Colreg.net

Location : Greenock MCA office

Date / time : 21st Dec ’09 / 0900 hrs -1030 hrs/1 st attempt

Mani Zacharia v/s Capt. Pereira

Result : Fail

Experience : Bulk carriers/Tankers : Crude

I reached the MCA office early , and as I was waiting at the gate office, Capt Pereira arrived from Southampton and signed in. I was later called into the MCA Office and was asked to wait. Capt Pereira called me inside and introduced himself as the Chief Examiner of the MCA, Southampton. He would be taking my exam and asked me to give him a brief idea about my professional details.

I was then told that I was taking over a vessel at Glasgow, Master already signed off on medical, how would I go about it ? What documents ? What is the most important document –certificates. Asked me to explain about the certificates that I would expect to be on board and asked me to give their full details- validity, surverys and issuing authority. What other documents – CA, OLB- where would you expect the OLB to be ? Before sailing what would you do regarding preparations ?Vessel sailing from Glasgow to Dampier, W.Australia, What specific advise to 2nd mate regarding passage planning- your requirements, what advise to C/O, C/E . Standing orders – what does yours contain?

New joining 2 nd officer , polish COC- can he sail ? CEC ? validity ? ENG 1- validity, how to check the validity - vessel sailing in 2 hrs time, Saturday night, DPA unavailable, Port office closed. Health officer unavailable to carry out medical.

Newjoiners- How would you go about signing them on ? CA- ALC’s –different types .

While at sea, how to keep yourself updated on the various regulations ? M notices – what are they- explain- Give latest 3 notices.

ROR- what is safe speed . On your last vessel , what would have been safe speed, He wanted a figure, so I had to give him 6 kts. Restricted vis radar plot- vessel on port beam towards you, stbd beam towards you, stbd bow 1 point towards you – 2 nd mate calls up in the morning 0200 hrs, you come on bridge and see these vessels on the radar , at 1.5 miles- action? When I said slow down, he put another vessel overtaking me on the port quarter. Now action ? I was not able to give him a conclusive answer . So he asked me to complete the radar plot if I had slowed down. I first completed the plot with the initial speed, and forgot about the slowing down part. He went on with good vis situations.

Fishing vessel crossing from port bow, (the vessel looks like a fishing vessel , but ddnt have the day signal), hence I replied I would ascertain if it was fishing vessel- he asked me about day signal .CBD crossing from port bow- actions. Some more lights, cant remember which ones.

Heading west , west cardinal mark ahead, actions. Messed it up completely as I was answering as heading east, and didnt realize my mistake throughout. He reminded me that exam was for Masters. He then asked me to mark a wreck with the cardinal buoys, did that one correctly.

Asked me again with east cardinal mark, heading east, messed up again. Same with south cardinal mark. He then asked me the day signal of vessel aground – messed up, as I told there would be a ball fwd as well. He then gave me the radar plot again, this time he wanted me to take action immediately in the situation, I altered to port and he said, it was wrong as per rule 19.

He told me that I cannot be passed this time and needed more practice with radar plot , and buoyage and ROR. The answer he was looking for in the Radar plot situation was to increase the speed and get away by altering course to stbd. If a departure from the rule is made, it should be made in advance and should be the best possible one. Overall I think he was genuine examiner and if I hadn’t been overconfident in the Radar and ROR during the studies.

Thorough knowledge of ROR , Buoyage and radar plot can get you through even if not that good with theory. Wish you all the very best.