Question 1

As skipper of a vessel with a side shell door fitted for hauling operations, you're reviewing standing practice on board. What is the single most effective mitigation against a shell door failure while at sea?

Accepted Answer

Keeping internal doors between the hauling compartment and the rest of the vessel closed whenever not in active use, so a shell door failure floods one compartment rather than the whole vessel MAIB's investigation found that Argos Georgia's shell door failure was a mechanical/design issue — not something reliably caught by more frequent visual checks. What actually determined the outcome was that open internal doors let the flooding spread unchecked through the vessel. Compartmentalisation, not vigilance, is the real defence against this failure mode.

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.