gardener

 I downloaded the Microsoft app a week prior the exam so the morning of the exam I clicked the link invitation 10 mins before the scheduled time and I was let in the room in about 2 minutes. The examiner ran through the new procedures for an online OOW oral sitting, made me do a quick 360 of the room, told me to relax and then we started
 You are expecting a Pilot to Board via ladder on starboard side, what checks do you make?
 How do you keep a port watch?
 C/O asks if we are ready to load cargo, what are your actions/checks prior to loading coal on board?
 You are on watch when you get the pre-alarm fire warning in the laundry room. Actions?
 AB confirms it is a fire. Actions?
 When would you call the Master?
 How would you go about planning a passage from UK to South Africa? Spoke about stages of passage planning etc
 What are the different types of Notice to Mariners and what do each of them contain
 What would I use ALRS for?
 What is a ENC and RNC?
 Can we use RNC?
 How to check if ECDIS is updated?
 We went through a couple chart symbols. I did not remember 1 which was a symbol which was the wind rose from the ocean routing chart
 He showed me a compass rose and instructed me to calculate the present Variation.
 Asked me what courses are plotted on chart? How I would get True courses and when to check Deviation? He then gave me a figure for Deviation and Ships head and I had to calculate True Heading.
 He showed me a synoptic chart and asked me the direction of the weather. I made an initial error and stated where the wind was going “to” instead of where the wind was coming “from” but after he prodded me and asked if I was sure etc I made the correction
 He showed me a barograph, asked to explain the postioning, purpose and care
 Asked about precision aneroid barometer and corrections
 Showed me a HRU, asked operation and where painter and senhouse slip would be attached.
 Enclosed space entry procedures and precautions.
 What gases do we monitor and how do we take gas samples
 MARPOL. Had to explain purpose, list the annexes and then he asked about garbage control on board so I spoke a little bit about garbage management plan
 Bouyage: Had to list all features (type,light, colour) and what action I would take when seeing it for about 7 bouys.
 R.O.R- 4 open sea situations, 2 TSS questions, 2 Restricted visibility questions
All in all the exam went well, the examiner was fair and tried to make sure I was comfortable before starting the exam and prodded me for more information whenever he felt he wanted more for an answer and I was reminded that for ROR and Bouyage that my first answer is my final answer. Special thanks to God, all my family and friends who supported me along the journey, all my crewmates along the way and all my lecturers at UTT who imparted their knowledge to me. Good luck to all candidates but remember that luck favours the prepared so study hard. God bless