Anonymous

Chief Mates Unlimited Exam – August 2022
0900-1000 (Duration 1 Hour)
Previous Experience – Small Coastal Product/ Chem Tankers
The examiner joined at about five minutes to nine and used the 5 minutes to explain the exam procedures etc. We then jumped straight into the exam. I’ve put down as many questions as I can remember but they may not have been asked in this order.
1) What Certificates would you expect a bulk carrier to have onboard?
a. He specifically wanted to know about the Marpol certs IOPP, IAPP, IEEC and EIAPP
2) What precautions would you take prior to going into a scheduled drydock?
a. I mentioned getting rid of slack tanks and he asked me to explain why and a brief explanation of FSM
3) Tell me everything you know about the critical period and how the vessels stability changes.
4) You are C/O, what information are you going to tell and request from the 2/O with regards to passage planning.
5) You are the C/O on a vessel that has just ran aground.
a. What would you expect the master to be doing?
b. What would you be doing as chief officer?
c. You have sustained heavy front end damage and have ballasted to a large trim to lift the affect portion out of the water. What kind of dock would you be looking for to go to for repair?
6) What are the dangers of discharging cargo on a crude oil tanker?
a. What is the max oxygen percentage of IG supply gas?
7) What are the dangers associated with bulk cargoes?
8) What is a bill of lading?
9) What is general average?
a. How does this differ from particular average?
10) What is the difference between Salvage and Towage?
a. What conditions have to be met for salvage?
b. What determines the pay-out for the salver?
c. What is SCOPIC?
11) What is a port of refuge?
a. What main considerations should you make when considering a port of refuge.
That was all I can remember from the main set of questions. Questions were all asked in a general sense for the most part and if the examiner wanted something specific, he would make that clear. We then moved onto ROR.
Started off with buoyage, all were with the direction of travel. He wanted to know what the buoy was, the light colour and rhythm, and what side I would leave it on.
• Isolated Danger
• Port Hand Lateral Mark (Region A)
• Port Hand Lateral Mark indicating a preferred channel to starboard (Region A)
• Port Hand Lateral Mark (Region B)
• Port Hand Lateral Mark indicating a preferred channel to starboard (Region B)
• Safe Water Mark
Moved onto daylight traffic situations, nothing out of the ordinary, I was a PDV in all scenarios.
• NUC Port Side (Asked if I could go to port as well)
• Tug and Tow Port Side (No RAM day shapes so treated this as a PDV)
• PDV Stbd Side (Which looked like a fishing vessel but didn’t have the day shape for a FV)
• CBD Port Side (Asked if I could go to port and why not)
We then moved onto some lights, they weren’t anything complicated and he simply wanted to know all the basic information about the lights. Certainly nothing out of the ordinary.
We then moved onto a RV radar plot. 3 blips all at 135. He asked me to copy the targets onto a plotting sheet and completed the AOW tringle. Then he asked me to describe the situation including my actions under rule 19 as well as the actions of the other vessel. Was very similar to the quiz on rule 19 on e-sailor.
Finally, he told me he was happy to pass me, which was an overwhelming sense of relief! I would like to thank all the lads in my GMA online class who have supported me along the way.
I would also like to take the opportunity to praise Glasgow maritime academy on the quality of their orals prep course. I had previously done an orals prep course at my local college, and it didn’t even come close to the quality of the course from GMA. Thanks again to Captain Gupta and the other great members of staff at GMA for all their support!