Cadets/Cadettes, TAKE NOTE

UPDATE!!!

COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR MARITIME STUDENTS

GENERAL:

1. Tell me about yourself?

A pleasant day to you sir!

The person in front of you is a fresh graduate of (Name of School), with a Degree of Bachelor of Science
in Marine Engineering/Transportation, who joined different clubs and organizations.

2. Why should we hire you?

You should hire me because I strongly believe that I am competent graduate of __________ and I am
very confident with my skill and knowledge for my apprenticeship training. I also have the necessary
training certificates and documents that are required for my Cadetship.

3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

I believe that my greatest strength in life is my determination to strive hard in order to fulfill my dreams
and my family.

My greatest weakness is that I am afraid to fail. But as I fail, I learn from my mistakes.

4. Why do you want to be an officer onboard?

I want to be an officer onboard because I believe that I can use my leadership skills in order to motivate
and inspire my fellow seafarers to make them also a leader.

5. What can you say about your course?

I can say that my course is a challenge to me. Every day I learn new thing. It makes me to become a
better person.

6. How many years do you want to be a Chief Engr. or Captain?

7. How long will you work in our company?

I believe that is a give and take, and an opportunity to be in this company. So I will stay in this company
as long as the company needs my service.

8. What is a seaman?

Seaman is what we all known as seafarer. Seafarer is a person who navigates waterborne vessels or
assists as a crewmember in their operation and maintenance. I call seaman as a hero of modern time
because their sacrifice their life every day.

9. What is the reason why do you want to be a seaman?

The main reason why I became a seaman is not by to travel around the world but to be a successful
chief engineer and captain someday

I want to work onboard the vessel and help my family.

10. What are the prons and cons of being a seafarer?

11. What motivates you to become a seafarer?

My greatest motivation is my dream to become a world class chief engineer.

12. How will you surpass the challenges and difficulties of being a seafarer?
Hardwork and Prayer. You need to work hard in order to become a competent marine engineer and
Pray to God Almighty for guidance and strength.

13. What is leadership?

Leadership is the ability to inspire or influence others towards the leader's goal. Leaders have followers.
If someone has followers, he or she is a leader.

14. What is your favorite subject?

15. Tell me about your favorite subject.

SAFETY:

1. What is safety?

Safety is the state of being "safe" (from French sauf), the condition of being protected against physical,
social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or
consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be considered
non-desirable.

Safety is ABC- Always Be Careful

Safety is free from the occurrence of danger or any kind of risk.

2. What is Marpol?

Marpol 73/78 is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as
modified by the Protocol of 1978.

3. What are the annexes of Marpol?

I – Oil

II- Noxious Liquid Substance

III – Packaged Form

IV- Sewage

V-Garbage
VI- Air

4. What are the four pilars of IMO?

STCW-Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping(1995)

SOLAS- International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is an international maritime safety
treaty.

MARPOL- Marpol 73/78 is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973
as modified by the Protocol of 1978.

MLC- Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 was established in 2006 as the fourth pillar of international
maritime law and embodies "all up-to-date standards of existing international maritime labour
Conventions and Recommendations, as well as the fundamental principles to be found in other
international labour Conventions".

5. How many miles can you throw garbage onboard?

Plastic – Prohibited

Floating dunnage, lining and packing materials – 25 nm

Paper, rags, glass – 3nm

Paper, rags, glass(ground) – 12 nm

Foodwaste – 12 nm

Foodwaste(ground) – 3 nm

6. What are the steps to be done when there is fire inside the engine room?

Raise the alarm

Inform the bridge

Locate/use a fire extinguisher or fire hose

7. What is fire triangle and its composition?

Heat

Fuel
Oxygen

8. What are the appropriate fire extinguishers to be used in case of fire (the interviewer will cite an
example or situation)

A(Wood/Paper) –

B(Flammable Liquid)-

C(Electric)-

D(Metal)-

9. How will you encourage your team to follow safety precautionary measures and best working
practices onboard?

10. How will you maintain safe working practices onboard?

11. What is ECA and S

SAFETY:

1. What is safety?

Safety is the state of being “safe” (from French sauf), the condition of being protected against physical,
social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or
consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be considered
non-desirable.

Safety is ABC- Always Be Careful

2. What is Marpol?

Marpol 73/78 is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as
modified by the Protocol of 1978.

3. What are the annexes of Marpol?

I – Oil

II- Noxious Liquid Substance

III – Packaged Form

IV- Sewage

V-Garbage

VI- Air

4. What are the four pilars of IMO?

STCW

SOLAS

MARPOL

MLC

5. How many miles can you throw garbage onboard?

Foodwaste – 12 nm

Foodwaste(ground) – 3 nm

6. What are the steps to be done when there is fire inside the engine room?

Raise the alarm

Inform the bridge

Locate/use a fire extinguisher or fire hose

7. What is fire triangle and its composition?

Heat

Fuel
Oxygen

8. What are the appropriate fire extinguishers to be used in case of fire (the interviewer will cite an
example or situation)

A(Wood/Paper) –

B(Flammable Liquid)-

C(Electric)-

D(Metal)-

9. How will you encourage your team to follow safety precautionary measures and best working
practices onboard?

10. How will you maintain safe working practices onboard?

11. What is ECA and SECA?

12. What is ORB?

13. The minimum amount of oxygen a human need when entering enclosed spaces?

TECHNICAL (ENGINE)
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1. What is Marine Engineering?

The Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering is a 4 year degree program that centers on the
construction, operation, and maintenance of different kinds of marine vessels such as cargo ships, cruise
ships, fishing boats, battleships and submarines.

This program aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills that will enable them to operate
and maintain the different machineries installed in marine vessels, including the propulsion plant,
adjunct and auxiliary machinery, electrical and refrigeration systems.

2. What are the duties and responsibilities of an engine cadet on board?

Chief Engineer- is responsible to the master for the satisfactory operation of all machinery and
equipment.

2nd Engineer- Is responsible for the practical upkeep for the Chief Engineer to keep a watch

3rd and 4th Engineer- are usually senior watchkeepers or engineers in charge of the watch.

Engine Cadet-is the most junior personnel in Engine department. He is responsible to take a Job order to
2nd Engineer

3. Differentiate diesel and gas engine.

They are both internal combustion engines designed to convert the chemical energy into mechanical
energy

Diesel Engine-Mixed with air

Gas Engine-

4. What is Four Stroke Diesel Engine?

4 cycles 1 revolution
 5. What is Two Stroke Diesel Engine?

2 cycles 1 revolution

6. What is the difference of Four Stroke from a Two Stroke and vice versa?

4 stroke- 4 cycles 2 revolution

2 stroke- 2 cycles 1 revolution

FOR DIESEL ENGINE

1. 4 STROKE ENGINE-are classified in terms of

a.) Natural aspiration engine

b.) Super chargers Engine

2. 2 STROKE ENGINE- The cycle scavanged and filled with a fresh air is changed by slightly compressed
air funished by some external pump or blower.

And the next one for CYCLE of DIESEL ENGINE

2 STROKE CYCLE- the cycle is completed in 2 stroke of a piston or 1 complete revolution of crankshaft

4 STROKE CYCLE- the cycle is completed in 4 stroke of a piston or 2completed rotation of crankshaft

7. Explain the cycles of four stroke and two stroke.

8. The advantages and disadvantages of Four-Stroke and Two-Stroke.

A two stroke engine can produce twice the amount of power (and makes twice as much noise).Two
stroke engines are simpler and cheaper to manufacture compared to four stroke engines because of
their simpler design.

.
Four stroke engines are longer lasting than two stroke engines that don’t have a dedicated lubricating
system. Four stroke engines are more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly when compared to two
stroke engines that also create an unpleasant smell.

9. What is Refrigeration?

Refrigeration is a process of moving heat from one location to another.

10. Draw and explain the refrigeration cycle.

11. What is the difference between a purifier and clarifier?

Both are used in a separation process

Purifier- two liquids of different densities are separated using a centrifuge

It use to separate solid impurities and water from oil – for marine basis only

Clarifier-when the same centrifuge is used to separate solid impurities from the fuel.

12. What are pumps and cite the types of pumps and their use?

Vacuum pumps vent the gas from a sealed volume leaving behind a partial vacuum.

As the name implies, water pumps pump water.

Trash pumps are primarily used to pump wastewater.

Hydraulic pumps are used in hydraulic drive systems.

Sump pumps are used to remove water accumulated in a water collecting basin called a sump.

.
 13. Parts of the Main Engine.

Camshaft, Crankshaft, Piston, Inlet and outlet valve, combustion space

14. Define the parts of the main engine and their functions.

15. What is series?

A series circuit has more than one resistor (anything that uses electricity to do work) and gets its name
from only having one path for the charges to move along.

16. What is parallel?

A parallel circuit has more than one resistor (anything that uses electricity to do work) and gets its name
from having multiple (parallel) paths to move along.

17. The difference between a series and parallel?

18. Is a christmas lights a series connection?

Series circuit, because it is connected to each other in a closed circuit.

*for example the power load is 120v(general in Phil), if your christmas lights is 24lights, so each light is
composed of 5v to make 120.

19. What the difference between a direct current and alternating current?

DC is defined as the “unidirectional” flow of current; current only flows in one direction.

Alternating current describes the flow of charge that changes direction periodically.

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.

20. Cite examples of direct and alternating current?

Your Refrigerator, washer and dryer, oven, lights, use AC.

Your cell-phone, wireless phone, flashlight use DC.

21. Examples of machine shop tools and their functions

Drilling

Welding

Lathe

Grinder

22. What is welding?

Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by
causing fusion, which is distinct from lower temperature metal-joining techniques such as brazing and
soldering, which do not melt the base metal.

c) Seaman OnlinePH

From Sir I. Domingo:

Annex I: Regulation for the prevention of pollution by oil

Annex II: Regulation for the control of pollution by noxious liquid substances

Annex III: Regulation for the prevention of pollution by harmful substances carried by sea in packaged
form

Annex IV: Regulation for the Prevention of pollution by sewage from ships

Annex V: Regulation for the Prevention of pollution by garbage from ships