Colreg.net

Alistair Ferguson v Fletcher

Anchor handler/Offshore construction

16th June @ 1500 - 1600

Result : Pass

Asked what type of ships I had been on, if they were DP,DP1, 2 or 3 & what’s the difference (I guess this was not part of the actual orals!) Then asked me to stand and come over to the window where all the instruments were.

Instruments

Magnetic Compass – explain the parts of it (everything!) and what they correct for, what makes it point north, asked if a ship was built on the Clyde, what way would the magnets be?!!! 

PAB - Take reading and what is the correction, explain what the dampener does.

Hydrometer – explain procedure for taking density

Hygrometer – what is inside, what can we use it for?

Sextant – take reading + explain Parallelism + how to correct it.

General questions (sorry, they are not in the order they were asked)

-ISM - What are your responsibilities as 3rd Officer?   How does the Master go about reviewing itand how could I help him?  He also asked a bit about PMS and how the Superintendant knows it is being followed.

-X-band or S-band - what radar do you prefer?   You're on watch, about to sail-  how do you set up your radar?

-LSA – carriage requirements of life raft as per SOLAS,explain HRU function and tie a bowline. Where else can I find an HRU?  How does Epirb work?

-ECDIS- did i have it one my last ship?  what are the limitations of ECDIS

-Explain risk assessment, define hazard. What is the purpose of risk assessment?

-Chief Officer says the Forepeak tank has to be opened up for maintenance – explain the procedure you’d follow to do this.

-MOB portside. Actions? (Give him absolutely every piece of info that comes into your mind)   Is the bridgewing lifebuoy the same weight as the rest? What are the look outs going to be looking for?   Explain a Williamson’s turn.  I just used a pen to act out the turn on the desk

-Then, a fishing vessel close by has a MOB and I am to assist them in SAR – where would I find info on SAR? Off the top of my head, what search pattern would I use? 

-On your last ship, how many props and rudders did you have?  What type of rudder?  Tell me about the Becker rudder?  Explain Follow up and NFU.  How would you test the steering gear?

Buoyage and Rules

He put a wee boat down in front of me and then a west cardinal buoy and a wooden arrow to point North and told me what side I’d pass it.  I took my time telling him the characteristics of the buoy as I knew buoyage wasn’t a strong point and I think he realised what I was doing so he stuck 5 more down and told me he wanted  characteristics and what side I’d pass them.   Outbound, Region A, heading south.

·        Safe water mark

·        Preferred channel to port

·        North cardinal

·        Port hand lateral

·        Isolated danger

He then went to a messy pile of folders and opened one and pulled out pieces of paper with nav lights on, I asked what info he wanted and he said everything:

·        NUC making way

·        FV making way

·        Vessel aground more than 50 m

He then put the wee boat in front of me again then another one on my portside asked who was to give way. Then said I’m on watch, what would my actions be in this situation? 

Tug & tow portside, who is giveway and what are my actions? 

Vessel with a black cylinder- what does that mean? CBD on port side who is give way?  I am on RAM, who’s responsible now?  

He constructed a wee TSS and says I’m following the lane and a ferry overtakes me on starboard side and starts crossing when he is ahead of me, who is responsible now? 

CBD starboard side in TSS.

Restricted Vis.

He then got a handful of magnets and put 3 down on my port bow and said what does that line of magnets tell me?  What would I do now? He asked me to complete it.  He asked me to explain to WOA triangle.  Then put plots on my starboard quarter, then 3 on top of one another on my port bow and asked me what the actions of all 3 of them should be?  What is the one on my port bow doing?  What would I do in  this situation?

The moment of truth- he sat down and looked at his notes andsaid “Mr Ferguson...” (and then decided to stay silent for about 30 seconds which felt like ten minutes) “Based on rules and buoyage... (another 15 seconds silence) you’ve passed!  Overall, it was not what I was expecting at all.  My answers were too short and succinct due to my nerves and he said that I needed to give fuller answers because, although he didn’t doubt my abilities, he needed to know the full answer so he can make a proper judgement as to whether or not I am capable.   I gave a really crap representation of myself due to nervousness and partly because during somequestions I was unsure what he was after.  My advice is that when you are waiting outside that room, get a grip and remind yourself that you’ve been doing this for over 3 years and deserve it.   Take deep breaths and, as stupid as this may sound, try to enjoy the challenge because he is not there to fail you.  That stamp is all that matters at the end of the day though! 

 We then had a wee chat about if I was getting taken on by my company and how the rest of my classmate job hunts were going the he wished me luck and I wandered off grinning like an idiot. 

I cannot recommend the Cosoft CD enough.   It was well worth the money and i'm sure everyone else who bought a copy will agree with me that it goes a long way to helping to get a pass!  My sincere thanks to all the lecturers at college and to my classmates who helped me out!