What emergency procedure would you follow if a major coolant leak is detected while underway?

• A. Increase engine load and continue
• B. Reduce engine load, steer to safety, isolate leak if possible, monitor temperatures, and be prepared to shutdown if cooling cannot be maintained
• C. Do nothing
• D. Immediately stop and abandon vessel

Answer: (B)

When a major coolant leak is detected while underway, the immediate goal is to protect the engine and crew by managing heat and moving toward a safe area for repair. Reducing engine load lowers the amount of heat the engine generates, giving you time to assess and respond without pushing the cooling system beyond its remaining capacity. Steering to safety puts you in a position where repairs can be done or where you can be towed if needed, rather than attempting to push on with a failing cooling system. Isolating the leak if possible helps preserve as much coolant as you can and reduces air entering the system, which supports the remaining cooling capacity. Monitoring temperatures keeps you informed about whether cooling is still adequate and whether a shutdown is necessary to prevent severe damage. Being prepared to shut down if cooling cannot be maintained is essential to avoid engine seizure or other catastrophic failure. Increasing load would worsen overheating, doing nothing ignores the leak and the risk, and abandoning the vessel is an unnecessary and extreme step when you can manage the situation and protect the engine and crew.