[james cowperthwaite]

Masters Unlimited 13-05-25
Examiner: Khairul Anam
1h
Attempt – First attempt
PASS
Experience – Pax Ships

I joined the Teams meeting 15 minutes early and then about 5 minutes later the session started. Initially not recorded, simply confirming who I am and a general chat about where I was in the world and my overall experience during my career.

1. Intially starting the usual entry questions regarding my experience and the last vessel that I was on – I mentioned the general specifications of the vessel, LSA and FFA capacity noted as well. Sailing area also noted.
2. I was then asked quite a lot about the Polar Code – Thankfully I have completed Polar Certification courses. I didn’t mention polar regions, he simply started questioning the topic. Regards to this I ended up dipping in to MLC regarding the ships crew requiring additional warm clothing for the environment. Requirements and expectations of the Ice Pilot was also questioned as I brought up the point. Ice forecasting and guidance means and methods, instructions and expectations from all departments onboard. Basically he in went very in depth into the Polar Code and brought in questions regarding MLC and this later went into ISM Code considerations as he asked what I would do if the company ensisted I proceeded into polar regions and I didn’t believe it to be safe. Ultimately I mentioned the Masters Overriding Authority.
3. ISM COde – What is the purpose and goals?
4. Documents required per ISM Code?
5. How would you ensure ISM cOde is functional but very specifically focusing on an example he gave as an event where, a surveyor is onboard and during an operation involving lowering of a lifeboat it suddenly falls on deck. I indicated I would first stop all operations, clear all people away and after forming a risk assesment secure the boat. Then root cause analysis was mentioned, checking of maintenance records, crew training, accident reports etc.
6. MAIB noted – so then I was questioned about there purpose, methods of investigation, any blame seeking?
7. Dispensations where unable to get maintenance in the current port, but risk assessments and CAPs formed with additional liferafts onboard before sailing at least covered.
8. Passengers onboard – Safety briefing requirements.
9. Magnetic Errors – A very general question regarding what sources of errors and what corrective actions – Basically I mentiioned every source I could remember per all the Coefficients.
10. He then went further to considerations of those experienced enroute, so I described Retentitive error…this was ultimately the main point of interest as far as I saw. I had mentioned annealing the quadrantal spheres and one point but that opened a small can of worms. He asked what would be my concern here? I said well ultimately it could make it worse but in any case it was only done with a compass corrector onboard.
10. SAR plans – Content, intent, who exactly confirms it is authorised as a plan.
11. DG DOC – Content, purpose, validity and where it comes from….which authority.
12. I brought up ACS and EAS at a later point and so the general intent of the schemes was questions. How to get in, how to know you are in and certification covered. Which parts the MCA still checked etc.
13. Offical logbook and Oil Record Books – Which parts the Master signs, content of part 2 of ORB and then Oil Record Book part 1 what are the general things recorded. Also how would I be sure that fuel bunkered was according to that within the Oil Record Book – sampling, cross checking records with tank volumes etc.
14. Stability – How would I ensure tha the relevant criteria is being met – I essentially spoke about the guidance I would give to an officer in charge of the stability onbaord and points of reference as guidance.
15. Also a point which deviated from the Polar Code discussion was the guidance to the navigation team regarding the preparations for proceeding into polar waters. I spoke about the various publications to refer to for general ECDIS use and issues to pay reference to. Additionally, my experience within Antartica was when ENC didn’t cover the whole of the regions we entered. So I spoke about the risk assesment process for using Raster charts.

Possibly more but the rest the of questions largely involved the validity of various certificates and documents, retention periods od documents and to whom to refer to under each certficate.

No emergencies, no COLREGS, no Buoyage and no manoeuvering.

Thank you to GMA staff and APril 2025 intake.

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