SAMSA Skipper Category B (Coastal, up to 40 nm) Exam (South Africa) study guide
SAMSA Skipper Category B (Coastal, up to 40 nm) Exam (South Africa) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The SAMSA Skipper Category B Certificate of Competence is a South African coastal qualification for skippers of small commercial and recreational vessels operating up to 40 nautical miles from shore. It sits above the inshore categories and below the unlimited and offshore tickets, so it suits people running coastal deliveries, charter and dive boats, fishing vessels and larger private craft along the coastline. The SAMSA Skipper Category B (Coastal, up to 40 nm) Exam (South Africa) study guide has 8 sections and about 2,444 words.
01Navigation and Position Fixing
A coastal skipper must be able to fix position by at least two independent methods and know the accuracy limits of each. Understand: latitude/longitude and the minute-of-arc relationship (1 minute of latitude = 1 nautical mile); true, magnetic and compass bearings and the CADET rule (Compass + Deviation = Magnetic; Magnetic + Variation = True, with signs handled East-add/West-subtract); the three-bearing fix and cocked hat; running fix using a transferred position line; dead reckoning (course and speed through water, no allowance for current) versus estimated position (DR plus leeway and set/drift); transit and clearing bearings; and the use of depth contours as a position line.
333 words, about 2 min02Charts, Publications and Passage Planning
Know the chart catalogue and how to read it: title block, scale, datum (usually WGS84 on modern charts), source diagram, units (metres or fathoms), chart symbols for dangers, buoyage, and the meaning of the 'sounding datum' (usually LAT). Understand the Notices to Mariners correction system and that an uncorrected chart is a hazard.
317 words, about 2 min03Tides, Currents and Meteorology
Understand the causes of tides (moon and sun gravitational pull), spring and neap tides, and the rule of twelfths for estimating tide height between high and low water. Know how to use tide tables: standard port, secondary port differences, and the difference between height and stream (current) tables.
308 words, about 2 min04Collision Regulations and Buoyage
You must know the steering and sailing rules (COLREGs) cold: the give-way and stand-on vessel roles, the requirement to keep a proper lookout and a safe speed, and the specific rules for head-on (both alter to starboard), crossing (give-way vessel alters to starboard and passes astern), and overtaking (overtaking vessel keeps clear). Learn the hierarchy of responsibility: vessels not under command, restricted in ability to manoeuvre, constrained by draft, fishing, sailing, and power-driven vessels.
314 words, about 2 min05Ship Handling and Seamanship
Understand how a vessel behaves under power and sail: pivot point, prop walk, transverse thrust, and the effect of wind and current on a hull. Learn the standard manoeuvres: berthing and unberthing, springing on and off a berth, anchoring (scope, veering, weighing), and man-overboard recovery under power and sail.
306 words, about 2 min06Safety of Life at Sea and Emergency Procedures
Know the SOLAS and local safety requirements for a coastal vessel: lifejackets for all on board, liferaft or dinghy, flares (types and expiry), fire extinguishers, first aid kit, EPIRB, and the correct use of a VHF DSC radio for a distress alert. Understand the distress, urgency, and safety priorities: MAYDAY, PAN PAN, and SÉCURITÉ.
305 words, about 2 min07Maritime Law and Local Regulations
Understand the South African regulatory framework for small vessels: the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) registration and certification requirements, the Skipper's licence categories (including Category B for coastal waters up to 40 nautical miles), and the vessel's certificate of fitness. Know the Collision Regulations as law, the requirement to render assistance to persons in distress, and the reporting obligations for marine casualties and pollution.
288 words, about 1 min08Communications and Electronic Aids
Know the VHF marine radio: channel usage (Ch 16 distress and calling, Ch 13 bridge-to-bridge, Ch 6 intership, Ch 9 marina, Ch 70 DSC), the correct phonetic alphabet, and the standard MAYDAY/PAN PAN call format. Understand DSC operation, MMSI numbers, and the use of an EPIRB and SART.
273 words, about 1 min