[Kelleyfish]

Did I read correctly that I need to wait 2 years before I can take my MEOL? I took my AEC 7 months ago and want to get my MEOL ASAP. Are there any ways around waiting?

Thanks y'all.

[Kelleyfish]

Hey there,

I did a search for MEOL and found my own thread!

I have now done my 18 months of (mostly land) service. I'd like to jump through some more hoops and get my MEOL.

It's still a little cryptic. It looks like I need to take a skills test and an oral exam. Is that something I HAVE to take at a school or is there any way to prepare on my own and pay for the exam?

Happy sails!

Kelley

[K1W1]

Hi,

The Skills Test I recall seeing conducted whilst I was in South Shields was about the use of tools, welding and being able to look at a few components and say what was wrong with them.

AFAIK - It is only something that those who have come from a non trade background seem to have to undergo enroute to gaining a Certificate of Competency.

[Kelleyfish]

Ah ok,

The last project I worked on had an Australian who was able to get his hands on all the study material for his Y4 but hadn't taken the tests.. yet.

Have you ever seen or heard of any .pdf's that I could use to prepare for the oral exam?

I'm going to dig through google some more. I keep getting dumped into pages with the syllabus for MEOL/SMEOL (that actually reads smell to me.. heheh) but no meat inside it.

Thanks for all your help, K1W1! You should change your name to W1K1!!! **** I'm witty.

Kelley

[FullaFlava]

Kelley,

http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mgn_156_eng_yacht.pdf

The way I read MGN 156, following the flowchart on Page 12 is that if you have have your STCW 95 Basic courses, AEC and ENG1 and provided that you have either:

36 months service as a dual purpose deck/engineer officer responsible for the
maintenance and servicing of the vessel, whilst holding an AEC certificate; or

24 months service as a yacht engineer responsible for system maintenance whilst holding an AEC certificate.

You should be able to apply for an Notice of Entitlement to sit your MEOL Oral board at a MCA office of your choice. You will need passes in the following also before a Certificate of Competency will be issued:

Proficency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSC & RB)
Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF)
Proficiency in Medical First Aid aboard Ship

I believe the engineering craft skills training test is for folk who don't have an AEC as they may be exempt, ie ex military like me or ex diesel fitters.

When you have your MEOL you will need another 12 months sea time (as an engineer) and another oral exam to get to Y4

I haven't come across any PDF's for Oral preparation having looked before I took my Y3 oral in August last year. If you can afford it I can wholeheartedly recommend taking a few days prep with a specialist who knows the 'pet' questions of the office where you are taking the exam. If you can further afford to come to the UK to do it I can recommend whom to go to.

I'm fairly current on this having waded through it myself recently, I think I have it correct! Any further queries, let's have 'em.

Regards

[Kelleyfish]

I just took a look MEOL syllabus (below) and, although most of it is common sense and knowing what is what and how it works, the first few confused me a little.

MARINE ENGINE OPERATOR LICENCE

PROFESSIONAL SUBJECTS
Engineering Knowledge - Oral

(1) Routine associated with taking over and accepting a watch or period of duty during UMS/Bridge Control operation.

(2) Routine associated with handing over to the following watch or duty period during UMS/Bridge Control operation.

(3) Routine associated with handing over to the following watch or duty engine operator.

(4) Machinery space fire-fighting arrangements.

(5) Safety precautions to be observed during a watch or period of duty and immediate actions in the event of a fire or accident.

(6) Preparing main machinery, steering system and auxiliary equipment for sea. Testing plant and equipment.

(7) Routine pumping operations of fuel oil and fresh water.

(8) Bilge pumping operations.

(9) Use of oily water separator and precautions to be observed to prevent environmental pollution.

(10) Operation of auxiliary heating boilers including combustion system.

(11) Preparing, starting, coupling and changing over alternators or generators.

(12) Immediate actions necessary in cases of electric shock.

(13) Location and rectification of common faults in main machinery, steering systems and auxiliary equipment.

Note: Candidates will be expected to demonstrate, in the oral examination, an adequate knowledge of and familiarity with the main machinery and auxiliary equipment normally found in vessels having registered powers up to 750 kilowatt.

[Kelleyfish]

I just read this MEOL requirement. I've got my 18 months as engineer. But does this state that I need some sort of proof of competency to knock down the length of service time from 24months to 18?

This is getting a little strange.

3.2 MEOL Certificate
The pre-requisites and services requirements are:
• 36 months as Deck/Engineer Officer, or
• 24 months as engineer whilst holding an AEC certificate, or
• MCA Craft Skills Training Test plus 18 months as engineer.
The candidate must attend the STCW Crew Basic Training and the Advanced
Safety courses and pass an MCA Oral Examination

[FullaFlava]

I just read this MEOL requirement. I've got my 18 months as engineer. But does this state that I need some sort of proof of competency to knock down the length of service time from 24months to 18?

The 18 months route is for those who have done the MCA approved 'apprenticeship' and have passed a recognised skills test, ie turning, welding etc.
This may well take more than the nominal 6 months less sea time that is needed to qualify

I believe you have followed the aternative route (see the flow chart on page 12 of MGN 156), so will need 24 months. If you can find somewhere to take and pass a recognised skills test, you wil need to submit the certificate to the MCA with your seatime testimonals when you apply for your Letter of Initial Assessment (LIA). The LIA lays out exactly what other courses and seatime you will require and will also say when you will be eligable to apply for an NOE.

The cost of the LIA is off set against the NOE and also includes your oral examination fee. When you have the NOE you can apply for the oral at a marine office of your choice.

I just took a look MEOL syllabus (below) and, although most of it is common sense and knowing what is what and how it works, the first few confused me a little.

MARINE ENGINE OPERATOR LICENCE

PROFESSIONAL SUBJECTS
Engineering Knowledge - Oral

(1) Routine associated with taking over and accepting a watch or period of duty during UMS/Bridge Control operation.

(2) Routine associated with handing over to the following watch or duty period during UMS/Bridge Control operation.

(3) Routine associated with handing over to the following watch or duty engine operator.

When you sit the oral, the examiner will expect you to know how to take over an engineering watch on a large vessel. The examiners are big ship engineers and don't care that small yachts do not have an engineering watch, therefore you will have to learn.

If you do Oral prep as previously advised this should be covered.

[Kelleyfish]

FullaGoodInfo!

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Bummer... I don't have any recognized trade from back here in Canada.

So! Let me see if I get this right. I can sign up for the skills test, get the cert of competence from that, throw my sea testimonials and AEC in an envelope and mail it to MCA.

They would reply with a LIA. If enough of my ducks are in a row they will give me a NOE. If not, I at least find out what they want me to do.

Am I getting closer?

Thanks!

[FullaFlava]

Originally Posted by Kelleyfish

So! Let me see if I get this right. I can sign up for the skills test, get the cert of competence from that, throw my sea testimonials and AEC in an envelope and mail it to MCA.

First you've got to find somewhere to take the skills test and hope that you are skillful enough to pass.

You'll also need to fill in the LIA application form (available from the MCA website), 2 passport photos etc, your STCW 95 certificates and your advanced certs if you have them yet.

Am I getting closer?

The LIA takes a minimum of 6 weeks to arrive from receipt by the MCA. The NOE isn't issued automatically, you need to apply for it, the total cost of both LIA and NOE is about £220. The NOE takes about 2 weeks to arrive.

The three advanced STCW courses you need are a week long each, you won't necessarily find any that run concurrently. (Don't forget that you don't need the advanced STCW courses before they issue the NOE, but they won't issue a MEOL until you send back your pass endorsed NOE with the certs)

You've gotta prep for the oral.

Not quite close enough to be lighting the cigar yet, but the box is open and you're reaching for the cutter.