visually inspected weekly
  • C. Lifeboat engine should be run for atleast 3 mins every week
  • D. Inspection of Lifeboat equipments shall be carried out monthly
Answer: A — General emergency alarm to be tested daily
The general emergency alarm is tested during fire and abandon ship drills, which are required to be held at least once a month, not daily. Other options represent standard weekly or monthly maintenance routines under SOLAS LSA Code requirements.

20. The function of hydrostatic release unit is:

  • A. For releasing lifeboat from sinking vessel
  • B. Substitute for limit switch of gravity davits
  • C. To automatically unhook the lashing and release the life raft when the ship sinks
  • D. For releasing life raft in bad weather
Answer: C — To automatically unhook the lashing and release the life raft when the ship sinks
The hydrostatic release unit (HRU) is designed to operate automatically at a depth of 1.5 to 4 meters. When a vessel sinks, the pressure forces a piston to cut a weak link, allowing the liferaft to float free and inflate, thus preventing it from being pulled down by the sinking vessel.

21. Lifeboat should have:

  • A. 2 Buoyant rescue quoits, attached to not less than 30mtrs buoyant line
  • B. 1 buoyant rescue quoits attached to not less than 15mtrs buoyant line
  • C. 2 buoyant rescue quoits attached to not less than 15mtrs buoyant line
  • D. 1 Buoyant rescue quoits, attached to not less than 30mtrs buoyant line
Answer: A — 2 Buoyant rescue quoits, attached to not less than 30mtrs buoyant line
SOLAS Chapter III, LSA Code requires each lifeboat to be equipped with two buoyant rescue quoits, each attached to a buoyant line of not less than 30 meters in length. These are essential for recovering persons from the water.

22. The muster list shows who is the designated GMDSS operator. What do the letters GMDSS stand for?

  • A. General Maritime Distress and Safety System
  • B. Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
  • C. Global Maritime Distress and Security System
  • D. Global Marine Distress and Safety System
Answer: B — Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
GMDSS stands for Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. It is an internationally agreed-upon set of safety procedures, types of equipment, and communication protocols used to increase safety and make it easier to rescue distressed ships, boats, and aircraft.

23. A mobile unit in distress should transmit the appropriate alarm signal followed by the distress call and message on one or all international distress frequencies. Which of the following sets of frequencies is correct?

  • A. 500 kHz, 1642 kHz, and 156.8 MHz
  • B. 400 kHz, 2182 kHz, and 121.5 MHz
  • C. 600 kHz, 2182 kHz, and 156.5 MHz
  • D. 500 kHz, 2182 kHz, and 156.8 MHz
Answer: D — 500 kHz, 2182 kHz, and 156.8 MHz
The frequency 500 kHz (radiotelegraphy), 2182 kHz (radiotelephony), and 156.8 MHz (VHF Channel 16) are the designated international distress and calling frequencies. While technology has shifted toward DSC, these remain the core frequencies for distress alerting.

24. Using spoken communication, what is the code word used to indicate a distress message?

  • A. Mayday
  • B. Emergency
  • C. Pan Pan
  • D. Securite
Answer: A — Mayday
In GMDSS, 'Mayday' is the international radiotelephony distress signal. It is spoken three times to indicate a station is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.

25. What action should the GMDSS operator take in a distress situation when embarking a survival craft?

  • A. Leave them on board the main vessel
  • B. Switch on only the EPIRB
  • C. Keep EPIRB and SART switched off until a ship is seen
  • D. Switch on EPIRB and SART immediately and leave them on
Answer: D — Switch on EPIRB and SART immediately and leave them on
EPIRBs and SARTs are essential survival equipment. When abandoning ship, the GMDSS operator must ensure they are switched on and taken into the survival craft to provide continuous location data for search and rescue units.

26. What do the letters E.P.I.R.B. stand for?

  • A. Emergency Place Indicating Radio Beacon
  • B. Emergency Position Indicating Radar Beacon
  • C. Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon
  • D. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
Answer: D — Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
EPIRB stands for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. These devices are designed to transmit distress signals to satellites, providing the location of a vessel in distress to rescue authorities.

27. EPIRB alerting is a:

  • A. Primary means of distress alerting
  • B. Non-essential means of distress alerting
  • C. Tertiary means of distress alerting
  • D. Secondary means of distress alerting
Answer: D — Secondary means of distress alerting
EPIRB alerting is considered a secondary means or a component of the alerting process. Primary alerting often involves GMDSS DSC equipment (VHF/MF/HF) which provides immediate notification to nearby vessels and shore stations.

28. EPIRB works on which satellite system?

  • A. Iridium
  • B. COSPAS-SARSAT
  • C. GPS / GLONASS
  • D. Inmarsat
Answer: B — COSPAS-SARSAT
EPIRBs operate using the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system. This international system detects and locates distress signals transmitted by radio beacons on 406 MHz.

29. LEOSAR stands for:

  • A. Low Earth Orbiting Systems for Search and Rescue
  • B. Long Earth Orbiting Satellites for SAR
  • C. Light Earth Orbiting Satellites for SAR
  • D. Low Earth Orbiting Satellites for SAR
Answer: D — Low Earth Orbiting Satellites for SAR
LEOSAR stands for Low Earth Orbiting Search and Rescue. These satellites circle the earth in polar orbits, enabling the system to detect and locate beacons anywhere on the globe.

30. How many EPIRBs are carried on board a ship as per Solas regulations?

  • A. Three
  • B. Two
  • C. Four
  • D. One
Answer: D — One
SOLAS regulations require all cargo ships and passenger ships on international voyages to carry at least one float-free satellite EPIRB, typically stored on the bridge or an easily accessible deck.

Printing this? Use your browser's Print (Ctrl/⌘ + P) — the buttons, the search box and the site chrome drop out and the questions run on as plain text, so a set fits a few pages. Filter to one set first if you only want that set on paper.

Practise these PST questions as a timed paper All 268 PST questions and answers PST exit exam sets and syllabus All 27 STCW exit exam courses