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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: NIMASA STCW PST Exam

70%

Passing Score

STCW Regulations

₦15,000

Exam Fee

NIMASA Tariffs

30 Min

Exam Time Limit

MTI Guidelines

5 Years

Certificate Validity

STCW Code

406 MHz

EPIRB Frequency

Satellite Beacon Standard

9 GHz

SART Frequency

Marine Radar Standard

The NIMASA STCW Personal Survival Techniques (PST) exam is a mandatory assessment for seafarers in Nigeria under STCW Table A-VI/1-1. Offered by NIMASA-approved Maritime Training Institutes, it requires a 70% passing score on a 30-question theoretical test alongside a mandatory practical water assessment. Topics include emergency procedures, life-saving appliances, survival craft launching, abandonment drills, and rescue signaling.

Sample NIMASA STCW PST Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NIMASA STCW PST exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under the STCW and SOLAS frameworks, what is the primary purpose of a ship's Muster List (Station Bill)?

A.To define the emergency duties, signals, and station assignments of every crew member.

B.To record the daily attendance of seafarers for port clearance and payroll purposes.

C.To outline the cargo loading sequence and draft calculations for the voyage.

D.To list the contact details of the shipowner's emergency response team ashore.

Explanation: The Muster List is a critical safety document that clearly outlines emergency duties, signals, and muster stations for all onboard personnel. Every crew member must read and understand their specific assignments immediately upon joining the vessel.

2Which whistle and bell signal is universally defined under SOLAS as the General Emergency Alarm?

A.Three short blasts repeated at intervals of ten seconds.

B.Seven or more short blasts followed by one long blast.

C.One continuous blast lasting at least fifteen seconds.

D.Four short blasts followed by two long blasts.

Explanation: The General Emergency Alarm consists of seven or more short blasts followed by one long blast on the ship's whistle and bells. This signal alerts the crew and passengers to prepare for an emergency situation.

3What action should a seafarer take immediately upon hearing the General Emergency Alarm?

A.Proceed directly to the nearest lifeboat and begin preparing it for launching.

B.Return to their cabin to pack all personal belongings, documents, and cash.

C.Report to their designated muster station with a lifejacket, warm clothing, and any assigned emergency gear.

D.Call the navigation bridge to ask the officer of the watch for details about the emergency.

Explanation: Seafarers must proceed to their muster station immediately upon hearing the alarm. They should bring warm clothing, a lifejacket, and any equipment assigned to them on the Muster List.

4What is the primary sound signal used to indicate the instruction to 'abandon ship'?

A.A continuous ringing of the ship's bells for at least five minutes.

B.Alternating short and long blasts on the ship's foghorn.

C.Five short blasts followed by two long blasts on the whistle.

D.A verbal command from the Master, usually supported by a specific alarm pattern or public address announcement.

Explanation: Abandoning ship is a critical decision that can only be ordered by the Master. The instruction is given verbally or via the public address system, and may be accompanied by a dedicated signal as defined in the ship's SMS.

5Why is panic considered the single greatest hazard to a seafarer's survival during an onboard emergency?

A.It prevents logical thinking, leads to irrational actions, and spreads rapidly among crew and passengers.

B.It causes immediate muscle paralysis and physical inability to swim.

C.It invalidates the vessel's protection under NIMASA marine insurance policies.

D.It decreases the physical buoyancy of the seafarer's personal lifejacket.

Explanation: Panic impairs logical reasoning, causes survivors to ignore instructions, and spreads fear. Maintaining discipline and following standard procedures are essential for survival.

6Which of the following emergencies is most likely to result in an immediate order to prepare survival craft without full abandonment?

A.A minor fire in the galley that has already been extinguished.

B.A major collision resulting in rapid flooding that exceeds the ship's bilge pumping capacity.

C.A temporary loss of main propulsion (blackout) in calm weather.

D.A routine change of watch crew at midnight.

Explanation: Severe flooding that exceeds pumping capacity threatens the vessel's buoyancy, requiring the crew to prepare survival craft immediately as a precaution before the ship sinks.

7During a shipboard fire emergency, what is the role of the support squad or backup team as defined on the Muster List?

A.To immediately abandon the ship and wait in the liferafts.

B.To document the fire and post live updates to social media.

C.To assist the primary fire-fighting party with equipment, boundary cooling, and medical support.

D.To take over the steering gear in the emergency steering compartment.

Explanation: The support squad assists the primary fire-fighting team by supplying extra breathing cylinders, preparing hose lines, performing boundary cooling, and standing by for medical assistance.

8What is the main purpose of carrying out regular emergency drills on board?

A.To satisfy NIMASA port state control officials without actual training value.

B.To clean the lifeboat hulls and test the shipboard fire mains for water pressure.

C.To allow seafarers to practice swimming in the open ocean around the vessel.

D.To ensure the crew is familiar with emergency duties, equipment locations, and responds automatically and efficiently.

Explanation: Regular drills help seafarers practice their roles, find equipment quickly, and build muscle memory. This ensures a fast and coordinated response in a real emergency.

9Under SOLAS regulations, how often must abandon ship and fire drills be conducted on a cargo vessel?

A.At least once every month.

B.Once every six months.

C.Daily during ocean crossings.

D.Only when the vessel enters a dry dock.

Explanation: SOLAS requires every crew member to participate in at least one abandon ship drill and one fire drill every month. This ensures crew readiness despite rotation changes.

10If a new crew member joins a ship, within what timeframe must they receive training in the use of the ship's life-saving appliances?

A.Within the first six months of their contract.

B.As soon as possible, but not later than two weeks after joining the vessel.

C.Just before the first port state control inspection.

D.Immediately before the vessel crosses an international boundary.

Explanation: SOLAS requires that training in the use of life-saving appliances, including survival craft equipment, be given as soon as possible and no later than two weeks after a crew member joins.

About the NIMASA STCW PST Exam

Prepare for the NIMASA STCW Personal Survival Techniques (PST) exam. Master muster list duties, personal life-saving appliances, abandonment actions, liferaft boarding, and emergency signaling at sea.

Questions

30 scored questions

Time Limit

30 minutes

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

₦15,000 (Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA))

NIMASA STCW PST Exam Content Outline

15%

Emergency Situations & Muster Lists

Recognition of emergency types (collision, fire, sinking), muster list/station bills, emergency alarms, and principles of survival.

25%

Personal Life-Saving Appliances (LSA)

Donning and usage of lifejackets, immersion suits, lifebuoys, and thermal protective aids (TPAs).

25%

Survival Craft & Rescue Boats

Types and equipment of lifeboats and liferafts, hydrostatic release units (HRUs), launching mechanisms, and survival craft management.

20%

Actions When Abandoning Ship

Actions to take when required to abandon ship, jumping safely from height, swimming in gear, boarding, and initial actions in survival craft.

15%

Emergency Signaling & Radio Equipment

Usage of marine radio equipment (EPIRBs, SARTs, hand-held VHF), pyrotechnic signals (flares, smoke), and helicopter rescue procedures.

How to Pass the NIMASA STCW PST Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70%
Exam length: 30 questions
Time limit: 30 minutes
Exam fee: ₦15,000

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NIMASA STCW PST Study Tips from Top Performers

1Learn the General Emergency Alarm signal pattern: seven or more short blasts followed by one long blast on the ship's whistle and bells.

2Understand the HELP posture: Heat Escape Lessening Posture is key to conserving core warmth in cold water by keeping limbs tucked close.

3Understand how the Hydrostatic Release Unit (HRU) works: it releases the liferaft automatically at a depth of 1.5 to 4 meters when submerged.

4Know how SART and EPIRB frequencies work: EPIRB transmits at 406 MHz to satellites, while SART operates at 9 GHz to paint dots on search radar screens.

5Never inflate an inflatable lifejacket inside a flooded cabin, as it can trap you against the ceiling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the passing score for the NIMASA STCW PST exam?

The passing score is 70%. Candidates must successfully pass both the theoretical multiple-choice exam (typically 30 questions) and a mandatory practical water survival assessment.

Who is required to take the Personal Survival Techniques (PST) course?

The STCW PST course is mandatory for all seafarers working on commercial ships as part of basic safety training under STCW Chapter VI, Regulation VI/1.

How long is the NIMASA STCW PST certificate valid?

Under STCW regulations, the Personal Survival Techniques certificate has a validity of 5 years. After 5 years, seafarers must complete an approved refresher course to maintain their certificate.

Is a practical water test required to pass the exam?

Yes. Theory alone is not sufficient. Trainees must demonstrate practical competencies, including donning a lifejacket and immersion suit, jumping from a height into water, righting an inverted liferaft, and swimming in gear.