OIC – DECK

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
MARITIME INDUSTRY AUTHORITY
STCW OFFICE

GUIDE QUESTIONNAIRES
for seafarers
The Annual Publication of Database of Questionnaires is mandated in Republic Act
10635 or the Act Establishing the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) as the Single
Maritime Administration Responsible for the Implementation and Enforcement of
the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended and International Agreements or
Covenants related thereto and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

These sample questions have been reviewed and validated by our respective Board
of Examiners which may serve as a guide for the review of aspiring Marine Deck and
Engineering Officers, towards the successful completion of the Theoretical
Examination.

The following sample questions do not reflect the actual set of database of questions
given during the theoretical examination. Examinees are encouraged to study the
contained sample questions and probable answers as they are intended to give an
indication of the format and difficulty level of the theoretical examination.

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Thank you.

A Publication of the MARINA STCW Office

 OIC - NW: COMPETENCE 6 - Respond to Distress Signal at Sea
No Question Choice A Choice B Choice C Choice D

"RECEIVED MAYDAY" is used in a: supplementary receipt on receipt of a distress alert distress alert None of the above
a distress alert

A "Standard Format for Search and Rescue Situation Reports" Weather on-scene Oil spill possibility Fire onboard Flooding onboard
(SITREPs) should be used by vessels in distress. The SITREP can be
compiled as a short form (urgent essential details). Which of the
2
following information shall be included when using the "short" .

A Cospas-Sarsat EPIRB can be used in: only in the sea-areas A1, only in the sea-areas A2 only in the sea-areas A1 only in the sea-areas A1
A2 and A3 and A3 and A3 and A2

A distress alert from an Inmarsat-EPIRB, is received in the coverage two minutes 60 to 90 minutes ten minutes 20-60 minutes
area of a satellite by ground station within:

A distress alert has accidentally been sent with the Inmarsat-C turn of the transmitter wait until an RCC reports make contact with an RCC Any of the above
installation. One should now:

A distress alert on board may only be transmitted on explicit order the captain the navigating officer on The chief officer The Charterer
of: duty

6
 A distress alert sent by Inmarsat to an RCC is sent via: NCS LUT VHF INMARSAT

A distress frequency used on radiotelephone is: 400 kilohertz 8221 kilohertz 2728 kilohertz 2182 kilohertz

A distress signal: consists of 5 or more consists of the raising and may be used individually is used to indicate doubt
short blasts of the fog lowering of a large white or in conjunction with about another vessel's
signal apparatus flag other distress signals intentions
9

A distress-alert call from an RCC or coast-station, preceding distress MAYDAY PRUDENCE (3x) PAN PAN (3x) MAYDAY RELAY (3x) Any of the above
alert relay, begins with:

10

A distress-call, onboard via RCC, may only be given Receipt if: the O.O.W deems it OSC from the RCC the master allows all of the options
necessary concerned invites the
vessels
11

A DSC distress alert single frequency call attempt is awaiting not repeated automatically repeated automatically repeated All of the above
acknowledgement: automatically after 1 to 1 and a half after 3 and a half to 4 and
minutes a half minutes
12
 A DSC-message of the “safety” category is received by another 70 16 7 Any of the above
vessel on 70. Conform to the GMDSS rules, for the continuation of
the safety traffic, change to VHF-channel:
13

A message giving warning of a hurricane should have which prefix Pan-Pan (3 times) TTT TTT TTT Securite Securite Securite No special prefix
when sent by radiotelephone?

14

A message warning of a tropical storm or ice in the area should be routine message urgency message distress message safety message
sent as a(n):

15

A received DSC ‘distress alert’ contains the following information time is unknown the position is unknown altitude is unknown any of these options
_____________ “UNDESIGNATED DISTRESS” of this distress case:

16

A vessel in distress should send by radio telephone the two tone distress position spoken words "Mayday, ship's name ship's call letters
alarm signal followed immediately by the: Mayday, Mayday"

17

A yellow signal floating in the air from a small parachute, about 300 has fired a torpedo during is about to rise to is on the bottom in is disabled and unable to
feet above the water, would indicate that a submarine: a drill periscope depth distress surface

18
 A yellow signal, floating in the air from a parachute, about 300 feet will be coming to will be coming to the is on the bottom in is in distress and will try to
above the water, indicates that a submarine: periscope depth surface distress surface

19

According to the rules of GMDSS the frequency 2187.5 kHz is used alerting distress traffic piracy attack regular communication
for:

20

According to the rules of GMDSS the required radio-equipment the sea area of the vessel the l.o.a. of the vessel their tonnage type of vessel
depends mainly on:

21

According to the rules of GMDSS vessels are equipped with certain their tonnage type of vessel the sea area of the vessel the l.o.a. of the vessel
radio-communication devices depending on:

22

According to the rules of GMDSS, on behalf of safe navigation a VHF-channel 16 VHF-channel 70 VHF-channel 10 VHF-channel 15
listening watch should be Kept on:

23

24 hours 36 hours 48 hours Monday, Wednesday, and

Friday
After the initial AMVER Position Report, sent by a vessel sailing
24 foreign, subsequent Position Reports must be sent no less
frequently than every:
 All of the following are recognized distress signals under the a green star signal orange-colored smoke red flares the repeated raising and
Navigation Rules EXCEPT: lowering of outstretched
arms
25

All VHF marine band radios operate in the simplex mode, which only one person may talk only two persons may talk the radio only transmits the radio only receives
means that: at a time at the same time

26

An aircraft has indicated that he wants you to change course and Fire a red flare at night or Send the Morse signal "N" Make a round turn (360 Make an "S" turn (hard
follow him. You cannot comply because of an emergency on board. a red smoke signal by day by flashing light degrees) and resume right then hard left) and
What signal should you make? course resume course
27

An airplane should NOT send which signal in reply to a surface craft? Rocking the wings Opening and closing the Flashing the navigational Flashing Morse T
throttle lights off and on

28

An airplane wants a vessel to change course and proceed towards a circling the vessel at least heading in the direction of flashing the navigation crossing ahead and
vessel in distress. The actions of the aircraft to convey this message once the distress location lights on and off rocking the wings
will NOT include:
29

An urgent marine storm warning message would be broadcast on: 156.80 MHz (VHF-FM Ch. 157.10 MHz (VHF-FM Ch. 2670 KHz None of the above
16) 22A)

30
 At sea red rocket signals are seen. This is not reported by radio. You MAYDAY RECU MAYDAY MAYDAY RELAY None of the above
have to begin the distress alert procedure via VHF with the term:

31

CATEGORY I EPIRB's transmit on frequencies that are monitored by: orbiting satellites in space commercial radio stations private, commercial, and Both A & C
military aircraft

32

Channel 16 - Safety and calling frequency which operates in: 157.800 MHz 156.800 MHz 158.800 MHz 159.800 MHz

33

Channel 70 for digital selective calling for Distress, Safety and Calling 158.526 MHz 156.526 MHz 157.526 MHz 159.526 MHz
frequency operate at:

34

Digital selective calling for Distress, Safety and Calling. Channel 16 Channel 70 Channel 13 Channel 69

35

Distress alert initiated for other than an appropriate test, by False alarm False alert False Sequence False Relay
communications equipment intended for alerting, when no distress
situation actually exists.
36
 Distress received from any source, including communications False alert False alarm False Sequence False Relay
equipment intended for alerting, when no distress situation actually
exists, and a notification of distress should not have resulted.
37

Distress, Safety and Calling Channel. Channel 13 Channel 16 Channel 70 Channel 69

38

During a search, a RU would like to communicate by VHF radio GH YY MI MG

telephone on channel indicated, she must signal what code group?

39

During a training exercise a submarine indicating that a torpedo has black red orange yellow
been fired will send up smoke from a float. The smoke's color will
be:
40

During search and rescue operations an aircraft crosses the wake of Your assistance is no Follow my direction to the I am going to land the I am going to bring
your vessel close astern at low altitude. What does it indicate, if the longer required ship in distress aircraft on the ship someone down to the
aircraft rocks its wings, opens and closes the throttle or changes the ship
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propeller pitch?

Each EPIRB and SART for lifeboats shall be tested: weekly every 2 weeks monthly every 3 months

42
 Each EPIRB shall be tested using the integrated test circuit and week
output indicator every:
43
For GMDSS, when may a compulsory vessel not be allowed to leave When the vessel is in an
port? overloaded condition
44
For GMDSS, which statement concerning a compulsory vessel is A conditional or partial
FALSE? exemption may be
granted, in exceptional
45
circumstances, for a single
voyage outside the sea
area for which the vessel
How can a SART's effective range be maximized? is equipped.
The SART should be
placed in water
immediately upon
46
activation.
How can rescue personnel detect that a SART is transmitting in the The SART's blips on the
immediate vicinity? PPI will become arcs and
eventually become
47
concentric circles.
How can the SART's audible tone monitor be used? It informs survivors that It informs survivors when It informs survivors when It informs survivors that a
assistance may be nearby. the battery's charge
condition has weakened. standby mode.
48
two weeks month quarter
When the vessel has When the vessel has When the vessel is
arranged for both replaced a required piece carrying only two licensed
duplication of equipment of GMDSS-related GMDSS Radio Operators
AND shore-based equipment but its and is capable of
maintenance performance has not been performing all required
verified or logged functions
Once a compulsory All passenger vessels Compulsory vessels must
vessel's GMDSS station regardless of size and all carry at least two licensed
has been fitted and cargo vessels that are 300 GMDSS Radio Operators
inspected, the station Gross Tons or larger must for Distress and Safety
must be inspected only comply. radio-communications
once every five years. purpose.
The SART should be held Switch the SART into the If possible, the SART
as high as possible. "high" power position. should be mounted
horizontally so that its
signal matches that of the
searching radar signal.
The DSC unit will react to The SART can provide an The SART signal appears
the SART's signal and approximate location to as a target which comes
respond with the two- within a two nautical mile and goes; the effect of
tone alarm. radius, per IMO standards. heavy swells on a SART.
the SART switches to the nearby vessel is signaling
on DSC.
 How can vessel personnel detect the operation of a SART in its A unique radar signal A unique two tone A unique two tone alarm The SART signal appears
vicinity? consisting of a blip code "warbling" signal heard on signal heard upon the as a target which comes
radiating outward from a VHF-FM Ch-70 automatic unmuting of and goes; the effect of
49
SART's position along its the 2182 kHz heavy swells on the SART
line of bearing radiotelephone automatic
watch receiver
How is "radio silence" imposed? By the On Scene By the Coast Earth Station It is imposed by the Public It is imposed by the High
Coordinator (OSC) (CES) controlling the Correspondence Station Seas Service (HSS)
Distress communications (PCS) controlling the controlling the distress
50
on that frequency distress communications communications on that
on that frequency or frequency or channel
channel
How is a distress message normally initiated through INMARSAT? All INMARSAT units have a By adding the word Certain INMARSAT units By transmitting the
dedicated key that can be "DISTRESS" in the first line have a dedicated key that distress message on the
pressed for immediate of the message's can be pressed for U.S. Coast Guard's
51
action preamble immediate action, while dedicated monitoring
other systems provide channel
menu-driven features
How long must GMDSS Radio Logs be retained by the licensee when 6 months 3 years 1 year 2 years
they relate to a distress situation or disaster?

52

How should signal flares be used after you have abandoned ship and Immediately use all the Use all the signals during Employ a signal every Use them only when you
are adrift in a liferaft? signals at once. the first night. hour after abandoning are aware of a ship or
ship until they are gone. plane in the area.
53

If a "man overboard" is heard over the radio, what precedes the SECURITE MAYDAY PAN PAN CQ CQ
message?

54
 If a distress signal is received, what would you do? All of the alternatives Post extra look-out Try to make contact with Contact SAR Authorities
together the vessel in distress via nearest coastal Radio
station
55

If a GMDSS radio operator initiates a DSC distress transmission but The transmission is The transmission will be The transmission is not The receiving station will
does not insert a message, what happens? aborted and an alarm made with "default" initiated and "ERROR" is poll the DSC unit of the
sounds to indicate this information provided indicated on the display vessel in distress to
56
data must be provided by automatically readout download the necessary
the operator information

If an airplane circles a vessel 3 times, crosses the vessel's course The plane is in distress The plane is going to drop Someone is in distress in There is danger ahead and
close ahead while rocking the wings, and heads off in a certain and will have to ditch a package and wishes the that direction and the the best course is
direction, what does this indicate? vessel to recover it vessel should follow and indicated by the direction
57
assist of the aircraft

If you know that the vessel you are about to call on the VHF radio Calling frequency Distress frequency Urgency frequency Working frequency
maintains a radio watch on both the working and the calling
frequencies, which frequency should you call on?
58

If you log a distress message, it must include the: sea state names of witnesses time of its occurrence wind direction and
velocity

59

If you wished to transmit a message by voice concerning the safety Mayday Pan-pan Securite Safety
of navigation, you would preface it by the word:

60
 If your liferaft is to leeward of a fire on the water, you should FIRST: cut the line to the sea paddle away from the fire splash water over the get out of the raft and
anchor liferaft to cool it swim to safety

61

If your radiotelephone fails while underway: you must visually signal you must immediately tie you must anchor until the the loss of the
oncoming vessels up in the nearest port radiotelephone is repaired radiotelephone must be
until the radiotelephone is considered in navigating
62
repaired the vessel

In a man overboard situation, besides saving distance along the It can be used in both the It is faster In fog, if the turn is started It returns the vessel to the
track line, what is the other advantage of the Scharnow Turn over immediate action and the as soon as the man goes original track line on a
the Williamson Turn? delayed action situations over, the vessel will be at reciprocal course
63
the point where he went
over when the turn is
completed
In a rescue operations, a helicopter uses a special device which rescue net rescue litter rescue seat rescue basket
patients, in most cases, are being disembarked. It can quickly and
safely be hooked on and off.
64

In radio telephony what is the "URGENCY CALL" which should be Pan Pan (3 times) Mayday Mayday (3 Securite Securite (3 Times) Alert Alert (3 Times)
used to indicate that you have a very urgent message to transmit times)
concerning the safety of another vessel or person?
65

In radiotelephony the prefix PAN-PAN indicates that: a ship is threatened by a calling station has an A ship has a big problem none of the above
grave and imminent urgent message about the with the machinery and
danger and requires safety of a person cargos and request
66
assistance immediate assistance
 In the IAMSAR manual, OSC is the abbreviation for the: Official Search Control On-Scene Commander Operational Search Centre Operational Search Chief

67

On which frequency are navigational and meteorological messages 518KHZ 2182KHz 214KHz 216KHz
normally sent on the NAVTEX system?

68

One major advantage of the round turn maneuver in a man is easy for a single-screw is the fastest method requires the least can be used in reduced
overboard situation is that it: vessel to perform shiphandling skills to visibility
perform
69

One of the sailors needs urgent medical assistance. The VHF-call SOS (3x) PAN PAN (3x) MAYDAY (3x) None of the above
starts with:

70

On-scene communication among the rescue ships and aircraft in the the Master of the ship in On-scene Commander the Master of the ship the Master of the rescue
vicinity of distress should be under the control of whom? distress being rescued ship

71

The Coordinator Surface Search (CSS) in a SAR situation should deck lights forward and a distinctive signal a white light over two red a red light, white light,
display by night: aft promulgated by the CSS lights and blue light in a vertical
line
72
 The Coordinator Surface Search in a SAR situation should display by A black ball over a black The code flags FR Code flag Quebec over a Two black diamond
day: diamond shape black ball shapes in a vertical line

73

The position of a 1.6 GHz Inmarsat-EPIRB is: acquired by the Doppler by satellites with the use measured by the determined by satellites
shift in the signals of directing antennas “Doppler” shift in the by means of directional
signals aerials
74

The possible position of a ship in distress is called: Zero-Point R-Point S-Point Zero-One Point

75

The Urgency Message is used to notify other traffic of a situation PAN-PAN MAYDAY ALERT SECURITE
where the ship is in imminent danger and may be in need of
assistance, but where the development of the situation is uncertain.
76
What is the telephony urgency message like?

The VHF radiotelephone frequency for Channel 13 is: 156.70 MHz 156.65 MHz 156.60 MHz 156.80 MHz

77

The VHF radiotelephone frequency for Channel 14 is: 156.8 MHz 156.7 MHz 156.6 MHz 156.0 MHz

78
 There are three levels of radio traffic which have priority over SECURITE, MAYDAY, PAN- MAYDAY, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, SECURITE, PAN-
ordinary traffic. Which among these is TRUE in their decreasing PAN SECURITE SECURITE PAN
order?
79

To recover a man overboard in a racetrack turn, the vessel is 60 degrees 360 degrees 135 degrees 180 degrees
steadied for the SECOND time after a turn of how many degrees
from the original heading?
80

Using VHF 16 What would you say in a SAFETY call and message? Pan-Pan Pan-pan Pan-Pan
All stations, all stations, all
stations. This is SHIP X,
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SHIP X, SHIP X. For
Navigational Warning
listen _ _ (working
What is the meaning of MERSAR? frequency)Ship
Merchant ThisSearch
is SHIPand
X frequency)Emergency
Rescue Manual
82
SECURITE SECURITE MAYDAY MAYDAY Any of the choices
SECURITE All stations, allMAYDAY All stations, all
stations, all stations. This
stations, all stations. This
is SHIP X, SHIP X, SHIP X.is SHIP X, SHIP X, SHIP X.
For Navigational Warning For Navigational Warning
listen _ _ (working listen _ _ (working
Maritime This is SHIP X
frequency)Emergency
Maritime This is SHIP X Merchant Emergency
Radio Signal and Response Rescue Search and Rescue Search and
Response Response

What is the search pattern system called using more than one ship? Parallel System Cross System interagency system distributive system

83

When you have an urgent message concerning the safety of a MAYDAY SECURITE AYE-AYE SOS
vessel, airplane or any other means, then you have to use:

84
 Your vessel is acting as the on scene commander during a distress Seelonce mayday Seelonce distress Seelonce aye-aye Seelonce SOS
rescue. Various vessels are interfering the distress traffic on the
VHF. What message would you use to stop them interfering with
85
this traffic?