Q: You hold an OOW < 500 GT Near-Coastal certificate. Your examiner asks you to describe what this certificate permits you to do and what it does NOT allow.

STCW Regulation II/3 OOW Near-Coastal certificate permits: watchkeeping officer duties on ships of less than 500 GT engaged on near-coastal voyages only. Near-coastal: defined by the flag state — in the UK (MCA), near-coastal means voyages within the sea area defined in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1861 (MCA-defined near-coastal waters including UK coastal waters, and areas agreed with specific flag states). Limitations: (1) The certificate is NOT valid for unlimited oceans voyages; (2) NOT valid on ships 500 GT or above; (3) The holder cannot act as OOW on international voyages beyond the near-coastal limit without holding STCW II/1 (OOW Unlimited); (4) Near-coastal OOW in STCW covers the STCW II/3 competencies which are the same functional areas as II/1 but assessed at the operational level appropriate to near-coastal operations and vessels under 500 GT. STCW Chapter II Regulation II/3 establishes the mandatory minimum requirements for OOW on ships of less than 500 GT. The near-coastal restriction is defined by each flag state — the MCA defines UK near-coastal as specified in MSN 1861 and related Merchant Shipping Notices. The competency framework for II/3 covers the same seven functions as II/1 (Navigation, Cargo, Stability, Machinery, Electrical, Maintenance, Watchkeeping) but at a level appropriate to smaller vessels on near-coastal voyages. A candidate must be aware: the MCA sometimes accepts STCW II/3 alongside practical endorsements for certain vessel types (fishing, passenger ferries, workboats). The OOW NC holder who works on a 300 GT coastal ferry in UK waters is correctly certificated; the same person who signs as OOW on a 400 GT vessel making a transatlantic passage is operating outside their certificate's geographic scope.

Question 1

Your coastal vessel does not carry a full GMDSS fit — it has a VHF radio with DSC capability and a handheld VHF. You are 8nm offshore in deteriorating conditions and need medical evacuation for an injured crew member. Describe the communications procedure.

Accepted Answer

Communications for MEDEVAC 8nm offshore: (1) DSC urgency (Pan-Pan) call on Ch 70 — select "individual station" or "all ships"; enter the MMSI of the coast guard if known, or use all-ships; select urgency message and transmit with position; (2) Switch to VHF Ch 16 and announce the Pan-Pan: "Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan — [vessel name], MMSI [number], position [lat/long or bearing/distance from named landmark], one crew member requiring urgent medical evacuation, [injury description], [number of POB], standing by on Ch 16"; (3) Await MRCC response — maintain watch on Ch 16; switch to Ch 67 if directed by MRCC (HM Coastguard UK working channel); (4) MRCC will coordinate MEDEVAC — helicopter or lifeboat; (5) Prepare a clear deck area for helicopter hoist if helo MEDEVAC; (6) Continue towards the nearest port under MRCC direction; (7) Ensure the casualty is in the best possible condition for transfer — secure, monitored, briefed on hoist procedure. GMDSS for small vessels: UK coastal vessels below the SOLAS size threshold (150 GT on international voyages, or on domestic voyages) are subject to the Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Regulations 1998 and subsequent amendments. VHF DSC is required on most vessels operating in UK waters. DSC Ch 70: the DSC distress/urgency calling channel — an urgency call (Pan-Pan) on DSC Ch 70 automatically alerts all vessels and coast guard stations within range. Ch 16: the primary international calling and distress frequency — all vessels with VHF must maintain a watch on Ch 16. Ch 67: HM Coastguard UK works on Ch 67 (coastal operations) in addition to Ch 16 — responding to a MRCC call on Ch 16 and switching to Ch 67 is the normal UK procedure. VHF range: line-of-sight, typically 20-40nm at sea level, better with height. 8nm offshore is well within VHF range of UK coast guard stations and receiving vessels. Pan-Pan vs Mayday: a medical casualty requiring evacuation is urgency (Pan-Pan) unless there is imminent risk to life of the vessel. The MRCC will advise whether to upgrade if the situation deteriorates.

Question 2

You hold an OOW < 500 GT Near-Coastal certificate. Your examiner asks you to describe what this certificate permits you to do and what it does NOT allow.

Accepted Answer

STCW Regulation II/3 OOW Near-Coastal certificate permits: watchkeeping officer duties on ships of less than 500 GT engaged on near-coastal voyages only. Near-coastal: defined by the flag state — in the UK (MCA), near-coastal means voyages within the sea area defined in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1861 (MCA-defined near-coastal waters including UK coastal waters, and areas agreed with specific flag states). Limitations: (1) The certificate is NOT valid for unlimited oceans voyages; (2) NOT valid on ships 500 GT or above; (3) The holder cannot act as OOW on international voyages beyond the near-coastal limit without holding STCW II/1 (OOW Unlimited); (4) Near-coastal OOW in STCW covers the STCW II/3 competencies which are the same functional areas as II/1 but assessed at the operational level appropriate to near-coastal operations and vessels under 500 GT. STCW Chapter II Regulation II/3 establishes the mandatory minimum requirements for OOW on ships of less than 500 GT. The near-coastal restriction is defined by each flag state — the MCA defines UK near-coastal as specified in MSN 1861 and related Merchant Shipping Notices. The competency framework for II/3 covers the same seven functions as II/1 (Navigation, Cargo, Stability, Machinery, Electrical, Maintenance, Watchkeeping) but at a level appropriate to smaller vessels on near-coastal voyages. A candidate must be aware: the MCA sometimes accepts STCW II/3 alongside practical endorsements for certain vessel types (fishing, passenger ferries, workboats). The OOW NC holder who works on a 300 GT coastal ferry in UK waters is correctly certificated; the same person who signs as OOW on a 400 GT vessel making a transatlantic passage is operating outside their certificate's geographic scope.

Question 3

You are OOW on a 280 GT passenger ferry making a coastal passage through an area with strong tidal streams of up to 3.5 knots. Your vessel's speed is 9 knots. Explain how you plan for the tidal stream effect.

Accepted Answer

Tidal stream planning: (1) Extract tidal stream data from the relevant tidal stream atlas or chart tables — timing referenced to HW at the nearest standard port; (2) Calculate the tidal stream vectors for each hour of the passage (direction and rate vary through the tidal cycle); (3) Vector triangle method: plot course to steer (CTS) to achieve the desired track made good — add own ship speed vector and tidal vector to calculate the heading required to maintain the track; (4) At 3.5 knots tidal stream vs 9 knots own speed, the cross-tide component at 90° would require approximately 23° of course correction; (5) Calculate ETAs using speed made good along track (not ship speed); (6) Identify timing of fair vs foul tide — plan departure to favour the fair tide for the main channel crossing; (7) Check for minimum depth at tidal gates — arrive at the gate when sufficient water depth exists. Tidal stream planning is a core near-coastal navigation competency. The vector triangle: the navigator must draw (or calculate) three vectors — the water track (direction and speed of the ship through the water), the tidal vector (direction and rate of tidal stream), and the resultant ground track (the actual path made good over the seabed). To maintain a specific ground track, the ship's heading must be adjusted to compensate for the tidal set. The correction formula: if tidal stream is perpendicular to the track at 3.5 knots and own speed is 9 knots, sin(correction angle) = tidal component / own speed = 3.5/9 = 0.389, correction ≈ 23°. At near-coastal OOW level, the examiner expects: (a) knowledge of tidal stream atlases and use of interpolation between hourly vectors; (b) understanding of spring/neap tidal differences; (c) awareness of "tidal gates" — points in the route where passage is only possible at certain states of tide due to depth or current strength. UK examples: Portland Race, Alderney Race, Pentland Firth — areas where strong tidal streams create dangerous conditions for small vessels.