[esailor Team]

Master 500gt NC
Date: 08/03/2024
Time: 1435 – 1600
Examiner: Robert Jackson
Result: Fail

Started the exam 10 minutes early as soon as I joined the waiting room he was waiting.
He introduced himself and read through the code of conduct etc etc.
When the exam started he asked me to tell him about my last vessel (harbour tug), he replied with for the purpose of the exam you are on a 499gt vessel.

He asked what certificates I would find on the 499gt vessel.
Went further into the IOPP cert asking what other stuff I would have on board to accompany it I said ORB (he was looking for SOPEP manual)

After that he jumped straight into buoys standard stuff, lights & what way to pass.

Polish crew member joins what would you check? I went though his certification, STCW (wanted to know them all) SEA (wanted the content of it) asked if he could sail on a UK flagged vessel with his polish COC, I said I would check the live list of accepted CECs said he doesn’t have a CEC he can still join what does he have? Looking CRA

Asked what I would update on board with him joining, ran through the standard stuff kept asking me if there was anything else, (he was looking a list of crew onboard as well as a crew list)

OLB wanted to know how long it was valid for, how long kept on board and where it was sent after and what documents should be sent with it (sent to RSS)

Grilled me on MLC certification wanted to know about certificate of inspection for >500gt

Wanted to know where I would find the safe manning level for a vessel >500gt without a voluntary SMD. (MCA produce advisory information in an MGN)

Then went on to you are in France the port comes to you and says your over loaded how are you going to prove your not?
Then grilled me on freshwater allowance and dock water allowance and how I would prove I’m not overloaded. Calculating of freeboard etc.

Engine room fire that spreads to the accommodation.

MOB situation (seen going in the water) told him about what I would do said I would up NUC lights and he seemed shocked. HE said NUC really! I explained why as due to exceptional circumstances I cannot manoeuvre with in accordance with the rules as I am dealing is a MOB situation. (he liked this) really wanted to hear press MOB button on ecdis

Flare in the distance what are you going to do?
You arrive at the position tell me about the searches and where to find, I said imasar V3 expanding square and sector search. He dove deeper into the sector search saying you start on a course of 000 what are you next courses you are going to tell the helmsman to steer. Was looking actual courses

GMDSS frequencies for RT & DSC A1 and A2

Gyro failure what are you going to tell the helmsman to steer gave me a compass rose and told me to work it out. And actions (really wanted to hear about ARPA)

Gave me smarty board was partly submerged objects getting towed under 200m, FV with outlying gear and CBD.

I forgot to talk a series of compass bearings and just gave him everything else. Told me rule N0 7. Meant nothing to me.

The next one he gave me was a single white light asked me to explain what it is, so I went through what all it could be. (He decided SV from stern)
He then said you are doing 000 the bearing is steady and range decreasing, 20 degrees on the stbd bow so I went to port and he said FAIL. (I’m not failing you for the other stuff but I am failing you for this)

His argument was you are doing 000 degrees seeing a stern light range decreasing bearing steady they must be steering slightly to port crossing my bow, he said that vessel is doing 9.9kts and you’re doing 10kts (I was not made aware of this until after the fact) so going to port makes it worse you should have went to stbd.

After telling me I failed he carried on for about another half hour or so with radar plots asking me to would out how long my WO line should be and other situations

Asked me what rules apply in restricted vis I told him 1-10 and 19 although 13 isn’t directly mentioned it is referenced (he did not like this at all)

I wish anyone luck who gets this examiner!

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