The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources wishes to advise that a certificate of competency as chief mate for vessels less than 3,000 gross tonnage, without geographical limitations, may be issued to holders of an STCW 78/95 Regulation II/1 Certificate of Competency (Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on Ships of 500 gross tonnage or more) by the Marine Survey Office. 
This certificate of competency will be issued providing compliance with the following:

(i) Satisfactorily complete an approved cadet/seamanship training programme;
(ii) Satisfactorily complete an approved NARAS (M) [or an acceptable approved equivalent simulator training];
(iii) Satisfactorily complete approved medical care as required under STCW 78/95 Chapter VI Section A-VI/4 paragraphs 4 to 6; 
(iv) Pass oral examination as detailed in Appendix 1;
(v) Provide proof [written report from master(s), Company letter and Watch keeping certificates] of satisfactorily completing at least six months approved sea service as a certificated deck officer in a watch keeping capacity on an Irish flag ship;
(vi) Complete an application and submit the fee for upgrading the OOW 500+
Certificate.

(i), (ii) and (iii) must be complied with before being examined in (IV). The Appendix 1 oral may be taken in conjunction with the OOW 500+ oral examination. Under exceptional circumstances seafarers having served mainly on Irish flagships but do not fully comply with (i) above may be considered for this programme.

It is strongly recommended that a preparatory course be undertaken for the Appendix 1 oral examination.

The progression path for continuing a sea career for a holder of the above referenced certificate will then be chief mate/master < 3,000 gt or chief mate/master > 3,000 gt. The relevant information is contained in the Directions as to the Examination of Deck Officers under the Merchant Shipping Acts and Deck Officers Syllabus.

Appendix 1.

Syllabus

STCW 78/95 Regulation II/2, Syllabus for chief mate, Oral Examination, for vessels less than 3,000 gross tonnage in the unlimited area.

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to apply the knowledge outlined in this oral examination syllabus by the appropriate responses, anticipations and reactions to a range of routine, non-routine and contingency scenarios as presented by the examiner,

CHIEF MATE - Unlimited Ships under 3,000gt (STCW Reg - II/2)

Topic 1: NAVIGATION

.1 Plan and Conduct Safe Navigation

a) Demonstrate an ability to undertake voyage planning, taking into consideration:
I) Restricted waters;
ii) Meteorological conditions, through the interpretation of a synoptic chart, and to forecast local area weather, the characteristics of various weather systems;
iii) Restricted visibility;
iv) The requirements of ship routing and mandatory reporting systems;
v) Reporting in accordance with ship reporting systems;
b) Limitations of electronic chart systems including ECDIS and RCDS navigational chart systems;
c) Port radio information services: knowledge of the types of service available to aid vessels
Entering ports, berthing, VTIS and VTS services, as indicated in The Admiralty List of Radio
Signals - Vessel Traffic Services, Port Operations and Pilot Stations;
d) Maritime buoyage systems - IALA region A & B.

.2 Establish & Maintain Safe Watchkeeping Arrangements and Procedures

a) A thorough knowledge of the principles of navigational watchkeeping at sea, including under pilotage, and watchkeeping at anchor and in port;
b) A thorough knowledge of the content, application and intent of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea;
c) Knowledge of principles of establishing a safe engineering watch at sea, anchor and in port.

.3 Compasses

a) Compasses commonly fitted on board the ships concerned - variation and deviation, causes and
effects, siting of other equipment with reference to magnetic compasses;
b) Knowledge of the purpose of correctors/corrections.

.4 Manoeuvre the Ship and Operate Small Ship Power Plants

a) Anchoring and working anchors and cables in all circumstances;
b) Proper procedures for berthing and unberthing;
c) Knowledge of factors affecting safe manoeuvring and handling;
d) Knowledge of the operation of small ship power plants and auxiliaries.

TOPIC 2  CARGO HANDLING AND STOWAGE

.1 Cargo Handling, Stowage, Securing and Care

a) Knowledge of the regulations and recommendations affecting cargo handling, stowage, securing and carriage;
b) Use of the IMDG Code.

TOPIC 3  RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES

.1 Responses to Navigational Emergencies

a) Action to be taken when disabled and in distress, abandoning ship, survival procedure, use of rockets and rocket apparatus;
b) Measures to be taken following collision, grounding, heavy weather damage and leaks including the possibility of beaching a ship;
c) Towing and being towed;
d) Knowledge of emergency steering systems;
e) 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;
f) Use of the International Aeronautical and Marine Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual
(Volume III), distress and emergency signals;
g) Search and Rescue (SAR) plans for passenger ships;
h) Emergency communications within the GMDSS regulations.

.2 Responses to Other Emergencies

a) Methods of dealing with fire onboard ship; prevention of fire at sea and in port;
b) Use and maintenance of fire-fighting equipment, fire dampers, doors and screens, and detection equipment;
c) The organisation and direction of fire-fighting drill training;
d) Launch and manage survival craft, recover rescue boats at sea;
e) The organisation and direction of lifeboat and life-raft drill training;
f) Understand the fundamental actions to be taken in the event of partial loss of intact buoyancy;
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.

TOPIC 4  ON BOARD SHIP OPERATIONS

.1 Pollution Prevention Requirements

a) Precautions to be taken to prevent pollution of the marine environment as required by the
MARPOL Conventions, including Restricted Areas;
b) Take appropriate action in response to pollution incidents onboard and found at sea;
c) Knowledge of the contents of the SOPEP manual, Garbage Management Plans, and anti-pollution equipment;
d) Masters duties, obligations and liabilities, including the keeping of records.

.2 Seaworthiness of the Ship

a) Precautions to be taken before the onset of heavy weather, management of small ships in heavy weather, handling a disabled ship;
b) Understand the fundamentals of watertight integrity;
c) Preparation for dry-docking and undocking, with and without cargo/damage - general
procedure and precautions to be observed;
d) Working knowledge of stability and trim information.

.3 Legislative Requirements

a) Contents and use of Marine Notices and the Annual Summary of Admiralty Notices to Mariners;
b) Knowledge of the application of current Merchant Shipping Health and Safety legislation,
including the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen, and the main elements of Risk Assessment;
c) Knowledge of the relevant IMO conventions concerning safety of life at sea and protection of the marine environment;
d) Crew agreements, the official log book and the law relating to entries, inspection of living
quarters and storerooms, complaints procedure;
e) Reports required by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB);
f) Load-line marks - entries and reports in respect of freeboard, draft and allowances;
g) The requirements of the regulations concerning life-saving and fire-fighting appliances;
h) Application of hours of work and rest legislation;
i) The law relating to the reporting of dangers to navigation;
j) A knowledge of the masters obligations with respect to pilotage;
k) Purpose and application of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code;
l) Purpose of flag State and port State control.

Director General,
Maritime Safety Directorate,
Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources,
Leeson Lane,
Dublin 2.

18th June 2004

For any technical assistance in relation to this Marine Notice please contact. The Marine Surveyors Office, 26-27 Eden Quay, Dublin 1 at +353-1-8744900.For information in relation to technical specification/type approval of radio equipment contact the Radio Surveyors +353 1 678 2363/2364/2365/2367.For general enquiries please contact the Maritime Safety Division at +353-1-678 2360Any enquiries concerning Marine Notices should be addressed to:Maritime Safety Directorate, Leeson Lane, Dublin 2Email: marine.notices@dcmnr.gov.ie or visit us at: www.dcmnr.ie