Question 1

During your oral exam you are asked: what is the purpose of carrying out a "dead ship" drill or recovery procedure, and what does it test?

Accepted Answer

It tests the vessel's ability to recover from a total loss of main power (blackout) without external assistance, including starting the emergency generator, restoring essential services, and successfully starting the main engine from a cold/dead ship condition — verifying that emergency procedures, battery condition, and starting air/compressed air reserves are adequate A "dead ship" condition — total loss of propulsion and main electrical power with no external assistance available to restore it — is a scenario every vessel must be able to recover from under its own resources, and the drill verifies that emergency generator starting (often battery-dependent), starting air/compressed air reserves for main engine starting, and the sequence of restoring essential systems (steering, navigation lights, communication) all function as intended. Deficiencies found during such drills — flat emergency batteries, insufficient starting air pressure, or unclear procedures — represent exactly the kind of latent failure that could leave a vessel genuinely disabled and require external towage/salvage if a real blackout occurred, particularly in confined waters or poor weather.

Question 2

You're asked to test a deck crane grab after electrical repairs nearby. As the grab is hoisted, what should have happened first?

Accepted Answer

The area within the grab's swing radius should be cleared of personnel before the lift On the bulk carrier Fairfield Eagle, a crew member working nearby was struck and fatally injured when a grab being test-lifted after repairs swung unexpectedly. The investigation found the area should have been cleared and barriered before the test lift began.

Question 3

A toolbox talk held before a lifting operation should explicitly cover which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Who must remain clear of the exclusion zone while the lift takes place A toolbox talk exists to make sure everyone present understands the danger zones, the abort signal, and — critically — who must not be in the area while the lift happens. The RMIMA investigation into the Fairfield Eagle fatality found the toolbox talk had not made this clear.