Part V.—Qualifications and examinations for River and Bay Certificates.
Division 2.—Fore-and-aft Certificates—River and Bay Trade.
Division 3.—Steam-ship Certificates—River and Bay Trade.
Part VI.—Qualifications and examinations for Yacht Certificates and for Special Subjects.
Part VII.—Estimation of Sea Service.
Part VIII.—Conduct of Examinations.
(a) Made under the Navigation Act 1912–1926 on 14th May, 1931.
(b) Made under the Navigation Act 1912–1926 on 23rd February, 1931; deemed to have come into operation on 12th January, 1931.
Definitions.
3.—(1.) In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—
“Appendix” means an Appendix to these Regulations;
“Candidate” means a candidate for a certificate;
“Certificate” means a Certificate of Competency as Master or Mate (as the case may be) granted in accordance with the Act, or the Merchant Shipping Act, or any State Act, or, in respect of the certificates specified in Appendix G, by the Government of any British Dominion or Possession mentioned in that Appendix;
“Fore-and-aft-rigged vessel” includes every vessel which is not a square-rigged vessel;
“Home or coasting trade ship” includes, every ship engaged in making short voyages within the limits prescribed for home-trade ships by the Merchant Shipping Act, or for home-trade or coasting ships by any State Act or any Act of any British Possession other than the Commonwealth;
“Local Examiner” or “Examiner” means any Commonwealth Examiner of Masters and Mates at any port in the Commonwealth;
“Principal Examiner” means the Principal Examiner of Masters and Mates;
“River and Bay service” means service in river and bay ships;
“Sailing ship” means a ship furnished with sails as a principal means of propulsion, and includes a ship so furnished with sails and equipped with auxiliary steam or other mechanical power for use during light winds or calms.
“Sailing vessel” has a meaning corresponding with “sailing ship”;
“Schedule” means, a Schedule to these Regulations;
“Sea service”, “served at sea”, “total sea service” in relation to Foreign-going Certificates, means service performed in the foreign-going or Australian trade, or equivalent service in the limited coast-trade;
‘‘Service in the foreign-going trade” means service performed in foreign-going or Australian-trade ships, other than service performed in such ships whilst employed on voyages between ports or places all of which are situated within the limits of the limited coast-trade prescribed for a port in the Commonwealth, or within the limits of the home trade or coast-trade of Great Britain or any of the Dominions;
“Sea service”, “served at sea”, “total sea service”, in relation to Limited Coast-trade Certificates, means service performed in the limited coast-trade or in the home or coast trades of Great Britain or any of the Dominions or in the foreign-going trade;
“Service in the limited coast-trade” means service performed in any ship (other than a River and Bay ship) engaged on-trading voyages and plying between ports or places all of which are situated within the limits of the limited coast-trade prescribed for a port in the Commonwealth, or within the limits of the home trade or coast-trade of Great Britain or any of the Dominions;
“Square-rigged vessels” includes full-rigged ships, barques, brigs, barquentines and brigantines;
“Steam-ship” means a ship using steam or other machinery as a principal means of propulsion;
“Steam vessel” has a meaning corresponding with “steamship”;
“The Act” means the Navigation Act 1912–1926.
(2.) Where the word “lower” or “higher” is used in these Regulations as descriptive of any certificate, or grade of certificate or capacity in which the holder of a certificate may serve, the value of that certificate, or grade of certificate, shall be determined, in relation to other certificates, in the manner prescribed in the Second Schedule.
(3.) Any reference to a form in these Regulations shall be read as a reference to the form approved in that behalf by the Minister.
Part II.—General.
Times and places of examination.
Examinations for certificates shall be held at the times and places set forth in Appendix A, or at such other times as the Minister from time to time directs.
Examination fee.
5.—(1.) An applicant for any examination shall pay to the Superintendent the fee for that examination set out in the First Schedule.
(2.) Where a candidate is found to be ineligible for examination, the fee paid shall be returned to him.
(3.) Subject to these Regulations, the examination fee or any part thereof shall not be returned to any unsuccessful candidate.
(4.) Where a candidate offers a gratuity to any official, he shall, in addition to any penalty to which he would otherwise be subject, be rejected and shall be debarred from examination at any port in the Commonwealth, for a period of twelve months.
Applications for examination
6.—(1.) An application for examination for a certificate or for an endorsement thereon shall be made in accordance with Form M. and M.—B.
(2.) The application, properly filled in, together with the applicant’s testimonials, discharges, birth, first aid and watchkeeping certificates, and sectional pass form (if any), shall be lodged with the Superintendent at the port where the applicant desires to be examined, in the case of an examination for a certificate as Extra Master, at least fourteen days, and in other cases at least four days, before the day of examination.
(3.) A candidate shall not be admitted to examination unless he has completed the prescribed period of service.
(4.) All breaks in service shall be properly accounted for to the satisfaction of the Examiner.
Proof of British nationality.
7.—(1.) A candidate for a certificate shall not be admitted to examination unless he first produces satisfactory proof that he is a British subject.
(2.) Proof of nationality may be made by the production of—
(a) the candidate’s birth certificate or a properly certified copy thereof; or
(b) the candidate’s certificate of naturalization; or
(c) a Certificate of Competency of a lower grade which has been granted to the candidate under these Regulations.
(3.) If a candidate cannot produce the evidence required by the last preceding sub-regulation, he must furnish, to the satisfaction of the Examiner, other documentary evidence of British nationality.
(4.) If any doubt exists as to a candidate’s nationality, the case shall be referred to the Principal Examiner for consideration and his decision in the matter shall be final.
Testimonials.
8.—(1.) A candidate shall not be admitted to examination unless he first produces testimonials as to experience, ability and conduct in accordance with this regulation.
(2.) The testimonials shall be signed by the master, or owner, or properly accredited representative thereof, of the ship in which the service was performed, and shall be such as to prove, to the satisfaction of the Examiner, the sobriety, experience, ability and general good conduct of the candidate for at least the twelve months of sea service immediately preceding the date of application for examination.
Watch-keeping certificates.
9.—(1.) A candidate for a certificate, for which service as watch-keeping officer is required, shall produce a certificate of watchkeeping service signed by the master of the vessel on which he has served.
(2.) Such certificate shall be in accordance with such one of the forms in Appendix E. as is applicable.
Special application.
10.—(1.) A candidate who is in doubt as to whether his service complies with these Regulations, and who desires to submit his case for special consideration, shall submit his discharges, testimonials, watchkeeping certificates (if any) and form of application (properly filled in), to the local Examiner, or, if at a port where there is no Examiner, to the Superintendent.
(2.) Where the papers cannot be submitted direct to a local Examiner, they should be addressed to the Director of Navigation, Melbourne.
(3.) Where necessary, the local Examiner or Superintendent, as the case may be, shall forward the papers with his observations to the Principal Examiner, who may either deal with the case or bring it before the Director.
(4.) Where a candidate is still serving under Articles of Agreement, a written statement to that effect, signed by the master of the ship, and verified by the Superintendent at the port, may be accepted as proof of service under the existing Articles of Agreement.
(5.) Where service as second or third mate in limited coast-trade ships is claimed as qualifying service for a foreign-going certificate, a complete statement of the voyages, verified by the master or owner, shall accompany the application.
Penalty for misconduct.
11. A candidate who—
(a) has neglected or refused to join his vessel after having signed articles; or
(b) has deserted his vessel after having joined; or
(c) has been found guilty of gross misconduct on board,
shall be required to produce satisfactory proofs of two years’ subsequent service and good conduct at sea, unless the Director, after having investigated the matter, sees fit to reduce the time.
Physical or mental disability.
12.—(1.) If, during the progress of an examination, the Examiner becomes satisfied that the candidate is afflicted with physical or mental disabilities such as render him unfit for the proper performance of the duties of a master or officer at sea, he shall immediately discontinue the examination and report the matter to the Principal Examiner.
(2.) When an examination has been so discontinued, the examination fee paid by the candidate shall, on application, be returned to him.
(3.) Where such candidate subsequently produces a medical certificate to the effect that his physical or mental condition has improved or is normal, the Director may permit the candidate to sit again for examination.
Failure in English language.
If a candidate fails to satisfy the Examiner that he can speak and write the English language sufficiently well to enable him to efficiently perform the duties required of him on board a British vessel, in the position for which he desires a certificate, he shall be refused a certificate and shall not be re-examined until after a lapse of six months.
Issue of certificates.
14.—(1.) Upon a candidate passing all sections of his examination, the Examiner shall issue to him an authority in accordance with Form M. & M.—EE., authorizing the Deputy Director to whom it is addressed to issue the certificate.
(2.) A certificate of competency shall be in accordance with the form in Appendix H.
(3.) Where the candidate passes in part of the examination only, the Examiner shall supply him with a record of his passing in accordance with Form M. & M.—EE.(l). The candidate shall retain this form and produce it to the Examiner when he next presents himself for examination.
Service found to be insufficient.
15.—(1.) If after a candidate has passed the examination it is discovered that his services were insufficient to have entitled him to receive a certificate of the grade for which he has passed, the certificate shall be withheld from him.
(2.) If the Principal Examiner is satisfied that the error in the calculation of the candidate’s services did not occur through any fault of, or wilful misrepresentation by, the candidate, the fee shall be returned to the candidate.
(3.) If the services of the candidate entitle him to a certificate of a lower grade, such a certificate may be granted to him, and the difference, if any, between the fee paid by him for the higher grade certificate and the fee payable for the lower grade certificate shall be returned to the candidate.
(4.) Where a certificate of a lower grade is issued, in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sub-regulation, the higher grade certificate for which the candidate has passed shall not he granted until he has performed the amount of service in which he was deficient, and has been re-examined in all the subjects of the examination, unless the Director, in his discretion, sees fit to dispense with the re-examination.
Certificates of service.
16.—(1.) A person who has attained the rank of Lieutenant in His Majesty’s Navy, or in His Majesty’s Indian Marine Service, may apply for a certificate of service as Master of a foreign-going ship without examination.
(2.) Applications by officers of the Royal Australian Navy shall be made, through their commanding officers if they are on active service, otherwise, direct to the Department of Defence, Melbourne, which will forward the application to the Board of Trade through the High Commissioner for Australia.
(3.) The form of application (Exn. 18), as issued by the Board of Trade, may be obtained from the Superintendent of a Mercantile Marine Office at any principal port in a State.
Examination of officers in Royal Australia Navy.
17.—(1.) Officers of the Royal Australian Navy may be examined for certificates of competency on the conditions as prescribed in regulation 132, if on the active list.
(2.) Any such officer who desires to be examined shall apply through his commanding officer, and if on half-pay, direct to the Secretary of the Naval Board, who, in either case, shall forward the application to the Director.
Failure in the written or the oral part of the examination.
18.—(1.) Candidates for any grade of certificate shall proceed to the oral examination irrespective of whether they have passed or failed in their written work.
(2.) Where a candidate passes in the written portion of the examination and fails in the oral, or vice versa, his pass in that portion in which he has satisfied the examiners shall hold good for a period of six months from the date of the examination. If he does not pass the remainder of the examination within this period he shall again be required to be examined both in the written and in the oral portions. The Director may, in exceptional circumstances, extend this period up to a limit of one year.
Penalties for failure.
19.—(1.) In the case of a second failure or any subsequent failure in the written or the oral portion of the examination, or in both, an interval of two months shall elapse from the date of the last failure before a candidate can be re-examined. A further penalty shall not be imposed except in those cases where the Examiner considers further sea service necessary. Such sea service shall not exceed six months.
(2.) When a candidate fails in the oral portion of the examination, either at the first or any subsequent attempt, the Examiner, in making his report, in accordance with Form M. & M.—FF., shall state whether any further sea service shall be performed by the candidate and he shall also insert this information in Form M. & M.—B.
(3.) Inability to repeat verbatim the Articles of the Collision Regulations shall not entail failure in the oral examination if the candidate understands the full significance, content and practical application of the Articles.
Examination in Signalling.
20.—(1.) A candidate who is eligible for examination for any grade of certificate for which signalling is required may take this part of the examination, in accordance with Appendix D, and on payment of the prescribed fee, at any time within the six months immediately before or after he presents himself for examination in the written and oral portions.
(2.) A candidate who fails in signalling but passes in every other subject may, at any time within the six months following his first attempt, be re-examined in signalling only, and, if he then passes, shall receive his certificate of competency.
(3.) Subject to the above conditions, a candidate may be allowed to take the signalling examination in any week during which examinations of Masters and Mates are being held at the port, but the special fee for this examination, as prescribed in the First Schedule, shall be paid for each separate attempt.
Conditions of passing in Navigation and Signalling.
21. In order to secure a pass in the examination in Navigation or written work prescribed for any Limited Coast-Trade or River and Bay Certificate, a candidate must—
(a) obtain 75% of the total marks allotted to the problems and written portions of the examination papers prescribed for that certificate which are given him to do;
(b) attain a degree of accuracy in Morse and semaphore signalling of at least 90% when signalling at the speed prescribed for the certificate desired;
(c) give answers in the oral part of the examination that satisfy the Examiner as to the candidate’s ability.
Conditions of passing in Seamanship.
In order to pass in the examination in Seamanship, a candidate shall give such answers as satisfy the Examiner that the candidate understands and has a thorough knowledge of the parts of the subject, prescribed for the certificate for which he is being examined and for any certificate of a lower grade.
Examination in one part of examination only.
23.—(1.) Whenever a candidate takes the Signalling examination apart from the written and oral examination for a certificate of competency, he shall fill in a separate Form M. & M.—B. The result of the examination shall be reported to the Principal Examiner on the Form M. & M.—FF., the entry “Passed” or “Failed” being made in the appropriate column and the words “Not examined” or “Previously passed,” as the case may be, entered in the columns headed “Written” and “Oral,”&c. The Form M. & M.—B. shall be forwarded to the Director and the result of the examination reported thereon.
(2.) A similar procedure shall be followed when a candidate is re-examined in the written or oral portion of the examination only.
(3.) In all cases where a candidate, after previously passing in the other two portions of an examination, passes in the written, oral or signalling portion of the examination, the Examiner shall enter the dates of passing the several portions, of the examination in their
respective columns in Form M. & M.—B. On completion, Form M. & M.—B., with the relative Form M. & M.—EE.(l) attached, shall be forwarded to the Director, and an authority in accordance with Form M. & M.—EE. issued to the candidate.
Failure in extra examinations.
Candidates for Extra certificates shall not be allowed to present themselves for examination more than twice within a period of twelve months.
Candidates failing may be examined for certificate of lower grade.
25.—(1.) Where a candidate fails in his examination for a foreign-going certificate, and the subjects in which he fails are not included in the syllabus prescribed for a foreign-going certificate of a lower grade, he may, if he so desires, be examined for the lower grade certificate without further formal application or payment of fee.
(2.) The candidate shall be required to complete the whole of the work prescribed for such lower grade.
(3.) Where a candidate fails in his examination for the Extra Master’s certificate, he may also, without further formal application or payment of fee, proceed with the examination for the Master’s certificate, but, in this case, the whole of the examination prescribed for the lower grade shall be completed subsequently irrespective of any work which has been done under examination for the Extra certificate.
(4.) The subsequent examination for the lower grade may, if time permits, be taken during the current week, but in this case, telegraphic advice of the papers to set shall be first obtained; if time does not permit, the candidate shall be allowed to sit at the next following examination.
(5.) No part of the fee which a candidate has paid shall be returned to him, and on presenting himself, when qualified, for re-examination for the higher certificate, he shall pay a further full fee.
Change of certificate.
26.—(1.) The holder of an uncancelled and unexpired Certificate of Competency as Master or Mate issued under any State Act prior to 1st January, 1924, may surrender it for the certificate issued under the Navigation Act 1912–1926 to which it most closely corresponds:
Provided that, subject to these Regulations, the Commonwealth certificate so granted shall be valid only for the purposes for which, and to the extent to which, the surrendered certificate was valid, and shall be endorsed accordingly.
(2.) The holder of an old-pattern certificate may exchange it for a certificate in book form on payment of a fee of Five shillings to the Superintendent of a Mercantile Marine Office.
(3.) Applications for exchange of certificates shall be made in accordance with Form M. & M.—D.
Duplicate of certificate.
27.—(1.) An application for a certified copy of a certificate issued under the Act, and which has been lost or destroyed, shall be made in accordance with Form M. & M.—D., and shall be lodged with a Superintendent of a Mercantile Marine Office. The declaration as to the circumstances in which the certificate was lost shall also be made by the applicant before the Superintendent.
(2.) If, on presentation to a Superintendent, any certificate issued under these Regulations is found to be defaced by use or accident to
such an extent as to be illegible, it shall be at once transmitted to the Director, accompanied by an application, duly filled in, when a certified copy having all the effect of the original shall be issued in lieu thereof.
(3.) In cases where it is satisfactorily shown that due care had been taken of the original, that the loss, destruction or defacement was not due to the fault of the holder and that, where possible, diligent effort had been made to recover the certificate, a charge shall not be made for the certified copy.
(4.) In cases where the Director is not so satisfied, the applicant shall be required to pay a fee of Ten shillings before delivery of the copy.
Application of Board of Trade Regulations.
28. In any case not provided for in these Regulations, the Regulations made by the Board of Trade of the United Kingdom, and for the time being in force, relative to the examination of masters and mates for certificates, shall, mutatis mutandis, to the extent to which they are applicable to the matter, be deemed to be incorporated in these Regulations, and observed accordingly.
First Aid.
29.—(1.) Every candidate for a foreign-going certificate as Master, First Mate or Second Mate, or for a Limited coast-trade certificate as Master or First Mate, Sub-grade A, shall be required to produce a certificate of proficiency in First Aid granted by an approved authority.
(2.) For the purposes of this regulation, the following shall be deemed to be approved authorities, namely:—
(a) St. John’s Ambulance Association;
(b) St. Andrew’s Ambulance Association;
(c) St. Patrick’s Ambulance Association;
(d) British Red Cross Society;
(e) London County Council;
(f) Glamorgan County Council;
(g) Leith Technical College;
(h) A Medical Officer of one of His Majesty’s Ships; and
(i) Any other body approved in writing by the Director of Navigation.
(3.) The certificate of proficiency in First Aid shall be an adult certificate, that is to say, obtained by the candidate when sixteen years of age or more, and the examination therefor shall have been passed not more than three years before the date of the examination for the Certificate of Competency:
Provided that certificates of proficiency in First Aid issued by the St. John’s Ambulance Association more than three years before the examination for the Certificate of Competency shall be accepted, provided that, at the expiration of three years since its issue, the certificate of proficiency has attached to it the “voucher” or “label” of the Association certifying that the holder has passed re-examination in First Aid.
(4.) Candidates who do not produce a certificate of proficiency in First Aid may be permitted to sit for examination for master or mate, but the Certificate of Competency as Master or Mate shall not be issued until after the production of the First Aid Certificate.
Sight tests.
30.—(1.) Subject to the succeeding sub-regulations of this regulation, a Certificate of Competency shall not be issued to any candidate until he has first passed the sight tests set forth in the Third Schedule.
(2.) Every candidate for a certificate shall pass the letter test. Where the candidate obtained a Certificate of Competency in any grade before 1st January, 1914, he shall be required to possess at least half normal vision using both eyes together. Where the candidate did not obtain such a certificate before the date mentioned, he shall be required to possess normal vision using at his option both eyes or either eye separately.
(3.) A candidate who fails to pass the prescribed letter test may present himself for re-examination at intervals of not less than three months.
(4.) The fee paid for examination for a Certificate of Competency includes the fee of Two shillings and sixpence for examination in the eight tests, and if the candidate fails to pass those tests, the fee paid for examination shall, less a deduction of Two shillings and sixpence, be returned to him.
(5.) Every candidate shall undergo the lantern test on the first occasion on which he presents himself for examination for his first Certificate of Competency; but, if he then passes, he shall not be required to undergo the lantern test on any subsequent occasion.
Any person who holds a Certificate of Competency shall not be examined in the lantern test unless such examination is approved by the Director.
A candidate who fails to pass the lantern test, or a special lantern test, shall not be re-examined except with the approval of the Director.
(6.) Where the Examiner, on the instructions of the Principal Examiner, refers a candidate for special examination before a decision is given as to his passing or failure in the Sight Tests, an additional fee shall not be charged for the special examination, Where the expenses incurred by a candidate in attending a special examination, are allowed, second class railway fare shall be paid (a cheap ticket, tourist, day or week-end, shall be taken if available), together with a subsistence allowance not exceeding Twelve shillings and sixpence for each night’s absence from home necessarily entailed by attendance at the special examination. Where a night’s absence is not involved, the candidate may be paid expenses not exceeding Five shillings incurred by him during the day.
(7.) A candidate who fails to pass the lantern test may appeal for a special examination on payment of a fee of Two guineas, which shall be returned to him in the event of his passing the special examination. Payment shall not be made towards the expenses of a candidate who, upon his own application, is examined by the Special Examiners, unless he passes the special examination or unless, in the event of failure, the Director considers that the circumstances of the case justify such payment.
(8.) Where a candidate fails to pass the lantern test, the Examiner shall point out to him the conditions under which he may appeal. An appeal shall be made through the Examiner, and forwarded to the Principal Examiner with the Examiner’s remarks.
(9.) Where, during the course of a special examination, a candidate is found to have a permanent defect in his eyesight such as to render him unfit for a sea career, he shall be rejected and shall not be allowed to be examined again in the sight tests on any future occasion:
Provided, however, that, where the candidate is still dissatisfied, and brings with him a friend to witness the examination, he may present himself for a second, special examination on payment of a fee of Five guineas. Such second examination shall not form any part of the examination for a Certificate of Competency. The Director shall, however, give consideration to the result of such examination in determining whether a certificate should be granted.
(10.) Any persons serving or intending to serve in the mercantile marine or in fishing vessels, may undergo the sight tests. Any such person, who desires to undergo the tests, shall make application to the Superintendent of a Mercantile Marine Office in accordance with Form M. & M.—C., and shall pay a fee of Two shillings and sixpence.
This fee shall be payable on each occasion on which a candidate is examined, other than at special examinations.
A list of ports at which examinations in the sight tests may be held is contained in Appendix A.
Past III.—Qualifications and Examinations for Foreign-going Certificates.
Division—1.—Preliminary.
Value of certificates.
31.—(1.) Any Foreign-going certificate of competency as Master or Mate issued on or after 1st January, 1931, shall be valid for use on any mechanically propelled vessel, but shall not entitle the holder to go to sea as Master or Mate of a sailing ship unless endorsed to that effect.
(2.) Any candidate who desires a sailing ship qualification may obtain the requisite endorsement to his certificate on compliance with the conditions prescribed in regulation 44 of these Regulations and on passing the necessary examination in seamanship.
(3.) The holder of an “Ordinary” certificate issued prior to 1st. January, 1931, may act in his certified capacities in any vessel however propelled.
Date of introduction of revised qualifications.
32.—(1.) A candidate whose application for examination for a Certificate of Competency has been made and accepted under the old Regulations before the 1st January, 1931, may be examined after that date without performing any additional sea service, even though his age be below that required by the new Regulations.
(2.) Every candidate who undergoes his first examination for a particular grade of certificate on or after 1st January, 1931, shall comply with the provisions of these Regulations in relation to sea service.
Division 2.—Second Mate (Foreign-going).
Qualifications. Second Mate (Foreign-going).
33.—(1.) Every candidate for a second-mate’s foreign-going certificate shall not be less than twenty years of age, and shall have had four years’ sea service in the foreign-going trade or the equivalent, six years, in home trade or limited coast-trade ships.
(2.) Any candidate who, before the 1st January, 1929, was indentured as an apprentice to the sea service, or went to sea in any other capacity qualifying for examination, or began his qualifying service on board a training ship, may be admitted to examination for a certificate as Second Mate on completion of the prescribed period of qualifying service, notwithstanding that he may still be under twenty years of age, provided that he is not under eighteen years of age and that in all other respects he complies with the Regulations.
General. Second Mate (Foreign-going).
34.—(1.) A candidate shall demonstrate his understanding of his work by means of sketches and figures drawn with reasonable accuracy but not necessarily to scale.
(2.) A candidate shall not be required to give mathematical proofs of formulae, but shall, where possible, be able to demonstrate the truth of a formula by means of a figure.
Syllabus. Second Mate (Foreign-going).
Every candidate for a foreign-going certificate as second mate shall be examined in the following subjects:—
knowledge of principles. (3 hours.)
(a) The reading of simple graphical diagrams, e.g., stability curves, weather statistics, &c.
(b) The practical use of logarithms to base 10; their use in simple calculations involving multiplication, division, simple powers and roots.
(c) Areas and perimeters of rectangle, triangle, circle, volumes, and surface areas of box-shaped bodies, cylinders and wedges. Practical applications, e.g., weight of general cargo of varied shapes; capacities of holds and bunkers; weight of contents of bunkers.
(d) Plane sections of a sphere. Great and small circles. Angle between two great circles. Shortest distance between two points on a sphere. Formation of spherical triangles. Sides and angles of spherical triangles.
The simple relations between these ratios. The relation between the ratios of angles which together make (a) one right angle (b) two right angles = e.g., the sine of an angle = the cosine of its complement, &c.
The solution of a plane right-angled triangle. Use of the Traverse Table for solving right-angled triangles. Practical problems on right-angled triangles, e.g., doubling the angle on the bow, four-point bearing, danger angles, distance from a point of land of known height, &c.
(f) Given two sides and the included angle of a spherical triangle, to find the third side.
Given three sides of a spherical triangle to find any angle. (These two problems are preferably done by the use of the haversine formulae.)
A general understanding of the following:—
(g) The earth and its daily and annual movements. Meaning of equator and poles. The position of a place fixed by its latitude and longitude; meridians. Distances measured on the earth; nautical mile; departure. To show clearly, but without proof, the connection between departure, difference of longitude and middle latitude.
(h) The real movement of sun, moon and planets. The celestial sphere; celestial poles; celestial meridian above and below pole; zenith; celestial equator. Altitude and zenith distance of heavenly bodies; celestial horizon; prime vertical; circles of altitude.
(i) Apparent movements of heavenly bodies. Declination. Rising and setting of heavenly bodies. Amplitude. The position of a heavenly body on the celestial sphere both with and without reference to the observer, i.e., Declination with Right Ascension or Azimuth with altitude. Azimuth.
(j) Apparent movement of sun. Mean sun. Ecliptic. Length of day and night. First point of Aries. Right ascension. Right Ascension of mean sun.
(k) General ideas on time. Hour angle. Greenwich and other standard times. Simultaneous hour angles of heavenly bodies in different places. Sidereal time. Relation of longitude and time. Equation of time. Mean and apparent times at Greenwich and elsewhere.
(l) Hour angle of heavenly body + Right Ascension of heavenly body = Hour Angle of Mean Sun + Right Ascension of Mean Sun.
The meaning of E. and R. in the Nautical Almanac.
(m) Correction of sextant altitudes. True horizon and visual horizon; dip of the horizon. Effect of atmosphere, refraction. Semidiameter. Parallax.
(n) Geographical position of heavenly body.
The simple explanation of the “Circle of position” on the earth, based on the three following facts:—
Zenith Distance of heavenly body = distance of geographical position from an observer.
Latitude of geographical position = Declination of heavenly body.
Longitude of geographical position = Hour Angle of heavenly body West of the meridian of Greenwich.
How a position circle is placed on a chart in practice.
Position line. Intercept.
A simple description of how a position line is obtained from the observed altitude of a heavenly body by—
(i) A Meridian Altitude.
(ii) An Ex-Meridian Altitude.
(iii) An Altitude of Polaris.
(iv) An Altitude with an assumed latitude (Longitude by chronometer).
(v) An Altitude with an assumed Dead Reckoning position (Marcq St. Hilaire).
(o) Magnetic meridian. Deviation and variation of the magnetic compass. Correction of compass courses and bearings to magnetic or true courses and bearings and vice versa.
(p) The simple properties of a Mercator’s Chart with regard to courses and bearings, longitude and latitude scales and the measurement of distance. Rhumb lines. Meridional Parts.
(2.) Paper 2. (Written)—
practical navigation i. (Including Tides) (2 hours.)
(a) To calculate approximate time of high water by the use of the High Water Full and Change constant. To find the time and height of high and low water at Standard Ports (Admiralty Tide Tables). To find the height of tide at a given time intermediate between high and low water, and thence by use of tables or diagram to determine approximate corrections to soundings and heights of objects above sea level taken at such intermediate times. Chart datum lines.
(b) To find course and distance, departure, and difference of latitude between two points by means of the Traverse Table. Practical use of formula connecting departure, difference of longitude and middle latitude.
(c) To find the course and distance between two points by the use of meridional parts (Mercator Sailing).
(d) Chronometers. Stowage at safe distance from magnetic and electrical instruments. Management and care. Handling, winding, comparing. Writing up chronometer journal. Value of daily comparisons. Wireless and other time signals for rating chronometers.
(e) To find true bearing of any heavenly body by Azimuth or Amplitude Tables, diagram, or any other method the candidate may select. To find the error of the compass, and thence the deviation.
(3.) Paper 3. (Written) —
practical navigation ii. (3 hours.)
(In the correction of observed altitudes, total correction tables may be used.)
(a) By the use of the Traverse Table, to obtain the Dead Reckoning position of the ship at any time, given compass courses and errors, and the run recorded by log or calculated by estimated speed and time by standard clock. The candidate may be asked to allow for the effects of current and wind.
(b) To find the latitude by Meridian Altitude of sun, star, moon or planet, and to determine a position line by this means.
(c) To work an ex-Meridian altitude of the sun, and thence to find a position line.
(d) To determine from observed altitude of sun, star, moon, or planet a position line on which the ship is by longitude by chronometer method if suitable, or by any other method (e.g. Marcq St. Hilaire) at the discretion of the candidate.
(e) Given one position line, knowing the speed of ship and interval of time between observations, to transfer such position line to that obtained from meridian or ex-meridian altitude, and thence to determine the ship’s position at time of second observation.
(4.) Paper 4—
(True courses and bearings will, as a rule, be given as from a Compass Card marked 0° to 360°, e.g. course 264° True. Magnetic and compass courses and bearings will be given with reference to cardinal points, e.g. course 3.84° W. magnetic. Candidates should conform to this practice.)
(a) On a chart, to find the true course and distance between two points; given variation and compass deviation, to find magnetic and compass course and vice versa; to keep the Dead Reckoning on a chart; to lay off courses, allowing for current.
(b) On a chart, to fix the ship by simultaneous cross bearings, bearing and range, or by wireless cross bearings, applying the necessary corrections. To fix by the bearings of one or more objects with run between, allowing for current; to find the distance at which the ship will pass a given point.
(c) To avoid dangers and to use clearing marks. To use horizontal and vertical danger angles.
(d) To interpret from a chart the information it gives, particularly about buoys, lights, depths and nature of bottom, tides and tidal currents. Recognition of the coast. The intelligent use of Sailing Directions.
(N.B.—The Examiner may ask oral questions on the above syllabus.)
cargo work and elementary ship construction. (3 hours.)
(a) The stowage and dunnaging of different varieties of cargoes, including bulk cargoes. Elementary ideas on the making and use of cargo plans.
The preparation for stowage, breaking out and discharge of cargo.
Rigging a ship for loading and discharging cargo, and the use of derricks and winches. Strength of cargo gear.
The calculation of capacities of bunkers, holds, tanks and boats.
Calculation of capacities taken up by part cargoes and of space remaining. Conversion of weight measurement of cargo into space measurement and vice versa.
(b) The names of the principal parts of a ship.
General ideas on ship construction and hull maintenance. The candidate will be expected to show his practical acquaintance with certain portions of his own ship, e.g. longitudinal and transverse framing. Bulkheads. Hatches. Rudders and steering gear. Shell plating. Stern frame. Propellers and propeller shafts, stern tube, propeller brackets.
The stiffening and strengthening to resist panting, pounding and propeller vibrations.
Double bottom tanks, bilges, bilge pumps, sounding pipes. Ventilation systems of holds and tanks.
(c) Displacement. Deadweight.
Use of tons per inch immersion scale. Calculation of weight of cargo, &c., from draughts.
Effect of varying density of water.
Buoyancy. Centre of gravity and centre of buoyancy. The laws of floating bodies.
Effect of filling and emptying ballast tanks on centre of gravity of ship as a whole.
english. (1½ hours.)
The paper will be designed to test the candidate’s ability to write clear and grammatical English with due attention to spelling and penmanship. It will be in no sense a test of technical knowledge.
(7.) Oral and Practical Portions—
1.—(a) Rigging of ships. Strength of ropes, wire and hemp. Rigging purchases of various kinds and knowledge of power gained by purchases. Knotting and splicing hemp and steel ropes with strict reference to current practice. Seizings, racking chain stoppers, &c.
(b) Sending topmasts up and down.
(c) Bending, setting and taking in fore and aft sails. Management of boats under oars and sail and in heavy weather. Beaching or landing. Coming alongside.
(d) Helm orders. Conning the ship.
2.—(a) Marking and use of ordinary lead line.
(b) Use and upkeep of mechanical logs and sounding machines.
(c) Use and upkeep of engine-room and other telegraphs.
(d) Rocket and line throwing apparatus.
3.—(a) Anchors and cables. Use, upkeep and survey.
(b) Knowledge of use and maintenance of deck appliances and steering gear.
(c) Fire extinguishing apparatus—steam, chemical and other appliances.
4.—(a) Preparations and precautions for getting under way. Duties prior to proceeding to sea, making harbour or coming alongside, especially at after end of ship.
(b) Keeping an anchor watch. Dragging anchor.
(c) Duties of officer of the watch. Use of compass to ascertain risk of collision.
5.—(a) A full knowledge of the content and application of the regulations for preventing collision at sea. (Candidates’ will not be placed in the position of handling a sailing ship, but will be expected to recognize a sailing ship’s lights and to have a knowledge of her possible manœuvres according to the direction of the wind.)
(b) Distress and pilot signals; penalties for misuse.
(c) British uniform system of buoyage.
(d) An intelligent use of “Notices to Mariners.” (Candidates will not be required to commit these to memory.)
6.—Signals. To send and receive signals in—
(a) British Semaphore up to eight words per minute.
(b) Morse Code by flash lamp up to six words per minute.
(c) International Code of Signals.
7.—Practical.
(a) To read and understand a barometer, thermometer, hydrometer and hygrometer. (The instruments supplied by the Meteorological Office will be taken as standard.)
(b) To use an azimuth mirror, pelorus (bearing plate) or other instrument for taking bearings; to place these bearings on a chart, having corrected for given compass error.
(c) To use a sextant for taking vertical and horizontal angles; to read a sextant both on and off the arc.
(d) To correct a sextant into which has been introduced some or all of perpendicularity, side and index errors.
(e) To find the index error of a given sextant.
(f) To check chronometers by signal made by buzzer or other method; to compare two chronometers.
8.—The Examiner may ask the candidate questions arising out of the written work, if he deems it necessary on account of weakness shown by the candidate. (This applies particularly to Paper 5.)
Division 2.—First Mate (Foreign-going).
Qualifications.—First Mate (Foreign-going).
36.—(1.) Every candidate for a First Mate’s foreign-going certificate shall not be less than twenty-one and a half years of age, and shall have had five and a half years’ sea service in the foreign-going trade or the equivalent, eight years and three months in home trade or limited coast-trade ships.*
(2.) Such sea service shall include—
(a) eighteen months in a capacity not lower than that of third of three watchkeeping officers on a foreign-going ship whilst holding a certificate as Second Mate of a foreign-going ship;†
(b) two years and three months in a capacity not lower than that of First or Only Mate of a home trade or limited coast-trade ship whilst holding a certificate as Second Mate of a foreign-going ship; or
(c) where the length of the voyage between terminal ports of a limited coast-trade ship is not less than 500 miles—two years and three months in a capacity not lower than that of third of three watchkeeping officers on such limited coast-trade ship whilst holding a certificate as Second Mate of a foreign-going ship.
* For convenience of calculation, the service required is stated in a tabular form in Appendix B.
† See Regulations 116, 117 of these Regulations.
Candidates who have served continuously with the same company.
37.—(1.) Where a candidate for a First Mate’s foreign-going certificate has served continuously with the same company or shipping firm as apprentice and junior officer and has completed two years’ service, performed while holding a Second Mate’s foreign-going certificate, as the junior of two bridge-keeping officers of the watch, he may be allowed to present himself for the examination:
Provided that the whole of such service shall have been performance upon ocean-going steamships of not less than 8,000 tons gross, making average speed of 13 knots or upwards and carrying a crew of no less than 130 men, including at least five deck officers in addition the Master.
(2.) Upon passing the examination, a certificate shall not be issued to the candidate until he produces proof of twelve months’ sea service effective charge of a watch* in addition to two years’ service as junior bridge-keeping officer referred to in the preceding sub-regulation.
Syllabus. First Mate Foreign-going).
Every candidate for a First Mate’s foreign-going certificate shall be examined in the following subjects and in the case of Practical Navigation I. and II. and Chart Work, may also be examined on matters included in the corresponding papers prescribed for examination of a candidate for a Second Mate’s foreign-going certificate:—
practical navigation i. (3 hours.)
(a) Knowledge and recognition of stars of first magnitude. To calculate the approximate times (to nearest minute) of meridian passage of any heavenly bodies; to calculate an approximate altitude for setting the sextant for a meridian altitude of a heavenly body.
(b) To find the latitude from an altitude of Polaris. Thence to find a position line.
(c) To work an ex-meridian altitude of any heavenly body and thence to find a position line.
(d) By transfer of a previous position line and an observation of a heavenly body, to obtain a running fix by the use of protractor and plain or squared paper, or by tables. Particular cases of position lines from Meridian Altitudes or from Polaris.
(e) By nearly simultaneous altitudes of any heavenly body, to determine the position at the time of observation from the intersection of position lines.
(2.) Paper 2. (Written)—
practical navigation ii. (2 hours.)
(a) To find the magnetic bearing of a distant object by swinging on equidistant compass points, thence to construct a deviation table or curve.
(b) To calculate the initial course and distance on a Great Circle track between two points, and, by the use of the Vertex of the Great Circle, to lay off such a track on a Mercator’s Chart.
(c) The use of Admiralty Tide Tables (Part II., Section I., the use of non-harmonic constants and tidal differences.)
(d) The harmonic method of tidal prediction and the use of harmonic constants (Admiralty Tide Tables, Part II., Section II.).
* See Regulation 120 of these Regulations.
(3.) Paper 3—
(a) to interpret from a chart the information it gives and to use Sailing Directions intelligently. Description and recognition of a coast. Landfalls in clear weather. Selection of suitable points for bearings. Distance of sighting lights; distance from point of land of known height; distance of passing a point of land; course to pass a point at a given distance. Danger angles—horizontal and vertical. Entering channels allowing for current. To prepare for anchorage and for entering narrow waters. Reliability of charts. Corrections.
(b) Landfalls in thick weather, Construction and use of line of soundings. The general use of a single position line in making land, including clearing marks. The use of bearings obtained by wireless direction finder, bearings given from shore station, or the use of wireless beacons.
(c) The use of a Gnomonic Chart and transfer of a Great Circle or composite track from such a chart to Mercator’s Chart.
(N.B.—The Examiner may ask oral questions on the above syllabus.)
(4.) Paper 4. (Written)—
ship construction and stability. (3 hours.)
(a) A general knowledge of the principal structural members of a ship. Midship sections of different types of ships, giving the parts their proper names. Sealing dimensions on a midship section to make intelligible reports.
Ability to set out in a clear manner a report on damage sustained by corrosion or by accident.
Construction and stiffening of watertight bulkheads.
Collision bulkhead;
Stern frame and stem and how secured.
Stresses and strains in ships through effect of seas or loading and ballasting.
A knowledge of those portions of a, ship specially strengthened to withstand such stresses, or where excessive damage by corrosion is liable to occur.
Rivets and riveting. Testing a line of rivets. Testing watertight work.
Rudders and steering gear. Inspection and maintenance.
Hatches and hatch gear. Hawsepipes and cable lockers.
(b) Buoyancy and reserve buoyancy. The righting couple when a ship is inclined. Metacentre and metacentric height. Transverse and longitudinal metacentres. Stiff and tender ships—how to obtain stiffness. Stability at large angles of inclination and what this depends on.
Preparation of data for ascertaining metacentric heights of a ship in any particular condition.
Determination of centre of gravity of a ship in any condition, the centre of gravity in light condition being given. Use of stability curves and data supplied to a ship. Alteration of stability during a voyage. Effect of shifting cargo. Change of trim.
ship maintenance, routine and cargo work. (3 hours.)
(a) Keeping a ship’s log. (Mate’s log.)
(b) Ship maintenance and organization. Indents and stores. Repair lists. Properties and uses of paints. Painting. Chipping, scraping. Cement work. Treatment of wood work. Inspection and maintenance of bulkheads, double bottoms, deep tanks, rudders. Bottom painting. Drainage of holds and double bottom tanks. Inspection and maintenance of anchors and cables. Maintenance of holds with reference to cargo carrying. Spar ceilings, &c. Inspection and maintenance of pumps, strums, roseboxes and bilges.
(c) Simple calculation of stresses in spans, derricks, topping lifts, &c. Strength of ropes, chains, slings, two slings at an angle, &c. Purchases and power gained by purchases.
(d) Cargo work.—(The candidate should, where possible, illustrate his answers from his own experience.)
Stowage of cargo. General—stowage of bag cargoes, bales, casks, &c.
Bulk stowage. Partition and shifting boards. Ceilings and dunnage. Deck stowage. Possible damage and its avoidance.
Good and bad stowage. Special cargoes—explosives, grain, timber, oil in bulk, steel rails, &c.
Given a cargo list, to stow a hold or holds, making a rough cargo plan, with a view to stability of tender and stiff ships, damage and contamination, easy handling and possible optional ports of discharge.
Methods of ventilation of cargoes. Drainage of holds.
Closing of hatches. Cargo working gear—derricks and winches. Organization of cargo work.
meteorology. (2 hours.)
(a) The principles of the barometer. How to read it and reduce the readings to standard datum.
(b) How to observe the force and direction of the wind with no other instrument than the compass and use of the Beaufort scale.
(c) How to observe and log the state of sea and swell, weather and visibility by the International scales for the use of seamen.
(d) The principles and use of the thermometer, dry bulb, wet bulb and sea surface.
(e) Use of hydrometer.
(f) General knowledge of the wind and current systems of the oceans. How to deduce the set and drift of currents.
(g) The Laws of Storms. Buys Ballot’s Law. Rules for handling ships in tropical revolving storms. The seasons and localities of tropical revolving storms and their precursory signs.
(h) The Visual Storm Warning signals.
(i) The seven fundamental types of weather.
(j) The elementary principles of synoptic charts, including a knowledge of how the atmospheric pressure distribution and gradient is obtained. Principal cloud types.
(k) To draft a wireless weather report and how to decode a weather report made in the International Weather Code, the tables being provided.
(7.) Oral Portion—
1.—(a) Shifting large spars and rigging sheers.
(b) The handling of heavy weights with special reference to strength of gear used.
(c) Use and maintenance of all deck and above deck appliances and fittings—winches, capstans, windlasses, emergency steering gear, and fittings used between anchor and cable locker. Hoisting in boats.
(d) Bending, setting and taking in fore and aft sails. Management and equipment of ships’ lifeboats and number of persons who may be carried in each class of boat.
2. Anchors—different kinds; advantages and disadvantages of each. How to rig a sea anchor and what means to employ to keep a vessel, disabled or unmanageable, out of the trough of the sea and lessen her lee drift. Cables and their care. Preparations for anchoring. Operation of anchoring with single anchor and use of second anchor. Clearing a foul anchor. Mooring. Clearing a foul hawse. Anchoring in a tideway and in a confined space. Dragging anchor. Anchor watch. Slipping a cable. To carry out an anchor with boats. Getting under way.
3.—(a) Effect of propellers on the steering of a ship. Stopping, going astern and manœuvring. Turning circles. Effects of current, wind, sea, shallows, draft.
(b) Coming alongside a wharf, &c. Turning a steamship short round, manœuvring in rivers and harbours. Emergency manœuvres. Man overboard.
(c) Management of steamships in stormy weather.
(d) To get a cast of the deep sea lead.
4.—(a) Testing lifebuoys and life jackets; other life-saving gear.
(b) Accidents, e.g., collision, running aground, accidents to hatches, leaks, fires and their treatment. Running repairs. Handling a disabled ship.
(c) A practical knowledge of the screening of ships’ navigation lights.
(d) Preparation for dry-docking. Use of shores, bilge blocks and bilge shores.
Regulations for prevention of collision at sea.—In accordance with requirements, Section 5 (Oral) of paragraph (7.) of regulation 35.
6. Signals.—In accordance with Section 6 (Oral) of paragraph (7.) of regulation 35.
7. The Examiner may ask the candidate questions arising out of the written work, if he deems it necessary on account of weakness shown by the candidate.