Question 1

Flooding is discovered in the engine room and the bilge alarms are active. You cannot immediately identify the source. What does MGN 165(F) Section 7 say your first priority should be?

Accepted Answer

Close all sea valves until the flooding stops, regardless of whether the source is confirmed MGN 165(F) Section 7 is explicit: shut the relevant sea valve immediately, and if in doubt, close all sea valves until the flooding stops. On Freedom II, the skipper settled on a stern-seal diagnosis and never closed any valve &mdash; the actual source, a fractured deck wash pump suction pipe, drew from a sea cock that was never isolated.

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.