Time and Date – 1330 on 1st August 2019

Examiner - Parsons with Jackson sitting in.

I arrived early but was not taken in until 1330. The examiner (Parsons) asked me to take
my TRB, passport and discharge book in with me. He never asked for my workbook so I
left it in my bag and it was kept in the locker.

Parsons was being assessed by Jackson who sat at the back of the room taking notes.

Opening question was a height of tide for Blyth. Calculate the height of tide at 1500 on
1st of August.

You are dropped at the gangway by the agent arriving at your first ship. What do you
do? (see general condition of vessel, safe access, met by gangway watchman etc)

Get to the top of the gangway and what do you expect the gangway watchman to do?

Explain different ISPS levels.

Continue with what happens on your arrival (met by duty officer, shown cabin etc before
going to see captain with docs)

What documents do you give to the captain?

What is your seafarers employment agreement?

You go to the bridge to set it up for departure - what do you do? (as per company
checklist)

He asked me what the AIS is and what it’s used for. Different types of information (static,
dynamic, voyage).

How would you set your Ecdis up? What is safety contour and safety depth.

How would you set the radar up? Asked about gain and clutter controls, what they do
etc.

You go to mooring stations to let go the lines - what are your actions? (Toolbox talk,
dynamic risk assessment etc). He then began asking me about mooring lines and what
causes them to deteriorate (weather, exposure to sun etc).

On your way to your cabin you see smoke coming from under a cabin door. What are
your actions? (Raise alarm etc, don’t go in)
If you see a small fire in a garbage bin what are your actions? (Raise alarm and tackle if
you can)

What types of extinguishers are used for what type of fire? What is the disadvantage of a
dry powder extinguisher (no cooling affect).

Identify chart symbols - a racon and safe water mark. How would the racon (B) appear on
your radar.(expected to know how to Morse Code for Bravo). He asked what spoilt
ground was.

Given a UN number and asked to look up characteristics in IMDG (volume 2). What will
you do if you get a spill of it on deck? (Supplement)

Explain the procedure for launching the lifeboat. When I was discussing on and off load
release he asked me to draw how the hydrostatic interlock in the lifeboat works? Just
drew a boat shape with two hooks at each end, a square for the interlock and two lines
to each hook? Didn’t really know the ins and outs of how it works.

Chief cook phones you and wants to put food overboard. What are the Marpol
requirements for this?

He then gave me a buoy channel. I was going with the direction of buoyage. Safe water
mark, special mark with port significance, isolated danger, East and West cardinal marks
and I had to go between them, and a couple of lateral marks. The special mark, isolated
danger and cardinal marks never had top marks. He wanted to know the full
characteristics of each buoy and where I’d leave it.

I then had numerous RoR situations with two wooden ships. (Crossing as give way and
then stand on, pilot vessel crossing - it’s sound signals in restricted vis?, overtaking,
altering out of a TSS to avoid collision - are you allowed to do that? If you do this call the
captain. How would you normally enter or leave a TSS?

NUC from astern, making way or vessel aground. If it’s vessel aground dead ahead what
are your actions?

There were quite a few others but I can’t really remember what they were.

The last question was a radar plot. He drew my heading and two targets then they left
the room for me to complete the plots. One was overtaking on my starboard side, one
was right ahead of me but stopped. I explained I couldn’t determine aspect so was in
doubt as to whether or not I was overtaking. If I’m in doubt I shall assume I am and I told
him I’d alter to port.

He then filled out my NOE, congratulated me and sent me on my way.

He said at the start the exam was split into two parts (general knowledge and then RoR).
The general knowledge was all straight forward with no real curve balls, the situations
were quite intense so make sure you practice plenty of them.

I’m sure there’s the odd question I’ve missed out but nothing major.

Make sure you go to orals prep classes, because, well why wouldn’t you?! It’s the most
preparation and guidance you are going to get on what to expect and how to answer
the questions.