MEO Class I Competency Exams
A short presentation to succeed in
written and oral Examinations
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STCW Table A-III/2 – Page 119
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Written Examination
General Guidance
All six questions must be answered
If there is a compulsory question, it
must be answered
Handwriting must be legible and
clean
Sketches where required is a must
Sketches must be labelled
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Written Examination
General Guidance
Time management is important
If you exceed more than 30 min in
each question leave the remaining page
for the time being. You can write more if
you find some time at the end.
Balance and equal weightage must be
given to all answers
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Written Examination
Specific Guidance
Question must be read word to word to
understand what is asked.
The verb in the beginning of the
question is as important as the subject
matter.
Limit your answer to the question
asked, no background stories required
Answer must be complete and
factually correct
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Written Examination
Specific Guidance
Sample Question 1
A new junior engineer has joined ship in which you are the Chief
Engineer.
Enumerate in detail the issue you would mentor him/her on with respect
to the following area:-
a) Up keep of his personal safety
b) Up keep of the safety of his colleagues on board
c) Technical jobs/ responsibilities he need to learn at the earliest
d) What attention he needs to pay towards energy conservation and
e) His entitlements with regard to “human rights” in a foreign port
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Written Examination
Specific Guidance
Sample Question 2
Exhaust emission control is a major global issue and under
serious consideration by world shipping. In this context,
comment on the following:
a) Primary Nox reduction vis-a-vis secondary Nox reduction
measures.
b) Scavenge Air Moisturizing & Exhaust Gas Recirculation
for main engine.
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Written Examination
Specific Guidance
Sample Question 3
Name the present ISO standard for marine fuel oil and
explain salient features of it. With reference to a Fuel oil
analysis report, explain relevant corrective actions which can
be initiated against various adverse observations in it.
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Written Examination
Specific Guidance
Sample Question 4
a) One of the objectives of UNCLOS is protection of marine
environment and prevention of pollution. Define pollution as
per UNCLOS and discuss the key features of obligations of
costal states in this regards
b) State the 3 main tiers of the oil pollution damage
compensation convention of the I.M.O
In each case elaborate on who is responsible for payment of
compensation
Also state the source of fund as well as certification required
by ship under each tier.
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Written Examination
Specific Guidance
Sample Question 5
With reference to "emergency preparedness", discuss
Except Oct17 (i) Search and rescue
(ii) Evacuation of critically injured personnel
(iii) Helicopter operation
(iv) Rescue from enclosed spaces
(v) Abandon ship.
vi) Small fire in engine room.
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Written Examination
Specific Guidance
Sample Question 6
Illustrate the salient features factors for on board
training and standards of competence as laid down on
STCW 95 chapter III under line the specific roles a
chief engineer needs to perform towards necessary
satisfactory training of engine room personnel under
these parameters what will be criteria for evaluating
competence for on board training by a chief engineer.
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Written Examination
Specific Guidance
Sample Question 7
Explain the following modern methods of turbo
charging
Pulse converter system
Sequential turbo charging
2 stage turbo charging
Variable geometry turbo charger.
Drawings are must.
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Written Examination
Specific Guidance
Sample Question 8
During an external ISM audit of your ship, a non-
conformity (NC) was raised by the auditor. The
statement of the NC raised was “There is an objective
evidence to prove that the established procedures,
plans and instructions including checklists for key
shipboard operations have not been effectively
implemented” and the objective evidence was that
the checklist for bunkering operation was not sighted.
As a chief engineer on-board the ship describe your
actions to close the NC.
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Written Examination
Specific Guidance
Sample Question 9
What are dynamic elements of the ISM Code which
envisages continuous improvement of safety
management and pollution prevention? What do you
understand by "Non-conformance". What is the
difference between a corrective action and
preventive action?
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Written Examination
Specific Guidance
Sample Question 10
• To operate engines in compliance with the new sulphur limits
in sulphur emission control areas and to prepare the engine
and auxiliaries for change in fuel characteristics, is a
challenge for onwers, operators and crew. From the chief
engineers prespective explain the following briefly.
• Cylinder lubrication strategies. Cat fines related issues. Fuel
change over procedure.
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ORAL Examination
General Guidance
Appointed time
Pen & pencil to carry
Identification card
Entry into Interview room, etiquette
Self confidence level
Self Introduction
Prepare with respect to type of ships sailed
Keep updated yourself with current state of Regulations,
Amendments, Classification rules, IMO meetings, DGS
circulars, Technical news letters etc.
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Oral Exam is different than written exam
• Face to face question/answer session
• Examiner is watching for body language
• Command over spoken english language
• Capability to express clearly
• Time allotted is short
• Close ended and short questions
• Generally questions asked in written are not asked in
oral.
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Question mix will be of
straightforward questions,
technical questions at management level, and
thinking/ creative questions.
Memory questions will be very less.
One main question could have a no. of sub questions to
check depth of knowledge.
Examiner until satified , will dig deeper in each
question.
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ORAL Examination
Specific questions ( Straight forward/ going deeper/
thinking question )
Sample question1
Expand EEDI, EEOI
What are the units of both?
What is difference between them?
If EEOI is substantially higher, what as C/E
are your actions?
Name 5 actions you as C/E will take to
reduce Co2 emission on board your ship.
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ORAL Examination
Specific questions ( Straight forward/ going deeper/
thinking question )
Sample question 3
What is the full form of BWC ?
What are the dates effective for ships?
What the organisms dealt with in BWTS?
What is kinetic sampling system of treated
ballast water?
What is CFU?
If the BWTS is non-functional on baord
your ship what actions you as C/E will take.
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ORAL Examination
Specific questions (thinking question )
Sample question 4
While sailing, M/E one unit liner is cracked,
as C/E you have stopped the vessel, replaced
the cracked liner with new spare liner and
completed the assembly. Engines were tried
out and resumed sailing. What are the actions
you as C/E will take after started sailing again?
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ORAL Examination
Specific questions (thinking question )
Sample question 5
During port stay of 24 hrs, you have
undertaken to carry out decarb of one unit of
M/E. After dismantling, cleaning, gauging, you
wanted to re-assemble all parts. You now find
E/R gantry crane is not functioning. ETO is
unable to repair the crane. Vessel is due to sail
out in 12 hrs time. What all actions you as C/E
will take?
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Thank you
All the best
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