[esailor Team]

Master Unlimited Oral Report
Examiner: Capt. Robert Jackson (Tyne)
Mode: Online
Candidate: Sanat Sawhney (Oil/Chemical Tankers Experience)
Result: PASS
Duration: 1 hour and 20 mins

My exam was scheduled for 1300, and I logged in at 1240 just to get a bit familiar with Teams. As soon as I pressed the meeting link and put in my name and pressed next. Bamm!!! Capt. Jackson was already there. I was not expecting him to be there so early. It just shook me a bit. He didn’t even ask me if I was ready or not, and started with introducing himself and followed it up with a screen share explaining to me the code and conduct of the exam. Then asked me to give 360 degree view of the table, and to show him what was there on the table.
Within 3-4 minutes of commencing of the meeting, he started bombarding me with questions.
He had a copy of my Seamans Book in his hand.
Tell me about your last vessel? Mentioned name, GRT, DWT, Flag, Ship type, and the regular stuff. He told me that whenever I am answering any question, then I have to keep in mind that I am a Master on last vessel.
Why is GRT important to a Master? Which conventions were implemented on your last vessel? I rattled about 10 conventions.
What do you understand by Type 2 and 3 tanker? Where is information about this given?
What are the construction and quantities limitations on a Type 1 and Type 2 tanker?
You are joining your last vessel, what certificates will you be expecting to see? I listed all certificates in the GMA Mates and Masters book. He didn’t stop me at all and wanted to hear each and every certificate.
Once I finished, then he said that I am forgetting 3 important insurance certificates. I mentioned P&I certificate of entry and then couldn’t think of anymore. He prompted me that I should remember I am on a tanker. Then the OPIC and BOPIC struck me. He was happy and we moved on.
What are the 4 major pillars of the ISPS code? What is there in the ISPS code?
What is the master’s responsibility for the ISSC certificate on board? I initially didn’t understand what he wanted to hear, and so I asked him to rephrase the question. He wanted to hear all the elements/documents of the ISPS code? Rattled them off.. When would you sign a DOS? Who is responsible for setting security levels in the UK?
2nd officer calls you at 2 am, hypermist alarm has gone off and its showing its on the boiler in the ER. Actions? He specifically wanted to know the dedicated fire fighting equipment onboard for boiler fire. Sand, portable foam applicator, hypermist. He asked me that who I am sending inside as fireman. I told him like its done on my company vessels. I mention 1 motorman and 1 AB. Omfg!!!! He lost it after that. He said what the hell you just did. You will kill your AB. How can you do that. Capt. Jackson started shouting on me at the top of his voice. Guys he does shout every now and the in the oral exam. Do not get scared or demotivated. I kept my calm as I had read a few of his reports mentioning the same. He asked my that why on this earth I decided to send an AB in the ER. I told him that incase something happens to the 2 firemen, then I can send the other 2 fireman which will also have 1 motorman. But if I lose both my motorman’s then I will have to send the 2 remaining AB’s in the E/R, and in that case both of them are not familiar with the space. He was not happy and said we will come back to this at the end.
What specific fire fighting equipment you have for the scavenge space fire?
What is your responsibilities towards MLC as a master? How would you do an accommodation inspection? Tell me in detail about how the FW tanks are inspected and maintained?
What are the principles of a safe engineering watch? Where will you find the guidance? How will you assist the chief engineer in deciding the watch composition of the E/R?
Cargo loaded. Big difference in ship and shore figures. What would you do? Then agent brings BOL with shore figure for your signature. Actions?
What is salvage and SCOPIC?
Your vessel departing port. Pilot on bridge and tugs alongside. Chief Officer comes to the bridge and tells you that 1 crewmember went ashore, but hasn’t returned. Actions?
What are the different correctors in a magnetic compass and what do they correct for?
Today is the last day of the 3rd month and your lifeboats haven’t been lowered and maneuvered in the water. Actions? He wanted to hear the full procedure of how as a master ensure the lowering of lifeboats are carried out safely.
What are the conditions of a TRS formation? How would you know where are you in respect of the storm?
Again 2 am and 2nd Officer calls you to say that the autopilot is giving and alarm. Actions? After investigation it turned out to be a Gyro Failure. He specifically wanted to hear critical spares and equipment.
You are in European waters. What ae your obligations as master for the ECA? Wanted to hear the FO samples and its analysis are onboard. He asked me what suulphur percentage of fuel alongside in such areas in Europe. I mentioned 0.1. He was not happy. I told him I will check with local agent. He later told me in some places its 0.01% sulphur requirement of fuel. I told him I had never heard of that.
When would your vessel be issued a IEEC? I mentioned EEDI, EEOI, SEEMP, and reporting fuel figures. What do you find in SEEMP?
Then moved on to COLREGS…
7-8 lights. All within the scope of esailor. And also asked me the actions I would take for each.
3 radar plots. One of the plots were a bit ambiguous, where I couldn’t clearly make out if I was overtaking the other or not. I cleared it out with him and eventually he told me its crossing.
No buoyage, and no day situations.

This is all that I can remember. I might have forgotten a few questions.
He then said that we are done and that he really wants to fail me for sending an AB into the E/R, but he really doesn’t have anything else against me and that my rest of the oral exam was spotless. He said congratulations you have PASSED.
He then explained to me that I cannot send a deck personnel into the E/R for fighing the fire, as he is not familiar with the place. If the 2 motorman’s disappear, then I have other engineers, who could don the fireman’s outfit and fight the fire..!!!!!! I told him that I have been sailing for 10 years with , company and all the muster lists on the 200 odd vessels in my company are laid out like that. He said I don’t understand what these companies are thinking, and that I was not the first one to mention this and won’t be the last. So, then I politely mentioned that if MCA already knows about a lot of companies making this mistake, then why they don’t come up with a guidance circular/notice. To which he said that yes, he should take this up with them.

Otherwise Capt. Jackson is a very fair surveyor. He raises his voice, but I guess that’s his style of talking, so guys don’t get intimidated with that.

A big thanks to Vinil, Shayne and all the others in the GMA batch.

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