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USCG Steam Plants Practice Test
431 Steam Plants questions from 6 of the National Maritime Center’s published sample exams, each with the NMC’s answer key. Questions that need an illustration, a chart or a reference book are left out.
67 of them come with the closest regulation or reference section, shown with the answer.
Take a quiz of 10 drawn at random, or read the 10 sample questions and answers below.
10 sample Steam Plants questions with answers
The same 10 on every visit. A related section is the closest match RegKnot found in the regulations and references; it is not part of the NMC’s answer key.
Question 1 · DDE – 1000/4000 HP
Which procedure should be followed to dry out the fireside of a boiler after water washing?
- A.Use a wire reinforced steam hose to put superheated steam in the furnace for 6 hours.
- B.Alternately fire one burner for 15-minute intervals during a 5-hour period. (correct answer)
- C.Place trays of silica gel in the furnace.
- D.Open the furnace registers and run the forced draft fans for 3 hours.
Answer: B. Alternately fire one burner for 15-minute intervals during a 5-hour period.
Related regulation: 46 CFR 62.35-20 ↗ — Oil-fired main boilers
Question 2 · Third Assistant Engineer
Which of the actions listed should be carried out immediately after securing the fires in one boiler of a two- boiler ship?
- A.Open the air registers wide to cool the furnace.
- B.Relieve all fuel oil service pressure to that boiler. (correct answer)
- C.Secure the main feed pump.
- D.Drain and refill the boiler with cold water.
Answer: B. Relieve all fuel oil service pressure to that boiler.
Related regulation: 46 CFR 62.35-20 ↗ — Oil-fired main boilers
Question 3 · Third Assistant Engineer
All oil-fired main propulsion burners with automatic safety control systems must automatically close the burner valve when _________.
- A.Actuated by a boiler safety trip (correct answer)
- B.The flame in boiler furnace is confirmed
- C.Starting "trial for ignition"
- D.The burner is properly seated
Answer: A. Actuated by a boiler safety trip
Related regulation: 46 CFR 62.35-20 ↗ — Oil-fired main boilers
Question 4 · Third Assistant Engineer
While underway on watch in the engine room of a steam vessel, the proper valve positions for controlling feedwater to the boiler using the auxiliary feed system should be __________.
- A.The stop and stop-check valves fully open and the feed pump speed used to regulate the amount of flow
- B.The stop valve fully open and the auxiliary stop-check valve used to regulate the amount of flow (correct answer)
- C.The check valve fully open and the stop-check valve regulated by the feedwater regulator
- D.The auxiliary check valve fully open and the stop-check valve used to regulate the amount of flow
Answer: B. The stop valve fully open and the auxiliary stop-check valve used to regulate the amount of flow
Related regulation: 46 CFR 56.50-30 ↗ — Boiler feed piping
Question 5 · DDE – 1000/4000 HP
Where do fuel oil vapors tend to accumulate in an engine room?
- A.At the point in the engine room where the vapors were initially formed
- B.Oil vapors tend to distribute throughout the engine room evenly
- C.In the lower engine room spaces, especially in the bilges (correct answer)
- D.In the upper engine room spaces, especially in the fidley
Answer: C. In the lower engine room spaces, especially in the bilges
Related regulation: SOLAS Ch.II-2 Reg.4 — Probability of ignition
Question 6 · Assistant Engineer – Limited
While your vessel is underway at normal speed, a steam drum safety valve develops a significant leak. Your first corrective action should be to __________.
- A.secure the boiler and blank off the valve flange
- B.attempt to reseat the valve using the hand releasing gear (correct answer)
- C.inspect the escape piping for binding on the valve body
- D.secure the boiler and check the valve spring compression
Answer: B. attempt to reseat the valve using the hand releasing gear
Related regulation: 46 CFR 176.704 ↗ — Breaking of safety valve seals
Question 7 · Third Assistant Engineer
In accordance with 46 CFR Subchapter D (Tank Vessels), what is the minimum flash point of oil to be used as fuel for the boilers?
- A.80°F (26.7°C)
- B.110°F (43.3°C)
- C.140°F (60.0°C) (correct answer)
- D.150°F (65.6°C)
Answer: C. 140°F (60.0°C)
Related regulation: 46 CFR 58.01-10 ↗ — Fuel oil
Question 8 · Chief Engineer – Limited
Which of the following represents a significant system limitation to be aware of when a burner management system is operated in the 'HAND' mode?
- A.The burner is not capable of maintaining a high firing rate when the boiler is in the 'HAND' mode.
- B.Some boiler safety interlocks are bypassed when the boiler is 'HAND' fired. (correct answer)
- C.The flame failure alarm cannot function when the boiler is 'HAND' fired.
- D.The burner sequence control is fully automatic even in the 'HAND' mode.
Answer: B. Some boiler safety interlocks are bypassed when the boiler is 'HAND' fired.
Related regulation: NVIC 01-69 Encl.1 — Automated Main and Auxiliary Machinery — Enclosure (1)
Question 9 · Third Assistant Engineer
Which of the following items should be checked each time the firing rate or forced draft pressure is adjusted?
- A.Smoke periscope (correct answer)
- B.Atomizing steam pressure
- C.Fuel oil heater inlet temperature
- D.Fuel oil suction pressure
Answer: A. Smoke periscope
Related regulation: 46 CFR 71.25-20 ↗ — Fire detection and extinguishing equipment
Question 10 · Third Assistant Engineer
In a steam turbine and reduction gear main propulsion plant, the alarm sensor for low turbine oil pressure is usually installed __________.
- A.at a point on the inlet side of the main bearings as close to the bearings as possible
- B.at the end of the supply line header to the bearings (correct answer)
- C.at the outlet of the main thrust bearing
- D.at a point on the outlet side of the main bearings as close to the bearings as possible
Answer: B. at the end of the supply line header to the bearings
Related regulation: 46 CFR 130.460 ↗ — Placement of machinery alarms
Exams these questions come from
Choose one when you start the quiz. A question can appear in more than one exam, so these add up to more than 431.
- Third Assistant Engineer131 questions
- DDE – Unlimited HP66 questions
- Assistant Engineer – Limited65 questions
- First Assistant Engineer65 questions
- Chief Engineer – Limited64 questions
- DDE – 1000/4000 HP48 questions
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Endorsements
The questions and answer keys are from the U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center’s published sample exams. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Maritime Center. A practice score does not predict your exam result; check the NMC for current exam requirements.