MANAGEMENT – DECK

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
MARITIME INDUSTRY AUTHORITY
STCW OFFICE

GUIDE QUESTIONNAIRES
for seafarers
The Annual Publication of Database of Questionnaires is mandated in Republic Act
10635 or the Act Establishing the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) as the Single
Maritime Administration Responsible for the Implementation and Enforcement of
the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended and International Agreements or
Covenants related thereto and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

These sample questions have been reviewed and validated by our respective Board
of Examiners which may serve as a guide for the review of aspiring Marine Deck and
Engineering Officers, towards the successful completion of the Theoretical
Examination.

The following sample questions do not reflect the actual set of database of questions
given during the theoretical examination. Examinees are encouraged to study the
contained sample questions and probable answers as they are intended to give an
indication of the format and difficulty level of the theoretical examination.

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A Publication of the MARINA STCW Office

 ML-Deck: COMPETENCE 6 - Maintain Safe Navigation through the Use of information from
Navigation Equipment and Systems to assist command decision making
No. Questions Choice A Choice B Choice C Choice D Answer

1 A navigator fixing a vessel's position by radar: can use radar should never use radar should only use radar must use information
information from one bearings bearings when the from targets forward
object to fix the range exceeds the of the beam
position distance to the horizon

2 A radar range to a small, charted object such as a light will provide a Straight line Arc Parabola Hyperbola
line of position in which form?

3 After changing range scales on which the ARPA facilities are A period of time not A period of time not A period of time not A period of time not
available, or resetting the display, in what period of time should full exceeding four scans exceeding ten scans exceeding twelve exceeding fourteen
plotting information be displayed? scans scans
4 An indirect radar echo is caused by a reflection of the main lobe of Their bearing is almost They always appear on The indirect echoes When plotted, their
the radar beam off the observer's vessel. Which of the following is constant, even when a bearing of 90° from usually appear in movements are usually
NOT a characteristic of indirect echoes? the true bearing of the the true bearing of the shadow sectors abnormal
contact changes contact
appreciably

5 Comparing manual and automatic acquisition in ARPA, which is Manual acquisition Not relevant Automatic acquisition Same sensitivity
most sensitive?
6 Determine the vessel's length if she dropped her anchor in a depth 280 meters 273 yards 120 fathoms 940 feet
of 20 meters of water during normal weather condition. The reading
on the Variable Range Marker (VRM) of the ARPA is 0.188 n. miles,
representing the maximum swing of the ship.
7 Electronic Plotting Aid (EPA) has which built in functions? Time of closest point Target trails Plots at least 10 All of the above
of approach (TCPA) targets at one time
8 How many target parameters must be displayed in alpha numeric 6 3 8 10
format in ARPA?
9 If you input gyro course to the ARPA, what can you expect? Error in other ship's No problem Error in other ship's Error in other ship's
speed calculated course calculated range
10 In ARPA, which of the following should you consider in order to navigational the target vessel’s the trial maneuver you cannot determine
evaluate the information displayed? constraints may generated course and feature will if a small target has
require a target vessel speed are based solely automatically been lost due to sea
to change course. on radar inputs. determine a course return.
that will clear all
targets.

11 In order to insure that a RACON signal is displayed on the radar, you increase the brilliance turn off the use the maximum increase the radar
should: of the PPI scope interference controls available range setting signal output
on the radar

12 With regards to ARPA, what are the IMO requirement to No special Acquisition should be Acquisition should be Acquisition should be
acquisition? requirement done manually manual or automatic done automatic

13 Radar makes the most accurate determination of the: direction of a target distance to a target size of a target shape of a target

14 The 10-cm radar as compared to a 3-cm radar of similar be more suitable for provide better range have a wider have more sea return
specifications will: river and harbor performance on low horizontal beam width during rough sea
navigation lying targets during conditions
good weather and
calm seas
15 The beam width of your radar is 2°. The left tangent bearing of a 052° 056° 059° 060°
small island, as observed on the PPI scope, is 056°pgc. If the gyro
error is 2°E, what bearing would you plot on the chart?
16 The radar control that reduces weak echoes out to a limited sensitivity time control receiver gain control brilliance control fast time constant
distance from the ship is the: (sea-clutter control) (differentiator)

17 The signal from a ramark will show on the PPI as a: coded signal on the circle surrounding the radial line from the dashed circle at the
same bearing and at a transponder transponder to the same range as the
greater range then the center of the PPI transponder
transponder
18 Vessel required to have an Electronic Plotting Aid (EPA) must have a speed of the vessel depth of the water vessel's position relative heading
device to indicate the: over the ground or
through the water

19 Vessels required to have an Automatic Radar Plotting Aid must have speed of the vessel vessel's position ECDIS generated AIS information of
a device to indicate the: over the ground or trackline vessels in the vicinity
through the water
20 What does manual acquisition mean? The operator select an The operator acquires The operator select an The operator must
area of interest and each target twice area of no interest, select and acquire
targets inside the area and targets outside the each target manually
is acquired area is automatically
acquired

21 What is the IMO performance standard for the ARPA target history Four quality spaced Display 60 minutes Display 10 minutes No special
requirement? history positions target history target history requirements
22 What is used to warn the observer if an distinguishable target closes Guard rings and zones CPA warnings Target lost warning Collision course
to a chosen range or transit a zone chosen by the observer? warning

23 When using a radar in an unstabilized mode, fixes are determined center bearings tangent bearings objects that are close ranges
most easily from: aboard
24 When using the ARPA in heavy rain, what action should you take? Increase the radar gain Increase the STC Navigate as though the Increase the range of
to pick up weak setting to reduce close- effective range of the the inner and outer
echoes through the in spurious signals radar has been guard rings
rain reduced
25 Which ARPA data should you use in order to determine if a close Set and drift of the Relative track Predicted time of CPA Initial range of
quarters situation will develop with a target vessel? current information acquisition

26 Which of the following ARPA data should you use in order to Initial range of Predicted time of CPA Set and drift of the Relative track
determine if a close quarters situation will develop with a target acquisition current information
vessel?
27 Why is the performance standards of Arpa/Radar simulators Provides greater Describe the way The emphasis is on the All of these
imposed? freedom for equipment is to simulator's ability to
manufacturers of perform when used for be used to achieve
simulators with its intended purpose training and/or
respect to technical assessment objectives
innovation
28 With regards to ARPA, what are the IMO minimum continuously 30 targets 20 targets 50 targets 100 targets
tracking requirements?
29 With regards to ARPA, what is the meaning of XXT at the bottom of Approaching danger Acquisition area active ARPA in trial mode Lost target
the display? area
30 You are approaching a sea buoy which emits a racon signal. This 3 cm 10 cm Both 3 cm and 10 cm Signal does not
signal is most frequently triggered by which type of radar? depend on radar type.
31 Your ARPA had two guard zones. What is the purpose of the inner Alert the watch officer Guard against targets Warn of small targets Sound an alarm for
guard zone? that a vessel is loss during critical that are initially targets first detected
approaching the maneuvering detected closer than within the zone
preset CPA limit situations the outer guard zone

32 Your radar indicates a target; however, there is no visible object at a submerged ducting sub-refraction ionospheric skip waves
the point indicated. A large mountain, approximately 50 miles away submarine
on the same bearing as the target, is breaking the horizon. You
should suspect the radar target is caused by: