[esailor Team]

Orals Report – Chief Mate’s Unlimited/Master 3000GT

Date: 24/03/2021
Examiner: Michele Moro
Prep Course: GMA
Location: Online
Start: 1120
Finish: 1225
Experience: Cruise Ships, Yachts

I logged into the teams meeting at 1115 and was joined by the examiner at 1120. Michele immediately made me feel at ease and ran through a few of the guidelines previously sent to me by the MCA. We had a quick 5-minute chat where we discussed my previous experience which allowed me to calm my nerves, and then he asked if I was ready to start the exam and got straight into it.

You are joining as a new chief mate, on a new build yacht. Talk me through the procedures for joining and what you would be looking out for?

The ship is about to sail, what drills would be required?

Discuss ISPS. What are the processes for obtaining an ISSC?

ISSC validity, surveys?

You have a 17y/o cadet joining. What are you concerns?

You are now on passage for your maiden voyage, and the cook has asked if he can throw food waste over the side. What would you do?

The Ship has run aground. What are your actions as Chief Mate?

You are now considering refloating. Discuss.

Would you require any surveys as a result of the grounding, if so, which ones and why?

Discuss these surveys.

We then discussed Paris MOU in a little further depth including CERS and THETIS in depth.

How would you prepare for an external ISM audit?

How would you help the master implement ISM on board?

You are now back on passage, but your Master has fallen very ill. He is unable to perform duties, how would you react?

It has been advised the master will require a Heli Evac. Discuss.

You have managed to evacuate the Master and the ship is in port. What are your main concerns now, and how would you deal with these?

After the grounding, your ship requires a dry dock. Discuss the planning and requirements of a dry dock as Chief Mate.

SCREEN SHARE:
You are now the Captain of a vessel less than 3000GT, and you are about to leave the dock. Your vessel is p/s alongside, is single screw, no thrusters, no tugs available and will be heading South after departure. You have room to maneuver on your Stbd side. Light winds light current. Discuss.

South

Rules:

For COLREGS I was given 1 scenario with 4 other vessels and was asked to explain each situation separately along with an action at the end. I was in a PDV in a TSS, with another PDV on my starboard side, same course, same speed. Ahead of us, crossing from stbd to port was a sailing vessel. Slight further down, there was a PDV crossing from port to stbd. Further on, was a fishing vessel, NOT engaged in fishing. I went through the ruling for each situation separately, and then gave a final action. Slow down.

Next were several smarty board style light questions. Nothing to catch me out, just the usual sets of lights:
– Towing vessel
– RAM Towing
– Pilot Boat
– FV
– Vessel aground 50m+
I gave the usual answers as instructed by GMA.

Finally a line of buoyage, with the heading 90* and going against the line of buoyage:
– South Cardinal Mark
– Isolated Danger Mark
– IALA A Preferred Channel to Stbd

FINISH SCREEN SHARE

That was is! Michele congratulated me on my answers and told me I had passed the exam. He was very calming throughout and definitely made the experience a more enjoyable one than I had predicted it would be. He was a fair examiner, asking the questions GMA had prepared me for. There was nothing in there to trip me up, but he wanted lots of detail in every answer. He would sit quietly until I felt I was finished with my answer and then move on.

I would like to thank Vinil and Shane for all their help. The GMA Orals prep was incredibly thorough and gave me all the information I needed to pass my exam. Also, a huge thank you to my classmates. Doing after hour sessions with you guys is what got me through. Good luck to all future candidates!

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