What is the OCTCO Exit Exam?

The OCTCO Exit Exam is a test taken after the OCTCO Course (Basic Training for Oil and Chemical Tanker Cargo Operation). It's mandatory for seafarers wishing to work on oil, chemical or gas tankers.

How many questions are in the OCTCO Exit Exam and what is the duration?

The exam consists of 30 multiple‐choice questions, each question carries 1 mark. The duration is 30 minutes.

What is the minimum passing score for the OCTCO Exit Exam?

You must score at least 15 out of 30 to pass the OCTCO Exit Exam.

Which topics are covered in the OCTCO Exit Exam?

The exam covers: cargo properties and hazards; international regulations and conventions; cargo handling systems; tank cleaning and gas freeing; inert gas system and crude oil washing; safety and pollution prevention.

Why should I practice previous year questions for the OCTCO Exit Exam?

Practicing previous year questions helps you understand the type of MCQs asked, exact phrasing, important topics, and improves your speed in the exam, increasing chances to pass in the first attempt.

OCTCO Exit Exam 2025

OCTCO Exit Exam Questions

The OCTCO Course (Basic Training for Oil and Chemical Tanker Cargo Operation) is a 6-day mandatory training program for seafarers who wish to join the oil, chemical or even gas tanker. After completing OCTCO Course, candidates must take the OCTCO Exit Exam to be eligible to sail in the oil/chemical and gas carrier. Without OCTCO and basic DCE, you cannot sail in any tanker ship.

The OCTCO Exit Exam consists of 30 multiple-choice questions, and the exam duration is 30 minutes. Each question carries 1 mark, and candidates must score at least 15 marks to pass the exam.

Topics Covered in OCTCO Exit Exam

The OCTCO Exit Exam are generally based on the core areas of the course, including:

Cargo properties and hazards
International regulations and conventions
Cargo handling systems
Tank cleaning and gas freeing
Inert gas system and crude oil washing
Safety and pollution prevention

Students should practice these topics from the Exit Exam PYQs give below to pass the OCTCO Exit Exam in the first attempt.

OCTCO Exit Exam Previous Year Questions

We have collected the most commonly asked OCTCO PYQs and gathered them in a test series that you can practice to clear your OCTCO Exit Exam. This test will help you to understand the type of questions that are being asked in the OCTCO exit exam.

OCTCO EXIT EXAM 2025

1 / 36

For a non-ocean-going vessel, how much oily waste must be retained on board?

50%

100%

25%

75%

2 / 36

What is a hot work permit?

Document used for work in a dry-dock

Document valid for 7 days for carrying out tank cleaning

Document used for carrying out repairs under super vision

A document issued by the person responsible permitting specific hot work to be done during a particular time interval in a defined space

3 / 36

What is cold work?

Work that cannot create a source of ignition

Carrying out work on reefer containers

Carrying out work in a cold atmosphere

Work that can be done only in cold temperatures

4 / 36

Which door is beneficial to install in the flue gas line downstream from the flue gas valve

Inspection

Access

both a and b

5 / 36

Cargo educator casings are typically made of:

Phosphor bronze cast

Cast steel

Cast iron

Stainless steel

6 / 36

What should be fitted to PV breakers for inspection and drainage?

All of the below

Mast riser

PV valve

PV breaker itself

7 / 36

What is the aim of organizational safety value?

<2 incidents

Zero incidents

10% reduction in incident

1 incident per year

8 / 36

A general arrangement plan provides:

Cargo and ship types

All of the below

LOA, SDWT, cargo, water, fuel capacity etc

Water ballast exchange log

9 / 36

In an ethyl ethanoate molecule (CH3COOC2H5), two oxygen atoms have the same number of electrons but different numbers of neutrons. Why?

The oxygen atoms are isotopes

The oxygen atoms are isobars

One oxygen atom gained electrons

One oxygen atom gained two neutrons

10 / 36

What is a key feature of an effective safety culture?

A safety management system that is always setting targets for continuous improvement, with a goal of zero accidents

Recognition that all accidents are preventable and only usually occur following unsafe actions or a failure to follow established procedures

Through mutual respect, increasing confidence in the value of the safety culture results in a more effective Safety Management System

Individual seafarers assume responsibility for safety rather than relying on others to provide it

11 / 36

What mainly affects vapor cloud dilution rate?

Spill quantity

Thermal inversion

Cloud diameter

Weather conditions

12 / 36

Which of the following are considered "easy chemicals"?

Calcium carbonate

Sodium hydroxide

Hydrogen chloride

All of the above

13 / 36

What is non-volatile petroleum?

Petroleum having a flashpoint of 100 Degrees C or below

Petroleum having a flashpoint of 100 Degrees C or above

Petroleum having a flashpoint of 60 Degrees C or above

Petroleum having a flashpoint of 60 Degrees C or below

14 / 36

What is "cubic limitation"?

Loading all cargo and slop tanks

Reaching tank capacity before vessel immerses to its load-line

Loading to receiver's orders

Loading to maximum load line

15 / 36

What is the typical sulfur content of natural gas in petroleum?

12-15%

0.20%

0.1-6%

2-8%

16 / 36

What is a non-volatile cargo?

Flash point below 60°C

Flash point above 65°C

Flash point below 65°C

Flash point above 60°C

17 / 36

How should a stretcher for pump room rescue be kept?

Permanently rigged for hoisting and injured person

kept in the ship's hospital

Near the pump room

18 / 36

What is the vapor density of most chemical cargoes compared to air?

Same

Lighter

Heavier

19 / 36

What is the typical expansion ratio for high-expansion foams?

5:1 to 15:1

1000:1

1000 liters/min

1250 liters/min

20 / 36

What is crucial to do after using a deck foam system?

Flush the system with seawater

Stop all pumps

Close all valves

21 / 36

Where are fixed dry chemical powder extinguishers primarily used?

Passenger vessels

Chemical tankers

Oil tankers

22 / 36

Filling Density is the ratio of liquid weight to water weight in a tank, expressed as a percentage.

TRUE

FALSE

23 / 36

What is H2S gas?

Inflammable

Less toxic

Toxic, corrosive, and flammable

Inflammable but less toxic

24 / 36

How do intermolecular forces affect vapor pressure?

Relatively weak force will decrease vapor pressure

Relatively strong force will decrease vapor pressure

Relatively weak force does not have any effect on vapor pressure

Relatively strong force will increase vapor pressure

25 / 36

What oil is burned in an inert gas generator?

Diesel oil

Crude oil

Heavy oil

Gas oil

26 / 36

Which is the lighter fraction of hydrocarbons, which can be free or dissolved?

Natural gas

Refined oil

Crude oil

Asphalt

27 / 36

What is essential before entering a cofferdam in the engine room?

Open the manhole

Complete an enclosed space checklist

Enter and start ventilation

28 / 36

After stopping a small fuel spill during helicopter refueling and notifying fire control, what's the next step?

Resume fueling

Flush spilled fuel with water

Move the helicopter to safer location

Clean spilled fuel with rags

29 / 36

Which convention allows states to intervene in maritime pollution incidents?

Intervention Convention

MARPOL Convention

CLC Convention

SOLAS Convention

30 / 36

A scrubber tower primarily functions as a:

Cooler

Heater

Humidifier

Dehumidifier

31 / 36

If a fuel hose leaks during bunkering, what should you do before resuming?

Replace the hose

Place a drip pan and plug scuppers

Patch the hose

Notify the terminal

32 / 36

What is "bleed off COW"?

process of diverting part of cargo discharged for crude oil washing

process of diverting part of cargo discharged for reducing rate

COW line pressure testing

process of draining oil from the COW lines after washing

33 / 36

Which type of molecules tend to form liquids under normal atmospheric conditions, e.g., petrol and diesel?

Very light molecules

None of these

Very heavy molecules

Intermediate molecules

34 / 36

What is the approximate electrostatic field strength required to cause a breakdown in air or petroleum gases?

3000 Kilovolts/meter

3000 Volts/meter

5000 Kilovolts/meter

5000 Volts/meter

35 / 36

Chapter __ of the code contains special requirements which are cargos specific and which must be complied with only if that specification is to be carried.

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

36 / 36

What are the main elements of peak safety performance?

No operational incidents, no personal injuries and no harm to the environment

reducing the number of accidents to less than 5 % of the previous year's accidents

reducing the number of pollution incidents to less than 2 % of the previous year pollution incidents.

Your score is

The average score is 66%

Exit

For more such STCW Exit Exam PYQs and preparation, you can check out our completely free STCW Exit Exam Portal.

Who Needs OCTCO Course?

OCTCO Course is compulsory course for seafarers who are going to sail on an oil tanker for the first time and does not posses any Dangerous Cargo Certificate to work on board oil or chemical tankers. OCTCO Course makes the seafarer eligible to sail in oil tanker by teaching about the safety and cargo handling procedure you need to follow while onboard a chemical or oil tanker. Without OCTCO Course, you cannot apply for the Basic Oil DCE which is another document that is compulsory if you are going onboard for the first time. So, now you know whether you need to book the OCTCO Course or not.