Your examiner asks: "What precautions should be taken during the voyage once a cargo of coal has been loaded?"

A. Regular testing of the cargo hold atmosphere for methane and oxygen depletion/carbon monoxide (self-heating risk), monitoring of cargo and hold temperatures where practicable, appropriate ventilation management (balancing the need to remove gas build-up against the risk of introducing moist air that could worsen self-heating), and maintaining accurate records of all readings throughout the voyage.

B. No monitoring is required once the hold hatches are closed and sealed after loading.

C. Ventilation should be run continuously at maximum rate throughout the voyage with no monitoring of gas levels required.

D. Testing for gases is only required if the crew can visually observe smoke or smell burning; otherwise no routine testing is needed.

A. Group A: cargoes that may liquefy if carried at a moisture content exceeding their Transportable Moisture Limit (TML). Group B: cargoes that possess a chemical hazard which could give rise to a dangerous situation (e.g. self-heating, toxic, flammable). Group C: cargoes not liable to liquefy (Group A hazard) and not possessing chemical hazards (Group B hazard), though they may still have other physical hazards. Some cargoes can fall into more than one group simultaneously (e.g. both A and B).

B. The IMSBC Code uses the same Class 1-9 numbering system as the IMDG Code, with no separate A/B/C grouping.

C. There are only two categories: hazardous and non-hazardous, with no further sub-classification.

D. Group A cargoes are chemical-hazard cargoes; Group B cargoes are liquefaction-risk cargoes — the definitions are the reverse of common usage.

A. A shipper's declaration of the cargo's properties (including any chemical hazards relevant to Group B classification, such as self-heating or methane generation for coal), a signed certificate of the Transportable Moisture Limit, and a signed certificate of the actual Moisture Content at the time of shipment — all of which the Master/OOW should review and retain before agreeing to load.

B. No documentation is required for coal cargo specifically, since it is a long-established bulk trade.

C. Only a bill of lading is required; TML and moisture content certification apply only to mineral concentrates, not coal.

D. The shipper's declaration covers quantity and price only; moisture/TML certification is the receiving port's responsibility, not the shipper's.