Colreg.net

Name : Vassily S. Mascarenhas (OOW)

Result: Pass

Surveyor: Mr. Vinod R.

Duration : 45 mins

Date : 08/06/2010

My orals exam was at 1145 hrs in the morning , reached the MCA building at 830 hrs...was a bad idea, due to security reasons your not allowed in the building n to top it off it was a raining. Anyways stood outside till 1115 you get to enter half an hour before your examination timing.

Mr. Vinod came and took me in and asked for my passport, cdc.

He started off by askin some questions on the ship’s i have been on and their trades.

Then he told me to pick up the sextant and i was all ready to give him a reading( i thought that is the first thing he’ll ask) but he said to me i was OOW coastal waters and how would i use the sextant, i told him all about HSA and VSA and how its done.He seemed pleased and told me to keep it back.

Asked questions on magnetic compass – use , maintenance and PAB reading and use and how will you know whether pressure is high or low.

Then he went on to ask about T & P notices the difference in between them, how are they corrected on board and also how will you check their validity on signing on.

Put me in charge of lowering lifeboat in port ? dont forget to mention Risk Assm.

Then he asked me all about carrying out a risk assm. What is it and how is it done?

Checks on lifeboat as per SOLAS, and apart from Solas and the LSA code wher would you get information on lifeboat lowering precautions (Told him about MSN 1803 he seemed pleased)

My vessel is coasting , What will you do if you hear an off course alarm when on watch and when will you expect an alarm? I told him adverse currents difficulty in maintaining course but he wasnt happy.

Put me ass OOW on oil tanker and asked me my duties and checks i would carry out as soon as vsl finishes berthing?

My understanding on SOPEP?

Then he moved on to ROR situations:

PDV crossing from port/stbd side

Overtaking

NUC crossing from port

Vinod doesnt mind you going to port for the appropriate vessel infact he likes it if you go to port and take a practicable action.Ex: NUC ,RAM etc

Then he gave me about 5 buoys and told me i was entering port and told me to navigate through them.

Then we moved on to smarty board, he wanted to identify the vsl,fog signal,day shapes.

Vessels i got were:

Vessel towing seen from stern,trawler,fishing vsl,towing vessel,RAM and Mine clearance vsl and my action for it.

Then he came back to the question about off course alarm, i thought to my self there should be something major he is looking for that’s why he asked me the same quest. again – Then suddenly it struck my mind Gyro failure and failure of steering pumps, he seemed very pleased and told me it was a good orals and congratulated me and said i had passed(phewww) thank god its over.

Mr.Vinod R. is very fair and polite he makes you feel so comfortable and confident and if you know your stuff ther’s nothing stopping you from getting a PASS stamp on your NOE.

Just keep it cool and dont be overstressed about the orlas,its only a myth that it is really difficult to pass.All the best to all!

Thanx to all the lecturers of GCNS especially Mr. Vinil Gupta colreg.net and the cosoft cd , Mr. A.Gilani , Mr.M. Hussain , Mr. C. Feeney , Mr. I.Cheshire , Mrs. Joyce Boyd