2-Week Intensive Programme · Monday – Friday with Weekend in Between
MCA Oral Exam Preparation Curriculum
Designed to equip prospective officers with the encyclopedic knowledge, situational confidence, and examination techniques necessary to pass the MCA Oral on your first attempt.
2-WEEK DAILY PROGRESSION
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Week 1 . Days 1-3
COLREGS RULES OF THE ROAD & BUOYAGE MASTERY
Week 1 . Days 4-5
NAVIGATION, CHARTWORK & PASSAGE PLANNING (SOLAS V)
Weekend Between Weeks
PRIVATE STUDY & SUPERVISED REVISION LAB
Week 2 . Days 6-8
SHIP STABILITY, CONSTRUCTION & EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Week 2 . Days 9-10
STATUTORY LAW, MLC & 1-ON-1 SIMULATED MOCK ORALS
⚫ Deep dive: Steering & Sailing, Conduct in any condition of visibility
⚫ Navigation lights, shapes, towing, pushing, NUC, RAM, constrained by draught
⚫ Sound signals in sight, restricted visibility, distress signals
⚫ IALA Buoyage Systems A & B: Lateral, Cardinal, Isolated Danger, Safe Water, Special &
Emergency Wreck marks
⚫ Hands-on tactical board exercises with scale vessel models simulating examiner questions
⚫ Navigation lights, shapes, towing, pushing, NUC, RAM, constrained by draught
⚫ Sound signals in sight, restricted visibility, distress signals
⚫ IALA Buoyage Systems A & B: Lateral, Cardinal, Isolated Danger, Safe Water, Special &
Emergency Wreck marks
⚫ Hands-on tactical board exercises with scale vessel models simulating examiner questions
⚫ Deep dive: Steering & Sailing, Conduct in
any condition of visibility
⚫ Navigation lights, shapes, towing, pushing,
NUC, RAM, constrained by draught
⚫ Sound signals in sight, restricted visibility,
distress signals
⚫ IALA Buoyage Systems A & B: Lateral,
Cardinal, Isolated Danger, Safe Water,
Special & Emergency Wreck marks
⚫ Hands-on tactical board exercises with
scale vessel models simulating examiner
questions
any condition of visibility
⚫ Navigation lights, shapes, towing, pushing,
NUC, RAM, constrained by draught
⚫ Sound signals in sight, restricted visibility,
distress signals
⚫ IALA Buoyage Systems A & B: Lateral,
Cardinal, Isolated Danger, Safe Water,
Special & Emergency Wreck marks
⚫ Hands-on tactical board exercises with
scale vessel models simulating examiner
questions
⚫ Appraisal, Planning, Execution & Monitoring (APEM) under SOLAS Chapter V
⚫ Tidal height, stream calculations, secondary ports, and clearance under keel
⚫ Electronic Navigation: ECDIS setup, safety contours, radar plotting, ARPA target tracking
⚫ Magnetic & Gyro compass error determination: Azimuths, amplitudes, transit bearings
⚫ Bridge Watchkeeping
⚫ Tidal height, stream calculations, secondary ports, and clearance under keel
⚫ Electronic Navigation: ECDIS setup, safety contours, radar plotting, ARPA target tracking
⚫ Magnetic & Gyro compass error determination: Azimuths, amplitudes, transit bearings
⚫ Bridge Watchkeeping
⚫ Appraisal, Planning, Execution & Monitoring (APEM)
under SOLAS Chapter V
⚫ Tidal height, stream calculations, secondary ports,
and clearance under keel
⚫ Electronic Navigation: ECDIS setup, safety
contours, radar plotting, ARPA target tracking
⚫ Magnetic & Gyro compass error determination:
Azimuths, amplitudes, transit bearings
⚫ Bridge Watchkeeping
under SOLAS Chapter V
⚫ Tidal height, stream calculations, secondary ports,
and clearance under keel
⚫ Electronic Navigation: ECDIS setup, safety
contours, radar plotting, ARPA target tracking
⚫ Magnetic & Gyro compass error determination:
Azimuths, amplitudes, transit bearings
⚫ Bridge Watchkeeping
⚫ Full weekend access to the on-site navigation library & publications room in Salt Rock
⚫ Peer review study groups using model sets and flashcards
⚫ Instructor available for clarifying doubts and customized review
⚫ Peer review study groups using model sets and flashcards
⚫ Instructor available for clarifying doubts and customized review
⚫ Full weekend access to the on-site
navigation library & publications room in
Salt Rock
⚫ Peer review study groups using model sets
and flashcards
⚫ Instructor available for clarifying doubts and
customized review
navigation library & publications room in
Salt Rock
⚫ Peer review study groups using model sets
and flashcards
⚫ Instructor available for clarifying doubts and
customized review
⚫ Transverse & longitudinal stability: GM, GZ curves, free surface effect, angle of loll
⚫ Watertight integrity, bilge pumping systems, fire detection and firefighting fixed systems
⚫ Bridge Resource Management (BRM), master-pilot exchange, situational awareness
⚫ Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) organization, rendezvous, towing, helicopter operations
⚫ Watertight integrity, bilge pumping systems, fire detection and firefighting fixed systems
⚫ Bridge Resource Management (BRM), master-pilot exchange, situational awareness
⚫ Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) organization, rendezvous, towing, helicopter operations
⚫ Transverse & longitudinal stability: GM, GZ
curves, free surface effect, angle of loll
⚫ Watertight integrity, bilge pumping systems,
fire detection and firefighting fixed systems
⚫ Bridge Resource Management (BRM),
master-pilot exchange, situational
awareness
⚫ Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) organization,
rendezvous, towing, helicopter operations
curves, free surface effect, angle of loll
⚫ Watertight integrity, bilge pumping systems,
fire detection and firefighting fixed systems
⚫ Bridge Resource Management (BRM),
master-pilot exchange, situational
awareness
⚫ Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) organization,
rendezvous, towing, helicopter operations
⚫ MCA Marine Notices: Merchant Shipping Notices (MSN), Guidance Notes (MGN), Information
Notices (MIN)
⚫ MARPOL Annexes I to VI: Yacht compliance and record keeping (Oil Record Book, Garbage
Management)
⚫ Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) and ISM Code safety audits
⚫ Individual formal 1-on-1 mock oral exams replicating MCA examiner scrutiny with recorded
critique
Notices (MIN)
⚫ MARPOL Annexes I to VI: Yacht compliance and record keeping (Oil Record Book, Garbage
Management)
⚫ Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) and ISM Code safety audits
⚫ Individual formal 1-on-1 mock oral exams replicating MCA examiner scrutiny with recorded
critique
⚫ MCA Marine Notices: Merchant Shipping
Notices (MSN), Guidance Notes (MGN),
Information Notices (MIN)
⚫ MARPOL Annexes I to VI: Yacht compliance
and record keeping (Oil Record Book,
Garbage Management)
⚫ Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006)
and ISM Code safety audits
⚫ Individual formal 1-on-1 mock oral exams
replicating MCA examiner scrutiny with
recorded critique
Notices (MSN), Guidance Notes (MGN),
Information Notices (MIN)
⚫ MARPOL Annexes I to VI: Yacht compliance
and record keeping (Oil Record Book,
Garbage Management)
⚫ Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006)
and ISM Code safety audits
⚫ Individual formal 1-on-1 mock oral exams
replicating MCA examiner scrutiny with
recorded critique
Proven Coaching Methodology
Every candidate undergoes recorded mock oral interviews with realistic examiner follow-ups, challenging corner cases, and instant feedback.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
OOW & Master 3000gt Candidates
Preparing for upcoming MCA oral examination appointments
Re-Sit Candidates & Confidence Boosters
Officers needing to eliminate doubts and master high-pressure answering techniques
WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
Specialized MCA Oral Exam Preparation courses in Durban and Salt Rock, South Africa. Pass with confidence. Perform with authority.
© 2026 The Bridge Deck, Durban. All rights reserved.
NAVIGATION
PROGRAMMES
Officer of the Watch (OOW Yacht <3000gt)
Master (Yacht <3000gt) Prep
Thinkific COLREGs Online
Master (Yacht <3000gt) Prep
Thinkific COLREGs Online
SALT ROCK CAMPUS
+27 (0) 61 116 0682 (Brayton)
brayton@thebridgedeck.net
33 Gifford Crescent, Salt Rock, South Africa
brayton@thebridgedeck.net
33 Gifford Crescent, Salt Rock, South Africa
Adheres strictly to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) Examination Syllabus & MSN/MGN guidance.
Industry-Experienced Instructor
Experienced mariner with years of actual bridge command experience.
Focused, Results-Driven
Laser-focused on MCA examiner expectations and scoring rubrics
Proven Track Record
Consistently high first-attempt pass rates across OOW and Master candidates.
Supportive Environment
High-encouragement, low-stress coastal environment in Salt Rock.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN
🗸 Comprehensive coverage of oral exam topics
🗸 Practical scenario-based learning
🗸 One-on-one mock orals
🗸 Expert guidance on answering techniques
🗸 Confidence-building strategies for high-pressure questions
🗸 Practical scenario-based learning
🗸 One-on-one mock orals
🗸 Expert guidance on answering techniques
🗸 Confidence-building strategies for high-pressure questions
🗸 Comprehensive coverage of oral exam
topics
🗸 Practical scenario-based learning
🗸 One-on-one mock orals
🗸 Expert guidance on answering techniques
🗸 Confidence-building strategies for high-
pressure questions
topics
🗸 Practical scenario-based learning
🗸 One-on-one mock orals
🗸 Expert guidance on answering techniques
🗸 Confidence-building strategies for high-
pressure questions