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OOW Orals, 23rd November 2011 (offshore platform supply vessels)

Examiner - Capt. Vinod

Duration - 1 hour

Result - Pass

Meant to put this up a lot sooner, but never got round to it!!! Was pretty nervous when going into Fort Matilda, weather didn't help!!! As soon as you get in though its fine, the guys on the gate are sound & all the staff in the main building are friendly & wish you luck so that helps settle you down.

Vinod came out of the exam room and said he would be 5 minutes and said to get some water if I wanted and bring it in the room whenever I was ready. Once I was in the room, he invited me to sit down and make myself comfortable. He then asked for my documents and my training portfolio. He then asked what type of ships I'd been on and where they operated. He then quickly ran through how the exam would work, and that if I didn't understand anything or was unsure of what he was asking to clarify it with him.

As I said, I should have put this up earlier as I'm sure I've left out some of the questions he asked, but this is what I can remember of it!!!

Instruments

Hydrometer - what is it used for? how you use one? when you would use one?

Sextant - read the figure ON the arc, put on a reading OFF the arc, name parts of the sextant (i gave about 7-8 before he moved on), explain side error, demonstrate how you would take a sight

Magnetic Compass - name parts (again, gave about 7-8 before he moved on) he then asked what I understood about Deviation

Theory

He started by giving me a context - you are an OOW on a general cargo ship going from Aberdeen to New York

- how would you join a ship?

- how would you do the passage plan for the above?

- how would you take over a navigational watch at night?

- maintenance of LSA & FFA, also what fixed fire fighting systems I had on my last ship

- Marpol Annex I, discharge requirements in a special area

- what equipment you have on a rescue boat

- steering gear failure. what are your actions?

ROR

He gave me loads of situations using models in both open water and also in a TSS, so do plenty of practice!!!

Rule 19 stuff - he used the magnets once and asked me to explain the WOA triangle. After that, he used models for restricted visibility situations as opposed to the plots. Again, he gave me quite a lot of these, so make sure you memorise Rule 19 as you will have to quote it.

Buoyage

He lined up about 7 buoys, and said I was outbound. I then had to identify each one (lights, top mark, retro-reflector, region, shape etc) and then which side I would pass 

Smarty-Board

I only got 2 situations, this was right at the end - sailing vessel from astern & a vessel aground. Remember to give as much as you can i.e. size, navigational status, fog signal, day shape

That was it, I'm sure there was more theory questions but I can't remember!!! It wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting though, just relax and take your time when answering. ROR, rule 19, buoyage and lights have to be spot on though, no mistakes, so do plenty of practice on them.

Massive thanks to the rest of 7B for all those long study sessions in the library....good spirit!!!! Also, massive thanks to Vinil and also to Rod, Richard, Alan and Robin.