REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS

MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR

GUIDELINES FOR
DECK OFFICERS' EXAMINATIONS
(350 GROSS TON MASTER/500 GROSS TON MATE – YACHTS
AND MASTER (YACHTS) – UNLIMITED)

Marshall Islands Maritime and Corporate Administrators, Inc. Telephone: +1-703-620-4880

11495 Commerce Park Drive Email: seafarers@register-iri.com
Reston, Virginia 20191-1506, USA Fax: +1-703-476-8522

Rev. Feb/2021 MI-319Y

 EXAM GUIDELINES (MI-319Y)
REVISION HISTORY

Date Entered
Rev Description
m/dd/yyyy By
1 2/24/2021 Updated to reflect edits to section IV (Examination M. Sparks
Procedures).
9/14/2016 Updated to reflect changes to minimum score for Master M. Sparks
(Yachts) – Unlimited Examination Structure (6 Modules);
edits to minimum scores in Section IV (Examination
Procedures), Master (Yachts) – Unlimited.

Rev. Feb/2021 i MI-319Y

 CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1

II. SYLLABUS – 350 TON MASTER/500 TON MATE – YACHTS ............................ 2

III. SYLLABUS –MASTER (YACHTS) – UNLIMITED ............................................... 4

IV. EXAMINATION PROCEDURES............................................................................. 6

V. THE MULTIPLE-CHOICE EXAMINATION FORMAT: GENERAL ADVICE ...... 7

VI. USING THE ANSWER SHEET................................................................................ 9

VII. SAMPLE QUESTIONS .......................................................................................... 11

VIII. EXAMINATION FEES........................................................................................... 17

ANNEX - PROCTOR GUIDE ............................................................................................ 18

Rev. Feb/2021 ii MI-319Y

I. INTRODUCTION

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator’s (the “Administrator”)
examination system reflects the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of
Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping, 1978, as amended (STCW). Under this system,
the examinations consist of multiple-choice questions randomly compiled from a database of
questions, each appropriate for the competency being tested.

Certain training pre-requisites for certification apply. It is recommended that publication MI-
118E, Requirements for Seafarer Certification by Examination, be consulted to determine
what other examinations, certified training, or sea service may be required by the
Administrator before an examination may be taken.

This booklet has been assembled to familiarize candidates for deck officers’ examinations
with the examination syllabus and format. It contains information on:

a. the examination syllabus for both the 350 ton and unlimited examination;
b. examination procedures and passmark requirements;
c. examination answer sheet instructions; general advice on taking multiple-choice
examinations;
d. specimen examination questions, with an answer key;

350GT Yacht Master/500GT Yacht Mate Examination Structure (3 Modules)

Number of Time for Minimum

Modules Questions Section Score
1. Watchstanding Rules/RMI Regulations 20 1 90%
2. Navigational Problems 5 1 80%
3. Deck General 10 1 70%
• Deck Safety/Environmental Protection 10 70%
• Practical Navigation 10 70%
• Stability & Trim 5 70%
Total number of questions/Total hours 60 3

Master (Yachts) – Unlimited Examination Structure (6 Modules)

Number of Time for Minimum

Modules Questions Section Score
1. Navigation Problems 20 1 80%
2. Practical Navigation 20 1 70%
3. Rules and Regulations 50 2 90%
4. Stability 10 1 70%
5. Oceans Winds and Weather 10 1 70%
6. Safety and Seamanship 30 1 70%
Total number of questions/Total hours 140 7

Rev. Feb/2021 1 MI-319Y

II. SYLLABUS – 350 TON MASTER/500 TON MATE – YACHTS

The following is a list of the main parts and the subsections of the examination syllabus.
Each of the six (6) parts of the syllabus corresponds to an examination paper (e.g., 1.0 is
Watchkeeping, Rules and Regulations). Candidates’ knowledge of each subsection will be
tested.

1.0 Watchstanding, Rules and Regulations

1.1 The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

1.2 The RMI Maritime Act and RMI Regulations (MI-107 and MI-108)

1.3 International Maritime Regulations and Ships’ Operational Responsibilities

2.0 Navigation Problems

2.1 Chartwork

.1 Positioning
.2 Compass Error
.3 Buoyage Systems
.4 Passage Planning
.5 ETA
.6 Set and drift

3.0 Deck General

3.1 Shiphandling

.1 Anchoring and Mooring

.2 Distress Operations
.3 General Seamanship
.4 Shiphandling in Heavy Weather
.5 Towing
.6 Pilotage and Traffic Separation Schemes

3.2 Marine Engineering

.1 Main Propulsion Machinery

.2 Auxiliary Machinery

Rev. Feb/2021 2 MI-319Y

4.0 Deck Safety

4.1 Safety Legislation and Reference Materials

4.2 Life Saving Appliances

4.3 Fire Prevention and Firefighting

4.4 Emergency Medical Care and Emergency Procedures

5.0 Practical Navigation

5.1 Oceans, Winds, and Weather

.1 Tides and Currents

.2 The Atmosphere
.3 Winds and Waves
.4 Clouds and Precipitation
.5 Visibility
.6 Weather Systems, Including Tropical Revolving Storms

5.2 Practical Navigation

.1 Terminology
.2 Buoyage Systems
.3 Piloting and Ocean Navigation
.4 Chart Symbols and Construction

5.3 Applied Navigation

.1 Navigation Problems
.2 Compass Error
.3 Passage Planning
.4 Light Identification
.5 Use of Reference Materials

6.0 Stability

.1 Hydrostatic Principles and Data

.2 Yacht Construction
.3 Trim
.4 Effects of Loading, Discharging, and Shifting Weights
.5 The Inclining Experiment; The Trim and Stability Booklet
.6 Miscellaneous Sources of Trim and Stability Guidance, Including Supplied Methods;
Trials and Maneuvering Data
.7 Metacentric Height; Stability at Large Angles of Heel
.8 Damage Stability and Damage Control; Parallel Axes, Second Moment of Area, and
Dry Docking

Rev. Feb/2021 3 MI-319Y

III. SYLLABUS –MASTER (YACHTS) – UNLIMITED

The following is a list of the main parts and the subsections of the examination syllabus.
Each of the six (6) parts of the syllabus corresponds to an examination paper (e.g., 1.0 is
Watchkeeping, Rules and Regulations). Candidates’ knowledge of each subsection will be
tested.

1.0 Navigation Problems

1.1 Chartwork Problems

.1 Positioning
.2 Compass Error
.3 Buoyage Systems
.4 Passage Planning
.5 ETA
.6 Set and drift

1.2 Applied Navigation

.1 Navigation Problems
.2 Compass Error
.3 Passage Planning
.4 Light Identification
.5 Use of Reference materials
.6 Celestial Navigation Problems

2.0 Practical Navigation

2.1 Terminology
2.2 Buoyage systems
2.3 Piloting and Ocean Navigation
2.4 Chart Symbols and Construction

3.0 Rules and Regulations

1.1 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972
(COLREG)
1.2 The RMI Maritime Act and RMI Regulations (MI-107 and MI-108)
1.3 International Maritime Regulations and Ships’ Operational Responsibilities
1.4 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974/1978, as amended
(SOLAS)
1.5 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as amended
(MARPOL)

Rev. Feb/2021 4 MI-319Y

4.0 Stability

4.1 Hydrostatic Principles and Data

4.2 Yacht Construction
4.3 Trim
4.4 Effects of Loading, Discharging, and Shifting Weights
4.5 The Inclining Experiment; The Trim and Stability Booklet
4.6 Miscellaneous Sources of Trim and Stability Guidance, Including Supplied Methods;
Trials and Maneuvering Data
4.7 Metacentric Height; Stability at Large Angles of Heel
4.8 Damage Stability and Damage Control; Parallel Axes, Second Moment of Area, and
Dry Docking

5.0 Oceans, Winds, and Weather

5.1 Tides and Currents

5.2 The Atmosphere
5.3 Winds and Waves
5.4 Clouds and Precipitation
5.5 Visibility
5.6 Weather Systems, Including Tropical Revolving Storms

6.0 Safety and Seamanship

6.1 Safety

.1 Life Saving Appliances

.2 Fire Prevention and Firefighting
.3 Emergency Medical Care and Emergency Procedures

6.2 Seamanship

.1 Shiphandling

.1 Anchoring and Mooring

.2 Distress Operations
.3 General Seamanship
.4 Shiphandling in Heavy Weather
.5 Towing

.2 Pilotage and traffic separation schemes

6.3 Marine Engineering

.1 Main Propulsion Machinery

.2 Auxiliary Machinery

Rev. Feb/2021 5 MI-319Y

IV. EXAMINATION PROCEDURES

Examinations are administered after Administrator approval and upon successful completion
of the appropriate course. The examination is closed book; that is, candidates may not use
books, notes, or other reference materials, other than those supplied at the test center. They
may use non-programmable calculators and their own English language dictionaries if they
wish. Candidates must bring their own navigation instruments (parallel rules, dividers, etc.).
Publications such as a Nautical Almanac, tide tables, SOLAS, MARPOL, RMI publications,
reduction tables, etc. will be available in the examination room.

Candidates may not communicate with each other during the examination. Any candidate
who communicates with an unauthorized person, or uses unauthorized materials, will be
dismissed from the examination and will be considered to have failed the entire examination.
Candidates failing under these circumstances will not be eligible for re-examination for a
period of six (6) months.

Candidates will normally be advised of their results immediately after an examination grader
has reviewed their examination. A passing grade will be considered as follows:

350 GT MASTER/500 GT MATE – YACHTS

Navigation Rules – 90%

Chart Problems – 80%
All other sections – 70%

Candidates who are not successful in one (1) of the exams must arrange to be re-examined in
that section and obtain a passing grade in order to receive certification. Candidates who are
not successful in two (2) or more sections must retake the entire course/examination.

MASTER (YACHTS) – UNLIMITED

70%
Practical Navigation
Stability
Oceans Winds and Weather
Safety and Seamanship

80%
Navigation problems

90%
Rules and Regulations
Candidates who are not successful in up to two (2) sections must arrange to be re-examined
in those sections and obtain a passing grade in order to receive certification. Candidates who
are not successful in more than two (2) sections must retake the entire examination. Figure 2
summarizes the re-examination procedure.
Up to two (2) re-examinations may be taken. A candidate may re-take the section(s) as soon
as it has been determined that he/she has been unsuccessful in no more than two (2) sections;
however, in no case shall this be permitted more than one (1) year from the date of the initial
examination.

Rev. Feb/2021 6 MI-319Y

 If the candidate has not been successful in more than two (2) sections, then he/she must wait
at least 30 days to retake the entire examination but no more than one (1) year from the date
of the initial examination.

The second re-examination will be determined from the first re-examination date. The
candidate must wait at least 30 days for the second re-examination. This will allow the
candidate to better prepare for the retake. If the candidate is unsuccessful after two (2)
attempts, the entire examination must be retaken but not within a year’s time from the date of
the last examination taken.

If the entire examination must be taken again due to failure to pass all sections in two (2)
retake attempts, the entire examination fee will be collected.

V. THE MULTIPLE-CHOICE EXAMINATION FORMAT: GENERAL ADVICE

The examination format is multiple-choice. Each question has four (4) possible answers.
The candidate must blacken the space on the answer sheet that corresponds to the letter of
the answer that is considered to be the most appropriate. A candidate’s score is determined
by the number of questions that are answered correctly compared to the number of questions
in that test part. All questions have the same value. Candidates are advised to answer each
question as well as they can and not to spend too much time on any particular question.
Candidates not knowing the answer to a question should leave it blank and go on to the next
question. If time is left after finishing the rest of the questions, the candidate can then go
back to the questions left blank to answer those that were skipped.

Rev. Feb/2021 7 MI-319Y

 FIGURE 2
EXAMINATION PROCESS

FULL EXAMINATION

FAIL 2 PARTS EXAM FAIL MORE THAN

OR LESS GRADED 2 PARTS

PASS

FIRST RE-EXAM OF CERTIFICATE RETAKE ENTIRE

FAILED PARTS AFTER ISSUED EXAM AFTER 30
3 DAYS BUT NOT DAYS BUT NOT
MORE THAN A YEAR MORE THAN A YEAR

SECOND RE-EXAM OF
FAILED PARTS AFTER 30
PARTS FAIL UP TO RE-EXAM
FAIL DAYS BUT WITHIN 12 2 PARTS
GRADED GRADED
MONTHS OF ORIGINAL
EXAM

PASS
PARTS
GRADED

FAIL
FAIL
MORE THAN
2 PARTS
RETAKE ENTIRE
EXAM AFTER
PASS
12 MONTHS
PASS

CERTIFICATE
ISSUED

Rev. Feb/2021 8 MI-319Y

VI. USING THE ANSWER SHEET

A specimen of the examination answer sheet is shown in Figure 3. The candidate must mark
all answers on a sheet similar to this. No credit will be given for anything marked in the examination
booklet. The candidate should not make any notes, calculations, or extra marks on the answer sheet.
The candidate must NOT fold the answer sheet.

The answer spaces are lettered a, b, c, and d to match the answers in the examination booklet.
The candidate should use a No. 2 pencil to fill in the space marked with the letter corresponding to
the letter of the answer that best answers the question. The candidate should be sure that the circle is
filled in completely. IF THE CANDIDATE CHANGES THE ANSWER, THE FIRST CHOICE
MUST BE ERASED COMPLETELY AND THE NEW ANSWER MARKED.
No credit will be given for questions with what would appear to have more than one (1) answer
marked.

Rev. Feb/2021 9 MI-319Y

 FIGURE 3

Rev. Feb/2021 10 MI-319Y

VII. SAMPLE QUESTIONS

1.0 Watchstanding Rules and Regulations

.1 All of the following are distress signals under the Rules EXCEPT__________________.

a. International Code Signal "AA"

b. orange-colored smoke
c. red flares
d. the repeated raising and lowering of out stretched arms

.2 The operation of Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) registered vessels is governed at all
times and places by______________.

a. the national law of the Master and crew.

b. the RMI Maritime Act.
c. the American General Maritime Law.
d. the law of the port country, if the ship is in port, and the RMI Maritime Act when the
ship is in international waters.

.3 You are in charge of a power-driven vessel making way in dense fog. You observe what
appears to be another vessel on radar half a mile distant on your port bow and closing. You
must _____.

a. sound the danger signal

b. exchange passing signals
c. sound one prolonged blast
d. sound one short, one prolonged, and one short blast

.4 In which situation would risk of collision definitely exist?

a. A vessel is 22 degrees on your port bow, range increasing, bearing changing slightly
to the right.
b. A vessel is broad on your starboard beam, range decreasing, bearing changing
rapidly to the right.
c. A vessel is 22 degrees abaft your port beam, range increasing, bearing is constant.
d. A vessel is on your starboard quarter, range decreasing, bearing is constant.

.5 Which situation would be a "special circumstance" under the Rules?

a. Vessel at anchor
b. More than two vessels meeting
c. Speed in fog
d. Two vessels crossing

Rev. Feb/2021 11 MI-319Y

2.0 Deck General

.1 You are on a single-screw vessel with a left-handed propeller making no way in the water.
How will your vessel react when you apply right rudder?

a. Bow will kick to starboard

b. Bow will kick to port
c. Rudder alone has no effect on the vessel
d. Stern will kick to port, then slowly swing to starboard

.2 What are reef points used for?

a. Reduce the area of a sail

b. Keep the sail taut in light airs
c. Reduce the draft if the boat runs aground
d. Increase the strength of the mast

.3 Your vessel is port side to a pier with a spring line led aft from the bow. In calm weather,
putting the engines ahead with the rudder hard to port should bring ____________.

a. the bow in and the stern out

b. both the bow and stern in
c. the bow out and the stern in
d. both the bow and stern out

.4 What is required to be stenciled at the heel of a cargo winch/boom?

a. Maximum angle of elevation permitted

b. Date of the last quadrennial test
c. Safe working load
d. Manufacture’s name

.5 A proper look-out must be kept _____________.

a. only in fog
b. only between the hours of sunset and sunrise
c. only when entering and leaving port
d. at all times

Rev. Feb/2021 12 MI-319Y

3.0 Deck Safety and Environmental Protection

.1 Radiation spreads a fire by ___________.

a. transferring heat across an unobstructed space

b. heated gases flowing through ventilation systems
c. burning liquids flowing into another space
d. transmitting the heat of a fire through the ship's metal

.2 The major cause of shock in burn victims is the ________.

a. high level of pain

b. emotional stress
c. increase in body temperature and pulse rate
d. massive loss of fluid through the burned area

.3 Hand holds or straps on the underside of an inflatable liferaft are provided _________.

a. to right the raft if it capsizes

b. to carry the raft around on deck
c. for crewmen to hang on to
d. to hang the raft for drying

.4 A person has fallen overboard and is being picked up with a rescue boat. If the person
appears in danger of drowning, the rescue boat should be maneuvered to
make____________________.

a. an approach from leeward

b. an approach from windward
c. an approach across the wind
d. the most direct approach

.5 How often should the line throwing equipment be demonstrated to the crew on an RMI
registered ship?

a. every three months.

b. every voyage.
c. monthly.
d. weekly.

Rev. Feb/2021 13 MI-319Y

4.0 Navigation General

.1 On a mercator chart, 1 nautical mile is equal to _________.

a. 1 minute of longitude
b. 1 degree of longitude
c. 1 minute of latitude
d. 1 degree of latitude

.2 While taking weather observations, you determine that the wind is blowing from the
northeast. You would record the wind direction in the logbook as ____________.

a. 045
b. 090
c. 300
d. 225

.3 The revision date of a chart is printed on which area of the chart?

a. top center
b. lower-left corner
c. part of the chart title
d. any clear area around the neat line

.4 Which term refers to the direction a current is flowing?

a. Set
b. Drift
c. Vector direction
d. Stand

.5 Solid green arrows on the main body of a pilot chart indicate __________.

a. prevailing wind directions

b. prevailing ocean current directions
c. probable surface current flow
d. shortest great circle routes

Rev. Feb/2021 14 MI-319Y

5.0 Stability and Trim

.1 When the height of the metacenter is the same as the height of the center of gravity, the
metacentric height is equal to ________.

a. the height of the metacenter

b. the height of the center of gravity
c. half the height of the metacenter
d. zero

.2 The waterplane area is described as the intersection of the surface of the water in which a
vessel floats and the ________.

a. baseline
b. vertical reference plane
c. hull
d. horizontal reference plane

.3 A tank which is NOT completely full or empty is called _________.

a. pressed
b. slack
c. inertial
d. elemental

.4 You must shift a large tender (weight) from an upper deck to a lower hold. This shift will
_________.

a. make the vessel more tender

b. make the vessel stiffer
c. increase the rolling period
d. decrease the metacentric height

.5 Forces within a vessel have caused a difference between the starboard and port drafts. This
difference is called ________.

a. list
b. heel
c. trim
d. flotation

Rev. Feb/2021 15 MI-319Y

Answer Key

Section 1 – Watchstanding Rules and Regulations

1. a
2. b
3. c
4. d
5. b

Section 2 – Deck General

1. c
2. a
3. a
4. c
5. d

Section 3 – Deck Safety and Environmental Protection

1. a
2. d
3. a
4. d
5. a

Section 4 – Navigation General

1. c
2. a
3. b
4. a
5. b

Section 5 – Stability and Trim

1. d
2. c
3. b
4. b
5. a

Rev. Feb/2021 16 MI-319Y

VIII. EXAMINATION FEES

i. Examination fees ....................................................................................................................... USD $300

ii. Each re-take of failed officer examination ……………………… ........................................ USD $150

Remittances

i. All fees remitted by check or money order must be in United States (US) dollars, drawn on a
US bank or the US branch of an international bank and made payable to The Trust Company
of the Marshall Islands, Inc.

ii. Fees may also be paid online by credit card at https://www.tcmi-inc.com/miPayments/.

iii. Candidates should send checks (no cash) with the application.

iv When not applying in person through a filing agent, the application with payment should be
sent by courier.

Rev. Feb/2021 17 MI-319Y

 ANNEX - PROCTOR GUIDE

Proctors for Marshall Islands examinations must ensure a secure examination room. To ensure
security:

• the examinee cannot leave the examination room while an examination is being taken until
they have completed a specific part, comfort calls must be made prior to the examination;
• examinees cannot speak to anyone but the proctor during the examination;
• examinees cannot use any material other than that supplied in the examination room and
allowed by the Administrator for a given part of the examination; and
• examinees must turn in any electronic devices that are capable of communicating outside of
the examination room, recording, or taking photographs (e.g. cellular telephones).

Examinees may bring the following personal items into the examination room to aid them:

• A non-programmable calculator
• Writing instruments
• Navigation plotting instruments
• Star finder

Proctors should ensure the following are made available to the examinee:

• Writing instruments
• Scratch Paper
• Appropriate publications (as required by exam type)
o SOLAS
o MARPOL
o MI-108 Maritime Regulations (available at www.register-iri.com)
o MI-107 Maritime Law (available at www.register-iri.com)
o Reduction tables for Latitudes 15 to 45 degrees
o Examination Administration Booklet (supplied by the Administrator)
• Critique sheet for each part of the examination
• Answer sheet for each part of the examination (must not write in booklet)

The duration of each part of the examination and the entire examination cannot exceed the scheduled
time. Examinees may, however, take as many parts in one day as they can complete, taking less
time overall to complete the entire examination.

At the end of each section the proctor must collect all scratch paper, the examination booklet, the
critique sheet, and the answer sheet and return them to the Administrator for review and correction.
The results will be sent to the facility proctoring the examination and to the sponsor for the
examinee.

Rev. Feb/2021 18 MI-319Y

The Administrator has no objection to third party facilities that provide proctoring services for
Marshall Islands examinations to recoup their expenses by charging examinees a fee not to exceed
USD 150.00.

Rev. Feb/2021 19 MI-319Y