Colreg.net

Second attempt

Date: 27-Jan-2012

Examination Centre: Greenock

Candidate: NELSON TOKO BAPTISTA

Examiner: VINOD RANGHNATAN

Time: 09:00

Duration: 50 minutes

Result: Pass

I was there 30 minutes early. So I went upstairs and had a seat, at first the examiner passed me in the hallway and said he would call me in few minutes. I was advised to sit down, he called me in at 09:20. He made me sit down and explained me the emergency procedures and that there was not any fire drill scheduled so if there was any fire alarm that would be a real one. He asked me for my Passport and CDC as well as Training Record Book and work book (He was going through it as the exam proceeded). He said that my first answer would be considered and my exam will be conducted according to MGN 69 and at all time I will be an OOW on a UK flagged PDV unless he specifies with Master onboard therefore all my answers will be as per UK regulations. He asked me for what types of ships I sailed on and my vessel trading areas. He then started with:

I- INSTRUMENTS

SEXTANT

Can you pick it up and bring to me please? So he was looking which hand I would use to grab it and pass it over, he then set a reading on the arc asked me to read off (74o 51’ 30’’) after that told me to set for him 1o 20’ off the arc.

Can you tell me what purpose second adjustment screw is used for? After I had given him the answer he then asked me to define side error and show him visually which one of the mirrors is the horizon mirror.

PAB

Take a reading as I had checked the pressure for Greenock (1007 mb) early morning so I had a rough idea which value to look for but for my surprise when I switched on the instrument the light was already broken at (1002.6 mb) but even then I did not give that reading I went first to check if something was going to change around the pressure value which I checked at home but there was a problem because the MCA PAB does not go further than 1006 mb so I had to bring down until I saw the continuous green light and then going up again till the light was broken and the reading showing 1000.7 mb,

Will you log it down? What are the corrections you would apply and where to find them?

MAGNETIC COMPASS

He pointed to the Magnetic compass and asked me for what purpose are those 2 balls (Kelvin balls) used for? As I explained him he asked me what you mean by soft iron magnetism?

He then pointed to the azimuth ring and asked me the meaning of it and the purpose of the arrows up and down?

II – ROUTINE JOBS

Joining as a 2/O

How will you go about? He wanted how to deal with the outgoing 2/O and the key word he wanted to hear was Handing over notes.

Pre-departure checks

Your vessel is about to sail and the Master tells you to prepare for sea how will you go about? He wanted to hear about control tests and the explanation of manual steering with rudder from hard over to hard over using the steering motors including specific timings.

Note: during control test as I mentioned to check the radar he then asked how will you ensure that your radar is working properly? He wanted to hear about radar performance test

Look out

Your vessel now is at sea how do you keep a good look out? I just quoted rule 5 he then wanted to know what are these “all available means” mentioned on the rule

Emergency (MOB)

You are now on the bridge during daylight condition and suddenly you see a crew member working forward starboard side falls overboard, actions? He wanted to hear the initial vital actions.

Moorings

Now your vessel is approaching port and master tells you that you’ll be incharge of the aft mooring station how will you go about?

Cargo operations

Your vessel is now alongside and about to start loading what will you do as a duty officer prior starting? He wanted to mainly the contents of SSSCL

FFA

What are all the fixed FFA did you have onboard? Did you have any in the galley?

What was the maintenance frequency and done by whom?

Regarding the monthly maintenance on FFA onboard vessel what will you check?

III – LEGISLATION

ISM Code

Did your last ship have a SMS? Which documents they had onboard to show compliance?

Was there any requirement for audits and validity, if yes what was the frequency and any internal annual audits?

How the SMS does help you as an OOW? He wanted to hear about the 6 functional requirements.

IV – ROR

Open sea situations

1- PDV on fine stbd bow, actions? Can you go to port?

2- PDV crossing from port, actions?

3- S.V crossing from port, actions?

4- Tug and tow crossing from port (He verbally told me to imagine that both vessels are displaying one black diamond each) actions?

5- CBD crossing form port, actions?

TSS

a) Theory questions

He drawn a TSS and asked to identify each of the following:

- ITZ, Traffic lane and TSZ? Then asked me which vessels can use the TSZ?

He then placed a F.V showing day shape at various locations of the TSS (ITZ, Crossing from both sides, Following the lane, TSZ and opposing the lane ) asking whether she can be there or not?

Asked if there is any special condition for a F.V to be in the TSS?

b) Situations

Own vessel following the lane

1- F.V showing day shape crossing from port, responsibility & actions?

2- PDV crossing from port, responsibility & actions?

3- Own vessel CBD following the lane and a S.V crossing from port, responsibility and actions?

4- Tug and tow crossing from port, actions?

5- Tug and tow crossing from port (He verbally told me to imagine that both vessels are displaying one black diamond each) actions?

Lights recognition

He wanted regarding the vessels: Type, Sizes, Nav.status, Day shape, Fog signal, Aspect

1- F.V making way seen from port side

2- Aground vessel showing 2 allround white lights. He wanted fog signal description for both conditions less than 100m and 100m or more in length

Restricted Visibility

He started placing blips(creating risk of collision) fwd of my stbd beam, and he wanted me to say what I would do if I observed these blips on my radar @ sea and @ the end he gave me W and said complete the plotting tell me what is happening and your cations?

Then he gave me a model fwd of my stbd beam following the same course for which I had greater speed and asked me actions?

V – BUOYAGE

He gave me a Buoyage channel and told me that it was region A, my vessel was leaving port and making a Southerly course just manoeuvre your vessel while staying in the main channel.

1- Preferred channel to std

2- Stbd hand lateral mark

3- Port hand special mark

4- Isolated danger mark

5- West cardinal mark

At the end he told me Mr. Baptista congratulations you passed, and then asked me how I did fail in my 1st attempt after telling him all the story he asked me if I did have to go back home and renew my visa and after that he said ok, today there was no tricks because you passed then we spoke a wee about the HND time when he was my Bridge Management lecturer @ the college and wished me all the best in my career.

Many thanks to everyone who gave me support all this period specially while recovering from the failure of the first attempt making me believe that I could do it with special reference to:

1- Lord Jesus Christ (Who never let us down for those who put faith on him)

2- Master DDC Fernandes (My inspiration)

3- Captain Vinil Gupta (Orals leading light)

4- Captain A.Gillani (His kindness in approaching students)

5- All AMET University who taught me the ABC of a mariner.