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CHIEF MATES UNLIMITED (Masters < 3000GT) ORALS.

CANDIDATE      :     VIMAL RAJ MENON

VESSEL TYPE  :     OIL TANKERS.

EXAMINER        :     CAPT. VINOD RANGANATHAN

DATE                  :     18TH MAY 2011 (0915 - 1000HRS).

RESULT            :      PASS

Reached MCA Building well in time, completed the formalities at the Gate & was seated inside till Capt Vinod Ranganathan came across and said that he would be taking my Orals. Asked if I had gone through MGN 69 and he would be examining as per that Guidance Notice. He noted the type of Ships I was on, the trading area and other particulars and then started with the Orals. Told me to answer all questions as a Chief Mate of a UK Registered Ship unless told otherwise.

1. How do you know that your Vessel complies with Marpol Annex I ?

2. Discharge criteria for Cargo spaces. Stopped me at the total quantity for tankers built after 31 Dec 1979 and asked me as to how did the figure" 1/30000 of the total quantity" come about? Why 1/30000 and not some other figure? 

3. Contents of ORB Part 2

4. Duties of Chief Officer

5. FW Responsibilty

6. How would you ensure there is Safety Culture onboard? Duties of Safety Officer ?

7. Voyage Orders recieved, Cargo quantity agreed upon & can accomodate Volumewise. Tell me how would you go about making the Cargo plan?

8. What is Shear Force & Bending Moment? Tell me the Intact Stab Criteria

9. Vessel would be going to Dry-Dock in a months time. Tell me how will you prepare the Vessel for Dry dock?

10. How would you know in what condition to enter the dock? If the dock advices you of the same, how would come to know if that is adequate?

11. At the Dock, your Standing Instructions to the Duty Officers on watch? 

12. Loadline Survey, what is the type of inspection & the period? How would you ensure your vessel is ready for a Loadline Survey?

13. You get a call at midnight saying that there is a Fire in the Galley. Your Actions?

14. You have successfully extinguished the Fire. What else would you do after that?

15. MAIB Reporting procedures

16. On your Voyage, suddenly Captain becomes incapacitated, he gets severe stomach pain & cannot perform his duties. Actions?

17. Radio Medical advice & Coast Station  - where is this info given?

18. Helicopter Operations preparations

19. Captain has been successfully evacuated, now proceed on your voyage. How will you go about it?

20. Ship Handling - Unberthing . Gave me the Ship models & placed the berth & said you are the Master of a <3000GT Vsl. Moored (3+2+2) Port side alongside at an L-Shaped berth. No Bow & Stern thrusters. Break water is on your Stbd quarter. Unberth your Ship & take her out of the break water telling me each & everything that you will do i.e which lines you will let go first, hold on to, engine movt, rudder etc.

BOUYAGE

Lined up a set of 4 Buoys in the foll order - Region A - Lateral Stbd Hand Buoy, Lateral Port Hand Buoy, Special mark(Cone), East Cardinal Mark & said that your Vessel is Outbound & proceeding on a Southerly course. Tell me how will you manouvere the Vessel through these buoys. No Characteristics reqd.

ROR Situations

1. Placed a Vessel Aground right in front of me and said Actions?

2. Open Seas ( I was a PDV)

i) PDV Crossing  from Port to Stbd. Actions? What does Rule 17 say about a Stand on Vessel as to the action she should take?

ii) CBD Crossing from Port to Stbd. Actions?

3. TSS ( I was a PDV)

i) Laid out the TSS & asked if a fishing vessel can be in the Inshore Zone, Traffic lane, Separation zone, Opp Traffic lane

ii) FV Crossing  from Port to Stbd. Actions?

iii) SV Crossing from Port to Stbd. Actions?

iv) PDV Crossing you from Port to Stbd. Actions? 

v) Said you are now in the inshore zone after altering for the previous situation & you now see a FV right ahead. actions? Who should Give-way?

RESTRICTED VISIBILITY

Gave me a Radar Plotting Sheet with 4 plots already on it showing their True & Relative Vectors. 2 on Stbd Bow & 2 on Port Bow. Target Reports were also given. He asked me to study the plot & asked me to give him the action when ready.

He then asked me to assume that 3 out of the 4 vessels were not there( told me which ones) & said what would you do in this case. I was overtaking another vessel on my Stbd bow. 

LIGHTS ( Type, Length, Aspect, Fog Signal & Day Signal)

1. Towing Vessel seen from Port side length < 50m & length of tow < 200m

2. Towing Vessel seen from Stern towing a Dracone of breadth <25m

3. FV 

That was all. Stamped PASS & wished me All the Best. Informed me that it was Good Oral & said Congratulations!!!