ASA 103 Flashcards
List the federally required equipment for a 33-foot recreational vessel equipped with an inboard diesel engine.
- Boat registration card and hull numbers
- Type I, Type II, or Type III PFD for each person plus 1 Type IV throwable PFD.
- Visual distress signals for daytime: Distress flag and/or 3 smoke flares or 3 day/night flares
- Visual distress signals for nighttime: 3 night flares
- Fire extinguishers: two B-I or one B-II
- Hand-held or mouth-blown horn
- Sidelights, sternlight, and masthead light
- Placards: Discharge of oil and MARPOL discharge of garbage
- Marine sanitation device: Type I, Type II, or Type III
Describe the characteristics and benefits of PFDs, both wearable and throwable.
- In order to meet the requirement, they must be Coast Guard approved, in good condition, and ready to wear (i.e. not in the packaging they were purchased in).
- Type I = offshore, will roll unconscious person face up
- Type II = near-shore, may turn unconscious person face up
- Type III = flotation aid for inland use
- Type IV throwable = not designed to be worn, includes floating cushions, life rings, horseshoe buoys
- Type V = Special Use Device, including hypothermia suits, work vests, commercial deck suits, and inflatable life vests. Type V only counts toward the requirement if worn.
List the ASA recommended safety equipment for a recreational sailing vessel.
VHF Radio, Cell Phone, Rope and Twine Charts and Plotting Tools Anchor and Rode, Binoculars First Aid Kit, Tool Kit Rigging Knife with blunt end Flashlights, High Power Flashlight Battery Lantern, Clock or Watch, Boathook Portable Bilge Pump, Softwood Plugs Bucket, Radar Reflector
Describe the purpose and proper use of a safety harness and tether.
Purpose: to keep you from falling overboard.
Proper use: Wear the harness when leaving the cockpit during heavy weather. Attach it to the tether and attach the tether to a secure point on deck or a jackline. Do not attach it to the lifelines.
Describe safe refueling procedures for a vessel equipped with an outboard engine using gasoline.
- Send the crew ashore, extinguish all open flames, turn off all electrical devices, turn off the battery switch.
- Close the portlights, hatches, and companionway.
- Carefully locate the correct fuel fill plate and open it.
- Have someone on the dock place a rag over the fuel nozzle and hand it to you.
- Start fueling slowly. Have someone periodically call out the number of gallons pumped. Hold the nozzle firmly against the pipe to prevent static. Don’t try to top off the tank.
- Hand the nozzle back to the attendant and close the fill plate. Wipe up spilled fuel.
- Open hatches and companionway and run the bilge blower for 5 minutes or longer if you still smell fuel. No crew to re-board until procedure is done.
Describe safe refueling procedures for a vessel equipped with an inboard diesel engine.
- Read signage on dock and choose the correct fuel.
- Using the fuel gauge, estimate how much fuel is needed.
- Have someone on the dock place a rag over the fuel nozzle and hand it to you.
- Start fueling slowly. Have someone periodically call out the number of gallons pumped. Don’t try to top off the tank.
- Withdraw the nozzle while holding the rag around it.
- Return nozzle to attendant. Replace the cap on the fuel-fill plate.
How do you prevent undue magnetic influence on a compass?
Avoid placing items that might influence the compass within three feet of the ship’s compass, including flashlights, deck knives, portable radios, and cell phones.
Define “small craft advisory” and “gale warning” and describe precautions to be taken for each.
Small craft advisory: issued by the NWS when forecast sea or wind conditions might prove hazardous.
Gale warning: issued by NWS when forecast winds are from 34 to 47 knots.
Precautions: stay ashore, reef, wear PFDs, make way to sheltered location. (???)
Describe the primary responsibilities of skipper and crew.
The captain of a ship is responsible for everything that happens on and to that ship. The captain is responsible for the safety of the vessel and every person aboard.
The skipper’s role is to ensure that action is taken when necessary, the crew receive guidance if needed, and the “entire enterprise runs harmoniously and safely.”
The crew must respect the skipper’s authority.
Describe the rule for proceeding at a safe speed (Rule 6).
Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.
Factors to be taken into account by all vessels:
(i) Visibility; (ii) traffic density and type of traffic; (iii) maneuverability esp. stopping distance and turning ability; (iv) at night the presence of background light; (v) the state of wind, sea, current and navigational hazards
(Additional factors apply to vessels with radar.)
Describe the rule for determining the risk of collision (Rule 7).
(a) Every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine if risk of collision exists. If there is any doubt, such risk shall be deemed to exist.
(b and c apply to radar)
(d) considerations to be taken into account:
(i) Risk shall be deemed to exist if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not change.
(ii) Even when the bearing does not change the risk may exist when approaching a very large vessel or a tow or a vessel at close range.
Describe Rule 8, action to avoid collision.
(a) Any action shall be taken in accordance with the rules, be positive, made in ample time, and with due regard to the observance of good seamanship.
(b) Any alteration of course and/or speed to avoid collision shall be large and readily apparent.
(d) Action taken to avoid collision should result in a safe passing distance.
Describe the actions to be taken when operating a vessel in restricted visibility.
- Proceed at a safe speed, taking into account not just visibility but also density and type of traffic and the time and space needed to “take proper and effective action.”
- Before losing visibility, establish where you are.
- Keep a sharp lookout and listen for sound signals from other vessels.
- Sound signal required of vessel under sail: one long blast followed by two short blasts, repeated at intervals not longer than 2 minutes.
- Sound signal required of power-driven vessel under way is one long blast at intervals not longer than 2 minutes.
What are the basic maneuvering and warning signals for inland waters?
Danger signal: Five short blasts.
Signals of intent: (These require a response.)
- One short blast: I intend to leave you on my port side.
- Two short blasts: I intend to leave you on my starboard side.
Describe the appearance and purpose of the “Diver Down” and “Alpha” flags.
Both flags signal that a diver is down and that other vessels must keep well clear at low speed.
International Code Flag A is white and purple and meets rule 18 of the Navigation Rules.
The Diver Down flag is red with a white diagonal stripe, is often used by recreational divers, and is recognized in the US and Canada.
