Guidance

Master (code vessels less than 200 GT)/Officer of the Watch (yachts less than 500 GT) Oral Examination Syllabus

Published 26 January 2023

1. Navigational Safety

1.1 Plan and conduct a passage including Chartwork and Position Determination

1. Passage planning with respect to use of navigational publications, including navigational charts, sailing directions, light lists, tide tables, radio and navigational warnings.
2. IALA system of maritime buoyage A and B.
3. Limitations and sources of error of electronic chart and navigation systems.
4. Radar and ARPA – practical use of, modes of operation, limitations and sources of error, including basic radar plotting techniques.
5. Understands the importance of regular checking of the vessel’s position and action to be taken if found off track.
6. Applies variation and deviation to convert true course to compass course and vice versa; understands the basic causes of variation and deviation.
7. Fixes a ships position on the chart given magnetic bearings and/or radar ranges and quotes position by latitude and longitude.
8. Finds the magnetic course to steer and the ETA at a given destination given the starting position and log speed.
9. Identifies transits and clearing marks from the chart in order to plan a safe approach to harbour or anchorage.
10. States the meaning and explains the significance of chart symbols and abbreviations in common use.
11. Knows how to obtain and use weekly notices to mariners in order to correct charts.
12. Finds the time of high and low water, and predicts intermediate heights and/or times for standard and secondary ports.
13. Find and predict set and rate of the tide from tidal reference points on the chart, and tidal stream atlas.

1.2 Meteorology

1. Knows the sources of meteorological information.
2. Interprets weather forecasts including knowledge of characteristics of various weather systems.
3. Ability to use and interpret information obtained from shipborne meteorological instruments.

1.3  Maintain a Safe Navigational Watch

1. A thorough knowledge of the principles of navigational watchkeeping at sea, including watchkeeping at anchor; as STCW Code A-VIII and ICS Bridge Procedures Guide.
2. Understand the use of bridge equipment, including echo sounder and Navtex.
3. Knowledge of steering control systems, including automatic pilot and operational procedures and change over from manual to automatic control and vice-versa.
4. Maintain navigational records.
5. Knows the circumstances under which the Master should be called to the bridge.
6. Knows the principles for handing over and relieving the navigational watch.

1.4 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (ColRegs)

1. A thorough knowledge of the ColRegs including:
   1. requirements for proceeding at a safe speed and keeping a lookout;
   2. recognises the lights and shapes, and fog signals for all classes of vessel;
   3. recognises the manoeuvring sound signals;
   4. recognises light signals;
   5. recognise a developing collision situation by compass, radar or visual reference;
   6. states the actions to be taken by day and night to avoid collision;
   7. describes the precautions to be taken when navigating in or near areas of restricted visibility; assess the likely likelihood of collision of vessel detected by radar alone and action to be taken to avoid a collision.
   8. describes the requirements for navigating in or near traffic separation schemes.
   9. describes the requirement for navigating in narrow channels.

2. Response to Emergencies, Operational Safety and Pollution Control

2.1 Distress Signals and Communications

1. States the conditions under which distress signals may be used; understands the various types of distress signal, action to be taken on receipt and the obligations to render assistance.
2. Understands the correct use of pyrotechnics, EPIRBS and SARTS including the appropriate circumstances for their use.
3. Understands correct distress communications procedures including the terms Mayday, PanPan and Securité messages.
4. Emergency communication with the GMDSS regulations.

2.2 Manoeuvring the Vessel

1. Preparation for getting under way, duties prior to proceeding to sea, making harbour, entering a dock, berthing alongside quays and jetties or other ships, and securing to buoys.
2. Use and care of mooring lines and associated equipment.
3. Helm orders, conning the ship, effects of propellers on the steering of the ship, effects of wind and current, stopping, going astern, and turning short round.
4. Action in event of failure of bridge control, telegraph or steering gear, including emergency steering arrangements.
5. Procedures for anchoring.
6. Understand the precautions to be observed when using winches and windlass.
7. Understand the precautions to be observed when mooring and un-mooring.

2.3 Responses to Emergencies

1. Initial action following: man overboard, collision, grounding, flooding or major mechanical damage, initial damage assessment and control, protection of the marine environment.
2. Knowledge of fire prevention, use and care of fire-fighting appliances, the shut-down and isolation of plant and equipment, escape and breathing apparatus, fire and safety plans.
3. Use and care of lifesaving appliances and equipment including, immersion suits and thermal protective aids, pyrotechnics and line throwing apparatus.
4. Launching of liferafts and rescue boats; proper rigging of liferaft hydrostatic release units.
5. Basic principles of survival.

2.4 Pollution Prevention Requirements

1. Pollution prevention in port and at sea; measures to be taken to prevent pollution during bunkering.
2. Action to be taken in response to pollution incidents in port and at sea.
3. Basic understanding of garbage management, and disposal of garbage and oil residue.

2.5 Seaworthiness of the Ship

1. Understand fundamentals of watertight integrity, and the closing of all openings including hatches, access hatches and watertight doors.
2. Understands the difference between good stability and poor stability, and recognises the warnings signs of the latter.
3. Describes the effect on stability of:
   1. raising and lowering weights;
   2. low freeboard;
   3. obstruction of deck freeing arrangements and scuppers;
   4. slack tanks.
4. Preparations for heavy weather, ensuring and maintaining watertight integrity.

2.6 Business and Law

1. Understand the content and application of the applicable Codes, namely ‘Small Vessels Commercial Code’^{[footnote 1]} and Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY3)^{[footnote 2]}.
2. A knowledge of the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen^{[footnote 3]} the content and practical application.
3. A knowledge of the requirements for musters and drills including fire, emergency, and abandon ship drills.
4. Understand the legal obligation to ensure a seaworthy vessel.
5. A basic understanding of the laws of salvage.
6. Understand the requirements for safe manning, hours of work and watchkeeping.
7. Understand the circumstances when a vessel requires a crew agreement.

1. MGN 280 (M) Small Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure, Workboats and Pilot Boats or any subsequent amendment ↩

2. MSN 1851(M) or any subsequent amendment. ↩

3. SI 1998/1838 The Merchant Shipping (Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen) Regulations 1998 or any subsequent amendment. ↩