Lokurkar vs Balasubramanian

MCA MASTER’S Unlimited Oral Examination Report
Candidate: Amod Lokurkar
Experience: Crude Oil Tankers
Examiner: Capt. Shivakumar Balasubramanian
17-Dec-2025 / PASS
Duration: 1 hr 15 mins
I logged in 15 mins prior the scheduled time, the examiner logged on 5 mins before the time, went
through the rules, code of conduct, id check. He then asked permission to record the exam and informed
me the exam will be for 60 minutes. He clearly stated he wants answers as a master’s level and he will be
picking up topics from MIN 653 directly. Then informed if I’m ready will start the exam.
1) Share your experience until now, last ship type and size.
2) What type of certificates were there onboard your last ship as per the maritime conventions?(MLC, Loadline,
Solas, Marpol)
3) Loadline convention certificates?
4) ISM SMC inspections, frequency & what is checked in each inspections and by whom?
5) Passage plan – what will you discuss with chief engineer regarding Marpol Annex VI?
6) Dry docking preparations, considerations and as master what will you check with chief officer?
7) Marpol Annex 1 discharge criteria for cargo oil tankers? How will you discharge the slops using ODME prior
entering DD?
8) Enroute means what? Can the vessel be in a circular movements in one place during ODME discharge of
slops?
9) What is the difference between Angle of Loll and angle of list? How will you your ship is at Loll or list?
10) After DD magnetic compass adjustment with the certified shore compass adjuster onboard? Procedure to
prepare deviation card, tentative swing, full swing?
11) Which corrector magnets are checked and adjusted during the above and for which coefficients?
12) Emg.: MOB in heavy weather – as master what will do once you are in the bridge? Alarm is raised and turn
initiated? What are your considerations? Which search pattern will you initiate?
13) Emg.: Fire in engine room. CO2 needs to be released. Considerations before releasing and whom will you
report?
14) What is towage, salvage, port of refuge, port of safety?
15) When will you consider port of refuge or port of safety?
16) Considerations for port of refuge and port of safety?
17) Your hull is damaged and your proceeding to place of safety.. and 3 ports available. Which port will you select
and why?
18) Whom will you report while proceeding to place of safety, refuge?
19) Before departure place of safety after repairs carried out whom will you call, report and inform? Which
certificates affected?
20) Buoys: Explain their characteristics and everything in detail when vessel is inbound and see the following
buoys – Port Hand Lateral Mark without Top mark (Can shaped) Region A, Preferred Channel to Port Region
B, Safe Water Mark without Top mark, West Cardinal Mark.
Heading 000 deg and you see this West cardinal Mark – what is your action?
21) ROR: you are on PDV1 in TSS and there another PDV2 crossing from Port side. PDV2 is in separation zone.
What will you explain this situation to your OOW and which rules apply and actions?
22) CBD crossing from Port side. Actions, which rules apply to you and to PDV? Will you go to port?
23) Radar plot: Vessel on 135 deg. 3 plots 10-8-6 NM. Complete the plot. Explain Rule 19. Tell me your and what
could be the other vessel actions too? I said I expect for the vessel overtaking me to alter to starboard and he
probed me – but cn he go to Port? I said yes but my actions would still be the same regardless.
Told me I had Passed!