OOW (Yachts <3000 GT) - Oral Exam Preparation

Independent preparatory study aligned to the MCA OOW (Yachts <3000 GT) oral examination syllabus. Not an MCA-approved course and confers no credit toward a Certificate of Competency.

€79

Full course access

€79one-time · lifetime access

59 lessons
295 practice questions

Preview lessons stay free. Buying unlocks every lesson and its practice questions.

OOW-1 · Navigation

29 lessons

OOW-1.1 Plan and Conduct a Passage Including Position Determination Practice in examiner →

OOW-1.1.1

Passage planning and use of navigational publications🔒

Covers the four-stage APEM passage planning framework, the navigational publications consulted at each stage, and the statutory basis under SOLAS V Reg 34 as applied to MCA-certificated vessels.

OOW-1.1.2

IALA maritime buoyage systems A and B🔒

This lesson covers the IALA maritime buoyage Systems A and B, including lateral, cardinal, isolated danger, safe water, special, and emergency wreck marking buoys, with emphasis on the key colour reversal between the two systems.

OOW-1.1.3

Electronic navigation systems - limitations, errors and correction🔒

This lesson covers the limitations and error sources of electronic navigation systems including GNSS, radar, and echo sounder, and the methods an OOW uses to detect and correct those errors.

OOW-1.1.4

Limitations of ECDIS and RCDS chart systems🔒

This lesson covers the operational and regulatory limitations of ECDIS and RCDS chart systems, including when paper charts remain mandatory, the significance of CATZOC, datum shifts, and overscaling.

OOW-1.1.5

Radar and ARPA - use, modes, errors and parallel indexing🔒

This lesson covers the use of radar and ARPA on watch — display modes, true and relative vectors, common radar errors, ARPA limitations, and the practical application of parallel indexing for track-keeping.

OOW-1.1.6

Sextant - use and correction of errors🔒

Covers the operating procedure, logical sequence of error identification and correction (error of perpendicularity, side error, index error), and the principles behind taking and recording a sextant altitude.

OOW-1.1.7

Azimuth mirror, pelorus and bearing instruments🔒

This lesson covers the purpose, correct use and limitations of the azimuth mirror, pelorus and hand bearing compass, including how each instrument is used to take and verify compass bearings at sea.

OOW-1.1.8

Meteorological information and shipboard instruments🔒

This lesson covers the sources of meteorological information available to the OOW and the correct use and interpretation of shipboard met instruments within the context of passage planning and watchkeeping.

OOW-1.1.9

Interpreting weather forecasts and weather systems🔒

This lesson covers how an OOW interprets weather forecasts, synoptic charts, pressure tendency and frontal systems to make informed routing decisions at sea.

OOW-1.1.10

Position monitoring and action when off track🔒

This lesson covers the principles and practice of continuous position monitoring during a passage, and the structured actions an OOW must take when the vessel is found to be off the planned track.

OOW-1.1.11

Variation and deviation - true and compass conversion🔒

This lesson covers the relationship between true, magnetic, and compass bearings, and the correct application of variation and deviation when converting between them in either direction.

OOW-1.1.12

Fixing position by magnetic bearings and radar ranges🔒

This lesson covers how to determine a vessel's position by converting compass bearings to true bearings for plotting, using radar ranges as circular lines of position, and combining both methods to achieve a reliable fix.

OOW-1.1.13

Course to steer and ETA🔒

This lesson teaches candidates how to correctly derive a compass course to steer that accounts for tidal stream and leeway, and how to calculate an accurate ETA based on speed over ground rather than speed through water.

OOW-1.1.14

Correcting charts using Notices to Mariners🔒

This lesson covers the purpose and practical application of Notices to Mariners for correcting paper charts, including the distinction between NtMs, navigational warnings, T&P notices, and electronic chart updates.

OOW-1.1.15

Tidal heights for standard and secondary ports🔒

This lesson distinguishes standard and secondary ports, explains how tidal height calculations are performed for each, and highlights the interpolation requirement for secondary port height differences.

OOW-1.1.16

Tidal set and rate from chart and tidal stream atlas🔒

This lesson covers how to extract tidal set and rate from Admiralty chart tidal stream diamonds and tidal stream atlases, including interpolation between spring and neap rates.

OOW-1.2 Maintain a Safe Navigational Watch Practice in examiner →

OOW-1.2.1

Principles of navigational watchkeeping🔒

This lesson distinguishes the key principles governing navigational watchkeeping under MSN 1858, including the difference between keeping and maintaining a watch, lookout versus watchkeeping duties, standing orders versus night orders, and the OOW's duty to act versus the duty to call the master.

OOW-1.2.2

Collision Regulations - content, application and intent🔒

This lesson prepares candidates to explain the structure, content, and practical application of the COLREGs to pass-standard in the MCA OOW oral examination, with particular focus on rules most commonly probed by examiners.

OOW-1.2.3

Bridge equipment - ROT indicator, course recorder, echo sounder, NAVTEX🔒

This lesson covers the function, correct use, and watchkeeping significance of the ROT indicator, course recorder, echo sounder, and NAVTEX receiver as bridge equipment relevant to maintaining a safe navigational watch.

OOW-1.2.4

Steering control systems and manual to auto changeover🔒

This lesson distinguishes hand steering, autopilot, and non-follow-up control modes, explains when each is appropriate under MCA requirements, and details the safe procedure for changeover between manual and automatic steering.

OOW-1.2.5

ICS Bridge Procedures Guide and STCW Code A-VIII🔒

This lesson covers why STCW Code A-VIII and the ICS Bridge Procedures Guide exist, what mandatory watchkeeping standards they establish, and how those standards apply practically on a yacht under 3000 GT.

OOW-1.2.6

AIS - principles, limitations and modes of operation🔒

This lesson covers how AIS works, the difference between Class A and Class B operation, the three operating modes, and the critical limitations that every OOW must understand to avoid over-reliance on the system.

OOW-1.2.7

Maintaining navigational records🔒

This lesson covers the legal basis, required content, timing discipline, and professional responsibility associated with maintaining navigational records on a yacht under 3000 GT, as underpinned by MSN 1858.

OOW-1.2.8

Handing over and relieving the navigational watch🔒

This lesson covers the step-by-step procedure for handing over and relieving the navigational watch, explaining the reason behind each stage and the statutory obligations underpinned by MSN 1858.

OOW-1.3 Manoeuvre the Ship Practice in examiner →

OOW-1.3.1

Getting underway, berthing and securing to buoys🔒

A sequenced walkthrough of getting underway, coming alongside, and securing to a mooring buoy, emphasising the reasoning behind each operational step as required for the MCA OOW oral examination.

OOW-1.3.2

Use and care of mooring lines and equipment🔒

Covers the safe selection, inspection, handling, making fast, and ongoing care of mooring lines and associated deck equipment in the context of the OOW yachts oral examination.

OOW-1.3.3

Ship handling - prop effects, wind, current, interaction and squat🔒

This lesson covers the compounding forces of propeller transverse thrust, twin-screw handling, wind and current effects, vessel interaction, and squat — and the examiner scenarios that combine them.

OOW-1.3.4

Action on failure of bridge control, telegraph or steering gear🔒

This lesson covers the OOW's immediate and follow-up actions when bridge steering control, the telegraph, or the steering gear itself fails at sea, aligned to MSN 1858 and SOLAS requirements.

OOW-1.3.5

Anchoring procedures🔒

This lesson covers the complete anchoring procedure for the OOW oral exam, from pre-anchor assessment and ground tackle preparation through letting go, confirming the anchor is holding, and maintaining an effective anchor watch.

OOW-2 · Response to Navigational Emergencies

13 lessons

OOW-2.1 Response to Navigational Emergencies Practice in examiner →

OOW-2.1.1

Initial action in navigational emergencies and damage control🔒

This lesson covers the correct prioritised sequence of initial actions an OOW must take in a navigational emergency and the immediate damage control measures required to limit flooding and protect stability.

OOW-2.1.2

IAMSAR Manual, distress signals and search and rescue🔒

This lesson covers the IAMSAR Manual structure, the full list of COLREGS Annex IV distress signals, and the OOW's obligations and actions when distress is detected or declared.

OOW-2.2 Response to Other Emergencies Practice in examiner →

OOW-2.2.1

Emergency parties and drills🔒

Covers the purpose, organisation, and conduct of emergency parties and drills on yachts under 3000 GT, underpinned by MSN 1858 and the Large Yacht Code framework.

OOW-2.2.2

Fire prevention, appliances and fire and safety plans🔒

This lesson distinguishes fire classes, extinguishing agents, fixed versus portable firefighting appliances, and the content and placement requirements for fire and safety plans under MSN 1858.

OOW-2.2.3

Classes and chemistry of fire🔒

This lesson covers the fire triangle and tetrahedron, the European classification of fire by fuel type, and the chemical principles that determine why specific extinguishing agents work against each class.

OOW-2.2.4

Lifesaving appliances - EPIRBs, SARTs, immersion suits and line-throwing🔒

Covers EPIRB and SART operation, testing, and key differences; immersion suit donning and inspection; and line-throwing appliance use, at the standard required for the MCA OOW (Yachts <3000 GT) oral examination.

OOW-2.2.5

Survival craft markings and distress signals🔒

This lesson distinguishes survival craft markings from distress signals, teaching candidates the required markings on survival craft and how to select the correct distress signal type for given conditions.

OOW-2.2.6

Launch and manage survival craft, recover rescue boat🔒

This lesson covers the correct sequence and command responsibilities for launching inflatable survival craft, managing a liferaft after deployment, and safely recovering a rescue boat in a seaway, with emphasis on the management phase that candidates most commonly neglect.

OOW-2.2.7

Protection and safety of passengers in emergencies🔒

This lesson covers the OOW's responsibilities for mustering, briefing, equipping and safely moving passengers during an onboard emergency, referenced to MSN 1858 and the Large Yacht Code framework.

OOW-2.2.8

Basic principles of survival🔒

This lesson covers the basic principles of survival after maritime abandonment, explaining the physiological and situational reasoning behind protection, position-keeping, water and food management, signalling, and psychological resilience.

OOW-2.2.9

Sources of medical information🔒

This lesson distinguishes the Ship Captain's Medical Guide, Radio Medical Advice via MRCC, and the TMAS framework, clarifying when each is used and how they relate to one another under MSN 1858.

OOW-2.3 Communications Practice in examiner →

OOW-2.3.1

Distress and emergency signals, Code of Signals and IMO SMCP🔒

This lesson covers the internationally recognised distress, urgency and safety signals under COLREGS Annex IV, the practical use of the International Code of Signals, and the role of IMO SMCP in standardising emergency communications.

OOW-2.3.2

GMDSS emergency communications🔒

This lesson covers the logical sequence and rationale of GMDSS emergency communications, from DSC alert through voice Mayday, EPIRB activation and SART deployment, referenced to MSN 1858.

OOW-3 · Onboard Ship Operations

17 lessons

OOW-3.1 Pollution Prevention Requirements Practice in examiner →

OOW-3.1.1

MARPOL pollution prevention, Special Areas and pollutant disposal🔒

This lesson covers the MARPOL convention structure, its six annexes, the concept and practical significance of Special Areas and ECAs, and the OOW's responsibilities for lawful pollutant disposal on a yacht under 3000 GT.

OOW-3.1.2

SOPEP, Garbage Management Plan and anti-pollution equipment🔒

Covers the content, regulatory basis and operational use of the SOPEP and Garbage Management Plan, plus the anti-pollution equipment a watchkeeper must be able to locate and deploy.

OOW-3.2 Seaworthiness of the Ship Practice in examiner →

OOW-3.2.1

Watertight integrity and closing of openings🔒

This lesson covers the principle of watertight integrity and the OOW's duty to manage and verify the closing of openings on a yacht, set against the MSN 1858 framework.

OOW-3.2.2

Preparations for heavy weather🔒

This lesson covers the systematic, anticipatory preparations an OOW must make before and during heavy weather, distinguishing structural securing actions from operational and safety measures, and clarifying the weathertight/watertight distinction examiners commonly test.

OOW-3.2.3

Stability effects - weight shifts, freeboard and slack tanks🔒

This lesson explains how transverse and vertical weight shifts, reduced freeboard, and free surfaces in slack tanks each degrade a vessel's stability, and why each effect arises.

OOW-3.3 Legislative Requirements Practice in examiner →

OOW-3.3.1

MSNs, MGNs, MINs and Notices to Mariners🔒

Covers the legal status, issuing authority and practical purpose of MSNs, MGNs, MINs and Notices to Mariners, with emphasis on the distinctions an MCA oral examiner will test.

OOW-3.3.2

Health and safety legislation and Code of Safe Working Practices🔒

Covers the legal basis for crew health and safety aboard commercial yachts, the role of COSWP as the practical compliance tool, and the OOW's personal duty as a supervisor under health and safety legislation.

OOW-3.3.3

Relevant IMO conventions - SOLAS and marine environment protection🔒

This lesson covers how SOLAS and MARPOL apply to commercial yachts under 3,000 GT, their key chapters and annexes, and how they are implemented through UK instruments such as MSN 1858 and the Large Yacht Code.

OOW-3.3.4

International Safety Management (ISM) Code🔒

This lesson explains the purpose, structure and certificate framework of the ISM Code, and the OOW's responsibilities within a vessel's Safety Management System.

OOW-3.3.5

Flag and Port State Control🔒

This lesson covers the purpose, legal basis, and practical procedures of Flag State and Port State Control, with particular reference to how a PSC inspection unfolds and the OOW's responsibilities within it.

OOW-3.3.6

International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code🔒

This lesson covers the ISPS Code's purpose, scope, three security levels, key duty-holders, the Ship Security Plan, the ISSC, and Declarations of Security as required for the MCA OOW oral examination.

OOW-3.4 Business and Law Practice in examiner →

OOW-3.4.1

Small Vessels Code and Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY3)🔒

This lesson establishes why purpose-built codes supplement SOLAS for smaller commercial vessels, distinguishes the scope of the Small Vessels Code from LY3, and maps where LY3 obligations directly affect an OOW's duties on a superyacht under 3000 GT.

OOW-3.4.2

Musters and drills - fire, emergency and abandon ship🔒

This lesson covers the regulatory requirements under MSN 1858 for fire, emergency and abandon ship drills aboard yachts, including correct frequencies, what each drill must comprise, muster list obligations, and accurate log-keeping.

OOW-3.4.3

Legal obligation to ensure a seaworthy vessel🔒

This lesson covers the statutory legal obligation on the owner and master to ensure a vessel is seaworthy, the scope of that duty, and the consequences of breach, as examined under the MCA OOW oral.

OOW-3.4.4

Basic law of salvage🔒

This lesson covers the legal definition and elements of salvage, the distinction from towage, Lloyd's Open Form, and the master's authority to enter a salvage agreement, aligned to MSN 1858 and the 1989 Salvage Convention.

OOW-3.4.5

Safe manning, hours of work and watchkeeping🔒

This lesson covers the MCA's safe manning requirements and the MSN 1858 hours-of-rest framework — minimum rest periods, record-keeping obligations, exceptions, and how to demonstrate competent situational judgement in the oral exam.

OOW-3.4.6

Crew agreement requirements🔒

Covers the legal requirement for, content of, and practical management of Crew Agreements on UK-flagged yachts under MSN 1858.

Aligned to the published MCA syllabus. Official syllabus (GOV.UK).

School