Master Orals Practice Questions: Law, Certificates and Surveys

Master: Law, Certificates and Surveys in the MCA orals

The Master Unlimited oral (STCW II/2, MIN 653 section 5) tests the master’s legal knowledge at management level. Examiners expect you to know which certificates the ship needs, how surveys are organised, what the law says about crew and records, and how to handle port state control and commercial documents.

Which oral

Master Unlimited (STCW II/2) and Chief Mate orals; there is no Part A at this level

In the oral

The examiner can ask about any part of the syllabus, in scenarios. Say your answer out loud before you check it.

Our drill

10 questions from 36 Master: Law and Surveys questions, untimed, a model answer after every one; one free attempt, unlimited with a pass

Study notes

• Statutory certificates include the cargo ship safety construction, equipment and radio certificates (or a passenger ship safety certificate), the International Load Line Certificate, the IOPP Certificate, the Safety Management Certificate, the International Ship Security Certificate, the Maritime Labour Certificate and the International Tonnage Certificate.
• The harmonised system of survey and certification groups surveys as initial, annual, intermediate, periodical and renewal, with most certificates valid for five years with annual endorsement.
• The minimum safe manning document states the number and grades of seafarers the flag state requires; the master must not sail below it.
• The official log book records the events the Merchant Shipping regulations require, such as births and deaths, offences, drills and inspections; entries are signed and the book is kept for the period the law requires.
• Hours of rest (MLC 2006 and STCW): at least 10 hours in any 24-hour period and 77 hours in any 7-day period; rest may be split into no more than two periods, one of at least 6 hours, with no more than 14 hours between them.
• A bill of lading is a receipt for the goods, evidence of the contract of carriage and a document of title. A letter of protest records a disagreement or an event that may lead to a claim; a note of protest is made before a notary or consul after bad weather or an incident.

What the examiner looks for

• Statutory certificates, their surveys and validity, and the master’s duty to keep them in force (MIN 653: management level).
• Safe manning, seafarer employment agreements, the official log book, hours of rest and disciplinary procedures.
• Port state control, improvement and prohibition notices and the master’s response.
• Documents of carriage, letters of protest and the master’s legal duties.

How to study it

• List every certificate your ship carries with its issuer and validity, and check it against the drill.
• Prepare a short answer for "a port state control officer has detained your ship: what do you do?"
• Take the Master law and surveys drill until you score 80% or better.

Common questions

The other MCA orals topics

• International Collision Regulations
• IALA Systems of Buoyage
• Navigational Procedures
• Seaworthiness
• Cargo Work
• Emergency Procedures
• Communication
• Regulation
• Other (Ship Handling, Meteorology, Safety and Security)
• Master: Stability, Damage and Emergencies
• OOW Part A practice test (15 questions, 40 minutes)
• Mixed drill: every topic

Sources

• MCA: MIN 653 (M) Amendment 1, Deck Oral Exam Syllabus (OOW, Chief Mate and Master; expires 1 May 2027)
• MCA: MIN 690 Amendment 6, oral exam booking, Part A and Part B, resits and appeals
• MCA: MSF 4274, application for a deck oral examination (fees, oral pass validity)
• MCA: MIN 720 (M) Amendment 1, modernised officer qualifications and digital assessments (30 September 2026)
• MCA: MIN 654 (M) Amendment 1, Engineering and Electro-technical Officer Oral Exam Syllabus
• MCA: MSN 1781 (M+F) Amendment 3, the COLREG as applied in the UK
• IALA: Recommendation R1001, the IALA Maritime Buoyage System (Edition 2.0)