3-3: DC Investigations

Question 1

Investigator PPE

Answer 1

flash gear, SCBA, firefighting gloves, helmet, fire-retardant coveralls, rubber boots

Question 2

5 things that investigators look for when conducting compartment inspection

Answer 2

fire, flooding, smoke comms derangemetns, FM damage, piping system damage, structure of hull/doors/hatches/scuttles, ventilation damage, machinery derangements, power/lighting cable damage

Question 3

Investigator immediate actions

Answer 3

Note compartment #, frame #, nature of casualty, report it, 2nd investigator must remain at the scene and initiate firefighting efforts

Question 4

Method investigators can use to determine or observe if the ship has incurred further damage after a preliminary investigation

Answer 4

investigate by pumping (if water is present, pump DCHG will should; if not, the check valve will rattle), observe pressure gauges for loss of psi, observe circuit breakers for grounds

Question 5

When investigating for structural damage, what areas should be included in the investigation?

Answer 5

Decks above/below/FWD/AFT, fragment holes, ruptured pipe lines, warped frames/stanchions, crack, open seams, leaky stuffing tubes, bent shafts, improperly closed fittings, severed electric cables, damaged bulkheads

Question 6

Where should be inspected to find damage spread in the case of a fire?

Answer 6

Open flues (trunks/ventilation ducts) contain flammable dust or may not be properly secured and can carry fire to other parts of the ship, fire has been known to travel along electrical cables, heat transferred by metal bulkheads has caused fires in parts of the ship far away from the original conflagration

Question 7

What should be inspected when an underwater explosion occurs alongside or close aboard the ship?

Answer 7

voids, tanks, and lower compartments

Question 8

How to check if a space is flooded through a watertight closure that does not require opening it?

Answer 8

knock 6 in from weld on adjacent bulkhead/door: “dink” = empty space, “dunk” = flooded space; look for sweating (condensation) on bulkhead

Question 9

When performing soundings, what symptoms will indicate that the space is either partially or completely flooded?

Answer 9

Trickling water around threads, rushing air (this could also indicate a fire as O2 pushes into space to feed fire)

Question 10

What methods can be used to investigate water tight fittings?

Answer 10

Slowly loosen dogs on HINGE SIDE (to prevent door slamming open from the pressure buildup within space)

Question 11

Precautions for investigating flooding

Answer 11

Don’t open anything until it is known that the space is dry or minimally flooded, don’t loosen dogs on opposite hinge side first when opening fitting

Question 12

In the case of an explosion, what spaces must be included when investigating for hidden damage?

Answer 12

spaces along the projectile path, 2-3 compartments in all directions

Question 13

If there is penetration of the underwater hull, what are the procedures when investigating for hidden damage?

Answer 13

any part of every compartment within 50ft of impact point, sound all tanks/voids in the vicinity

Question 14

How can testing of fuel, POTW, and feedwater tanks indicate flooding?

Answer 14

Water indicating paste on fuel tank sounding tapes can let you know if water is in fuel tanks, check the salinity of POTW/feedwater tanks: salty water will indicate flooding

Question 15

What PPE need not be worn but must be assigned and available?

Answer 15

Inflatable life vest

Question 16

When is NFTI used in the investigation?

Answer 16

Navigating through smoke-filled compartments, locating the source/seat of the fire, finding personnel casualties, locating hidden fires or hot spots

Question 17

What information can pressure gauges give an investigator?

Answer 17

is there is a drop in psi this can indicate a rupture

Question 18

Why should electric circuits in a damaged area be isolated?

Answer 18

can be a shock hazard