2nd Mates – Practice Questions

1. What is a special area as defined by the MARPOL 73/78? List the special area for
Annex I and Annex V .What are the discharge criteria for disposal of Garbage at sea.

2. With regard to cargo pumps, describe the following with suitable diagrams (wherever
necessary):

i.Types of pumps used for cargo operations.

ii.Main features of the pumps used for cargo operations.
iii.The pump generally used for main cargo operation and why?

3. Describe the functional requirement of ISM Code?

4. In Lat 40⁰N find the duration of the longest day? Also find the LAT of Sunrise,
Meridian Passage and Sunset?

5. What is Situational Awareness? How will you gain back lost situational awareness?

6. With a suitable sketch explain Buy Ballot’s Law and its limitations.

7. On 30th November 1992 at ship in DR 52° 30’ N, 175° 30’ E, sextant altitude of
Moon LL near the meridian was 24° 41.7’. If IE was 1.5 on the arc and HE was 20
meters, find the direction of position line and latitude to draw it.

8. Write short notes on:

i. Civil Liability Convention (CLC).

ii. Garbage management plan.
iii. Oil record book.
iv. SMPEP.

9. Decode the following weather report from a ship:

BBXX ELF6 27183 99050

70064 41398 62828 10133
20082 40274 56032 76364
85524 22245 00201 20703
31011 40804

10. Explain briefly the important elements of SOLAS Chapter XI-2; special measures to
enhance maritime security. What are the contents of the ship security plan?

11. On 9th October 1992 at ship in DR position 35° 30’ S, sextant altitude of Sun east of
meridian was 47° 58’ at GMT 21h 30m 00s. If IE was 2’ on the arc and HE 30 meters,
find the direction of position line and longitude to draw it.

12. M. V. HINDSHIP at a river port in water RD 1.014 has a displacement of 10,230 t.

GM (Fluid) 0.82 m, FSC 0.077 m. She loads 470 t of cargo KG 9.8 m, 150 t of water
ballast is run into No. 1 DB tank. Find her final GM (Fluid).

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 2nd Mates – Practice Questions
13. Find the two latitudes in which a star having declination of 68⁰ 51’ S will bear 180⁰T
when the True Altitude is 11⁰ 50’.

14. What are the barriers to communication onboard a ship? Illustrate with an onboard
situation.

15. On 27th Feb 1992 at ship in DR 00° 00’, 015° W, sextant altitude of Mars at GMT
27d 06h 44m 06s was 21° 23.8’. If IE was 1.0’ on the arc and HE was 11 meters, find
the direction of position line and position to draw it by Marc St. Hillare method.

16. According to STCW 2010, watch keeping standards, what factors are to be considered
by the master to ensure that a proper look out is maintained?

17. List the circumstances when you call the Master on bridge.

18. Draw an elevation of a double hull crude oil carrier, showing and labelling bulkheads,
cofferdams, pump rooms, and cargo and ballast tanks.

19. How will you, as a relieving officer, take over a navigational watch at sea:

i. In restricted visibility.
ii. Congested waters.
iii. Piracy areas.

20. With the help of a neat sketch explain the effects of induced magnetism in one of the
soft iron on magnetic compass and how is it taken care of?

21. In context of ISM code explain:

i. The objectives.
ii. Near Miss.
iii. Non-conformity.

22. Explain the need for MLC, 2006 legislation and how will it benefit the seafarers?

23. Describe and distinguish between Cross Curves of stability and KN Curves.

24. Using suitable sketch, explain the interaction between two vessels approaching each
other in a canal.

25. Explain the emergency action for beaching a ship and why is it required?

26. Define Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA).State the names of PSSA.

27. List the latest amendments of SOLAS that have entered into force in the past two
years specifically with respect to Life Saving Appliances.

28. What are the signs of a vessel entering shallow waters?

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 2nd Mates – Practice Questions
29. Explain why there is no “v correction” for Sun and Aries?

30. A ship displacing 9000 t has KM 8.7 m, KG 7.2 m. She is now listed 80 to port. She
has port and starboard deep tanks, each 10 m long, 10 m wide and 8 m deep. The port
side deep tank, which was full of SW, is pumped out until its sounding is 2 m.
Assuming that no other tanks on the ship are slack, find the final list.

31. Sketch, label and describe the following ship structures / features:

i. Duct keel.
ii. Bilge keel.
iii. Camber.
iv. Flare.

32. Write short notes on:

i. NOX and SOX emission from ships of GT >= 500 in a special area.
ii. HSSC.

33. As per STCW 2010 what is a “rest period”? What is meant by “overriding operational
conditions”?

34. With neat sketches, explain the interaction between ships in an overtaking situation.

35. A hold 10x10x5 m is to be loaded with steel plates (SF 2.13 M3/t) and steel coils (SF
1.79 M3/t). If the load density of the tank top is 4.5 t/m2 calculate:

i. How many tons of each cargo can be loaded?

ii. The height of both types of cargo.

36. How is the financial liability of ship-owner covered for bunker spillage?

37. Explain why the turning circle of the vessel increases in shallow waters?

38. Explain the roles, responsibilities and duties of a safety committee onboard a ship.

39. A tank whose area is 75m2 is being filled through a pipe 200 mm in diameter. The
ullage is now 1.6 m. Calculate for how much longer the tank valve should be left open
to obtain ullage of 800 mm, if the average rate of flow through the pipe is 1.75 m/s?

40. As per UNCLOS what is:

i. Inland waters.
ii. Contiguous Zone.
iii. Right to innocent passage by merchant ships.

41. Write down hazards of chemical cargoes and briefly explain each of them.

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 2nd Mates – Practice Questions
42. A ship 100 m long, MCTC 280 tm, TPC 25, HF 2 m forward, is afloat at drafts of 6 m
fwd and 8 m aft. Find how many tons of SW must be run into the fore peak tank
(COG 48 m fwd of H) to bring the draft aft to 7.8 m?

43. State the contents and purpose of the IAMSAR manual?

44. What is the role of the flag State and Port state in ensuring legal compliances
(Conventions) by ships?

45. Explain how Equation of Time is made up of eccentricity and obliquity?

46. The search & rescue system has 3 levels of co-ordination. Discuss each of them.

47. Find the height of tide at 1100 hrs UTC at Caudebec (#1587) on 16th January 1992.
(ATT Vol. I).

48. M. V. HINDSHIP at a draft of F 7.66 m, A 7.82 m, loads 220 t in No. 2 TD and

consumes 30 t of FW from the TD drinking water tank (P). Calculate the final drafts F
& A.

49. A simple derrick is fitted with a 6 x 24 wire rope of 28 mm diameter. The Chain
Register specifies a safety factor of 7. Calculate:

i. The maximum load that can be safely lifted by this derrick.

ii. In case of two of these derricks used as union purchase, then what will be the
SWL of the system and what are the precautions to be observed?

50. How will you prepare your vessel’s cargo holds for loading a parcel of fertilizer in
bulk?

51. List the duties & responsibilities of the OSC.

52. A container loaded “on deck” containing IMDG cargo was found to be dripping some
of its cargo. A deckhand, who went to clean the same, inhaled toxic fumes and
collapsed. What actions are required to be taken onboard with respect to safety, health
and pollution prevention?

53. What are a Search and Rescue Region (SRR) and its purpose?

54. Explain why the maximum duration of time, for which the Venus is visible, does not
exceed approximately 3 hours before sunrise and after sunset.

55. What is the purpose of the C/A code in GPS what frequency is used for the
modulation of C/A code & P code? State how the C/A code assists in determining the
position in GPS.

56. Describe the hazards and precautions related to sea transport of high density cargoes.

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 2nd Mates – Practice Questions
57. Describe the ship-shore safety checks to be carried out on a Gas Carrier prior
commencement of cargo loading at the terminal.

58. If the “v correction” for moon is constant at 10’, find the duration of two successive
culminations of Moon.
59. As per Grain Regulations, describe various methods of lashing and securing grain in a
partially filled and in a filled compartment of a general cargo vessel.

60. What are the precautions listed in IMSBC Code regarding carriage of high density
cargoes in bulk.

61. At 1000 hours CALDEY LT. HO. (51 0 38’N, 0040 40’W) bore 0020 (G) and at 1030
hours HELWICK LT. VESSEL (51 030’N, 004026’W) was 5 NM away by radar.
During this period vessel sailed on a course of 122 0 (G) at a speed of 16 knots; the
current was estimated to set Northerly at rate of 3 knots. Find the ship’s position at
1000 hours and 1030 hours. GE: 10 L. (Chart 5047)

62. Write short notes on:

i. Auto-pilot off course alarm.

ii. Various controls on the auto pilot.
iii. Adaptive auto- pilots.

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