[esailor Team]

Master Unlimited II/2
Candidate: Wisdom Peter David
15TH February 2023
Examiner: James Gilbert
Duration: 1hr 03 mins.
Pass
My exam was by 11:30am London time. I logged in by 11:20am and waited. My examiner connected by 11:25am.
Prior to his starting, I asked him if I could keep a piece of paper, pen and a bottle of water to which he replied in the affirmative. I showed him the blank piece of paper.
Started by sharing his screen with me, went through exam conduct rules. Told me about I.T, if we have a communication breakdown, I shouldn’t freak out that we would try to reconnect back.
Asked me to tell him about myself, so I told him about my cadetship till the current time – ships I have sailed with, trading areas, what rank I’m currently on. This was just a chit chat, I guess to gradually ease me into the exams. After telling him about my sailing history, he proceeded to tell me that he will put me on my last ship, that whatsoever I tell him, I should picture myself as a captain on my last ship.
1. Tell me about your last ship – gave him most of the details I could remember.
2. You are joining as master; you just passed the gangway proceeded to the office to meet the outgoing master – how would you take over? I asked him If I could start from the gangway because I already had a pattern (using PSC inspection method – markings, safe access, gangway watch, etc), safety familiarisations, security familiarisations, bridge familiarisation etc and wanted to say as much as I could. Stopped me halfway through mentioning all the certificates and files.
3. Tell me about the ISM SMC, validity, surveys etc.
4. What are your responsibilities as master as per ISM?
5. What can you tell me about MLC 2006? Gave him standard answers on how it came into force, reasons for MLC and also included specifics on Minimum age, ENG1, HOR, crew accommodation, recreational facilities, repatriation, access to medical treatment for work related injury etc.
6. Is there any other document that relates to crew members that the master should carry onboard as per MLC? Told him SEA, reeled out most of the contents I could remember.
7. You have a young cadet who just joined in dry dock – first time at sea, how would you handle him as a master? Spoke on risk assessment, his low safety awareness, immaturity, constant monitoring of health, supervision, hours of rest, night work restrictions etc.
8. How would you ensure that your ship is seaworthy? Spoke about manning as per SMD, proper voyage plan, bridge and deck equipment tests, safe cargo loading, draft and load line restrictions, went into cargo plan, stability reports from chief mate – also mentioned all general criteria for intact stability, hull and machineries, engine status etc. I found this to be a broad point caused I broke it down into the roles for different officers and departments including engine room to make the ship safe to depart to sea.
9. What are masters reporting obligations? Told him about SOLAS Chapter V.
10. What is the difference between Port state and flag state? Explained with example of MCA being a port state and a flag state.
11. He brought out a synoptic chart. Pointed to a particular place in north of UK. It was a low-pressure area with cold fronts. Then he told me to tell him what would come to my mind as a master on seeing that and I was about to depart from port. Told him about the kind of weather experienced there and discussed about heavy weather preps, risk assessment, departing using tugs, safety management meeting and delegation of roles, heaving to, changing passage plan and altering, sea note protest, ETA, report to charterers, owners etc.
12. Shared screen again with radar screen, it was a coastal passage with radar on 12 miles and no. Parallel index lines, no heading line marker, targets were not acquired, ground speed was used etc, the radar was not set properly.
you just came into the bridge and saw the radar screen like this with 2nd mate at one corner of the bridge just staring absent minded.
Told him I would assess the situation. Adjust the radar settings back, spoke about breach of masters standing orders, set a meeting with him after his watch, issue letter of allegation, went through the merchant navy code of conduct process, then ended up with issuing a non-conformity against the company on the basis of improper briefing prior joining as per MLC.
13. You spoke about standing orders – what would be the contents of your standing orders as a master – spoke about the different instructions as per coastal navigation, night-time navigation, deep sea navigation, incorporating company’s safety policy, conduct whilst on watch, equipment settings etc.
14. He went on to ask about pilot joining from Rotterdam about to depart, what would be my actions as master on pilot joining – spoke about master-pilot info exchange, ship manoeuvring characteristics, engine tests, propulsion system tests, standby forward and aft, rest hours etc.
15. You have vibrations while in the channel and steering is sluggish. Actions? Spoke to him about squat and reducing speed, monitoring UKC.
16. Came back to 2nd mate again, you just came to the bridge and realised 2nd mate had run aground, actions? Followed SPARC sequence including initiating SOPEP and fire team standby, reports to coast station, charterers, Owners, MAIB, ERS, records etc and spoke till he told me to stop. I had added deciding if to engage in towage or salvage contract, place of safety.
17. What is the difference between towage contract and salvage. While speaking I went into LOF and master acting as an agent of necessity.
18. What does it mean if the salvor ticks SCOPIC? Spoke about LOF-95 with the clauses.
19. 2nd mate just reported to you that visibility has reduced, what would you expect the 2nd mate to do whilst you are proceeding to the bridge? Spoke about standard restricted visibility navigation procedures, went into rule 19.
20. Shared screen again – 3 targets – one on starboard board risk of collision exists, one on starboard quarter, same speed – no risk of collision, one on port quarter – no risk of collision. Told me to treat the targets as separate situations. 3 blips on starboard bow – he specifically wanted me to explain the OA line and what it means. Later, I explained to him that I would need “W” to complete the plot, then I acted while quoting rule 19. He went on to the target on starboard quarter – 3 blips together, explained to him that I would complete the plot then I explained what the target was doing.
After my explanations, I could feel the exam was coming to an end.
He told me that we had come to the end of the exams that he was quite satisfied with all my answers and told me congratulations, you are now a licensed master.
I might not remember everything but that is most of the things I got asked.
Prior to my exams I had read one of the reports of a chief mate unlimited candidate who stressed on comprehensive answers so I followed that and tried my best to make my answers as comprehensive as best as I could inserting regulations and requirements till, he would say stop then proceed to the next question.
Captain Gilbert is a very fair examiner. He tried to make the exam less stressful.

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