1. Taking over command as a Master
a. Go to company office and meet the technical superintendents
to discuss the following:
1. Ships particular
2. Trading areas
3. Company and charterer instructions
4. Voyage instructions and type of charter
5. Special instruction for maintenance and survey
b. As a prudent Master, on arriving at the ship, I will keep a
checklist of thing to do upon joining
c. On the way to the accommodation, I will form an initial
impression of the ships general condition and maintenance by
observing the exterior conditions such as draft marks, load line
marks, condition of hull, deck, superstructure, rigging of
accommodation ladder, safety net etc and the interior condition
such as the accommodation, bridge, cabin etc
d. Meet the outgoing master and hand over the letter of
appointment
e. Go through his handing over notes, ships condition reports,
manning level & companys and charterers instructions
f. Compare all the statutory and trading certificates with the
Survey and Certificates Status Report (Quarterly listing) and
ensure they are valid. Also refer to MPA Shipping Circular No.06 of
2012 to ensure all required certificates are onboard
g. Go through the filling system and all type of the log
books
h. Article of Agreement, last port clearance, Officers COC
certificates & STCW certificates, Crews STCW certificates,
health books, CDCs, passports are onboard
i. Any crew change in this port or the next port
j. Watch keeping arrangements
k. Take over all stores, ROB of FO/DO/GO/FW, provisions and bond
account. Ensure that the medical store is as per scale and control
drugs are in the Masters safe custody
l. Check the cash balance on board and ships account and radio
account
m. Get the combination number or any keys of the ships safe.
Obtain the password to the computer email system or security
system
n. Discuss about port rotation, trading areas, general condition
of the ports, present cargo work status, cargo
Class 1 (Master) Certificate of Competency - Captain Sanga'sOral
Questions2013
1Prepared by: Tan Lay Ying
plan, estimated time of completion of cargo, ships stability,
departure draft, trim, GM etc
o. Details of cargo gears, anchors, deck machinery, hatches,
their condition and maintenance schedule
p. Crew familiarization process, basic trainings, onboard
training programs & drills etc
q. Go to bridge with outgoing Master. Familiarize myself with
bridge and navigation equipment, their operational conditions and
deficiencies maneuvering characteristic of the vessel in various
conditions, passage plans, charts and publications, GMDSS equipment
familiarization and their operations
r. Check the latest weather reports
s. Enter the new Masters name in OLB. The change over the
command column and the list of documents onboard in OLB should be
signed by both Masters.
t. Enter new Masters particulars in AOA, sign off/on in Article
of Agreement
u. Ensure approved copy of stability booklet is onboard
v. Before sailing, I (Incoming Master) should:
1. Receive familiarization training as per SMS
2. Check life jacket and immersion suit are placed in the
Masters cabin
3. Ensure the Muster List & crew list are updated
4. Read the relevant clauses of the charter party or bill of
lading
5. Note any charterers voyage instructions. Try to spend some
time on the incoming and outgoing message/ email which will give a
picture of what is going on.
6. Consult the Chief Engineer regarding the condition of the
machinery, bunker ROB and ensuring that there are within the safety
margins as per SMS
7. Consult the Chief Officer regarding the cargo, stability,
ballast, fresh water, stores and maintenance of the ship
8. Check the passage plan and ensure it is planned from berth to
berth and as per SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 34 and the company
SMS
9. Ensure that all the relevant charts and publications are
available on board
10. Check vessels manning is as per the Safe Manning
Certificate
11. Check the ISM documents for any outstanding non-conformity
(which may have time limit for action)
12. Prepare the Masters Bridge, Port and Security Standing
Order
13. Satisfy myself that I has personally exercised due diligence
in ensuring that the vessel is seaworthy at the start of the
voyage
14. Make a full inspection of the ship as soon as possible and
before taking the ship to sea
2. While taking over, you found that a statutory certificate is
expiring. What is your action?
As per SOLAS Chapter I, Part B - Regulation 14 (e), if a ship at
the time when a certificate expires is not in a port in which it is
to be surveyed, the Administration may extend the period of
validity of the certificate but this extension shall be granted
only for the purpose of allowing the ship to complete its voyage to
the port in which it is to be surveyed, and then only in cases
where it appears proper and reasonable to do so. No certificate
shall be extended for a period longer than three months, and a ship
to which an extension is granted shall not, on its arrival in the
port in which it is to be surveyed, be entitled by virtue of such
extension to leave that port without having a new certificate.
3. You take over command, how you check the passage plan
prepared by 2nd officer before signing and approving.
With the reference of SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 34, the
passage plan shall identify a route which:
a.takes into account any relevant ships' routeing systems
b. ensures sufficient sea room for the safe passage of the ship
throughout the voyage (e.g. 5 nm off the shore during coastal
passage, 30 nm off the shore during deep water passage and under
keel clearance)
c. anticipates all known navigational hazards and adverse
weather conditions (e.g. monsoon season)
d.takes into account the marine environmental protection
measures that apply, and avoids, as far as possible, actions and
activities which could cause damage to the environment. (e.g. mark
out the MARPOL Special Areas under Annex I, V & VI (e.g. change
over the low sulphur content fuel oil 1.00% m/m prior entering the
ECA) and any No Go Areas by the local government)
4. What publication gives guidance to passage plan?
a. SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 34 - Safe navigation and
avoidance of dangerous situationsb. IMO Resolution A.893 (21) -
Guidelines For Voyage Planningc. IMO MSC.1/Circ.1228 - Revised
guidance to the Master for Avoiding Dangerous Situations in Adverse
Weather and Sea Conditionsd. MPA Shipping Circular 16 of 2010 -
Importance of Voyage Planning and Avoiding Dangerous Situations in
Adverse Weather & Sea Conditionse. Routeing Chartsf. Sailing
Directionsg. Mariner's Handbook (NP 100)h. ICS Bridge Procedures
Guidei. Ocean Passages for the Worldj. Company's SMS Passage Plan
Checklist
5. What are the heavy weather effects and how to avoid?
a. As per IMO MSC Circular No. 1228, the heavy weather effects
are:
1. Surf riding and Broaching to:
When a ship is situated on the steep forefront of a high wave in
following or quartering sea conditions, the ship can be accelerated
to ride on the wave. This is known as surf-riding. In this
situation the so-called broaching-to phenomenon may occur, which
endangers the ship to capsizing as a result of a sudden change of
the ships heading and unexpected large heeling.
Occur when angle of encounter 135