USCG Lifeboatman Limited / Lifeboat Operator Limited

Under 46 CFR, Lifeboatman Limited / Lifeboat Operator-Limited qualifies a mariner to take charge of which survival craft?

• AOpen lifeboats only on unlimited tonnage vessels
• BLiferafts, rescue boats, and other survival equipment on vessels where lifeboats are not…
• CFree-fall lifeboats exclusively
• DAny survival craft including open lifeboats on all ship types

What is the primary purpose of an inflatable liferaft on a vessel without lifeboats?

• ATo serve as a temporary work platform for hull painting
• BTo provide a float-free or manually launched survival craft that keeps survivors afloat a…
• CTo replace the vessel's bilge pump
• DTo store extra mooring lines

What is the purpose of the hydrostatic release unit (HRU) on a stowed inflatable liferaft?

• ATo inflate the raft while it is still on deck
• BTo release the raft automatically from its cradle lashings as the ship sinks so the raft…
• CTo start the rescue boat engine
• DTo fire distress rockets automatically

What inflates a throw-over inflatable liferaft after it is free of the ship?

• AA hand pump operated from the bridge
• BA CO2/nitrogen cylinder that discharges when the painter is pulled taut to its full length
• CShip's fire main pressure
• DWave action alone

What is the function of the weak link in a hydrostatic-release liferaft arrangement?

• ATo hold the raft permanently to the ship so it never drifts away
• BTo part under strain after the raft inflates so the raft is not dragged under with a sink…
• CTo power the raft light
• DTo replace the sea anchor

What is the primary mission of a rescue boat under SOLAS/USCG survival-craft doctrine?

• ATo replace the ship's tender for liberty runs only
• BTo rescue persons from the water and to marshal and tow survival craft
• CTo carry cargo between ships
• DTo act as a permanently manned patrol craft in port

How often must rescue boats be launched with their assigned crew aboard, so far as is reasonable and practicable, under SOLAS Chapter III?

• AOnce a year only
• BAt least once a month if practicable, and in any case not less than once every three mont…
• COnly during initial shipyard trials
• DNever, unless an emergency occurs

What color is typically required for the exterior of SOLAS survival craft and rescue boats for high visibility?

• ANavy blue
• BInternational (chrome) orange
• CBlack
• DForest green

What is the correct basic sequence for manually launching a throw-over inflatable liferaft?

• AInflate on deck first, then throw the inflated raft overboard
• BEnsure painter is secured to a strong point, free the lashings/HRU as required, throw the…
• CCut the painter first, then push the canister over the side
• DOpen the canister on deck and board before it enters the water

If a throw-over liferaft inflates upside down, what should survivors do?

• AAbandon it and swim away immediately
• BUse the righting strap/line on the bottom of the raft: climb onto the overturned bottom,…
• CDeflate it completely and reinflate from the ship
• DWait for the rescue boat only; never attempt righting

What is the sea painter used for on a rescue boat?

• ATo secure the boat cover while stowed only
• BTo hold the rescue boat alongside the ship during embarkation and to help keep or sheer t…
• CTo act as the main towing cable for barges
• DTo replace the hydrostatic release

Which item is typically required equipment inside a SOLAS inflatable liferaft equipment pack?

• AA spare propeller shaft for the main engine
• BA sea anchor (drogue), repair kit, paddles, bailer, first-aid kit, and pyrotechnic signals
• CA full set of charts for worldwide navigation
• DA gasoline generator

What is the purpose of the boarding ramp or ladder on an inflatable liferaft?

• ADecoration only
• BTo help survivors in the water climb into the raft after inflation
• CTo secure the raft to the davit head
• DTo act as a sea anchor

When boarding a davit-launched inflatable liferaft, when is the raft normally inflated?

• AOnly after it is in the water and empty
• BOn deck or at the embarkation station so personnel can board the inflated raft before it…
• CNever — davit-launched rafts are boarded deflated
• DOnly after the ship has fully sunk

What does the capacity marking on a liferaft indicate?

• AThe weight of the empty canister only
• BThe maximum number of persons the raft is certified to carry
• CThe number of flares inside
• DThe age of the raft in years

What is the purpose of the canopy on an inflatable liferaft?

• ATo hide the raft from search aircraft
• BTo provide weather protection, reduce heat loss, and help keep survivors dry and sheltered
• CTo store fuel for the rescue boat
• DTo act as a sail only

What is the purpose of retro-reflective tape on liferafts, rescue boats, and lifejackets?

• ATo reduce UV damage only
• BTo return searchlight and aircraft light toward the source so survivors are easier to loc…
• CTo indicate the vessel's company colors
• DTo replace the EPIRB

After survivors board an inflatable liferaft, what should be done with the painter still attached to the ship if the ship is sinking or creating a hazard?

• ALeave it attached indefinitely
• BCut or release the painter once all assigned survivors are aboard and the raft must clear…
• CUse it as a fishing line
• DWrap it around the canopy permanently

What is the purpose of the sea anchor (drogue) deployed from a liferaft?

• ATo anchor to the seabed in deep ocean
• BTo slow drift, keep the raft more stable head-to-weather, reduce capsize risk, and keep s…
• CTo collect rainwater only
• DTo inflate the buoyancy tubes

Which pyrotechnic is primarily intended as a long-range distress signal visible at night from a survival craft?

• ABuoyant orange smoke only
• BRocket parachute (red) flare
• CWhite navigation light
• DGreen fishing flare

When is a buoyant orange smoke signal most useful from a liferaft?

• AAt night in fog only
• BIn daylight, especially to attract aircraft or ships that can see the smoke column
• CUnderwater only
• DAs a substitute for the EPIRB registration number

What is the international VHF radiotelephone distress, urgency, safety, and calling channel?

• AChannel 6
• BChannel 13
• CChannel 16 (156.8 MHz)
• DChannel 70 only for voice Mayday

What does EPIRB stand for?

• AEmergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
• BElectronic Pilot Indicator Radar Buoy
• CEmergency Power Inverter Relay Board
• DEngine Pressure Indicating Reset Button

On what primary frequency does a modern SOLAS 406 MHz EPIRB transmit its distress message to the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system?

• A121.5 MHz only
• B406 MHz
• C156.8 MHz
• D2182 kHz only

How does a float-free EPIRB activate automatically when a ship sinks?

• ABy a manual switch only — no automatic path exists
• BA hydrostatic release frees the EPIRB from its bracket at depth; the unit floats up and a…
• CBy radar interrogation only
• DBy the ship's general alarm circuit only

What is a SART designed to do?

• ATransmit a voice Mayday on Channel 16
• BRespond to 9 GHz (X-band) radar so searching ships and aircraft see distinctive blips on…
• CReplace the ship's GPS antenna
• DInflate the liferaft automatically

For best SART performance from a survival craft, how should the unit generally be deployed?

• APlaced at the bottom of the raft under equipment bags
• BMounted as high as practicable to maximize radar line-of-sight range
• CThrown overboard on a short line underwater
• DKept switched off until visual contact is made

What is the spoken radiotelephone distress signal word?

• APan-Pan
• BSecurite
• CMayday
• DHelp

Which of the following is a recognized international distress signal under COLREGS Annex IV?

• AA continuous blast on a ship's whistle for 2 seconds only as a normal maneuvering signal
• BSlowly and repeatedly raising and lowering arms outstretched to each side
• CA green star rocket
• DA steady white masthead light only

What is the general alarm signal commonly used to muster the crew for emergency stations?

• AOne short blast on the whistle
• BA continuous ringing of the general alarm bell or equivalent signal for at least 10 secon…
• CThree long blasts meaning abandon ship only
• DSilence for five minutes

When the abandon-ship order is given, what should a Lifeboat Operator-Limited do first according to good practice?

• AJump overboard without a lifejacket
• BDon personal lifesaving gear (lifejacket/immersion suit as required), proceed to the assi…
• CGo to the engine room to shut down the main engine alone
• DWait in the cabin for further written orders only

Within what time must a person be able to don an immersion suit under SOLAS performance standards?

• A30 seconds
• B2 minutes
• C10 minutes
• D20 minutes

What is the recommended water-entry technique when jumping into the sea wearing a lifejacket or immersion suit?

• ADive headfirst with arms extended
• BJump feet-first, legs together, one hand holding the lifejacket/suit down, other hand cov…
• CBelly flop to stay on the surface
• DEnter seated with legs apart

What is the HELP position for a single survivor in cold water?

• ASwim continuously at full speed
• BHeat Escape Lessening Posture: knees drawn up, arms tight against the sides/chest, head o…
• CFloat face-down
• DRemove clothing to swim better

What is the HUDDLE technique for a group of survivors in the water?

• AEach person swims away in a different direction
• BSurvivors face each other and press chests/sides together to share heat; small children g…
• CForm a single-file swimming race
• DHold hands in a long straight line only

What is the recommended initial treatment for a hypothermic survivor brought into a liferaft?

• AVigorous massage of arms and legs and alcohol to warm them
• BHandle gently, remove wet clothing if possible, insulate (especially head and core), rewa…
• CForce them to exercise hard immediately
• DImmerse them in very hot water at once

Why should survivors NOT drink seawater in a liferaft?

• AIt freezes solid at all temperatures
• BIts high salt content forces the body to use more fresh water to excrete the salt, accele…
• CIt is required by SOLAS as the primary drink
• DIt attracts sharks only at night

Why is alcohol contraindicated for survivors in cold conditions?

• AIt freezes in the container
• BIt causes peripheral vasodilation (accelerating heat loss), impairs judgment, and worsens…
• CIt is required emergency fuel for the raft light
• DIt sterilizes seawater for drinking

A common survival water rationing practice in a liferaft, when supplies allow, is approximately how much fresh water per person per day after the initial period?

• AAbout 0.5 liter (500 ml) per person per day in measured portions
• B5 liters per person per day mandatory
• CNo water until rescue under any circumstances
• DUnlimited seawater only

On a man-overboard (MOB) emergency, what is the first priority for the person who sees the casualty?

• AGo below to write a report
• BRaise the alarm ("Man overboard!"), keep the person in sight, throw a lifebuoy/marker if…
• CStart the abandon-ship signal immediately
• DLaunch all liferafts at once

When recovering a person from the water with a rescue boat, what is a key safety practice?

• AApproach at full speed from downwind without reducing power
• BApproach carefully, preferably from a direction that accounts for wind/current, take way…
• CCircle at high speed to create a wake barrier
• DShut down and abandon the rescue boat before recovery

Before starting a rescue boat engine for launch, what should the operator verify?

• AThat the fuel system is empty
• BThat the engine is ready per checklist (fuel, oil, cooling, battery/starting system as ap…
• CThat no painter is attached under any circumstances
• DThat the SART is transmitting continuously in port

What is a thermal protective aid (TPA) used for in a survival craft?

• ATo start fires on the water
• BTo wrap a survivor and reduce heat loss when an immersion suit is not available or as add…
• CTo patch large hull holes in the mothership
• DTo replace the lifejacket permanently

What is the purpose of the repair kit in an inflatable liferaft?

• ATo repair the ship's main engine
• BTo patch punctures or damage to the raft's buoyancy tubes or fabric so buoyancy can be ma…
• CTo splice steel wire falls
• DTo repaint the raft orange

If one buoyancy tube of a dual-tube inflatable liferaft is damaged, what should survivors do?

• AAbandon the raft immediately in all cases
• BUse the remaining intact tube(s), attempt repair if possible, redistribute weight, and ke…
• CCut both tubes to equalize pressure
• DFill the damaged tube with seawater

What is the primary function of paddles or oars in a liferaft equipment pack?

• ATo propel the raft short distances for marshalling, clearing the ship, or maneuvering to…
• BTo dig sea anchors into the seabed
• CTo replace the hydrostatic release
• DTo measure water depth

What is the function of the internal and external lifelines on an inflatable liferaft?

• ADecorative only
• BExternal lines help survivors in the water hold on and board; internal lines help seated…
• CTo tow the mothership
• DTo hang the raft from the davit permanently at sea

How often should hydrostatic release units typically be serviced or replaced according to manufacturer and SOLAS-related practice?

• ANever — they last the life of the ship without attention
• BOn the interval required by the manufacturer and applicable regulations (commonly annuall…
• COnly after they have fired in an emergency
• DEvery 25 years only