Question 1

Your vessel is moored and connected to shore power for lighting and heating. You notice smoke coming from a ventilation grille on a compartment you know has electrical equipment nearby. What does JOLENN's experience suggest about opening the access hatch immediately to look?

Accepted Answer

Opening a smoke-filled compartment suddenly can cause a backdraft — assess and consider ventilating carefully rather than opening it without precaution On JOLENN, the skipper opened the machinery compartment hatch without precaution after seeing smoke — the resulting air inrush caused a backdraft that burned his face and hands. A shore power electrical fault is a real ignition source, and a vessel being moored doesn't reduce that risk. Any smoke-filled enclosed space should be approached with the same caution regardless of what's powering it.

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.