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Kaisar Ali turned up on time and introduced himself, he then asked me to write down all the documents you require to be able to carry dangerous goods ( DOC, D.G Note, etc) as well as all the reporting requirements regarding dangerous goods (CERS, DOS, etc).

After a few minutes he asked me to come into the examination room, where he went through all the usual safety procedures to follow in the event of the fire alarm going off. Also during his introduction I was told that although I had only been on offshore vessels since I qualified it was an unlimited ticket I was going for and as a result he would put me on different types of vessels. Was expecting a few questions about Ro-Ro’s as I had been on one during my cadetship, however he didn’t ask much about other types of vessels.

Started off with the magnetic compass:

• What is heeling error?

• What Co-efficient is heeling error?

• Checks for laid up ships? (Remember your SMC may be invalid)

How would you know if your vessel was complying with the ISM Code? (DOC & SMC)

Covered ISPS in great detail:

• Levels of Security?

• When do you send a DOS?

• Information about TRANSEC?

• What is in the SSP?

• What is C.R.S?

Duties of the Safety Officer?

How do you promote safety onboard your vessel?

MAIB when and why you report – also asked if I would report to MAIB if a stevedore got injured during loading?

How would you write up a risk assessment for launching your rescue boat? (Wanted difference between Hazard and Risk).

What information is in the SOLAS training manual?

General questions about COSWP.

ILO 178 and 180 in detail:

• Temp of the meat room? (-18)

• Temp of the vegetable room? (+5)

• Temp of the hot water in your cabin????????? (+60 according to Kaisar Ali?)

• What is required in your cabin under ILO 178?

• Can you go over your hours of work?

• Actions if you were not getting enough hours of rest?

Port State Control Surveys (old / new regulations)?

Items found on your fire plan?

On a container ship during loading operations and 3/0 reports that there is smoke coming from a container containing dangerous cargo – actions?

Rule 6 – how do you determine a safe speed?

Precautions during heavy lift operations?

Where would you find the SWL of your cranes / derricks? (Wanted Rigging Plan – I did not know this, I just mentioned the certificate).

Proof Load Test for a 40t crane? (SWL plus 5t).

When would you discard a wire used for lifting operations?

Who is a competent person?

Can you Discharge Bilges in a special area and what is the criteria for discharging bilges?

ODMCS how does it work and does it cut off immediately if the oil content goes over 15ppm? (Wanted alarms for this one).

What information is found in the Garbage Management Plan? (Just mentioned about Gulfs procedure for garbage)

ROR Situations:

TSS in detail:

• Vessels which can use a separation zone?

• Placed a vessel engaged in fishing in different parts of the TSS and asked can he do this?

• How do you join a TSS?

• RAM crossing from port to starboard – actions?

• PDV crossing from port to starboard – actions?

• Sailing vessel crossing from port to starboard – actions?

Open Sea:

• Tug and Tow crossing from port to starboard – actions?

• On a CBD and Ram crossing from Starboard to port – actions?

• Vessel overtaking you then becomes a crossing vessel – actions?

ROR Lights:

Wanted everything about the lights - size of vessel, navigation status, day signals, fog signal and actions:

• NUC not making way.

• Pilot vessel seen from astern (Or at anchor).

• Vessel aground possibly over 50m in length.

• Sailing Vessel seen from port side.

• Vessel engaged in trawling possibly over 50m in length.

Asked what lights and shapes a tug and tow would show if she was RAM, over 50m in length and length of tow over 200m?

Buoys:

Only the one buoy preferred channel to starboard – which side would you pass the buoy if you had to stay in the main channel and going against the direction of buoyage?

Radar Plotting:

Had me overtaking a vessel which was on my starboard side and asked me to explain my actions. Bold alteration to port as the other vessel can only go to starboard as you were on her port quarter.

Conclusion:

All in all the examination was not too bad and Kaisar Ali makes you feel relaxed throughout and if you were struggling he would prompt you for an answer. He also wanted me to tell him the day signal for the tug and tow again as I did not mention that the towed vessel would have a black diamond on it as well. So he did give me a chance to correct myself with this one. He then read my sheet of paper he gave me outside the examination room; he said that I did not mention that if any dangerous cargo fell over the side you had to report it as well. I thought that was a bit strange as if any cargo fell overboard you should report it if it was a danger to navigation, so I don’t really know what he was after there?.

Thanks for everyone who helped me with my oral prep.