Oliver Turner vs Captain Hawkins

Chief Mate/Master 3000GT Orals
Candidate : Oliver Turner
Time: 1h30mins
Examiner: Captain Hawkins (Belfast)
Attempt: 1st
Usual exam explanation, syllabus to examined on, look round the room, check documents. Told
when to respond as Master or Chief Mate.
1. Joining as a master 2999t ship what certificates would you expect to see? Mentioned the
statutory certs.
2. Stopped and asked about SMD – what can you find on it? Listed as much as I could. Who
issues it.
3. What certificates would you expect the 2nd officer to have?
4. Then I got shown various chart extracts and asked to identify chart symbols, lateral marks,
leading lights, lighthouse.
5. Put up a chart extract of an approach to port showing a channel of depth 6.3m and I had a
draught of 6.5m, how would I know when I could pass through it. I said I would get the tide
tables and calculate the Height of tide required to ensure I had a suitable UKC.
6. Shown a tidal diamond, what is it and how do I use it.
7. Shown a Stevenson Screen, what is it and what uses does it have. I explained and said how
we could predict fog, depression of wet bulb, sea surface, plot etc.
8. You are on a passage from South African to New York, go through the process of voyage
planning. I asked if we had already loaded cargo, he said no so I explained the whole process
for how I knew how much cargo we could load in respect to load lines and any depth
restriction on the passage. Mentioned FW, Fuel consumption, Stability throughout voyage.
9. He then stopped me and asked specifically about the passage plan, how would I do it. I
started explain the steps for APEM and then was asked what publications I would consult.
10. Listed a load and then he asked for all the information available on a routeing chart.
Mentioned that I would need to decide what type of route I was going to do, GC or Rhumb
line. Explained I would use a gnomonic chart to plan a GC and transfer the waypoints to the
Mercator charts.
11. As I mentioned Ice limits on the routeing chart I was then told how would I prepare for
encountering ice, listed a load of standards things, eg manning levels and HoR
considerations, ice reports, and spoke about stability and how potentially I may get ice
accretion, unsymmetrical and symmetrical.
12. What if the effect of Ice accretion, I explained reduction of GM, potential list if
unsymmetrical, reduced dynamic and static stability.
13. How would I get rid of the ice accretion or reduce it. I went down the route of risk
assessment for if it is safe for crew to go outside and chip it off, winter clothing, correct
tools, salt for decks, weather conditions etc and he asked what else and I finally said alter
course which was what he was looking for.
14. What are the constraints and limitations of the radar.
15. Then I was put in a narrow channel with strong current coming from stern, How would I
anchor? I did a snub around and into an open moor. He seemed happy with this and we
moved on.
16. Next was back in South African and ship was due to load a heavy lift using own crane, how
would I do this. Started with RA+TT+Check equipment, went deep on checks for the crane,
PMS record, register of lifting gear, certs for loose gear, inspection of crane wires, what
damage to look for, is the SWL of our crane adequate for the cargo, he eventually stopped
me and said the crane and lifting gear is fine. I moved on to say I would want to know more
information about the cargo SI 336, lifting points, securing points and arrangements, will the
shipper provide securing gear or will ship have to provide it, can we get any in port, need to
be risk assessed and planned ahead before loading. Pre loading check of equipment, mates
receipt. Stability calculations, max angle of list during lift, remove/minimise FSE by pressing
up or emptying tanks. Hoisting RY. Permit to Work for heavy lift. I said a lot and he
eventually stopped me and said it is going in the hold not on deck as I mentioned checking
CSM for deck load densities. So I started talking about hold preparation, ensuring no water
ingress by a hose test, checking bilges, laying down dunnage to spread weight, ensure no
rust. He then prompted me and asked what else about my stability should I consider, which
is when I said SFs and BMs.
17. Then after that long explanation gave a procedure for how to contact lift, bankman, area
cordoned off, PPE, comms etc.
18. After this I was asked what to prepare for drydock as a Chief Mate, said repair list, docking
plan, get information from drydock regarding declivity of dry dock to help me calculate what
trim I needed. Security in dry dock and exchange of DOS, Sewage – discharge to shoreside
but be aware of it for stability calculations, Garbage disposal and report as per CERS. Power
connection as we would do a black out test in drydock.
19. Was then asked to explain the whole stability process during dry dock, P force, loss of GM,
critical period, critical instant etc.
20. Left drydock, now on a bulk carriers as master, have a collision, what are my actions. Ran
through the usual, distress, hold other vessel accountable but will offer assistance, check for
ingress of water, fire and medical team standby, WT doors closed, and he kept saying what
else and eventually I said deploy my SOPEP plan – MFP!!!
21. Then I was asked what preparations and precautions do I need to consider for medivac via
helicopter. Struggled with this but mentioned there is an MGN about this could not
remember the number but said there is a checklist in it (MGN 325). A few “what else” and I
said about static discharge and the danger to the crew.
22. Then was asked I am now going to be towed, what are the preparations for being towed,
struggled with this one a bit.
23. Moved on and was asked contents of SOLAS training manual.
24. Back in drydock and we have to enter the chain locker. How would I do this. Enclosed space
entry, COSWP chap 15 and MGN 659, went on for this for a while trying to hit as many
points as I could. Eventually Capt Hawkins stopped and we moved on Buoyage.
25. Buoyage, just identify, what each one was. Lateral marks P&S, preferred channel P, few
more of the same but region B, Safe water mark, Isolated danger mark.
26. Identify what the lights are, RAM, NUC making way, RAM U/M, Pilot vessel.
27. Radar plot, HDG 000, 5 knots, 1 targe stbd quarter, I said commence systematic plotting, got
the next 2. Then said I would complete the plot. Where to put W, what is OA, WA, WO. Then
what is my action.
Captain Hawkins then took the screen away and said I had passed. Little chat after about future
plans and what I thought of the online Orals format and that was that!
There may have been a few other things I was asked but that is most of what I wrote down on the
paper I had in front of me during the exam. Captain Hawkins was very patient, does not give much
away, but gives you time to form your answers and enough prompts to drag out what he is looking
for.
Thanks to everyone who helped me, big thanks to Vinil and Shayne at Glasgow Maritime Academy,
really enjoyed the course, I will be back for Masters. Thanks to all colleagues on the course and some
final tips from Ryan Bird at Whitehorse Maritime.