How to Nail Your MCA COLREGs Answers!
Unfortunately, the MCA oral exam is, well, an oral exam. That means that you not only have to know the answer but you also have to deliver the answer in a convincing way. You want to answer confidently and concisely to reassure the Examiner that they can just move along to the next question or topic.
As the Collision Regulations (IRPCS or COLREGs) are so critically important to your MCA oral exam, we need to get our answers spot on. Is there a recipe for the perfect COLREGs answer? Luckily for you, there is; let us break it down for you.
First, DESCRIBE the COLREGs situation
The first step of a strong COLREGs answer is simply to describe what you can see in front of you. The Examiner will give you lights or the aspect and shapes of a vessel by day, and the best place to start to demonstrate your grasp of the situation is simply to describe what you are facing. It’s really important to have a structure for that.
We tend to recommend the following structure for this part of the answer; Type, Length, Motion, Aspect, Additional Info and, finally, Sound Signal. There’s more on this in our dedicated blog on the subject.
Second, DETERMINE the risk of collision
In all COLREGs situations, we’re going to need to determine whether risk of collision exists because, if it doesn’t, there’s likely to be no need to take any action. In accordance with Rule 7, we’re going to take a series of compass bearings of the approaching vessel to determine whether risk of collision does indeed exist.
Of course, if the range is closing and the bearing remains doesn’t appreciably change, risk of collision will be deemed to exist. Don’t forget that the end of Rule 7 also lays out some situations in which risk of collision may still exist, even with an appreciable bearing change.
Third, DEFINE the COLREGs situation
In this stage, you need to make sure that you’re getting across to the Examiner that you understand the situation and the rules that are in play. This part of your answer will vary depending on how complex the situation you are dealing with is but the simplest version will be something like: “This is a Rule X situation. My responsibilities are such and such”.
We always think that it’s important to give more rather than less information here. The more complete an answer you give, the more likely it is that the Examiner will be satisfied with your knowledge and be willing to move on. If you only give them the minimum, then you are encouraging them to doubt your understanding and/or forcing them to ask you more questions, both of which aren’t brilliant outcomes.
Four, DECIDE the correct action
Now that you’ve assessed the situation, you need to succinctly explain what the correct action is. It’s really important that you structure this carefully and cover the key points.
A good example would be: “I’m going to sound one short blast, make a bold alteration of course to starboard, passing astern of the vessel at a safe distance and continuing to monitor until finally past and clear.”
Five, DEFEND your decision
The idea of giving this well-structured answer is that hopefully the Examiner has everything they need to just move on, which would make this step redundant. Failing that, the last step is to defend our answer but not because we are wrong. The Examiners like to probe to check that you are confident in your answer and haven’t fallen into the trap of just learning a script.
If the Examiner has a question or asks for your thoughts on an alternative action, such as “Can you turn to port?” or “Could you slow down?”, then that’s where we need to come back and clearly explain why we decided to do what we decided to do. This may include explaining the viability of other options but don’t forget to bring your response back to your first answer and justify why that’s the best course of action and why you chose it.
Next steps
To get you answering confidently, we recommend starting with our Interactive COLREGs Course. As well as going through all of the COLREGs in a simple and understandable way, it also has a range of different quiz types, including our unique Bridge simulator. There’s even a free sample!
Once you’ve mastered the eLearning, don’t forget that it’s important to practice explaining yourself out loud in our affordable, weekly small-group sessions or in our flexible private sessions.