Maritime English · for seafarers
Quiz: safety on board in English
Alarms and muster stations, life-saving equipment, man overboard, fire, flooding and enclosed spaces — plus the grammar of orders and reports. 15 questions, each answer explained.
- 15 questions
- Level A2–B1
- Every answer explained
- No sign-up
Maritime English Quiz: Safety on Board
Choose the right option — you’ll instantly see if you got it and why. Your score comes after the last question.
Question 1.
When the general alarm sounds, go to your (blank) station.
Choose the right option
The muster station is where you gather when the alarm sounds.
Question 2.
Put on your (blank) before you go to the lifeboat.
Choose the right option
A life jacket is worn; a lifeboat and a liferaft are craft you board.
Question 3.
Someone has fallen into the sea! Shout: “(blank)!”
Choose the right option
“Man overboard!” means someone has fallen into the sea.
Question 4.
Throw a (blank) to the person in the water.
Choose the right option
A lifebuoy is the ring you throw to someone in the water.
Question 5.
Only the Master can give the order to (blank) ship.
Choose the right option
“Abandon ship” is the standard order to leave the ship.
Question 6.
There is a small fire in the galley. Use the fire (blank).
Choose the right option
A fire extinguisher is used on a small fire.
Question 7.
We have a fire (blank) every month to practise what to do.
Choose the right option
A drill is an emergency practice.
Question 8.
Water is coming into the engine room. We have (blank).
Choose the right option
Flooding is water coming in. Grounding is hitting the bottom; a collision is hitting another ship.
Question 9.
The ship has run aground on a sandbank. This is a (blank).
Choose the right option
Grounding is when a ship runs aground.
Question 10.
You (blank) smoke near the fuel tanks.
Choose the right option
Mustn’t is a ban; don’t have to and needn’t mean it isn’t necessary.
Question 11.
The lifeboats (blank) every week.
Choose the right option
Procedures use the passive: the lifeboats are inspected.
Question 12.
Report to the Master: “The fire is out. It (blank) extinguished.”
Choose the right option
A report of a result uses the Present Perfect passive: has been extinguished.
Question 13.
Wear a helmet, gloves and safety boots: your PPE means personal protective (blank).
Choose the right option
PPE stands for personal protective equipment.
Question 14.
Before entering an enclosed (blank), the oxygen level must be tested.
Choose the right option
An enclosed space (a tank, a hold) must have its air tested before entry.
Question 15.
In a distress situation, the (blank) sends the ship’s position to rescue services by satellite.
Choose the right option
An EPIRB is the emergency beacon that sends the position by satellite.
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Take the level testSafety English: the essentials
Drills, safety briefings and reports on board are in English. Here are the words and grammar you hear most.
Alarms and life-saving equipment
At the general alarm everyone goes to their muster station wearing a life jacket. A lifeboat and a liferaft carry survivors, a lifebuoy is thrown, and an EPIRB sends the ship’s position by satellite.
All crew to muster stations.
Everyone must go to their gathering point.
Put on your life jacket and immersion suit.
Wear your floating vest and survival suit.
Emergencies
Fire, flooding (water coming in), collision, grounding (hitting the bottom), man overboard, and abandon ship — an order only the Master can give.
There is flooding in the engine room.
Water is coming into the engine room.
Man overboard on the port side!
Someone fell into the sea on the left.
The grammar of rules and reports
Must / mustn’t for rules and bans. The passive for procedures (The lifeboats are inspected weekly). The Present Perfect passive to report a result (The fire has been extinguished).
You mustn’t enter the enclosed space alone.
Going into the space alone is forbidden.
The fire has been extinguished.
The fire is out now.
Typical mistakes
Things learners of English often say. On the left — what to avoid, on the right — the correct version.
Not this:
You don’t have to smoke here.This: You mustn’t smoke here.
A ban is mustn’t; don’t have to means it isn’t necessary.
Not this:
The fire is extinguished now by us.This: The fire has been extinguished.
Report a result with the Present Perfect passive.
Not this:
Leave the ship!This: Abandon ship!
The standard order is “Abandon ship”, and only the Master gives it.
FAQ
Didn’t find your answer? Send us a request — we’ll tell you everything.
Who is this quiz for?
Seafarers, cadets and anyone preparing for Marlins, CES or a crewing-agency interview. The level is about A2–B1.
Is this an official test?
No: it’s a free practice quiz by Slay School with our own questions.
What should I study next?
Safety words with audio, the radio (SMCP) quiz and the Marlins-style practice test — in the Modern professions section.
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