100+ Free MCA OOW 500 Near Coastal GSK Practice Questions

Prepare for the MCA/SQA OOW 500 GT Near Coastal — General Ship Knowledge (Paper 035-22) exam with instant access — no signup required.

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MCA/SQA OOW 500 GT Near Coastal — Chartwork and Practical Navigation

Practice Questions100 questions

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: MCA OOW 500 Near Coastal GSK Exam

035-22

Official Paper Code (GSK)

MCA/SQA OOW 500GT Near Coastal General Ship Knowledge syllabus

From March 2026

Revised Syllabus Assessment Start

GOV.UK syllabus revised December 2024

STCW II/3

OOW <500 GT Near Coastal Route

MCA deck officer near-coastal certification framework

Formula sheet provided

Examination Materials Note

Official 035-22 syllabus notes

FW & SW hydrostatics

Density Data Scope (TPC may be corrected)

Official 035-22 syllabus notes

MCA / Qualifications Scotland

Administrator

MCA deck officer examination timetable

not-published

Official Fixed MCQ Count

Published GSK syllabus does not state a fixed MCQ inventory

MCQ study adaptation

This Free Practice Bank

OpenExamPrep study aid (not official paper)

Free 100-question English MCQ study bank for MCA/SQA OOW 500 GT Near Coastal General Ship Knowledge (paper 035-22, STCW II/3). Official exam: written SQA paper; question count and pass mark not published on the syllabus PDF — confirm with Qualifications Scotland/MCA. Covers flotation/loadlines, stability, deck watch, pollution and legislation. Formula sheet provided in the real exam. Not an official paper simulation.

Sample MCA OOW 500 Near Coastal GSK Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your MCA OOW 500 Near Coastal GSK exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In ship hydrostatics, what does displacement mean?

A.The weight of the ship and everything on board, equal to the weight of water displaced

B.The volume of cargo spaces only, excluding tanks and voids

C.The freeboard measured from the deck line to the waterline

D.The difference between LOA and LBP

Explanation: Displacement is the mass (weight) of the vessel and all contents, which by Archimedes’ principle equals the mass of the fluid displaced by the underwater volume.

2Archimedes’ principle applied to a floating ship states that:

A.The buoyant force equals the weight of fluid displaced by the immersed volume

B.Buoyancy always acts through the centre of gravity G

C.Displacement is independent of water density

D.Freeboard must equal draught in salt water

Explanation: Archimedes’ principle: a body wholly or partly immersed experiences an upthrust equal to the weight of fluid displaced. For floating equilibrium, that upthrust equals the ship’s weight.

3Relative density (specific gravity) of a liquid is best defined as:

A.The ratio of the density of the liquid to the density of fresh water

B.The mass of one cubic metre of the liquid only

C.The ratio of salt-water density to the ship’s lightship density

D.The difference between TPC in salt water and TPC in fresh water

Explanation: Relative density is density of the substance divided by density of fresh water (approximately 1.000 t/m³ at standard conditions), so salt water RD ≈ 1.025.

4Tonnes per centimetre immersion (TPC) is:

A.The mass that must be loaded or discharged to change mean draught by one centimetre

B.The change in trim when one tonne is shifted one metre longitudinally

C.The freeboard change when density changes from salt to fresh water

D.The moment required to change trim by one centimetre

Explanation: TPC is the mass (tonnes) that changes the mean draught by 1 cm at the current waterplane and density. MCTC is the trimming moment for 1 cm trim change.

5Fresh Water Allowance (FWA) is used primarily to:

A.Allow for the increase in draught when floating from salt water into fresh water at the same displacement

B.Convert freeboard into block coefficient

C.Correct GPS position for water density

D.Estimate free surface moment of a slack tank

Explanation: FWA is the permitted/calculated draught increase when going from salt water (typically RD 1.025) into fresh water at constant displacement so that the same mass is supported by a larger immersed volume.

6Dock Water Allowance (DWA) adjusts loadline calculations when:

A.The dock water density lies between fresh and salt water densities

B.Only seawater of RD exactly 1.025 is available

C.The ship is always in dry dock on blocks

D.TPC is unknown and must be estimated from LOA alone

Explanation: DWA interpolates between FWA extremes for intermediate dock-water densities so the correct draught/freeboard relative to loadline marks can be found.

7Length between perpendiculars (LBP) is measured between:

A.The forward and after perpendiculars, typically at the intersection of the design waterline with stem and rudder post/transom reference

B.The extreme tip of the bow to the extreme tip of the stern including all overhangs

C.The centre of the bridge to the forecastle break only

D.The waterplane centroid to the longitudinal centre of buoyancy

Explanation: LBP is the length between the forward perpendicular (FP) and after perpendicular (AP), conventionally related to the design summer load waterline intersections, not LOA overhangs.

8Freeboard is best described as:

A.The vertical distance from the waterline to the freeboard deck line at the side

B.The draught from keel to waterline amidships only

C.The difference between LOA and LWL

D.The height of the metacentre above the keel

Explanation: Freeboard is measured from the waterline up to the freeboard (deck) line marked on the ship’s side and is a key reserve-buoyancy / loadline quantity.

9Block coefficient (CB) is defined as:

A.Displacement volume divided by (L × B × d) of the underwater box of length, breadth and draught

B.Waterplane area divided by (L × B)

C.TPC divided by relative density

D.GM divided by KM

Explanation: CB = underwater volume / (length × breadth × draught) of the enclosing rectangular prism, a measure of hull fullness.

10Coefficient of fineness of the waterplane (CW) is:

A.Waterplane area divided by (length × breadth) of the enclosing rectangle at that waterline

B.Underwater volume divided by (L × B × d)

C.LCF divided by LBP

D.Freeboard divided by moulded depth

Explanation: CW (waterplane area coefficient) = A_w / (L × B). Fuller waterplanes have higher CW and generally higher TPC.

About the MCA OOW 500 Near Coastal GSK Exam

The MCA/SQA OOW 500 GT Near Coastal General Ship Knowledge examination (paper 035-22) is the written module that ensures Officer of the Watch candidates on ships under 500 GT in the near-coastal trade understand flotation and loadlines, transverse and longitudinal stability, safe deck watchkeeping, pollution prevention and core merchant shipping legislation. The official syllabus (revised December 2024, assessed from March 2026) covers displacement and density, TPC/FWA/DWA, GZ and free surface, AMD/TMD and MCTC, port/anchor/sea deck duties, enclosed spaces and permits to work, MARPOL and dangerous goods handling, ISM, COSWP and MCA notices, MLC hours/rest and MAIB reporting. Formula sheets are provided. This free bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation of that written syllabus — not an official SQA paper.

Assessment

Official: MCA/SQA written paper 035-22 for Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on ships less than 500 GT engaged on near-coastal voyages (STCW II/3). Syllabus revised December 2024 for assessment from March 2026, covering flotation/loadlines, transverse and longitudinal stability, deck watch duties, pollution prevention and legislation. Hydrostatic data use is limited to fresh and salt water densities (TPC may be density-corrected). This practice set converts that assessable knowledge into four-option MCQs for study fluency.

Time Limit

Confirm official duration with Qualifications Scotland / the examination centre (not stated on the published GSK syllabus PDF; sittings appear on the MCA deck officer timetable, typically commencing 0915)

Passing Score

Confirm current pass criteria with Qualifications Scotland / MCA (not stated on the published 035-22 GSK syllabus PDF)

Exam Fee

Confirm the current SQA/MCA written-examination fee with Qualifications Scotland or your approved training centre before booking (fees are revised periodically) (Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) / Qualifications Scotland (SQA written examinations))

MCA OOW 500 Near Coastal GSK Exam Content Outline

22%

Flotation, Buoyancy and Loadlines

Define displacement, mass, volume, density and relative density; Archimedes and flotation; FWA, DWA and TPC; hydrostatic draught/displacement changes; FP, AP, LBP, LOA, LWL, freeboard; waterplane and block coefficients; loadline loading/discharge calculations

30%

Transverse Stability

G, B, M, KM, GM and GZ; MSS = Δ × GZ; stable, neutral, unstable and listed conditions; angle of loll; GZ-curve features; stiff/tender ships and roll period; weight loading/discharge/shift including ship’s gear; free surface effect, density and longitudinal subdivision

Longitudinal Stability

AMD, TMD, LCF, LCG, LCB, trim, trimming moment and MCTC; principles of calculating true mean draught

18%

Deck Watch in Port, at Anchor and at Sea

OOW duties for security, safety, moorings, cargo, ballast and hull stress; enclosed-space entry and PTW; fire, accident and pollution contingencies; preparation for sea and adverse weather; safe access (including pilots) and safe movement onboard

Pollution Prevention

Precautions for bunkering, garbage and other operations; procedures for dangerous, hazardous and harmful substances

14%

Legislation

MARPOL annex operational requirements and liability; ISM Code purpose; COSWP, MSNs, MGNs, MINs and Merchant Navy Code of Conduct; MLC hours of work/rest and complaints; MAIB reporting

How to Pass the MCA OOW 500 Near Coastal GSK Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Confirm current pass criteria with Qualifications Scotland / MCA (not stated on the published 035-22 GSK syllabus PDF)
Assessment: Official: MCA/SQA written paper 035-22 for Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on ships less than 500 GT engaged on near-coastal voyages (STCW II/3). Syllabus revised December 2024 for assessment from March 2026, covering flotation/loadlines, transverse and longitudinal stability, deck watch duties, pollution prevention and legislation. Hydrostatic data use is limited to fresh and salt water densities (TPC may be density-corrected). This practice set converts that assessable knowledge into four-option MCQs for study fluency.
Time limit: Confirm official duration with Qualifications Scotland / the examination centre (not stated on the published GSK syllabus PDF; sittings appear on the MCA deck officer timetable, typically commencing 0915)
Exam fee: Confirm the current SQA/MCA written-examination fee with Qualifications Scotland or your approved training centre before booking (fees are revised periodically)

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

MCA OOW 500 Near Coastal GSK Study Tips from Top Performers

1Drill TPC and small draught-change arithmetic until automatic: Δmass (t) ≈ TPC × Δdraught (cm); use full hydrostatic displacement tables for large changes

2Memorise FWA/DWA purpose: density change at constant displacement changes immersed volume and therefore draught relative to loadline marks

3Know GM = KM − KG, MSS = Δ × GZ, and the difference between list (positive GM + heeling moment) and loll (negative GM)

4Practise reading GZ curves: initial GM slope, max GZ, range of stability, vanishing stability, deck-edge immersion, list vs loll features

5Treat free surface as a virtual rise of G / free surface moment — slack tanks, density and longitudinal subdivision all matter

6For longitudinal work, separate TPC (mean immersion) from MCTC (trim); understand why TMD can differ from AMD when LCF is not amidships

7Rehearse port-watch checklists: moorings, gangway/pilot access, PTW/enclosed spaces, cargo/ballast stresses, and fire/pollution contingency actions

8Learn the notice hierarchy: MSN (mandatory information), MGN (guidance), MIN (short-term information), plus ISM SMS, MLC rest and MAIB reporting duties

9Work timed written-style calculation questions under exam conditions — the real paper is not multiple choice even though this bank is

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MCA/SQA OOW 500 Near Coastal General Ship Knowledge exam?

It is written paper 035-22 for the Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on ships less than 500 GT engaged on near-coastal voyages (STCW II/3). Qualifications Scotland administers the paper on behalf of the MCA. The syllabus covers flotation and loadlines, stability, deck watch, pollution prevention and legislation.

When does the revised syllabus apply?

The official GOV.UK syllabus was revised in December 2024 and is assessed from March 2026 examination sittings onward.

Is the real exam multiple choice?

No. The official assessment is an MCA/SQA written paper. These free practice items are an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation of the same syllabus topics — not an official SQA paper simulation. Formula sheets are provided in the real examination.

How many questions are on the official paper?

The official fixed item count is not published on the GSK syllabus PDF (examQuestions: not-published). Confirm paper structure with Qualifications Scotland or your training centre.

What is the pass mark and duration?

Pass mark and exact duration are not stated on the published 035-22 syllabus PDF. Confirm current criteria and sitting length with Qualifications Scotland / MCA. Examination dates appear on the official deck officer timetable (papers typically planned to commence at 0915).

What topics does the syllabus cover?

Flotation, buoyancy and loadlines; transverse stability (including GZ curves, list/loll and free surface); longitudinal stability (AMD/TMD, trim, MCTC); maintaining a deck watch in port, at anchor and at sea; pollution prevention; and legislation (MARPOL, ISM, COSWP/MSN/MGN/MIN, MLC, MAIB).

Are formula sheets allowed?

Yes. The official syllabus notes state that formula sheets will be provided to candidates for the examination.

Who administers the exam?

Written papers are Qualifications Scotland examinations for the MCA deck certification pathway, listed on the MCA deck officer examination timetable (paper 035-22 General Ship Knowledge).

How much does the exam cost?

SQA/MCA written-examination fees change over time. Confirm the current fee with Qualifications Scotland (mca@qualifications.gov.scot) or your approved training centre before booking.