Subjects that everyone will be involved with..........

(1) Alterations - overtaking situations, head-on situations, crossing situations, narrow channels and in traffic
schemes in restricted visibility and when in sight of one another

(2) Light Recognition - fog signals - daytime signals - Underway or What - Arcs of lights - dimensions of
where the lights are placed on the vessel - distances you can see the lights

(3) Situations - Aground - flooding/sinking - man overboard with searches - fires in the vessel and usually
taken into a major fire - collision then rigging up a collision mat - abandoning ship with the act of launching
a life raft - spotting a red distress flare and doing searches for the vessel that launched the flare

(4) Lifesaving and Fire-fighting appliances, what you have on your vessel, how it works, what lifespan they
have

(5) Risk assessment - what dangers are there to you and your crew - as soon as you step on to your vessel
then your in danger

(6) I.S.M Code - Captains are asking loads of questions about this - it covers a vast range of subjects

(7) Dangerous Goods - Merchant Navy only - you will be given a UN Number and asked to find everything
about it - be cautious with this - some dangerous goods cannot be stowed alongside each other below deck
and can be above deck

(8) Grain Cargo's - Merchant Navy only - How can you find out if you can carry 10,000 tonnes of grain -
what do you need from the shipper - what about your stability

(9) Containers - Merchant Navy only - unloading containers (dangers taking too much containers off same
side of ship) - Rule of thumb for containers

(10) Compass Work - What is Variation and Deviation - What is Variation - What is Deviation

(11) MGN 84 Safe watch Keeping - what are the skippers standing orders - what would you like to see put
into the skippers standing orders to make a safer watch

(12) Stability - How important is it to know your vessel is in a stable equilibrium, what effects would ice on
the superstructure do to it - take a heavy weight onto your top-deck - overloading - stability book what's in
it - what is your stability criteria for your vessel

How to Prevent Flooding in your vessel

(1) Fit C.C.T.V. (Close Circuit Television) to all compartments so you can see if any water or fire in that area
(2) Maintain Bilge pumps
(3) Fit Bilge sensors as low as possible in the bilges
(4) Clean Bilge strainers and filters often
(5) Have portable pumps on the vessel (if a diesel or petrol pump; only use these in a well ventilated area)
(6) Inspect the hull of your vessel for any damage before proceeding to sea
(7) Inspect the hull of your vessel for any damage while in Dry-dock
(8) Withdraw Non-Return valves and check them out (only possible in dry-dock)
(9) Make sure bilge alarms can be heard throughout the vessel
(10) Check the bilges several times a day (visually)
(11) Remove any debris from the bilges (this will eventually get to the pumps and choke it
(12) Sea-cocks should be placed as high as possible in the engine-room
(13) NEVER EVER remove a Non-return valve while the vessel is in water
(14) If the bilge pumps are not coping with the amount of water in the bilges, close all bilge pumps down as
it could be the bilge pumping system that is to blame for the ingress of water
(15) Make sure all water-tight doors and hatches are closed when not in use (place a placard on every door
saying so) E.G.(DOORS MUST BE KEPT CLOSED AT ALL TIMES)
(16) Fit Grids over slush wells (Strainers in the hold)
(17) While at anchor or before leaving the vessel, close all sea-cocks that are not being used
(18) Have extra bilge pumps fitted, (electric and belt driven)
(19) Have whale pumps fitted
(20) As part of a muster drill, have the whole crew accustomed to the bilge pumping system
(21) Main Reason for a bilge pump not pumping is air-locking, check for any holes

How to pump your bilges

(1) Open up the overboard valve (discharge valve) (Full Open)

(2) Open up the main sea-cock for the pump (Full open) This will prime the bilge pump
(3) Start the bilge pump
(4) Open the valve (Full open) that is used for the compartment you want to pump
(5) Slowly close the main sea-cock (closing it slowly will help prevent air-locking the system)
(6) Check the overboard to make sure you are pumping bilge water over the side
(7) If you're not pumping bilge water, check the following
(a) You've air locked the bilge pumping system
(b) You have a hole in a pipe drawing air into the system
(c) The bilge pump impeller is worn or broken
(d) The bilge pump is broken
(e) The main intake is choked with some debris

(Q) What are you going to do with any oil in your bilges?
(a) Pump it into a sludge tank
(Q) What if you had no sludge tank, what will you do with the oil in the bilges now?
(a) Pump the bilges until there is a trace of oil being pumped overboard, as soon as this happens stop your
bilge pump, then manually pump the oil in the bilges into 5 gallon oil drums, then when you get ashore
inform the port authorities and they will dispose of it for you
(Q) What is an oil/water separator?
(a) A system that seperates water from oil, so that no more that 15 P.P.M. (Parts Per Million) of oil is being
discharged overboard
(Q) How does an oil/water separator work?
(a) By using thousands of ball bearings spinning centrifugal pushing the water out and letting the oil sink
into a holding tank
(Q) How often would you empty your sludge tank?
(a) You should empty your sludge tank at the first chance you get
(Q) What can you dispose of into the North Sea or English Channel?
(a) Only foodstuffs (North Sea and English Channel are classed as a special area)
(Q) What distance do you dispose of foodstuffs?
(a) More than 12 miles from any coast
(Q) So it would be alright to dispose of old loaves and their bags?
(a) No, the bags are made from plastic and plastic is totally banned from being disposed of into any sea
(Tip, recycle the bags)
(Q) What is totally banned from being disposed of into the sea?
(a) Plastics or any substances that is dangerous to the marine environment
(Q) What do you do with your oily bilge water?
(a) Pump it into a sludge tank then once ashore pump it into a holding tank on the pier
(Q) What would you do if there was no holding tank on the pier?
(a) Contact the port authorities
(Q) They say they have no holding tanks to give you to put your sludge into, what are you going to do now?
(a)Make a report and send it to the M.C.A. in Southampton and they will contact the Port Authorities to
make sure they have facilities for this situation
(Q) If your bilges are full of oily bilge water, what danger's do you have with going to sea in this vessel?
(a) Main danger is capsize with this amount of F.S.E. (Free Surface Effect) (Your vessel will be really
unstable) another is fire, if the oil on top of the water gets near any electical sorce you will start a major fire
and you'll have a hard time to put this one out
(Q) What are you going to do with your old ropes/wires/old oil/filters or any garbage?
(a) Ropes/wires/garbage (As long as the garbage is safe) into a skip on the pier, inform the port authorites
for the oil and filters
(Q) What are you going to do with an old starter battery?
(a) Contact the port authorites and they will dispose of it safely (don't you dare leave this on the pier
unguarded, some child might put their hand into the acid)
(Q) What would you do with any other chemicals you had to dispose of?
(a) Contact the Port Authorities and they will dispose of it safely (They will need to know what kind of
chemicals it is so it does not re-act against other chemicals.
(Q) What is the procedure if you've had an oil spill at sea?
(a) Get in contact with the Coastguard who have an oil spill emergency vessels (They patrol the seas
around Britain test for oil spills and they have the technology to clean it up)
(Q) What do you have to display in your vessel for your crew regarding pollution?
(a) Placards displaying what can and cannot be disposed of into the sea, it also shows what distance off the
coast (M.C.A. calls them SEA - SENSE Placards)
(Q) What is the name of the documents to fill out for oil-spills/for the amount of sludge you have in your
sludge tank/last time you emptied your sludge tank/when you clean out any fuel tanks/the cleaning water
you disposed of from your fuel tank/every time you pump your bilges?
(a) Oil Record book for vessels over 400grt, vessels below this weight can use a notepad
(Q) Every vessel over 400grt must carry a GARBAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN, and a GARBAGE RECORD BOOK,
but when would you use these?
(a) The GARBAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN is so that the crew know what garbage is to be placed into which
container (Sugar Bags) Certain garbages have to be able to breathe such as food waste, it can build up a
methane gas (Highly Explosive), it is also used for uplifting the containers to be placed ashore so personnel
ashore knows what is in which container.
The GARBAGE RECORD BOOK is a record of making sure everyone complies with the rules for the garbage
that is being disposed of
Garbage falls into the following catogries
(1) Plastic
(2) Dunnage (wood)
(3) Paper-products/rags/glass/metal/bottles/crockery
(4) Food wastes
(5) Incinerator ash

How can you send a distress?

(1) 2182 Khz
(2) 2187.5 Khz
(3) V.H.F. Channel 16
(4) V.H.F. Channel 70
(5) E.P.I.R.B. on 243, 121.5, and 406 megaherz
(6) Distress parachute Rocket (Red Flare)
(7) Distress hand held flare (Red flare)
(8) S.O.S. in Morse (not recognised now, Coastguards still monitor for Maydays)
(9) N.C. in International Code of Signals
(10) Black ball over a square flag (or vice versa)
(11) Continious sounding of a whistle
(12) A gun fired
(13) Waving arms up and down
(14) INMARSAT "C"
(15) Fire in a barrel
(16) S.A.R.T. works on 9 gigaherz

How do you send a distress over a radio?

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday
This is Nonsuch, Nonsuch, Nonsuch
My position is LATITUDE ............. LONGTITUDE............................
Nature of distress (manoverboard - on fire - sinking - aground - collision etc)
Assistance Required
Number of Crew
Information about weather, tides, swell etc (ONLY IF TIME ALLOWS)
Over

If you remember a saying (M.I.P.D.A.N.I.O.) this is the order of distress

M = Mayday
I = Identification of vessel (Name of boat)
P = Your vessels Position
D = Nature of Distress
A = Assistance Required
N = Number of Crew
I = Information (extra info)
O = Over
M.C.A. Oral Exam Questions
(Q) What is a Mayday?
(a) A distress signal
(Q) What is a Pan or Pan-Pan?
(a) An Urgency Signal
(Q) What is a Pan-Pan Medico?
(a) A person seeking medical information or aid
(Q) What is a security message?
(a) A Navigation Warning (alerting other ships about some danger to navigation) (including Ice-accretion
that has not been forecasted)
(Q) What does S.O.L.A.S. mean?
(a) Safety of Life at Sea
(Q) What does G.M.D.S.S. stand for?
(a) Global Maritime Distress Safety Systems
(Q) What does D.S.C. stand for?
(a) Digital Selective Calling
(Q) What frequencies can you put a distress out on?
(a) VHF channel 16 (156.8Mhz)
D.S.C. VHF channel 70
R.T. 2182 Khz
D.S.C. 2187.5Khz
E.P.I.R.B. 406 Mhz, 121.5Mhz, 243 Mhz
S.A.R.T. 9 Ghz
(Q) In All Ships there are three tables to aid seafarers to put out a distress, what are the three tables?
(a) Table 1
Phonetic Alphabet and Figure Spelling Tables (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta etc)
Table 2
Position in Code from the Internation Code of Signals
(A + 3 Numbers = True Course)
(LIMA + 4 Numbers = Latitude and Degrees)
(GOLF + 5 numbers = Longitude and Degrees)
Table 3
Nature of Distress in Code from the International Code of Signals (N.C. = Distress)
Hanging Block Safety Checklist
1. Check S.W.L. of block and its components
2. Check Sheave for wear and tear
3. Check hanging block has a safety chain through it
4. Check all welds for cracks
5. Check all nuts are welded and the welds not cracked
6. Check for rust and any scouring from wires
7. Check bushes for wear
8. Check all load bearing pins
9. Check "U" bolts for wear and tear ("U" Bolts locking nuts should also be welded, check the welds are
not cracked
10. Check "U" bolts are grease with underwater grease
11. Check any swivels
12. Check any shackles and connectors for wear and tear
While doing a Risk Assessment pay particular attention to hanging-blocks, as they are overhead and if they
are pulled down while your working at them they will kill as it has done in the past, don't be a statistic and
while working at a hanging block always have two men so the second man can watch your back (eyes in the
back of your head).
Helicopter Rescue & M.C.A. Oral questions
• When your in difficulties at sea for some reason, injured crewman, vessel sinking, vessel on fire,
vessel aground or for some other reason, the crews of the rescue helicopters are always at hand, it
would have to be some extreme reason before they could not come to your aid (Fog Bound)
• These men risk there lives to save yours, so false alerts should be avoided at all costs, putting out a
false Mayday, could endanger someone else life.
If another vessel puts out a Mayday and you put out a false Mayday, and the helicopter comes to
your vessel, you will land off in court and heavily fined and probably given a prison sentence
• The initial cost of bringing a helicopter to your vessel is high, but do not think about this cost if you
need the services of the rescue helicopter, I personnely spoke to a coastguard personnel, who told
me to tell seafarers, if you need the coastguard then ask, thats what they are there for
 • A rescue helicopter has an average distance out of about 250 n.m and if there is any Oilrigs en-
route, then they can stop they to refuel, making his distance even further
Information the rescue helicopter will require is as follows;
(1) Position
(2) Name and registration number of vessel
(3) Nature of distress
(4) Your speed
(5) Your course
(6) The forecast in your area
(7) What radios you have onboard
(8) Do you have distress rockets/hand held flares on your vessel
Contact with the rescue helicopter is usually on Vhf 16 and his call sign will be RESCUE HELICOPTER
followed by 3 numbers
(E.g.) Rescue Helicopter 137
When a helicopter comes to your assistance you should do the following
(1) Listen to the captain of the helicopters orders
(2) Speed should be between 5 - 10 knots
(3) If your engaged in fishing do not haul your nets, this slows your vessel sheer
(4) Try and put the wind 30o off the port bow
(5) Once this achieved hold this course unless instructed to do otherwise
(6) Clear the decks of obstacles
(7) Have men ready for the high line wire
(8) Never make the wire fast to your vessel, coil it into a plastic basket
(9) Have 3-4 men pull on the wire and try and keep it tight
(10) Do not touch the wire till it earths in the sea, its full of static electricity
M.C.A. Oral exam Question
(Q) You're Skipper aboard an oil-tender and at stand-by alongside an oilrig, when you hear a Mayday from
a helicopter who has crashed into the sea 10 miles away from you, what are you going to do?
(a) If the weather permits, then launch your fast rescue craft (F.R.C.) and inform the oilrig that you're going
to assist the helicopter
(Q) Why are you not standing-by the oilrig, do you have to go to a Mayday?
(a) Yes, you have to go to a Mayday, unless you're endangering your crew and vessel, or if it's to far away,
or if the On Scene Commander (O.S.C.) has stood you down because there is enough vessels in the area.
(Q) While your fast rescue craft (F.R.C.) are at the helicopter, you have a major fire in the engine room and
the fire has disabled all your hydraulic system, how will you get the fast rescue craft with the casualties back
onboard your vessel?
(a) If you have no means to winch them back onboard, then you will need to escort them back to the oilrig,
where doctors and medics will be waiting for the casualties
(Q) There is a vessel makingway coming to close to the oilrig, and you've called them up but are not getting
any response from them, what are you going to do?
(a) Make for the vessel and while alongside them sound your whistle several times to try and get his
attention. (5 or more short and rapid blasts which means I'm unsure of your intentions).
(Q) You are still getting no response from the other vessel, what are you going to do?
(a) Try and nudge the other vessel with your own vessel so it alerts someone on the vessel
(Q) The skipper of the other vessel calls you up, and says he is sorry but his watch had fell asleep, what are
you going to do now?
(a) Take note of the vessels name and port and his registration and log it in the Official log-book as well as
making an entry into an I.R.F. (Incident Report Form) and send it to the M.A.I.B.(Marine Accident
Investigation Branch)
Food Hygiene - Questions associated with MGN 20 Health and Risk Assessment
(Q) You crew are all down with food poisoning and your the last one standing, you also ate what the others
had, what are you going to do?
(a) Stop the vessel, put up your Not Under Command lights (N.U.C.) and put out a Mayday, if you have
eaten the same food as the rest of the crew then your going to get food poisoning also, therefore there will
be no-one to command the ship (not under command)
(Q) You got your vessel back into harbour and your vessel was inspected, they found cockroaches in the
food-lockers, what do you have to do next?
(a) Clean out the food lockers and dispose of them safely, then disinfect the area with bleach to get rid of
any bugs the wash the area again with some anti bacterial cleaning agent
(Q) Do you have any documentation to fill up regarding this incident?
(a) Yes, the M.A.I.B. Incident Report Form (I.R.F.) as well as the Official Log Book (inspection of food and
water)
(Q) How clean is your cook?
(a) Most cooks that I've seen are clean but tell him how your cook is
(Q) How often does he clean the galley/mess deck?
(a) It should be before and after every meal
(Q) What does he clean the dining table down with?
(a) It should be with some anti bacterial disinfectant
(Q) How often does he change his dish clothes?
(a) After he has used them,,,, after every meal
(Q) How many knives does your cook have to prepare his meals with?
(a) He should have separate knives for fresh - frozen and cooked foods, never use the same knife for
cook/frozen, frozen/fresh, cooked/fresh
(Q) Your freezer/fridge, what temperatures are they set at?
(a) Your fridge should not be set higher than +5 degrees and your freezer must be at least -18 degrees
(Q) You have a cooked chicken and a frozen piece of beef, what goes on the top shelf of the fridge?
(a) The cooked chicken, you cannot put the frozen piece of beef in the fridge or you will get cross
contamination
(Q) So what are you going to do with the frozen piece of beef, you need to defrost it?
(a) Defrost it at room temperature for 24 hours
(Q) Why should any hold be kept clean?
(a) In case you load any food substances into it (including fishing vessels)
(Q) How do you clean your holds?
(a) Best way is with a steam hose or a power hose
RULE 19 - Restricted Visibility & Fog Related Questions

Question - Answers and Tips

Imagine That the image above is your Radar Screen and your vessel is in the middle of the screen, we then
split the radar screen into four quarters

With the Diagram above:

If there is an "S" then you would make an early and bold alteration to Starboard

If there is a "P" then you would make an early and bold alteration to Port

if there is a vessel dead astern of you and he's overtaking you then you can alter either way

If there's a vessel on your starboard beam, then alter hard to Port

If you're overtaking a vessel "Take the shortest possible route" to get back onto your original course and go
around his stern (Avoid as much as possible crossing ahead of the vessel your overtaking, this is a very
dangerous manoeuvre)

Questions and Answers with tips

(Q) What Does Rule 19 mean to you?
(a) The Conduct of vessels in or near an area of restricted visibility
(Q) What is a safe speed in restricted visibility?
(a) A speed that you can stop in half the visible distance you can see, so you can manoeuvre out of danger
in the other half (if the visibility is zero, then minimum speed that you can keep your course)
(Q) What does Rule 19 part (a) say?
(a) This Rule applies to ALL vessels in or near an area of Restricted visibility (so if you're in a power-driven
vessel and the other vessel is "Not Under Command", both vessels have to use Rule 19 and both have to
give way
(Q) What does Rule 19 part (b) say?
(a) Every vessel shall go at a safe speed and have her engines ready for immediate manoeuvre
(Q) What does Rule 19 part (c) say?
(a) Every vessel shall have due regards to the prevailing conditions and circumstances of restricted visibility
(What it means)
(i) Keep an eye on the weather,
(ii) Get the skipper up and double up the watch,
(iii) Open the windows and listen for fog signals,
(iv) Start to sound your own fog signal
(v) Man the radar's
(vi) Have your engines ready to stop or come astern
(vii) Be ready to switch the autopilot off and go onto manual steering
(viii) Close all watertight doors - incase of a collision

(Q) What does Rule 19 (d) say?

(a) Take a series of Radar Bearings to see if a risk of collision/close quarters situation exists and if so then
the following should be avoided (d parts i and ii)
(Q) What does Rule 19 (d) part (i) say?
(a) Avoid an alteration to PORT for a vessel forward of the beam - unless your overtaking
(Q) What does Rule 19 (d) part (ii) say?
(a) Avoid an alteration towards a vessel abeam or abaft the beam
(Q) What does Rule 19 part (e) say?
(a) If you hear a fog signal but can't detect him on radar or cannot avoid a close quarter situation, then
slow down your vessel and if still unsure stop your vessel until the danger is final past and clear
(Q) In restricted visibility - you have detected a vessel, but what does detect mean?
(a) That you can see the target on your radar screen
(Q) If you plot a vessel on radar and the 3 bearings are steady what does this mean?
(a) That your on a collision course
(Q) If you plot a vessel on radar and the 3 bearings are nearly steady, what does this mean?
(a) That you are going into a close quarter situation/collision course
(Q) You have just one plot of a target on screen, what are you going to do with this?
(a) Keep plotting him, this is scanty radar information and can't be relied upon
(Q) You have two plot's of a target on screen, what are you going to do with this?
(a) Keep plotting him, this is scanty radar information and can't be relied upon
(Q) You have 3 plots of a target on your starboard bow bearings steady - what are you going to do?
(a) Make an early and bold alteration to Starboard - other vessel should do the same (Rule 19 d part (i) for
you)
(Q) What manoeuvring signal will you make for that manoeuvre?
(a) None, manoeuvring signals are only used when "VESSELS ARE IN SIGHT OF ONE ANOTHER"
(Q) You have 3 plots of a target on your port bow - bearings steady - what are you going to do?
(a) Make an early and bold alteration to Starboard - other vessel should do the same (Rule 19 d part (i) for
you)
(Q) You have 3 plots of a target on your port beam - bearings steady - what are you going to do?
(a) Make an early and bold alteration to Starboard - other vessel should do the same (Rule 19 d part (ii) for
you)
(Q) You have 3 plots of a target on your port quarter - bearings steady - what are you going to do?
(a) Make an early and bold alteration to Starboard - other vessel can go to port/starboard if he is
overtaking you (Rule 19 d part (ii) for you)
(Q) You have 3 plots of a target dead astearn - bearings steady - what are you going to do?
(a) Make an early and bold alteration to Starboard/Port - other vessel can go to port/starboard if he is
overtaking you (Rule 19 d part (ii) for you)
(Q) You have 3 plots of a target on your Starboard quarter - bearings steady - what are you going to do?
(a) Make an early and bold alteration to Port - other vessel can go to port/starboard if he is overtaking you
(Rule 19 d part (ii) for you)
(Q) You have 3 plots of a target on your Starboard beam - bearings steady - what are you going to do?
(a) Make an early and bold alteration to Port - other vessel should go to starboard (Rule 19 d part (ii) for
you)
(Q) You have taken 2 plots of a vessel on your starboard bow and about to take a third plot when you blew
a fuse on your radar, the engineer is trying to find a fuse, what are you going to do?
(a) Stop your vessel and change your fog signal if in a power-driven vessel to 2 prolonged blasts on the
ships whistle, if in a hampered vessel then leave the fog signal as 1 prolonged blast followed by 2 short
blasts on the ships whistle
(Q) What distance would you say is a close quarter situation?
(a) Out in the open sea - 4 miles
(Q) Your enginner has fixed the radar but in the time it took him to find a fuse you have landed in a close
quarter situation, what are you going to do?
(a) Come full astern with the vessel and hopefully miss the oncoming vessel, if there was a collision then
you would lessen the damage
(Q) What is the fog Signal for a fishing vessel - Underway or Making way?
(a) One prolonged blast followed by two short blasts on the ships whistle at intervals not exceeding two
minutes
(Q) What is the fog signal for a power-driven vessel - Underway or Making way?
(a) ONE prolonged blast if Making way and TWO prolonged blasts if Underway on the ships whistle at
intervals not exceeding two minutes
(Q) What is the fog signal for the following?
(i) A Sailing vessel
(ii) A fishing vessel
(iii) A vessel Not Under Command
(iv) A vessel Restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
(v) A vessel Constrained by her Draught
(vi) A vessel engaged in towing something
(vii) A minesweeper
(vii) A dredger
(a) One prolonged blast followed by two short blasts on the ships whistle at intervals not exceeding two
minutes
(Q) What is the fog signal for the following?
(i) A pilot vessel
(ii) A supertanker
(iii) A ferry
(iv) A passenger liner
(v) A hovercraft
(vi) A sailing vessel with a cone apex down
(vii) A fishing vessel with his fishing gear still on the vessel
(a) If Makingway - ONE prolonged blast and if Underway TWO prolonged blasts on the ships whistel at
intervals not exceeding 2 minutes
(Q) What is the fog signal for a vessel towing a manned vessel?
(a) One prolonged blast followed by two short blasts by the towing vessel and the vessel being towed will
sound One prolonged blast followed by three short blasts on the ships whistle at intervals not exceeding 2
minutes
The towing vessel sound his signal immediaty after the towing vessels signal
(Q) What is the Pilots identity signal?
(a) He may if he want sound an identity signal of 4 short blasts on the ships whistle
(There is no Time limit with the pilots identity signal)
(Q) What is the fog signal of a Pilot vessel underway - then Makingway?
(a) When UNDERWAY - 2 prolonged blasts on the ships whistle followed by 4 short blasts to indicate he has
a pilot onboard
When MAKINGWAY - 1 prolonged blast on the ships whistle followed by 4 short blasts to indicate he has a
pilot onboard
(Q) A vessel at Anchor under 100 metres - what is his fog signal?
(a) (5) TIPS - remember the number
A rapid ringing on the bell for 5 seconds at intervals not exceeding ONE minute
(Q) A vessel at anchor over 100 metres - what is his fog signal?
(a) (5 - 5) TIPS - remember the numbers
A rapid ringing on the bell for 5 seconds followed by
A rapid ringing on the gong aft for 5 seconds at intervals not exceeding ONE minute
(Q) What is the warning signal a vessel may sound if he is at anchor to alert others they are on a collision
course or coming to close to him?
(a) Morse "R" which is - One short - One Long - One short blast on the ships whistle
(Q) A Pilot onboard a vessel at anchor under 100 metres - what is the fog signal?
(a) (5 - 4) TIPS - Remember the numbers
A rapid ringing on the bell for 5 seconds at intervals not exceeding ONE minute and if he wants he may
sound 4 short blast to indicate there is a Pilot onboard (No time limit for pilots identity signal)
(Q) A Pilot onboard a vessel at anchor over 100 metres - what is the fog signal?
(a) (5 - 5 - 4) TIPS
A rapid ringing on the bell for 5 seconds followed by
A rapid ringing on the gong aft for 5 seconds at intervals not exceeding ONE minute
He may if he wants sound the pilots identity signal of 4 short blasts on the ships whistle (No time limit for
the Pilots identity signal)
(Q) A vessel aground under 100 metres - what is his fog signal?
(a) (3 - 5 - 3) TIPS - remember the numbers
3 distinct strokes on the bell
rapid ringing on the bell for 5 seconds
3 distinct strokes on the bell
at intervals not exceeding ONE minute
(Q) A vessel aground over 100 metres - what is his fog signal?
(a) (3 - 5 - 3 - 5) TIPS - remember the numbers
3 distinct strokes on the bell
rapid ringing on the bell for 5 seconds
3 distinct strokes on the bell
rapid ringing on the gong aft for 5 seconds
at intervals not exceeding ONE minute
(Q) You heard a fog signal - can you tell where this fog signal is coming from, you can't see nothing on
radar?
(a) No, the sound in restricted visibility deceives the human ear
(Q) You heard a fog signal - you're unsure where it's coming from - what are you going to do with your
vessel?
(a) Slow down to a minimum speed and if still unsure - stop your vessel until the danger is past
(Q) A small sailing vessel is a very bad radar target, the echo passes over the vessel, how can he improve
his chances of being detected on radar?
(a) By putting up a radar reflector as high up his mast as possible
(Q) Autopilots - do you use them while in restricted visibility - if so why do you use them then?
(a) Because using an autopilot in restricted visibility gives you more time to study the radar and listen out
for fog signals, as long as you can switch the autopilot off very quickly and go onto manual steering
(Q) Autopilot - what is the maximum time allowed by the rules to switch them off to go onto manual
steering?
(a) Maximum is 30 seconds - I personnely think this is too long