Maritime Craft Fundamentals and Safety
What the domain tests
This domain tests hazard recognition and control in shipyards, docks, and marine fabrication shops: PPE, fall protection, confined spaces, hot work, lockout/tagout (LOTO), water safety, and environmental containment. Questions often ask which control comes first or which permit is required.
Core rules
- Complete a pre-task hazard analysis (JHA) and confirm permits before work begins.
- PPE is task-specific: hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, and a PFD near or over water. Use respiratory protection when coatings, solvents, or welding fume require it.
- Fall protection: use guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall-arrest systems; inspect harnesses and anchor points, and maintain 100% tie-off when transferring.
- Confined space: test the atmosphere before entry and as the permit requires; provide ventilation, an attendant, communication, and a rescue plan. Never enter to rescue without training and equipment.
- Hot work: obtain a permit, clear combustibles, use a fire watch, and check the area after work ends.
- LOTO: isolate all energy sources, apply locks and tags, and verify zero energy before maintenance.
- Water safety: wear a PFD, know man-overboard procedures, and treat cold-water exposure as an immediate hypothermia risk.
Worked example
A crew must weld a bracket inside a ballast tank. The tank is a permit-required confined space and welding is hot work. The correct sequence is: isolate and LOTO the tank; test oxygen, flammables, and toxics; ventilate; assign an attendant and rescue plan; issue confined-space and hot-work permits; post a fire watch; use welding PPE and respiratory protection. Reasoning: the tank creates atmospheric and entrapment hazards, while welding adds ignition and fume hazards. One permit does not cover the other.
Traps
- Treating a “quick” entry as exempt from permits.
- Testing once and not re-testing after breaks or changes.
- Skipping the fire watch after sparks stop.
- Wearing a PFD but not securing it.