WKM Oral

The examination is based upon:

Subject Knowledge required
Competence: Plan and conduct a passage and determine position
Plan and conduct a passage and determine position Knowledge of the voyage planning requirements set out in
section A-VIII/2 of the STCW Code.
Competence: Maintain a Safe Navigational Watch
Maintain a Safe Navigational Watch Bridge procedures
The responsibilities and duties of the officer for
watchkeeping at sea, at anchor or in port; Watchkeeping
arrangements and principles to be observed for
watchkeeping at sea under different conditions and in
different areas as set out in the STCW Code, section A-
VIII/2, including under pilotage, and watchkeeping at
anchor and in port; The responsibilities and duties of the
officer for keeping a safe deck watch in port when
carrying hazardous cargo; purpose, necessity and general
content of standing orders, night orders, bridge or
movement book, ship’s logbook and similar material;
knowledge of steering orders and responses; the purpose
of maintaining a proper lookout; knowledge of the IALA
systems of maritime buoyage.
Collision regulations
A thorough knowledge of the content, application and
intent of the International Regulations for Preventing
Collisions at sea, 1972 with Canadian Modifications 1983.
Steering control systems
Knowledge of steering control systems, including pre-
departure and pre-arrival tests, automatic pilot,
operational procedures and change-over from manual to
automatic control and vice-versa – adjustment of controls
for optimum performance; emergency steering gear
procedures and use.
Competence: Manoeuvre the ship
Knowledge of the effects of deadweight, draught, trim, General manoeuvring characteristics of merchant vessels
speed and under keel clearance on turning circles and of all types; Definitions of terms: turning circle, advance,
stopping distances transfer, drift angle, tactical diameter, track reach, head
reach and side reach; Turning circles of a ship in the
loaded and ballast conditions, at different speeds;
Accelerating turn and decelerating turn; Stopping
distances in loaded and ballast conditions; The effect of
shallow or deep water on the turning circle; Directional
stability.
Knowledge of the effects of wind and current on ship Behaviour of the ship when engines are put astern, the
handling pivoting point; Behaviour of a ship moving ahead with a
wind from various directions; Effects of wind when
making large turns, on a disabled vessel, when the ship is
slowed, when making sternway; Creating a lee; The effect
of current on the motion of a ship, when in rivers and
narrow channels, when turning in a channel; Use of an
anchor to dredge down with a current.
Competence:
Knowledge of manoeuvres and procedures for the
rescue of person overboard
Knowledge of squat, shallow water and similar effects
Knowledge of proper procedures for anchoring and
mooring
Manoeuvre the ship
Distinguish between immediate action, delayed action and
person missing situations; Manoeuvres required in a man
overboard situation; Single turn, Williamson turn and
Scharnow turn manoeuvres; Situations in which each turn
is appropriate; The sequence of action to take when a
person is seen to fall overboard; The action to take when a
man-overboard report is received on the bridge.
Definition of shallow water, squat, blockage factor;
Shallow water effects as: increased directional stability, a
large increase in turning radius, the ship carrying her way
longer and responding slowly to changes in engine speed,
speed falling less during turns, squat increasing, trim
changing; Effect of squat on manoeuvrability; Effect of
bank suction and bank cushion in restricted waters; The
squat and other shallow water effects increase as the
blockage factor increase; Propeller and rudder effects on
steering, including wake current, transverse thrust and
screw race when going ahead and astern.
Preparation of anchors to be ready for use; The approach
to an anchorage; The use of anchor buoys; Safety
measures to be taken by the anchor party; Method of
letting go; Fittings and cable markings; Communication
with the bridge; Anchoring in water too deep to let the
anchor go on the brake; Securing of anchors on the
completion of anchoring; Preparation and procedures
during heaving up; Securing anchor gear in preparation
for sea passage; Use, care and stowage of mooring lines,
types of line used for mooring and their characteristics;
Names of the various mooring lines and orders;
Preparation to be made for berthing alongside, including
head ropes, stern ropes, breast ropes, springs, stopper,
heaving lines, winches, self-tensioning winches, capstan,
windlass, wire rope; Making fast on-shore bollards being
used by another ship; Use of mooring on the bight and
doubling up; Use, handling and securing of towing wires;
Handling and securing of insurance wires; Use of lines in
securing a vessel and in warping alongside a berth; Use of
lines in a lock or lay-by; How to make fast tugs on towing
hawsers or lashed up alongside; Methods of mooring to a
buoy; Use of a messenger to pass on a wire or chain to a
buoy; Preparation, use, handling and securing of a pilot
ladder.
Transit on the St-Lawrence Seaway
Competence:
Loading and unloading of cargoes
Competence:
Precautions for the protection and safety of passengers
or crew in emergency situations
Competence:
Initial action to be taken following a collision or
grounding or other emergencies: initial damage
assessment and control
Seaway Handbook
Awareness of Part I – Condition of ships and Part III –
Seaway navigation of the Seaway Handbook.
Cargo Handling and Stowage
Safety of operations
The responsibilities, duties and tasks of the OOW during
cargo handling, stowage and securing; the proper use of
derricks, cranes and other cargo gear; the surveillance of
cargo handling operations to ensure compliance with safe
working practices and regulations; protection of crew
members and stevedores; the significance of SWL
inscriptions on derricks, cranes and cargo gear; Basic
knowledge of the dangerous goods handling, stowage,
securing and carriage requirements as indicated in the
IMDG Code.
Response to emergencies
Contingency plans for response to emergencies;
Awareness of contingency plans for response to various
emergencies; Knowledge of the content of a muster list
and emergency instructions; The concept of dividing the
crew into teams; Knowledge of the composition of
emergency teams; Communication links between
emergency teams; The importance of drills and crew
training.
Protection and safety of passengers; Knowledge of
specific duties assigned to officers and crew members for
the mustering, control and rescue of passengers.
Response to emergencies
The OOW initial actions to be taken following a collision,
running aground, discovery of fire, sighting of derelicts,
sighting or receiving distress signals, breakdown of aids or
equipment, power failure, capsize of tugs when under tow
or manoeuvring, collapse of crew member in tank or other
confined space, accidents to any person on board, ship;
Procedures for abandoning ship.
Procedures to be followed for rescuing persons from
the sea, assisting a ship in distress, responding to
emergencies which arise in port
Competence:
Knowledge of the contents of the IMO International
Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue manual
(IAMSAR)
Competence:
Normal and emergency communications
Competence:
Inspect and report defects and damage to cargo spaces,
hatch covers and ballast tanks
Competence:
Maintain Seaworthiness of the ship
Competence:
Basic working knowledge of the relevant IMO
conventions concerning the safety of life at sea and the
protection of the marine environment
Canadian legislation and regulations and vessels
documentation
Measures for assisting a vessel in distress; Rescue of
persons from a vessel in distress, from a wreck, or from
the sea.
Emergencies in port
The OOW actions, which can be taken when emergencies
arise in port; action on discovery of fire aboard or ashore,
fire alarms ashore; precautions when taking on or
transferring fuel, water or stores; action to be taken in
event of excessive ranging, parted moorings, burst oil
lines, tank overflows, striking by another vessel, taking
bottom, leakage and spills of dangerous cargo.
Respond to a distress signal at sea
Search and Rescue
Knowledge and understanding of the content and
application of the IMO International Aeronautical and
Maritime Search and Rescue manual (IAMSAR).
Communicate effectively and in emergencies
Recognition and knowledge of the meaning and use of
distress signals contained in the Collision regulations;
Recognition and knowledge of the meaning and use of the
lifesaving, emergency and distress signals contained in the
International Code of Signals; Emergency
communications within the GMDSS regulations;
understanding and use of the IMO standard Marine
Communication Phrases.
Inspect and report defects and damage to cargo spaces,
hatch covers and ballast tanks
Knowledge and ability to explain where to look for
damage and defects most commonly encountered due to
Loading and unloading operations, corrosion, severe
weather conditions; Identify those elements of the ship
structure, which are critical to the safety of the ship;
Understanding of the purpose of the “enhanced survey
program”
Maintain Seaworthiness of the ship
Understand fundamentals of watertight integrity, and the
closing of all openings including hatch covers, access
hatches and watertight doors; Preparations of a vessel for
heavy weather.
Monitor compliance with legislative requirements
Basic working knowledge of the SOLAS and MARPOL
conventions; Purpose and application of the international
Safety Management (ISM) and International Ship and
Shore Facility Security (ISPS) Codes; Purpose of Flag
State and Port State control.
Basic knowledge and application of the Canada Labour
Code and the Marine Occupational Safety and Health
Regulations; Practical knowledge of the rights and
privileges of the various certificates of competency and
endorsements required on board ship and issued by
Transport Canada; Basic knowledge of ship’s
documentation, inspection certificates, loadline
certificates, manning certificates, tackle book, oil record
 book.
Competence: Seamanship
Mooring Lines Use, care and stowage of mooring lines, types of line used
for mooring and their characteristics; Names of the
various mooring lines and orders; Making fast on-shore
bollards being used by another ship; Use of moorings on
the bight and doubling up; Use, handling and securing of
lines to make fast a harbour tug; Use, handling and
securing towing wires; Use, handling and securing of
insurance wires; Use of lines in securing a vessel and in
warping alongside a berth, lock or lay-by; Use of mooring
wire-ropes reels; Types of fairleads, their construction,
naming and use; Use of rat guards.
Deck Machinery Practical use and care in the use of : electric and hydraulic
winches (ordinary and self-tensioning), windlasses and
capstans; Electric and hydraulic derrick winches and deck
cranes; Elevators and hatch opening systems.
Knots and Splicing Basic knotting, gripping and splicing with reference to
current practice, seizings, rackings, frappings, and
stoppers.
Rigging Practical knowledge of the rigging of ships, comprising
the names, purpose, and construction of standing and
running rigging; Reeving of blocks and purchases;
Rigging of stages and chairs; Rigging of booms for single
or doubled up operations; Names, purposes and
construction of the various parts of a boom; Stresses on
the various parts of a boom system during operation.