ORALS EXAMINATION SYLLABUS

STCW REG II/1-OFFICER IN CHARGE OF NAVIGATIONAL WATCH 500 GT OR MORE 

UNLIMITED -  ORALS EXAMINATION SYLLABUS

Navigation

Plan and conduct a passage and determine position: 

a) passage planning with respect to the use of navigational publications including navigational charts (including ECDIS and RCDS), sailing directions, light lists, tide tables, radio navigational warnings and ships’ routeing information;  

b) the requirements of ship routeing and mandatory reporting systems;  

c) IALA systems of maritime buoyages;  

d)  Electronic systems of position fixing and navigation: 

- Ability to determine the ship’s position by use of electronic navigational aids; 

- Knowledge on the limitations and sources of error, methods of correction; 

  

e) limitations of electronic chart systems including ECDIS and others electronic navigational chart systems; 

g)  Compass — magnetic and gyro 

- Knowledge of the principles of magnetic and gyro compasses, using celestial and terrestrial means, and to allow for such errors; 

- use, care and limitations of the magnetic and gyro compasses, and associated equipment, including automatic pilot; 

- to use an azimuth mirror for taking bearings, including the determination of compass errors; 

h) to use a sextant, identify and correct errors; 

i) Meteorology: 

- Ability to use and interpret information obtained from shipboard meteorological instruments; 

- Knowledge of the characteristics of the various weather systems, reporting procedures and recording systems; 

- Ability to apply the meteorological information available. 

Maintain a safe navigational watch

Watchkeeping 

a) Thorough knowledge of the content, application and intent of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS); 

b) Thorough knowledge of the basic principles to be observed in keeping a navigational watch at sea, including under pilotage, and watchkeeping at anchor and in port (refer to P.U A 150, The Merchant Shipping (Manning, Hours and Watchkeeping) Rules 1999; 

    

c) The use of routeing in accordance with the General Provisions on Ships’ routeing; 

c) Knowledge on the usage of RADAR and ARPA - practical use of, modes of operation, limitations, sources of error, plotting and parallel indexing; 

d) understand the use of bridge equipment, including rate  of turn indicators, course recorders, echo sounders and NAVTEX;

e) knowledge of steering control systems, including automatic pilot, operational procedures and change-over from manual  to automatic control and vice-versa - adjustment of controls for optimum performance;

Respond to 

emergencies 

1 Response to Navigational Emergencies 

a) initial action following: man overboard, collision, grounding, flooding or major 

mechanical damage, and receipt of a distress message; 

b) precautions for the  protection and safety of ship,  crew, passengers and cargoes in 

emergency situations; 

2 Response to Other Emergencies  

a) understanding of the organizational procedures for emergency parties and drills;  

b) knowledge of fire prevention, use and care of fire-fighting appliances, the shut-down and isolation of plant and equipment, escape and breathing apparatus, fire and safety plans; 

c) knowledge of classes and chemistry of fire; 

d) understanding of action to be taken in the event of fire including fires involving oil; 

e) use and care of life-saving appliances  and equipment including hand held radios, EPIRBs, SARTs, immersion suits and thermal protective aids, and rocket line throwing apparatus;  

f) meaning of markings on survival craft and associated equipment; 

g) correct use of distress signals and awareness of penalties for misuse; 

h) launch and manage survival craft, recover rescue boats at sea; 

i) knowledge of the contents of SOLAS training manuals and maintenance logs; 

j) basic principles of survival; 

k) appreciation of action to be taken when emergencies arise in port. 

Standard Marine Communication Phrases and use English in written and oral form 

a) use of distress and emergency signals; 

b) use of the International Code of Signals and the IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases; 

c) emergency communications within the GMDSS regulations including usage of the various equipments.

Respond to a distress signal at sea

Search and rescue 

Knowledge of the contents of the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR) 

Preparation and ship handling

Preparation for manoeuvring and ship handling 

a) preparation for getting under way, duties prior to proceeding to sea, making harbour, entering a dock, berthing alongside quays, jetties, or other ships, and securing to buoys; 

b) Knowledge of: 

.1 the effects of deadweight, draught, trim,  speed and under-keel clearance on turning circles and stopping 

distances; 

.2 the effects of wind and current on ship handling; 

.3 manoeuvres and procedures for the rescue of person overboard; 

.4 squat, shallow water and similar effects; 

.5 proper procedures for anchoring and mooring; 

.6 use and care of different types of mooring lines and associated equipment; 

.7 helm orders, conning the ship, effects of propellers on the steering of a ship including manoeuvring in the vicinity of pilot vessels and other craft, embarking and disembarking a pilot; 

.8 the action to be taken in the event of failure of:-   

- bridge control, telegraph or steering; 

- emergency steering arrangements. 

Monitor the loading, stowage, securing and unloading of cargoes and their care during the voyage

Cargo handling and stowage 

a) Cargo handling, stowage and securing; 

b) Knowledge of the effect of cargo including heavy lifts on the seaworthiness and stability of the ship; 

c) Knowledge of safe handling dangerous, hazardous and harmful cargoes and their effect on the safety of life and the ship (including the IMDG Code); 

d) use and care of synthetic fibre and wire ropes, ascertaining of safe-working loads; 

e) use of the hydrometer

Ensure compliance with pollution prevention requirements

Prevention of pollution of the marine environment and anti-pollution procedures 

 a) Knowledge of the precautions to be taken to prevent pollution of the marine environment; 

b) Anti-pollution procedures and all associated equipment;

Maintain seaworthiness of the ship

Ship stability 

a) Working knowledge and application of stability, trim and stress tables, diagrams and stress calculating equipment; 

b) Understanding of fundamental actions to be taken in the event of partial loss of intact buoyancy; 

c) Understanding of the fundamentals of watertight integrity; 

Ship construction 

a) General knowledge of the principal structural members of a ship and the proper names for the various parts. 

Operate life-saving appliances 

Life-saving 

a) Knowledge of the operation of survival craft and rescue boats, their launching appliances and arrangements, and their equipment including radio life-saving appliances, satellite EPIRBs, SARTs, immersion suits and thermal protective aids; 

Monitor compliance with legislative requirements

Basic working knowledge of the relevant IMO Conventions and national requirements concerning safety of life at sea and protection of the marine environment, such as: 

a)  relevant Ordinance or Acts; 

b)  rules and regulations; 

c)  Safety Management System (ISM); 

d)  Ship Security Plan (ISPS); 

e)  Notices:- 

-  Malaysia Shipping Notices; 

-  Marine Information and Guidance Notes; 

-  Notices to Mariners; 

-  Port Circulars. 

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to apply the knowledge outlined in this oral examination syllabus by appropriate responses, anticipations and reactions to a range of routine, non-routine and contingency scenarios as presented by the examiner, from the perspective of Officer in charge of navigational watch 500 GT or more Unlimited Trade Voyages. 

capt MYT 2013