USCG MST SWE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
How long are ISM-SMC valid for when issued to vessels? - (ANSWER)5 years
How often to SMCs need to be endorsed? - (ANSWER)Intermediately, between 2nd & 3rd year.
How long is an interim ISM-SMC valid for? - (ANSWER)6 months
How long are ISM-DOCs issued to companies valid for? - (ANSWER)5 years
How often are DOCs endorsed? - (ANSWER)Annually
How long is an interim ISM-DOC valid for? - (ANSWER)12 months
How long are ISSCs valid for? - (ANSWER)5 years
How often to ISSCs need to be endorsed? - (ANSWER)Intermediately, between 2nd & 3rd year.
How many points are assigned to a vessel that is Qualship 21? - (ANSWER)0
Qualship 21 Program? - (ANSWER)-36 months for all vessels.
-Limited PSC oversight for freight vessels.
-Reduced scope of exam for tanker vessels.
-Regular scope of exam for passenger vessels.
How long are COIs valid for? - (ANSWER)5 years
Which certificate is NOT required to be on the NOA? - (ANSWER)Safe Manning
Which certificates ARE required to be on the NOA? - (ANSWER)DOC, SMC, ISSC, COFR
,USCG MST SWE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
What is the E/R style ballast water procedure? - (ANSWER)Empty/Refill
How long must ballast water records be maintained for? - (ANSWER)2 years
How long from arrival must ballast water be reported? - (ANSWER)Within 6 hours.
How long is a COC for a tanker valid for? - (ANSWER)24 months
All thwarts and side seas in a life boat shall be fitted... - (ANSWER)As low as possible.
How often should life boats be lowered into the water? - (ANSWER)Every 3 months for davit launched,
Every 6 months for free-fall.
What is the required distance from the forward life raft to the aft lifesaving appliances? - (ANSWER)100
meters
Life rafts/life boats should be stowed: - (ANSWER)As close to accommodation and service spaces as
possible.
Life boat drinking water requirement: - (ANSWER)3 liters per person.
Life raft drinking water requirement: - (ANSWER)1.5 liters per person.
How often must crew members conduct fire and abandon ship drills? - (ANSWER)Every month and after
a change out of 25% of crew.
What is the passenger vessel capacity with 1 radiophone in its life boat? - (ANSWER)199-1,500
What is the passenger vessel capacity for radiophones in ALL life boats? - (ANSWER)More than 1,500.
, USCG MST SWE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
How many fire suits do passenger vessels with 36 people need? - (ANSWER)2 additional for each main
vertical zone.
How many passengers on a passenger vessel before it needs a life boat? - (ANSWER)30
What is a inductor type froth nozzle and portable tank containing at least 4.5 gallons of froth-making
liquid and 1 spare tank? - (ANSWER)Portable Froth Applicator
What must be submitted for the increasing traffic in a navigable waterway? - (ANSWER)Waterway
Suitability Assessment (WSA)
When must an LNG facility submit their WSA and LOI? - (ANSWER)1 year prior to the start of operations.
What does a WSA consist of? - (ANSWER)Preliminary WSA (submitted to COTP with LOI) and a Follow-on
WSA (submitted 180 days prior to transferring).
When must a facility submit a final report to the COTP? - (ANSWER)At least 30 but not more than 60
days prior to the start of operations.
Who can raise the MARSEC level? - (ANSWER)COTP
Required discharge containment/removal equipment for oil barges longer than 400 ft. - (ANSWER)12
Barrels
Required discharge containment/removal equipment for oil barges shorter than 400 ft. - (ANSWER)7
Barrels
Required discharge containment/removal equipment for inland barges: - (ANSWER)1 Barrel
Required discharge containment/removal equipment for barges carrying oil as a secondary cargo: -
(ANSWER)1/2 barrel
How long are ISM-SMC valid for when issued to vessels? - (ANSWER)5 years
How often to SMCs need to be endorsed? - (ANSWER)Intermediately, between 2nd & 3rd year.
How long is an interim ISM-SMC valid for? - (ANSWER)6 months
How long are ISM-DOCs issued to companies valid for? - (ANSWER)5 years
How often are DOCs endorsed? - (ANSWER)Annually
How long is an interim ISM-DOC valid for? - (ANSWER)12 months
How long are ISSCs valid for? - (ANSWER)5 years
How often to ISSCs need to be endorsed? - (ANSWER)Intermediately, between 2nd & 3rd year.
How many points are assigned to a vessel that is Qualship 21? - (ANSWER)0
Qualship 21 Program? - (ANSWER)-36 months for all vessels.
-Limited PSC oversight for freight vessels.
-Reduced scope of exam for tanker vessels.
-Regular scope of exam for passenger vessels.
How long are COIs valid for? - (ANSWER)5 years
Which certificate is NOT required to be on the NOA? - (ANSWER)Safe Manning
Which certificates ARE required to be on the NOA? - (ANSWER)DOC, SMC, ISSC, COFR
,USCG MST SWE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
What is the E/R style ballast water procedure? - (ANSWER)Empty/Refill
How long must ballast water records be maintained for? - (ANSWER)2 years
How long from arrival must ballast water be reported? - (ANSWER)Within 6 hours.
How long is a COC for a tanker valid for? - (ANSWER)24 months
All thwarts and side seas in a life boat shall be fitted... - (ANSWER)As low as possible.
How often should life boats be lowered into the water? - (ANSWER)Every 3 months for davit launched,
Every 6 months for free-fall.
What is the required distance from the forward life raft to the aft lifesaving appliances? - (ANSWER)100
meters
Life rafts/life boats should be stowed: - (ANSWER)As close to accommodation and service spaces as
possible.
Life boat drinking water requirement: - (ANSWER)3 liters per person.
Life raft drinking water requirement: - (ANSWER)1.5 liters per person.
How often must crew members conduct fire and abandon ship drills? - (ANSWER)Every month and after
a change out of 25% of crew.
What is the passenger vessel capacity with 1 radiophone in its life boat? - (ANSWER)199-1,500
What is the passenger vessel capacity for radiophones in ALL life boats? - (ANSWER)More than 1,500.
, USCG MST SWE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
How many fire suits do passenger vessels with 36 people need? - (ANSWER)2 additional for each main
vertical zone.
How many passengers on a passenger vessel before it needs a life boat? - (ANSWER)30
What is a inductor type froth nozzle and portable tank containing at least 4.5 gallons of froth-making
liquid and 1 spare tank? - (ANSWER)Portable Froth Applicator
What must be submitted for the increasing traffic in a navigable waterway? - (ANSWER)Waterway
Suitability Assessment (WSA)
When must an LNG facility submit their WSA and LOI? - (ANSWER)1 year prior to the start of operations.
What does a WSA consist of? - (ANSWER)Preliminary WSA (submitted to COTP with LOI) and a Follow-on
WSA (submitted 180 days prior to transferring).
When must a facility submit a final report to the COTP? - (ANSWER)At least 30 but not more than 60
days prior to the start of operations.
Who can raise the MARSEC level? - (ANSWER)COTP
Required discharge containment/removal equipment for oil barges longer than 400 ft. - (ANSWER)12
Barrels
Required discharge containment/removal equipment for oil barges shorter than 400 ft. - (ANSWER)7
Barrels
Required discharge containment/removal equipment for inland barges: - (ANSWER)1 Barrel
Required discharge containment/removal equipment for barges carrying oil as a secondary cargo: -
(ANSWER)1/2 barrel
