Your vessel runs aground. Your examiner asks: "What are your immediate and follow-up actions as Master, with particular reference to damage assessment?"

A. Stop engines/assess immediate risk before any attempt to refloat under own power (which can worsen damage if the hull is holed), sound all tanks/compartments to establish flooding extent, check for pollution (initiate SOPEP if oil is or may be released), assess tidal state and weather trend, consult damage stability information if flooding is confirmed, and only attempt refloating once a proper risk assessment (including possible salvage/class/flag state notification) has been completed — refloating without this assessment risks converting a contained grounding into an uncontrolled flooding casualty.

B. Apply full astern power immediately on grounding in every case, since rapid refloating is always the safest response regardless of hull condition.

C. Grounding has no MARPOL reporting implication unless oil is visibly observed in the water.

D. Damage stability information is not relevant to a grounding scenario, only to collision scenarios.

A. Assess current and predicted residual stability/freeboard using the damage stability information against the actual flooding observed, weigh the immediate availability of professional salvage assistance (who can begin stabilising the situation, e.g. damage control, additional pumping, controlled grounding/anchoring advice) against the deteriorating risk of waiting two days for a tug while the casualty remains in an uncertain damage condition, and engage the salvor promptly if their assessment confirms a safety benefit — balanced against commercial/contractual considerations (e.g. LOF) which must not override the safety decision.

B. Always wait for the tug regardless of the salvor's immediate availability, since tugs are inherently more capable than salvage vessels in any damage scenario.

C. The decision is purely commercial and should be left entirely to the company/charterers without the Master's independent safety judgement.

D. Immediate salvage engagement is never appropriate without prior written authorisation from the flag state in every case.

A. Raise the alarm and assess the immediate threat to propulsion/power and watertight integrity (closing relevant watertight doors, isolating affected systems), establish the extent and rate of flooding to inform pumping/counter-flooding decisions, consult the damage stability information for the engine-room-flooded case (or nearest equivalent) to predict residual freeboard/stability, and consider whether the vessel can remain self-sufficient or requires external assistance/evacuation preparation — engine room flooding is especially serious because it can simultaneously threaten propulsion, power for pumps, and stability.

B. Engine room flooding has no specific damage stability consideration distinct from any other compartment, since all compartments are treated identically.

C. The correct first action is always to abandon ship immediately on any report of engine room flooding, without further assessment.

D. Damage stability information is irrelevant once flooding has actually started; it is a design-stage document only.