DG Shipping Second Mate (Foreign Going) Examination Mock Test

Overview of the DG Shipping Second Mate (Foreign Going) Examination

The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, conducts the Second Mate (Foreign Going) Certificate of Competency (CoC) examination. Administered locally through the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) centers across India (such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, and Kandla), this benchmark examination evaluates candidates seeking authorization to serve as an Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW) on merchant vessels of 500 gross tonnage (GT) or more on international voyages.

Regulated in strict compliance with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) STCW 1978 Convention (as amended in 2010) under Regulation II/1, the Second Mate (FG) qualification represents a pivotal transition from deck cadet or trainee to licensed nautical officer. Candidates must demonstrate deep technical knowledge in passage planning, terrestrial navigation, celestial mechanics, ship handling, safety at sea, and international maritime conventions.

Detailed Syllabus and Functional Areas

The examination curriculum aligns with the three core functions set forth by STCW at the operational level:

Function 1: Navigation at the Operational Level

• Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation: Chart work, dead reckoning, fixing positions via visual bearings, radar ranges, horizontal sextant angles, transit marks, running fixes, and allowance for wind, leeway, and tidal streams.
• Celestial Navigation: Greenwich Mean Time, Local Hour Angle (LHA), declination, sight reduction techniques, determining compass errors using celestial bodies (Sun, stars, planets, Moon), and calculating latitude via meridian altitude and Polaris sights.
• Electronic Navigational Systems: Working principles, operational limitations, and operational usage of Marine Radar, Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA), Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS/GPS), Speed Logs, Echo Sounders, and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS).
• Meteorology: Atmospheric pressure systems, fronts, depressions, tropical revolving storms (TRS), cloud classifications, ocean currents, Beaufort wind scale, sea state interpretation, and maritime weather forecasting bulletins.
• Bridge Watchkeeping & COLREGs: Thorough interpretation and application of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG 1972/COLREGS), bridge resource management (BRM), and watch handover procedures.

Function 2: Cargo Handling and Stowage

• Dry Cargo Operations: General cargo stowage, segregation, dunnage, securing standards according to the Cargo Securing Manual (CSM), and handling bulk cargoes governed by the IMSBC Code.
• Liquid & Gas Cargo Operations: Basic principles of oil tanker, chemical tanker, and liquefied gas carrier operations, including inert gas systems, tank cleaning, and venting precautions.
• Dangerous Goods: Practical implementation of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, hazard classes, labeling, stowage categories, segregation tables, and emergency schedules (EmS).

Function 3: Controlling the Operation of the Ship and Care for Persons on Board

• Ship Construction & Stability: Hull structure nomenclature, stresses on ships, hydrostatic parameters, calculation of center of gravity (KG), metacentric height (GM), free surface effect, list, trim, and compliance with intact stability criteria.
• Maritime Environmental Protection & Safety: In-depth knowledge of MARPOL 73/78 Annexes (I through VI), ballast water management, garbage management plans, SOLAS conventions, fire-fighting appliances (FFA), and life-saving appliances (LSA).
• Emergency Preparedness: Master's and officer's duties during abandon ship, man overboard (Williamson turn, Anderson turn), collision, grounding, search and rescue coordination (IAMSAR Vol III), and distress communications via GMDSS.

Test Rules and Examination Protocol

1. Eligibility & Verification: Candidates must hold a valid Indian Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC), an active INDoS (Indian National Database of Seafarers) number, and documented sea-time recorded in an approved Training Record Book (TAR Book).
2. Mandatory Modular Courses: Candidates must have completed all mandatory STCW advance courses (PSCRB, AFF, MFA, ROC, ARPA, ECDIS, GMDSS-GOC) prior to sitting for the written examination.
3. Identification Requirements: A valid Indian Seaman's Identity Document (SID) or original CDC and Passport must be presented at the MMD examination center for biometric and physical verification.
4. Prohibited Materials: Programmable calculators, smartwatches, mobile communication devices, and unauthorized nautical reference notes are strictly prohibited inside the testing hall.
5. Approved Navigational Aids: Only approved non-programmable scientific calculators, Norie's or Burton's nautical tables, nautical almanacs, and standardized chart drawing equipment (parallel rulers, dividers, protractors) are permitted during relevant navigation papers.

Scoring and Evaluation Criteria

In the official DG Shipping examination scheme, candidates are assessed through written subject papers and oral examinations. A rigorous passing benchmark is maintained to ensure maritime safety:

• Navigation Subjects (Terrestrial & Celestial Navigation): 70% passing score is strictly enforced due to the critical nature of navigational accuracy.
• Watchkeeping, Cargo Work, and Stability Papers: Candidates must achieve a minimum score of 60% in each individual paper.
• Objective Computer-Based Assessments: Where administered via the DGS e-Governance assessment portal, test questions are evaluated without negative marking, requiring a 60% overall pass threshold.

Practical Preparation Tips for Candidates

• Master Chart Work Fundamentals: Coastal navigation requires speed and exactness. Practice secondary port calculations, tidal curve interpolation, and three-point bearings under timed conditions.
• Daily Sight Reductions: Solve at least two celestial sight reductions daily (Sun intercept, meridian altitude, and star sights) using standard navigational tables to minimize arithmetic errors.
• Memorize COLREG Rules Verbatim: Rule numbers and specific wordings in Part B (Steering and Sailing Rules) are thoroughly evaluated in written and oral examinations alike.
• Take Simulated Mock Tests: Routine testing sharpens your time management across mathematical computations, stability tables, and regulatory theory.