AMSA Master Less Than 24 Metres Near Coastal Mock Test

Overview of the Master Less Than 24 Metres Near Coastal Examination

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) regulates commercial vessel operations across Australian waters under the National System for Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety. The Master Less Than 24 Metres Near Coastal certificate of competency (aligned with qualification MAR30921 Certificate III in Maritime Operations) permits the holder to command commercial vessels up to 24 metres in length within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), or act as chief mate or watchkeeper on larger coastal craft.

To attain this certification, candidates must demonstrate comprehensive practical skills and theoretical knowledge. The theoretical assessment evaluates an aspiring skipper's ability to navigate safely, interpret hydrographic charts, calculate stability and draft changes, adhere strictly to anti-collision rules, and maintain vessel operational seaworthiness under adverse maritime conditions.

Examination Syllabus

The assessment reflects the national standards for commercial vessel crews and covers eight critical operational domains:

1. Collision Regulations (COLREGs)

• Steering and sailing rules in all visibility conditions (Rules 4 to 19).
• Day shapes, navigation lights, and sound/light signaling equipment.
• Recognition of vessel types by light configurations (e.g., vessels engaged in fishing, towing, restricted in ability to manoeuvre, or constrained by draft).

2. Coastal Navigation & Chartwork

• Reading and plotting positions on Australian Hydrographic Service (AHS) navigational charts.
• Correcting magnetic compass courses for variation and deviation.
• Fixing positions using running fixes, cross bearings, transits, and horizontal sextant/radar ranges.
• Dead reckoning (DR) and estimated positions (EP), factoring in set, drift, and leeway.

3. Stability and Seaworthiness

• Transverse stability, center of gravity (G), center of buoyancy (B), and metacentric height (GM).
• The free surface effect in fuel and freshwater tanks.
• Securing cargo, fuel transfer management, watertight integrity, and bilge pumping systems.

4. Radar and Electronic Navigational Equipment

• Operating marine radar units, setting gain, sea clutter, and rain clutter.
• Determining target range, bearing, closest point of approach (CPA), and time to closest point of approach (TCPA).
• Utilizing Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), and digital depth sounders responsibly.

5. Meteorology and Tides

• Interpreting synoptic charts, high/low pressure systems, cold fronts, and coastal sea-breeze cycles.
• Utilizing the Australian National Tide Tables (ANTT) for primary and secondary port predictions.
• Calculating heights of tide, clearing depths, and tidal stream directions.

6. Emergency Procedures and Sea Survival

• Managing fire on board, classification of fires, and marine fixed/portable extinguishing systems.
• Life-saving appliances (LSA): EPIRBs, SARTs, pyrotechnics, and inflatable liferafts.
• Search and rescue (SAR) coordination with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Australia.

7. Ship Handling and Engineering

• Single and twin-screw vessel manoeuvring in restricted waters and severe weather.
• Anchoring arrangements, scope calculations, and towing procedures.
• Routine marine diesel engine checks, fuel filtration, cooling circuits, and basic 12V/24V electrical troubleshooting.

8. Legislation and Safety Management Systems

• Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessels) National Law Act 2012.
• Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency) and Marine Order 504 (Certificates of operation and SMS).
• Reporting marine incidents, environmental protection, and pollution prevention standards.

Assessment Format & Rules

The examination is conducted either by an AMSA-approved Registered Training Organisation (RTO) or as an AMSA-mandated final assessment. The test features 40 multiple-choice and calculation questions to be completed within 120 minutes.

Key candidate rules include:

• Approved Chartwork Tools Only: Parallel rules, marine dividers, protractors, 2B pencils, and non-programmable scientific calculators are permitted.
• Reference Material: Candidates are provided with standard coastal chart extracts, tide tables, and deviation tables during navigation components.
• Electronic Devices: Smartphones, smartwatches, and internet-enabled devices are strictly prohibited.
• Zero Tolerance for Safety Violations: Gross navigational or collision-rule calculation errors in safety-critical questions result in an immediate fail mark for that unit.

Scoring and Passing Marks

To pass, candidates must attain an overall mark of at least 80%. Furthermore, specific modules hold strict minimum competency hurdles:

• COLREGs Module: Requires a 100% correct score on high-risk steering and sailing rules questions.
• Chartwork Navigation & Position Fixing: Requires at least 85% accuracy with zero tolerance for running aground or misidentifying cardinal marks.
• Vessel Stability & SMS Compliance: Requires a minimum of 75%.

Preparation Tips for Aspiring Skippers

1. Master Rule Memory: Memorize every aspect of COLREGs. Draw flashcards for night lights and daytime shapes to build instant recall.
2. Practice Manual Chartwork: Relying solely on GPS or chartplotters during training leaves candidates vulnerable. Practice paper chart plotting, calculating compass error, and applying set and drift calculations manually.
3. Solve Secondary Port Tides Regularly: Work through several tidal curve calculations using the Australian National Tide Tables to ensure speed and accuracy under timed pressure.
4. Review Marine Order 504 SMS Templates: Understand how a vessel's safety management system handles emergency drills, passenger manifests, and pollution prevention.