Your 1,400 GT vessel is in an area with significant small fishing boat traffic. One of your crew is lost overboard in a swell of 3m and sea temperature 9°C. The bosun on the bow alerts you. As Chief Mate you are in charge of the MOB operation while the master is called. What do you do?

A. MOB response: (1) SOUND THREE LONG BLASTS — MOB signal; (2) RELEASE LIFEBUOY with self-igniting light and smoke float to mark the MOB position; (3) ASSIGN A LOOKOUT — one person does nothing but maintain eyes on the MOB; (4) PRESS MOB BUTTON on GPS/ECDIS — records the position; (5) TRANSMIT DSC URGENCY (or Mayday if the situation is life-threatening in 9°C water — survival time 30-60 minutes at 9°C, so urgency is high); transmit on Ch 70 + VHF Ch 16; (6) MANOEUVRE — initiate the vessel's MOB manoeuvre: Williamson Turn (suitable for limited sea room and low visibility — return to reciprocal track), or single turn (quick, open water); (7) BRIEF the master on arrival: MOB position, action taken, estimated time in water; (8) Prepare rescue boat or Oscar throw if Williamson Turn cannot bring vessel close enough; (9) At 9°C, hypothermia onset: 30 minutes — expedite the recovery.

B. Call the master first — the Chief Mate cannot initiate an MOB manoeuvre without the master's order. Maintain course until the master takes command.

C. Send the rescue boat crew to launch the rescue boat immediately. The rescue boat can reach the MOB faster than manoeuvring the vessel.

D. Reduce speed and maintain course while calling the master. Altering course without the master's permission could position the vessel away from the MOB location.

A. Chief Mate < 3000 GT certificate (STCW Regulation II/2 — Chief Mate < 3000 GT): permits serving as Chief Mate on ships less than 3000 GT — this includes many coastal traders, short-sea vessels, offshore support vessels, large passenger ferries, and survey vessels. Limitations compared to Unlimited: (1) Cannot serve as Chief Mate on vessels of 3000 GT or above; (2) May be geographically unrestricted — depends on individual endorsement (CM 3000 GT may have near-coastal or unlimited geographic endorsement depending on training and flag state); (3) The competency standard assessed covers the same management-level functions as unlimited but with parameters appropriate to smaller vessel operations (e.g., cargo types, stability calculations, crew size); (4) The certificate holder can progress to CM Unlimited and Master Unlimited by completing additional sea service and passing further oral examinations.

B. Chief Mate < 3000 GT is identical to Chief Mate Unlimited except it is valid for near-coastal voyages only. Geographic limitation is the only difference.

C. A Chief Mate < 3000 GT certificate is a temporary licence issued to officers who have passed the theory but not the practical assessment. Full Chief Mate Unlimited is required for independent command of a vessel.

D. The 3000 GT limit refers to cargo capacity, not gross tonnage. A Chief Mate < 3000 GT certificate is valid on any vessel that carries less than 3000 tonnes of cargo.

A. SOLAS V Reg 34 Appraisal stage: gather: (1) Weather forecast — North Sea winter weather from Met Office and NAVTEX: likely depressions every 3-5 days, Force 8-9 common, sea state 5-7m in the northern North Sea; (2) Tidal information — tidal streams in the North Sea can reach 2-3 knots off headlands; factor into ETAs and berth windows; (3) Notices to Mariners — update charts; check for new wrecks, hazards, or Traffic Separation Schemes modifications; (4) Ship's condition — cargo distribution, stability at departure, GM, SF/BM; (5) Pilot/port information — check Rotterdam Waterway guidance, Maas approach, VTS; (6) NAVAREA warnings and current MSI broadcasts. Planning stage: (1) Lay off the track on charts — clearances from Humber, Dutch Frisian Islands, Traffic Separation Schemes; (2) Plan departure for fair weather window if possible; (3) Identify contingency ports (Bremerhaven, IJmuiden) if weather deteriorates; (4) Calculate distance, speed, ETA with weather routing consideration.

B. For a coastal passage on a familiar route, formal voyage planning under SOLAS V/34 is not required. Use the standard coastal track and update the master on departure.

C. Voyage planning is the master's responsibility. The Chief Mate prepares the cargo loading plan and stability calculation — navigation planning is separate.

D. Download the ECS route from the company system and confirm the autopilot waypoints. Modern ECDIS voyage planning satisfies SOLAS V/34 requirements without manual chart work.