OFFICER OF THE WATCH 3000 ORAL EXAM PREPARATION COURSE OVERVIEW:
The STCW Officer of the Watch (OOW) 3000 Certificate of Competence is required by super-yacht deck crew who want to become deck officers on yachts up to 3000 tonnes. For many candidates it will be their first MCA oral exam and the next step in the journey towards Chief Officer and/or Master of a super-yacht.
OOW 3000 PREP COURSE DURATION:
The OOW 3000 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 sessions can be shorter if required.
OOW 3000 EXAM PRE REQUISITES:
Before the OOW 300 Exam you will require;
- 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
- Either
- STCW Basic Fire Fighting & Fire Prevention
- STCW Personal Survival Techniques
- STCW Proficiency in Security Awareness
- STCW Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boats
- HELM (Human Element Leadership & Management) Operational Level
- Efficient Deck Hand (EDH)
- ENG1 Medical
- Minimum age 19
- 36 months onboard yacht service. (Since the age of 16).
- At least 365 days seagoing service on vessels of 15 metres or over in load line length
- A minimum of 250 days’ ACTUAL sea going on vessels of 15 metres or over in load line length (see MSN 1858 for definitions)
- Either
- 36 months’ actual sea service in vessels of at least 24 metres in load line length OR
- Completion of Yacht Training Record Book
- Notice of Eligibility from the MCA
*Not required if your Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence was issued prior to 31 July 2003.
OOW 3000 PREP COURSE CONTENT:
Navigation
Plan and Conduct a Passage Including Position Determination
- Passage planning with respect to use of navigational publications including position determination, navigational charts (including ECDIS and RCDS), sailing directions, light lists, tide tables, radio navigational warnings and ship routeing information
- IALA system of maritime buoyage A and B
- Electronic navigational systems – limitations and sources of error and methods of correction
- Limitations of electronic chart systems including ECDIS and RCDS navigational chart systems
- Radar and ARPA – practical use of, modes of operation, limitations, sources of error and parallel indexing, including radar plotting techniques
- Use of a sextant and identification and correction of errors
- Use an azimuth mirror, pelorus (bearing plate) or other instrument for taking bearings
- Sources of meteorological information, ability to use and interpret information obtained from shipboard meteorological instruments, and knowledge of characteristics of various weather systems
- Interprets weather forecasts including knowledge of characteristics of various weather systems
- Understands the importance of regular checking of the vessel’s position and action to be taken if found off track
- Applies variation and deviation to convert true course to compass course and vice versa; understands the basic causes of variation and deviation
- Fixes a ships position on the chart given magnetic bearings and/or radar ranges and quotes position by latitude and longitude
- Finds the magnetic course to steer and the ETA at a given destination given the starting position and log speed
- Knows how to obtain and use weekly notices to mariners in order to correct charts
- Finds the time of high and low water, and predicts intermediate heights and/or times for standard and secondary ports
- Find and predict set and rate of the tide from tidal reference points on the chart, and tidal stream atlas
Maintain a Safe Navigational Watch
- A thorough knowledge of the principles of navigational watchkeeping at sea, including under pilotage, and watchkeeping at anchor and in port
- A thorough knowledge of the contents, application and intent of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (ColRegs)
- Understand the use of bridge equipment, including rate of turn indicators, course recorders, echo sounder and NAVTEX
- Knowledge of steering control systems, including automatic pilot and operational procedures and change over from manual to automatic control and vice-versa, and adjustment of controls for optimum performance
- Knowledge of application of ICS Bridge Procedures Guide and STCW Code A-VIII
- Understand the principles, limitations and modes of operation of AIS
- Maintain navigational records
- Knows the principles for handing over and relieving the navigational watch
Manoeuvre the Ship
- Preparation for getting underway, duties prior to proceeding to sea, making harbour, entering a dock, berthing alongside quays and jetties or other ships, and securing to buoys
- Use and care of mooring lines and associated equipment
- Helm orders, conning the ship, effects of propellers on the steering of the ship, effects of wind and current, stopping, going astern, turning short round, interaction, and squa, and embarking and disembarking a pilot
- Action in event of failure of bridge control, telegraph or steering gear, and emergency steering arrangements
- Procedures for anchoring
Response to Navigational Emergencies
Response to Navigational Emergencies
- Initial action following: man overboard, collision, grounding, flooding or major mechanical damage, and receipt of a distress message, initial damage assessment and control, protection of the marine environment
- Use of the International Aeronautical and Marine Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual, distress and emergency signals, and search and rescue around the UK and world-wide
Response to Other Emergencies
- Understand the organisational procedures for emergency parties and drills
- Knowledge of fire prevention, use and care of fire-fighting appliances, the shut-downvand isolation of plant and equipment, escape and breathing apparatus, fire and safety plans
- Knowledge of classes and chemistry of fires
- Use and care of lifesaving appliances and equipment including hand held radios,
- EPIRBs, SARTs, immersion suits and thermal protective aids, and rocket and line throwing apparatus
- Meanings and markings on survival craft and associated equipment; correct use of distress signals
- Launch and manage survival craft, recover rescue boats at sea
- Precautions for the protection and safety of passengers in emergencies
- Basic principles of survival
- Sources of medical information available
Communications
- Use of distress and emergency signals, International Code of Signals and the IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases
- Emergency communication with the GMDSS regulations
Onboard Ship Operations
Pollution Prevention Requirements
- Precautions to be taken to prevent pollution of the marine environment as required by MARPOL conventions, including Special Areas and the disposal of pollutants
- Basic understanding of the SOPEP manual, Garbage Management Plan and anti- pollution equipment
Seaworthiness of the Ship
- Understand fundamentals of watertight integrity, and the closing of all openings including hatches, access hatches and watertight doors
- Preparations for heavy weather
- Describes the effect on stability of
- raising and lowering weights
- low freeboard
- obstruction of deck freeing arrangements and scuppers
- slack tanks
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 and application of current Merchant Shipping Health and Safety legislation,and the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen
- Basic knowledge of relevant IMO conventions concerning safety of life at sea, and protection of the marine environment
- Purpose and application of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code
- Purpose of Flag and Port State Control
- Purpose and application of the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code
Business and Law
- Understand the content and application of the applicable Codes, namely ‘Small Vessels Code’5 and Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY3) 6
- A knowledge of the requirements for musters and drills including fire, emergency, and abandon ship drills
- Understand the legal obligation to ensure a seaworthy vessel
- A basic understanding of the laws of salvage
- Understand the requirements for safe manning, hours of work and watchkeeping
- Understand the circumstances when a vessel requires a crew agreement
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN OUR OOW 3000 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 OOW 3000 PREPARATION COURSE:
- Your NOE and MCA oral exam
HOW MUCH IS OOW 3000 PREP TRAINING?
- 1 Hour 1:1 preparation £70 (classroom or zoom)
- 12 Hours 1:1 preparation £720 (subsequent hours are £60/hour)
WHY CHOOSE CHIEFTAIN TRAINING FOR YOUR OOW 3000 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.