QUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY FOR FOREIGN-GOING STEAMSHIPS ONLY.

49. Certificates of Competency will be issued, subject to the examinations herein-after described, for officers who have served in steamships, and who, owing to absence of service in square-rigged sailing ships, cannot under the existing regulations obtain Certificates of Competency to act in the capacity of Masters or Mates of square-rigged steamships.

50. These certificates will entitle the holders to go to sea as Masters and Mates of foreign-going steamships, but will not entitle the holders to go to sea as Masters or Mates of foreign-going sailing ships.

51. There will be no distinction in respect of "Fore and Aft" and "Square-rigged " steamships.

52. Examination in Colours.-All Candidates for Certificates of Competency must pass the examination in Colours.

53. A SECOND MATE must be 17 years of age, and must have been four years at sea. 54. In Navigation, &c.—He must write a legible hand, and will be required to give in writing definitions of various astronomical and other terms used in navigation. He must have a competent knowledge of the first five rules of arithmetic, and the use of logarithms. He must be able to work a day's work complete, correcting the courses for deviation, leeway, and variation. He will be required to find the latitude by meridian altitude of the sun, and the difference of longitude from a given departure by parallel sailing; also to find the course and distance from one position to another by Mercator's method. He will be required to find the time of high water at a given port, to observe and calculate the amplitude of the sun, and to find the error of the ship's compass therefrom, and also the deviation, the variation being given. He must be able to find the daily rate of the chronometer from error observed, and to find the longitude from altitude of the sun by the usual methods. He must understand the use of the sextant with its adjustments, and be able to observe with it, find the index error by the horizon, and read off and on the arc He must also pass a satisfactory examination in the International Code of Signals.

55. In Seamanship, &c.-He must give satisfactory answers as to the standing and running rigging of Steamships; as to bending, unbending, setting, reefing, taking in and furling sail; as to sending masts and yards up and down, &c., &c.; as to seeing everything in readiness and clear for getting under way, and as to the precautions to be then observed with regard to engines, propeller, &c.; as to the management of a steamship when under canvas; and as to dunnaging and stowing cargo, &c. He must have a thorough knowledge of the rule of the road as regards both steamers and sailing vessels, their regulation lights, and fog, and sound signals, and be able to describe the signals of distress, and the signals to be made by ships wanting a pilot, and the liabilities and penalties incurred by the misuse of these signals. He must be able to mark and use the lead and log lines. He must also understand the construction, use, and action of the sluices, and of the water-ballast tanks, engine room telegraph, &c.; the use and management of the rocket apparatus in the event of his vessel being stranded, and other questions of a like nature, appertaining to the duties of the Second Mate of a steamship, which the Examiner may think necessary to put to him. 56. An ONLY or FIRST MATE.-An Only Mate must be 19 years of age, and must have served five years at sea. A First Mate must be 19 years of age and must have served five years at sea, of which one year must have been as Second or Only Mate of a foreigngoing steamship.

57. In Navigation.-In addition to the qualifications required for a Second Mate, an Only or First Mate must be able to find the true bearing of the sun and the error of the ship's compass from an observed azimuth of the sun, both from an altitude and also from the "Time Azimuth Tables," and with the variation given compute the deviation; to find the latitude from a single altitude of the sun off the meridian, and be able to use and adjust the sextant, and to find the index error by the sun; and also to ascertain the true bearing of the sun, &c., and the ship's position by Sumner's Method by Projection. He must also be conversant with the use of Mercator's chart and be able to find, on either a "true" of

"magnetic" chart, the course to steer and the distance from one given position to another; and find the ship's position on the chart from cross bearings of two objects; from two bearings of the same object, the course and distance between the bearings being given; and also the distance of ship from the object at the time of taking the second bearing. He must also understand how to keep a ship's Log Book.

58. In Seamanship.-In addition to the qualifications required for a Second Mate, a more extensive knowledge of seamanship will be required, as to shifting large spars, rigging sheers, taking lower masts in and out, how to moor and unmoor ship and to keep a clear anchor, to carry out an anchor; how to manage a steamship in stormy weather, and how to rig purchases for getting heavy weights, anchors, machinery, &c., in and out. He must give satisfactory answers as to the ventilation of holds, and the stowage of explosives, He must be able to describe the effects of the screw race upon the rudder; and the effect produced on the direction of the head of the ship by going [ahead] [astern] with a [right] [left] handed screw when the rudder is [ported] [starboarded]. He must also know how to rig a sea anchor, and what means to apply to keep a steamer with machinery disabled out of the trough of the sea, and lessen her lee drift. How to turn a steamship short round; how to get cast of deep sea lead in heavy weather, and other questions of a like nature appertaining to the duties of an Only or First Mate of a steamship, which the Examiner may think necessary to put to him,

59. A MASTER must be 21 years of age, and have been six years at sea, of which one year must have been as First or Only Mate in a Foreign-going Steamship, and one year as Second or Only Mate; or he must have been six and a half years at sea, of which two and a half years must have been as Second or Only Mate in a Foreign-going Steamship, during the last 12 months of which he must have been in possession of a First Mate's Certificate.

60. In Navigation. In addition to the qualifications required for a Second, Only, and First Mate, he must be able to compute the latitude from the meridian altitude of a star, &c.; he must be able to find the magnetic bearing from equidistant compass bearings of any fixed object when at sea, and compute the deviation therefrom. He must construct a deviation curve upon a "Napier's” diagram which will be furnished by the Examiner, and understand the practical application of the same, and give written answers to certain practical questions on the effect of the ship's iron upon the compasses, the method of determining the deviation, and compensating same by magnets and soft iron. He will be required to find the course to steer by compass in order to counteract the effect of a given current, and find the distance the ship will make good towards a given point in a certain time, and to work ont practically the correction to apply to soundings taken at a given time and place, to compare with the depth marked on the chart.

61. In Seamanship, &c.—In addition to the qualifications required of a Second, Only, and First Mate, he must be able to construct rafts and jury rudders suitable for a screw steamship. He will be examined as to his resources for the preservation of the ship's crew in the event of wreck; as to the management of steamships in heavy weather; as to rescuing the crew of a disabled ship; as to steps to be taken when a ship is on her beam ends; or if disabled and on a lee shore. How to use steam appliances in the event of fire, and the best arrangement for towing vessels under different circumstances, placing ship in dry dock, directing repairs, and the mode of procedure if putting into port in distress with damage to cargo and ship. He must possess a sufficient knowledge of what he is required to do by law, as to entry and discharge, and the management of his crew, and as to penalties, and entries to be made in the official log, and a knowledge of the measures for preventing and checking the outbreak of scurvy on board ship, and the law as to load line marks, and the entries and reports to be made respecting them. He will be questioned as to his knowledge of invoices, charter-party, bills of lading, Lloyd's agent, and as to the nature of bottomry, also bills of exchange, surveys, averages, &c., and answer any other questions of a like nature, appertaining to the management of a steamship, which the Examiner may consider it necessary to touch upon.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY

FOR A "HOME TRADE PASSENGER SHIP."

62. All Candidates for Certificates of Competency must pass the examination in Colours. 63. A MATE must be 19 years of age, and have served four years at sea.

64. In Navigation, &c.-He must write a legible hand, and understand the first five rules of arithmetic. He must be able to take a bearing by compass, and be conversant with the use of Mercator's Chart, and be able to find, on either a "true" or "magnetic" chart, the course to steer, and the distance from one given position to another; to find the ship's position on the chart from cross bearings of two objects; from two bearings of the same object, the course and distance between the bearings being given; and also to find the distance of the ship from the object at the time of taking the second bearing. 65. He must also pass an examination in the International Code of Signals.

66. In Seamanship, &c.-He must possess a thorough knowledge of the Rule of the Road as regards both steamers and sailing vessels, their regulation lights, and fog, and sound signals. He must be able to describe the signals of distress, and the signals to be made by ships wanting a pilot, and the liabilities and penalties incurred by the misuse of these signals; also the use and management of the Rocket Apparatus in the event of his vessel being stranded. He must be able to mark and use the lead and log lines, to moor and unmoor a vessel, &c., &c. He must also understand the construction, use, and action of the bulkhead sluices, the engine-room telegraph, &c., and to answer any other questions of a like nature appertaining to the duties of the Mate of a Home Trade Passenger Vessel which the Examiner may think proper to put to him.

67. A MASTER must be 20 years of age, and have served five years at sea, of which one year must have been as First or Only Mate in the Home or Foreign Trade, during which service he must have been in possession of a Mate's Certificate for Home Trade Passenger Ships or of a First or Only Mate's Certificate for Foreign-going Ships.

68. In Navigation, &c.—In addition to the qualifications required of a Mate of a Home Trade Passenger Ship, a Master will be required to find on a chart the course to steer by compass in order to counteract the effect of a given current, and to find the distance the ship will make good towards a given point in a certain time, and to work out practically the correction to apply to soundings taken at a given time and place, to compare with the depth marked on the chart, &c.

69. In Seamanship.—In addition to the qualifications required of a Mate of a Home Trade Passenger Ship, a Master must understand how to rig a sea anchor, and what means to apply to keep a steamer with machinery disabled out of the trough of the sea, &c. How to get a cast of the lead in heavy weather, &c. He will be examined as to his resources for the preservation of the crew and passengers in the event of wreck, and the steps to be taken if his vessel is disabled and drifting towards a lee shore, and will be required to answer any other questions appertaining to the management of a Home Trade Passenger Vessel which the Examiner may think necessary to put to him.

FAILURE.

70. In all cases of failure the Candidate must be examined de novo. If a Candidate fails in Seamanship he will not be re-examined until after a lapse of SIX MONTHS. Whether the whole or part of this period must be served at sea must depend upon the subjects in Seamanship in which the Candidate failed, but what amount (if any) of sea service will be required will be left to the discretion of the Local Marine Board, subject, however, to revision by the Board of Trade, should they see fit.

71. The Examiner in making out his Report on Form Exn. 14, should state what amount (if any) of further sea service the Candidate must perform, and he should alsɔ insert this information under Division H. in Form Exn. 2.

72. If he fails three times in Navigation he will not be re-examined until after a lapse Of THREE MONTHS from the date of the last failure.

if he

73. If a Candidate has failed in his Examination, but the subjects in which he has failed are not included in the subjects required for a Certificate of a lower grade, he may, desires it, receive a Certificate of such lower grade,

74. No part, however, of the fee he has paid will be returned to him, and on presenting himself, when entitled, for re-examination for the higher grade of Certificate he will be required to pay a further full fee.

FEES.

75. Candidates for examination, in making their application on Form Exn. 2, will be required to pay the examination fee before any step is taken, whether by enquiring into their services or testing their qualifications, &c. Should it be found that their service is not sufficient to entitle them to be examined, or should their testimonials be unsatisfactory, or should they from any other cause not be examined, no part of the fee will be returned to them, but when they have fulfilled the requisite service, or are able to produce satisfactory testimonials, as the case may be, they will be allowed to again present themselves for examination for a certificate of the same grade without paying any further fee.

76. The fee for examination must be paid to the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office in the cash office. In any case in which a Candidate offers money to any other officer than a Superintendent, and in any place but in the cash office, the Candidate so offering money will be regarded as having committed an act of misconduct, and will be rejected, and not allowed to be again examined for twelve months either at the port where the offence was committed, or at any other port.

77. If a Candidate fail in his examination no part of the fee will be returned to him. The fees are as follow:

FOR VOLUNTARY EXAMINATION IN DEVIATION OF THE COMPASS.
Mate (Second, Only, or First)

I O O

NOTE.-No abatement will be made in the fee charged to a Candidate for a Certificate for Foreign-going Ships in consequence of his possessing a Master's or Mate's Certificate for Home Trade Passenger Ships.

If the examination for the Extra Master's Certificate takes place at the same time as the examination for the Ordinary Master's Certificate the usual fee for the Ordinary Certificate must be paid, though no fee will be charged for the Extra Examination on the first attempt. On all subsequent attempts the fee of one pound will be charged for the Extra Examination in addition to any further charge which may have been incurred through failure to pass the Ordinary Examination.

COLONIAL CERTIFICATES, &c.

78. Under section 8 of the "Merchant Shipping (Colonial) Act, 1869," and subject to certain conditions, Her Majesty may, by Order in Council, authorise the Governments of British Possessions to grant Certificates of Competency, which shall be of the same force as Certificates of Competency granted by the Board of Trade.

79. This advantage has already been extended to certain of the Certificates granted by the Governments of the following British Possessions, viz. :

80. The holder of an Ordinary Colonial Certificate, i.e., a Certificate for Foreign-going Ships, not granted under the "Merchant Shipping (Colonial) Act, 1869," desirous of being examined for an imperial Certificate of the same grade, must prove that he has performed the amount of service required by the Regulations to entitle him to hold such a Certificate. He must also produce satisfactory testimonials as to character for at least the 12 months immediately preceding his application to be examined.

81. No fee will be demanded for the first attempt. If, however, the Candidate fails to pass his examination the usual fee should be demanded on any subsequent attempt.

82. Persons who hold Certificates of Competency obtained after an examination passed on board one of Her Majesty's Ships can also be examined without paying any fee the first time.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO EXAMINERS AND CANDIDATES.

83. Before commencing the examination, the tables or desks must be cleared of all scraps of paper, or books that are not used in the examination, and care should be taken that the Candidates do not bring into the examination room any book, paper, document, or memoranda of any description whatever. No person whatever should be allowed in the room during the time of examination but those whose duties require them to be present. 84. No instructors will be allowed on the premises.

85. Candidates will under no pretence whatever be allowed to leave the premises while the examination is proceeding. If they have occasion to visit the retiring room they will be required to enter in a book, kept for the purpose, the exact times of their leaving and returning to the examination room. At ports where only a few Candidates are under examination, two persons will not be allowed to leave the room at the same time.

86. Candidates should be so placed as to prevent one copying from the other, and no communication whatever between the Candidates should be allowed.

87. If any blotting paper is allowed it should be black; and when the first examination paper is issued, each Candidate should be furnished with a piece which must be returned to the Examine: upon the completion of the last paper.

88. The examination papers should be issued to the Candidates in half sheets only, and one at a time. This will prevent a Candidate from spreading out the sheets on the table in an apparently careless manner, but so as to enable his nearest neighbour to look over and copy, or examine the problems. It will also enable the Examiner to look over and report upon the work on one half sheet, while the Candidate is at work upon another, and so on. When the errors are not too numerous, or when they are not from ignorance of the subject, the incorrect problems may be returned to the Candidate for correction, but in no case should the orrors be pointed out by the Examiner, neither should any marks be made on the correct work of the problem, which would at once indicate how far or to what extent the work is correct. Should the problems be returned to the Examiner the second time incorrect, this would be a failure; and as the time allowed is considered ample for working out the papers carefully, this rule is expected to be strictly observed.