Marine Engineering Study Materials

MEO Class 2 Orals Questions and Answers Part 1

What is Automatic Identification System (AIS)?

• AIS automatically provides ship’s identity, type, position, course, speed, navigational status and other safety related information to certain shore stations, other ships, air crafts, etc.
• It automatically receives such information from similarly fitted ships.
• It works on VHF range.
• Range is line of sight, up to 40 nautical miles.
• Can be used only where AIS coverage is provided.
• Its public data.
• Anyone can see the data.
• It is a navigation and anti collision tool.

What is Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT)?

• LRIT is a secure system where the data is transmitted from the vessel is available and visible only to the flag state to which the ship is registered.
• It is intended to provide increased maritime awareness and security.
• The data include ship position, IMO number, date and time, which is transmitted via satellites.
• The data is owned by the flag state and is not available to any other party unless the flag state makes it available to search and rescue centers, military forces, etc.
• Its coverage is global.
• LRIT data is secure and cannot be interpreted by a third party.
• Have unlimited range.

What is the immediate action in case of an oil spill?

• Stop all oil transfer operations.
• Ease pressure on overflow tank.
• Sound emergency alarm.
• Ban smoking anywhere on board.
• Take all fire precautions.
• Control spill.
• Inform authorities.

What is squat effect?

When ship moves through the shallow water, some of the water displaced rushes under the vessel to rise again at the stern. This decreases the upward pressure on the hull, make the ship sink deeper in water than normal. This cause slowing down of vessel. Squat effect increases with ship’s speed.

What is bank effect?

It is the tendency of the ship’s stern to swing towards the near bank when the ship is operating in a river or restricted waters.

What is bank cushion effect?

When the ship is near to the bank, water is forced between the narrowing gap between the ship’s bow and bank. This water tends to pile up on the starboard side of the ship, causing the ship to steer away from the bank.

What is gross registered tonnage?

It is a measurement of all enclosed spaces on a ship. Gross registered tonnage is used in all official documents and certificates.

1 ton = 100 cubic feet.

What is net registered tonnage?

It is a measurement of volume of all tanks and cargo holds, used for transporting cargo.

What is MLC (Maritime Labour Convention) ?

MLC – 2006 convention aims to achieve both decent work for seafarers and secure economic interests in fair competition for quality ship owners. It came into force in August 2013. It is considered as the ‘fourth pillar’ of IMO. There are 5 chapters in MLC-2006.

1. Minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship.
2. Conditions of employment.
3. Accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering.
4. Health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection.
5. Compliance and enforcement.

What is the advantage of double hull tankers with respect to stability?

A double hull is a ship hull design and construction method where the bottom and sides of the ship have two complete layers of water tight hull surface, one outer layer forming the normal hull of the ship and a second inner hull which is some distance in board, which forms a redundant barrier to seawater in case the outer hull is damaged and leaks.

In low energy collisions, double hulls can prevent flooding beyond the penetrated compartment. This increases ship’s damage stability.

What is the disadvantage of double hull tankers with respect to stability?

In high energy collisions, the distance to the inner hull from outer hull is not sufficient and the inner compartment is penetrated as well.

Another disadvantage is that the stability of a double hull ship can be less than that of a single hull, because the double hull raises the center of gravity and hence the metacentric height is reduced.

MEO Class 2 Orals Questions and Answers Part 1