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Masters Orals 22nd March 2011. (1600 – 1650)

Candidate: Grenwill Dmello

Sailing as Chief mate on LNG Carriers.

Examiner: Mr. Kaiser Ali

Total time: 50 mins. Result: Pass. (1st Attempt)

Arrived well before time and took a walk along the river just besides the MCA building to calm all those nerves down. Entered half and hour before the scheduled examination time of 1515 and had a seat on the same chair outside the examination room (the same chair I sat on during my mates and second mates orals ;). Kaiser Ali came out of the room at 1515 and spoke to me for a brief moment. Informed me that he will take my orals and just so that I didn’t fall asleep whilst I waited for him (I don’t think even spider man will think of sleeping whilst waiting for a masters oral examination), he handed over a sheet with 2 questions on it. The 2 questions were

1) What documents will you carry onboard as per Solas and Marpol when carrying Dangerous goods in packaged form.

2) What are the reporting requirements when carrying dangerous goods (wanted CERS and reporting as per MSN 181 7 for UK waters and Also reporting as per MGN 242)

These 2 questions were asked to almost everyone on the first and second day of orals by Kaiser Ali. So make sure you speak to guys who go in before you. It helps..

Mr. Kaiser Ali came back after 40 mins and then I was asked to follow him into the examination room. He read the answers on the sheet and marked a big tick on it. Informed me that he will start with rules and buoys first and then go on to the other part. That was a shocker coz its always rules towards the end.

A brief discussion about my company and work on LNG ships.

Started with smartie board:

1) Vessel aground 2) A NUC making way seen from port side 3) Single green lights (lots of guys were asked single white light ) 4) Pilot vessel 5) Fishing vessel making way gear extending more than 150 horizontally.

Buoyage: wanted lights and top mark for all and gave me a ship model and asked me how I would pass the buoy. Gave direction of buoyage and North when needed. The buoys were shown one at a time. (Suggestion: If the buoys are on the table and visible to you try and identify them before hand when your having the brief conversation with the examiner before the orals commence)

1) Safe water mark 2) Isolated danger mark 3) East cardinal mark 4) Region B preferred channel to stbd

5) Stbd hand lateral mark region B.

Kept me on an LNG carrier and indicated with a model that a vessel is overtaking from stbd side. The vessel overtakes and then alters so as to be a crossing vessel. Is she allowed to do that? Which rule?? What if she doesn’t take action?

A tug and tow crossing from port to stbd. Whose give way? Which rule.

Now tug and tow is RAM. Who will keep clear. Which rule? Now tug and tow RAM and you CBT. Who will keep clear.

Told me to describe all the lights and shapes on the tug and tow more than 50 meters in length underway possibly making way seen from stbd side. Wanted details of the lights with arc of visibility and technical details of the shapes. The same vessel now RAM. Lights for both Tug and tow.

Fishing vessel crossing in a narrow channel and fishing vessel crossing in open sea.

Radar plotting:

No Plots. Just wanted to know if I was overtaking a vessel which side would I pass it.

If u heard the fog signal of the vessel forward of the beam and no indication on Radar what will you do?

What is safe speed and what are the factors that affect safe speed. When I got to the radar part he stopped me and smiled.

Q) How does ISM affect you? What are the certificates you would check onboard your vessel? Which certificates are issued By MCA which by Class?

Q) Duties of Master under ISM. As soon as I said Implement safety and environmental protection policy he asked how I will go about doing that. I mentioned about my company familiarization checklists and posters and randomly questioning crew members. But he was looking for specifically putting it in standing orders which he eventually directed me to.

Q) What is safe manning document? What factors affect it?

Q) When is an ISPS audit carried out? Who carries it out?

Q) What is ILO 178. Then what is ILO 180. I explained the difference and also checks by the surveyor for ILO178. Also mentioned both the MSN 1767 and 1769 and their contents. He seemed happy to hear the MSN no’s.

Q) Entries in the Official log book?

Q) What are the FW and Food and Hygiene requirements? I mentioned the MGN 397 but he wanted it in details. He was specifically looking for 2 cutting boards for meat and vegetables and for temperatures of meat and fish room. He also asked me to go through all the checks I would make as a Masters in the Galley during my routine inspections. For FW he wanted the requirements as per the MGN.

Q) What is new inspection regime? Since when is it implementented and what are high risk ships. He wanted the 3 risk categories and the inspection interval for each. Why have they implemented the new inspection regime? Tell me all you know about CERS.

Q) Is the ISPS certificate an STCW certificate. I was not sure of this one so he explained that now it is. But he was happy that I mentioned I was not sure rather than guessing. 

Q) Difference between Passage planning and voyage planning. I went straight to the points as a Masters i.e fuel requirements, charterers requirements, weather considerations and as soon as I said security concerns he moved on. In class they constantly told us to answer as a Master so I skipped all the second mate stuff and on hearing security he moved on.

Q) Tell me when will you exchange DOS?

Q) What are the requirements for having a safety committee onboard and what are duties of Safety officer?

Q) What is the role of the MAIB?

Q) In northern hemisphere wind is veering. Where are you? And what action will you take? What heavy weather precautions will you take onboard your vessel if you knew TRs was approaching. Don’t forget the Mandatory reporting as per SOLAS chpt 5 reg 31 & 32.

Q) Difference between a NC and Major NC. I explained with examples.

Q) What is on ALC 1(a),b,c,d and what is ALC 6. What are the rest hour requirements for young persons?

Q) Along with ALC 6 what else should be posted on the notice board of the vessel. Along with schedule for Work and rest hours he was particularly looking for the report of the ILO178 inspection.

Q) Berth the ship Stbd side along side. No wind No Current.

Q) What are the latest amendments to ISM? I knew at least 5 and then I mentioned the MSN 1826. He also discussed about Tap root accident investigation.

I was expecting more questions like emergencies, towage etc……

But then he looked at me and said. I don’t need to ask you anymore. You have achieved the MCA standard and passed. Phewwww trust me it’s a relief! Mr. Kaiser Ali is a gentlemen and practical and will lead you to the answer with his next question. However make sure you know your rules and lights well.