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Life as a Steamship Engineer Trivia Quiz

For much of the 20th Century, Steam Power Ships dominated the United States Merchant Marine. The improvements in efficiency of Diesel Engines have rendered Merchant Steamers all but extinct. Take this quiz to see how you would fair on a Merchant Steame

A multiple-choice quiz by fifthavenue91. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
fifthavenue91

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
314,166

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
311

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. You are a new Third Engineer aboard a Merchant Steamer in the 1960s. You head down to the Engine Room to get your assignment. The First tells you to tag along with the Second and take on bunkers. What will you be doing with the Second? Hint

Taking on fuel for the ship.

Loading the ship with cargo.

Taking on provisions for the ship.

Greasing the Relative Bearing.

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Question 2 of 10

2. You have your newly printed Third Assistant Engineer's license as a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy. As a new engineer, you are trying to fit in, so you ask the Second Engineer that is relieving you from the watch, which school he went to to obtain his license. He tells you he worked his way up through. What would he most accurately be known as in the maritime world? Hint

An Oiler

A Hawsepiper

A Salty Dog

A Whizbanger

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Question 3 of 10

3. You are having a pretty easy watch and the three pots of coffee that you have put down are starting to catch up with you. If you were ashore, you would use the bathroom. What are you going to do now that you are aboard ship? Hint

Make a Head Call

Make your way to the Bosun's Locker

Make your way to the Poop Deck

Make your way to the Bunker Tank

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Question 4 of 10

4. You are having a nice and easy 8-12 Watch and you receive a call from the Third Mate that you are running black. What do you do? Hint

Take a shower.

Put a litte more air to the furnace of the boiler.

Stop pumping bilges.

Turn on the Deck Lights for the ship.

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Question 5 of 10

5. This Engineering business is pretty rough. Your Oiler comes back from his round and tells you that the Thrust Bearing is leaking oil and you should take a peek. Where would you go to check it out? Hint

Starboard Bilge Area

Fan Tail

Steering Gear Room

Shaft Alley

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Question 6 of 10

6. You've just been promoted to Second Engineer on your Steamer. That means that you now have charge of the boilers. What would not be one of your primary responsibilities? Hint

Standing Watch

Blowing Soot

Cleaning the Lube Oil Purifier

Testing Boiler Water

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of the following would definitely not be part of the Black Gang? Hint

First Assistant Engineer

Wiper

Oiler

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Question 8 of 10

8. How do you know that the Mate on Watch wants you to make a change in Engine Speed? Hint

He rings you on the Phone

He does nothing - You're the Engineer and you control the speed

He sends down an AB with an order sheet.

He rings you on the Engine Order Telegraph

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Question 9 of 10

9. You are on Watch and the Boiler has more fuel in it that it can handle. You watch the drum pressure rise to 110% of Normal Working Pressure. You are trying to get fuel out quickly, but can't do it fast enough. What should happen? Hint

Nothing - Overpressurizing a Boiler is no big deal.

You will hear a loud popping noise when you lift a safety.

You will shut off the water supply to the boiler, since you can't get the fuel out.

You better run because there is going to be a big explosion.

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Question 10 of 10

10. Your tour is up and you are pulling into the port where your relief will get take over and get you off the ship for some well deserved leave time. You are maneuvering in and the Deck Officer of the Watch wants a Slow Astern Bell. What valve must be open or closed to answer the bell? Hint

LP Exhaust to the Condenser must be closed.

Boiler Bottom Blowdown Valve must be open.

Astern Guarding Valve must be open.

Skin Valve must be open.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Taking on fuel for the ship.

"Bunkers" is a maritime term for fuel. It is most likely a hold over from the days of coal fuel when the coal was stored in actual bunkers. What is called #6 Fuel Oil in shoreside terms would be known as Bunker C aboard ship.

Answer: A Hawsepiper

A Hawsepiper refers to a Merchant Marine Officer who started out at the bottom ranks and worked their way up through. The Hawsepipe is the opening in the bow of the ship where the anchor passes through. A Hawsepiper may also be said to have "come up through the bilges" as an Engineer or "come up through the fo'c'sle" as Deck Officer.

Answer: Make a Head Call

On a ship, the bathroom would be known as a head.

4. You are having a nice and easy 8-12 Watch and you receive a call from the Third Mate that you are running black. What do you do?

Answer: Put a litte more air to the furnace of the boiler.

The mate would be letting you know that you have a black stack indicating too rich a fuel to air ratio, so you are getting incomplete combustion in your boiler. A little more air should clear that right up.

5. This Engineering business is pretty rough. Your Oiler comes back from his round and tells you that the Thrust Bearing is leaking oil and you should take a peek. Where would you go to check it out?

Answer: Shaft Alley

The Thrust Bearing takes the "thrust" of the propeller and helps transmit some of the force throughout the ship's hull. It is normally located in the area where the propeller shaft goes from the reduction gear to the propeller. On a ship this is known as "Shaft Alley"

6. You've just been promoted to Second Engineer on your Steamer. That means that you now have charge of the boilers. What would not be one of your primary responsibilities?

Answer: Cleaning the Lube Oil Purifier

Usually the Third Engineer on a Steamer is in charge of the Lube Oil Purifier.

7. Which of the following would definitely not be part of the Black Gang?

Answer: AB

The term "Black Gang" refers to shipboard workers who work in the Engine Department. An AB, or Able Bodied Seaman works in the Deck Department. A Wiper would have been the entry level job in the Engine Department, while an Oiler was slightly senior to a Wiper. The First Assistant Engineer was in charge of the day to day work in the Engine Room

8. How do you know that the Mate on Watch wants you to make a change in Engine Speed?

Answer: He rings you on the Engine Order Telegraph

He could call you on the phone, but the Engine Order Telegraph is the official way for the Deck Officer of the Watch to let you know he wants to change the speed of the ship. He will know that you are making the move when you Match his signal on the EOT. This is known as "answering a bell".

Answer: You will hear a loud popping noise when you lift a safety.

The Safety Valve should lift and relieve pressure to an acceptable level until you can get fuel under control. If the Safety valve does not lift and the pressure keeps rising, then you should run because there COULD be a big explosion - from the overpressurization of the boiler.

Answer: Astern Guarding Valve must be open.

The Astern Guarding Valve must be Open to allow steam into the Astern Element of the Main Engine. The LP Exhaust should be open. The Bottom Blow valve should be shut if the Boiler that it is attached to is online, and you don't really care about the Skin Valve, although good practice is to have it closed.

Source: Author fifthavenue91

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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