[esailor Team]

Masters unlimited
Bates

Logged in at 0845. Bates logged in a couple of minutes later. Thanked me for being on time then told me the exam would begin shortly.

We began around 0900. He asked me about my experience and what vessels I had been on. I told him I had always been on container ships. He said he also had experience on containerships. The exam would center around a containership doing a run from Tilbury to Australia.

1. My Chief Officer is new, but keen. How would I support and examine the Chief mates ability for this first cargo load. I discussed going over the loadicator with him, ensuring he knows the difference between harbour and sea going stress calculators. Not to load any DG not covered by DG DOC. I would want to examine his stability sheet prior to departure. Check his lashing calculations, rolling period etc. I would also inform him that I expect him to properly manage the warchkeeping officers in port, that they are not skiving off and they are conducting a proper cargo watch. Also as SSO I would want him to know his duties for ship security. Finally I would make sure he was monitoring his department properly with regard to rest hours.
2. Chief Officer expresses desire to inspect a DG container on Quay side before loading. Discussed that under carriage of cargo captain has authority to check all cargo before loading (after I was initially hesitant due to the contsiner being sealed and contents being DG). I said we would inform the Port of our intentions then choose a low risk container (class 9 or excepted quantities). Check the container overall, cic plate, dg placards, class sticker, etc. Conduct a full sja and risk assessment before opening. Once checked, put on new seal and make a note on manifest and official log book.
3. Would you pass on this suggestion to company to make it a policy to check a dg container once every few weeks? I said yes as it could then be placed in the sms with a proper operational procedure and risk assessment template that would be fleet wide.
4. Discussed a recent MAIB report where a fishing boat trawled up a communication cable between mainland and Shetland. Poor passage planning to blame. How would I as Captain motivate my 2nd mate to perform safe passage planning? Started with referring to company policy (sms) regarding passage planning, requirements for UKC etc. I would also go through the passage plan with him. Discussing layers on the ECDIS, data displays, nav warnings, navigational incident reports, remind him of limitations of ecdis, sailing directions. I would also go through the route check function with him.
5. Some crew want to bring friends onboard in port. Would I allow it? Whilst I think he considered my response perhaps a bit draconian I said no. However I did explain my reasons thoroughly and I think he understood that safety and security of ship were most important to me.
6. Discussed his latest inspection of a magnetic compass which had no fluid left. More of a discussion but we shared our knowledge of the magnetic compass and its use and maintsinence.
7. Moved on to one of his latest inspections. He showed some images of non conformities. How would I respond if I was a PSC inspector? Some of the images were clearly MNC’s. I would do an expanded inspection due to clear grounds and detain the vessel (he informed me he did indeed detain the vessel).
8. Vessel has had a serious accident at mooring stations. Safety officer done bad job of investigating. 2 days later same ship has another accident on same mooring station. Actions as Captain? Call extraordinary safety meeting, put NC in against company, inspect sms, inspect permit to work file. Gather heads of department for verbal warning and meeting to inform them of findings and what I expect of them. Go over all risk assessment templates in sms. Crew wide safety training. Safety officer private meeting. Inspection of all ppe. Interview individual crew to assess safety culture onboard. Why is near miss board not being used? Safety videos, sms training on operational procedures etc.
9. MLC, describe its purpose and describe DMLC 1 and 2.
10. Given today’s synoptic chart and asked to discuss weather over 12 hours as vessel leaves Tilbury and heads to biscay.

End of exam. Pass

This is an abbreviated example of my answers for the sake of brevity.

Captain Bates was extremely friendly and polite throughout the exam.

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