BD Deck Officer Class 2 (Chief Mate) study guide
BD Deck Officer Class 2 (Chief Mate) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Bangladesh Deck Officer Class 2 Certificate of Competency - commonly called the Chief Mate CoC - moves a navigating officer from watchkeeping into the senior ranks. A holder is expected to cover for the master in routine matters: planning an ocean passage, supervising a cargo loading sequence, working out stability and hull-stress figures before ballast is shifted, and taking charge when a fire, collision or abandon-ship decision must be made. The BD Deck Officer Class 2 (Chief Mate) study guide has 9 sections and about 2,352 words.
01Navigation: Terrestrial, Celestial, Electronic and Passage Planning
A fix needs three position lines crossing at good angles; a small cocked hat is a check, a large one is a warning. A running fix advances an earlier position line along course and distance made good - use the ground track when current is known and the water track plus leeway when it is not, transferring the LOP parallel to itself.
302 words, about 2 min02Cargo Handling, Stowage and Care of Cargoes
Stowage factor, broken stowage, dunnage, and the difference between measurement and weight cargoes govern how a hold is filled. Learn the IMDG segregation terms and their distances: away from 3 m, separated from 6 m, separated by a complete compartment or hold 12 m, separated longitudinally by an intervening complete compartment 24 m.
279 words, about 1 min03Ship Stability, Ship Construction and Damage Control
GM = KM − KG, and free surface effect reduces effective GM by FSC = free surface moment ÷ displacement. Know the GZ curve and the IMO intact criteria: area to 30° at least 0.055 m·rad, to 40° at least 0.09 m·rad, between 30° and 40° at least 0.03 m·rad, maximum GZ at least 0.2 m occurring at or above 30°, and initial GM at least 0.15 m.
255 words, about 1 min04Controlling the Operation of the Ship and Care for Persons on Board
The ISM Code requires a Safety Management System with documented procedures and defined responsibility, aimed at safety at sea, prevention of human injury, and avoidance of damage to the environment and property. Risk assessment, permit to work for hot work and enclosed space entry, PPE, toolbox talks and near-miss reporting are its practical face.
281 words, about 1 min05Maritime Law, Conventions and Ship's Business
UNCLOS (territorial sea 12 nm, contiguous zone 24 nm, exclusive economic zone 200 nm), SOLAS, MARPOL, Load Line, COLREG, STCW and MLC form the framework, implemented by flag States and enforced by port State control under the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda. Know which convention answers which question before you write.
248 words, about 1 min06Emergency Response, Fire Prevention and Safety of Life at Sea
The fire tetrahedron is fuel, oxygen, heat and chain reaction. Classes A (solids), B (liquids), C (gases), D (metals) and F (cooking oils).
229 words, about 1 min07Marine Communications, GMDSS and ECDIS
Sea area A1 is within VHF coast station coverage, A2 within MF, A3 within Inmarsat coverage and A4 the remaining polar regions; carriage requirements scale with the area. Know the equipment for your ship: DSC on VHF channel 70, NAVTEX on 518 kHz international (490 and 4209.5 kHz national), Inmarsat-C, 406 MHz EPIRB with 121.5 MHz homing, and the 9 GHz SART, detectable by a large ship's radar at about 5 nm and much less by small craft.
256 words, about 1 min08Meteorology and Oceanography
Low and high pressure systems, isobar spacing, geostrophic wind, Coriolis effect and surface friction. Buys Ballot's law: in the northern hemisphere, with your back to the wind the low is on your left; the reverse applies in the southern hemisphere.
270 words, about 1 min09Watchkeeping, Ship Manoeuvring and Bridge Resource Management
STCW principles: continuous watch, proper look-out, fitness for duty, and the officer of the watch's responsibility for the safe navigation of the ship. Position fixing at planned intervals, radar and visual watch, checklists, a clear handover brief, and the master's standing and night orders.
232 words, about 1 min