SV Chief Engineer (<9,000 kW / <3,000 GT) - Oral Exam Preparation

Independent preparatory study aligned to the MCA Small Vessel Chief Engineer oral examination syllabuses (STCW III/3). Module A alone covers the Chief Engineer <3,000 kW / <500 GT oral; Modules A and B together cover the <9,000 kW / <3,000 GT oral. Not an MCA-approved course and confers no credit toward a Certificate of Competency.

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48 lessons
240 practice questions

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SVCE-A · Chief Engineer <3,000 kW / <500 GT (Base Syllabus)

20 lessons

SVCE-A-OPS Operations and Voyage Planning Practice in examiner →

SVCE-A.1

Planning voyage needs - fuel, lubricants, water, stores and spare gear🔒

This lesson covers how a Chief Engineer systematically plans fuel, lubricating oil, fresh water, stores, and spare gear requirements for a voyage, including SECA fuel considerations and the risk-based logic underpinning those calculations.

SVCE-A.2

Routine maintenance procedures and machinery records🔒

This lesson covers why routine maintenance procedures and accurate machinery records are essential on small vessels, how to structure and keep a legal engine room log, and how maintenance tasks should be planned, risk-assessed, executed and documented to satisfy the MCA syllabus outcome and MSN 1904 expectations.

SVCE-A.3

Proceeding to sea with machinery inoperative or restricted🔒

This lesson covers the Chief Engineer's responsibilities, decision-making process, documentation duties, and communication obligations when considering or proceeding to sea with machinery that is inoperative or operating under restriction.

SVCE-A.4

The Chief Engineer's responsibilities during bunkering🔒

This lesson covers the Chief Engineer's personal responsibilities and professional judgements during a bunkering operation, from pre-bunker planning and documentation through to post-delivery recording and spill preparedness.

SVCE-A-SAF Safety, Fire and Working Practices Practice in examiner →

SVCE-A.5

Fire organisation - firefighting and lifesaving parties🔒

Covers the structure of fire and lifesaving parties on small vessels, the Chief Engineer's tactical role in an engine-room fire, correct emergency action sequence, and the muster-list requirements under MSN 1904.

SVCE-A.9

Fire-fighting equipment, fire detection and prevention🔒

Covers fire detection systems, portable and fixed fire-fighting equipment (CO₂, high-pressure water mist, sprinklers), correct extinguisher selection, CO₂ system discharge confirmation, pre-entry procedures for an alarmed engine room, and fire prevention practices in the machinery space.

SVCE-A.10

COSWP, risk assessment and permits to work - enclosed spaces, hot work, electrical🔒

This lesson covers the practical application of COSWP, risk assessment methodology, and permit to work systems — specifically for enclosed space entry, hot work, and electrical isolation — as required for the MCA Small Vessel Chief Engineer oral examination.

SVCE-A-MCH Machinery and Systems Practice in examiner →

SVCE-A.6

Steering systems and bow thrusters - operation and testing🔒

Covers the operating principles, pre-departure testing procedure, air-bleeding, alarms, and routine care of electro-hydraulic steering systems and bow thrusters, aligned to MSN 1904 and the MCA SV Chief Engineer syllabus.

SVCE-A.7

Pumping and priming systems🔒

Covers pump selection for bilge and fire service, the principles and practice of centrifugal pump priming, fault diagnosis from gauge readings, overhaul inspection sequence, and the link between bilge pumping operations and MARPOL recording obligations.

SVCE-A.8

Oily water separators - operation, testing and regulations🔒

Covers OWS operating principles, the 15 ppm discharge limit, three-way valve function, testing procedures, and correct Oil Record Book entries as required under MARPOL Annex I and MSN 1904.

SVCE-A.12

Engines, gearboxes and clutches - working principles🔒

Covers the working principles of four-stroke and two-stroke diesel engines, crankcase explosion mechanics, marine gearbox and clutch operation, and turbocharger function to the depth required for the MCA Small Vessel Chief Engineer oral examination.

SVCE-A.13

Fuel, lubricating and cooling systems - filters, pumps and heat exchangers🔒

Covers the construction, function and inter-relationship of filters, pumps and heat exchangers in marine fuel, lubricating-oil and cooling-water systems, with fault-finding and operational procedures relevant to the MCA Small Vessel Chief Engineer oral examination.

SVCE-A.14

Manoeuvring methods - bridge control, CPP and emergency controls🔒

Covers the sequence for transferring propulsion control to the bridge, pre-manoeuvring checks, CPP operating principles and checks, and the correct procedure when remote control systems fail.

SVCE-A.15

Air compressors and air receivers🔒

This lesson covers the working principles, constructional details, safety devices, pressure vessel examination requirements, and safe maintenance procedures for starting-air compressors and air receivers on small vessels.

SVCE-A.16

Control systems and alarm panel fault rectification🔒

This lesson covers the architecture of automatic alarm and control systems aboard small vessels and teaches a systematic approach to fault-finding and rectification that meets the standard required in the MCA oral examination.

SVCE-A.17

Safe operation of engines and propulsion plant🔒

This lesson covers the procedure and reasoning for safely taking over an engine room watch, including receiving a handover briefing, conducting a systematic machinery walkround, and formally accepting responsibility for the plant.

SVCE-A-LEG Legislation, Pollution and Seaworthiness Practice in examiner →

SVCE-A.11

Effect of legislation on engine room operations🔒

This lesson distinguishes the legal instruments governing engine room operations (IMO conventions, SIs, MSNs, MGNs, MINs) and explains their practical effect on machinery standards, pollution prevention, hours of rest, and safe manning for the SV Chief Engineer.

SVCE-A.18

MARPOL Annexes - pollution prevention in the engine room🔒

Covers the MARPOL Annexes relevant to engine room operations — principally Annex I oil discharge and OWS operation, Annex VI fuel and air emission compliance, and Annex V garbage, including record-keeping obligations and the domestic authority of MSN 1904.

SVCE-A.19

Stability, watertight integrity, free surface and reserve buoyancy🔒

This lesson covers the principles of vessel stability (GM, GZ, metacentre), free surface effect and the engineer's practical tools to minimise it, watertight integrity, reserve buoyancy, and the relevance of MSN 1904 to small vessel stability requirements.

SVCE-A.20

The ISM Code - basic knowledge and shipboard application🔒

Covers the purpose, key documents and shipboard application of the ISM Code from the Chief Engineer's perspective, including the SMS, Document of Compliance, Safety Management Certificate, non-conformity reporting, and joining familiarisation.

SVCE-B · Additional Syllabus for <9,000 kW / <3,000 GT

28 lessons

SVCE-B-MON Monitoring, Transmission and Ship Systems Practice in examiner →

SVCE-B.1

Sensing, monitoring and measuring devices for marine equipment🔒

Covers the principles, construction, fault recognition and diagnostic reasoning for the pressure, temperature, level, vacuum, flow and vibration sensing devices found on small vessel machinery installations.

SVCE-B.2

Propulsive transmission - thrust and shaft bearings, stern tubes, propellers🔒

This lesson distinguishes thrust bearings from shaft bearings and stern tube arrangements, and contrasts fixed-pitch and controllable-pitch propeller construction, monitoring, and inspection requirements relevant to the SV Chief Engineer oral.

SVCE-B.3

Bilge and ballast pumping systems including pollution prevention equipment🔒

This lesson covers the selection, operation, and fault diagnosis of bilge pumping systems on small commercial yachts, including the role of the bilge injection valve and the pollution prevention requirements governing oily bilge water discharge under MARPOL Annex I.

SVCE-B.4

Steering and stabilising systems including bow thrusters🔒

Covers the construction, control and maintenance of electro-hydraulic steering gear, fin and tank stabilising systems, and bow thrusters, including pre-departure checks and fault-finding as required for the MCA SV Chief Engineer oral.

SVCE-B.5

Marine steam plant - operation, control and alarm systems🔒

Covers the operation, control sequences, safety devices, alarm responses, and water-quality management required to safely operate and maintain an auxiliary marine steam plant at Chief Engineer level.

SVCE-B-DSL Diesel Plant in Depth Practice in examiner →

SVCE-B.6.1

Medium and high-speed diesel engines and gearing arrangements🔒

Covers medium and high-speed diesel engine speed classification, why reduction gearing is necessary, the main gearing arrangements used in sub-3,000 GT propulsion plants, and the operational concerns a Chief Engineer must manage.

SVCE-B.6.2

Diesel engine starting and reversing systems🔒

This lesson covers compressed air starting system components and their safety devices, detection and management of leaking air start valves, and the principal methods of engine reversing used in yacht propulsion.

SVCE-B.6.3

Diesel engine cooling and lubrication systems🔒

Covers the construction, function, and fault diagnosis of diesel engine jacket cooling and lubrication systems as required for the MCA Small Vessel Chief Engineer (<9,000 kW / <3,000 GT) oral examination.

SVCE-B.6.4

Fuel preparation and injection systems🔒

Covers the fuel preparation train from tank to injection pump and the operating principles of the jerk-type high-pressure injection pump, delivery valve, fuel rack, and governor interaction as tested in the MCA SV Chief Engineer oral.

SVCE-B.6.5

Starting air systems and compressed air plant🔒

Covers the principles, components, safety devices and maintenance requirements of starting air compressors, receivers, manifolds and flame arrestors as fitted in small vessel yacht engine rooms.

SVCE-B.6.6

Auxiliary engines and generator prime movers🔒

Covers auxiliary diesel generator prime movers: matching parameters, the full start/parallel/off-load sequence, synchronising technique, switchboard protection functions, and emergency generator starting methods — all at oral exam pass standard.

SVCE-B.6.7

Engine automation - control and alarm systems🔒

Covers the logic, hierarchy and practical operation of diesel engine alarm and automatic protective systems, with specific focus on oil mist detection and the candidate's expected response under examination conditions.

SVCE-B-PWR Performance and Fluid Testing Practice in examiner →

SVCE-B.7

Assessing power output and plant efficiency🔒

This lesson covers how to systematically assess diesel plant power output and thermal efficiency using indicator diagrams, exhaust temperature comparison, fuel consumption measurement, and turbocharger performance analysis, and how to identify and correct the causes of efficiency loss.

SVCE-B.8

Testing of fuel, lubricating oil and cooling water🔒

Covers the purpose, method, parameters and interpretation of onboard and laboratory testing of fuel, lubricating oil and closed cooling water, aligned to the SVCE syllabus and MSN 1904.

SVCE-B-ELE Electrical Plant Practice in examiner →

SVCE-B.14

Alternators, generators, motors, switchgear, batteries and AC/DC distribution🔒

Covers the operating principles of AC alternators and DC systems, paralleling procedures, switchboard protection devices, battery maintenance, and motor starting — the core electrical plant knowledge required at SVCE oral level.

SVCE-B.15

Electrical fault-finding and safe working on electrical systems🔒

Covers systematic electrical fault-finding methodology and the safe isolation, lock-off, and permit-to-work regime required for safe working on yacht electrical systems, aligned to the SVCE-B syllabus.

SVCE-B-MGT Safety Management and the Chief's Duties Practice in examiner →

SVCE-B.9

COSWP at management level - the Chief's responsibilities🔒

This lesson covers the Chief Engineer's management-level responsibilities under COSWP, including risk assessment ownership, permit-to-work authority, enclosed space entry procedures, PPE enforcement, and near-miss reporting as required by MSN 1904.

SVCE-B.10

Types of information issued by the MCA with respect to safety at sea🔒

This lesson distinguishes the four principal types of MCA safety publication — MSNs, MGNs, MINs, and Statutory Instruments — explaining their legal status, purpose, and practical relevance to the Chief Engineer's duties.

SVCE-B.11.1

The Chief's fire responsibilities - prevention and housekeeping🔒

This lesson covers the Chief Engineer's responsibilities for fire prevention and housekeeping in the machinery space, including lagging, drip trays, bilge cleanliness, fuel system integrity, and SMS documentation, underpinned by MSN 1904.

SVCE-B.11.2

The Chief's fire responsibilities - detection and alarm systems🔒

This lesson covers the Chief Engineer's responsibilities for the operational integrity, routine testing, fault management, and correct alarm response for vessel fire detection and alarm systems, including oil mist detectors, with reference to MSN 1904 safety management obligations.

SVCE-B.11.3

The Chief's fire responsibilities - fixed fire-fighting installations🔒

Covers the Chief Engineer's responsibilities for fixed fire-fighting installations — primarily CO₂ total-flooding but also high-fog and sprinkler systems — including system principles, pre- and post-activation actions, and ongoing maintenance duties in a small-vessel machinery space context.

SVCE-B.11.4

The Chief's fire responsibilities - drills, training and fire parties🔒

This lesson covers the Chief Engineer's active responsibilities for fire drills, crew fire training and the organisation of engineering fire parties, framed around the expectations of the MCA small vessel syllabus and SMS obligations under MSN 1904.

SVCE-B.11.5

The Chief's fire responsibilities - machinery space fire response🔒

This lesson covers the Chief Engineer's sequenced responsibilities and correct actions when responding to a machinery space fire, from UMS alarm activation through fixed-system release to post-event re-entry and reporting.

SVCE-B.12

Applying and maintaining the ISM Code as Chief Engineer🔒

This lesson covers the ISM Code's structure, the distinction between the DOC and SMC, and the Chief Engineer's specific responsibilities in implementing, maintaining and demonstrating compliance with the SMS during day-to-day operations and external audits.

SVCE-B.13

UMS operation - procedures and watchkeeper safety🔒

This lesson covers the procedures and safety obligations governing UMS operation on small vessels, including alarm response, entering the space alone, and the interface with the fixed fire-fighting system.

SVCE-B.16

The Chief's administration - staff training, repairs, surveys and Class🔒

This lesson covers the Chief Engineer's administrative duties across staff induction and handover, defect and repair authority chains, and the distinction between Flag State statutory surveys and Classification Society obligations.

SVCE-B-SVY Seaworthiness, Survey and Docking Practice in examiner →

SVCE-B.17

Ensuring seaworthiness before proceeding to sea🔒

This lesson covers the Chief Engineer's duty under MSN 1904 to confirm engineering seaworthiness before every departure, distinguishing that duty from the passive holding of valid statutory certificates.

SVCE-B.18

Dry docking, hull surveys and repairs🔒

This lesson covers the regulatory and practical basis for dry docking, systematic hull and appendage inspection, tank preparation for hot work, sacrificial anode function, hull steel material requirements, and the chain of authority for approving repairs — all from the Chief Engineer's perspective.

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

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