Capitán Deportivo Costero (Chile) common mistakes
Capitán Deportivo Costero (Chile) · Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
Applying the COLREGS collision-avoidance rules by rote without first establishing the relative bearing and aspect of the other vessel, leading to a wrong give-way/stand-on decision.
Candidates memorise rule numbers but do not practise the initial assessment step (determining if risk of collision exists, who is give-way, what action is required).
What to do instead
For every encounter question, first state the type of encounter (head-on, crossing, overtaking), then the relative bearing sector, then the rule that applies, then the required action. Drill with random bearing/heading combinations until the sequence is automatic.
Mixing up the lights and shapes required for different vessel types and lengths (e.g., showing a masthead light on a vessel under 12 m, or confusing fishing vs. trawling lights).
The lighting rules have many exceptions by length and activity, and candidates study them in isolation rather than as a decision tree.
What to do instead
Build a one-page matrix of vessel type × length × activity → lights/shapes. Recite it aloud and self-test by covering columns. Focus on the common cases: power-driven underway, sailing, fishing, anchored, restricted in ability to manoeuvre.
Calculating set and drift or a course-to-steer without accounting for variation, deviation, and leeway in the correct order, producing a heading that is off by several degrees.
Candidates apply corrections in the wrong sequence or forget that deviation depends on the ship's heading, so it must be applied after variation.
What to do instead
Use the mnemonic 'True Virgins Make Dull Company' (True + Variation = Magnetic; Magnetic + Deviation = Compass) and always work from true to compass or vice versa in a fixed table. Practise with a deviation card and check the result by reversing the calculation.
Plotting a fix using a single bearing or a running fix without advancing the line correctly for the course and speed made good.
Candidates treat a running fix as a simple cross-bearing and forget to advance the first line of position by the distance run, or they use speed through the water instead of speed over the ground.
What to do instead
For every running fix, draw the course and distance made good from the first LOP to the second, then transfer the first LOP parallel to itself through the advanced position. Verify with a second method (e.g., bearing and distance) whenever possible.
Misreading a synoptic chart: confusing a cold front with a warm front, or failing to predict wind shift and visibility changes after frontal passage.
Candidates memorise symbols but do not connect them to the sequence of weather and sea-state changes that affect navigation and safety.
What to do instead
For each front type, write a timeline of pre-frontal, passage, and post-frontal conditions (pressure, wind direction, visibility, precipitation). Practise with actual charts and compare with observed conditions.
Underestimating the effect of wind and current when manoeuvring in confined waters, leading to a turn that is too wide or a failed berthing approach.
Candidates calculate drift for passage planning but forget to apply it to close-quarters manoeuvring, where the ship's pivot point and transverse thrust also matter.
What to do instead
Before any manoeuvre question, explicitly state wind/current direction and strength, identify the pivot point, and plan the approach with a crab angle. Use the 'point of no return' concept for berthing and practise with a manoeuvring simulator or paper plot.
In an emergency, transmitting a distress alert on VHF without the correct format or on the wrong channel, or failing to follow the GMDSS priority and acknowledgement procedures.
Candidates learn the words 'Mayday' but not the full DSC alert sequence, the follow-on voice procedure, or the difference between distress, urgency, and safety.
What to do instead
Memorise the DSC distress alert steps (press and hold, select nature of distress, transmit) and the voice Mayday script. Practise on a simulator until the sequence is automatic, including cancellation and acknowledgement.
Confusing stability terms: treating GM as a fixed value regardless of loading, or failing to recognise when a vessel is stiff/tender and what corrective action to take.
Candidates learn definitions but not the relationships between KG, GM, free surface effect, and the resulting rolling period.
What to do instead
Use the rolling-period formula and the concept of GM as a measure of initial stability. For each loading scenario, calculate the effect of adding/removing weights and free surface. Practise with a simple stability booklet or spreadsheet.
Applying first-aid procedures for hypothermia or drowning without following the correct sequence (e.g., starting CPR before checking for responsiveness and calling for help, or rewarming a hypothermic patient too quickly).
Candidates rely on general first-aid knowledge that may not be adapted to the marine environment, where evacuation is delayed and hypothermia is common.
What to do instead
Follow the current ILCOR/ERC guidelines for drowning and hypothermia: check response, open airway, give 5 rescue breaths, then CPR. For hypothermia, handle gently, remove wet clothing, insulate, and avoid active rewarming of the extremities. Rehearse with a manikin and a written checklist.
Answering legal questions about the Capitán Deportivo Costero licence by guessing at national regulations (e.g., minimum crew, safety equipment, or pollution reporting) instead of citing the specific Chilean norm.
Candidates study international rules but neglect the Chilean maritime authority (DIRECTEMAR) regulations and the specific requirements for the licence.
What to do instead
Create a summary sheet of the key Chilean regulations (e.g., Ley de Navegación, Reglamento de Seguridad, Ordenanzas de la Armada) with article numbers and practical implications. Review recent DIRECTEMAR circulars and test yourself on scenarios that require citing the norm.