Mid-Atlantic, Force 11 forecast. Your vessel has a structural crack in the hatch coaming with water entering No.3 hold. How do you assess whether to seek a port of refuge?

A. PORT OF REFUGE ASSESSMENT — CM / MASTER DECISION: PORT OF REFUGE: a vessel in distress or facing developing emergency may request entry into a port of refuge — a port not on the planned voyage — for emergency repairs or shelter. CM's ASSESSMENT CRITERIA: (1) RATE OF INGRESS vs PUMP CAPACITY: is flooding in No.3 hold controllable? Bilge pump capacity must exceed rate of ingress. If bilges are rising despite pumping — PORT OF REFUGE IS URGENT; (2) STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY: a cracked hatch coaming in Force 11 — is the crack propagating? Will the hatch cover fail completely? If so, flooding will be catastrophic; (3) STABILITY: current GM with the flooding already in No.3 hold. Calculate free surface effect from any water in the hold. Is GM positive and adequate?; (4) WEATHER FORECAST: will Force 11 moderate soon (12 hours) — allowing temporary repair before passage continues — or does it persist (72 hours)?; (5) DISTANCE TO REFUGE: nearest suitable port — with facilities for temporary repair and adequate depth. Consult the port guide; (6) SEAWORTHINESS: can the vessel safely make the passage to the refuge port in current conditions?; (7) DECISION: if flooding cannot be controlled, structural failure is possible, and weather will persist — PORT OF REFUGE is required. Master notifies MRCC, DPA, P&I Club. The P&I Club's consent is needed for salvage contracts but NOT for a safety decision to seek refuge.

B. Port of refuge requires prior approval from the flag state and coastal state. Contact MCA and the nearest coastal state before making any course change.

C. Ports of refuge are only available after issuing a MAYDAY. Contact the coastguard to issue MAYDAY and then request port of refuge simultaneously.

D. Continue to destination — the hatch coaming crack is a cargo protection issue, not a vessel safety issue. A temporary cement box repair can be attempted at sea in Force 11.

A. CM HEAVY WEATHER PREPARATION — PRE-DEPARTURE: (1) STABILITY CALCULATION: produce final departure stability calculation using the loading computer. Verify: GM exceeds loading manual minimum AND an appropriate margin above minimum for heavy weather (typical recommendation: GM at least 0.5-1.0m above minimum for Force 9+ North Atlantic); check GZ curve meets all intact stability criteria (2008 IS Code); verify trim is within acceptable limits; (2) FLOODING ANGLES: calculate the angle at which the vessel would be at risk of flooding — ventilators, air pipes, or other openings. Ensure this angle has adequate margin above the expected rolling in Force 9; (3) FREE SURFACES: minimise free surfaces in ballast tanks — either top up or press down. Partial tanks create large free surface corrections that reduce effective GM; (4) LASHINGS INSPECTION: physically check all cargo lashings on deck and in holds — direct the bosun and deck gang to retighten any slack lashings. Check hatch covers — all cleats tight, rubber seals intact, cross-joint seals good; (5) DECK FITTINGS: make rounds of the weather deck — secure all portable equipment; check anchor lashings; verify everything on deck is properly secured; (6) BILGES: sound all bilges and ballast tanks — confirm no unexpected water ingress; (7) CREW BRIEFING: brief the watch officers on what speed and heading changes to expect; advise the bosun to keep crew off deck in heavy weather; (8) PASSAGE PLAN REVIEW: review the passage plan with the master — identify alternatives if the weather is worse than forecast.

B. Stability in heavy weather is calculated automatically by the ECDIS loading computer. The Chief Mate only needs to check the final print-out, not independently verify calculations.

C. For a North Atlantic winter passage, the Chief Mate's preparation involves adding extra ballast to maximum capacity regardless of the effect on GM. Maximum ballast always equals safest vessel.

D. Heavy weather preparation is primarily the master's responsibility. The Chief Mate should focus on cargo documentation and hand-over notes rather than stability assessment.

A. CARGO SHIFT — CM INVESTIGATION AND MANAGEMENT: (1) INITIAL ASSESSMENT: 8-degree list unaccounted for by known weights — URGENT. Calculate: with current GM, what weight shift would produce 8 degrees? Formula: d = (W × GG1) / (Δ × GM). This quantifies the possible shift. Stability computer: input the assumed shift and see if it matches observed list; (2) INVESTIGATE CAUSES: (a) Reduce speed and alter course to a more comfortable heading — reduce rolling to minimise further shift; (b) If it is safe to do so, arrange for hold inspection to confirm or identify cargo shift. In Force 9, entry into holds may be impossible safely — wait for a reduction in conditions; (c) Check bilges in all holds — flooding can also cause a list; (d) Check ballast tanks — has a tank emptied or flooded unexpectedly?; (3) CORRECT THE LIST: options to reduce the list: (a) Ballast: pump ballast water to the high side to counteract the list. Use cross-filling of double bottom tanks; (b) Do NOT enter holds to reshift cargo in heavy weather — this is extremely dangerous; (4) STABILITY CALCULATION: recalculate stability with the assumed cargo shift. If GM appears to be reduced significantly — master to consider heading for nearest port of refuge; (5) NOTIFY MASTER: immediately — an 8-degree list is a serious stability situation; (6) MAYDAY READINESS: if list is increasing and stability is deteriorating, prepare for emergency.

B. An 8-degree list can be corrected by transferring fuel oil between port and starboard service tanks. No other investigation is necessary as a list of 8 degrees is within normal operating parameters.

C. Send the bosun's team into the cargo hold immediately to investigate and reshift cargo. Finding the shifted cargo source takes priority over safety considerations in Force 9.

D. Continue passage at full speed. An 8-degree list in heavy weather is caused by dynamic rolling only and will self-correct when the weather improves.