Shipboard Safety, Firefighting and Emergency Procedures
This domain tests fire theory, lifesaving appliances, drills, and emergency command. It is practical: examiners want the correct extinguishing medium and the correct sequence of actions.
Fire and emergency response
Fire requires fuel, oxygen, heat, and a chemical chain reaction. Classes are A (solids), B (flammable liquids), C (gases), and D (metals); cooking-oil fires are handled with wet chemical extinguishers or a fire blanket. Fixed CO2 systems smother the space and must not be used where people remain. Fire dampers, ventilation stops, and fire-control plans are part of the response. Abandon-ship and fire drills are held monthly, and within 24 hours of sailing if more than 25% of the crew has changed.
Worked example
A deep-fat fryer ignites in the galley. Do not use water, which causes a violent steam explosion and spreads burning oil. Isolate the heat, cover with a fire blanket or wet-chemical extinguisher, close the galley boundary, and muster the fire team. Record the event and replenish the extinguisher before the next voyage.
Traps
Using water on electrical or oil fires; entering a space after CO2 release; blocking fire dampers or muster routes; and recording drills without debriefing faults.