[esailor Team]

Orals Report
Level Master Unlimited
Date 23-Jan-2024 | 1hr 10min
Examiner Sarah Lawlor
Result Pass
Preparation
Obtained NOE Nov-2022, at which time I took one of Glasgow Maritime Academy’s excellent Masters Orals online prep courses. Made extensive use of the tests at http://www.esailor.net (well worth the small subscription).
Only managed to get an oral date Jan-2024, and that after making a complaint to deck@mcga.gov.uk & onlineoralexams@mcga.gov.uk, cc CustomerFeedback@mcga.gov.uk. Found that the ‘show all updates’ option at the bottom of the MCA list of MSNs (and equivalent for MGNs and MINs) was invaluable in keeping up to date with changes. And was how I found the syllabus had changed from MGN 69 to MIN 653. With limited access to publications when revising at home, the IMO Rules website was my best find for codes and conventions.
Main Section
•
Admin, ID, NOE, tour of room, rules & regulations
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Joining a new company, what process would you expect to follow
o
Company meeting w/ superintendent, HR, DPA
o
Review of SEA and SMS prior to boarding
o
Handover on board a vsl to include [usual list of stuff]
•
Why do you have that meeting?
o
ISM Code (still not exactly sure why TBH, but that’s the answer)
•
Master’s responsibilities under ISM
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How would you lead to maximise safety culture?
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What is Master’s Overriding Authority? Statutory references? Example?
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How would you manage and lead the preparation for completing a passage from Rotterdam to Caribbean?
o
Did not dwell on details, just went over the headlines of what I would expect each officer (3O/2O/CO/CE) to be preparing
o
Stated I would hold a pre-departure meeting for same and discussed format
•
Prior to departure, you have to sign on a new 2E and 3O, process?
o
SEA, Medical, Certs, COC vs CEC vs CRA
o
Safety & security familiarisation
o
Operational and role-specific familiarisation per SMS
•
What would you expect to be included in a safety & security familiarisation
o
Per STCW requirements
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You also have to sign on a cadet, under 18, additional or different checks? Preparation for sailing with this person? What duties would you assign them? What record do they have of their training? What are their Hours of Rest requirements?
o
Talked a lot about dangerous tasks and importance of RAs
•
What are everyone else’s Hours of Rest requirements?
•
How would you prepare for MLC Inspection?
•
What frequency of inspections is associated with an MLC certificate?
•
New 3O is newly qualified, would you put him on watch on departure Rotterdam?
o
He will be supervised by me or CO during his watch until we are clear of the TSS off Oushant. He may have to con or may support us, depending on situation
•
Prior to departure, CE visits you and says he doesn’t really understand the sulphur requirements under MARPOL
o
Review MARPOL VI with him (& CO & 2E); Rotterdam is in ECA
o
Understand how our vessel complies (LSFO vs MGO vs EGS)
o
Do not sail until we are certain we are legal
o
Deal with CE’s ignorance… (examiner said no need to cover this)
•
Do all ships have to have an OLB? What are the contents of the OLB?
•
You are instructed by charterer only to sign clean bill of lading. What is this?
•
CO says cargo is not suitable, what do you do?
o
Stop loading, check, P&I, charterer, request cargo surveyor
o
Do not sign bill of lading
•
How would you manage the relationship with the pilot?
o
Legal responsibilities of each
o
Efficient Master Pilot Exchange
o
Clear comms, comms in English
o
Instruct OOW of expectations if I am not on Bridge
•
Use of tugs, risks associated with using tugs
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What if the pilot was, in your opinion, standing the vessel in to danger?
o
Take the con, make the vessel safe
o
Consequences, legal and operational, of your decision?
•
On departure Rotterdam, Bosun discovers two stowaways, actions?
o
Referred to relevant M-Notice
o
Made clear my humanitarian responsibilities
o
Said I would want resolution prior to going for Atlantic crossing
•
Are any certificates affected by the stowaways
o
ISSC (because stowaways are objective evidence of failure)
o
RA, CAP, update SSP with either new procedures or additional verification if procedures correct but not followed
o
Submit to MCA
•
Who sets security level for ports in UK?
•
What weather would you expect on your Atlantic crossing in October?
•
Preparation for heavy weather
•
Bosun visits you, says some of his ABs are not good, and often late
o
Has he discussed with CO?
o
Discussed difference of conduct vs performance
o
Ran through Code of Conduct, up to dismissal by me from vsl for repeated minor, or single major, breach; and conduct of investigations and meetings
o
In parallel, a pastoral approach to support and aim for improvement
•
What would you put in your night orders, the night before 0500 arrival?
•
What would you put in your standing orders generally?
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Awakened in the night by a crash and GES
o
3O has crashed in to another vessel
o
Prior to my arrival on the Bridge I would have expected the OOW to have…
o
Then I would…
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Salvage vs towage
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Place of safety vs port of refuge
•
Following collision would you prefer to go to a floating dock or dry dock? Why?
o
(container ship still laden with cargo)
•
What certificates are affected by collision?
•
Additional surveys for older bulk carriers; why?
•
What is the purpose of a P&I Club?
Buoyage & Rules
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Buoyage (for each state identity, lights and actions)
o
Outbound IALA-B preferred channel to port
o
Emergency wreck marking buoy (slow down, check where danger is, review NAVTEX / EGC for more information)
o
East cardinal, heading east (FFS)
•
RoR
o
Crossing in TSS, several vessels, state own actions, and responsibilities and likely actions of all other vessels
o
R19 plot (given O/A only, have to approximate W by eye), one stbd bow crossing, one stbd qtr overtaking) – A/C port, or slow down
•
Lights (for each identify and give fog signal)
o
RAM Towing >50m >200m
o
Aground >50m

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