Free Practice Questions for BD Deck Officer Class 1 (Master)

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Sample BD Deck Officer Class 1 (Master) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the BD Deck Officer Class 1 (Master) exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1On a Mercator chart, the rhumb-line track between two positions plots as a straight line, while the great circle track between the same two positions (away from the equator or a meridian) plots as a:

A.Curve concave towards the nearer pole

B.Second straight line, parallel to the rhumb line

C.Perfect circle centred on the ship's departure point

D.Series of disconnected loxodromes

Explanation: The Mercator projection expands meridian spacing with latitude so that rhumb lines (constant true course) plot as straight lines. A great circle is the shortest distance between two points on a sphere, and on a Mercator chart it plots as a curve bowed towards the nearer pole, which is why great circle routes are transferred to a Mercator chart as a series of rhumb-line legs.

2On a great circle track between two positions in the same hemisphere, the point at which the track reaches its highest latitude is called the:

A.Vertex

B.Meridian passage

C.Datum

D.Rendezvous point

Explanation: The vertex of a great circle is the point of maximum latitude reached along the track; beyond the vertex, the track's latitude decreases again. Composite great circle sailing is used specifically to limit a track from reaching an undesirably high-latitude vertex, such as one that would carry a ship into ice.

3A composite great circle track is used when a direct great circle route between two positions would carry the ship:

A.Through a charted wreck only

B.Beyond a chosen limiting latitude, such as to avoid ice

C.Across the equator twice

D.Into a traffic separation scheme

Explanation: Composite great circle sailing combines two great circle arcs tangent to a chosen limiting parallel of latitude, so the ship's track never exceeds that latitude. It is commonly used on high-latitude ocean routes, such as across the North Atlantic or North Pacific, to keep the vessel south of a limiting latitude chosen to avoid ice while still saving distance compared with a rhumb-line track.

4To obtain the Local Hour Angle (LHA) of a heavenly body from its Greenwich Hour Angle (GHA), the observer's longitude is:

A.Added if west, subtracted if east

B.Subtracted if west, added if east

C.Always subtracted, regardless of longitude

D.Ignored, since LHA always equals GHA

Explanation: The relationship is LHA = GHA minus west longitude, or LHA = GHA plus east longitude. This follows from the convention that hour angle is measured westward from the observer's meridian, so an observer west of Greenwich has already had the body pass a smaller hour angle relative to their own meridian than the Greenwich value shows.

5The 'Sun-Run-Sun' method of obtaining a noon position involves running up a morning sun position line to noon and combining it with:

A.A second sun position line taken in the afternoon

B.The latitude obtained by meridian altitude at local apparent noon

C.A star sight taken at evening twilight

D.A running fix from two lighthouses

Explanation: Sun-Run-Sun takes a forenoon sun sight position line and transfers ('runs it up') to noon using the ship's course and speed made good, then combines it with the latitude obtained from the meridian altitude at local apparent noon (Mer Pass) to fix the noon position. It remains a useful offshore backup technique for a Master when electronic position fixing is degraded.

6When reducing a sextant altitude of the sun's lower limb to a true altitude, the corrections applied include dip, refraction, semi-diameter and:

A.Parallax in altitude

B.Deviation

C.Variation

D.Gyro error

Explanation: For the sun, parallax in altitude is added to the sextant altitude because the sun's finite distance means an observer on the Earth's surface sees it at a slightly lower altitude than a hypothetical observer at the Earth's centre would; this correction is largest near the horizon and negligible near the zenith. Deviation, variation and gyro error are compass corrections, not sextant altitude corrections.

7IMO guidelines on voyage planning, as incorporated in SOLAS Chapter V, identify four stages of passage planning: appraisal, planning, execution and:

A.Monitoring

B.Certification

C.Revalidation

D.Documentation

Explanation: The four recognized stages of passage planning are appraisal (gathering all relevant information), planning (deciding the intended track), execution (carrying out the plan, taking contingencies into account) and monitoring (continuously checking progress against the plan and taking corrective action). A Master is expected to ensure all four stages are properly carried out and documented before and during a voyage.

8Under the STCW principles of keeping a navigational watch, ultimate responsibility for the safety of the ship, cargo, crew and passengers rests with:

A.The officer of the watch

B.The Master

C.The duty engineer

D.The pilot, whenever one is on board

Explanation: STCW, and the corresponding DoS-adopted principles for keeping a navigational watch, place ultimate responsibility for the ship, cargo, crew and passengers with the Master at all times. The officer of the watch carries delegated responsibility for the safety of navigation while actually on watch, but this never relieves the Master of overall accountability, and taking a pilot on board does not transfer that ultimate responsibility either.

9A ship reporting system established under the IMO General Principles for Ship Reporting Systems is primarily intended to:

A.Collect port dues on behalf of the flag state

B.Provide data essential for safety of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation, and protection of the marine environment

C.Register the ship's classification society

D.Replace the requirement for a passage plan

Explanation: Ship reporting systems, whether mandatory or voluntary, exist to give coastal states and vessel traffic services the information needed to support safety of life at sea, efficient navigation, and protection of the marine environment; a Master must know when and how to comply with any reporting system that applies along the intended route.

10The expanding square search pattern described in the IAMSAR Manual is most appropriate when:

A.The datum position is known accurately and the search area is relatively small

B.Multiple vessels must search a very large ocean area simultaneously

C.Only an aircraft is available to conduct the search

D.The search object is a large disabled ship rather than a person in the water

Explanation: The expanding square search is normally flown or sailed by a single search unit around a fairly accurately known datum, expanding outward in a square spiral at a defined track spacing; it is best suited to a relatively small, well-defined search area. Sector searches suit less precisely known datums, and parallel track (creeping line) searches suit larger areas or multi-unit coordination.

About the BD Deck Officer Class 1 (Master) Exam

The Bangladesh DoS Deck Officer Class 1 Certificate of Competency qualifies a seafarer to serve as Master or Chief Mate under STCW Convention Regulation II/2 and Code Table A-II/2 on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more. Candidates must hold a Class 2 certificate, complete the required post-certificate sea service, pass written subject examinations plus oral and practical tests, and hold a full set of required certificates of proficiency before the Certificate of Competency is issued through the DoS ERP system.

Exam sponsor: Department of Shipping (DoS), Bangladesh, Ministry of Shipping. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Certificate of Competency assessment under the Bangladesh Merchant Shipping Officers and Ratings Training, Certification, Recruitment, Work Hours and Watchkeeping Regulations, aligned with STCW Convention Regulation II/2 and STCW Code Table A-II/2 for Master and Chief Mate on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more. Candidates must first hold a Deck Officer Class 2 certificate and complete the required post-certificate sea service, then pass separate written subject papers historically covering Business and Law, Navigation, Navigational Aids and Instruments, Ship Construction and Stability, and Engineering and Control System, plus oral and practical examinations administered by the DoS COC Section, in addition to holding the required certificates of proficiency (such as MC, SSBT, ECDIS, NAENS, RADAR (ML), PST, FPFF, EFA, PSSR, EDH, SSO, SA and PSCRB) before a Class 1 (Master) Certificate of Competency is issued.

Time Limit

DoS has not published a single fixed time limit applying to every Class 1 (Master) subject paper; each written subject is typically sat as its own timed session, with oral and practical examinations conducted separately from the written papers. Confirm exact session timings with DoS or your maritime training institute.

Passing Score

DoS has not published one fixed overall percentage pass mark for the current Class 1 (Master) examination. Bangladesh deck officer examinations have historically been assessed subject-by-subject across written papers, with a separate oral and practical examination, and each subject generally must be passed individually. Confirm the current subject-wise pass requirements with DoS or your maritime training institute.

Exam / Certification Fees

DoS charges separate government fees for the assessment application, written/oral examination application, and certificate issuance, all paid online via the DoS ERP portal; these fees are set by the government and change periodically. Confirm the current fee schedule on the DoS ERP portal before applying.

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

17%

Navigation and Voyage Planning

Ocean and coastal voyage planning, great circle and composite sailing, celestial and terrestrial position fixing, watchkeeping standards, ship reporting systems, and search and rescue coordination.

15%

Ship Stability, Trim and Construction

Metacentric height, GZ curves and angle of loll, free surface effect, permeability, bilging and flooding, hull stress and bending moments, and the inclining experiment.

13%

Maritime Law and Shipping Business

Registration and mortgage, charter parties and bills of lading, general average, IMO conventions (SOLAS, MARPOL, ISM, ISPS, MLC), certificates carried on board, and the Master's legal duties.

12%

Navigational Aids and Electronic Systems

Magnetic and gyro compass errors and adjustment, ARPA and collision-avoidance radar, ECDIS, satellite and electronic position-fixing systems, and echo sounders and logs.

12%

Cargo Operations and Stowage

IMDG Code, IMSBC Code and the Grain Code, tanker and bulk carrier cargo operations, load line requirements, cargo securing and documentation, and effects of cargo on stability.

11%

Ship Handling, Manoeuvring and Emergency Response

Berthing, anchoring and pilotage, shallow-water and squat effects, heavy-weather management, response to grounding and collision, towing and salvage, and drydocking.

COLREGs and Rules of the Road

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and IALA buoyage systems applied at the command level in all traffic and visibility conditions.

Meteorology and Oceanography

Synoptic chart interpretation, tropical revolving storms and avoidance in the Bay of Bengal, Buys Ballot's Law, ocean currents, and voyage weather routing.

Leadership, BRM and Safety Management

Bridge Resource Management, task and workload management, shipboard personnel leadership, life-saving and fire-fighting system oversight, and medical care on board.

Preparing for the BD Deck Officer Class 1 (Master) Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: DoS has not published one fixed overall percentage pass mark for the current Class 1 (Master) examination. Bangladesh deck officer examinations have historically been assessed subject-by-subject across written papers, with a separate oral and practical examination, and each subject generally must be passed individually. Confirm the current subject-wise pass requirements with DoS or your maritime training institute.
Assessment: Certificate of Competency assessment under the Bangladesh Merchant Shipping Officers and Ratings Training, Certification, Recruitment, Work Hours and Watchkeeping Regulations, aligned with STCW Convention Regulation II/2 and STCW Code Table A-II/2 for Master and Chief Mate on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more. Candidates must first hold a Deck Officer Class 2 certificate and complete the required post-certificate sea service, then pass separate written subject papers historically covering Business and Law, Navigation, Navigational Aids and Instruments, Ship Construction and Stability, and Engineering and Control System, plus oral and practical examinations administered by the DoS COC Section, in addition to holding the required certificates of proficiency (such as MC, SSBT, ECDIS, NAENS, RADAR (ML), PST, FPFF, EFA, PSSR, EDH, SSO, SA and PSCRB) before a Class 1 (Master) Certificate of Competency is issued.
Time limit: DoS has not published a single fixed time limit applying to every Class 1 (Master) subject paper; each written subject is typically sat as its own timed session, with oral and practical examinations conducted separately from the written papers. Confirm exact session timings with DoS or your maritime training institute.
Exam / certification fees: DoS charges separate government fees for the assessment application, written/oral examination application, and certificate issuance, all paid online via the DoS ERP portal; these fees are set by the government and change periodically. Confirm the current fee schedule on the DoS ERP portal before applying. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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BD Deck Officer Class 1 (Master): Suggested Study Strategy

1Build outward from stability and navigation, since GZ curves, free surface effect, and voyage planning at the management level assume you can already apply the OOW-level fundamentals tested in Class 3 and Class 2 without hesitation.

2Practice quantitative stability and navigation problems by hand — angle of loll, TPC and hydrostatic draft change, great circle initial course and distance, and tidal height by the rule of twelfths — since Master-level papers test calculation depth, not just recall.

3Study maritime law and ship handling together with real command scenarios, such as deciding actions after a collision, coordinating a search and rescue response, or briefing a Bridge Resource Management team, since STCW competency at the management level is demonstrated through applied command judgement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who awards the Deck Officer Class 1 (Master) Certificate of Competency and what does it qualify you to do?

The Department of Shipping (DoS), Bangladesh, under the Ministry of Shipping, awards the Class 1 (Master) Certificate of Competency, which qualifies the holder to serve as Master or Chief Mate under STCW Convention Regulation II/2 and Code Table A-II/2, aboard seagoing merchant ships of 500 gross tonnage or more.

Is the Class 1 (Master) examination only multiple-choice?

No. The DoS examination for Class 1 (Master) consists of separate written subject papers plus oral and practical examinations, rather than a single multiple-choice test. This free bank focuses on the underlying knowledge with 100 multiple-choice questions to help you revise the core syllabus.

How many questions are in this practice bank and what topics does it cover?

This free bank has 100 multiple-choice questions covering navigation and voyage planning, ship stability and construction, maritime law and shipping business, navigational aids and electronic systems, cargo operations, ship handling and emergency response, COLREGs, meteorology, and leadership and bridge resource management.

What are the eligibility requirements to sit the Class 1 (Master) examination?

Under the Bangladesh Merchant Shipping Ordinance examination framework, a candidate for Deck Officer Class 1 (Master Mariner) must hold a Deck Officer Class 2 Certificate of Competency and have performed the required period of sea service after obtaining that Class 2 certificate. Confirm the current sea-service and eligibility requirements with DoS, since these are checked against your CDC and Training Record Book before an Eligibility ID is issued.

What certificates of proficiency are needed alongside the written and oral exams for a Class 1 (Master) COC?

Beyond passing the written and oral examinations, DoS requires candidates for a new Class 1 (Master) Certificate of Competency to hold current certificates of proficiency such as MC, SSBT, ECDIS, NAENS, RADAR (Management Level), PST, FPFF, EFA, PSSR, EDH, SSO, SA and PSCRB, along with sea service documented in the CDC.