Frequently Asked Questions for
Q.1. What is the maintenance procedure for fire hoses?
- They should be of approved material and quality - Check them for required length
- Replace or repair leaking hoses to enhance their life
- Always flush with fresh water after use and coil them in right manner
- Hoses to be pressure tested six monthly or twice a year as per company requirements Q.2. How to correct chart catalogue?
Chart catalogue for a preceding year comes with a separate page known as addendum. The charts listed on it have to be checked for their edition and same to be entered in the chart catalogue. Weekly notices contain charts to be cancelled or edited for coverage, same boundaries to be inserted in the catalogue.
Q.3. What entries to be made upon receiving a new chart or new edition?
- New chart or new edition to be entered in paper chart correction log or chart correction software and also chart catalogue to be updated
- New chart or edition to be checked for all previous corrections and T & P notices Q.4. How cadets can become good officers?
Cadets should always be motivated by officers onboard. Seniors should encourage cadets to participate more in shipboard activities. They should be given some responsibilities under supervision. Various training modules onboard should be religiously carried out by all crew members.
Q.5. What all preparations a cadet must do before he disembarks from his/her vessel?
- Never forget to take a copy of ship particulars
- Soft copies of various shipboard manuals to be stored and taken if time permits
- Complete all your tasks and assignments as per the distance-learning program or as per the company training procedures and get them signed and remarked by the officer in charge of training and master
- The contact details and e-mail addresses of vessel, along with other vital information - A copy of information of various operations that are carried out onboard
- Pictures of various equipment and their locations on ship, which would help in understanding while preparing for written or oral examinations
- Doubts, if any, should be possibly cleared onboard as both resources and time are abundant when on ship Q.6. What are things which cadets often overlook?
Deck cadets are mainly engaged in operations on deck or in pump room. However, it is equally important for them to know the layout of the engine room and basic operation procedures of various machineries including the Incinerators, Generators, Boilers, Inert Gas Generators, Main Engine etc. as cadets are going to be future officers. They should also familiarize themselves with watch keeping procedures in the engine room.
Q.7. How often should third mate check LSA/FFA items for maintenance?
Most of the LSA/FFA items require one time inventory and then periodic maintenance. Often due to frequent port out- turns, weather conditions or vessel's trade route it is not practicable for him to follow the maintenance schedule as per the checklists provided in the company’s manuals. However if one tries to follow them as closely as possible it will surely avert a lot of breakdown and overdue maintenance.
Q.8. What things should be checked without fail on LSA/FFA?
- While approaching cold climate areas or transiting areas with considerable variations in temperatures, always check the pressure of air bottles for self-contained breathing apparatus. Recharge them if pressure falls down or depressurize if they are over pressurized
- Always recharge the air bottles immediately after a drill and shut the pressure release switch on the face-mask and also the supply valve of the bottle.
- Muster lists to be updated prior arrival and departure ports and immediately after any crew change - Familiarization rounds for new joiners to be carried out within 24 hours of their joining
Q.9. What should a third mate check after drills?
If the lifeboat or rescue boat was lowered and maneuvered, recheck the hook release and lashing arrangement for proper rigging. Any plugs if shipped while lowering can be removed once the survival craft is aboard. The davits should be stowed rightly up to their marked position.
Q.10. What checks to be done during annual servicing of life-raft and lifeboats?
- Ensure that shore service and inspection personnel carry out the required maintenance and inspections for the craft as required
- This may require crew members' supervision and assistance while they are working on it
- In case life rafts are received after servicing ashore, make sure to check their particulars and details upon receipt. The expiry dates for hydrostatic release unit and the certificates should be attached
- The life raft and lifeboats should be properly and correctly secured for emergency preparedness
Q.11. How to obtain Nav Area warnings for Non Trading Zones?
Usually vessels receive, select and monitor Nav Area warnings for their trading routes or their current passage. However, often it is observed that the voyages change and the vessels have to trade in areas different from previous ones. In such cases, it is important to obtain and plot the Nav area warnings for those regions.
For this safety department of the company can be contacted. In case of ships provided with Internet, the Nav area warnings can be directly taken from the UKHO website.
Q.12. How often should lifeboat water be changed?
Often water stored in lifeboat is found rotten and stinking due to storage over prolonged periods and rusting of containers;
even packaged water has expiry dates. It is therefore recommended to renew the fresh water in lifeboat every month. The container/tank used for storage must be clean. Packaged water should be checked for expiry and replaced accordingly.
Q.13. How to maintain portable fire extinguishers?
Portable extinguishers must be checked for their conditions and their nozzles must be clean and clear. The nozzles should be detached and blown with air to ensure they are clear. CO2 type extinguishers require weighing for ensuring their readiness.
However, Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) type extinguishers are often found with puddles of powder due to moisture accumulation. The powder can be removed and puddles shaken up well to ensure the extinguisher is operational.
Q.14. What should a third officer check while using Breathing Apparatus compressor for charging air bottles?
- Check the air quality for moisture; let some initial volumes be vented to atmosphere - Charge the bottle to rated pressure always
- Maintain a log of running hours of the compressor
Q.15. What is the importance of port papers?
Various IMO declarations, crew lists and other papers, which a third officer prepares under supervision of the master has a lot of importance with regards to customs and immigration.
Details such as passport number, seaman book number, date of birth etc. must be filled precisely and accurately to avoid any delay or unessential fines imposed by authorities on the vessel.
Q.16. How to correct Admiralty Sailing Directions (ASD)?
The corrections to admiralty sailing directions are maintained in a file. However, the reference number of the correction to be entered on the corresponding page of the ASD in addition to mentioning the week in the index of ASD (Ref : ASD2).
Q.17. How to confirm whether ASD's onboard and their corrections are up-to-date?
The weekly notice to mariners contains section IV updates to Admiralty Sailing Directions. This section comes with a list of corrections, which are in force and the current editions, which are in use.
The old corrections not in force can be removed from the correction file and only in force ones used for record. This list is published on quarterly basis (Ref : ASD1).
Q.18. How important is section I of Notices To Mariners?
During passage planning, ensure latest editions of charts are in use from the updated database of charts onboard. In addition to this, chart catalogue should be updated using the Section 1 Of Notices to Mariners as it contains the Charts, which will be published further.
This can be an advance information about some charts which might expire during a voyage and hence can be ordered in advance before a voyage commences (Ref: AD CHRT1).
Q.19. Why it is important to update chart correction log or chart inventory?
Often chart suppliers and source of supply for chart corrections are not the same for a vessel. Thus upon receipt of new charts, they must be entered in chart correction log or entered into database of chart corrections to ensure vessel starts receiving corrections for new charts added to the inventory (Ref: AD CHRT2).
Q.20. How to cross-examine compass error?
Though bearings of celestial objects taken out at sea are quite accurate, one more accurate method is by leading lights.
Often in river passages or alongside berths, leading lights are fixed, indicating a fixed heading with reference bearing.
Thus that bearing can be compared while vessel is aligned to them to compare compass errors taken using navigational equipment present onboard.
Q.22. Why crew list copy in fire plan needs to be updated?
The copy of fire plan and updated crew list must always be posted near access to the vessel. In case of an emergency or fire when vessel is alongside, it helps the shore fire fighting team to locate and identify the crew members in case of an evacuation or rescue.
Q.23. What is the importance of flags?
Flags are a customary and important signal displayed while a vessel approaches different ports of call.
- Always check for correct flag ad hoisting methods for tentative ports of call
- The flag needs to be in good shape and well maintained. A torn or tattered flag may be taken as disrespect by the port authorities
Q.24. What to check in life raft and EPIRB rigging?
Often Hydrostatic Release Unit's are found rigged incorrectly. Correct rigging procedures can be referred to from the manual provided with HRU. Hence, this will help in releasing the craft as required in case of an emergency.
Q.25. What important points should be noted while handling ship’s radar?
- The officer on watch should keep a close watch on the ship’s course as sometimes small vessels, objects, and ice may not be detected
- Shadow and blind sectors should also be taken care of while navigating by ship’s radar - Plotting of targets should be done at longer range
- The officer must use multiple plotting to increase accuracy - Detection of small targets is better at short range
- The officer on watch should know how to handle video processing techniques
- Long range should be used to get advance notice of approaching vessels, ports, and obstacles
- While deciding the range scale two things should be kept in mind –ship traffic in the region and ship’s speed
- Radar operation should be efficiently practiced in clear weather. This helps the operator to get a better idea about radar observations and target vectors during restricted visibility
- The officer on watch should also consider re-plotting or re-checking when there is a change in ship’s speed or course - The officer should keep a watch on the variable range market, fixed range lines and electronic bearing lines
- Safe speed of the ship should be decided after using long range to detect approaching vessels and land - The operating officer must know how to use clutter control to avoid unclear objects
- Heading marker should be properly aligned with the fore and aft of the ship and also with the compass heading
- The parallel index lines should be set correctly
- The officer on watch must check for any gyro error and accuracy of the heading line arrangement
- If a performance monitor is fitted, the quality of the performance must be checked at regular intervals of time - The officer must check the identity of the fixed object under consideration
- While deciding the closest point of approach (CPA) to avoid collision of the ship, factors such as course, speed, and aspect of the target should be taken into account. Other important aspects of the ship should also be considered to mark the CPA correctly
Q.26. What are the primary duties of Officer on Watch (OOW)?
- Maintaining a proper watch along with general surveillance of the ship - Monitoring and recording all bridge activities
- Checking navigational equipment in use at regular interval of time
- Following a proper navigation plan to avoid any kind of collision according to COLREGS - Must know how to use Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA)
- Must know how to use Electronic Chart and Display System (ECDIS)
- Should be conversant with the ship’s speed, turning circles, and ship handling characteristics - Keep a continuous watch on GMDSS radio for any kind of distress or general signals
- Prepare, execute, and monitor a safe passage plan
- Ensure handing over of the watch is done according to shipboard operation procedures - Asking for support whenever required
- Contact master when need arise
- Should be fully aware of all safety equipment on board ship - Must use helm and signaling apparatus whenever required
- Must know how to use all equipment meant for prevention of pollution at the sea and safety of lives - Should not leave the bridge unattended during his watch
Q.27. What are the important points to note during port watch?
- Make rounds to inspect the ship at appropriate intervals
- Check the condition and securing of the gangway, anchor chain and moorings, especially at the turn of the tide and in berths having a large rise and fall; this is to ensure that they are in normal working condition
- Check the draft, under-keel clearance and the general state of the ship, to avoid dangerous listing or trim during cargo handling or ballasting
- Check the weather and sea state
- Observe all regulations concerning safety and fire protection - Check the water level in bilges and tanks
- Knowledge of all persons onboard and their location, especially those in remote or enclosed spaces is to be kept
- Exhibit and sound all lights and signals, wherever appropriate and required
- In bad weather or in receiving a storm warning, take the necessary measures to protect the ship, persons on board, and the cargo. Take every precaution to prevent pollution of marine environment by ship’s operations
- In an emergency threatening the safety of the ship, raise alarm, inform the master, take all possible measures to prevent damage to the ship, its cargo and persons on board, and, if necessary, request assistance from the shore authorities or neighboring ships
- Be aware of the ship’s stability condition so that, in the event of fire, the shore fire fighting authority may be advised of the approximate quantity of water that can be pumped on board without endangering the ship
- Offer assistance to ships or persons in distress
- Take necessary precautions to prevent accidents or damage when propeller is to be turned - Enter in the appropriate log-book all important events affecting the ship