BD Deck Officer Class 1 (Master) cheat sheet

Meridional parts: MP = 7915.70447 × log10[tan(45° + lat/2)] − correction for spheroid (use tables); Mercator sailing: tan Co = DLo/DMP, Dist = DLat × sec Co.

Great circle initial course: tan Co = sin DLo / (cos L1 × tan L2 − sin L1 × cos DLo); vertex latitude satisfies cos LatV = cos L1 × sin Co.

Day's work: convert each course/run to DLat = Dist × cos Co and Dep = Dist × sin Co; DLo = Dep × sec mean latitude (plane sailing approximation only for short legs).

Compass error: deviation = magnetic heading − compass heading; variation = true heading − magnetic heading; CADET mnemonic: Compass + Deviation = Magnetic, Magnetic + Variation = True (east positive).

Radar ARPA: CPA/TCPA from relative plot; true course/speed obtained by vector addition of own ship's course/speed to the relative track.

ECDIS: safety contour, safety depth and safety draft are independent settings; XTD (cross-track distance) alarms must not exceed 0.5 NM in confined waters without documented justification.

Tidal height by rule of twelfths: cumulative fractions of range are 1/12, 3/12, 6/12, 9/12, 11/12, 12/12 over six equal intervals from HW−6 to HW.

Position fix accuracy: 2-line fix error ellipse; 3-line cocked hat - treat the centre of the triangle as the fix and the radius as the error, biased toward the largest angle.

GNSS: HDOP/VDOP quality; RAIM must be available for primary means of navigation; receiver autonomous integrity monitoring flags satellites with faults.

KM = KB + BM; BM = I/V where I = LB³/12 for a box-shaped vessel; KB = 0.5 × draft (box) or ≈ 0.53 × draft (ship-shape).

GM = KM − KG; GZ = GM × sin θ for small angles; for large angles use KN curves: GZ = KN − KG × sin θ.

Free surface effect: FSC = (i × ρ_liquid) / (Δ × ρ_water), where i is the second moment of area of the free surface about its centreline.

Angle of loll: unstable ship with negative GM; loll angle satisfies tan θ = √(2 × (−GM) / BM); correct by removing free surface or adding low ballast.

Trim: change of trim = (w × d) / MCTC; change of draft forward/aft = (change of trim × distance from LCF) / LBP.

Load line marks: S, T, W, WNA, F, T (TF), FWA = displacement/(4 × TPC); tropical zones allow 1/48 of summer draft.

IACS CSR: minimum bow height, freeboard deck strength and hatch cover securing (ISO 1496 / CSS Code) are statutory construction checks.

Longitudinal strength: still water bending moment + wave bending moment must remain within class allowable; hogging maximum amidships, sagging in trough.

Stowage factor (SF) in m³/tonne; broken stowage % = (space occupied − volume of cargo)/space occupied; cargo mass = volume/SF.

IMO grain code: heeling moment from grain shift must not exceed 0.12 × Δ × GM (or the approved alternative); filling and trimming reduce shift.

Dangerous goods: IMDG segregation table 1–4 (away from, separated from, separated by a complete compartment, separated longitudinally by an intervening complete compartment).

Solid bulk cargoes: IMSBC Code group A (liquefaction), B (chemical hazard), C (neither); TML for group A cargoes must be verified by moisture content test.

Container lashing: CSS Code; stack weight limits, corner casting loads, and lashing bridge capacity determine the maximum tier.

Reefer cargo: stow with air circulation gaps; chilled cargo requires fresh-air exchange; frozen cargo requires no ventilation but tight stow.

Timber deck cargo: requires stanchions, lashings, and a reserve of buoyancy; grain or timber codes give specific stability and securing rules.

Cargo securing: MSL of lashing = breaking strength / safety factor (1.5 for general cargo); balance longitudinal, transverse and vertical forces.

Buys Ballot's Law (Northern Hemisphere): with back to the wind, low pressure is to the left; in the Southern Hemisphere low pressure is to the right.

Tropical revolving storm: dangerous semicircle is the one where the wind blows toward the track (Northern Hemisphere: right of track); navigable semicircle is the other side.

Beaufort scale: force 8 = gale (34–40 kn), force 10 = storm (48–55 kn), force 12 = hurricane (≥64 kn).

Swell and sea: significant wave height ≈ 4 × √(fetch) relationships used in forecasting; wave period and direction come from wind sea and swell components.

Fog formation: radiation fog over land at night with clear skies and light wind; advection fog when warm moist air moves over a cold surface.

Ocean currents: western boundary currents (Gulf Stream, Kuroshio) are warm, narrow and fast; eastern boundary currents are cold, broad and slow.

Synoptic charts: isobars at 4 hPa intervals; pressure gradient force ∝ spacing; geostrophic wind is parallel to isobars, surface wind crosses at 10–30°.

Mooring: spring lines prevent fore/aft movement; breast lines restrain transverse movement; use the rule that the number and strength of lines match the vessel's displacement.

Anchoring: scope of chain ≈ 5–7 × depth in normal conditions; holding power depends on the anchor type and the seabed.

Dry docking: the ship's trim and list must be controlled; the keel blocks and side blocks bear the load; stability during docking uses the virtual loss of GM.

Bunkering: pre-transfer checklist, communication, drip trays, scuppers plugged, and the vessel's SOPEP plan available.

Passage planning: appraisal, planning, execution and monitoring (APEM); the plan must include no-go areas, abort points and contingency anchorages.

Ship's certificates: load line, safety construction, safety equipment, safety radio, IOPP, ISSC, SMC, DOC; validity and surveys per SOLAS/HM.

Pilotage: master remains responsible; pilot card, master-pilot exchange (MPX) and bridge team briefing are mandatory.

STCW rest hours: minimum 10 hours rest in any 24-hour period and 77 hours in any 7-day period; rest may be divided into no more than two periods, one at least 6 hours.

Lookout: a proper lookout must be maintained at all times; in restricted visibility, the engine must be ready for immediate manoeuvre and sound signals given.

Collision avoidance: COLREGs Rule 13 (overtaking), Rule 14 (head-on), Rule 15 (crossing); give-way vessel takes early and substantial action.

Emergency: abandon ship signal is verbal 'abandon ship' plus one short blast and one long blast on the whistle; muster list posted.

Fire: use the fire triangle; CO2 for electrical and flammable liquid fires, foam for oil, water for class A; never water on electrical fires.

Man overboard: immediate helm to swing the stern away from the person, release lifebuoy with light/smoke, sound three long blasts, Williamson turn or Anderson turn.

GMDSS: distress alert via DSC on VHF Ch 70, MF 2187.5 kHz, or Inmarsat; follow with voice on VHF Ch 16, MF 2182 kHz.

Main engine: indicator diagrams show compression, firing and expansion; power = planimeter area × spring constant × rpm factor.

Fuel oil: viscosity must be reduced to the injection range (typically 10–20 cSt at the injector) by heating; pour point and sulphur limits (0.50% global, 0.10% ECA) apply.

Boilers: safety valve set at 1.1 × working pressure; water level must be maintained; low-water alarm and cut-out tested.

Steering gear: SOLAS requires main and auxiliary steering gear; changeover drills every 3 months; emergency steering drills every 3 months.

Pumps and piping: bilge system, ballast system, fire main; the fire pump must deliver the required pressure and quantity at the hydrants.

Control systems: PID control; proportional band, integral time, derivative time; alarm and trip setpoints tested during PMS.

Electrical: 3-phase power = √3 × V × I × cos φ; insulation resistance ≥ 1 MΩ; earth fault detection.

SOLAS: chapter I general, II-1 construction, II-2 fire, III life-saving, IV radio, V safety of navigation, VI cargo, VII dangerous goods, IX ISM, XI-1/XI-2.

MARPOL: Annex I oil, II NLS, III harmful substances in packaged form, IV sewage, V garbage, VI air pollution; special areas have stricter discharge limits.

STCW: certificates of competency, watchkeeping, rest hours, and the 2010 Manila Amendments; flag State issues CoC, port State controls.

Load Line Convention: freeboard, zones, seasonal marks; the International Load Line Certificate is issued by the flag State or class.

UNCLOS: territorial sea 12 NM, contiguous zone 24 NM, EEZ 200 NM, continental shelf up to 350 NM; innocent passage in territorial sea.

ISM Code: SMS, DOC (company) and SMC (ship); internal audits, master's responsibility and authority, designated person ashore.

ISPS Code: security levels 1–3; SSP, SSO, CSO, PFSO; declaration of security when required.

Oil discharge (MARPOL Annex I): outside special areas, ≤15 ppm for machinery space bilge water; for cargo tank washings, ≤1/30,000 of the previous cargo and total ≤1/15,000 of the cargo carried.

Special areas under Annex I include the Mediterranean, Baltic, Black Sea, Red Sea, Gulf, Antarctic; discharge of oil is prohibited except under strict conditions.

Garbage (Annex V): discharge of plastics prohibited everywhere; food waste ≥12 NM from land (3 NM if comminuted); special areas stricter.

Sewage (Annex IV): comminuted and disinfected sewage ≥3 NM from land; untreated ≥12 NM; approved treatment plant may discharge within limits.

Air pollution (Annex VI): sulphur limit 0.50% m/m global from 2020, 0.10% in ECAs; NOx Tier I–III for new engines; ODS prohibited.

Ballast water management: BWM Convention D-1 exchange (200 NM offshore, 200 m depth) or D-2 treatment standard; ballast water record book.

Oil record book: Part I machinery space operations, Part II cargo/ballast operations; entries must be signed by the officer in charge and master.

Situational leadership: telling, selling, participating, delegating; the style must match the follower's competence and commitment.

Bridge resource management: assertiveness, leadership, communication, workload management, decision-making, situational awareness.

Training: STCW requires familiarisation, onboard training, and drills; the training manual and record book document competence.

Human element: fatigue management, rest hours, and the ISM Code's requirement for competence and training.

Conflict resolution: separate the people from the problem, focus on interests, generate options, use objective criteria.

Appraisal and feedback: specific, timely, behavioural feedback; use the 'situation-behaviour-impact' model.

Safety culture: reporting culture, just culture, flexible culture, learning culture; near-miss reporting is encouraged, not punished.