Joining a container ship as chief mate

Prepare for a load line survey

Where do you find details of loadlines

Draw me a loadline

Explain to 2/O about loading DG

Contents of a cargo securing manual

Crossing Atlantic on container ship considerations as mate

Pulled out me he wanted bw exchange considerations in heavy weather

D1 and d2 ballast water

Draw me a gz curve

Draw me a gz curve at angle of loll

How did you end up with an angle of loll

How to fix an angle of loll

Mob situation

Can't find mob what can you do

Why is a sector search better than an expanding square search

Solas Ch 12 what is it what's in

Dangers of high density cargoes

Synoptic chart in colour – need black and white for the wind scale

Features

Wind at an occluded front

What do you think the wind speed and direction will be here? Estimated

Rule 6

Rule 9

Masters responsibilities under ism

What's a bl

What's a dirty bl

How does a master be sure he's complying with MARPOL annex 1

What's salvage

Radar plot

Pdv port side no action

Is it crossing or overtaking both quarters and responsibilities

What's the buoy and actions all single buoys

How do you know the direction of buoyage

Pilot ladders – I just spoke about certificates, inspections, approval, securing. Didn't go anywhere
near particulars of the ladder. I did talk about max climbing and combination arrangements though.

How to tell if Manila rope is deteriorated

Enclosed space entry preparations

07/04/2020

Masters Unlimited

Online - Teams

David Carlisle - Belfast

Pass

Rules of the exam.

Shown around the room with the webcam.

Tell me about your last ship.

I spoke about my container ship, and trading round West Africa.

You are Master on your 50,000 GT container ship:

We then went on to discuss security, and differences in secuirty levels, DOS and secuirty concerns of
WAF in detail.

Join the Vessel, what do you expect from handover?

I started from the company briefing, checking hull, checking gangway and safe means of access, security
checks, meeting the offsigning master, certificates, familiarisation.

How do you sign yourself on to the vessel?

I mentioned adding myself to the crew list and making an entry in the OLB, along with adding my details
onto the front cover.

You notice the loadline is submerged, what are your actions?

Initially I spoke about checking with the mate, was it FWA and planned, then went on to discuss perhaps
the loading rate had exceeded the de-ballasting rate, stopping cargo, asking them to stop loading and
continue discharging.

The off signing Master has arranged for a loadline and SafCon survey in a few days, what will you do
to prepare for this survey?
I spoke about having a management meeting, splitting the jobs, using the COA as a checklist, and all the
things that are covered under each survey.

Masters inspection of the accommodation, what are you looking for?

Alleyway, crew cabins, cleanliness, housekeeping, safety signage, training manuals, various posters (e.g
DPA).

You need to write your Masters standing orders, what will you put in them?

Mentioned not re-writing the SMS, and all things that may be my preference, anything which can differ
from Master to Master and emphasized calling the Master any time.

You go into one crews cabin and smell smoke, its against the company policy to smoke inside the
accommodation, what are your actions?

Went down the disciplinary route, called a hearing and took evidence - decided to give him a written
warning.

New Chief Mate with no experience, you are loading a cargo of steel coils, what will you discuss with
your Chief Mate prior to loading?

High density cargo, high point load, max tanktop load limit, dunnage, dry and clean holds, hose test the
hatch covers prior to loading, check and document condition of cargo before and during loading, how to
secure.

What are the considerations for loading a high density cargo?

I mentioned high GM and stresses.

What are the stability concerns?

Again we got into GM and then moved on - clearly there was something I was missing.

Mates receipt is claused, but the shipper wants a clean BOL? What will you do?

I called P&I, and then discussed who could clause etc.

What is a BOL, and what is it for?

Mentioned it was a contract of carriage, reciept of goods, and a document of title. Discussed negotiable
and non-negotiable.

The 2/O has prepared the passage plan for your next voyage, but for some of the passage there are no
AVCS. Can you sail only on ARCS? What is the procedure for sailing on ARCS?

Risk assessment, inform flag and company, call a bridge meeting and ensure everyone is aware of the
risks.

During departure the 2/O is taking the pilot down for disembarkation, what do you expect of the 2/O?

I went into reporting of various points, boat alongside etc. Safety gear and PPE, lifebuoy, adequate
lighting etc.

What will you tell the 2/O before he leaves the bridge?

I told him which side, and what I wanted from him - eventually he pulled the words briefing and risk
assessment out of me and we moved on.

You are coming out of a narrow channel under pilotage, the pilot specifically asks for position
checking to be done regularly, how will you do this?

Spoke about parallel indexing, terrestrial fixing and cross referencing with GPS, echo sounder.

How would you have your radar stabilised in this scenario?

Ground.

You have a rudder get stuck hard to port and run aground, actions?

Standard emergency answer for grounding.

What are the lights, shapes and sound signals in RV for a vessel aground?

A tug comes along and offers assistance, should you accept LOF?

If I believe we need immediate assistance - yes, otherwise wait for towage contract to be drawn up.
What do you understand by Scopic?

What does Scopic stand for?

At sea, WIS alarm in Bosuns store during heavy weather, actions?

Initially I mustered the crew, sent an urgency message, tried to ascertain if there was water ingress or
not, refused to send anyone to check, heaved to.

You heave to, now can you send crew on deck?

I stood my ground and said still no - he forced my hand saying a risk assessment has been done and it's
safe enough - so I spoke about all the safety concerns, PPE etc for this.

You are on passage in English Channel, and the 3/O calls to tell you its restricted visibility. What are
your actions when you go to the bridge?

Rattled through all the things we will do here, adjusted the speed etc.

Radar plot on the screen, one dot, then two, then three - what can you tell from these plots?

Completed the plot and asked me for my actions.

1 vessel on port quarter overtaking me, altered to stbd.

We returned to the cabin of the smoker, and he was pressing for what I would check for in there - he
wanted to hear check for covering up the smoke detector.

We then returned to the steel coil cargo, and the considerations I would have with high density cargo,
after some GM related conversation I eventually realised I had forgotten to mention cargo shift!

He told me I had passed, we had a bit of a discussion about the Ever Given, and that was that.

Very fair examiner, willing to reword his questions if you are unsure, and helps to push you in the right
direction if there's something specific he wants to hear.
Chris Ashworth Oral Report

Examiner: Simon Alletson

3rd November 2020

Result: Pass

Time 1hr 35 mins

The exam was conducted in my day room at sea, so ensured I did a speed test prior to the
exam and ensured I had no notes lying around, and passport and DB to hand. He came online
at exactly 1000hrs and introduced himself. He asked for a 360 spin of the camera and
informed me if I needed to pump the bilges during the exam, I was to first answer the question
given to me and then I could get one (which I did about half way through). He said there will
be another person in the call but only there for training and wouldn’t make themselves known
during the exam.

Asked about my experience which I gave to him (offshore since qualifying – anchor handling,
PSV’s, jack-ups etc). Put my on a PSV for the first few questions:

Joining vessel for first time as Master. I asked for clarification as to whether I am new to the
company, he said no but new to the ship. Gave him the usual answer of handover notes
before, safe access, ISPS on the gangway, up to bridge for induction then face to face
handover with offsigning Master. He stopped me when I was doing my ‘visual inspection of
ships side’ and said ‘if you see some damage to the plating, what would be your action’? Took
photos, ensured the vessel was safe to board, ask the offsigning Master if this had been
reported, mentioned condition of class and MCA informed, he moved on. I talked about the
contents of the handover notes would be discussed plus controlled drugs and masters cash
accounted for. Note in the OLB as taking command. Forgot about, and he prompted me for,
vessels certificates and ensuring I checked crew certificates prior to taking over.

What would I expect to find as a minimum on an SEA.

On board for a few weeks and a new C/E joins. What would you expect to see in his standing
orders. I gave him a similar answer to Masters S/O’s in terms of it being complimentary (and
not contradictory) to SMS, how he expects his ER to be run during different periods – open
water, coastal, pilotage and during DP operations, and most importantly informing his
engineers of the importance to call when in any doubt, plus a list of times when it is the
engineers duty to call him. He was digging a bit so mentioned it would state when specifically
the times when ER can go UMS (and when they can’t), and he was happy and moved on.

Gave me a synoptic chart of a position off New Zealand with a small icon of a boat, and asked
me what weather I would expect in that position. Big low pressure approaching with a few
troughs so the usual answer of very unsettled weather with strong winds and associated seas.
Asked practically what I would do on board. Standard answer of calling heads of departments
together for meeting and working through the heavy weather checklist delegating
responsibility to each department. Gave him some examples for the mate (doubling lashings,
stability assessment etc), Chief Engineer (checking header tanks for steering gear (cheers
Eccy!) stopping non essential maintenance works etc) and Chief Steward (securing galley,
arranging sensible things to cook etc).

Steaming across Pacific and total blackout – actions (standard answer)

Mentioned emergency generator starting and powering the emergency board. He asked me
of some examples of what would be on this board (nav lights, sound signal, ECDIS, radars,
emergency lighting etc). During my answer I sounded the general alarm which I think looking
back might not have been a good move if we are in open water with no traffic and the
engineers are running around down below, but he seemed ok.

How would a vessel orientate herself when she has lost all propulsion. So… why would she
lay beam onto the sea? Mentioned wind on the accommodation and the swell encouraging
the vessel to rotate around the pivot point. Dangers of laying beam on. ‘How could you try
and reduce the angle you were exposed to the elements’ – mentioned about putting a few
shackles in the water to try and give some resistance up forward for the ship to pivot about
the hawse pipe which he seemed ok with and moved on.

Now apparent that you blacked out as you are taking on water into a breached bunker tank
and you have an oil spill – actions. Initiated emergency response plan and SOPEP. Try my best
to give the spillage a lee from the weather, getting CO to adjust trim / listing her to get the
breach out of the water, also asking CE to pump to a separate tank, try best in any case to
limit amount of pollution caused etc. Who would you inform? He continued when I
mentioned MAIB due to it being a marine casualty.

Asked about what further actions would be – he was looking for finding tugs. Mentioned
about the company arranging tug assistance which prompted the question what I knew was
coming: ‘what if no tugs were available at that time’. During his asking I forgot that initially I
hadn’t put out an urgency message to all ships in the area stating that I had engine failure, so
I reiterated this and said I would expect vessels in the area to be aware, and ideally be offered
assistance from vessels capable of towing.

Asked about how I would arrange a tow from a legal point of view. Mentioned being assured
the vessel offering assistance was physically capable of taking me under tow in terms of the
strength of her gear and propulsion, and that my preferred method of agreeing terms would
be in the way of a LOF. ‘Tell me more about this document’, which was standard answer of
ensuring both parties obligations were met.

He asked me about a near miss between a ferry and a naval vessel, and shared his screen
showing a scan of a chart with two vessels approaching one another (40kt relative speed)
with a big headland in the way. He said how could this be avoided in the future. I said about
vessels proceeding at a safe speed, taking into account proximity of the headland and the
chance of traffic approaching from around the corner. Also about the fact the all round
lookout was impaired, and the fact the vessels radars wouldn’t have detected vessels around
the corner due to the cliffs. I also stated that a failure at the APEM stage of the passage plan,
and the waypoint could have been adjusted to ensure the vessel approached the headland at
a much shallower angle so as to make better appraisal of the traffic situation etc. Seemed
happy and moved on.

Then onto some collision situations (all the following in clear vis)

He shared his screen of a narrow channel with a vessel overtaking my own ship, and a fishing
vessel crossing. Wanted to know obligations in terms of R18 and R8 with the fishing vessel,
and the obligation of the vessel overtaking under R13.

Shared screen of a vessel CBD off to port and a fishing vessel off to starboard (all in open
water), ROC with them both. He wanted to hear about me being the stand on vessel with CBD
but with obligations to not impede under R18. Also my obligations with fishing vessel under
R18. Made a broad alteration to starboard.

Another shared screen, TSS with a vessel motorsailing and crossing, my obligations now.
Stood on and sounded five short and rapid, and he moved on.

Gave me a radar plot and told me it was restricted vis.

One to port forward of the beam, no ROC and one overtaking with ROC. Asked me my action.
He gave me a few minutes to make a plot on my plotting paper. He said my vector length
would be two range markers on his screen. I jotted it down as best I could (obviously all very
rough and a total estimate without proper range and bearings). Gave him the rule regarding
which way I could go, remembered to mention doing a trial manoeuvre, and made a broad
alteration to port (stating that no ROC exists at the moment with the vessel to port so would
still comply with R19). He asked what the other vessels could do in this situation. Wanted to
hear about the vessel overtaking being able to go either way but would probably try and keep
her starboard side clear.

A selection of buoys and lights of vessels. Wanted for each everything I know:
Emergency wreck marking buoy

RAM + 50m

South cardinal, you’re heading 290 degrees, action

PDV + 50m at anchor

Tug and tow RAM, +200m towing inconspicuous object. The lights used on his display didn’t
make it too obvious the white lights were on her beam (could have been seen to have been
spaced 100m apart down the length). I got a bit shakey but gave him everything I know on
inconspicuous tows (+25m beam etc). Day shape, fog signal etc etc and luckily he moved on.

Vessel engaged in trawling +50m underway not making way, indicating she is hauling nets –
day shape, fog signal, what flag does golf look like etc.

Preferred channel to port region A. Coming out of port, which side to leave it?

………………………..

Congratulations Mr Ashworth, you’ve passed – now time to go and kick the old man out of
his cabin!

Cpt Alletson was a fair guy, didn’t put any excess pressure on when it wasn’t required. I felt it
went on a lot longer than usual but he didn’t throw any weird curveballs at me.

Thanks to all the guys on the course, particularly Sam and Rob for small group study. And FNC
tutors – Jonathan Ward (highly recommended for ROR prep) David Eccles, David Macnamee,
Mannan, Ninja, Duncan and others. And to Paul at Whitehorse Marine for putting me right
on a few subjects I was shakey on, especially structuring answers the correct way.

Best of luck to those going up next.

Chris.
sdff
Exam: Chief Mate Unlimited

Date: 4.11.2020

Examiner: Michele Moro, Cardiff

Result: Pass

Duration: 41mins

Exam was on teams, for those not on UK time be mindful that Outlook calendar automatically convert
UK appointment time to local time. I was up 6 hrs early because I thought the calendar was using UK
time when it automatically corrected for my local time.

Usual start on teams, confirmed my oral syllabus, asked to see around the room, turn off phone, have
water etc. Advised that I would be on a well manned UK flagged vessel, as chief mate, and at times
master 3000gt.

On last vessel what was primary means of navigation.

Limitations of ECDIS

What to do if you suspect ECDIS information is missing.

Sources of weather information

Weather equipment onboard

As master how would you know that the 2nd officer is conducting a safe navigation watch.

As chief mate explain to the 2nd officer how to formulate a passage plan.

Means of position fixing when GPS is out.

Preparation for loadline inspection, validity of certificate and survey interval.

Ways of detecting cargo leak on gas tanker.

Fire in purifier room, 2 persons missing, actions.

Single crew, right handed prop, no tugs, in river tide astern, offshore wind. Berth the vessel port side
(Required to turn, using anchor)

How do international conventions achieve national legal status in UK.

BOUYAGE

Starboard lateral mark Region A

Preferred channel to port Region A

North Cardinal

Isolated Danger

Lights/Shapes

VSL Aground,

Vsl engaged in pilotage duty

Vsl engaged in fishing other than trawling

Towing vsl , restricted in ability to maneuver, length of the tow greater than 200m

ROR

Own vessel in TSS, PDV STBD SIDE overtaking, PDV crossing port to stbd, fishing vessel crossing port to
stbd, sailing vsl crossing stbd to port. All in the same scenario

Restricted visibility, ARPA analysis, complete triangle and determine action. One vessel directly astern
and another vsl bearing 030 on the plotting sheet.

Thanks to Capt. Barry Sadler, live clinics, online prep course.

Captain David Carlisle
Belfast Office – Online via Teams
02/09/20
1400
Chief Mates Unlimited
PASS

Started off with rules of the exam. No head phones because there have been instances of people
having another earpiece listening into the exam and providing answers. Full swing of the camera
around the room. Was asked to show passport. Didn’t have mines with me but he accepted the
driving licence. Talked about someone recording the exam and posting online which wasn’t a huge
issue but named the examiner. That person lost his NOE. Wasn’t going to cheat anyways but hint
taken lol.

Joining as Chief Officer, discuss the take over. Started with information at the initial interview.
Talked about SEA, type of ship, cargo carried, trading area, etc. Talked about security in port, being
challenged for ID. General overview of ships side including load lines. Gangway safety. Interrupted
me to ask what info would be found on a gangway and what in regards to safety would I be looking
for. Further security at the gangway, search bags, etc. Continue general overview on way to Masters
office. Discussed personal certificates. Mentioned the three briefings. Then went on to immediate
info required first starting with cargo. Then passage plan. Interrupted me to ask about importance of
load line zones.

Now I’m master. How would I record the joining chief officer. Blabbed my way through it without
giving a good answer but he knew what I was talking about because I mentioned getting c/o to read
the terms before signing.

Still master, 4 days into trip. Now have chance to do an inspection. What do I look for in
accommodation inspection. Mentioned ventilation if it’s a hot climate ship, heating if it’s a cold
ventilation, infestations, hot and cold water, clean toilet, fire detection and sprinkler head, secure
door and natural light by window or prism.

Back to Chief mate. Heavy weather prep. Gave it all but didn’t seem happy with answer.

Set sail into rough weather. Water ingress alarm in bosuns store. Heaven to, start pumps, slow
down. Refused to send a person forward. Wasn’t happy with my answer but moved on.

Loading steel coils. Dangers. Discussed dunnage to spread weight, annex 13 for non-standardised
cargo, condition of own cranes. He interrupted me to ask about SWL and breaking strain then what
to look for when checking wires for damage. Talked about the 5% of 10D length.

He asked about loading bulk cargo in general, where to get info regarding cargo. I talked about
shipper providing details, IMDG code for dangerous goods including how to respond to spills, fires
and medical response. He push at me to mention IMSBC code. Talked about angle of repose,
transportable moisture limit and stowage factor.

Back to master. Grounded a vessel. Gave all appropriate actions. Lead on to ask me should I accept
LOF. I said it depends on whether I felt my crew, ship or environment were at risk. If not then no, if
yes then accept it.
Suddenly the ship grew in size because I became chief mate again and it was 40,000gt. Prepare for
emergency dry dock with cargo still onboard. Extra blocks, divers to inspect damage, locking cargo,
adjusting trim to be by stern. Mentioned that by head was acceptable for some yards due to slope of
dock but always would be stern to touch first. Minimum trim as possible to reduce effect of P force.
Mentioned that loadline, construction and class certs would be voided so contact MCA and class to
come and contact P&I club because they insure a percentage of the hull.

Back out to sea. Restricted vis as mate. Preparations. Nailed it. OOW question really. Lead on to a
plot. He drew plot. I was overtaking but plot didn’t make it so clear. I said I would bold alter to stbd.
He asked my reason. I quoted 19d(i) including the ‘so far as possible’ and said that I was in doubt as
to whether I was overtaking so I would assume crossing and take action. He adjusted the plot slightly
which made it more clear. I said ok we definitely overtaking so I would go to port. He asked could I
do anything else. I said I would go to port because he would go to starboard but I could go to
starboard or slow down.

MOB. Someone shouted but personally didn’t site. GPS and ECDIS markers, MOB buoys, tron
markers, engines on standby, man on wheel and commence the turn. Couldn’t remember which
manoeuvre to take and made him aware that I couldn’t remember but I’d pick one and chose
Williamson turn discussing it fully. Discussed search patterns using Iamsar Vol 3. Discussed that
during the turn I’d sound MOB signal, MOB announcement, call the master and prepare GMDSS for
distress.

Back to the heavy weather checks. Asked me to rethink my answer. He was looking for stability. I
mentioned on cruise ships we go down by the head but on cargo ships we want to immerse the
propellers so would be down by the stern which would also reduce the seas shipped onboard. He
was also looking for checks on freeing ports and scuppers but he pushed that out of me by asking
the effect of green seas. First I talked about free surface then mentioned the freeing ports, etc. After
that I talked about the possibility of parametric rolling and have awareness of it to disturb the roll
period and wave encounter period.

Then back to the flooding. He was looking for risk assessment. Pushing me to send men forward but I
continuously refused to do it.

He said I had passed. He said that he felt like he had to get the info out of me and was quite difficult
at times but he knew I had the knowledge so I’m grateful he persevered.

Not claiming my answers were right but they are what I gave to the best what I can remember. I
never had any other rules of the road which I was grateful for as well, just that one plot.
Exam: Online using Microsoft Teams
Date: 04 May 2021
Examiner: Simon J Alletson
License: Master Unlimited
Time: 01h45m
Result: Pass

I logged in 15 min before the start. Examiner was on time. He was very courteous
throughout and explained all exam procedures beforehand. 360 deg cam view and
cheating policy discussed.
This is not a chronological report, rather a recollection of all questions asked:
1.You are Master and going to take over your last vessel. How will you proceed.
2. He stopped me in between when I said I will check the hull loadline etc..etc..
and said you see a dent and loadline not properly visible on your ship
side what will you do ??
3. What certificates you will find on your vessel (bulk carrier)??
4. Preparation before loading , during passage and discharging of coal ??
5. Documents required before and after loading coal?
6. What administrative documents you require before you sail out from a given
port?
7. Gave a synoptic chart and location of the vessel on it explain the weather
you will encounter during you passage?
8. Wind speed and wind direction with reference to synoptic chart?
9. Heavy weather precaution??
10. Vessel heading in heavy weather and you have blackout?
11. No M/E during heavy weather what will happen to ship?
12. Why vessel take swell on beam when stopped even vessel was facing the
head swells?
13. ISM question as per GMA notes?
14. Port Departure preparation?
15. MLC display of owner insurance? What do you mean by that? What it
contains?
16. How master can influence CE standing order? What as a master would you
like to see in CE standing order
17. Where you find i.e which certificate will tell you vessel can run ER on UMS
or not?
Situation, ROR, Buoyage & RV
NARROW CHANNEL

YOU PDV

Explain responsibility between vessels and as per which rule you will take
action??
1.

2.

3.
4.

5.
6.

Few questions on light characteristics like sector, range etc.

Open sea situation
 PDV /ROC

PDV / ROC

CBD / ROC

PDV / ROC

YOU PDV

Explain responsibility and as per which rule you will take action ?

Buoyage heading 306 deg which side you will pass the buoy and explain the buoys and their use?
RISK OF Collision with all VSL
Restricted Vis-

Explain the action and what action will the target vessels will take?

Last one

What is ACS & EAS criteria and explain the scheme?

Seriously guys online exam can be tricky sometime due to technical issues you face.

Online exam gives you a comfort zone as you are not in a room full of instruments ship models and
a river behind your exam centre.

Seriously GMA prepared me for the battle my sincere thanks to Vinil and Shane. Thank you so
much

Guys please I request everyone to do group discussion it is great way to prepare yourself for
online exam keep using Microsoft teams app and get use to it.

Special thanks to my batchmates.

Maninder Singh
Surveyor-Simon
Time-1 hr 45 min
Result-Passed
Master unlimited

Asked about my last vessel.Told him that i have sailed on Gearless Bulk Carrier,
carried Iron ore, Coal and grain from Australia-China, South America-China.

Put me as a Master on Bulk carrier of MCA flag.

1.2/Off and deck cadet joining , What all documents you will check.
He was more into CEC , Purpose and validity.
He is not having ecdis type specific certificate, what will you do?
Answer-Told him that i will inform manning office and they will contact the maker
and arrange for his online CBT type specific course before vsl departure and
then will raise NC against the company.
All requirements of young cadet apart from his documents.
1. Primary means of Navigation is Paper chat but 2/Off joined has only
worked on Ecdis and has no experience on Paper chart. How you will
trained him, told him everything i remember about paper charts and also
added that i will Raise NC against company for sending an inexperienced
officer and not with ship specific & also will monitor his work and
performance closely.
2. Then he told me you are going from Hobart(South Australia to Chile)-
Showed me synoptic chart and asked to describe the weather condition for
next few days including wind direction.Synoptic chart was showing bad
weather all around.
3. Then he told me since its bad weather expecting ahead of your voyage as
per synoptic chart .Please carry out bad weather preparation.— Answer
him as per GMA notes more specifically about Sea Protest with objective
evidence , why need to reduce RPM and why CE wants more propeller
Immersion.
4. Then in between bad weather there is a black out -Action , somehow CE
restore power but only can give slow steaming as there is a damage in A.E
and also fuel oil tanks are contaminated with water, How you will
manoeuvre with slow steaming- Told him about heave too and proceed for
Port of refugee to carry out repairs, will push the Tech superintendent and
DPA to arrange for surveys if not agreeing then inform Flag.
5. Now in port of refugee what all certificates effected— Safety construction
and IOPP. Either company will arrange for permanent repairs or temporary
repair with condition of class.
 6. Now your schedule is delayed due to all above , what will happen—Told
him about off hire times and record keeping but he was more specific
about sea protest for which i have considered all objective evidence in my
preparation, so i explained him about sea protest as per GMA notes as it
will protect my owners from any Financial losses due to delays.
7. Then he showed me a slide a vessel stbd side alongside With right hand
propeller, BT, Onshore wind BF 3, Tide from astern 1 knot, do the
unberthing and explain all in sequence what you will do first — Took time
and answered asper ship handling videos on periscope.
8. After unberthing , Suddenly hydraulic pipe of fwd winch burst and oil spilled
on deck and in water— Action
9. Colreg situation-Open sea one CBD on port bow and FV on stbd bow rok.
With both...Then in tss you are in the lane fv in seperation zone on port
bow, CBD overtaking from astern and 2 PDV on stbd bow crossing all with
ROK— Action, 5 blasts for cbd overtaking and fv on port bow , then alter
course to port take all way off and stop my vessel instantly......Ok all clear
how will you resume your passage—Join the lane at small angle.......Next
situation open sea 2 pdv more then 50 m nearly head on or 1 point stbd
bow with Rok and a vessel stern overtaking with rok, 3/Off called you last
moment , what will be your action—-sound 5 blasts for vessel stern if not
taking action and then bold alteration of course to port..Quote rule 2B
10. Lights- sailing vessel, single red light & Separate situation ,red-green
light underway and possible making way... Trawler more then 50
m underway stopped and anchor and net fast upon obstruction— Also
asked how does Papa flag look like.... Then Ram lights of dredger and
showing 2 red lights.........FV making way seen from port side.... Ram Pdv
more then 50m but ram lights and green side light were near fwd
masthead light.. very typical situation.
11. Buoys, North, south cardinal mark with easterly heading& then
special mark buoy, all description and which side to pass.
12. Complete the plot for RV one target port side at 2 points fwd of my
beam, own vessel was at abeam to this target with ROK and then one
vessel abaft the beam stbd side overtaking with ROK—Slow down
because port side vessel will alter co to port only as own is at her abeam.
Then finally he said exam went successfully and you are passed...
Simon is very Fair surveyor and he always leads you if you forgot something and
he will take the word out from your mouth which he wants to hear...
Harmandeep Vashishat Time 1 hr. 10 mins

Result: Pass Master unlimited

Simon A.

Started with normal briefing about online oral exam procedures. I sailed on PCTC vessels. So, he said
you will on PCTC vessel throughout the exam but he may change ship type to ask other questions.
Below is summary what he had asked me.

1. Asked me crew nationality of my last vessel. It was multi nationality ship. So as a master of
the multi nationality crew how would you maintain harmony onboard.
2. One crew complain that Bosun has made racial comment on his religion. Action
3. Validity of dispensation from MCA
4. Statuary certificates.
5. MLC, DMLC1 &2 in details. How you make sure MLC is in compliance.
6. IAPP certificate content. IEEC & EIAPP. EIAPP is only for engine or emergency generator as
well.?
7. Safety officer and safety representative selection criteria. Where you will get all info?
8. At sea, you are in cabin and heard MOB signal (Own ship). Action? What all things you
expect from duty officer before you go on bridge. How many ways to turn ship. Person out
of sight. Search and rescue. Which pattern. You are all alone. Use IMSAR vol 3 for MPP.
9. How to recover person from water. Ship specific plan. (Mandatory). Procedures after you
recover the person.
10. Loading heavy units on PCTC. What all info you will get from shipper. Paper work involved.
11. Content of cargo securing manual. Loading non standardize cargo onboard. (no provision
given in Cargo securing manual). How you will proceed.
12. Magnetic compass- share Picture of Magnetic compass on screen. All parts explanation.
Coefficients A, B,C,D in details. Correction methods.
13. Cadet is only person checking deviation since last two months. And he reported to you that
deviation is out of order. Basically, check yourself or by another officer. Once I said that then
he said deviation was ok. Cadet don’t know to check deviation by Azimuth method. I Went
through all procedures for checking dev.
14. When you call for compass adjuster. What checks you made before you call him.
15. Buoys – port hand lateral mark (region A), W,E cardinal mark, Preferred channel (can). He
asks explain only buoy light and rhythm. Heading 172 for cardinal marks, secondary to main
for preferred channel buoy.
16. Lights- FV gear extending more than 150 m. Tug and tow with RAM lights towing partly
inconspicuous object with breath more than 25m, tow length more than 200, towing vessel
length more than 50m
17. Normal PDV more than 50m, what else it could be, Towing vessel less then 50m towing
length less then 200m lights. - He asked me to explain all – Nav status, day shape, fog signal.
18. ROR situations- Narrow channel-PDV crossing from port side and same time you are
overtaking another PDV- action. TSS- You are on CBD, PDV crossing from port side and FV
crossing from Stbd., Asked me responsibility between vessels. Action
19. RV- Two targets, Port bow no ROC, Fine Stbd quarter with- ROC – I altered port. Ok MR.
Vashisht – Your exam is successful.

Thanks to GMA team, friends and family.

Hull Office: Jason Pateman

Candidate: Andrew McMinn

Time: 1hour 40min (Pass)

1. When taking over as Master why is the tonnage certificate important?

2. What other certificates relate to tonnage?
3. What convention certificates would you expect to find on a cruise ship?
4. What other certificates would you find?
5. Explain the MAROL certificates, each annex and how your ship complies.
6. How do you comply with Annex 6? What certificates are related to this annex?
7. Explain as master how you comply with MLC.
8. List all of the points relevant to MLC (all of them in detail and exactly what is meant by each
point).
9. Who owns the vessel and where does it say this? Where else would it say who owns the vessel?
10. Who is the owner?
11. Who is the owner with relation to the SEA?
12. How do you as Master ensure that MLC is complied with?
13. What is the company's responsibility under MLC?
14. Explain the different certificates with MLC and what do they mean?
15. What is STCW? What certificates do you need for this?
16. What certificates does a Polish 2nd Eng need to have when joining your vessel?
17. Where do you check what certificates, he would need relevant to your vessel?
18. What is ISM and how does the master comply with this?
19. Explain in your own words ISM.
20. What are the chapters.
21. What is the first section in the ISM code and how does this relate you as master.
22. There were many questions on ISM, the various parts and what each part means and how it is
relevant.
23. What Health and Safety at work act?
24. Why is it important?
25. Explain why it is important and how it relates to you as Master. There were a lot of questions on
this act, what it means and why it is important.
26. Name the different parts of the act.
27. Your Second Officer calls you to the bridge at 2330 as the gyro has failed.... actions!
28. Who would you contact and why?
29. What dispensations do you need?
30. Do you need to call Class?
31. What is a condition of class and what certificates are affected by it?
32. What is a RO?
33. What certificates do they issue?
34. What does it say on the top of the certificates that Class issue?
35. What is the difference between a RO and a Classification Society?
36. Wh d RO e i
37. What does SOLAS say about Classification Societies?
38. What is the ACS?
39. What would be your night orders after the event of Gyro failure?
40. How often do you renew your PSSC?
41. Explain what is the PSSC and who issues it?
42. What forms are related to this certificate, talk through these forms.
43. Talk through in detail how you renew this certificate?
44. What will be done at five years and how will this be different from the annuals?
45. How often will the hull be inspected?
46. How is the hull inspected?
47. Talk through everything to do with life boats.
48. What tests are done yearly and five yearly?
49. What is the difference between static and dynamic test?
50. Talk through each test.
51. Who does these tests?
52. Who needs to be present and why?
53. Talk through the MGN regarding this.
54. Red and white light off starboard bow. A white light lower than these and more to starboard.
Your third mate calls you to the bridge as is unsure what it is. How would you handle this
situation?
55. What would your advice be to him?
56. What rules apply to this situation?
57. CBD vessel on port bow. Your second mate calls you to the bridge unsure of what to do. What
would be your actions and why?
58. What rules cover CBD vessels?
59. Can you do anything else?
60. Why?
61. What does impede mean?
62. What rules cover impeding?
63. What is the first thing you should ask the officer when you arrive on the bridge in this situation?
64. Talk through all of 8f.
65. What do the rules say about risk of collision.
66. Why is determining if risk of collision exists important when complying with rule 8f.
67. What rules apply in restricted visibility.
68. Your second officer calls you to the bridge because of restricted visibility what would you expect
of him?
69. What does rule 19 say?
70. What would be your actions if your helmsman reports hearing a fog signal?
J. Jones Oral Report
Exp: Containers & general cargo coasters
5th Nov 2020, Masters Unlimited
Result: FAIL, 1hr 30mins
Examiner: Hawkins, Belfast

He joined on the exact start time, went through standard procedures explaining the exam
procedure, if any connection failed either stay in the meeting or rejoin asap. Showed him around the
room, and confirmed my identity with signature. No headphones are allowed! Brief introduction
about my experience.

Here are as many of the questions I can remember, any notes are specific items he was looking for
or what I missed out.

Unless told otherwise you are on a 70,000GT bulk carrier

 Joining the vessel, agent has dropped you off at the quay, what are you going to do?
 Your load line is submerged, why is this, what will you do? I went down the lines of
overloaded and rectify, anything else? Dw density. In any case don’t sail until you are are at
the correct marks. He was after something else.
 You’re now in the Masters cabin, you have 24hrs to handover, what will happen?
 Tell me about ships certificates?
 Tell me about MLC documentation?
 Tell me about LL certificate?
 Condition of Assignment, what is this?
 What equipment and procedures do you have on board with regards to pollution
prevention?
 Planning a passage Rotterdam to Panama Canal, what would you discuss with the 2/O? Load
line zones
 You mentioned ice as a consideration during passage planning, charterers have now
changed discharge port to a polar region, what are your considerations? Stumbled down a
hole of the polar code rather than just basic ice precautions.
 You enter restricted visibility, actions?
 Heavy weather encountered on passage, actions?
 How would you heave to?
 On arrival, berth is not free you need to moor on a mooring buoy opposite berth, flood tide?
Done by power point and he helpfully moved the vessel as I explained my actions. I wrongly
assumed he was only after my manoeuvring actions, rather than toolbox talks, risk
assessments, etc.
 While alongside, police board the vessel and inform a crew member has been smuggling,
actions? Investigation.
 Next orders are to load iron ore? What are your considerations?
 What information will you exchange with the terminal manager prior to arrival?
 Your heading to dry dock, no superintendent present, what info will you exchange with dock
master?
 Prior to dry dock, what will you prepare in conjunction with C/O?
 About to leave dry dock, C/O informs crew are over their rest hours, dock pushing you to
leave? Don’t leave.
 On the way out the channel your vessel runs aground, actions? Don’t forget watertight
doors!!!
 Your heading to load timber on deck, what are the dangers?
  Your West Coast S. America, port is notorious for swell, vessel is ranging up and down the
quay? Additional moorings, ask for more sheltered berth, proceed to sea if conditions are too
bad. He wanted more from this.
 You’ve dropped anchor, what will you put in your night orders?
 En passage you find damage and need to beach the vessel, what are your preparations?

Restricted Vis- One plot, port beam, complete the plot and actions. Showed him the plot via the
camera and explained situation

ROR, Lights

- Vessel engaged in fishing making way astern or gear extending >150m

- Sailing Vessel Stbd aspect
- NUC making way port aspect
- Vessel aground more than 50m
- Vessel engaged in trawling not making way
- Vessel engaged in towing, less than 200m, tug probably more than 50, towing alongside
seen ahead.
- NUC astern making way/Aground less than 50m – Actions – Determine which by radar
assessment.
- PDV more than 50m, stbd aspect
- CBD, more than 50m, stbd aspect
- Vessel engaged in towing, >200m, 2 objects towed, port aspect

All the above consisted of identification, with some collision situations thrown in.

Buoyage – Various buoys, identification and actions from various headings.

Back to more questions:

 Explain ISM to me?

 Magnetic Compass is not in the PMS, what would you include in the job card?
 Your vessel requires fumigating, what is the process?
 What entries go in the OLB?
 Fire alarm goes off in E/R, actions?
 What is a Bill of Lading?
 Some of the Cargo is damaged, can you sign Bill of Lading?
 Explain general average?
 What is towage/salvage?

This is as much as I can remember, overall no complaints with the fail, nothing wrong with ROR just
my answers didn’t have what he was looking for on some topics.

Looking back with hindsight, at the time some of the questions were quite vague and I struggled to
gauge exactly what he was after, but on paper the questions aren’t too bad. I should have nailed the
basic questions and asked for clarification on some questions, which may have cut me some slack
elsewhere. Definitely caught be off guard when he put me on a 70,000gt bulk carrier!

Regarding the online nature of the exam, was no problem at all, if anything it gives you a little more
time to give an answer. Only thing I would say is it is extremely hard to judge body language and
figure out how your answers are being received.

I hope this helps, good luck to all those going up soon. All the best!Thanks to all the team at
Fleetwood.
Masters Unlimited Orals Exam (Online)
Date: 19th November 2020
Examiner: Captain Insan
Candidate Experience: Offshore Supply Vessels & Windfarm Installation Vessels

Captain Insan also entered the link at 0930 and briefed me on how the exam was going to start,
advised me my phone should be in another room and I also logged out of my emails at this stage.

• How will you take over as Master? Briefing/being appointed.

• Joining at quayside?
• Now in Master’s Cabin for handover - certificates.
• Stopped me at MLC Cert & asked which date would be on the certificate, DMLC 1 or 2?
• MARPOL Annex VI.
• What certificates would you expect crew to have?
• How would you know you are complying with your SMD? Ran into a bit of difficulty here as I
was trying to give an example but specifically wanted to hear cross-checking of CoC codes.
• SMS, what are the Master’s duties under ISM?
• Give me an example of how you would exercise your overriding authority.
• A new MIN was published the other day regarding cyber security, have you read it? MIN
647 I was honest with Captain Insan and said I had not, however, I was aware that a new
requirement was coming into force where Companies must have a provision for cyber security
within their SMS.
• Who can issue certificates? Flag - ISM/ISPS/MLC & rest RO.
• Have you heard about recycling of ships? Explained Hong Kong Convention/MGN 633.
• What will you need to comply? IHM by the end of 2020, approved by RO.
• Departure checks - all.
• You mentioned discussing bunkers with C/E, how much additional would you take? 5 days
on top of daily expected consumption (factoring in for if we were proceeding at economic or full
speed - as per Charter Party Agreement & Voyage Instructions).
• Passage planning - how would you check?
• You mentioned Stowaway Search, you are departing from a West African port and the 2/E
hasn’t come back on board and the Pilot is booked for 1 hour - actions.
• What is the difference between an Exemption & Dispensation?
• 12 hours into the passage and now 3 stowaways have appeared on deck - actions.
Said as per MGN 70 I have an obligation to treat them humanely so we would provide food, water
and sanitary provisions, he asked me specifically whether I would keep them locked up in a
room? No, they would be permitted outside to get fresh air/exercise etc but would need to be
accompanied at all times and a watchman by their cabin too.
• Now run into a TRS in NH, draw it for me and explain actions for getting away from the
storm. First of all explained I must report under SOLAS Ch V Reg 31 then the rest.
• Carry on the voyage, now someone breaks their leg - actions. First aid and help the best we
can but seek radio advice and if possible, look for a port of refuge.
• Helicopter now arrives to take the casualty away, do you know how this can be done in
heavy wx? Hi-line technique. Specifically asked me how I would orient the ship.
• What documentation would you give the helicopter? Crew documents plus a written
statement of injury plus all medical treatment given and any prescribed medication
administered.
• Back on passage and prior to arrival in Dover, the stowaways have became aggressive
and violent - actions? Activate SSAS & all crew muster in citadel, await help.
• Armed guards have landed aboard now and taken the stowaways, free to proceed to port
- actions prior to arrival.
• You mentioned Master/Pilot Exchange - how would you do that?
• What is Pilot Exemption?
• What would you expect OOWs to be doing during watch with Pilot on board?
• Delayed for getting into port and need to proceed to anchor, talk me through how you
would prepare for this and considerations.
• How would you calculate how much cable to pay out?
• Night orders for anchor watch for OOW?
• OOW calls you to say they are dragging anchor due to heavy wx - actions? Said initially we
could look at paying out more cable to slow the dragging speed but in my experience we would
need to pick up and lay again which isn’t an option here. Deploy other anchor.
• Now 2 anchors out, which would you recover first?
• Night orders for OOW having 2 anchors out?
• Port said they’re ready for you now, C/O goes to pick up anchors but 1 is fouled - actions.
• Proceeding into port, get alongside and your accommodation ladder is damaged -
actions.
• Have you ever done a load test on an accommodation ladder, talk me through that.

Buoyage - buoys on slides and asked me which side I would pass.

RoR - standard situations.
Lights - standard lights.

Restricted visibility. What do you expect from OOW on encountering? You hear a fog signal
apparently forward of your beam - actions? What is slow speed? Tell me the Rule. I got cut
off about midway through Rule 6.

Captain Insan explained the exam was finished and asked how I thought it went and said it was a
pass. Thank you to GMA for preparing me for the exam and the study groups!
All the best to the rest of the guys going up.
Liverpool Office- Online via Microsoft Teams

11/09/2020

1hr 30mins

Chief Mate Unlimited

Fail

I signed into the meeting link 15 mins before and waited, the examiner joined about 5 mins late and
introduced himself. He explained the rules of the examination and I gave him a view of my room,
verified my name and date of birth and showed him my passport. He then asked what types of ships
I sailed on and said ok for this examination you are going for Chief Mates Unlimited/ Master 3000grt,
so you can be asked questions from any role. These questions are not in any particular order as I
made this report some days after the exam.

1. Joining a bulk carrier as C/O, tell me everything? What documents would you give Master
when joining?
2. Ok, you are with Master now, what certificates would you expect to see by the Master?
HSSC Certificates. Which I listed out and then he asked me the Survey intervals for some
certificates.
3. What is Llyods Open Form?
4. What is Scopic Clause?
5. What is Parametric Rolling?
6. How would you know when you are in the vicinity or a Tropical Revolving Storm?
7. How many quadrants are there in a TRS and how would you identify if you are in the
Dangerous Semi-circle?
8. Bulk Carrier proceeding from South Africa to load grain in New Orleans and discharge in
Saudi Arabia. Passage Planning as C/O? What information would you expect to receive from
the 2nd Officer?
9. At night when asleep , 2nd Officer reported , “vessel collided with a FV” Action?..... How
would you check that there is damage to your vessel?
10. In a Narrow Channel and helmsman report to you that steering is sluggish. Action?
11. What are the Ballast Exchange requirements? And Dangers related to Ballast water
Exchange with both methods?Gave him everthing as per D1 Standards
12. Loading a Heavy Lift…
13. How would you prepare for a Loadline Survey?
14. How does Marpol Annex 1 affect you?
15. What is ACS?
16. How to prepare for Heavy Weather? How to prepare for departure?
17. What is Letter of Protest?
18. What is General Average?
19. Right handed FPP. Explain Transverse Thrust?
20. What is angle of loll?
21. Vessel on long westerly course and OOW observes a large deviation after alteration. What is
it? Retentive Error
Buoyage

-Region B
-Port hand Lateral, Starboard hand Lateral, West Cardinal, Safe Water, Isolated Danger and
Preferred Channel to Starboard.

Rules of the Road

Open Water:
You see this on your port bow, Action?... Examiner wanted me to go port for this situation.
Later on he said I was reluctant to go to port though I explained why I went to Starboard. So
be mindful of this if given.

Restricted Visibility:

O O

A A
A

O
O
 Feedback

1. You were too reluctant to go to port for a CBD and a RAM in the situations given which
shows weakness in your rules, so for this reason he had to fail me.

I hope this helps.. I did the report some days after the exam so I was not able to remember all the
ROR situations that I was given but these are what I remember. He asked some other light and
shapes questions also.
Liverpool Office- Online via Microsoft Teams

11/09/2020

1hr 30mins

Chief Mate Unlimited

Fail

I signed into the meeting link 15 mins before and waited, the examiner joined about 5 mins late and
introduced himself. He explained the rules of the examination and I gave him a view of my room,
verified my name and date of birth and showed him my passport. He then asked what types of ships
I sailed on and said ok for this examination you are going for Chief Mates Unlimited/ Master 3000grt,
so you can be asked questions from any role. These questions are not in any particular order as I
made this report some days after the exam.

1. Joining a bulk carrier as C/O, tell me everything? What documents would you give Master
when joining?
2. Ok, you are with Master now, what certificates would you expect to see by the Master?
HSSC Certificates. Which I listed out and then he asked me the Survey intervals for some
certificates.
3. What is Llyods Open Form?
4. What is Scopic Clause?
5. What is Parametric Rolling?
6. How would you know when you are in the vicinity or a Tropical Revolving Storm?
7. How many quadrants are there in a TRS and how would you identify if you are in the
Dangerous Semi-circle?
8. Bulk Carrier proceeding from South Africa to load grain in New Orleans and discharge in
Saudi Arabia. Passage Planning as C/O? What information would you expect to receive from
the 2nd Officer?
9. At night when asleep , 2nd Officer reported , “vessel collided with a FV” Action?..... How
would you check that there is damage to your vessel?
10. In a Narrow Channel and helmsman report to you that steering is sluggish. Action?
11. What are the Ballast Exchange requirements? And Dangers related to Ballast water
Exchange with both methods?Gave him everthing as per D1 Standards
12. Loading a Heavy Lift…
13. How would you prepare for a Loadline Survey?
14. How does Marpol Annex 1 affect you?
15. What is ACS?
16. How to prepare for Heavy Weather? How to prepare for departure?
17. What is Letter of Protest?
18. What is General Average?
19. Right handed FPP. Explain Transverse Thrust?
20. What is angle of loll?
21. Vessel on long westerly course and OOW observes a large deviation after alteration. What is
it? Retentive Error
Buoyage

-Region B
-Port hand Lateral, Starboard hand Lateral, West Cardinal, Safe Water, Isolated Danger and
Preferred Channel to Starboard.

Rules of the Road

Open Water:
You see this on your port bow, Action?... Examiner wanted me to go port for this situation.
Later on he said I was reluctant to go to port though I explained why I went to Starboard. So
be mindful of this if given.

Restricted Visibility:

O O

A A
A

O
O
 Feedback

1. You were too reluctant to go to port for a CBD and a RAM in the situations given which
shows weakness in your rules, so for this reason he had to fail me.

I hope this helps.. I did the report some days after the exam so I was not able to remember all the
ROR situations that I was given but these are what I remember. He asked some other light and
shapes questions also.
Master' s Orals - Unllmit ed

Candidate - Piyush Anand

Examiner - Capt. Simon

Time - 1300 UT (lHr 40Min)

Mode- Onllne

Result- PASS

ed as follows,
After initial briefing for online exams procedu re he proceed

will you proceed . (Started answer ing

1) You are Master and going to take over a vessel. How
from receiving call for joining)
expect from Compan y Briefing. (After
2) He stopped me in betwee n and asked what did you
this I resume d answer ing the original questio n)
dent/da mage/c rack at the ship side. What
3) He again stopped me at gangway and said there is
and asked me How will I take over
will I do. (I refused to join at first, then he convinc ed me
certifica tes being affected .
now) - I talked about Conditi on of Class, Load line & SAFCON
departu re - make ship seawor thy)
Repairs to be comple te before, taking over and
asked me about all the MARPO L certifica tes and
4) Went to master' s cabin and he again
to find and what you will check in them (VALIDIT Y). (I MISSED ON
Docume nts you expect
Annex V, he guided me)
take while loading more than 2 grades.
5) As loading on tanker was going on - Precautions to
records file. (Smiled when I mention ed SSAS test
6) What entries I would check in the security
report)
Royal Navy Submar ine In 2018. (Why it
7) Then he discussed the inciden t betwee n Ferry and
happen ed and Correct ive action)
ure port preps)
8) Plan a voyage from Rotterd am to North America. (Depart
coastal navigat ion - all expects and
9) Precau tions to take after departu re port. (I talked about
Heavy weathe r precaut ions for north atlantic )
are you (Before cold front in the warm
10) He showed me synopti c chart with a LOW and where
r conditio ns you would face. (Wind speed & directio n, Swell &
sector) and about weathe
directio n, rain gust)
24 lvs. (I said it would be better as I will
11) Asked me about the weathe r I would expect In next
about compan y support and
not follow this track any more. Alter my course south, talked
TO HEAR ABOUT FLOATIN G ICE WHICH I SAID AS rT
we.tthe r routein g services. HE WANTED
WAS SUMMER)
12) As proceed ing south you get VHF DSC alert. (Action,
reponlng, rescue in bad weathe r)
log book, Deck log book & GMDSS log
13) In the above I mention ed entering record in Official
narrativ e sections.
book, so, he asked me about entries to be made in OLB
14) Differen t sections in OLB
15) Approa ching New York, MCA inspect ion for ISM, MLC
& ISPS, prepare for MLC Inspect ion (He
was waiting to hear Display of Owners Insuran ce).
16) What is this insuran ce about.
the content s of the same.
17) I mention ed crew contrac ts (SEA) so he asked me about
18) Started off with Lights, ROR situations and RV. (Listed below)
19) Gave me a North cardinal buoy and I was proceeding NORTH. Action
20) Then he discussed about crash stop, normal stopping procedure and turning circle about my
last vessel.
21) During ROR situations he made me explain Rule 8.F & 9, explain all the buoys.
22) Looking at the buoys he asked me which region you are in. Asked me lights for Preferred
Channel to Port buoy & what action I will take if I had to go in a secondary channel.
23) In lights he asked me how does Flag Z looks like - My answer "I DON'T REMEMBER"
24) Asked me what light a sailing vessel would show when propelled by machinery and day
signal.

0 \,J

0 w
0 ~

ow
w (J
Q

~-
-
<]~d
___
__
 Radar Plotting Sheet

100

240 ··\
.,:":\
230 ✓;•..,_ •

.1/.~
22

O 1 2
,,1.,.1, i ..~~,s,,:r
t,,1 ,J,, T,1, , ..,3 , I I
•
Maritime &
Coastguard
AfJerlcl
Bradley Drummond

Masters unlimited

Belfast exam

what ships you been on? container, gen cargo what cargo did you carry? they carried timber but i told
him we were not timber load line straight away, told him steel coils, wind farm blades, use to carry grain
but I wasn’t goin to bother telling him that, most recently - pax vsls. Asked where I lived – glasgow.

how would you take over as master of container vessel? Full answer from briefing all the way through to
entry in the OLB on completion of take over

what's master's responsibilities to ISM? PMCVR + OVER RIDING AUTHORITY

how does your vessel comply with marpol annex 1? oil record book, sopep

annex 4? Sewage 12miles etc,

annex 5? garbage management

annex 6? eca, seca, Sulphur content

How would PSC know you comply with eca? Bdn, analysis of fuel samples,

Annex 6 regs when alongside? No incinierator, burn 0.1% fuel.

Is Clyde in SECA? no

entries in oil record book? Standard GMA answer

how to check entry's? Standard GMA answer

how do you know what each entry means? categories a-I at front of oil record book

example of masters over riding authority? Lifeboat drill due, bad wx, delay.

Lifeboat davit cracked how would you handle? try fix it, risk assess, cordon it off, don't use it, stay in
port,

can't get repairs in this port? told him risk asses, then if I was feeling it was safe enough to proceed to
repair port, I would seek dispensation, but dispensation is not the golden ticket to sail. as master I won't
sail if I'm not happy.

draw a gz curve for stable ship? explain it?

draw a gz curve for unstable ship? explain it? what's loll? how do you correct?

what's the intact stab criteria for a vessel?

explain the gz curve? I had a very difficult time with this, asked how you measure area under the curve,
what its measured in? told him radians but its m-radians.
how would you brief chief mate for loading a container vessel? vgm, dg doc, stability requirements,
familiar with stab program, call if any problems, dg manifest, msds for dg, dg declaration, stowage plan,
bridge visibility not impaired, prop immersion good enough for voyage.

what's included in DG doc? Standard GMA answer

what's VGM? verified gross mass for containers, came into force 2016.

crew member killed by crane actions? stop job, record evidence before moving body, standard answer
for dealing with death, record in msf4605, report to maib, inform flag, company.

when do you report to MAIB? mgn 564, merchant shiping reporting regs 2012 <-- it’s a LEGAL
requirement master reports

who enforces? Enforcement branch of mca based on non compliance with merchant shipping regs.

what info is in OLB? Standard GMA answer

entries in narrative section? Standard GMA answer

what do you know about bulk carriers? I thought this is a bit broad of a question but just mentioned ESP,
water ingress alarms. I was trying to avoid saying bending and sheer force because I didn't want to go
back to stability after getting smashed in gz curves but he was defo pushing for it so I had to give him the
answer

what is sf and bm? Standard GMA answer

how would chief officer know bm and sf are in permissible limits? I told him stability program and
stability booklets, this went back and forth for 5mins as he tried to get a different answer, I was very
confused, I kept saying stability program. But he see's stability program and LOADICATOR as 2 different
things, they are defined as 2 different things in SOLAS apparently. He told me he was looking for
loadicator, I told him I told him stability program. Best not to argue with them haha.

precautions with loading iron ore? heavy cargo dense, huge gm, bm and sf, magnetic compass...didn't
want to mention this but he was aiming for it.

showed me a picture of magnetic compass, tell me about magnetic compass, basic maintenance name
the parts

cardinal points deviations are larger than normal what does this mean? total guess, said retentive error,
I was right apparently. how to correct and fix it? Akneel or roll it. When does retentive error occur? Long
steady courses or alongside along time. Didn’t say layup as I didn’t want to talk about laid up vsls.

passage plan Shanghai to suez, how to brief 2nd mate? high traffic on dep china,typhoon @ south china
seas, reporting procedure @ Singapore, safe speed through straight, piracy in Malacca, monsoon @
Indian ocean, piracy in Suez. Reporting procedures contact UKMTO etc.

what's trs, typhoon, cyclone, hurricane? how do they form? when do they form? deep water, 5/n or
south, low Coriolis force effect, hot water temp.

signs of a typhoon? standard answer

actions to avoid? depends where you are in nav or dangerous semi-circle

high density of traffic in Singapore and china for fishing vsl any concerns? safe speed and room to
maneuver. Thought brilliant, hes about to move onto rules and end the exam, but no. We continued.

piracy, how to prepare vsl for piracy? carry out drill, risk asses, brief crew, barb wire, hoses, safe but fast
speed, contact UKMTO, contact CSO.join a convoy.

what equipment would you test prior to entering? SSAS

how does it work? no audible alarm, not stop until stopped manually, not transmit to other vsls.

pirates about to board your vsl action? Mayday > muster crew > speed up > ac away from them > hide in
citadel if we had one

what is a citadel? safe place for crew to hide

what's laycan? demurrage? dispatch? couldn't remember dispatch, told him I didn't know.

what do you know about salvage? Standard gma answer, referenced place of safety, requirements of it
etc.

when would someone invoke scopic? Pollution incident, to gain article 13 reward and scopic 30-100% of
his expenses, not even sure if this is right but he moved on.

what's general average? Loss covered by all those in voyage, told him opposite to particular average
when owner pays for the loss. General average can only be called when the vessel is protected from
peril. If you sink, no general average.

what's a bill of laden? what's a document of title? Standard answer from gma notes

what's Lloyds open form? Standard answer from gma notes

collision action? started giving passenger vessel answer but he told me i was on bulk carrier and to
restart answer. Follow SPARC from GMA, I even told him “I'm going to answer this question by
referencing internal recourses, external resources and equipment I could use to assist me”

what do i understand about SAR co-ordination plan? MSN1878, enhance co-op between vsl, mrcc and
company

how do you ensure compliance with MLC? refer to dmlc 1+2, 14-point list from GMA.

master's inspection of accommodation? what to look for? msn1845 and msn1848

where to record it? olb, signed and signed by another crew member.

fridge and freezer temperature? +5 for fridges, -18c for freezers,

what else to look for in galley? hygiene, different chopping boards, garbage discard placard,

explain rule 6

explain rule 7
explain rule 10

lights fv, trawler, ram, dredging, anchor, aground, nuc, pdv, cbd, wants TYPE, DAYSHAPE AND
FOGSIGNAL

pdv head on action?

pdv crossing from stbd? who is give way who is stand on?

vsl over taking who is give way who is stand on?

pdv crossing from stbd in TSS, who is give way and stand on?

rule 19, over taking 1 vsl dead ahead, I'm dead astern. action? I said port or stbd, he wanted a definitive
answer. told him other vsl could go either way. he wants my action. I didn't want to give him one for
some reason lol. decided to go stbd, keep stbd side clear incase other vsls. he moved on.

What does rule 19 say about your movements in regards to collision avoidance?

safe water mark, lights, characteristic, top mark

west cardinal

reg b stbd lateral

isolated danger, light and characteristics. never got asked action with buoys.

told me I passed. I should look up, dispatch, area under gz curve is measured in meter radians and not
radians and loadicator and stability program are not same device. Longest oral I've ever had, oow 1
hour, mates 50mins, this was 1-hour 40mins. i thought it would never end. he just kept asking question
after question i was praying for the rules to turn up.

very decent examiner, happy to explain questions differently, if i didn't know i told him, i told him where
i would look up answers and how i wouldn't guess with anything regarding safety.
Jaspal Singh
Examiner – Tony Wilson
Glasgow Marine Office
Master’s Unlimited
Time – 1hr 20mints
Result – Pass

The exam started with normal online procedures and making me aware of cheating policy.
Examiner said answer questions from Master’s point of view and you can be on any ship type
as this is Master’s Unlimited oral exam.

1. BUOYS – All characteristics and top marks (if missing )

1.1 West Cardinal heading 160
1.2 South Cardinal
1.3 Region A preferred channel to STBD → Main to secondary
1.4 Region B Port Hand Lateral Mark → outbound

2. 1NM = How many meters (out of the blue & I had no clue)

3. SMARTY BOARD – Everything except action

3.1 Trawler less than 50m
3.2 Fishing Vessel underway
3.3 RAM underway more than 50m – Definition of RAM
3.4 CBD underway more than 50m – Definition of CBD
3.5 NUC – Definition of NUC
3.6 Durations of short and long blast

4. VESSELS IN SIGHT OF ONE ANOTHER – What action as per which rule

4.1 Explain Rule 2 with examples
4.2 Following TSS few ships around you and FV impeding your passage – she was in the
middle of the lane, aspect was not overtaking but crossing
4.3 Which vessels can use ITZ
4.4 Few ships around you and FV overtaking from STBD quarter
4.5 You’re CBD and RAM crossing from Port

5. Restricted Visibility – Preparations on Encountering RV

Relative Motion
North UP
Explain all targets action
Action → Bold A/C Stbd

Page 1 of 3
6. How will you prepare your vessel for MLC inspection only documents ?
7. MLC inspection physical checks → wanted to know about food, hygiene, living
conditions. With Food special checks for galley staff hygiene, storage rooms and
refrigerators → tell him about temperature monitoring of refrigerators
8. Taking over as Master → checking documents → SMC expired → why raise NC
against company explained this as per company’s responsibility under ISM code.
9. What is SEA ? → Importance → One SEA more than 12 months
10. What do you record in the Narrative Section of the OLB?
11. Chief Engineer joining non UK COC holder he is SSO and Safety Officer too →
documents you will check → do all require HV certificate → Don’t forget to mention
that he should be trained in his duties for Safety Officer → I said I will record his
appointment as Safety officer in the OLB under narrative section
12. You’re making entry into OLB Narrative section you reach the last line what will you do
→ I told him will annex the details to narrative section → He asked is this allowed → I
said yes only for OLB narrative section not for other sections
13. Young cadet joining → standard stuff → HOR
14. When will you Beach your vessel ? → How will you go for emergency beaching →
checks/reporting/ballast (all as per notes)
15. 0200hrs second mate calls you to Bridge → He heard Mayday → your location 250NM
from land
16. My actions were → maintain listening watch on RT frequencies → check radar → use
search lights (traffic permitting) → contact other vessels if any → contact RCC
17. RCC advised vessel in distress 10NM due North of your position what action will you
take → proceed for SAR and prepare vessel accordingly
18. At the scene you can’t see any vessel only Oil and one Lifebuoy → I said that I will pick
up the Lifebuoy and note her details and pass it on to RCC after this ascertain Datum
using IAMSAR Vol III then → determine search pattern
19. Which search pattern and Why ? → Mine was expanding square search as I was the
only vessel carrying out SAR
20. Next was to draw the search pattern and show him
21. What is CSR ? Why is it important → told him everything
22. He said few Form 1 documents-1,2,3,4,5 are missing you have document 6 what action
will you take → told him that I will refer Form 3 and all that but very important you
must have all the Form 1 documents current and past → arrange with the
company
23. Who is responsible for ORB ? → ORB Entries
24. Went to Marpol Annex VI → told him about SOx and NOx, relevant certification, ECA,
sulphur content of fuel

Page 2 of 3
 25. Garbage Record Book → Why is it required ? → How will you check the entries and
ensure compliance with Marpol Annex V
26. Vessel about to leave → Crew member missing → Took standard actions → Crew
member found in local hospital with injury he is unfit → get reliever → no reliever →
RA/work schedule/ apply for dispensation
27. Difference between Dispensation and Exemption?
28. PSC → What do they do ? → Under Paris MOU how are vessels banned → Told him
about Black Flag List and Grey Flag list (would recommend all to have a look at
Paris MOU website)
29. ISM → Master responsibility
30. How will you motivate your crew on safety matters ? → Always mention encourage
crew on reporting Near misses
31. Safe Manning documents details → who issues → what it shows
32. MAIB → functions → reporting → what record to give once they arrive
33. SI, MSN, MGN, MIN details → back your answers with examples of each

Advice → Study every topic in detail → Go through past papers

Follow teachings of Capt Vinil Gupta and his team to the point
Big thanks to my batchmates → Maninder Singh Bhullar & Harmandeep Vashisht

Page 3 of 3
Karen Mc Cartney-Clarke,

Glasgow

December 2020.

As usual Started with normal online procedure for online examination on slide, went through rules.

Then Started with Exams,

Bouys : Heading SE and Seeing West Cardinal Action (SLOW DOWN DO RA CHECK Charts Echo Sounder).

Region A Starboard Hand Lateral Mark.

Outbound Preferred Channel Mark Region A.

ROR :

Open Sea PDV Crossing From Port,

TSS FV on Starboard Side (Impeding) and Port Side PDV Crossing (Give Way),

TSS Own Vsl Crossing Lane and PDV on STBD,

Narrow Channel Container VSl on Stbd Side of Lane Seen From Astern and FV on Port Crossing and own
Vessel Overtaking Action, Responsibilites and Action(Slow Down),

then FV Cleared you have to overtake how would you do that, wanted to listen Basically the Interaction
and Overtaking, and Why we have suction and what is bow cushion effect and squat.

Radar Plotting Target A Starboard Side Crossing and Target B port side overtaking and responsibity of all
targets were discussed in details and finally my action SLOW DOWN.

As a Master How would you check if your New Joined 3/O is Keeping a Proper Navigational Watch.

What Check Will you do wrt to ECDIS, GPS and RADAR how would you know its properly Tuned.

then came Synoptic Chart,

Own Position Near the Anticylone and another position near the depression and Occluded Front
Weather Condition,
then What is the Stress involved talked about all the Stresses Racking, Panting, Pounding, Torsion,
Rolling and Pitching and Yawning.

then she asked what is Bending Moment (hogging and sagging).

Own Vessel in Heavy weather how would you Navigate and Action then Came you Lost 7 Containers out
of Which 2 were DG Action and Whom would you contact (talked of Master Obligatary Reporting SOLAS
Ch5 Req 31-32 and Ship in Vicinity and Competent Authority which i just said we could do with simple
plain paper reporting but later added our company has special reporting form in SMS w.r.t Later Gyro
Failed. (Emergency).

Vessel Arriving Southampton in 2 Days Stoways onboard, Whom Would you Contact and how would you
deal with them,

Notice Requirements For MCA in Case of Stoways Found onboard i said 72 hrs but Since that has passed
will inform asap and Just Told her about the PSC requirements like 24-72 Hrs (Wild Guess), Eventually
was turned down as it was to do with PSC and for Flag ASAP which i thought i told her then she realised
and agreed (may be techinal glitch).

Cadet Joining what all thing would you do Apart from Signing him onboard, Taked about induction and
RA and Also Assigning him a Training Officer and Checking his Progress on Weekly-Monthly Task and
Monitor his Progress (Seemed Happy).

was in a bit thinking orals is coming to and END, there came my biggest night mare (for a person who
has never stepped on any ship other then Gas ships), Loading Coal and Checks and Dangers associated
with respect to it.

3 Engg on Board Felt Sick Action ( Talked abt Radio Medical Advise, then Giving Rest, Requesting
Dispensation With MCA, managing hours of Work so that his task should not burden anyone else closely
monitoring Work and Rest Hours, Arranging For Medical Visit on arrival but probably she wanted to hear
something more and after i was dried she said we will come back on this on End, this is were i started to
get the felling i lost my Exams).

You Taking Over Master on UK Gas Ship What All SOLAS Certificate will you check and Then What is COF
GAS. (and that was my playing Field and probably my last ball to hit did my best including the
requirements from Construction of Tank, Design Pressure of Pipelines and MARVS Requirements, Means
For Controlling Excess Pressre Rise and Brief Discussion Contolled and Uncontrolled Ventings) there she
seemed Happy and Smiled and Cut me Cross to Say will Discuss Your Result with Another Surveyor
Sitting Beside us Monitoring us Both and will get back to You.
and then She came back within 2 minutes to say MR Singh You Have Met the Requirements then the
GOLDEN WORDS its a PASS,

Talked abt the future plans and Joining back at Sea and process to go abt to get your COC.

At the End I Would like to thank Mataji and all my Friends and Family especially who stood by me and
Big Thanks To Vinil Sir and Shayne Sir.

and Friendly Advise Dont Delay Your Exams Plan Your Things priortise it and Make Sure you Have NOE +
Orals Date before Taking Your Classes.

All the very best See you all Out at Sea....

Masters Oral Exam
Capt Brar.
21st Feb 2018
Pass 55 mins

What is ice accretion? How does it happen? How would you reduce ice accretion at the
first place? How would you get rid of the accretion once formed? Would you salt water
hose down your deck?
What maintenance is carried out on P/V valves? Frequency?
Ecdis mandatory feeds? Gave me a paper chart, pointed towards a box and was
interested in knowing what it was (survey data) From there he went how you would
find the same info on ENC’s (Catzoc)
Issues with using ENC not on the chart scale? How would you determine if the ENC
being used is on the charted scale? Telling this from a distance of 2m?
How would you extinguish a scavenge space fire? Purifier fire?
Purifier system – How does fuel flow?
Flammable cargo spilled on deck, caught fire, how would you extinguish it?
Fire Triangle? Classes of fire?
Magnetic compass – Flinders bar position aft, slewed – possibilities. Coefficient A.
Gave me a ship model, do a Mediterranean Moor. How is it different to Baltic moor?
What’s cross and elbow in regards to anchoring?
What are IMO Type I, II, III Chemical tankers? What are the filling restrictions on each?
What’s the COF on noxious liquid carriers issued in accordance with?
Difference between beaching and grounding?
Placed a yacht on deck of a general cargo and goes heavy weather has caused damaged
to the cargo as well as the ship – What parties would you inform? What certificates
would invalidate?
P & I, H & M – Do they overlap at some point?
Difference between RO & Class – give examples of 2 RO.
MAIB reporting – What ships and when would you report to MAIB?
Dead person on board – off landing formalities.
Recent MGN on maintaining crew lists ashore - what does it say? (MGN 577)
What’s a VOC management plan? What ships carry a VOC plan?
Colregs –
PDV overtaking another in narrow channel – actions. Sound signals for overtaking.
CBD overtaking PDV in narrow channel – actions/ responsibilities. CBD fog signal.
Vessel aground ahead – actions. Fog signal. Lights for a vessel aground – 50m and
longer.
Figuring out aspect of an approaching vessel on a radar plot.

2
Ross McBurnie
Examiner: Jason Pateman
Date: 19th May 2021
Result: Pass
Experience: offshore construction, DSV (DP vessels)
Duration: 1hr 10mins

I signed onto teams 15 mins before the exam, and at 11:00 was allowed to join. Jason Pateman is a
very fair examiner and our initial chat helped put me at ease. He started off by introducing himself
and explained the do’s and don’ts of using teams for the exam. We had a 5-minute talk about
previous experience before getting started with the questions. The pace of exam flowed quite
naturally, and as many have said before it felt like more a formal chat at times.

• Joining as master – you’ve done the company briefing and join the ship. On meeting the
offsigning master what certificates would you expect to take over. Went through the whole
list and mentioned the ones that the MCA issue.
• Any insurance certs? Mentioned BOPIC and an explanation of UK requirements for this.
• Anything regarding hazardous materials? He wanted IHM here then talked about ballast
water management cert. Wanted the similarities and I talked about statement of compliance
as UK not ratified the IBWM convention
• Duties of master under MLC. Mentioned all parts of MLC
• What’s in a SEA?
• Complaints procedure?
• Company responsibility under MLC
• Who is the owner and where would you find this.
• Moved onto health and safety regs next and what ones were applicable. Mentioned LOLER,
PUWER, HAVS, WAH, NOISE, PPE, Asbestos, CoSHH, Enclosed space and mentioned H&S at
work act which he seemed to like.
• ACS- Went into a full explanation of what it is and how you get into it, what certs are
covered.
• What is an RO? I talked about in relation to ACS.
• Speed log failure. Actions, what would you tell 3rd off, what equipment does it effect, any
issues with radar. Wanted masters level answer on what I would tell 3/O regards radar and
put in night orders. Look out window for aspect anyway and CPA etc all still the same.
• Actions on bunker oil spill in port. Actions, who to inform. Use SPARRC and you will be fine.
When I mentioned checklist in case I forgot anything that seemed to go down well.
• Last question he brought up a simple CBD crossing from port side. However, he wanted in
depth knowledge of what rules were applicable and what I would tell the 3/O , including 8F ii
and 8Fiii, and then about 8Fi and if I could go to port. Wanted if risk of collision didn’t exist
then I could go to port. E.g By taking early action before risk of collision exists you avoid a
potential situation developing. Also wanted what was meant by impeding passage and safe
passage with examples.

I could tell by the last question he was looking to wrap the exam up and sure enough he confirmed
the exam was over and told me I’d passed. I was fairly surprised as it was quicker than I was
expecting. I had a couple of bumpy moment’s but he said I answered some of the questions very
well and I think that helped give me a bit of leeway on the couple I was less sure of. You have to
expect that not all your answers will be smooth and you may get a couple of curveballs to fight your
way through but as long as you have the important stuff nailed down the examiners seem very fair
on discussing things with you. Massive thanks to Vinil and Shayne as well as the March, April and
May groups for helping give me the knowledge.
Elliot Jacob
Examiner: Tim Andrews
Date: 04.05.2021
Result: Pass
Past Experience: Cruise Ships

Signed in to Teams 15 minutes before the start time and Captain Andrews joined shortly
after: Before the exam he put me very much at easy and was talking about the current state
of the cruising industry and pre exam rules with a quick room check.

ISM- What does it mean to you as master

Overriding Authority- Examples
Crew Joining- Talk me through the process as a master what you will do when they walk up
the gangway, 1 2nd Engineer from Italy 1 deck crew from Philippines- Wanted CEC and safety
and security familiarisation
Muster Lists- Tell me all about them
Pilot Master Relationship-
What happens if you and the pilot don’t agree what are you going to do?
The relationship as severely deteriorated what are you going to do?
You then connect tug boats forward and aft on a large passenger ship what are you going to
be your considerations? - I got a bit stuck on this was but he was looking for girding of a tug.
ISPS
Security levels
What do you do different in each level
When do you exchange a DOS
Who sets the Security Level for UK Ships
Stowaways- How as master do you treat them who do you report it to
Voyage Planning – From masters perspective,
On Voyage from Rotterdam to Miami- What are you considerations on route
I started talking about heavy areas of traffic ie north sea and English channel then led on to
work and rest hours and how you going to manage them.
Then crossing the Atlantic-
Talk to me about TRS
Any other things you would consider if you were crossing the Atlantic in the winter
time ?- Ice and Ice Accretion, what problems does it cause and how you going to
solve them.
How are you going to make sure the officers on watch are keeping a safe navigational
watch- Went down the MGN 315 then explained standing orders
Explain the term Bill of Lading
What do you understand from the P and I-
What do they cover- As soon as I said crew repatriation under MLC he was happy
and moved on
Emergency- Collison
You are now disabled of the coast what are you going to ask the company to arrange-
Towage
Tell me the difference between towage and Salvage
Explain LOF- what are the main points and updates
Can you explain General Average-
Distress on VHF- What are you actions as master ?
2nd Engineer we talked about at the beginning of your exam-
Chief engineer is not happy with his performance saying he is not fitting in well with
the team and has attitude - I first of all stated I would use a Personal Development
plan and talk to him directly and see if he had any problems that we didn’t know
about and we would be monitoring is progress over the coming weeks then I carried
on and gave the merchant navy code of contact going through all steps as per GMA
notes.
He then asked lets rewind a little bit you have done your investigation and found
that he punched a motorman in the engine room- Do you actions differ- Yes he will
be dismissed from the vessel immediately

Radar Plotting :

Then the exam came to an end,

Debrief- Need to know about the specific thing about how flag have you approve passenger
ship muster lists and how there has to be a substitution ie- if the captain is killed who
replaces him and I explained about how tugs girting but I forgot the technical phrase for it.

Captain Andrews was very fair examiner and always guided you in the right direction and
made you feel very at ease.

Thanks to GMA and the best advice I can give is get a few people you know and do it
together I was very hesitant to begin with to do it online and via zoom however if you have
a good group and are strict with the group sessions speaking everything out load it makes a
massive difference.
Date : 15-July-2019
Examiner : Malcolm M.
Master’s Unlimited
Candidate : Priyank Thapa
Duration : About 55 mins.

Went online using the link on microsoft teams about 15 mins prior to scheduled time
as instructed. Malcom didn’t come online till 1000 hrs. Spent 15 mins sweating my
pants off….
Went through the online exams rules and procedures.

Then he asked me about what type of ships I have been sailing on.—Geared and
Gearless bulk carriers from 60,000 DWT to 85,000 DWT. Most carrying coal
tramping worldwide. Loading in USA, Australia, Russia, Indonesia Discharging in
Turkey, Russia, Europe, Brazil, China.

He told me to answer all questions as a Master on one of your previous bulk

carriers.

0. You are loading coal in Philippines and the Loading master brings you a
certificate of moisture content which is 3 weeks old and you can see barges
anchored nearby with coal and there has been rain over the past few days. What
will do as Master? — I went through the usual about not accepting to load as the
shipper’s declaration must not be more than 7 days old and coal is Group A cargo
etc. Issue a letter of protest and inform charterers and owners and local P&I agents.
0. He wanted to know where will I enter the details for this letter of protest
and all?? I mentioned in the Deck Log Book and Cargo/Port Log Book. He wanted
to hear that I’ll annex these documents to the Official Log Book. Prompted me in
that direction by asking what is the difference between a deck log book and an
official log book and the contents.
0. He then said that new second officer is joining on board and is also the
designated Safety Officer on board. What do you expect his responsibilities to be or
how will you guide him?? Mentioned that I’ll enter his designation as Safety Officer
in the OLB. Also I expect that he would have undergone some kind of in-house
training for his duties as safety officer. Went on to mention everything that come
under responsibilities of safety officer.
0. Showed me a weather synoptic chart, voyage from USA to Norway. Put
the position of the vessel.Depression on the way with an occluded front. What kind
of weather do you expect?
0. During this weather as you are busy with paper work in your office
suddenly the light go out, ventilation stops and engines stop. You go to the bridge
and the second officer tells you that there has been a blackout. Your actions? Went
through the initial steps SPARRC. While I was still checking my nav equipments and
gyro he asked me why will these equipments still be working?? They are connected
to the emergency generator.
 0. What is an emergency generator?? What equipments will be connected
to it?? Went through the whole list of nav equipments, Nav lights, General alarms,
GMDSS console, PA system, E/R equipments etc.
0. Under what certification does Emergency generator get surveyed?
0. Chief Engineer comes to you withe ORB with his entries. What will you
check??
0. Why are you required to have an ORB on board?? As per Annex 1 of the
MARPOL.
0. So MARPOL is an international convention. How come it is a law for a UK
flagged ship??
0. In Norway your Safety Construction Survey is due, the surveyor enters
the cargo hold. What things do you expect him to inspect??
0. So in Norway a new trainee/cadet is joining 17 years old. What will be
your plan for his safety induction and training as a Master and what certificates do
you expect him to carry on board? Went through the basic stew training
certificates( he wanted the names of the certificates) and his Training record bo
0. ok etc. RA and jobs to be given as per his physical capabilities, no jobs in
the night with exceptions etc…
0. He didn’t want to hear about the young persons hours of rest but instead
asked me what will be in the training record book of the cadet and what will you do
with it??
0. The same cadet asks you to explain Rule 2.
0. Put up a slide with lights of a CBD on my port bow and some red and
green lights on my stbd bow. Second officer calls you at 0200 hrs on the bridge and
says that seeing all these lights has confused him. What will you do?? Took a
moment to assess the situation and gather my situational awareness. Mentioned
that the lights on my stbd side look like buoyed channel so I will check and confirm
the same on the chart. Identified the CBD on my port bow. If the OOW hasn’t
started systematic plotting yet then instruct him to do that. Depending upon the
distance off these lights reduce my speed to allow more time to asses the situation.

That’s it. He said that completes your exams. For a moment I thought that he was
gonna fail me because he had mentioned at the beginning that the exam can go
upto 2 hours and we’ll see how it goes.
After a flutter of losing my heart beat for those precious seconds he said you have
passed.

I found Malcolm to be quite practical with prompts if he is looking specifically

forsomethingo in your answer.
MASTERS UNLIMITED
CANDIDATE: MAYANK MALHOTRA
SHIPS: CONTAINERS
EXAMINER: CAPTAIN D. HAWKINS, BELFAST
DATE: 07TH APRIL 2021 @ 1500 BST
TIME: 2 HRS
ATTEMPT: FIRST – ONLINE
RESULT: PASS

STARTED ON TIME, SHOWED HIM AROUND THE ROOM.

HE STARTED WITH GENERAL TALK, PUT ME ON A 60000 DWT BULK CARRIER FOR THE FULL EXAM.

1. STARTED WITH SHOWING ME A COUPLE OF SLIDES FIRST, CUTOUTS /SCAN COPIES OF CHARTS.
WAS ASKED TO IDENTIFY ALL I COULD SEE IN CUT OUTS AND EXPLAIN?

WAS GIVEN SOMETHING SIMILAR AS BELOW, ONE WAS WITH TIDAL DIAMOND (HAD TO EXPLAIN THE
TIDAL DIAMOND IN DETAIL) AND VTS (SUNK VTS) REPORTING SYMBOL AS WELL. ALSO HAD A FEW
LIGHT HOUSES, WANTED TO KNOW CHARACTERSTICS OF LIGHTS FROM THE CHART.

2. AGENT HAS DROPPED YOU AT THE QUAY, JOINING SHIP AT ROTTERDAM.

TAKEOVER AS A MASTER, WHAT WILL YOU BE CHECKING FIRST?
WANTED TO KNOW WHAT I WILL BE CHECKING AT SHIP SIDE?

STARTED WITH GENERAL CONDITION, ANY DENTS OR SCRATCHES, AF COATINGS, TOP SIDES, ANY
SHELL OPENINGS, FREEBOARD MARKING, LOADLINE MARKS, SAFE ACCESS, SECURITY.
3. THEN ASKED ME WHAT IF THE SUMMER LOAD LINE MARKES ARE SUBMERGED IN PORT AND YOU
ARE IN SUMMER ZONE, WHAT WILL YOU DO?
STRAIGHT ANSWER, CHECK FIRST WHY IT HAPPENED, MENTIONED DW DENSITY, DWA, WEIGHT OF
CARGO, LOADING/UNLOADING SEQUENCE, DEBALLASTING, CHECK CALCUATIONS IN LOADICATOR,
ALL DATA FED. CONTACT LOCAL PLANNERS.

4. YOU HAVE 24 HRS WITH SIGNING OFF MASTER, HOW WILL YOU GO THROUGH WRT TAKINGOVER?
STARTED WITH CERTIFICATES, MENTIONED ALL MAIN ONES. AS PER NOTES.

5. WHAT ALL CERTIFICATES UNDER ISM, VALIDITY AND AUDIT PROCEDURES?

DOC + SMC

6. SIGNING OFF MASTER INFORMED YOU THAT MLC INSPECTION IS PLANNED FOR TOMORROW BY
MCA, WHAT ALL CERTIFICATES TO KEEP READY AND CHECKS?
MLC SOC, DMLC1, DMLC2, SRPS, HOR COPIES, LAST INSPECTION REPORTS, ANY NC’S/OBSERVATIONS
IN LAST REPORTS. LIABILITY OF OWNERS FOR SEAFARER’S REPATRIATION AND MEDICAL. MLC REG
4.2 AND 2.5. CERTIFICATES POSTED AT COMMON SPACES FOR CREW TO CHECK. CBA, COMPLIANCE IN
ACCORDANCE TO CBA. STOPPED AT THAT.
7. WHAT CREW CERTIFICATES WILL YOU CHECK WHEN TAKING OVER?
STARTED WITH OFFICERS FIRST, COC, CEC, CRA, ENG1, BASIC SAFETY TRAININGS, COMPANY
BRIEFING RECORDS, ALL LATEST REQUIREMENTS AS PER 2010 MANILA AMENDMENTS, THEN SHIFTED
TO CREW/RATINGS. WAS WAITING FOR CERTIFICATE FOR COOK UNDER MLC. THEN CHANGED THE
QUESTION.SOMEWHERE IN THE ANSWER I MENTIONED WILL BE CHECKING CODES IN THE COC ARE
AS PER NEW STCW REQ AND COMPARE WITH SMD.
THEN HE ASKED ABT SAFE MANNING DOCUMENT, WHO ISSUES IT, HOW DO YOU DECIDE SAFE
MANNING?
ANSWERED AS PER MSF 4227

7. PASSAGE FROM ROTTERDAM TO NEW YORK, WHAT ADVICE WILL YOU GIVE TO 2ND MATE FOR
PASSAGE PLANNING?
MENTIONED GENERAL STUFF HERE, CHARTS UPDATED, LATEST WK UPDATE, HARBOUR
MANOUVERING PLAN READY, TURNING BASIN, PILOT DROP OFF POINTS, TIDES, UKC WRT DRAFTS, AIR
DRAFTS, BIDGE CLEARANCES, NO GO AREAS, SAFETY DEPTHS, VTS REPORTINGS – MENTIONED
LOCAL VTS MASS APPROACH, FUEL CHANGEOVER POINTS ECA AREA, MARK SPECIL AREAS FOR
ANNEX 5, IN ENGLISH CHANNEL, REPORTINGS DOVER CG, TSS, TRAFFIC, SAFE SPEED, WO POINTS, PI,
PPI, WEATHER FORECASTS, CPA AND TCPA REQ, MASTER CALLING POINTS, CARGO AND IMDG INFO
FROM CHIEF MATE. WAS ANSWERING WHATEVER WAS COMING THE MIND. STOPPED ME WHEN I
MENTIONED WEATHER REPORTS TO BE CHECKED FREQUENTLY, USE COMPANY WEATHER PROG +
WEATHER FAX.

8. WILL YOU BE DOING RL OR GC ACROSS ATLANTIC?

MENTIONED WILL HAVE TO TAKE A LOT OF FACTORS INTO CONSIDERATION FIRST. WEATHER
ROUTEING AND ALL, RA, WEATHER FORECASTS, TYPE OF CARGO ONBOARD, ANY SPECIAL CARGO,
WHATS MY GM FOR THE VOYAGE, STRESSES, ROLLING PERIOD, ETA FOR NEXT PORT.

9. YOU MAY ENCOUNTER ICE ON YOUR PASSAGE, HOW WILL YOU PREPARE FOR THAT?
ANSWER AS PER NOTES

10. THEN HE SAID ICE ACCRETION HAS HAPPENED, PROCEDURES?

ANSWER AS PER NOTES

11. CHARTERS WANT YOU TO LOAD STEEL BEAMS, TOAL CARGO WEIGHT 51000T. HOW WILL YOU GO
ABOUT IT. YOU ARE IN THE SHIPS OFFICE WITH MATE. PLAN THE LOADING OPS AND GO THROUGH
THE PROCEDURES?
ANSWERED LIKE A CONTAINER SHIP AS I DON’T HAVE EXPERIENCE ON BULK.
STARTED WITH PLANNING IN LOADICATOR, RA, CSM APPROVES, LASHING MATERIAL ON BOARD AS
PER CSM, WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION, MAX STACK WEIGHT FOR TANK TOPS, LOADING PATTERN, LASHING
PATTERNS, DECLARATION FROM SHIPPER, REFER CSS CODE, MENTIONED DUNNAGE, PREPARE
HOLDS, HOLDS CLEAN AND DRY AS LOADING STEEL. GOOD + STRONG DUNNAGE. CHECKS ON HATCH
COVERS – WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE PRIOR ARRIVAL ONLY AS WE FOLLOW PMS, OIC ALWAYS
STANDBY, CHECK WITH COMPANY IF ANY LASHING SURVEYOR CAN BE APPOINTED FOR SAME,
LOOKOUT FOR STEVEDORE DAMAGES, STABILITY CONCERNS, HIGH GM, CARGO SHIFTING AT SEA,
VENTILATION OF HOLDS.

12. WHILE LOADING YOU SEE STEEL BEAMS ARE BEING LOADED IN SLIGHTLY DAMAGED
CONDITIONS, APPROX 5%, ACTION? CHARTERS PRESSURISING YOU TO LOAD IN THAT CONDITION?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO BILL OF LADING IN THIS CASE?
I ANSWERED WILL REFUSE THE CARGO IN DAMAGED CONDITION, HE MENTIONED THAT CHARTER
PARTY AND OWNERS ARE PUSHING LOAD. STRUGGLED HERE, MENTIONED WILL TAKE ASSITANCE
FROM P&I. WILL CALL P&I.

13. WHAT IS BILL OF LADING?

ANSWER AS PER HANDOUTS.
14. OWN VESSEL AGROUND. 3RD MATE ON WATCH, ACTIONS?
ANSWERED AS PER SPARRC, GAVE WRONG DAY SIGNAL FOR AGROUND VESSEL, CORRECTED IT
IMMEDIATELY. LUCKY THAT HE IGNORED IT.

15. NOW VESSEL IN NEW YORK, CUSTOMS BOARD ON ARRIVAL AND INFORM YOU THAT ONE CREW
MEMBER IS INVOLVED IN SMUGGLING, ACTION?
MENTIONED MERCHANT NAVY CODE OF CONDUCT, COMPANY DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY,
INVESTIGATION AND ALL. THEN HE SAID CREW WAS FOUND GUILTY OF SMUGGLING – INFORM
COMPANY, LOG BOOK ENTRIES, SIGN OFF FROM CREW LIST. PASS HIS DOCS TO LOCAL CONSULATE,
HAVE TO CHECK IF SAFE MANNING WILL BE AFFECTED, RA, RELIEVER, WHAT WERE THE EMG. DUTIES
OF THE DISMISSED CREW, CHANGE MUSTER LIST, INFORM FLAG, P&I. DISPENSATION FROM MCA IF
NO RELIEVER. WORKOUT NEW TABLE OF DUTIES MAINTAINING EVERYONES HOR.

16. GAVE ME A SLIDE LIKE BELOW.YOUR VESSEL 25 MILES OFF AND CE INFORMS YOU MAJOR
PROBLEM IN ME, CANNOT REPAIR. MINIMUM 2 DAYS JOB,
HE WILL BE SHUTTING DOWN ENGINES IN 5 MINS. ACTION?
ASKED HIM IF ANY ANCHORAGES NEARBY - NO ANCHORAGE AREA NEAR, DEPTHS OVER 100M.
ANSWERED AS PER SPARRC FOR ME FAILURE.

COASTLINE
17. CONTINUATION OF ABOVE, NOW YOUR VESSEL 12 MILES OFF LAND, DRIFTING DUE TO CURRENT.
ACTIONS?
ANSWERED WILL HAVE MY ANCHOR PARTY STANDBY, ARRANGE TOWAGE THROUGH COMPANY.
N
U
R
R
C

18. COMPANY HAS ARRANGED TUGS FOR YOU, TUGS WILL BE AT LOCATION IN 2 HRS, WILL THIS BE A
SALVAGE?
ANSWERED NO, IT WILL BE TOWAGE

19. WHAT IS SALVAGE?

AS PER NOTES - LOF, SCOPIC, TPB, SPECIAL COMPENSATION

20. YOU ENCOUNTERED HEAVY WEATHER IN YOUR VOYAGE FROM ROTTERDAM TO NEW YORK, HOW
CAN HEAVY WEATHER AFFECT THE SHIP? YOUR VESSEL ROLLING HEAVILY TO BEAM SWELL, WHAT
WILL HAPPEN? WHAT WILL YOU DO TO PREVENT?
ANSWERED WRT STRESSES, CARGO SHIFT, GM, STRUCTURAL DAMAGES, SYNCHORISED ROLLING,
REDUCE FSE, ZIG ZAG MOVEMENTS TO BREAK THE ROLLING, ADJUST BALLAST FOR CHANGE IN GM,
SEA SPRAYS CAN AFFECT THE CARGO, WEATHER-TIGHTNESS, WATER-TIGHTNESS. DIDN’T KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTED, SO KEPT MENTIONING STUFF.

21. VESSEL AT ANCHOR, STANDING ORDERS FOR OOW?

GENERAL ANSWER, VERIFY ANCHOR POSN, RADAR RANGES AND BEARINGS, WATCH ON VHF, WHEN
TO CALL MASTER, DISTANCE FROM OTHER VESSEL, SWINGING CIRCLES, SAFETY AND SECURITY
ROUNDS, ENGINES READY, ENGINE ROOM MANNED, DISPLAY APPROPRIATE SIGNALS OR LIGHTS, AIS
STATUS, MONITOR WEATHER
 22. RADAR PLOTTING, GAVE ME ONLY ONE BEARING. OWN HEADING 000T, SPEED 5 KNOTS.
COMPLETED THE PLOT AND TRANSFERED WO AND WA. OVERTAKING FROM PORT QTR. ALTERED
COURSE TO STBD.

23. SITUATION - SHOWED ONE SLIDE

TSS, OWN PDV, OTHER CROSSING

OTHER

OWN

24. LIGHTS, SMARTY BOARD

GOT MANY SITUATIONS HERE, CAN’T REMEMBER ALL

o VESSEL AT ANCHOR MORE THAN 50M, SEEN FROM SB SIDE
o PILOT VESSEL UNDERWAY, PORT SIDE
o FISHING VESSEL SEEN FROM STERN
o NUC - MAKING WAY - SEEN FROM PORT SIDE
o TOWING PARTLY SUBMERGED OBJECT, LESS THAN 50M AND LESS HAN 200M. BREADTH LESS THAN
25M.
o GOT STUCK IN THIS ONE, AS BELOW
Identified both NUC seen from stern
And aground less than 50m.

IDENTIFICATION AND ACTION WAS CORRECT BUT AFTER THAT

HE ASKED THAT HOW WILL YOU KNOW WHICH ONE IS IT, NO AIS INFO. JUST HAD TO SAY THAT IF IT IS
NUC THEN IT IS UNDERWAY & MAKING WAY AND WE CAN SEE THAT ON THE RADAR BY TRUE TRAILS
AND BY PLOTTING. TOOK
 25. BUOYAGE
o Identify the buoy

o Vessel heading 090T and you see the buoy ahead

o Vessel heading 090T and you see the buoy ahead

o Only top mark shown, identify the buoy

o Only shown the top mark, identify

o
o

6. VESSEL HEADED FOR A DRY DOCK, YOU ARE GOING TO MEET DOCK MASTER WITH CH. MATE,
WHAT ALL INFO WILL YOU EXCHANGE?
HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHERE TO PLACE THE BLOCKS?
AS PER OUR NOTES ON DD, REGARDING PLACING OF BLOCKS MENTIONED THE LAST DD REPORT,
WILL CHECK FROM THAT AND PLUS THE BLOCKS SHOULD BE PLACED IN WAY OF TRANSVERSE
FRAMES AND LONGITUDINALS. MENTIONED DON’T WANT TO USE THE SAME LOCATIONS AS THEY
HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THAT STRESS. THE AREA UNDER THE BLOCKS WOULD HAVE ALSO
NOT BEEN CLEANED AND PAINTED IN LAST DD. SMALL TALK ABT CRITICAL PERIOD, P FORCE.

27. IN DD, COMPANY HAS TOLD YOU TO GET CHAIN LOCKER CLEANED AND PAINTED. HOW WILL YOU
PROCEED?
GENERAL, ENCLOSED SPACE ENTRY, RA, CHECKLISTS, MEETING, TOOL BOX. EXTRA HANDS,
COMMUNICATION, LIGHTING, VENTILATION, GAS METERS, FIRST AID AT SIGHT, OIC

28. YOU ARE ON YOUR LAST SHIP, EXPLAIN HOW WILL YOU GO FOR ABANDON SHIP.
MENTIONED LIFEBOAT LOWERING PROCEDURES OF MY LAST SHIP, FROM START. RAISING ALARM ,
MASTER TO GIVE VERBAL ORDERS FOR ABANDON SHIP.

29. EMERGENCY BEACHING

ANSWER AS PER NOTES

30. WHAT IS ANGLE OF LOLL?

AS PER NOTES

31. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABT FUMIGATION?

MENTIONED THE MGN AND QUOTED THE MGN

32. EXPLAIN GENERAL AVERAGE?

AS PER OUR HANDOUTS, DISCUSSED ABT EVER GIVEN INCIDENT UNDER GA.
33. SHIP HANDLING

NOT SURE MY ANSWERS FOR SHIP HANDLING WERE COMPLETELY CORRECT, BELOW IS HOW I
ANSWERED.

FIRST QUESTION: GAVE ME RH PROPELLER, SINGLE SCREW, NO BT, NO TUGS

VESSEL INBOUND, GOING PORT SIDE ALONGSIDE. HARBOR MASTER INFORMS THAT THERE IS A DELAY OF 2-3
HRS. INSTRUCTS TO GO AND MOOR TO THE BUOY IN THE CENTRE. INITIALLY I REFUSED AS THERE CAN BE
MORE DELAY AND BETTER I WAIT OUTSIDE OR ANCHOR AT SUITABLE. COS AS A MASTER THIS MOORING TO THE
BUOY DOESN’T LOOK SAFE TO ME. SAID CANNOT ANCHOR IN THE CHANNEL AND TOLD ME HARBOR MASTER IS
INSTRUCTING TO GO AND DO AND IS SAFE. ALSO TOLD ME TIDE IS NOT CHANGING FOR NEXT 8 HOURS.

FIRST ACTION WAS TO DO AN OPEN MOOR AHEAD OF THE BUOY AND PASS SOME ROPES FROM STERN TO THE
BUOY - HE SAID NOT POSSIBLE. HARBOR MASTER HAS ARRANGED SOME WIRES FOR YOU AT THE BUOY.

FINALLY I ANSWERED THAT THIS OPERATION IS NOT SAFE FOR ME BUT STILL I WILL SHOW YOU HOW WE CAN
DO THIS. FIRST I DID A SNUB AROUND SOUTH OF THE BUOY, MENTIONED TRANS. THRUST AND ALL,
APPROACHED THE BUOY AT SHALLOW ANGLES. PASSED MY SPRINGS TO THE BUOYS, PASSED EXTRA SPRINGS
(FOUR)AFT AND 2 FWD. FOR SAFETY REASONS I SAID WILL LOWER MY PORT ANCHOR TO COCK A BILL POSN
AND STBD ANCHOR TILL IT TOUCHES SEA BED PLUS SOME SLACK ON THE CHAIN INCASE I NEED THEM FOR
EMERGENCY AND JUST TO GIVE ME A EXTRA HOLD.

T
OWN

I
D
E

L
A
BERTH N
D
BERTHING SPOT

OWN
PLANNED

U
B
 ND
2 QUESTION – UNBERTH, SAME VESSEL AS ABOVE. NO TUGS. ASKED HIM IF TIDE IS AFFECTING ME AS HE
SHIFTED THE ARROW AWAY. HE ANSWERED YES. USING TRAN. THRUST GOT MY BOW OUT FIRST, TIDE WILL
ALSO PUSH MY BOW. HOLD ON TO FWD HEADLINE, EXTRA FENDERS AT STERN AREA. HOLD TO STERN LINES
AND SPRINGS. ONCE BOW OUT AND CLEAR, LET GO STERN LINES AND WAIT FOR TIDE TO PUSH YOU OUT MORE
BODILY. LET GO AFT SPRINGS AND ONCE CLEAR KICK AHEAD ON ENGINES STEER AWAY.

T
I
OBSTRUCTION D
E
OWN
BARGE

BERTH
THAT WAS IT AND HE SAID YOU HAVE PASSED. ORAL WENT ON FOR EXACTLY 2 HOURS.
VERY FAIR EXAMINER. ALWAYS TRYING TO PUSH YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
Masters Unlimited
Orals Examination Report: Ranjit Singh
Examiner: Simon Alletson
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
First attempt
Date: 08 Feb. 2021

Exam started on time.

1. Crew from different nationality: Problems.
- Friction due to culture, most of the time conversation in local language, not
following on-board official language.
- Seafarer employment agreement.
2. What entries, certificates required for sign-on crew.
3. Young person hours of rest and how to delegate work and duties to young person.
4. Weather (Southern hemisphere, Arrival New Zealand from South Pacific ocean)
- Wind direction near high pressure at particular position.
- Wx Before occluded front
- Wx Between two occluded fronts
- Wx After occluded front
5. Vessel encountering wind force 10 winds, Action.
6. Containers overboard, heavy list, only hatch cover are deformed, Action and
reporting.
7. General average, Port of refuge, sea protest, etc….
8. Share his screen, screen shot of radar on 12 miles, coastal waters, buoys marked on
radar (Mapping), No course line and Vessel position near to buoy & land, HDG: 030,
COG: 038, SOG: 16.8 kts, STW: 16.3 kts, No parallel index lines, No clearing
bearings.
- 3rd Officer on watch, you came on bridge, what are your observations and Action.
9. Radar plot, two targets: 1. Port bow crossing port to stbd. 2. Stbd. Quart. Over taking,
Full report and Action.
10. Share screen, Radar with 8 targets on the bow 4 on port bow & 4 on stbd. Bow on
approx. range 4 to 5 miles, Course: 090, 3rd Officer called me on bridge, Action.

Buoys (Type, top mark, light and which way I would pass)
- W Cardinal, no head mark. Vessel on a course of 176 which way would I pass.
- Region A Preferred Channel to Port (Secondary to main)
- Safe water mark

Smarty Board (Type of V/L, Status, Fog Signal, Day shape, Aspect, Action )
- Vessel aground
- Trawler, hauling nets, Appearance of Golf flag
- RAM with 2 red lights in vertical line, red side light, mast light
- Power driven vessel, one mast light

RoR
1. In TSS, me on PDV with three vls, First: overtaking from stbd. Qurt, Second: PDV
crossing from stbd. to port, Third: SV crossing port to stbd.
 2. In narrow channel on PDV with two vls, First: PDV in front of me, Second: SV with
apex downward crossing from port to stbd.
3. Open ocean on PDV with two vls, First: FV crossing from stbd. To port, Second: CBD
crossing from port to stbd.

“Thanks to GMA for the teaching and to all my batch mates for support and wishes”
Bradley Drummond

Masters unlimited

Belfast exam

what ships you been on? container, gen cargo what cargo did you carry? they carried timber but i told
him we were not timber load line straight away, told him steel coils, wind farm blades, use to carry grain
but I wasn’t goin to bother telling him that, most recently - pax vsls. Asked where I lived – glasgow.

how would you take over as master of container vessel? Full answer from briefing all the way through to
entry in the OLB on completion of take over

what's master's responsibilities to ISM? PMCVR + OVER RIDING AUTHORITY

how does your vessel comply with marpol annex 1? oil record book, sopep

annex 4? Sewage 12miles etc,

annex 5? garbage management

annex 6? eca, seca, Sulphur content

How would PSC know you comply with eca? Bdn, analysis of fuel samples,

Annex 6 regs when alongside? No incinierator, burn 0.1% fuel.

Is Clyde in SECA? no

entries in oil record book? Standard GMA answer

how to check entry's? Standard GMA answer

how do you know what each entry means? categories a-I at front of oil record book

example of masters over riding authority? Lifeboat drill due, bad wx, delay.

Lifeboat davit cracked how would you handle? try fix it, risk assess, cordon it off, don't use it, stay in
port,

can't get repairs in this port? told him risk asses, then if I was feeling it was safe enough to proceed to
repair port, I would seek dispensation, but dispensation is not the golden ticket to sail. as master I won't
sail if I'm not happy.

draw a gz curve for stable ship? explain it?

draw a gz curve for unstable ship? explain it? what's loll? how do you correct?

what's the intact stab criteria for a vessel?

explain the gz curve? I had a very difficult time with this, asked how you measure area under the curve,
what its measured in? told him radians but its m-radians.
how would you brief chief mate for loading a container vessel? vgm, dg doc, stability requirements,
familiar with stab program, call if any problems, dg manifest, msds for dg, dg declaration, stowage plan,
bridge visibility not impaired, prop immersion good enough for voyage.

what's included in DG doc? Standard GMA answer

what's VGM? verified gross mass for containers, came into force 2016.

crew member killed by crane actions? stop job, record evidence before moving body, standard answer
for dealing with death, record in msf4605, report to maib, inform flag, company.

when do you report to MAIB? mgn 564, merchant shiping reporting regs 2012 <-- it’s a LEGAL
requirement master reports

who enforces? Enforcement branch of mca based on non compliance with merchant shipping regs.

what info is in OLB? Standard GMA answer

entries in narrative section? Standard GMA answer

what do you know about bulk carriers? I thought this is a bit broad of a question but just mentioned ESP,
water ingress alarms. I was trying to avoid saying bending and sheer force because I didn't want to go
back to stability after getting smashed in gz curves but he was defo pushing for it so I had to give him the
answer

what is sf and bm? Standard GMA answer

how would chief officer know bm and sf are in permissible limits? I told him stability program and
stability booklets, this went back and forth for 5mins as he tried to get a different answer, I was very
confused, I kept saying stability program. But he see's stability program and LOADICATOR as 2 different
things, they are defined as 2 different things in SOLAS apparently. He told me he was looking for
loadicator, I told him I told him stability program. Best not to argue with them haha.

precautions with loading iron ore? heavy cargo dense, huge gm, bm and sf, magnetic compass...didn't
want to mention this but he was aiming for it.

showed me a picture of magnetic compass, tell me about magnetic compass, basic maintenance name
the parts

cardinal points deviations are larger than normal what does this mean? total guess, said retentive error,
I was right apparently. how to correct and fix it? Akneel or roll it. When does retentive error occur? Long
steady courses or alongside along time. Didn’t say layup as I didn’t want to talk about laid up vsls.

passage plan Shanghai to suez, how to brief 2nd mate? high traffic on dep china,typhoon @ south china
seas, reporting procedure @ Singapore, safe speed through straight, piracy in Malacca, monsoon @
Indian ocean, piracy in Suez. Reporting procedures contact UKMTO etc.

what's trs, typhoon, cyclone, hurricane? how do they form? when do they form? deep water, 5/n or
south, low Coriolis force effect, hot water temp.

signs of a typhoon? standard answer

actions to avoid? depends where you are in nav or dangerous semi-circle

high density of traffic in Singapore and china for fishing vsl any concerns? safe speed and room to
maneuver. Thought brilliant, hes about to move onto rules and end the exam, but no. We continued.

piracy, how to prepare vsl for piracy? carry out drill, risk asses, brief crew, barb wire, hoses, safe but fast
speed, contact UKMTO, contact CSO.join a convoy.

what equipment would you test prior to entering? SSAS

how does it work? no audible alarm, not stop until stopped manually, not transmit to other vsls.

pirates about to board your vsl action? Mayday > muster crew > speed up > ac away from them > hide in
citadel if we had one

what is a citadel? safe place for crew to hide

what's laycan? demurrage? dispatch? couldn't remember dispatch, told him I didn't know.

what do you know about salvage? Standard gma answer, referenced place of safety, requirements of it
etc.

when would someone invoke scopic? Pollution incident, to gain article 13 reward and scopic 30-100% of
his expenses, not even sure if this is right but he moved on.

what's general average? Loss covered by all those in voyage, told him opposite to particular average
when owner pays for the loss. General average can only be called when the vessel is protected from
peril. If you sink, no general average.

what's a bill of laden? what's a document of title? Standard answer from gma notes

what's Lloyds open form? Standard answer from gma notes

collision action? started giving passenger vessel answer but he told me i was on bulk carrier and to
restart answer. Follow SPARC from GMA, I even told him “I'm going to answer this question by
referencing internal recourses, external resources and equipment I could use to assist me”

what do i understand about SAR co-ordination plan? MSN1878, enhance co-op between vsl, mrcc and
company

how do you ensure compliance with MLC? refer to dmlc 1+2, 14-point list from GMA.

master's inspection of accommodation? what to look for? msn1845 and msn1848

where to record it? olb, signed and signed by another crew member.

fridge and freezer temperature? +5 for fridges, -18c for freezers,

what else to look for in galley? hygiene, different chopping boards, garbage discard placard,

explain rule 6

explain rule 7
explain rule 10

lights fv, trawler, ram, dredging, anchor, aground, nuc, pdv, cbd, wants TYPE, DAYSHAPE AND
FOGSIGNAL

pdv head on action?

pdv crossing from stbd? who is give way who is stand on?

vsl over taking who is give way who is stand on?

pdv crossing from stbd in TSS, who is give way and stand on?

rule 19, over taking 1 vsl dead ahead, I'm dead astern. action? I said port or stbd, he wanted a definitive
answer. told him other vsl could go either way. he wants my action. I didn't want to give him one for
some reason lol. decided to go stbd, keep stbd side clear incase other vsls. he moved on.

What does rule 19 say about your movements in regards to collision avoidance?

safe water mark, lights, characteristic, top mark

west cardinal

reg b stbd lateral

isolated danger, light and characteristics. never got asked action with buoys.

told me I passed. I should look up, dispatch, area under gz curve is measured in meter radians and not
radians and loadicator and stability program are not same device. Longest oral I've ever had, oow 1
hour, mates 50mins, this was 1-hour 40mins. i thought it would never end. he just kept asking question
after question i was praying for the rules to turn up.

very decent examiner, happy to explain questions differently, if i didn't know i told him, i told him where
i would look up answers and how i wouldn't guess with anything regarding safety.
Master' s Orals - Unllmit ed

Candidate - Piyush Anand

Examiner - Capt. Simon

Time - 1300 UT (lHr 40Min)

Mode- Onllne

Result- PASS

ed as follows,
After initial briefing for online exams procedu re he proceed

will you proceed . (Started answer ing

1) You are Master and going to take over a vessel. How
from receiving call for joining)
expect from Compan y Briefing. (After
2) He stopped me in betwee n and asked what did you
this I resume d answer ing the original questio n)
dent/da mage/c rack at the ship side. What
3) He again stopped me at gangway and said there is
and asked me How will I take over
will I do. (I refused to join at first, then he convinc ed me
certifica tes being affected .
now) - I talked about Conditi on of Class, Load line & SAFCON
departu re - make ship seawor thy)
Repairs to be comple te before, taking over and
asked me about all the MARPO L certifica tes and
4) Went to master' s cabin and he again
to find and what you will check in them (VALIDIT Y). (I MISSED ON
Docume nts you expect
Annex V, he guided me)
take while loading more than 2 grades.
5) As loading on tanker was going on - Precautions to
records file. (Smiled when I mention ed SSAS test
6) What entries I would check in the security
report)
Royal Navy Submar ine In 2018. (Why it
7) Then he discussed the inciden t betwee n Ferry and
happen ed and Correct ive action)
ure port preps)
8) Plan a voyage from Rotterd am to North America. (Depart
coastal navigat ion - all expects and
9) Precau tions to take after departu re port. (I talked about
Heavy weathe r precaut ions for north atlantic )
are you (Before cold front in the warm
10) He showed me synopti c chart with a LOW and where
r conditio ns you would face. (Wind speed & directio n, Swell &
sector) and about weathe
directio n, rain gust)
24 lvs. (I said it would be better as I will
11) Asked me about the weathe r I would expect In next
about compan y support and
not follow this track any more. Alter my course south, talked
TO HEAR ABOUT FLOATIN G ICE WHICH I SAID AS rT
we.tthe r routein g services. HE WANTED
WAS SUMMER)
12) As proceed ing south you get VHF DSC alert. (Action,
reponlng, rescue in bad weathe r)
log book, Deck log book & GMDSS log
13) In the above I mention ed entering record in Official
narrativ e sections.
book, so, he asked me about entries to be made in OLB
14) Differen t sections in OLB
15) Approa ching New York, MCA inspect ion for ISM, MLC
& ISPS, prepare for MLC Inspect ion (He
was waiting to hear Display of Owners Insuran ce).
16) What is this insuran ce about.
the content s of the same.
17) I mention ed crew contrac ts (SEA) so he asked me about
18) Started off with Lights, ROR situations and RV. (Listed below)
19) Gave me a North cardinal buoy and I was proceeding NORTH. Action
20) Then he discussed about crash stop, normal stopping procedure and turning circle about my
last vessel.
21) During ROR situations he made me explain Rule 8.F & 9, explain all the buoys.
22) Looking at the buoys he asked me which region you are in. Asked me lights for Preferred
Channel to Port buoy & what action I will take if I had to go in a secondary channel.
23) In lights he asked me how does Flag Z looks like - My answer "I DON'T REMEMBER"
24) Asked me what light a sailing vessel would show when propelled by machinery and day
signal.

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0 w
0 ~

ow
w (J
Q

~-
-
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___
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 Radar Plotting Sheet

100

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230 ✓;•..,_ •

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22

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t,,1 ,J,, T,1, , ..,3 , I I
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Maritime &
Coastguard
AfJerlcl
Masters Orals – Pass
Robert O’Leary - 10 years mostly in Class I pax
Chris Roe- Dover
Remote
1.5 hours

Stood by 15’ before in the ‘Lobby’ of the meeting, a few minutes after the listed start time the
examiner appeared in his living room, P&O ferries models visible in the background. Introduced
himself and made the standard statement “no trick questions and this will be a discussion mostly”.

A couple of minutes were taken up completing a tour of the room and giving a declaration that I
have my Mobile off and no recording devices. A power point is used for the briefing / introduction
including if connection fails or if suspected of cheating.

This exam for the most part really was a discussion with a few direct questions thrown in. where I
put ‘General Chit Chat’ it really was a professional discussion.

Through the exam a variety of separate power points were used including.

- Met equipment / Compasses

- Restricted Vis situations
- Buoyage
- Daytime ROR situations
- ROR Lights.

The Exam

 Explain your career at sea so far?

- Made a big point of being on polar passenger ships and this seemed to prick his interest
a so we spent around 5 mins discussing this and pax age etc.
 Synoptic chart from May shared as first slide of power point (lots of fronts on Atlantic, deep L
over N.North sea, H off Cornwall)
- Give a general description of weather?
- Look at low over Norway, how to calculate wind speed? (Wanted to hear correct for
friction)
- Are you a voluntary observer ship? (General chitchat about weather)
- How would you expect 2nd mate to plan passage from Bristol channel to St.Kitts (General
chit chat about weather routing and heading south on rumb line, avoiding north Atlantic
fronts, weather routing, using Ocean Passages etc)?
- As a Master how would you prepare for heavy weather? (Best data, went to delaying /.
changing sailing)
- Under ISM what must the Company make sure the master is aware of? (Power of
Overriding authority, we had a general chit chat about company support and how we
have the statement on the first page of the SMS, he liked that).

 Image of Sextant
- Do you do / get people to do Cel Nav? (General chit chat about cadets etc)
- How do you know the accuracy of a GPS?
 - What is likely to happen when trump wins with GPS? (Jokey question looking for turning
off WAAS/ DGPS / Degrading signal)
- How would you compare GPS to Celestial? (Spoke about taking morning, noon and
evening sights, using Mercator plotting sheets).
 Image of Compass Rose
- What is problems with magnetic compasses near poles (Big Variation)
- What would you adjust on passage from poles to equator (Heeling Error bucket)
- 2nd Mate takes a compass error, Error is 3°W and Variation is 3°W what is the deviation?
(Nil, he expressed upset that he had failed a candidate earlier in the day for not being
able to work it out)
 Image of Marine Hygrometer
- What is this?
- Why is the wet bulb important? (dew Point, restricted vis)

Segway onto………

 Radar image (N Up, RM, Own Vector length, Plots) see annex 1.
- One vessel, 050°, 3 plots, 6 min intervals. Crossing, Estimate CPA & TCPA and action.
- 2nd vessel appears 180°, Right stern, over taking fast, actions for both.
(Quite a long discussion about responsibilities, who can do what and my action)
- Your lookout reports a bell signal forward of the beam, actions?
 Put me on a Standard General Cargo Ship.
- What certificates would you expect to find (Statutory, Class and Secondary)
- How many conventions are there (I said I don’t know the exact number but there is
plenty!)
- What Statutory Certificates would you expect? (Started rattling them off then he
disappeared!!! His internet cut out, I didn’t realise immediately and carried on then
waited for a while on my own before his return! He retuned and said I think you got
them all and I wont make you repeat)
 If you were on a Class II pax ship between Dover and Calais who would issue your DG DOC?
- I didn’t know so I said flag and if ACS class (He said she isn’t foreign flag so ACS
didn’t apply………)
 On a UK flag ship who issues your PSSC? (Flag)
 How long is a PSSC valid for?
 Ships going to assistance of Air Craft ditched into the Sea?
- How do you prepare for recovery (RB teams, Recovery of persons plan)
- Can you take more survivors than is on your PSSC (Yes, Overriding authority)
- Who would you report to (Company, Flag, Class).
 You come across ice?
- Masters reporting requirements (Damage Messages)
- Other circumstances when reports needed? (Ice accretion, Storm, TRS)
- Who do they go to and what information?
 You are in cabin, there is Ice accretion, you feel the ships getting very tende, you go to the
bridge the Mate wants to ballast the ship down below her marks,
- Can you do this (Masters overriding authority, better than an angle of LOLL)
- Who should you report to (Flag, Class, Company)
 You are in heavy weather; the ship is slamming.
- Effects on ships structure?
 - Effect on ships stability?
 You take ice damage and put back to port
- Who would you arrange to meet (Notary for Noting Protest)
- Who else would you report to? (Flag, Class, Company and MAIB)
 Crew member joins with SEA on Phone?
- What would you do as Master (Get it printed & signed / accept digital if in company
policy, we went onto to chit chat about what MCA are happy to accept when on
compliance audit)

At this point the examiner went on a comfort break…. On return from comfort break.

 Buoyage (Using a Power Point and scrolling though and stopping, wanted ID, Light and
action).
- STBD hand lateral Region A
- STBD Lat preferred channel to port region A
- PORT lad preferred channel to Stbd Region B
- Safe Water Mark
- Isolated Danger Mark
- North Cardinal Mark
- South Cardinal Mark

Move onto power point slides with a ship, direction and cardinal marks.

- HDG South, West Cardinal right ahead

- HDG South East Cardinal to port West to STBD(Annex 2, fig 1)
- HDG North, East Cardinal to port, West Cardinal to STBD (Annex 2, fig 2)
- HDG South, West Cardinal to Port, East Cardinal to STBD (Annex 2, fig 3) (almost got
me)
 Day time ROR Situations (In all scenarios, ROC exists, you have been called by OOW and 5
short already sounded)
- PDV on port side not giving way
- PDV almost head on, OOW can see both side lights and masts but is unsure.
- Overtaking in Narrow Channel
- Open Water, Fishing Vessel on Port bow.
- TSS Fishing vessel on port bow.
- Open water vessel 2 miles astern closing slowly
- Open water, vessels astern now only 1 mile and a PDV now on the STBD side.
(Almost f**ked it on this one, I uttered the words stand on for the overtaking and
had to backtrack then quote the first lines of rule 13!!!!!) We then went on to chit
chat about training cadets / officers in overtaking and using the vhf to tell other
ships what is going on…..
 ROR lights (Full ID, day shape and fog signal)
- PDV Prob +50 ahead underway prob making way
- 2 white lights, so V/L @ anchor or out of range of Side lights.
- Vessel RAM at anchor
- Fishing vessel, making way port aspect.

With this he asked me how I think I had done, went over his notes and informed me I had
passed!!!!!!
Over the moon, none of the words in the English language can sum it up.

I would like to for this final time give my sincerest thanks to all the team at Fleetwood. You have
seen me though 3 oral exams, 2 sets of SQAs and 2 sets of HND/HNC first time. Bravo to you. I have
the upmost respect for what you do and how you do it!

Jonathan Ward, you are an extraordinary man, I don’t think I would have done it without you! I have
you say a special thanks to you for your entertaining tutorship over the years and getting me hooked
on Fisherman’s Friends.

Good Luck to everyone going up, it’s a different experience to normal but no less nerve racking!!
Annex 1 Fig 1 000° Annex 1 Radar Plotting
Initial Radar plot
shown, reproduced as
displayed.

1.
2.
3

Own Vector Length

 000° Annex 1 Radar Plotting
Annex 1 Fig 2

2nd Radar plot shown,

reproduced as
displayed.

1.
2.
3

3
2
1

Own Vector Length

 Annex 2 Buoyage
Annex 2 Fig 1, HDG 180

180°
Annex 2 Fig 2, HDG 000 Annex 2 Buoyage

000°
Annex 2 Fig 3, HDG 180 Annex 2 Buoyage

180°
03.11.2020
0930 - 1045 (1hr 15min)
Master (Unlimited)
Microsoft Teams
Candidate: S McDougall - RoPax
Examiner: T Andrews - Plymouth/Falmouth

I have tried to get everything down, it is in roughly the order in which

it was presented. The exam jumped around topics a little and didn’t
follow the order of topics in MGN69 religiously.

Joined call 10mins early as requested, examiner joined very shortly

afterwards. He thanked me for being there early.

He started by introducing himself and how the exam was to be

conducted via teams. We did a screen share test with a slide showing
the regulations for the exam and I was told about what would be
considered as ‘cheating’ etc. This concluded me showing him around
the room with the camera on the PC. We the. Talked about my
experience.

The exam was very conversational and was more of a discussion

rather than an inquisition. He was very fair and would push you in the
right direction if he wanted more. He said that he would be writing
things down and not to be put off by it. He also said that if he said
“ok” or “right” that was not an indication that I had given the correct
answer and to continue until he stopped me. I was allowed to continue
and as soon as he thought I knew something he would stop me and
move on.
Exam Begins.

1. What are the Master’s duties under the ISM Code?

2. How would you go about implementing the SMS onboard?
3. How would you go about motivating the crew?
4. What would you include in Standing Orders?
5. How would you go about deciding on the composition of the
Bridge Watch on a Passage between Liverpool and Tyne via the
Channel?
6. MLC - certification and general requirements onboard?
7. SEAs
8. What is a CBA, how does it relate to the SEA?
9. Signing on foreign officers? What certs would you expect to see?
10. Signing on Pilipino crew, AB - certs?
11. Stewards, passenger muster duties, cert requirements?
12. What special cert requirement do you have for officers and key
personnel on a passenger ship - Pax Ship Safety and Hull Integrity
Training.
13. Drill requirements.
14. What is different between a muster list on a Class VII Cargo ship
and a Class I pax vessel?
15. Passage planning Rotterdam - Houston. You know all about
APEM so don’t tell me about that, what are your considerations as
Master?
16. Ballast Water Exchange - UK legal position on BWC. BW
exchange methods and requirements.
17. What MARPOL requirements would you need to observe in this
passage?
18. What are the signs of an approaching TRS?
19. How would you conduct the vessel to prepare for and avoid it?
20. You have loaded in Nigeria and are now in passage to the UK.
Two days into the voyage the Mate informs you that he has
discovered two stowaways onboard. Actions?
21. ISPS - Cert process and requirements?
22. What is a DOS? When would you issue one?
23. What is a Bill of Lading, why is it important?
24. Would you sign a clean bill of lading under all circumstances?
What would you do if you were unhappy with this?
25. What is Noting Protest?
26. What do you understand by General Average?
27. What is SCOPIC?
28. What sort of insurance does P&I provide?
29. You had two problematic ABs who turn up late for watch and are
missing form their place of work. How would you deal with
them?
30. Did the master have the ability to move directly to dismiss crew?
Under what circumstances? How would you go about it?
31. Contents of OLB?
32. What else may you find in the OLB for a Class II Pax ship?
33. Pilotage - Pilot-Master relationship. What is the role of the pilot in
the bridge team?
34. How would you deal with a Pilot you felt was
35. not paying sufficient attention to what he was doing?
36. How would you go about manoeuvring with tugs made fast?
37. Other than Girting what are your considerations?
38. Receive VHF DSC distress, actions?
39. Collision with another vessel, what are you priorities as the
Master? Reporting requirements?
40. How does MAIB classify accidents?
41. Attempted a screen share of a radar plot but tech failed his end.
42. Tell me about how you would comply with Rule 19?
43. That was the only RoR, no buoyage or smarties.

End.
 MASTER’S Unlimited MCA ORAL EXAM ONLINE

CANDIDATE NAME: SHAILENDRA TIWARI

Surveyor: Beata Frood, Observer: Capt. Simon

Date: 25th June 2020 Time: 1000 hrs

Result: Pass

My oral was scheduled on 25th June 2020 at 1000 hrs. I called up MCA at 0950 hrs
10 mins prior to scheduled time by clicking on the link provided to me through the
invitation link. Surveyor Beata Frood came on the other side. She asked me not to
use the ear phone and directly use the speaker device. She told me to join her after
10 mins 1000 hrs. She shared with me her desktop screen and made me familiar
with MCA oral policy, cheating policy and also asked me to rotate laptop 360
degrees. She placed me on a tanker vessel and started orals

 What SOLAS certificate will you expect to find after joining a tanker vessel?
 Who issues ISSC certificate and frequency of checks by MCA?
 Explain Work and rest hours? What if a crew member comes to you with the
complain that his work and rest hours is not complied. What action will you
take as a Master of the vessel?
 While Bunkering operation, there is a bunker spill and Bunker has spilled
overboard. Actions ?
 One Port Ballast tank has Flooded, Action?
 Which certificate will get affected after the breach of tank?
 Next port of call you have a load line survey. How will you prepare your vessel
for load line Survey?
 How will you prepare your vessel for heavy weather? What is Heave 2?
 What happens when propeller immersion is less?
 What is parametric rolling and Synchronous rolling?
 What are the damages specifically to tanker vessel when experiencing
pounding ?
 Why do we fill tanker vessel to max 98% volume?
  She shared a chart with me and told me that your vessel has grounded.
Action?
 She shared a synoptic chart with me and placed me at a point on that chart
and asked me to explain what weather will you experience
 IALA buoyage. Heading Northerly both the Buoys

1) North cardinal buoy, Explain what is all way off?

2) East cardinal buoy

3) Preferred Channel to Starboard

She shared screen with me and asked me to identify type of vessel, Size, Status, fog
signal, day light shapes and action

1) Sailing Vessel, 2) Trawler more than 50 m in length 3) Grounded vessel 4)

Power driven vessel more than 50 m

Explain the part of rule 17 where it says vessel SHALL take action?

Explain Rule 9. Overtaking Situation

RV situation

There was a vessel on starboard side abaft of my beam and another vessel on
port bow. There was no Risk of collision with the port bow vessel and risk of
collision with Stbd Abaft vessel so I took action to alter course to Port side. Later
she asked me to draw it on the Radar plotting sheet and show her.

She said your oral exam is over and asked me to call her back after 5 mins using
the same link and when I called her she said you have PASSED the Oral exam.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK GMA FOR EXCELLENT TEACHING AND SUPPORT

FROM BATCHMATES.