anonymous vs Captain Laird

Chief Mate Unlimited/ Master 3000
Experience: Research vessels
Result: Pass
Examiner: Captain Laird
Date: 23/08/2021
These are most the questions I can remember and are not in order. Some of the questions I’ve simplified as Captain Laird moved on fairly quickly once I paused. He is a very fair and just examiner who doesn’t give a lot away but makes you feel at ease. Some of my questions prompted questions about other areas.
My advice for candidates sitting the exam is to rehearse structured answers to ensure nothing gets missed.

1. What is Gross tonnage
2. What is displacement
3. Loading container vessel in Antwerp -what would you be looking at in loading containers (wanted loading, stability, ISPS, lashing, ballasting ect)
4. What is in a cargo securing manual
5. Where else would you find information about cargo securing
6. Loading DG considerations on deck, certificates onboard for that, what is given by shipper
7. IMDG questions – EMS, Fire schedule, segregation
8. How long before emergency gen kicks in, how long can it run for, what equipt does it run
9. Collision open sea – actions
10. Flood in ER – actions
11. Considerations planning a passage from Netherlands to Panama – He wanted all information from 2nd mate and C/O – concerns for the voyage
12. Masters statutory reporting under SOLAS
13. What is contained in the Yearly testing on lifeboats? Can ships crew do this?
14. 5 yearly testing on lifeboats
15. What is on a cargo and loading plan
16. Precautions entering dry dock
17. During drydock
18. P force, stability with drydock
19. Synoptic chart – asked about wind direction and speed for specific point
20. Synoptic chart symbols – Warm front ect
21. What weather with warm front passing – what type of clouds
22. Under 18 hours and working responsibilities
23. Large list due to cargo shift at sea- actions as master
24. Atmospheric gasses %
25. Frequency of all drills
26. Define enclosed space
27. How to do enclosed space entry
28. What needs to be covered in a enclosed space entry drill?
29. Certificates required on UK vessel
30. Cook joining – what certs should he hold
31. ECDIS limitations
32. Type Specific training requirements?
33. Training of an under 18 cadet
34. Pilot ladder image – tell me about condition of this and how to rig
35. Pilot overboard, actions from deck
36. Pilot overboard, actions from bridge
37. Search patterns – draw sector search for the camera

Buoyage:
Wanted to know topmark, direction to pass and light characteristics and what are they used for
1) West cardinal
2) IALA B pref to port
3) IALA A port lateral mark
4) Isolated danger mark
Then did a buoyed channel and asked me to put each one on the correct side to pass inbound heading 180* Also asked could IALA A and B be mixed.
ColRegs
1. TSS Crossing, vessel on port side following TSS
2. TSS crossing, vessel on stbd side following TSS
3. TSS crossing, fishing vessel following lane
4. Narrow channel, Fishing vessel ahead on stbd side of channel. We are overtaking – actions-
Tried to pass port side, no response, so opted to sound for starboard side, then asked about bank effect and interaction

Restricted visibility:
Done with blips to be put onto my radar sheet to complete plot. Wanted to see a completed plot with A O W
1 vsl on port quarter risk of collison
1 vessel on stbd quarter NO risk of collison
ACTIONS of own vessel – Actions of each of the other vessels

Thanks to everybody that has helped with my training and the small groups I got involved with to pass.