Question 1

You're alone on the bridge, fatigued, approaching a turn point on a stretch of water you're not normally certified to navigate without a pilot present. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Call for a second qualified officer, or the Master, to be present before executing the turn Exxon Valdez's Third Mate was left alone on a stretch of water he wasn't legally qualified to navigate without a pilot present, and was fatigued at the time. Requesting backup before a safety-critical manoeuvre is a legitimate and expected use of authority, not an overreaction.

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.