The Merchant Shipping (Certificates of Competency as A.B.) Regulations 1970

SCHEDULE 1 SYLLABUS FOR EXAMINATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY AS A.B

Nautical knowledge

1.  The meaning of common nautical terms.

2.  The names and functions of various parts of a ship, for example decks, compartments, ballast tanks, bilges, air pipes, strum boxes.

3.  Knowledge of the compass card 0° to 360°. Ability to report the approximate bearing of an object in degrees or points on the bow.

4.  Reading, streaming and handing a patent log.

5.  Markings on a hand lead line, taking a case of the hand lead and correctly reporting the sounding obtained.

6.  Marking of the anchor cable.

7.  Understanding helm orders.

8.  The use of lifesaving and fire fighting appliances.

Practical work

Tested as far as possible by practical demonstration.

9.  Knots, hitches and bends in common use:—

Reef knot	Bowline and bowline on the bight
Timber hitch	Sheet bend, double and single
Clovehitch	Sheepshank
Rolling hitch	Round turn and two half hitches
Figure of eight	Marlinspike hitch
Wall and crown

To whip a rope's end using plain or palm and needle whipping. To put a seizing on rope and wire. To put a stopper on a rope or wire hawser, and derrick lift.

10.  Splicing plaited and multi-strand manila and synthetic fibre rope, eye splice, short splice and back splice. Splicing wire rope, eye splice using a locking tuck. Care in use of rope and wire.

11.  Slinging a stage, rigging a bosun's chair and pilot ladder.

12.  Rigging a derrick. Driving a winch, general precautions to be taken before and during the operation of a winch whether used for working cargo or for warping.

13.  The use and operation of a windlass in anchor work and in warping. Safe handling of moorings with particular reference to synthetic-fibre ropes and self tensioning winches. Precautions to be taken in the stowage of chain cable and securing the anchors for sea.

14.  A knowledge of the gear used in cargo work and an understanding of its uses. General maintenance with particular reference to wires, blocks and shackles.

15.  The safe handling of hatch covers including mechanical hatch covers; battening down and securing hatches and tank lids.

16.  If no lifeboatman's certificate is held, a candidate will be required to satisfy the examiner that:—

(a) he understands the general principles of boat management and can carry out orders relating to lifeboat launching and operation and the handling of a boat under sail;

(b) he is familiar with a lifeboat and its equipment and the starting and running of the engines of a power boat;

(c) he is familiar with the various methods of launching liferafts, the precautions to be taken before and during launching, methods of boarding and survival procedure.