Question 30 MODU03 - Ballast Control Operator

The Correct Answer is B. **Explanation for B (2):** The requirement for the number of locations for lifeboats on a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) is governed by international maritime regulations, primarily the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention, along with specific MODU codes (like the IMO MODU Code). These regulations typically require that survival craft, such as lifeboats, must be stowed in locations that facilitate rapid and safe launching and boarding, even under adverse list and trim conditions, or if a fire/damage incident affects one side of the unit. To ensure this accessibility and redundancy, the general rule for MODUs and similar vessels is that survival craft capacity sufficient to accommodate the total number of persons on board (POB) must be provided equally on **two sides** of the unit (port and starboard). This ensures that if one side is inaccessible due to damage, listing, or fire, the full required capacity can still be accessed and launched from the other side. Therefore, lifeboats must be installed in locations on both the port and starboard sides, equating to at least two main locations or clusters of locations. **Why other options are incorrect:** * **A (1):** Installing lifeboats in only one location or on one side of the unit violates the principle of redundancy required by SOLAS and the MODU Code. If that single location were rendered inaccessible (e.g., by a fire or listing), no means of evacuation would be available. * **C (3):** While a very large or specialized unit might have three or more clusters of lifeboat installations (e.g., fore, aft, and midships), the *minimum regulatory requirement* based on the critical redundancy principle (port and starboard) is two distinct sides/locations. Three is not the mandatory standard. * **D (4):** Four locations (often implying four cardinal corners or areas) is excessive for the fundamental requirement. The critical regulatory requirement is focused on providing redundancy across the two sides (Port and Starboard) of the unit, which necessitates at least two installation locations.