SET - 7 | PSSR Exit Exam Mock Test - Questions and Answers - 2026

Reporting through established shipboard channels ensures the incident is formally addressed and investigated, adhering to anti-harassment policies.

Option B is correct because maritime law and international conventions like the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, which aligns with SOLAS and STCW principles, mandate that seafarer employment agreements must be in writing and signed by both the seafarer and the shipowner (or their representative) to be legally binding and ensure fair employment conditions. This written contract provides clear terms of employment, wages, repatriation, and other rights, safeguarding both parties and promoting maritime safety and welfare. Verbal agreements lack the necessary clarity and enforceability required for such significant professional contracts.

Safe Working Practices encompass all established procedures and precautions designed to protect personnel from harm, ensuring tasks are carried out safely and efficiently without incident.

Option D is correct because detailed, technical information regarding ship systems, maintenance procedures, and safety protocols, which are critical under SOLAS and STCW, are best conveyed with the precision and visual clarity that written descriptions and diagrams provide, ensuring accurate understanding and execution by mariners. This written record also serves as crucial documentation for compliance and future reference, unlike the transient nature of verbal communication.

The Oil Record Book is specifically mandated by MARPOL Annex I to meticulously document all operational and accidental discharges of oil, as well as all oil transfers, ensuring compliance with international regulations for preventing marine pollution. This specialized log is the sole official record for tracking oil movement on board and its disposition. Therefore, it is the correct document for maintaining complete records on oil transfers.

The immediate priority is always to raise the alarm and inform the bridge/OOW to initiate the ship's emergency response, ensuring overall safety before attempting to fight the fire if safe to do so.

A hard hat is specifically designed to provide protection against head injuries from falling objects or impacts, which is a significant risk in areas like engine rooms or cargo holds.

Your greatest concern must be the risk of ignition, as attempting to separate two vessels, especially a tanker, after a collision can generate sparks that may ignite flammable cargo or substances, leading to a catastrophic fire or explosion in accordance with SOLAS and IMO guidelines for hazardous cargo operations. This scenario poses the most immediate and severe threat to life and property among the given options. Therefore, any separation maneuver must be executed with extreme caution and the highest safety protocols in place to mitigate this specific risk.

The master may conduct random unannounced alcohol tests at least monthly, as per common industry practice and guidance often referenced within maritime safety management systems which are designed to comply with SOLAS and STCW regulations on fitness for duty. This frequency balances the need for effective deterrence and early detection of substance abuse with practical operational considerations. Regular, but not overly burdensome, testing helps ensure a safe working environment for all crew members.

SOx Emission Control Areas are designated under MARPOL Annex VI to limit sulfur oxide emissions from ships. Both the North Sea/English Channel and the Baltic Sea are established SECA regions, requiring vessels to comply with stricter fuel sulfur content limits within these zones. Therefore, Option C, encompassing both regions, correctly identifies designated SECA areas.

The correct answer is B, the Garbage Log, as MARPOL Annex V mandates a Garbage Record Book for ships to record all garbage discharges and disposals, ensuring compliance with international regulations for preventing marine pollution. This logbook serves as the official documentation for all garbage-related transactions between the ship and shore facilities, or when garbage is discharged at sea. Maintaining an accurate Garbage Log is crucial for demonstrating adherence to waste management protocols and environmental protection standards.

MARPOL Annex II specifically regulates the control of pollution by noxious liquid substances when transported in bulk. This annex establishes stringent operational requirements, discharge standards, and tank cleaning procedures to prevent and minimize harmful discharges into the marine environment.

The radiotelephone urgency signal is "Pan-Pan" (pronounced 'pahn-pahn'), which is correctly used to prefix messages concerning the safety of a vessel or, specifically, a person, when there is an urgent situation but not immediate grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance. This signal, defined by the ITU Radio Regulations and foundational to GMDSS procedures under SOLAS, effectively communicates a critical safety concern without escalating to a distress situation.

Option D is correct as managing an onboard injury requires a phased, yet often concurrent, approach as per maritime safety standards. The initial response always involves immediate first aid, a core competency under STCW requirements for all seafarers. Subsequently, for more serious cases, contacting shore-based radio medical assistance and, if critical, arranging helicopter evacuation are essential steps to ensure the best possible outcome, aligning with SOLAS regulations and SAR protocols.

Option D is correct because MARPOL Annex I regulations mandate comprehensive measures for preventing oil pollution. These include strict adherence to cargo operational manuals for loading, carriage, and discharge (Option A), rigorous maintenance and inspection of all oil containment systems (Option B), and continuous, competency-based training for the crew in oil spill response and prevention procedures (Option C), as stipulated by international maritime conventions and safety standards.

Immediate reporting of safety hazards should be directed to the person in charge of your work area, or the Officer of the Watch, who can take immediate action to mitigate the risk.

Heated fuel oil releases hydrocarbon vapors that are denser than air, causing them to accumulate in low-lying areas. When these vapors mix with air within their flammable limits, they create an extremely volatile atmosphere that is highly susceptible to ignition, leading to a catastrophic explosion. This fundamental principle underpins critical safety protocols for tank entry, ventilation, and hot work, as mandated by SOLAS and STCW regarding fire prevention and hazardous atmospheres.

The Muster List, a mandatory document under SOLAS Chapter III, Regulation 8, precisely outlines the general emergency alarm signal and the specific duties assigned to every person on board for various emergency situations. It details the actions all crew members must take, including their designated muster stations, and clearly specifies the official procedure for giving the order to abandon ship. This critical list ensures an organized and efficient response to safeguard lives in any maritime emergency.

The primary action is to raise the alarm and inform the bridge/duty officer to initiate the ship's emergency response plan, ensuring the safety of all personnel and proper coordination before attempting to fight the fire.

MARPOL Annex V prohibits the discharge of all plastics into the sea, regardless of distance from shore or whether it's a special area.

Reporting fatigue to a superior is a critical safety measure, allowing for appropriate arrangements to be made to ensure ship and personnel safety, aligning with STCW rest hour and fatigue management principles.

Cutting and welding operations on deck constitute hot work, generating extreme heat, sparks, and molten material that present a significant fire hazard in an environment potentially exposed to flammable substances. Consequently, a hot work permit is mandatory under SOLAS Chapter II-2 and all recognized Safety Management Systems to ensure thorough risk assessment, gas freeing, continuous fire watch, and readily available firefighting equipment. This rigorous permit-to-work system is a critical control measure to prevent catastrophic fires or explosions onboard.

The general emergency alarm signifies a serious emergency and requires all personnel to proceed without delay to their assigned muster station for roll call and further instructions.

Alcohol is globally recognized as the most frequently abused psychoactive substance, and its widespread misuse directly compromises maritime safety and operational effectiveness. Its impairing effects contravene STCW fitness for duty standards and undermine the rigorous demands for vigilance, judgment, and physical capability essential for safe navigation and marine engineering operations under SOLAS. Consequently, strict adherence to comprehensive drug and alcohol policies is critical to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of life at sea.

PPE acts as a last line of defense, protecting individuals from risks when other control measures are insufficient to eliminate or reduce hazards.

Option C, the orange smoke signal, is the correct answer because it is specifically designed for daylight use by producing a highly visible orange smoke plume. Unlike red flares, rocket parachutes, or red aerial stars which are primarily effective at night or in low visibility, the smoke signal's distinct color and cloud are best observed under bright daylight conditions, maximizing rescue efforts. SOLAS and STCW regulations mandate a combination of visual distress signals suitable for both day and night to ensure maximum visibility to potential rescuers.

MARPOL Annex V strictly prohibits the discharge of all forms of plastics, including synthetic ropes, fishing gear, and plastic garbage, into the sea, regardless of distance from land.

While supervision is critical, entry must be supervised by a 'responsible officer' (e.g., OOW, Bosun, 2nd Engineer), not necessarily limited to the Master or Chief Engineer, provided they are authorized.

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is structured into exactly six distinct Annexes, each addressing a specific type of marine pollution. These Annexes sequentially cover regulations for the prevention of pollution by oil, noxious liquid substances, harmful substances carried by sea in packaged form, sewage, garbage, and air pollution from ships. Therefore, the correct answer is Six.

The correct answer is **Option C: 2 weeks**. STCW Convention Regulation VI/1 requires that the initial familiarization and basic training, which includes the correct use of life-saving appliances, must be completed within the first two weeks of joining a ship to ensure crew competency in emergencies. This ensures immediate readiness and adherence to SOLAS safety standards.