FEDERAL COLLEGE OF ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY MOOR

PLANTATION IBADAN
PART II HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA CLASS (FISHERIES)
2023/2024 FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION
COURSE TITLE: NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE & SEAMANSHIP (FIT 433) COURSE UNIT: 3
DURATION: 3 HOURS
INSTRUCTION: ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN SECTION A AND ANY FOUR (4) IN SECTION B
MARKING SCHEME
SECTION A
1. Seamanship is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft
a. True b. False 1 mark
2. Navigation is the art of operating a ship or boat a. True b. False 1 mark
3. A vessel is a large land-craft a. True b. False 1 mark
4. General cargo ship is also called Breakbulk Carriers 1 mark
5. All vessels are required to maintain a proper lookout at all times by using both sight and sound
2 marks
6. Emission of a pulse of sound waves into the water is carried out by Transducers ©
7. Radar (c) is used for detecting the presence and location of objects based on the reflection of
radiowaves
8. Navigational Cartography(B) provides detailed information abou the characteristics of the sea or
lake floor coastlines and navigational aids
9. Angles between two objects is measured with the aids of Sextant (B)
10. Tide sensors are instruments use to measure the following except Object in Water (D)
11. Depth of water is measured through through Echo sounder (B)
12. Direcion of celestial object or the horizontal angle is measured with the use of Azimuth Mirror A

SECTION B
1. (a) Write short notes on any five (5) types of vessels based on usage 5 marks
General cargo ships (sometimes called Breakbulk Carriers): Breakbulk cargo is defined as general
cargo or goods that do not fit in or utilize standard shipping containers or cargo bins. Breakbulk is also
different from bulk shipping, which is used for cargo such as petroleum products or grain. Instead,
breakbulk cargo is transported individually, oftentimes on a skid or pallet or in a crate. Examples of
breakbulk cargo include construction equipment, manufacturing materials, oversized vehicles, boats,
cranes, turbine blades, ship propellers, generators, large engines.
Auto carriers RoRo or Roll on Roll off ship is a special type of vessel which is used for the
transportation of automobile vehicles. Also known as car carriers, these vessels have special inclines
(ramps) constructed so as to make the loading and the unlading of vehicles and cargo easier and more
convenient. The inclines of a RoRo vessel are connected to the entrance either in the front (bow) or at
the back (aft) of the vessel.
Fishing vessels: a fishing vessel is a boat or ship used to catch fish in the sea, or on a lake or river.
Many different kinds of vessels are used in commercial, artisanal and recreational fishing.
Oil industry vessels/offshore vessels are ships that specifically serve operational purposes such as oil
exploration and construction work at the high seas. There are a variety of offshore vessels, which not
only help in exploration and drilling of oil but also for providing necessary supplies to the excavation
and construction units located at the high seas. Offshore ships also provide the transiting and relieving
of crewing personnel to and from the high seas’ operational arenas, as and when necessitated.
Bulk carriers: Bulk carriers are a type of ship which transports cargoes in bulk quantities. The cargo
transported in such ships is loose cargo i.e. without any specific packaging to it and generally contains
items like food grains, ores and coals and even cement. In addition to carrying dry cargo like the ones
specified above, a bulker is also engaged at times to carry liquefied cargoes. The liquefied cargo
carried by the bulk ship includes oil, petrol and various other liquid chemical substances.
Container ships: a cargo ship or freighter is a merchant ship that carries cargo, goods, and materials
from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year,
handling the bulk of international trade. Cargo ships are usually specially designed for the task, often
being equipped with cranes and other mechanisms to load and unload, and come in all sizes. Today,
they are almost always built by welded steel, and with some exceptions generally have a life
expectancy of 25 to 30 years before being scrapped.
Tankers: a tanker (or tank ship or tankship) is a ship designed to transport or store liquids or gases in
bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and gas carrier. Tankers also
carry commodities such as vegetable oils, molasses and wine.
Passenger ships: Today passenger ships are mostly used as cruise ships, but there are still a few
passenger ships that transport people from port to port for the purpose of transportation, rather than
sightseeing.
Ferryboats: a ferry is a merchant vessel used to carry passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo,
across a body of water. A passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, Italy, is sometimes
called a water bus or water taxi. Ferries form a part of the public transport systems of many waterside
cities and islands, allowing direct transit between points at a capital cost much lower than bridges or
tunnels.
 Tow and tug boats: a tug or more commonly a tugboat is a secondary boat which helps in mooring or
berthing operation of a ship by either towing or pushing a vessel towards the port. A tug is a special
class of boat without which mega-ships cannot get into a port. Along with the primary purpose of
towing the vessel towards the harbor, tug boats can be engaged in the purpose of providing essentials
such as water, air, etc. to the vessel.

(b) Define the following terminologies 5 marks

i. Astern ii. Leeway iii. Port iv. Starboard v. Tideway
Astern: behind or toward the rear of a ship.

Leeway: Drift of an object with the wind, on the surface of the sea. The sideward motion of a ship because of
wind and current.

Port side of a ship is the left side when you are on it and facing towards the front.

Starboard side of a ship is the right side when you are on it and facing towards the front.

Tideway: A channel in which a tide runs

2. (a) Briefly discuss the conduction of vessels under restricted visibility 5 marks
To ensure safe navigation during restricted visibility, it is important to take the following precautions:

i. Reduce speed: Slowing down allows for better maneuverability and reaction time.
ii. Use fog signals: Sounding fog signals, such as horns or whistles, helps alert other vessels of your
presence.
iii. Maintain a lookout: Keep a vigilant watch for other vessels, navigational aids, and potential hazards.
iv. Utilize navigational aids: Radar, GPS, and other electronic navigation systems can assist in detecting
objects and maintaining course.
v. Communicate: Use VHF radio or other means to communicate with nearby vessels and share
information about your intentions.
vi. Follow navigation rules: Adhere to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
(COLREGS) to ensure safe navigation and avoid collisions.
vii. Additionally, use all available means to detect other vessels and prepared to maneuver quickly. By
following these tips, vessels can help to reduce the risk of collisions in restricted visibility.
 (b) Write short notes on the following steering and sailing rules 5 marks
i. Lookout ii. Safe speed iii. Risk of collision iv. Action to avoid collision v. Overtaking

1. LOOKOUT: All vessels are required to maintain a proper lookout at all times by using both sight and
sound. In addition, the lookout must use any additional means available such as using radar or VHF-
Radio in the prevailing circumstances and conditions to fully assess the situation and determine if risk
of collision is present. The lookout must consider all relevant factors including, but not limited to, the
state of weather, conditions of visibility, traffic density, and proximity to navigational hazards.
2. SAFE SPEED: Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed. This rule alerts you to the need
to set a safe speed in all conditions of visibility. This obviously does not mean the same “safe speed”
applies in good as well as restricted visibility. Under this rule you must use your best judgment to
determine safe speed for your vessel to be able to take proper and effective action to prevent collision.
It is important to note that the present rule contains no requirements to stop a vessel’s engines, reduce
speed to bare steerageway, or to go at a “moderate” speed. Safe speed may very well require these or
other actions in good as well as restricted visibility. Under this rule you must use your best judgment
to determine the safe speed for your vessel to be able to take proper and effective action to avoid
collision.
3. RISK OF COLLISION: As a boat operator you are required to use all available means appropriate to
the prevailing circumstances to determine if a risk of collision exists. If you have any doubt at all you
are to operate your boat with the assumption that a risk of collision does exist. Many vessels are not
equipped with common navigational devices including a compass, radar, depth finder, etc. that are in
good working order. You should recognize all of the possible dangers that could exist and be
especially alert to any approach between vessels at a close range. The bearing of an approaching vessel
should be determined and monitored by frequent visual observation.
4. ACTION TO AVOID COLLISION: Any action you take to avoid a collision must be taken early
enough to be effective and must be large enough to be readily apparent to the other vessel. Always
remember that changes in a vessels course are usually easier to identify and are apparent earlier on
radar than are changes in a vessels speed. Consequently, Rule 8 advises against making a series of
small course or speed changes that may not be detected soon enough by other vessels. All actions
taken to avoid collision should result in passing at a safe distance. Therefore, you must carefully check
the effectiveness of your actions until the other vessel finally passes you and is clear.
 5. OVERTAKING: Any vessel overtaking another must keep clear of the overtaken vessel. An
overtaking vessel is one that is approaching another vessel from any direction more than 22.5 degrees
abaft its beam. When in doubt, assume you are overtaking and act accordingly. This rule recognizes
than an overtaking vessel should have less problems in keeping clear and avoiding collision than the
vessel that is being overtaken. Even in the event that the overtaken vessel agrees by sound signal or
radio transmission to allow the maneuver.

3 (a) Mention 10 navigational Equipment

Echo-sounder

Radar

Sonar

Azimuth Mirror

Body Buoys

Fog Signaling Bell

Tide Gauges

Nautical Almanac

Barometer

Sextant

Binoculars

3(b) Briefly discuss five (5) navigational Equipment mentioned above

A ECHOSOUNDER

echo sounder, otherwise known as echo sounder as a depth sounder is used as a tool for measuring the
depth of water through the transmission of sound waves into the water and measurement of the time it takes for
the sound waves to travel to the sea and return to the surface.

HOW ECHOSOUNDERS WORK

1. The echo sounder possesses what is known as a transducer which is mounted on the hull of a ship or boat to emit
a pulse of sound waves into the water.
2. The sound waves then travel through the water to the seabed. When the sound waves get to the seabed, they are
drawn back to the surface.

3. The transducer detects the return of echo [sound waves] to the surface.

4. The depth of the water is then calculated with the time taken for the echo to reach the seabed and return.

USES OF ECHOSOUNDERS

Echosounders are used for:

i. determining water depth, help ships and boats navigate safely.

ii. hydrographic surveys in mapping the underwater structures of oceans, rivers and lakes.
iii. fisheries to find the locations of schools of fish and measure their population.
iv. the study of oceanography, marine biology and geology by the scientists.
v. storing data, and integrating with other navigation and mapping systems.

B RADAR

Radar is a device that uses radio waves to locate and track objects. Radar is employed in various fields such as
aviation, meteorology, defense, navigation and traffic measures.

HOW RADAR WORKS

The radar begins with a transmitter that generates electromagnetic waves.

The transmitter sends these waves through an antenna, which then directs the waves in a specific direction.

The electromagnetic waves travel through the air until they encounter an object in their path.

When the waves strike an object, they are partially reflected back towards the radar system.

A radar system has a receiver that detects the reflected waves.

The system analyzes the time it takes for the waves to travel to the object and back (the round-trip time), as
well as the Doppler shift in frequency if the object is moving.

C SONAR

A sonar system consists of a transducer, which is a device that can generate and receive sound waves

In the transmit mode, the transducer sends out a pulse of sound waves into the water. These sound waves
travel through the water.

When the sound waves encounter an object or the seafloor, they reflect back toward the transducer.

The transducer switches to receive mode and picks up the returning echoes.The system analyzes the time it
takes for the sound waves to travel to the object and back. This information is used to calculate the distance to
the object. The data can be visualized as a sonar image, displaying underwater structures, the seafloor, or
objects in the water column. It's commonly used in various applications such as:

1.marine navigation

2. underwater mapping

3.fisheries,

4.defense, and

5. scientific research.

D AZIMUTH MIRROR, HOW IT WORKS AND USES.

Azimuth mirror is used in navigation, astronomy, and cartography to denote the direction of a celestial object
or the horizontal angle between a reference point, often North, and an object. It is measured clockwise from
the north in degrees, typically ranging from 0 to 360.

USES OF AZIMUTH MIRRORS

1.The azimuth is measured from a reference direction, usually true north or magnetic north. In this system, 0
degrees azimuth points directly north, 90 degrees points east, 180 degrees points south, and 270 degrees
points west.

2. Azimuth is widely used in navigation, especially in compass navigation. It helps in determining the
direction of travel or the bearing of a destination.

3.In astronomy, azimuth is used to specify the direction of celestial objects in the sky. For example, the
azimuth of the Sun is the compass direction from which the Sun is observed at a specific time.

4.Azimuth is essential in cartography and surveying. Surveyors use azimuth angles to measure and record
directions of lines and boundaries.

5.Azimuth is critical in military and aviation for navigation and target designation.

E A SEXTANT

A sextant is a navigational instrument used to measure the angle between two objects, typically the horizon
and a celestial body such as the sun or a star.

It's important to note that for serious and accurate celestial navigation, especially in professional maritime
applications, metal sextants are still the preferred choice due to their precision and durability. Plastic sextants,
however, provide a practical and affordable option for educational purposes and basic navigational training.
4 Discuss the Roles of 5 crew members onboard in a fishing vessel

ROLES OF CREW /MEMBERS ONBOARD IN A FISHING VESSEL

 Captain

The captain is a ship’s highest officer, Department heads report to the captain who is ultimately responsible
for the safety and security of the ship, and crews welfare in keeping with all maritime legal requirements.

 Navigational officers

Deck officers, also known as mates, make important decisions on the navigation, Communications, Crew,
Cargo and overall running of the ship. They are also responsible for the safety of the crew, cargo, passengers
and vessel both at sea and at port.

 Chief mate

The chief mate is the head of the deck department and second-in-command. The chief mate primary
assignment and responsibilities are the vessel’s cargo operations, Supervising the deck crew and directing
bridge operations. Additional duties include maintenance of the ship’s hull, Cargo gear, accommodations,
lifesaving appliances and firefighting appliances. The chief mate also trains the crew and cadets on board.

 Second mate

The second mate is qualified to stand watch, direct the bridge team and navigating the ship. The Second
mate’s primary duty is navigational, which includes updating charts and publications, keeping them current,
making passage plans, and all aspects of ship navigation. The Second mates other duties may include
directing line handlers, cargo watches, directing anchor detail, training and instructing crew members

 Deckhand

Deckhand complete tasks such as working mooring lines, operating deck gear, standing anchor details and
working cargo.

 Engineering officers

The engineers are also called technical officers. They are responsible for keeping the ship and the machinery
running. Today, ships are complex units that combine a lot of technology within a small space. This includes
not only the engine and the propulsion system, but also, for example, the electrical power supply, loading and
discharging devices and freshwater generators. They also oversee operations and maintenance of machinery
and equipment throughout the ship.