MARINA Second Engineer / Chief Engineer Theoretical Exam study guide
MARINA Second Engineer / Chief Engineer Theoretical Exam · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The MARINA Second Engineer and Chief Engineer Theoretical Examination is the management-level written assessment administered by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of the Philippines for marine engineer officers seeking a Certificate of Competency at the Second Engineer or Chief Engineer level. It is intended for engine officers who have completed the required seagoing service and ancillary training and who now need to demonstrate theoretical competence before a written paper. The MARINA Second Engineer / Chief Engineer Theoretical Exam study guide has 9 sections and about 3,000 words.
01Marine Engineering Knowledge and Principles: Applied Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Fluid Flow and Materials
This domain tests the applied physics behind every machinery decision on board: thermodynamic cycles, heat transfer, fluid flow and strength of materials. Questions are usually short calculations or greater-than/less-than judgements rather than pure theory, so the marks sit in correct units and correct assumptions.
367 words, about 2 min02Marine Propulsion Machinery and Main Engines: Cycle, Scavenge, Injection and Control Air
This domain covers the main propulsion plant: typically a two-stroke crosshead slow-speed diesel directly coupled to a fixed-pitch propeller, or four-stroke medium-speed engines on geared or diesel-electric installations. The exam tests the operating cycle, scavenging and turbocharging, fuel injection and timing, starting and control air systems, and engine behaviour during manoeuvring.
355 words, about 2 min03Marine Auxiliary Machinery and Systems: Pumps, Purifiers, Boilers, Steering and Refrigeration
This domain tests the machinery that keeps the main engine running: pumps, fuel and lube-oil purifiers, boilers and feed systems, air compressors, steering gear, and refrigeration and air-conditioning plant. Questions are typically about operating limits, correct adjustment, and what a given symptom tells you.
369 words, about 2 min04Shipboard Electrical, Electronic and Control Systems: Generation, Distribution, Protection and Automation
This domain tests the ship service electrical plant and its control layer: alternators and excitation, parallel operation and load sharing, protection and discrimination, insulation and earthing, plus automation, alarms and shutdowns. Expect questions that ask what a symptom means or what the correct operating action is.
341 words, about 2 min05Engineering Watchkeeping and Operational Procedures: Standby, Handover and Records
This domain tests how an engineer stands a watch: STCW watchkeeping principles, rest-hour limits, handover discipline, unmanned machinery space operation, standby for manoeuvring, and the records that prove it all happened. Questions are scenario-based, so the answer is usually the correct procedure rather than a fact.
326 words, about 2 min06Marine Maintenance, Repair and Planned Maintenance Systems: Condition Monitoring and Survey Cycles
This domain tests how maintenance is planned, measured and verified: planned maintenance systems driven by running hours, condition monitoring, wear-limit assessment, spare gear policy, and the survey regime that class and flag state impose. PMS tasks are triggered by running hours, calendar interval or condition reading; running-hour tasks should follow the machine, not the ship's schedule.
314 words, about 2 min07Maritime Safety, Pollution Prevention and Environmental Compliance: MARPOL Annexes and Engine-Room Practice
This domain tests the environmental and safety obligations that fall directly on engineers: MARPOL Annexes I to VI, oily-water separation, sewage and garbage records, air emissions and energy efficiency, plus enclosed-space entry and fixed fire-fighting systems. Annex I: oily bilge water is discharged only through 15 ppm equipment with a functioning alarm and automatic stopping device, outside special areas, while proceeding en route; entries go in the Oil Record Book Part I.
318 words, about 2 min08Maritime Law, STCW Standards and the Regulatory Framework: Certificates, ISM and Port State Control
This domain tests the legal architecture around the engineer: UNCLOS and flag-state duties, SOLAS, MARPOL, the STCW Convention and Code, the ISM Code, MLC 2006, classification and port state control, and the certificates that must be valid on board. The flag state sets requirements through its administration; port state control verifies compliance and may detain for deficiencies.
303 words, about 2 min09Ship Construction, Stability and Damage Control for Engineers: Structure, Free Surface and Flooding
This domain tests the engineer's part in hull integrity and survivability: structural arrangement, watertight subdivision, intact and damage stability, free surface effect, and the actions that limit progressive flooding. Longitudinal members carry primary bending; transverse frames resist local pressure.
307 words, about 2 min