Guidance

Operational Procedures, Basic Hotel Services and Ship Construction Written Examination Syllabus

Published 20 August 2014

1. Legislation

1. The purpose of Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) Merchant Shipping Notices, Marine Guidance Notes and Marine Information Notes.
2. The Code of Safe Working Practices for Seamen, risk assessment & assessment procedures, permit to work (entry into enclosed space, hot work, electrical work etc.).
3. Basic working knowledge of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS); the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL); and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

2. Watchkeeping

1. Watchkeeping procedures including:
   1. Regulations (STCW ’78 as amended);
   2. Taking over and accepting a watch;
   3. Routine watchkeeping duties and responsibilities;
   4. Keeping of the log and other records and understanding the significance of the readings taken;
   5. Changeover of systems from remote / automatic to local control and manned to unattended machinery spaces (UMS);
   6. Safety precautions to be observed during a watch and immediate actions in the event of equipment breakdown, fire, flooding, grounding and collision;
   7. Handing over a watch.
2. Basic voyage planning, including:
   1. Fuel
   2. Water
   3. Stores
   4. Spares

3. Maintenance

1. Maintenance procedures and records including:
   1. Maintenance systems (running hours, calendar intervals, break down, etc.);
   2. Condition monitoring and trends.
2. Written and computer-based record systems.

4. Pollution

1. MARPOL and Annexes.
2. Restricted (Special) areas, PSSA (Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas), Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) and Nitrogen Emission Control Areas (NECAs); oil record book; disposal of pollutants; garbage record book; action in response to a pollution incident on board; and the ship’s oil pollution emergency plan (SOPEP) manual regulations (MARPOL 73/78).
3. Construction and operation of oil-water separators and discharge monitors.
4. Sewage pollution prevention including regulations (MARPOL 73/78 Annex IV).
5. Garbage pollution prevention.(MARPOL 73/78 Annex V).
6. Atmospheric pollution (MARPOL 73/78 Annex VI and SECA/NECAs).
7. Pollution by refrigerants (Montreal Protocol and F-Gas Regulations).
8. Ballast Water Management.

5. Bunkering and fuel transfer

1. Bunkering and fuel transfer procedures including:
   1. Planning (avoid mixing), checks as per established checklist, maximum allowable filling;
   2. Safety (fire risk and hazardous substances);
   3. Monitoring fuel quality and contamination (correct grade, water, dirt, microbial, surfactants, and retaining sample);
   4. Transfer stability and free surface;
   5. Dispute procedures;
   6. Record keeping and Oil Record Book entries.

6. Sewage systems

1. Sewage pollution prevention including:
   1. Construction and operation of sewage treatment plants (continuous, zero discharge);
   2. Difference between aerobic and anaerobic;
   3. Environmental impact of untreated sewage (B.O.D. sterilisation);
   4. Dangers associated with the operation of sewage treatment plants (anaerobic conditions, hydrogen sulphide, methane, ammonia and confined spaces).

7. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (AC) plant

1. Basic principles of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.
2. Function of the system components (Compressor, oil separator, condenser, expansion valve and evaporator).
3. Checks on system components during operation.
4. Safety features of cold rooms (door fittings) and precautions for cold room (vegetables and fruits) entry.
5. Relative humidity and maintaining ‘comfort zone’.
6. Dangers associated with the operation of AC plants (Legionella and hazardous substances) and preventions.
7. Handling and storage of refrigeration gas bottles.

8. Fresh water maker

1. Fresh water makers including:
   1. Construction and operation of a reverse osmosis plant;
   2. Water sterilisation methods. (Chlorine, silver ion, ultra violet);
   3. Neutralisation and palatability;
   4. Sampling and testing of potable water.
2. Inspection and cleaning of water tanks and system.
3. Superchlorination.

9. Stabilisers

1. Types of motion (roll, pitch, yaw etc., damping coefficient).
2. Passive roll stabilisation systems.
3. Active roll stabilisation systems.

10. Fire fighting

1. Fire prevention; use and care of fire-fighting appliances; fixed machinery space installations; escape and breathing apparatus.
2. Appropriate action in response to fires on board, within and external to machinery spaces; shut-down and isolation of plant and equipment.
3. Organisation of emergency parties and drills; fire and safety plans. Correct use of live-saving appliances and equipment. Organisation of abandon ship drills.

11. Ship construction

1. Knowledge of the following terminology and definitions and demonstrates the ability to sketch simple constructions:
   1. Aft and fore perpendicular;
   2. Length between perpendiculars (LBP);
   3. Length overall (LOA);
   4. Midships line (LBP/2);
   5. Bilge;
   6. Breadth;
   7. Bulkhead;
   8. Camber;
   9. Centreline;
   10. Deck;
   11. Deckhead;
   12. Depth;
   13. Draft;
   14. Draft marks;
   15. Even keel;
   16. Freeboard;
   17. Keel;
   18. Load line marks and certification;
   19. Longitudinal;
   20. Midships;
   21. Rise of floor;
   22. Sheer;
   23. Stem;
   24. Transverse;
   25. Trim by the head;
   26. Trim by the stern;
   27. Waterline.
2. Deadweight; displacement; lightweight; gross tonnage; registered tonnage.
3. A-bracket; P-bracket, bulbous bow; flare; stringer; panting stringer; propeller; rudder; transom.