Which of the following statements about the minimum pumps on a 75 gross ton vessel with 52 passengers is correct?

• A. One Fixed Pump
• B. One Self Priming, One Power Driven Pump
• C. Two Self Priming Pumps
• D. Three Pumps

Answer: (B)

The key idea is redundancy and ease of removing bilge water on a passenger vessel. For vessels in this size and passenger load, regulations require two independent bilge pumping systems so water can be pumped even if one system fails. One of these pumps must be self-priming, so it can start moving water without manual priming if the suction line fills with air. The other pump must be power-driven (engine-driven), providing a separate source of propulsion for pumping.

This combination—one self-priming pump and one engine-powered pump—ensures there is always a capable pump operating from a different power source and with a priming advantage, which is why it’s the best fit for meeting the requirement.

Having only a single fixed pump wouldn’t provide redundancy. Relying on two self-priming pumps isn’t the standard setup for this vessel category, and three pumps exceed the minimum and aren’t necessary.