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Chapter 8 - Master 500 Gross Tonnage, Near Coastal

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General

8.1 General requirements

The general requirements for a certificate as Master 500 gross tonnage, Near Coastal, are listed in section 126 of the Marine Personnel Regulations.

8.2 Validity of certificates

The holder of this certificate may act as Master on board a vessel of not more than 500 gross tonnage engaged on a near coastal voyage, as Chief Mate on board a vessel of not more than 3000 gross tonnage engaged on a near coastal voyage and as Master of a vessel of any tonnage engaged on a sheltered waters voyage.

Syllabuses of Examinations

8.3 Communications, level 1 (Examination Code: COM 1)

Refer to section 5.3, Chapter 5 of this TP.

8.4 Communications, level 2 (Examination Code: COM 2)

Refer to section 5.4, Chapter 5 of this TP.

8.5 Meteorology, level 1 (Examination Code MET 1)

7. The examination consists of a written test comprising multiple-choice and descriptive questions.

8. The examination is of three hours duration.

9. The MET 2 may be substituted for MET 1 at the applicant’s request.

10. The examination is based upon:

Subject Knowledge required
Competence: Plan and conduct a passage and determine position
Ability to use and interpret information obtained from shipborne meteorological instruments Shipborne Meteorological instruments

Mercurial barometer; Aneroid barometer; Thermometer; Function of a hygrometer; Basic principles of wind sensors; The basic principles of wind sensors, take and log readings of wind speed.
Knowledge of the characteristics of the various weather systems, reporting procedures and recording system The Atmosphere, its composition and physical properties

 The composition of the earth’s atmosphere, mentioning dry air and its constituents, water vapour and aerosols; Ability to draw and label a typical vertical temperature profile through the lower 100 km of the earth’s atmosphere; Definition of troposphere, tropopause, stratosphere, stratopause, mesosphere, mesopause and thermosphere; Ability to describe the main features of the troposphere; The nature of solar radiation, (scattering, reflection and absorption); The effect on insolation of a variation in latitude; The effect on insolation of a variation in the sun’s declination; The effect on insolation of a variation in the length of daylight; Definition of water vapour; The properties of water vapour in the atmosphere; Definition of evaporation, condensation, latent heat of vaporization; Definition of saturated air; The processes of mixing, cooling and the evaporation of water vapour, by which a sample of air may be brought to saturation; Definition of dewpoint, absolute humidity, relative humidity, vapour pressure.

Atmospheric pressure

 Knowledge of pressure equals force per unit area; Knowledge of the atmosphere exerts a pressure on any surface within it; Knowledge of the atmosphere pressure on a unit area of a surface is equal to the weight of the air column extending from that surface to the outer fringes of the atmosphere; Ability to explain that atmospheric pressure decreases with height above sea level; Knowledge of atmospheric pressure acts in all directions; What is the basic unit of pressure; What is the average pressure at sea level; Ability to explain that the surface pressure rises if air is added to the column above the surface, and vice versa; Define isobar.

Wind

 Definition of wind; The Beaufort scale of wind force; The pressure gradient force; The coriolis force; The surface wind circulation around high and low pressure centres; Buys-Ballot’s law; The method of estimating the strength of the wind and direction from the appearance of the sea surface, using the Beaufort wind scale; The difference between apparent and true wind; Ability to determine the true wind velocity by using a vector diagram, given the apparent wind and the ship’s course and speed; The use of a geostrophic wind scale.

Cloud and precipitation

 How does clouds form; What does a cloud can consist of; The need for and the definition of condensation nuclei; Ability to name and describe the ten basic cloud types; The probable base heights of the ten principal cloud types; Definition of precipitation, rain, drizzle, hail, snow and sleet; Theory of formation of thunderstorms and lightnings; Associated clouds, conditions within the clouds; Times, seasons and localities of occurrence.

Visibility: Definition of fog, mist, haze; Ability to apply the concept of processes leading to supersaturation to a classification of fogs as mixing, cooling or evaporation fogs; The formation of radiation fog; The effect of pollution on the formation of radiation fog; The formation of advection fog; The conditions leading to the formation of sea smoke, and typical areas where sea smoke may be encountered; Methods of estimating the visibility at sea, by day and by night, and the difficulties involved.

The wind and pressure systems over the oceans

 Ability to sketch the circulation cells which would exist on a rotating earth, not inclined to its orbit of rotation around the sun, and with a homogeneous surface; Ability to draw the mean surface pressure and wind distribution over the earth’s surface in January and July; The characteristics and location of the doldrums, intertropical convergence zone, trade winds, sub-tropical oceanic highs, westerlies and polar easterlies; Ability to describe a monsoon regime; Areas which experience a true monsoon regime; The causes of monsoon regimes; Ability to apply the concept of horizontal temperature differences to the explanation of the formation of land and sea breezes; The formation of anabatic and katabatic winds; The regions of occurrence of anabatic and katabatic winds; Examples of local winds.

Structure of depressions

 Definition of air mass; The formation of air mass; Definition of Source region; The characteristics required of a source region; The source-region characteristics of arctic, polar, tropical and equatorial air-mass types; Definition of warm front and cold front; Recognise the symbols for warm and cold fronts; With the aid of a diagram, ability to describe the weather experienced during the passage of an idealized warm front; With the aid of a diagram, ability to describe the weather experienced during the passage of an idealized cold front; Definition of depression; Ability to identify a depression on a surface synoptic or prognostic chart;

The stages in the life cycle of a polar front depression; Family of depressions; Ability to draw a diagram of a polar front depression, for both northern and southern hemispheres, showing isobars, warm and cold fronts, with circulation and warm sector; Ability to draw a cross-section through a polar front depression, on the poleward and equatorial side of the centre, showing fronts, cloud and precipitation areas; The usual movement of a polar front depression; The weather changes experienced when a frontal depression passes with its centre on the poleward side of an observer in the northern hemisphere and in the southern hemisphere; The process leading to the occlusion of a polar front depression; Ability to identify a trough of low pressure on a surface synoptic or prognostic chart; The weather associated with the passage of a trough.

Anticyclones and other pressure system

 Definition of anticyclone; Ability to draw a synoptic pattern of an anticyclone, for both northern and southern hemispheres, showing isobars and wind circulation; Ability to identify an anticyclone on a surface synoptic or prognostic chart; The weather associated with anticyclones; Definition of a ridge of high pressure; Ability to draw a synoptic pattern for a ridge, showing isobars and wind directions; Describe a typical weather sequence during the passage of a ridge between depressions across the observer’s position; Definition of col; Ability to draw a synoptic pattern for a col, showing isobars and wind directions; The weather associated with a col; Ability to identify ridges and cols on a surface synoptic or prognostic chart.

Weather services for shipping

 The organization, functions and objectives of the World Meteorological Organization; The sources of weather information available to shipping; The information flow between merchant ships and Meteorological Offices; The services provided for shipping by Meteorological offices; The appropriate weather bulletin and the contents of each of its sections; The types of information received by facsimile machine; The services provided for storm warnings.

Recording and reporting weather observations

 The need for meteorological codes; Uses the Ship’s Code and Decode book to code a ship’s full report; Uses the Ship’s Code and Decode book to decode a ship’s full report; Uses the Ship’s Code and Decode Book to decode a reduced report from a shore station; Uses Beaufort letter abbreviations for present and past weather and total cloud amount; Interprets a ship or shore station plot.
Ability to apply the meteorological information available Weather Forecasting

 Applies previous concepts to the interpretation of symbols and isobaric patterns on weather charts and facsimile charts; Applies previous concepts to the interpretation of synoptic and prognostic charts to ascertain wind directions, areas of strong winds, cloud and precipitation areas, fog areas, ice and areas of fine weather; Explain how weather observations at a ship can be used to improve the forecast derived from synoptic and prognostic charts.

8.6 Ship Management, level 2 (Examination Code: SM 2)

  1. The examination consists of a written test comprising multiple-choice and descriptive questions.
  2. The following open-book resources will be allowed in the examination room:
    1. Canada Labour Code;
    2. Canada Shipping Act-2001;
    3. Load Line Regulations;
    4. Marine Personnel Regulations;
    5. Marine Transportation Security Act;
    6. Marine Transportation Security Regulations;
    7. Merchant Seamen’s Compensation Act;
    8. Pilotage Act;
    9. Potable Water Regulations for common carriers;
    10. Quarantine Regulations;
    11. Regulations for Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals;
    12. Shipping Casualty Reporting Regulations;
    13. Shipping Inquiries Investigation Rules;
    14. Vessel Certificates Regulations
  3. The examination is of a three hours duration.
  4. The SM 3 may be substituted for SM 2 at the applicant’s request
  5. The examination is based upon
Subject Knowledge required
Competence: Monitor compliance with legislative requirements
Knowledge of the Canada Shipping Act-2001, Marine Personnel Regulations, Pilotage Act and Canada Labour Code, Part II Canada Shipping Act (CSA):

 Knowledge of Canada Shipping Act-2001 relating to Registrations, listing and recording; Personnel; Safety; Navigation Services; Incidents, accidents and casualties; Wreck; Pollution prevention and response – Department of fisheries and oceans; Pollution Prevention – Department of Transport; and Enforcement.

Marine Personnel Regulations:

 Knowledge of Part 2 of the Marine Personnel Regulations relating to the crewing requirements for Canadian vessels, in particular the training and familiarization required, the minimum complement, the safe manning documents, the validity of certificates and endorsements, the deck watch, the radio watch and the medical examination of seafarers. Knowledge of Part 3, of the Marine Personnel Regulations relating to Maritime Labour Standards, in particular the requirements regarding age, seafarer recruitment and placement, conditions of employment, the hours of work and hours of rest, food and water, on board complaint procedures and log books.

Pilotage Act:

 Knowledge of the Pilotage Act, including compulsory pilotage; Pilot’s responsibility to master; Master relieving pilot; When a pilot shall not pilot; Pilotage exemption or waiver; Canada Labour Code: Knowledge of the application of the Canada Labour Code to shipping.
Ship’s business Knowledge of custom house and immigration procedures; Quarantine Regulations; De-rat certificates; Tonnage certificates ; Charter parties and bills of lading ; Noting protest and right to extend; Marine insurance contract and its relationship to master’s responsibility to owners and underwriters.
Canadian Regulations Knowledge of Shipping Casualty Reporting Regulations; Shipping Inquiries Investigation Rules;

Potable Water Regulations for Common Carriers; Vessel Certificates Regulations; Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals Regulations; Marine Transportation Security Act and Regulations; Load Line Regulations; Merchant Seamen’s Compensation Act.
Knowledge of master’s responsibilities in different events Knowledge of master’s responsibilities in event of salvage and salvage agreements; Obligations and responsibilities in event of emergencies, collision, distress, search and rescue; Vessel reporting systems; Legal consequences of infractions of regulations; Functions of agents; Business aspects of putting into port with damaged ship or cargo.

8.7 Ship Construction & Stability, level 3 (Examination Code: SCS 3)

  1. The examination consists of multiple-choice questions and practical calculations based on a vessel’s stability data booklet.
  2. The examination is of a three hours duration.
  3. The SCS 4 may substitutes for SCS 3 at the applicant’s request.
  4. The examination is based upon:
Subject Knowledge required
Competence: Maintain vessel stability
Understanding stability basic terminology

Terms

 Meaning of displacement, deadweight, lightship weight, load displacement; Meaning of list, heel, loll; Meaning of gravity, centre of gravity (G), height of centre of gravity above keel/baseline (KG); Meaning of buoyancy, centre of buoyancy (B), reserve buoyancy; Meaning of righting lever (GZ) when the vessel is heeled, metacentre (M), metacentric height (GM) and roll period as an indication of initial stability; Meaning of centre of flotation (F) and trim; Meaning of draft, freeboard, deck edge immersion and downflooding.

Understanding transverse stability principles Understanding of:

 Effect of water density on draft and freeboard and Fresh Water Allowance (FWA); Ability to explain using a sketch of a heeled vessel, how the centre of gravity (G) and the centre of buoyancy (B) are acting to create a righting lever (GZ); Effect on stability of adding, removing, transferring and suspending weights; Stable equilibrium, unstable equilibrium, neutral equilibrium; Correcting unstable and neutral equilibrium and angle of loll; Stiff and tender ships; Negative GM and angle of loll; Free surface effect of liquids on stability and the danger of slack tanks; Moment of statical stability; Effects of reduction in freeboard on stability and the dangers of overloading and capsizing.
Competence: Maintain vessel stability
Practical use of stability data supplied in typical vessels and tugs Use of displacement and ton per inch / tonne per centimetre (TPI/TPC) scales to determine displacement from draft and vice versa; Understanding of data found in typical vessels and tugs stability booklets; Use of pre-calculated operating conditions to ascertain adequate stability;

Recognize situations where the vessel does not meet the pre-calculated operating conditions and ability to rectify the situation; Interpreting curves of statical stability; Effects of reduction in freeboard on stability and the dangers of overloading and capsizing.
Competence: Maintain seaworthiness of the ship
Transverse stability and trim calculations Using supplied stability booklet or information, ability to:

 Calculate final metacentric height (GM) after adding, removing, transferring or suspending weights; Calculate final displacement; Determine the free surface effect and by how much it will affect the metacentric height (GM); Determine the righting lever (GZ) for a given angle of heel; Evaluate the area under the statical stability curve for a given angle of heel; Determine the final trim and final drafts; Determine if calculated data meets established stability criteria; Calculate weight to be loaded, unloaded, transferred in order to achieve the desired trim; Existence of transverse moment exerted on the towing hook; Determine the final list.
Effect of environmental conditions on vessel’s stability Understanding the effect of severe wind and rolling in associated sea conditions, especially in following seas; Effect of water on deck including free surface effect; The effect of ice accretion on stability.
Knowledge of the Canadian Loadline Regulations Knowledge of the Canadian Loadline Regulations
Understanding basic construction terminology Terms:

 Meaning of length overall, length between perpendiculars, breadth, depth, moulded dimensions, baseline, gross tonnage and net tonnage; Meaning of open and closed construction; Meaning of weathertight and watertight; Knowledge of the principal structural members of a vessel and the proper names for the various parts; Ability to identify structural components on ship’s plan and drawings.
Maintain integrity of the hull and superstructures and prevent water flooding Basic knowledge of:

 How watertight and weatherthight integrity is maintained; Purpose and maintenance of water-freeing arrangements and freeing ports in bulwarks How the minimum size and number of freeing ports required is determined; The construction of doors, door sills, windows, portholes and access openings; The construction of ventilators and air pipes; Sounding devices; Crew protection by bulwarks, rails and guards; How water ingress is prevented through hull openings (valves) & shaft.
Competence: Maintain seaworthiness of the ship
Survivability of the vessel in case of flooding and damage control Understand the construction and importance of bulkheads as strength members and their watertight integrity to prevent total flooding, in particular the collision bulkhead; The functions and construction of bilge and pump systems and water level detectors. Identify damage control techniques for various flooding scenarios as: Small and large hull breach, damaged through hull fittings, split piping, chafed hose, packing gland, etc.
Protection against fires The purpose and operation of:

 Quick closing valves on fuel tanks; Fire dampers on ventilators; Fire extinguishing systems.
Vessel inspection and maintenance Awareness of the normal maintenance to ensure:

 Compliance with standards and regulations; Hull, machinery and all equipments remains in good operational order; Corrosion and cathodic protection.

Awareness of the Transport Canada Marine Safety inspection regime concerning:

 Initial inspection and periodic inspection.

8.8 Cargo, level 1 (Examination Code: CG 1)

  1. The examination consists of a section of descriptive, calculation and simple drawing exercises and a section of multiple-choice questions.
  2. The following open-book resources will be allowed in the examination room:
    1. Cargo, Fumigation and Tackle Regulations;
    2. International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code;
    3. Safe Working Practices Regulations;
    4. Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act;
    5. Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations;
  3. The examination is of a three hours duration.
  4. The CG 3 or CG 2 may be substituted for CG 1 at the applicant’s request.
  5. The examination is based upon:
Subject Knowledge required
Competence: Monitor the loading, stowage, securing, care during the voyage and the unloading of cargoes.
Knowledge of the effect of cargo including heavy lifts on the seaworthiness and stability of the ship Securing Cargoes

 Basic knowledge of the content, application and ability to use the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing.
Knowledge of safe handling, stowage and securing of cargoes including dangerous, hazardous and harmful cargoes and their effect on the safety of life and of the ship Cargo Care

 Inspection and preparation of holds; Segregation and separation of cargoes; Ventilation and control.

Dangerous, Hazardous and Harmful Cargoes

Basic knowledge of the content, application and ability to use the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code; Basic knowledge of the content, application and ability to use the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and Regulations; Knowledge of the content, application and ability to use the IMO Emergency procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods (EmS), the IMO Medical First Aid Guide for Use in Accidents Involving Dangerous Goods (MFAG) and the International Medical Guide for Ships (IMGS); Knowledge of the content, application and ability to use Part 1, Section 5 – Dangerous goods (packaged) of the Cargo, Fumigation and Tackle Regulations.

Cargo Handling Equipment and Safety

 Practical knowledge of the rigging of ships, comprising the names, purpose and construction of standing and running rigging; Reeving of blocks and purchases; Rigging of booms; Purposes and construction of the various parts of a boom; Stresses on the various parts of a boom system during operation; Top, lower derricks safely, securing derricks for sea; Use of slings, snotters, canvas slings, trays, pallets, nets, chain slings, cant hooks, bale hooks and vehicle slings; Precautions to be taken when fork-lift trucks or similar devices are used in the tween-decks or holds; Visual inspections required before the start of cargo operations each day and the frequent inspections of gear while in use for cargo operations; Safe Working Load; Basic knowledge of the content, application and ability to use the Safe Working Practices Regulations; The need for accident prevention and precautions to be taken in ship operation; Hatch covers; Knowledge of Part III - Tackle of the Cargo, Fumigation and Tackle Regulations and associated documentations.

Oil tanker Piping and Pumping Arrangements

 Tanker Arrangement; Cargo piping system; Cargo pumps.

Precautions before entering enclosed or contaminated spaces

 Procedures and precautions for entry into enclosed spaces; Gas monitoring equipment, fixed and portable; Personnel safety equipment, clothing and personal protection; Shipboard emergency plan; Check list to obtain a permit to enter; Ventilation.

Cargo calculations and Cargo plans

 Bale capacity and grain capacity; Stowage factor, broken stowage; Maximum height to which cargo of stated stowage factor can be loaded; Ullage; Use tank calibration tables and given cargo density to calculate the weight in a tank; Use tank calibration tables and given weights and densities of cargo to determine the ullages required; Determine the ullage to leave to produce a given minimum ullage after allowing for expansion of cargo; Corrects densities for temperature; Extracts information from cargo plans of general cargo ships or container ships; Draw up a cargo plan from given information; Uses a hold capacity plan to estimate the depth of cargo in a hold or the area of tween-deck required for a given cargo; Uses a capacity plan to estimate the quantity of cargo, which can be loaded in part of a tween-deck.

8.9 Engineering Knowledge, level 1 (Examination Code: EK 1)

Refer to section 7.10, Chapter 7 of this TP.

8.10 Simulated Electronic Navigation – Management Level (Examination Code: SIM 2)

Refer to section 5.16, Chapter 5 of this TP.

8.11 Oral examination on General Seamanship (Examination Code: M500NC-O)

  1. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to apply the knowledge outlined in this oral examination syllabus by the appropriate responses, anticipations and reactions to a range of routine, non-routine and contingency scenarios as presented by the examiner, from the perspective of the duties and responsibilities associated to the validity of the Master 500 Gross Tonnage, Near Coastal certificate, as set out in section 8.2 of this chapter.
  2. The examination is of an unlimited duration.
  3. The examination is based upon:
Subject Knowledge required
Competence: Plan and conduct safe navigation
Routeing in accordance with the General Principles on Ships’ Routeing and weather routeing The use of pilot charts and other nautical publications such as Sailing Directions, Notices to Mariners and the like to select an optimum route, taking into account distance, wind, sea states, currents, ice, icebergs, bad visibility, the nature of the cargo, load lines, crew agreements, etc; The principles of Weather Routeing; The practical use of weather forecasts before undertaking a voyage and for decision making during the voyage; The interpretation of a synoptic chart to forecast local area weather; The characteristics of various weather systems.
Establish and maintain a Safe Navigational Watch Principles to be observed in keeping a navigational watch as set out in the STCW Code, section A-VIII/2, including under pilotage, and watchkeeping at anchor and in port; A thorough knowledge of the content, application and intent of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at sea, 1972 with Canadian Modifications 1983; Knowledge of the Canadian System of buoyage; ability to determine magnetic compass error and care of magnetic compass.
Competence: Manoeuvre the ship
Knowledge of factors affecting safe manoeuvring and handling The effects of deadweight, draught, trim, speed and under keel clearance on turning circles and stopping distances:

 General manoeuvring characteristics of merchant vessels of all types; Definitions of terms: turning circle, advance, transfer, drift angle, tactical diameter, track reach, head reach and side reach; Turning circles of a ship in the loaded and ballast conditions, at different speeds; Accelerating turn and decelerating turn; Stopping distances in loaded and ballast conditions; The effect of shallow or deep water on the turning circle; Directional stability.

Knowledge of the effects of wind and current on ship handling:

 Behaviour of the ship when engines are put astern; the pivoting point when manoeuvring with headway and with sternway; Behaviour of a ship when moving ahead or stopped with a wind from various directions; Effects of wind when making large turns, on a disabled vessel, when the ship is slowed, when making sternway; Creating a lee; The effect of current on the motion of a ship, when in rivers and narrow channels, when turning in a channel; Use of an anchor to dredge down with a current;

Knowledge of squat, shallow water and similar effects:

 Definition of shallow water, squat, blockage factor; Shallow water effects as: increased directional stability, a large increase in turning radius, the ship carrying her way longer and responding slowly to changes in engine speed, speed falling less during turns, squat increasing, trim changing; Effect of squat on manoeuvrability; Effect of bank suction and bank cushion in restricted waters; The squat and other shallow water effects increase as the blockage factor increase; Propeller and rudder effects on steering, including wake current, transverse thrust and screw race when going ahead and astern.
Ship-Handling in various berthing, anchoring, locking situations and ice navigation The use of Fixed or controlled pitch propellers; practical berthing and unberthing of a vessel in different wind conditions and with different current prevailing; manoeuvring of twin screws; Anchoring to a single-bower anchor; anchoring to a stern anchor, mooring to two anchors; mooring to a buoy; turning a vessel short round; The use of tugs in manoeuvring; Locking and unlocking a vessel; Awareness of the Seaway Practices and Procedures contained in the Seaway Handbook; handling a disabled ship; Procedures in ice, alone or in convoy, and movements to be expected by an ice breaker with reference to Transport Canada publication Ice Navigation in Canadian Waters. Methods of freeing a vessel from ice utilizing pumping of tanks or flume system.
Proper procedures for anchoring and mooring Preparation of anchors to be ready for use; The approach to an anchorage; The use of anchor buoys; Safety measures to be taken by the anchor party; Method of letting go; Fittings and cable markings; Communication with the bridge; Anchoring in water too deep to let the anchor go on the brake; Securing of anchors on the completion of anchoring; Preparation and procedures during heaving up; Securing anchor gear in preparation for sea passage; Use, care and stowage of mooring lines, types of line used for mooring and their characteristics; Names of the various mooring lines and orders; Preparation to be made for berthing alongside, including head ropes, stern ropes, breast ropes, springs, stopper, heaving lines, winches, self-tensioning winches, capstan, windlass, wire rope; Making fast on-shore bollards being used by another ship; Use of mooring on the bight and doubling up; Use, handling and securing of towing wires; Handling and securing of insurance wires; Use of lines in securing a vessel and in warping alongside a berth; Use of lines in a lock or lay-by; How to make fast tugs on towing hawsers or lashed up alongside; Methods of mooring to a buoy; Use of a messenger to pass on a wire or chain to a buoy;
Normal and emergency towing operations Practical knowledge of normal and emergency towing and in particular of the following elements:

Taking and being taken in tow; Cables used for towing and the required length; The towing point; Towing bitts and hooks; How to approach a vessel to be towed and pass the first connection by line-throwing apparatus or other methods; How to pay out the towing wire under control;

Methods of securing the towing wire at the towing ship; How the towing wire should be protected from chafing at fairleads; How to take the weight of the tow; How the towing speed should be decided; The effect of the towing cable on the centre of gravity of the tug and on its stability; Events that may result in the capsizing of the tug; The different ways to instantly release the towing cable in an urgent situation; The use of an emergency tow line; How to disconnect the tow on arrival at the destination.
Competence: Response to emergencies
Knowledge and understanding of the precautions for the protection and safety of passengers in emergency situations Contingency plans for response to emergencies

 Knowledge of the content of a muster list and emergency instructions; Division of the crew into command team, an emergency team, a back-up emergency team and an engine-room emergency team; Knowledge of the composition of emergency teams; Good communications between the command team and the emergency team are essential; Duties of the crew members not assigned to emergency teams; Action to be taken to deal with fire in specific areas, rescue of victims of a gassing accident in an enclosed space, heavy weather damage, rescue of survivors from another ship or the sea, leakage and spills of dangerous cargo, stranding and abandon ship; The importance of drills and practices.
Knowledge and understanding of the initial action to be taken following a collision or grounding: initial damage assessment and control Protection and safety of passengers

 Familiarization of Crew members with their specific duties for the mustering and control of passengers; Knowledge of the specific duties to assign to crew members; Content of the pre-departure safety briefing to passengers; the need to communicate effectively with passengers during an emergency.

Precautions to be taken when beaching; Actions to be taken on stranding; Actions to be taken following a collision; Actions to be taken after an accidental flooding; Means of limiting damage and salving the ship following a fire or explosion; Procedures for abandoning ship.
Respond to a distress signal at sea and procedures to be followed for rescuing persons from the sea, assisting a ship in distress, responding to emergencies which arise in port Rescue of persons from a vessel in distress from a wreck or from the sea; Measures for assisting a vessel in distress; sources of medical assistance and information.

Emergencies in port

 Actions, which can be taken when emergencies arise in port; action on discovery of fire aboard or ashore, fire alarms ashore; precautions when taking on or transferring fuel, water or stores; action to be taken in event of excessive ranging, parted moorings, burst oil lines, tank overflows, striking by another vessel, taking bottom, leakage and spills of dangerous cargo
Emergency steering Arrangements of auxiliary steering gear; How the auxiliary steering gear is brought into action; How to change from bridge control to local control in the steering gear compartment; Possible course of action which may be taken by a disabled ship; Methods of securing the rudder in the event of a broken rudder stock; Jury steering arrangement using materials normally found aboard ship; Means of constructing a jury rudder, where practicable.
Competence: Response to a distress signal at sea
Knowledge of the contents of the IMO International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue manual (IAMSAR) Search and Rescue

 Knowledge and understanding of the content and application of the IMO International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue manual (IAMSAR).
Competence: Ensure compliance with pollution-prevention requirements
Ensure compliance with pollution-prevention requirements Precautions to be taken to prevent pollution of the marine environment as required by the MARPOL convention, including Restricted Areas and the disposal of pollutants; Take appropriate action in response to pollution incidents onboard and found at sea; Knowledge of the contents of the SOPEP manual, Garbage Management Plans and anti-pollution equipment; Master’s duties, obligations and liabilities, including the keeping of records.
Competence: Maintain seaworthiness of the ship
Seaworthiness of the ship Precautions to be taken before the onset of heavy weather, management of small ships in heavy weather; Understand the fundamentals of watertight integrity; Preparation for dry-docking and undocking, with and without cargo / damage – general procedure and precautions to be observed; Working knowledge of stability and trim information.
Competence: Monitor compliance with legislative requirements
Monitor compliance with legislative requirements and measures to ensure safety of life at sea Master’s duties on taking over and relinquishing command; Preparation of the vessel for inspection and surveys; Knowledge of master’s / ship’s responsibilities under the Marine Personnel Regulations; knowledge and application of the Marine Occupational Safety and Health Regulations; Basic Knowledge of the international convention on safety of life at sea (SOLAS); the requirements of the CSA and Marine Personnel Regulations concerning crew agreements, the official log book and compulsory entries, inspection of living quarters and storerooms, complaints procedure; The master’s obligation with regard to initial and subsequent reports to be made in case of a marine occurrence; The requirements of the regulations concerning life-saving and fire-fighting appliances; Application of hours of work and rest legislation; Navigation Safety Regulations relating to danger messages; A knowledge of the master’s obligations with respect to pilotage; Purpose and application of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code; Purpose of Flag State and Port State control.

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Date modified:
2010-01-21