During on-deck refueling, which action is NOT part of safe practice?

• A. Bond ground
• B. Keep engines running
• C. Monitor for spills
• D. Have extinguishers ready

Answer: (B)

The key safety idea is eliminating ignition sources and preventing static buildup during on-deck fueling. Bonding the ground prevents a static charge from building up between fueling equipment and the vessel, so a spark won’t ignite any fuel vapors. Monitoring for spills is essential to detect leaks quickly and contain them before they lead to a fire or environmental damage. Having extinguishers ready ensures you can suppress a fire immediately if one starts.

Keeping engines running would keep potential ignition sources active—hot exhaust, electrical systems, and other machinery that could spark—while fueling, when vapors are present and ignition risk is high. Shutting down engines removes those ignition sources, making fueling safer. That’s why keeping engines running is not part of safe practice.