Your passenger vessel has departed port with 1,235 passengers on board for a 10 day voyage. What should be your ship's standard operating procedures regarding the inspection of watertight hatches and doors?

Correct Answer: Option D — All watertight doors in subdivision bulkheads that may be opened at sea shall be periodically inspected at least once in each week while the vessel is navigated to be assured that they are in proper operating condition. When the voyage exceeds one week in duration, these doors shall be operated before the vessel leaves port. All such doors shall be operated daily.

46 CFR 78.15-15 requires that watertight doors in subdivision bulkheads be inspected weekly to ensure operational integrity. For voyages exceeding one week, these doors must be operated before departure and daily thereafter. This regulatory standard ensures that critical subdivision boundaries remain functional, maintaining the vessel's watertight integrity throughout the duration of the voyage.