Guidance

Deck Officer (Fishing Vessel) Class 2 Oral Examination Syllabus

Published 3 November 2021

1. Oral and Practical

1.1 Compass

1. To use an azimuth mirror or other instrument for taking bearings.
2. To use a sextant for taking vertical and horizontal angles.
3. Use, care and limitations of magnetic and gyro compasses and associated equipment.

1.2 Meteorology

1. To read and understand a barometer, thermometer and hydrometer. The instruments supplied by the Meteorological Office will be taken as standard.

1.3 Seamanship

1. The rigging of fishing vessels, methods of ascertaining the safe working loads of ropes including synthetic fibre and wire ropes. Rigging purchases and a knowledge of the power gained by their use. Knots, hitches and bends in common use. Seizings, rackings, ropes and chain stoppers. Splicing twisted and braided natural and synthetic fibre rope and wire rope with strict reference to current practice. Slinging a stage, rigging a bosun’s chair.
2. Care and maintenance of navigation lights and sound signalling apparatus.
3. Preparations for getting under way. Duties prior to proceeding to sea, making harbour; entering a dock. Berthing alongside or unberthing from quays, jetties, or other ships and securing to buoys. Towing and being towed.
4. Helm orders. Conning the ship. Effects of propellers on the steering of a ship. Stopping, going astern and manoeuvring. Turning short round. Emergency manoeuvres. Precautions when beaching a vessel. Action to be taken prior to, and after, grounding. Bringing a ship to single anchor in an emergency. Man overboard. The effect of current, wind and shallow water on manoeuvring.
5. Practical measures to be taken when navigating in ice or in conditions of ice accretion on board, where applicable;
6. The duties of the officer of the watch at sea and at anchor. Dragging anchor. Duties of the deck officers in port.
7. A practical knowledge of search and rescue procedures.
8. Manoeuvring the vessel during fishing operations with special regard to adverse effect on the vessel’s safety which may result from the fishing gear becoming fast, fouling the vessel’s rudder or propeller or otherwise placing the vessel in danger.
9. Management and handling of fishing vessels in heavy weather. including appropriate speed in following and quartering seas, assisting a ship or aircraft in distress, towing another ship, means of keeping an unmanageable vessel out of a sea trough. lessening drift and use of oil;
10. 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.
11. Distress and pilot signals; penalties for misuse.
12. 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’.
13. A knowledge of the Recommended Code of Safety for Fishermen.
14. IALA buoyage system A.
15. Anchors, cables their use and stowage.
16. Knowledge of the use of all deck appliances including emergency steering gear.
17. A practical knowledge of the operation of fishing vessel propulsion machinery and pumping systems.
18. Estimation of course and speed whilst towing.
19. The use and care of rocket and line throwing apparatus.
20. The use and care of life saving appliances and equipment used in fishing vessels. Survival procedure in survival craft.
21. The use and care of fire appliances including the smoke helmet and self-contained breathing apparatus.
22. Organisation of fire fighting and abandon ship procedures.
23. Limiting damage and salving the vessel following a fire or explosion.
24. Practical: To prepare portable radio equipment for operation in lifeboat or life-raft, erect aerial and operate the equipment. Knowledge of the operation of EPIRBs and SARTs.

1.4 Stowage, Construction and Stability

1. General knowledge of the principal structural members of a vessel and the proper names of the various parts.
2. Transferring fish at sea to factory ships or other vessels.
3. The storage and securing of catch and fishing gear on board vessels,
4. Loading and discharging operations, with special regard to heeling moments from gear and/ or catch.

1.5 Signals

To send and receive signals:

1. Morse-code by flash lamp at four words per minute.
2. International Code of Signals.