PSP Pilot Course relevant questions

Question 1

When backing into a pier against an offshore wind and tide with 2 tugs, which is the best arrangement of tugs?

a. place the most powerful tug aft
b. place the most powerful tug forward
c. order a 3rd tug to push amidship
d. with sternway, the wind generally will not affect the vessel’s movement

Answer 1

a. place the most powerful tug aft

Question 2

When undocking a large tanker in following current and a ship is ahead in a berth, where should you place the most powerful tug?

a. in the stem
b. in the stern on a quarter bitt
c. on the quarter
d. on the bow

Answer 2

b. in the stern on a quarter bitt

Question 3

When departing a pier and singling up to a short bight of line has what disadvantage?

a. it may be difficult to swing out at large angles
b. the ship’s bow remains close to the pier causing it to hit the dock
c. the tug will not be able to push off from the inside of the pier
d. the line will hold the entire ship into the dock

Answer 3

a. it may be difficult to swing the ship out at large angles

Question 4

When undocking a large VLCC with a following current, when in doubt, what is the best course of action?

a. call for another tug to work amidships
b. wait for the next best tide
c. put the strongest tug on the quarter
d. put the strongest tug on the bow

Answer 4

b. wait for the next best tide

Question 5

When getting underway with a very large ship, how can you swing the ship most effectively?

a. 1 tug pushing on the inside bow with more power than the 2nd tug pushing on the same side
b. 2 tugs pushing on the bow while the ship is going astern
c. 1 tug pulling on a line from the stem and 1 tug
d. 2 tugs pushing on the quarter while the ship is going ahead

Answer 5

b. 2 tugs pushing on the bow while the ship is going astern

Question 6

When maneuvering astern, dredging an anchor will keep the bow of a ship from falling off in the wind.

a. true
b. false

Answer 6

a. true

Question 7

When leaving port and singling up mooring lines, one should generally.

a. take in all springs and headlines at once
b. single up on a short line
c. single up with the bow and stern lines last and take in the spring lines first
d. take in all spring lines last and leave the offshore bow and stern lines

Answer 7

b. single up on a short line

Question 8

When docking VLCCs, at what speed/s does the Doppler reading become unreliable?

a. less than 3 knots
b. less than 2 knots
c. less than 0.5 knots
d. less than 1 knot

Answer 8

d. less than 1 knot

Question 9

Motion is perceived through constant observation on the ship. In most cases you can’t move a ship sideways without having what 3 components of motion?

a. sideways, fore & aft, turning
b. inertia, resistance, force
c. lateral, longitudinal, rotational
d. up, down, all around

Answer 9

c. lateral, longitudinal, rotational

Question 10

Anything that exerts a force (weight on line/anchor chain, landing on a fender, tug) at a specific point will alter the position of the ships pivot point causing it to move towards the point where the force is exerted. How far toward that point is a matter of proportion or ratio between the amount of force and the ship’s inertia.

a. true
b. false

Answer 10

a. true

Question 11

Calculate steering lever (distance from rudder to pivot point)

Answer 11

Steering Lever

(initial) = (L-B)

(under speed) = 3/4 (L-B)

Question 12

Magnitude of wind force

Answer 12

wind-force (in pounds) = 0.004 x W x v²

W = windage in square feet

v = speed in knots

Calculating W

W (abeam) = LOA x D - LBP x mean draft

W (bow) = B x D - B x draft forward

LOA = length overall

LBP = length between perpendiculars

B = breadth, molded

D = depth, molded

Question 13

25 knot wind-force calculation

70,000 dwt ship

drafts 16 feet forward, 26 feet aft

LOA 800 feet

LBP 765 feet

B 115 feet

D 56 feet

Answer 13

W (abeam) = 800 x 56 - 765 x 21

W = 28,735 sq ft

W (bow) = 115 x 56 - 115 x 16

W = 4,600 sq ft

wind-force (abeam) = 0.004 x 28,735 x 25² = 71,838 lbs = 36T

wind-force (bow) = 0.004 x 4,600 x 25² = 11,500 lbs = 5.75 (6T)

Question 14

Magnitude of current force on beam

Answer 14

C = f x L x d x v²

C=current load in short tons

L=length in feet at waterline

d=mean draft

v=current speed in knots

f=UKC factor depending on water depth to draft ratio. water depth 1.1 x draft, f=0.0036. water depth 2 x draft, f=0.0018. water depth 3 x draft, f=0.0015

Question 15

Current force calculation

70,000 dwt ship

length at waterline 790 feet

depth of water 46 feet

mean draft 21 feet

Answer 15

C (1 knot current) = 0.0018 x 790 x 21 x 1² = 29.9 (30T)

C (2 knot current) = 0.0018 x 790 x 21 x 2² = 119.5 (120T)

C (3 knot current) = 0.0018 x 790 x 21 x 3² = 268.8 (270T)

Question 16

As a rule of thumb, when will a high sided vessel feel the wind significantly?

a. wind speed is 3x ship’s speed
b. wind speed is 5x ship’s speed
c. wind speed is 6x ship’s speed
d. wind speed is 7x ship’s speed

Answer 16

a. wind speed is 3x ship’s speed (passenger, container, car carrier)

low windage vessel (loaded tanker) will feel wind significantly at wind speed of 5x ship’s speed

Question 17

What is a backing line?

a. a line run from the stern of the tug led aft to the ship’s deck bitt
b. a line run from the bow of the tug led aft to the ship’s deck bitt
c. a line run from the bow of the tug led forward to the ship’s deck bitt
d. a line run from the bow of the tug led to the same bitt as the bow line

Answer 17

c. a line run from the bow of the tug led forward to the ship’s deck bitt

Question 18

How would you approach a dock with a moderate wind off the dock?

a. Stern first at a greater angle and kick ahead hard over to swing the bow into the dock and stern away from the dock.
b. Bow first at a greater angle and kick the stern toward the dock.
c. Bow first at a small angle and to the wind to help keep the ship from landing alongside hard.
d. Stern first at a small angle and kick ahead with rudder towards dock.

Answer 18

b. Bow first at a greater angle and kick the stern toward the dock.

Question 19

What are the most important lines in keeping the ship alongside the pier?

a. spring lines
b. breast lines
c. bow and stern offshore lines
d. bow and stern inshore lines

Answer 19

b. breast lines

Question 20

When undocking with ships close ahead or astern, one should avoid?

a. Putting too much tension on breast lines
b. Stern reach
c. Head reach
d. Undocking is easier and does not need a plan similar to docking a ship

Answer 20

c. head reach

Question 21

When using tugs to maneuver alongside a dock in a following current, how should the tugs be utilized?

a. The power tug must be placed on the bow to control the ships swing
b. The forward tug is generally the most maneuverable and is expected to keep constant tension on the tug line with away from the dock or pier
c. The after tug is generally the most maneuverable and expected to keep constant tension on the tug line away from the dock or pier
d. The forward tug must be kept stopped, or at a minimum power, to prevent the ships bow from setting in

Answer 21

d. The forward tug must be kept stopped, or at a minimum power, to prevent the ships bow from setting in

Question 22

When landing alongside a pier using a bow anchor, which anchor is preferred?

a. Inshore anchor
b. Offshore anchor to prevent damage to the hull
c. Should never use anchors to land a ship to a berth
d. Anchors are for emergency only

Answer 22

b. ofshore anchor to prevent damage to the hull

Question 23

When docking with an anchor using the correct amount of chain, what effect does this have on the ship?

a. Bow is steadied
b. Ship loses headway when the engine is stopped
c. Ship responds to her rudder without gaining headway
d. Ship can be moved ahead by increasing engine revolutions
e. All of the above

Answer 23

e. All of the above

Question 24

How much chain should be let out when dredging an anchor?

a. 1x depth of water
b. 2x depth of water
c. 3x depth of water
d. 5x depth of water

Answer 24

b. 2x depth of water

Question 25

When backing a ship towards a berth, what is the most effective way to use the rudder?

a. Leave is amidships throughout the maneuver
b. Move it one way while the engines are going astern and the other way while kicking ahead engines
c. Keep it in position for use with a kick ahead to direct the stern towards or away from the berth
d. Use it to steer the stern into position with the engines going astern

Answer 25

c. Keep it in position for use with a kick ahead to direct the stern towards or away from the berth

Question 26

What technique works best for tankers in ballast when they are approaching a mono buoy with a headwind?

a. Approach from upwind and drift down onto the buoy
b. Approach with the wind broad on the port bow
c. Approach into the wind and past the buoy, then let the ship drift astern into position
d. Use the ships engine and hard over rudder to maintain a heading into the wind

Answer 26

d. Use the ships engine and hard over rudder to maintain a heading into the wind