Master Specific

Question 1

What mandatory items is the Master required to report?

Answer 1

SOLAS Chapter 5 Regulation 31.1

The master of every ship which meets with …

• dangerous ice: type, position, time
• a dangerous derelict
• any other direct danger to navigation, or
• a tropical storm: barometric pressure, wind direction/force, sea state, direction it is moving
• encounters sub-freezing air temperatures associated with gale force winds causing severe ice accretion on superstructures: time/date, air temp, sea temp, wind force and direction
• winds of force 10 or above on the Beaufort scale for which no storm warning has been received,
• Is bound to communicate the information by all means at his disposal to ships in the vicinity, and also to the competent authorities.
• Must be free of cost
• Shall be preceeded by the safety signal “Securite”

Question 2

Pilot/Master responsibilities

Answer 2

The Master has full responsibility for the safe navigation and manoeuvering of his ship during all acts of pilotage.

Generally, the Master should:
- Follow the pilots advice
- Continue to monitor the progress of the vessel - position fixing etc
- Ensure officers/helmsmen follow the pilots requests with efficiency and courtest
- Remind OOW that he has charge of the vessel while under pilotage and follow the correct procedures if in doubt of the pilots intentions

Question 3

Masters pre departure checks

Answer 3

• Safely manned & all crew / Passengers on board.
• Update Crew lists.
• Update muster lists.
• Liaise with the ship’s agent about completion of outward clearance.
• Obtain outward clearance from customs.
• Garbage landed ashore.
• Notify the agent and port authority of departure intentions.
• Retrieve any ship’s certificates and documents taken ashore by the agent.
• Planned maintenance is up to date.
• Review the voyage plan with the navigating officer.
• ETA given to next port.
• Liaise with the chief engineer and chief officer about readiness for sea.
• Order a pilot, line handlers and tug(s) if required.
• Stability confirmed.
• Check the weather forecast.
• Stowaway search completed.
• Departure checklist completed including tugs ordered/ pilots.
• Engines and steering tests completed.
• Standing orders signed and understood.
• Fill out departure draught and posted.
• Fill out the OLB and record inspection of the ships steering.

Question 4

New joining Master - what are your actions and expectations prior to sailing?

Answer 4

Master:
* Receive familiarisation training
* Read and, if necessary, write standing orders
* Make a full inspection of the ship as soon as practicable and, if possible, before taking the ship to sea.
* Check that all crew are on board as required by the Safe Manning Document

Chief Officer/navigation officer:
* Confirm all equipment has been maintained in accordance with the planned maintenance system - any non conformities?
* Stability, ballast, fresh water, stores, maintenance of ship, etc
* Examine the passage plan
* All required charts and nautical publications are on board

Chief Engineer:
* Condition of the machinery - any non conformities?
* Bunkers onboard - adequate for voyage + safety margin
* Sight your personal lifejacket and ensure you know how to quickly don it in an emergency
* Inspect the muster list and ensure that it is updated

Question 5

How would you expect your bridge team to maintain a safe navigational watch?

Answer 5

• Keep the watch on the bridge
• Under no circumstances leave the bridge until properly relieved by an appropriate officer
• Continue to be responsible for the safe navigation of the vessel despite the presence of the Master on the bridge until informed specifically that the Master has assumed the con and this is mutually understood
• Notify the Master when in any doubt
• If in any doubt as to the pilot’s actions or intentions, seek clarification from the pilot; if doubt still exists, they should notify the Master immediately and take whatever action is necessary until the Master arrives.
• Not undertake any other duties that would interfere or compromise the keeping of a safe navigational watch.
• No distractions caused by music, phones, personal computers etc
• Have available at all times, the services of a qualified helmsman.
• In areas of high traffic density, in conditions of restricted visibility and in all hazardous navigational situations ensure the vessel is in hand steering.
• Use radar in restricted visibility and high density traffic areas and understand its limitations
• Keep a proper record during the watch on the movement and activities relating to the navigation of the vessel.
• At sufficient intervals, check vessels position, course and speed
• Take fixes at frequent intervals by more than one method if possible

Question 6

Preparations when heading to sea with regard to watertight integrity

Answer 6

Master:
* Check the weather forecast is acceptable.
* Check the passage plan is suitable with regard to the capabilities of the vessel.
* Stability book ready and ship is in an acceptable condition.
* Ensure the vessel complies with the condition of assignment.
* Fill out the OLB.
* We are going to check our load line certificate and markings comply and post form FRE13

Chief Officer:
* Hatchways are shut.
* Watertight doors closed.
* Opening of the ships side below the freeboard deck.
* Deadlights fitted.
* Storm shutters fitted.
* Freeing ports Scuppers water freeing arrangements.
* Ventilators and air pipes.
* Load lines markings.
* Jacuzzi swimming pools drained and open.
* Tenders and other items on deck secured

Question 7

Actions when encountering bad weather

Answer 7

Navigation and vessel
* Consider re-routing.
* Find a lee shore.
* Verify the vessel position.
* Update weather report.
* Plot storm position often.
* Engage manual steering.
* Reduce speed.
* Be ready to alter course and speed to make reduce risk of broaching, pooping damage to hull or superstructure.
* Check stability and ballast down.
* Potentially go to sea if at anchor or in port

Crew and passengers
* Make a public announcement to stop all work on deck and restrict access.
* Any seafarer heading on deck should wear a life jacket, harness which can be attached to life lines and waterproof PPE including head protection. Seafarers should be working in teams
* Warn all departments to secure their work area.
* Chef to prepare food in advance
* Re-arrange working hours to ensure adequate bridge cover.

Chief Officer:
* Check deck lights
* Loose gear secured or removed from deck
* Hatches, scuppers, freeing ports etc clear
* Watertight doors are closed

Engineers:
* Engine checks
* Steering gear checks
* Engine room secure

Question 8

Masters Navigation Standing Orders

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Answer 8

• Reference to being the Masters representative and being responsible for the safety of the vessel and those onboard
• Lookout with reference to Rule 5
• Collision avoidance: CPAs and compliance with COLREGs
• Course monitoring
• Logbooks
• GMDSS watch
• Main engines: full control and at his disposal
• Watch handovers
• Helmsman/autopilot
• Radar
• Navigation with pilot embarked
• At anchor or alongside
• Calling the Master
• “Never hesitate to call the Captain if you are in doubt about any situation. I would rather be called several times for nothing than not be called”
• “If you find yourself thinking about calling the Master, the time has clearly come to do so”

Question 9

When should the Master be called?

Answer 9

• Entering restricted visibility
• Movements of other vessels causing a concern
• Difficulty experience in following course through heavy traffic, meteorological or sea conditions
• Receiving a distress alert
• Failure to sight land or navigational mark at an expected time
• Encountering land or navigational mark unexpectedly
• Break down of engines, steering gear or essential navigational equipment
• In doubt about possible weather damage
• Any incident or accident that requires medical treatment
• Whenever in any doubt

Question 10

Night orders

Answer 10

Anchor:
- GPS position
- Which anchor & how many shackles
- Depth of water
- VRMs & EBLs and what they are referenced to
- Expected weather
- When to call the master - certain windspeed, vessel inside VRM, in doubt
- Logbook entries
- Any special requests

Underway:
- Keep to course, comply with COLREGs and observe standing orders
- ETA to critical points
- GMDSS requirements
- Expected weather
- Special orders
- Whenever in any doubt
- When to wake Master
- When to notify engineers

Question 11

Preparing to anchor

Answer 11

• OOW to prepare anchoring plan
  
  • Weather
  • Position has adequate shelter
  • Proximity of navigational hazards including other vessels
  • Tide
  • Depth of water
  • Permitted
  • Suitable seabed
  • Scope of anchor cable required
• Anchor equipment checked and ready for use
• Charts adequate scale
• Radars setup with VRMs and EBLs
• Engine room on standby and engines ready for manoeuvre
• Anchoring party informed of anchoring plan - which anchor, depth, number of shackles
• Day shapes/lights/sound signals
• Confirmed with VTS if required
• AIS updated
• Adjust radars as required
• Anchor/night orders
• Logbooks updated

Question 12

How does the Master ensure the vessels is being run safely?

Answer 12

• Ensuring everyone understands their roles and responsibilities
• Ensuring orders and instructions are properly understood
• Ensuring safety critical information is communicated, clear and understood
• Encouraging feedback, improvements, suggestions etc and acting upon the information
• Safety meetings should have minutes and the reports distributed and acted upon where appropriate
• Ensuring a good, clear and reliable system of emergenycy response communications are in place

Question 13

Ten core safety leadership qualities

Answer 13

• Instil respect and command authority
• Lead the team by example
• Draw on knowledge and experience
• Remain calm in a crisis
• Practise “tough empathy”
• Be sensitive to different cultures
• Recognise seafares limitations
• Motivate a sense of community
• Place the safety of the crew and passengers above everything
• Communicate clearly

Question 14

Masters responsibilities with reference to ISM

Answer 14

• Implementing the safety and environmental policy onboard
• Motivating the crew in observance of that policy
• Issuing appropriate orders and instructions in a clear and simple manner
• Verifying that all requirements are met
• Reviewing the SMS and reporting deficiencies to shorebased management

Question 15

How would you motivate crew in respect to ISM

Answer 15

• Ensure proper training and familiarisation and training has been completed
• Relavent safety information is communicated via posters, safety meetings etc
• Envolve crew in the procedures and show they have a responsibility for safety and empowering them to take action
  
  • Involved in risk assessments
  • Permits to work
  • Reporting any deficiencies

Answer 16

Ice, derelicts and other direct dangers to navigation:
* The kind of ice, derelict or danger observed.
* The position of the ice, derelict or danger when last observed.
* The time and date UCT when the danger was last observed.

Tropical Cyclones:
- Time, date and position
- Barometric pressure and tendency
- True wind direction and force
- Sea state and swell direction
- True course and speed of ship

Winds of force 10:
- Same as tropical cyclones excluding swell

Sub-freezing air temperatures
- Time and date UTC
- Air Temp
- Sea Temp
- Wind force and direction

Question 17

Masters considerations for passage planning

Answer 17

Master
- Compliance with National and International conventions and regulations
- Certificates in date, available and appropriate for the voyage
- Condition: Fit for the normal perils of the sea, watertight, meets her load line requirements, PMs up to date, no non-conformities in the ships SMS, machinery in good condition, LSA equipment available,
- Crew: Meet MSMD, appropriate certs/qualified, familiarised, adequate experience, well rested and fit for duty, visas
- Conduct: Safe operation of the vessel which the employer has a responsibility for (safe working environment, provide ppe, training, posters etc)

Voyage plan:
- Weather considerations for the time of year
- Contingency plans, fuel stops
- Ensure accurate and up to date charts and publications are available for the intended voyage
- Security - piracy risk, citadel, fly non-essential crew, insurance
- Emission Control Areas

2/O: Passage plan as per SOLAS ch V and following APEM. Bridge/GMDSS checks
C/O: LSA checks and appropriate for voyage (insulated immersion suits), Drills/Training, vessel stowed
C/E: Bunkers, PMs, defects/non-conformities, spares
Chef: Provisions to last voyage, meal prep in bad weather