Guidance

Chief Mate/Master Unlimited MCA digital assessment syllabus (management) – Navigation, stability and structure

Published 20 March 2026

Navigation digital assessment syllabus

1. Plan a voyage and conduct navigation

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Evaluate the passage plan on an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) at all stages considering management oversight and the identification of contingency actions.
   2. b) Evaluate the factors to be considered when determining an appropriate route for a given passage including load-line zones, oceanographic and climatological factors.
   3. c) Evaluate the use of weather routeing for voyage optimisation.
   4. d) Route the vessel in the vicinity of tropical revolving storms (TRSs) and demonstrate the actions to be taken to avoid TRSs.
   5. e) Analyse the factors to be considered when transitioning from an ocean passage to coastal waters.
   6. f) Manage safe navigation in or near Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS).
   7. g) Explain the hazards and procedures to be followed including master’s obligations, when navigating in or near ice.
   8. h) Explains the hazards of, and procedures to be followed including master’s obligations, when navigating in the vicinity of icebergs.

2. Determines the position of the vessel by any means and confirm the accuracy and reliability of position fixes

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Discuss the methods for position verification, including monitoring deviations from the planned track and determining appropriate intervals for position verification according to the prevailing circumstances.
   2. b) Explain the limitations and precautions to be taken when using official electronic charts.
   3. c) Explain the limitations and precautions to be taken when using electronic navigational aids and position fixing systems.

3. Maintain safe navigation using information from navigation equipment and systems to assist command decision making

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Demonstrate the interrelationships and optimum use of navigational equipment and systems available for conducting safe navigation to make and implement command decisions for the safe navigation of the vessel.
   2. b) Interpret system errors and demonstrate a thorough understanding of the operational aspects of navigational systems.
   3. c) Demonstrate the actions required due to the limitations and errors associated with navigational equipment and how to mitigate the detrimental effect on safe navigation.
   4. d) Demonstrate competence in conducting blind pilotage.
   5. e) Analyse the Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA) information of several targets and determine the appropriate action.
   6. f) Discuss integrated navigation systems.

Stability and structure digital assessment syllabus

4. Provision of stability information and stability assessment for vessels (including specialised vessels)

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Use stability information and stability instruments carried on board.
   2. b) Analyse and evaluate the factors that influence the accuracy of the stability assessment of the vessel, including specialised vessels.

5. Application of free surface effect

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Analyse the effect of free surface on a vessel’s transverse stability.

6. The effect on a vessel’s centre of gravity of loading, discharging and shifting weights

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Assess the effect on a vessel’s centre of gravity due to weight distribution about the ship and the resulting changes in draught and trim.

7. Stability during dry-docking

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Discuss the virtual loss of metacentric height during dry docking, the required trim, and the measures to ensure and improve stability throughout the docking process.

8. The effect of loading, discharging and shifting weights on trim, draught and stability

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Assess the effect on a vessel’s water plane area, longitudinal centre of flotation (LCF), true mean draft (TMD), fore/aft draughts, and air draught due to changes in weight distribution about the vessel.
   2. b) Assess the effect of density of water on ships’ trim and stability.

9. Draught survey

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Analyse and evaluate the factors that influence the accuracy of a draught survey of the vessel.

10. Determine compliance with intact stability requirements under current regulations by analysing curves of righting lever (GZ)

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Evaluate the condition of a vessel based on information from a GZ curve and applicable heeling or listing arms.
   2. b) Assess whether the vessel complies with the intact stability requirements of the current regulations.
   3. c) Differentiate between statical and dynamic stability whilst discussing the factors affecting them.

11. Simplified stability

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Assess whether a vessel complies with the maximum permissible vertical distance from the vessel’s keel to its centre of gravity (KG)/ minimum permissible metacentric height (GM) requirements for a given condition.

12. Angle of loll and effective GM at an angle of loll

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Describe the dangers to a vessel with an angle of loll.
   2. b) Distinguish between an angle of loll and an angle of list.
   3. c) Describe the correct procedure for correcting an angle of loll.

13. Rolling, pitching, parametric and synchronous rolling and pure loss of stability

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Explain factors affecting the rolling period.
   2. b) Describe synchronous rolling and the associated dangers.
   3. c) Describe parametric rolling and the associated dangers.
   4. d) Describe the actions to be taken by a ship’s officer in event of synchronous rolling or parametric rolling.
   5. e) Explain the effects of being in a seaway and pure loss of stability on a GZ curve.
   6. f) Explain the effects of broaching and other manoeuvring-related phenomena.

14. The effect of damage and flooding on stability

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Explain for a box shaped vessel, the effect on draught, trim, list, freeboard and GM due to bilging.
   2. b) Describe counter measures which may be taken in the event of bilging.

15. Damage stability requirements for vessels, as per current regulations

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Assess a vessel’s survivability due to damage in the given condition considering the extent of damage and flooding, including the Stockholm agreement 1996.
   2. b) Interpret the damage stability information supplied to the master of a vessel.
   3. c) Identify the minimum damage stability requirements for vessels.

16. Watertight integrity and seaworthiness

1. This includes the ability to:

   1. a) Manage tests and maintenance required on load line items with respect to watertight integrity and seaworthiness of the vessel.

For more information about the MCA digital assessment syllabus (management) email -exams@mcga.gov.uk.