MASTER 500 ORAL EXAM PREPARATION COURSE OVERVIEW:
The STCW Master 500 oral exam is conducted by the MCA. Candidates will hold the OOW 3000 Certificate of Competence and have completed the necessary sea time and additional modules (see below). This certificate is required to Captain yachts upto 500 tonnes
MASTER 500 PREP COURSE DURATION:
The Master 500 Prep course is bespoke and usually 1:1. Most students initially buy 12 or 16 hours. Some then choose to top up. We find three or four 4-hour session works very well, however session can be shorter if required.
MASTER 500 EXAM PRE REQUISITES:
Before the OOW 500 Exam you will require;
-
- STCW OOW 3000 Certificate of Competence
- MCA / RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore Certificate of Competence (sail or power) OR IYT Master of Yachts Limited certificate
- RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Certificate * OR IYT Master of Yachts Limited certificate
- MCA General Ship Knowledge (OOW yachts)
- MCA Navigation and Radar (OOW yachts)
- MCA Electronic Chart Display & Information System (ECDIS)
- STCW GMDSS General Operator’s Certificate (GOC)
- STCW Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities
- STCW Basic Fire Fighting & Fire Prevention
- STCW Personal Survival Techniques
- STCW Proficiency in Security Awareness
- STCW Medical First Aid
- STCW Medical Care
- STCW Advanced Fire Fighting
- STCW Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boats
- HELM (Human Element Leadership & Management) Management Level
- MCA Seamanship and Meteorology (Master Yachts)
- MCA Stability (Master Yachts)
- MCA Business and Law (Master Yachts)
- MCA Navigation, Radar and ARPA Simulator (Master Yachts)
- MCA Celestial Navigation
- ENG1 Medical
- While holding OOW3000, have completed 12 months’ onboard yacht service as a deck officer, including at least 120 days watch keeping service, in vessels of 15 metres or over in load line length
- Notice of Eligibility from the MCA
MASTER 500 PREP COURSE CONTENT:
The course is a mix of teaching, revision and mock questions. The Instructor will focus on the areas you feel you require help.
Navigation
Plan and conduct safe navigation
- Demonstrate an ability to undertake voyage planning, taking into consideration:
- restricted waters
- meteorological conditions through interpretation of synoptic charts, and to forecast local area weather, and the characteristics of various weather systems
- restricted visibility
- reporting in accordance with ship reporting systems
- limitations of electronic chart systems including ECDIS and RDS navigational chart systems
- port radio information services: knowledge of the type of service available to aid vessels entering ports, berthing, VTIS and VTS systems as indicated in the Admiralty List of Radio Signals – Vessel Traffic Services, Port Operations and Pilot Stations
- maritime buoyage systems – IALA region A and B
Establish and maintain safe watchkeeping arrangements and procedures
- A thorough knowledge of the principles of navigational watchkeeping at sea, including under pilotage, at anchor and in port
- A thorough knowledge of the content, application and intent of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (ColRegs)
- Knowledge of principles of establishing a safe engineering watch at sea, anchor and in port
Compasses
- Compasses commonly fitted onboard the ship concerned – variation and deviation, causes and effects, siting of other equipment with reference to magnetic compasses
- Knowledge of the purpose of correctors/corrections
Ship Manoeuvring and Operation of Small Ship Power Plant
- Anchoring and working anchors and cables in all circumstances
- Proper procedures for berthing and unberthing
- Knowledge of factors affecting safe manoeuvring and handling
- Knowledge of the operation of small ship power plant and auxiliaries
Response to Emergencies
Response to Navigational Emergency
- Action to be taken when disabled and in distress, abandoning ship, survival procedures, use of rockets and rocket apparatus
- Measures to be taken following collision, grounding, heavy weather damage and ingress of water
- Towing and being towed
- Knowledge of emergency steering systems
- Knowledge of search and rescue procedures, assisting a ship or aircraft in distress rescuing the passengers and crew of a disabled ship or ditched aircraft
- Use of the International Aeronautical and Marine Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual (Volume III), distress and emergency signals
- Emergency communications within the GMDSS Regulations
Response to Other Emergencies
- a) Method of dealing with fire aboard a vessel; prevention of fire in port and at sea
- b) Use and maintenance of firefighting equipment, fire dampers, doors and screens, anddetection equipment
- c) Organisation and direction of fire-fighting drills and training
- d) Launch and manage survival craft, recover rescue boats at sea
- e) The organisation and direction of lifeboat and liferaft drills and training
- f) Understand the fundamental actions to be taken in the event of partial loss of intactbuoyancy
- g) Precautions for the protection and safety of passengers in emergencies
- h) Appreciation of action to be taken when emergencies arise in port
- i) Sources of medical information available
Onboard Ship Operation
Pollution Prevention Requirements
- Precautions to be taken to prevent pollution of the marine environment as required by the MARPOL Conventions, including special areas
- 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.
- Masters duties, obligations and liabilities, including the keeping of records
Seaworthiness of the Ship
- Precautions to be taken prior to the onset of heavy weather, management of small ships in heavy weather, and handling a disabled ship
- Understand the fundamentals of watertight integrity
- Preparation for dry-docking and undocking, with or without damage – general procedure and precautions to be observed
- Working knowledge of stability and trim information
Legislative Requirements
Knowledge of the Following Legislative Requirements:
- Contents and use of Merchant Shipping Notices (MSNs), Marine Guidance Notes (MGNs), Marine Information Notes (MINs) and Annual Summary of Admiralty Notices to Mariners
- Knowledge of the application of current Merchant Shipping Health and Safety legislation, including the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen1, and the main elements of risk assessment
- Knowledge of relevant IMO conventions concerning safety of life at sea and protection of the marine environment
- Crew agreement, the official log book and laws relating to entries, inspection of living quarters and storerooms, and complaints procedures
- Reports required by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)
- Load-line marks – entries and reports in respect of freeboard, draft and allowances
- The requirements of regulations concerning life-saving and fire fighting appliances
- Application of hours of work and rest legislation
- The law relating to the reporting of dangers to navigation
- 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
- Purpose and application of the International Ship and Port Security Code (ISPS)
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN OUR MASTER 500 PREPARATION COURSE:
- 1:1 Tuition (can be face to face or remote (over zoom)
- Tea/coffee and on site parking (or zoom login)
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN OUR MASTER 500 PREPARATION COURSE:
- Your NOE and MCA oral exam
BOOKING THE MCA MASTER 500 PREPARATION COURSE:
Please discuss bespoke dates with us.
WHY CHOOSE CHIEFTAIN TRAINING FOR YOUR MASTER 500 PREPARATION COURSE?
Our Lead Deck Officer Instructor is the MCA’s former Chief Examiner. This is the man who recruited and trained many of today’s MCA examiners as well as set the standards they should follow. If you book our classroom or zoom preparation course, he will be involved in the delivery of your training and will carry out your 1:1 mock exam. There is no one better to have on your team as we help prepare you for your MCA oral exam.