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Atanasio Calunga -Master Unlimited
Glasgow Marine Office
17 March 2020
1330hrs-1435hrs

He said let’s start with rules to break the ice.
1.
a) smarty board, about 4 different types of ships, asked me to tell him everything except action…ship type, size, nav status, fog signal, day shape. (all as per cosoft)
b) Collision avoidance in TSS. I am on a pdv following the traffic lane; there is a fishing vessel ahead of me heading at 45° angle to my heading. I sounded 5 short blasts…
c) Again In TSS, I am on a pdv crossing the tss but still inside the separation zone. Please note that the ship model was bigger than the separation zone. The separation zone was across the midship section of the ship model so I just considered that I was still inside the separation zone. A sailing vessel ahead of me is following the traffic lane, with risk of collision. I slowed down and stayed in the separation zone.
d) What ships can use the separation zone?
e) Open sea. The second mate calles you on the bridge. You come to the bridge and see one pdv head on, one pdv right astern, one on the starboard quarter and a sailing vessel on the starboard beam. Action? I mentioned rule 2, sounded two short blasts and made a bold alteration of course to port.
e) Restricted visibility. He plotted OA of 4 targets and asked me to complete the plots with W and explain what each vessel was doing and what I would do. One on the stbd quarter, overtaking with risk of collision; One on the starboard beam making same course and speed; one 4 points on the port bow without risk of collision; one overtaking from the port quarter without risk of collision. I explained why I wouldn’t go to port or stbd and slowed down.
2. Fog approaching. How would you prepare your vessel for restricted visibility?
3. What is the duration of a long blast?
4. Buoyage. He placed two cardinal marks in front of me and asked me to put the correct topmarks. It was north and south cardinal marks.
5. He then placed south cardinal mark in front of my ship. Swang the compass rose until it came to stop pointing north. He said this is your heading, and you find this buoy in front of you. Action? I said I am in safe water now and cannot proceed further. Stopped my vessel, checked my position, the chart, etc…
6. You are the master on a pdv alongside a jetty ready to cast off. How would you receive the pilot?
7. On the bridge you smell alcohol from the pilot, what would you do? I informed the port authority and requested that the pilot be checked before casting off.
8. The terminal confirmed that the pilot is indeed drunk. They tell you to go ahead and cast off without a pilot. He clarified that we are now on ship handling. I am on a pdv, single screw, fixed pitch, right hand propeller, no bow thrusters, port side alongside. One ship moored ahead and one astern of me, about 200m clearance between the ships. Downstream current, negligible wind. He told me to unberth the ship.

After this he said you can now breathe (this gave me the impression that I had done well so far)

9. What certificates are issued by MCA?
10. Can a psc inspector see your ship security plan?
11. When do you exchange DOS?
12. Who sets the security level on ships in the UK?
13. Tell me about continuous synopsis record.
14. You join a ship and you found number 9 on the CSR. All previous numbers were missing, is there a problem? I said no as long as the amendments made in the previous editions are all mentioned on form 3.
15. What is the role of MAIB? Are they an enforcement agency?
16. You had an accident, let’s say a collision. How would you notify MAIB?
17. What evidence will you collect to hand to MAIB?
18. New chief officer joins with a foreign COC. Tell me all the certificates that you would check.
19. Tell me about ISM certification and inspection schedule (DOC and SMC).
20. What are the contents of an ISM DOC? The magic words he was waiting for were ‘types of ships’, then he moved on.
21. How would you motivate your crew with respect to ISM?
22. What certificates are associated with MLC?
23. Tell me the difference between dmlc1 and dmlc2. What are the contents of dmlc2?
24. 10 crewmembers are complaining about the chief cook, saying that the food is not good. Action? I summoned a meeting, heard all parties, followed the onboard complaints procedure, found a solution, made a record, and gave copies to all parties.
25. Few days later they come back saying that it got worse and now they also complain that the chief cook has no hygiene. Action? I went for a galley inspection, found that to be true. Summoned the pco again and asked him to bring a witness with him, read all the accusations against him, read a summary of the previous meeting, asked him to explain, and gave him a formal written warning as the first meeting served as a verbal warning already. Made entry in the official log book. If he does not change, then report to company and ask for reliever.
26. Rest hours for young persons.
27. For how long should you keep a bunker delivery note onboard? I said 2 years but in the feedback he told me it should be 3 years…
28. Where can you find guidance on how to make entries in the oil record book? (in the initial pages of ORB)
29. What are your responsibilities as a master towards the ORB?
30. What types of documents can you attach to the official log book? Can you add new pages?
That’s all I can remember…But I don’t think I’ve missed much.
In the end he asked me why I failed last time. I told him I was failed by Capt. Malcolm on 3 questions: a) MAIB reporting (I didn’t mention the ARF); b) Difference between UK and International loadline certificate; c) SOLAS bulkhead fire integrity class for a passenger ship’s engine room, accommodation and bridge. Then I told him the answers without him asking.

He then said that he was sorry 🙁 because he could not shake my hand due to the corona virus situation coz I had passed my exam.
A few tips:
• If it has been a while since you attended your orals prep at GMA, do go to periscope to watch recorded classes, especially ror and SHIP HANDLING.
• When answering any rule situations whether restricted or clear visibility, tell the examiner under what rule you will take your action. This leaves a good impression on him and shows your deep knowledge of the rules, and perhaps prevents for any potential other question being asked regarding that situation.
• Please go through past oral reports. One or two questions from a past report might just determine your fate in your exam.

I wish you good luck…and thanks GMA!

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