Hong Kong Part A Written Test study plan

Define the primary parts of a small craft hull, deck fittings and engine controls, and label a blank outline diagram from memory.

Demonstrate the standard sequence for starting, checking and shutting down an outboard or inboard engine, listing the pre-start checks in writing.

Explain how wind, current, tide and shallow water affect a vessel's turning circle and stopping distance, with one worked example for each factor.

Practise and describe the correct approach and departure to a alongside berth and a mooring buoy under calm conditions.

List the pre-departure checklist items covering fuel, weather, crew briefing and safety equipment.

Perform man-overboard recovery drills on paper for three different approach angles, stating the helm and throttle actions at each stage.

Apply anchor selection, scope and veering procedure, and calculate the required chain or rope length for three stated depths and conditions.

State the steering and sailing rules for head-on, crossing and overtaking situations, and sketch each in a simple plan view.

Identify the lights and shapes required for power-driven vessels under way, at anchor and restricted in ability to manoeuvre.

Explain the hierarchy of responsibility between the ordinary practice of seamanlike precaution and the specific steering rules.

Recite and explain the meaning of each sound signal for manoeuvring, warning and restricted visibility, and match them to their light counterparts.

Apply the narrow channel, traffic separation scheme and overtaking rules to five short written scenarios and justify each answer.

Describe the conduct of vessels in restricted visibility and state the safe speed factors to consider.

Explain the responsibilities between vessel types (power-driven, sailing, fishing, not under command, constrained by draught) in order of precedence.

Interpret the meaning of the term 'in sight of one another' and how it changes the applicable rules.

Read latitude and longitude from a chart to the nearest minute and plot three given positions accurately.

Convert between true, magnetic and compass bearings using variation and deviation, showing the working for five examples.

Calculate speed, distance and time for six problems, including one involving a current.

Identify the common chart symbols for depths, drying heights, rocks, wrecks, cables and restricted areas.

Explain how to fix a position by two or three bearings and by a transit, and describe the limitations of each method.

Describe the IALA Region A lateral buoyage system, including the meaning of red and green marks, cardinal marks and their topmarks.

Identify special marks, isolated danger marks, safe water marks and emergency wreck marking buoys by colour, shape and light characteristic.

Explain how to use a leading line, sector light and transit to keep a vessel in a safe channel.

Calculate a course to steer allowing for set and drift over a given passage, showing the vector diagram.

Describe the limitations of GPS and the need to cross-check electronic position fixing with visual fixes.

Interpret a synoptic chart, identifying highs, lows, fronts and isobar spacing, and state the expected wind direction and strength.

Explain the Beaufort scale and estimate wind strength from sea state descriptions.

Read a tide table and calculate the height of tide at a given time using the rule of twelfths or a similar method.

Describe the local weather effects of monsoon winds, typhoons and thunderstorms in Hong Kong waters and the warning signals used.

Explain how to obtain and use a marine weather forecast before and during a passage.

List the mandatory safety equipment for a small craft and state the inspection and stowage requirements for each item.

Describe the actions for fire, flooding, abandon ship and person overboard, including the order of priority for each.

Explain how to use a VHF radio for a distress, urgency and safety call, including the correct channel and the content of a MAYDAY message.

Describe the use of pyrotechnics, lifejackets, liferafts and EPIRBs, and the limitations of each.

State the procedures for reporting an accident and for assisting another vessel in distress.

Summarise the key local requirements on vessel registration, licensing, speed limits, prohibited areas and reporting obligations in Hong Kong waters.

Explain the local collision and harbour rules that supplement the international regulations, and identify where they differ.

Complete a full-length timed mock examination under exam conditions and record the score for each domain.

Review every incorrect mock answer, classify the error as knowledge, misreading or calculation, and write a correction note.

Produce a final one-page revision sheet of the ten facts most often missed in practice.