USCG Exam PracticeWatch duties, terminology, and instrumentation
A boiler is steaming at normal load when the water level drops out of sight in the gauge glass. The automatic feedwater regulator fails to respond. What is the correct immediate action?
- A. Manually open the feed valve fully to restore level as quickly as possible
- ✓ Secure the fires immediately rather than risk running the boiler dryCorrect
- C. Shift to three-element feedwater control and monitor for level recovery
- D. Blow down the gauge glass to verify the reading before taking any action
Why B is correct
NAVEDTRA 14104 §4-2 states explicitly that if water level is ever lost from sight, the safe action is to secure the fires immediately rather than risk running the boiler dry. Attempting to restore level by opening the feed valve when tubes may already be uncovered risks a catastrophic low-water casualty; blowing down the gauge glass is appropriate for proving a reliable reading under normal conditions, not when level is already lost.
Cited:NAVEDTRA 14104 §4-2