MCA Master 200 & OOW 500

Details:

This course prepares candidates for the Master 200 qualification; the full title of the qualification is STCW '95 Master (Code vessels less than 200gt unlimited area) / Officer of the Watch (Yachts less than 500gt) Restricted or Un-restricted.

There are two versions of the Master 200 qualification. The Master 200 (restricted) can operate up to 150NM from a safe haven, whereas the full Master 200 (unrestricted) qualification allows you to operate globally. The preparation course and exam for both are essentially the same; it is your pre-requisites which dictate which level you become.

Overview:

Essentially, the Master 200 qualification is the next rung up the ladder after Yachmaster (Offshore and/or Ocean) qualifications. If you took the M200 (limited) as only a YM Offshore, it is a simple rubber stamp to add the ocean later and become a M200 (unlimited).

The MCA / RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence is written into UK legislation (as well as that of Australia, New Zealand and a few other countries). On a UK vessel, the qualification covers you legally up to 200 tonnes. Whilst it is not written into the legislation of most countries, some (such as Portugal) do still informally recognise it. It is recognised in law by all IMO countries (about 130 nations). It is important to note, however, that there are still a few countries (including Italy and Monaco) that do not recognise it. 

So, what are the benefits to an existing Yachtmaster (Offshore or Ocean) progressing to become a Master 200?

• 1/. The Master 200 qualification is legally recognised by more national authorities outside the UK than the Yachtmaster qualification.
• 2/. Those qualified Master 200 are also qualified as a watch officer (OOW) on yachts up to 500 tonnes.
• 3/. Although it does not open any more doors in the UK to vessels under 200 tonnes than a Yachtmaster qualification would, it is acknowledged that the Master 200 certificate holder will have had a considerable level of additional Skipper training. Skippers who hold the Master 200 qualification are therefore a step above those with the Yachtmaster and are ultimately more employable as a result.
• 4/. The Master 200 qualification is a good bridging between the MCA/RYA Yachtmaster courses and the MCA Deck Officer Courses.

Aims:

This is a preparation course focusing on helping candidates to pass the MCA Master 200 Oral Exam. 

Course Duration:

The course lasts for 5 days (Monday to Friday), with students working 0930 to 1700 each day.

Pre Requisites:

For the Master 200 (restricted) you will need:

• MCA / RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence (sail or power)
• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Certificate
• STCW'95 GMDSS Restricted Operator's Certificate (ROC)
• STCW '95 Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities
• STCW '95 Elementary First Aid OR Medical First Aid on Board Ship OR Medical Care on board Ship
• STCW '95 Fire Fighting
• STCW '95 Personal Survival Techniques OR RYA Sea Survival
• ENG1 Medical
• Minimum age 18
• HELM (Human Element Leadership & Management)
• Notice of Eligibility from the MCA

For the Master 200 (un-restricted) you will need:

• MCA / RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence (sail or power)
• RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Certificate
• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Certificate
• STCW'95 GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC)
• STCW '95 Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities
• STCW '95 Elementary First Aid OR Medical First Aid on Board Ship or Medical Care on board Ship
• STCW '95 Fire Fighting
• STCW '95 Personal Survival Techniques OR RYA/MCA sea Survival
• ENG1 Medical
• Minimum age 18
• HELM (Human Element Leadership & Management)
• Notice of Eligibility from the MCA

Course Content:

The course is a mixture of lectures and mock papers with lots of tips on how to pass your oral exam. Time is spent using our computer based radar simulators and studying the following:

• IRPCS
• Navigational safety
• Voyage planning
• Responses to emergencies
• Use of Radar
• Law
• Business
• Pollution control
• GMDSS

A more detailed exam syllabus is given below

Navigational Safety

1 Plan and Conduct a Passage Including Chartwork and Position Determination

1. Passage planning with respect to use of navigational publications including navigational charts, sailing directions, light lists, tide tables, radio and navigational warnings
2. IALA system of maritime buoyage A and B
3. Limitations and sources of error of electronic chart and navigation systems
4. Radar and ARPA – practical use of, modes of operation, limitations and sources of error, including basic radar plotting techniques
5. Understands the importance of regular checking of the vessel’s position and action to be taken if found off track
6. Applies variation and deviation to convert true course to compass course and vice versa; understands the basic causes of variation and deviation
7. Fixes a ships position on the chart given magnetic bearings and/or radar ranges and quotes position by latitude and longitude
8. Finds the magnetic course to steer and the ETA at a given destination given the starting position and log speed
9. Identifies transits and clearing marks from the chart in order to plan a safe approach to harbour or anchorage
10. States the meaning and explains the significance of chart symbols and abbreviations in common use
11. Knows how to obtain and use weekly notices to mariners in order to correct charts
12. Finds the time of high and low water, and predicts intermediate heights and/or times for standard and secondary ports
13. Find and predict set and rate of the tide from tidal reference points on the chart, and tidal stream atlas

2 Meteorology

1. Knows the sources of meteorological information
2. Interprets weather forecasts including knowledge of characteristics of various weather systems
3. Ability to use and interpret information obtained from shipborne meteorological instruments

3 Maintain a Safe Navigational Watch

1. A thorough knowledge of the principles of navigational watchkeeping at sea, including watchkeeping at anchor; as STCW Code A-VIII and ICS Bridge Procedures Guide
2. Understand the use of bridge equipment, including echo sounder and Navtex
3. Knowledge of steering control systems, including automatic pilot and operational procedures and change over from manual to automatic control and vice-versa
4. Maintain navigational records
5. Knows the circumstances under which the Master should be called to the bridge
6. Knows the principles for handing over and relieving the navigational watch

4 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (ColRegs). A thorough knowledge of the ColRegs including:

1. Requirements for proceeding at a safe speed and keeping a lookout
2. Recognises the lights and shapes, and fog signals for all classes of vessel
3. Recognises the manoeuvring sound signals
4. Recognises light signals
5. Recognise a developing collision situation by compass, radar or visual reference
6. States the actions to be taken by day and night to avoid collision
7. Describes the precautions to be taken when navigating in or near areas of restricted visibility; assess the likely likelihood of collision of vessel detected by radar alone and action to be taken to avoid a collision
8. Describes the requirements for navigating in or near traffic separation schemes
9. Describes the requirement for navigating in narrow channels

Response to Emergencies, Operational Safety and Pollution Control

1 Distress Signals and Communications

1. States the conditions under which distress signals may be used; understands the various types of distress signal, action to be taken on receipt and the obligations to render assistance
2. Understands the correct use of pyrotechnics, EPIRBS and SARTS including the appropriate circumstances for their use
3. Understands correct distress communications procedures including the terms Mayday, PanPan and Securité messages
4. Emergency communication with the GMDSS regulations

2 Manoeuvring the Vessel

1. Preparation for getting under way, duties prior to proceeding to sea, making harbour, entering a dock, berthing alongside quays and jetties or other ships, and securing to buoys
2. Use and care of mooring lines and associated equipment
3. Helm orders, conning the ship, effects of propellers on the steering of the ship, effects of wind and current, stopping, going astern, and turning short round
4. Action in event of failure of bridge control, telegraph or steering gear, including emergency steering arrangements
5. Procedures for anchoring
6. Understand the precautions to be observed when using winches and windlass
7. Understand the precautions to be observed when mooring and un-mooring

3 Responses to Emergencies

1. Initial action following: man overboard, collision, grounding, flooding or major mechanical damage, initial damage assessment and control, protection of the marine environment
2. Knowledge of fire prevention, use and care of fire-fighting appliances, the shut-down and isolation of plant and equipment, escape and breathing apparatus, fire and safety plans
3. Use and care of lifesaving appliances and equipment including, immersion suits and thermal protective aids, pyrotechnics and line throwing apparatus
4. Launching of liferafts and rescue boats; proper rigging of liferaft hydrostatic release units
5. Basic principles of survival

4 Pollution Prevention Requirements

1. Pollution prevention in port and at sea; measures to be taken to prevent pollution during bunkering
2. Action to be taken in response to pollution incidents in port and at sea
3. Basic understanding of garbage management, and disposal of garbage and oil residue

5 Seaworthiness of the Ship

1. Understand fundamentals of watertight integrity, and the closing of all openings including hatches, access hatches and watertight doors
2. Understands the difference between good stability and poor stability, and recognises the warnings signs of the latter
3. Preparations for heavy weather, ensuring and maintaining watertight integrity
4. Describes the effect on stability of:

• raising and lowering weights
• low freeboard
• obstruction of deck freeing arrangements and scuppers
• slack tanks

6 Business and Law

1. Understand the content and application of the applicable Codes, namely ‘Small Vessels Code’1 and Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY2)2
2. A knowledge of the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen3, the content and practical application
3. A knowledge of the requirements for musters and drills including fire, emergency, and abandon ship drills
4. Understand the legal obligation to ensure a seaworthy vessel
5. A basic understanding of the laws of salvage
6. Understand the requirements for safe manning, hours of work and watchkeeping
7. Understand the circumstances when a vessel requires a crew agreement

What's Included:

• Pre-course preparation notes which are emailed to you at the time of booking
• 5 days of contact time with our Instructors
• Full use of our computer based simulators and publications
• Course notes
• Mock papers
• Free parking at Shamrock Quay Marina

What's Not Included:

• Your Oral Exam, which is booked directly with the MCA
• Meals and accommodation (which can be arranged locally)

Why choose Stormforce Coaching for this course?:

• We specialise in yachting as opposed to the Merchant Navy Training Colleges who are more geared up towards large commercial vessels.
• Our Instructors have extensive experience in this sector.
• We are geographically the closest training centre to the MCA (Southampton) where you will take your oral exam.

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