Guidance

Deck Officer (Fishing Vessel) Class 1 Oral Examination Syllabus

Published 3 November 2021

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1. Oral

1.1 Compass

To correct a sextant into which has been introduced one or more of perpendicularity, side or index errors.

  1. To find the index error of a sextant.
  2. Candidates will also he questioned on the care and use of chronometers.

1.2 Meteorology

  1. Steps to be taken in the event of ice accretion.
  2. Navigation in, or in the vicinity, of ice.

1.3 Seamanship

  1. Exceptional circumstances. Loss or fouling of rudder and/ or propeller. Emergency steering arrangements. Action to be taken following collision or sustaining damage of any kind. Action to be taken on grounding - methods or refloating, surveys subject  to refloating. Beaching a fishing vessel.
  2. Steps to be taken when disabled and in distress. Preservation of passengers and crew in the event of wreck. Abandoning ship; survival procedure. Communications with the shore. The use of rockets and rocket apparatus.
  3. The safety of the vessel, crew and other personnel. Assistance of vessels in distress. Duties in the case of strandings, collisions or other accidents.
  4. Assisting a ship or aircraft in distress. The use of direction finding for homing on to a casualty. Rescuing the crew of a disabled ship or ditched aircraft. The launching of boats and life-rafts. A practical knowledge of search and rescue procedures including a thorough knowledge of the MERSAR manual.
  5. Bad weather manoeuvres. Extra precautions to be taken before the onset of heavy weather. The effect of current, wind, shallow water and draught on manoeuvring. Precautions at anchor and at sea. Use of oil. Ship manoeuvring and handling, anchoring and working anchors and cables in all circumstances. Approaching rivers and harbours and manoeuvring therein. Means to employ to keep a disabled or unmanageable vessel out of the trough of the sea and to lessen the lee drift.
  6. Towing and being lowed. Lloyds open form of agreement.
  7. Prevention of fire at sea and in port, action to be taken to prevent the spread of fire, full knowledge of the use of fire appliances and the precautions to be taken in their use.
  8. Routine inspection of living quarters and store rooms.
  9. An outline knowledge of the relevant regulations concerning Life Saving Equipment and fire fighting appliances.
  10. A thorough knowledge of sate working practices in fishing vessels including a general knowledge of the relevant parts of the Health and Safety at Work Act. The Recommended Code of Safety for Fishermen and IMO publications.
  11. A full knowledge of the content and application of the Collision Regulations and those Annexes concerned with safe navigation. Candidates will not be placed in a position of handling a sailing craft, but will be expected to recognise the lights carried by such craft and to have a knowledge of the possible manoeuvres according to the direction of the wind.
  12. Distress and pilot signals: penalties for misuse.
  13. A thorough knowledge of safe working practices in fishing vessels including a general knowledge of the contents of MSA ‘Merchant Shipping Notices’ applicable to fishing vessels and Admiralty ‘Notices to Mariners’. The use of Admiralty ‘Notices to Mariners’. A knowledge of the Recommended Code of Safety for Fishermen.
  14. IALA buoyage systems A and B.
  15. Portable radio equipment. The preparation and use of portable radio equipment as used in lifeboats and life-rafts including erection of aerials and knowledge of the facilities and frequencies provided wi1h the equipment
  16. Port Radio Information Services. Knowledge of the types of service available to aid vessels entering ports and assist in berthing as indicated in Admiralty List of Radio Signals ‘Port Radio Stations and Pilot Vessels’.

1.4 Stowage, Construction and Stability

  1. Dry docking and slipping, general procedure and precautions to be observed, distribution of weight. bilge blocks, leaving a vessel water-borne.

1.5 Prevention of pollution of the marine environment

  1. Measures to be taken to prevent the spillage of oil during bunkering or oil transfer.
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