Colreg.net

02/02/12

First attempt

Vinod Ranganathan

0900

Duration - Approx 55 mins

Pass

I was called in by Vinod, was told to take a seat. He explained he would be conducting the exam as per MGN 69, explained about fire alarms etc.

Instruments

Sextant: Name parts of the sextant (I mentioned about 6 or 7 of them)

Set the arm of the sextant, asked me to read what it was

I then had to set the arm 'off the arc' to the reading he gave me

He then asked me how would you take a sight? I struggled with this one a bit. He asked me if I had taken sights onboard the vessel.

Masons Hygrometer: What is it used for?

How do you find the dew point?

PAB: Asked me to ind the pressure. I took ages in doing so, and he asked me do you know how it works? I told him that when the green line breaks is when the pressure is and apply the corrections.

Magnetic compass: What are the advantages of a magnetic compass compared to a gyro compass?

Any disadvantages?

What is deviation?

Theory

Joining the ship as 2/0, how would you plan the passage from Gladstone (Australia) to Japan?

Pre departure checks on the bridge? (I said about 15 or more items before he moved on)

Asked me how would you correct the sailing directions for the past 3 years?

What info do you get from the sailing directions?

How do you know if the sailing directions relates to your voyage?

How would you keep a safe navigational watch?

When would you call the Master?

Master comes up to the bridge and asks for a weather update, where would you find info for the weather?

What procedures would you take for an inspection of thedouble bottom tank?

Showed me a HRU, asked me to show him how you would tie it. Then asked me how does it operate.

He asked me what certificates are needed for a v/l to sail.

ROR

Explained that I was on a PDV unless he said otherwise. He also said I would have to imagine some of the ships with shapes as some of them don't have them.

V/l engaged in fishing crossing from port side

Sailing v/l is overtaking you, who gives way? What are your actions? He still does not take action, what do you do?

The sailing v/l then alters to stbd, overtakes you but then alters to port, who keeps clear? I said the sailing v/l, it does not turn into a crossing situation!

CBD crossing from the port side, what are your actions?

Define a v/l engaged in fishing.

He then made a TSS. He pointed to the ITZ, traffic lanes and the seperation zone and asked me to name them.

He then asked me if the v/l engaged in fishing could be in these areas.

A PDV was crossing from stbd, what are your actions?

A vessel under 20m crossing from stbd, actions?

Restricted visibility was next. He laid down one mark (1st plot), asked me what next? (Continue plotting) then complete the plot. He laid off 'W' and asked me what action I should take.

He then laid the 3 marks down, he asked me if there was a risk of collision. (If you extended the line OA it wasn't touching my vessel). I said there is no risk of collision but the CPA is very small. He seemed satisfied.

He then asked me to lay down 'W' to show you are overtaking another vessel.

Buoyage

Told me I was steering 270, and I was outbound. the channel was as follows:

Port hand lateral mark

Preffered channel to port

Special mark port

Safe water mark

North cardinal mark

Smarty Board

V/l aground seen from port side. Asked me to give him the fog signal

Sailing v/l seen from stbd

CBD seen from stbd

As soon as I finished he told me he would pass me. He shook my hand and chatted about what I would do now.

Vinod was very fair and when he called me in made me feel at ease. When I got stuck on a few things he tried to get the answer out of me. He told me that my theory needed improving but as I had got everything right on the ROR section he passed me. I would most definetley recommend Vinil's c.d which is a great help to get your head round situations such as TSS and restricted vis. The Seamanship Examiner is another book I would recommend, this also contains a great c.d for ROR, restrcted vis, buoyage etc.