Oral Exam Prep

Marshall Islands Master (Yachts) Unlimited — Capstone Exam Preparation

RMI-MY-UNL-PREP

Modules
6
Lessons
24
Questions
120

Independent study. xplor is not affiliated with the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator and awards no certificate, endorsement or Certificate of Competency. The capstone course, written examinations and simulator assessment can only be taken, after Administrator pre-approval, at a provider approved by the Administrator, and nothing in this course counts towards them. AI-drafted content pending subject-matter-expert review.

Drafted from RMI Maritime Administrator publications: MI-118 Requirements for Seafarer Certification (Rev. Mar/2026) §7.2.4; MI-118E Requirements for Seafarer Certification by Examination (Rev. Jan/2025) §§3.2.5.2, 3.8–3.10; MI-319Y Guidelines for Deck Officer's Examinations — 350 GT Master/500 GT Mate (Yachts) and Master (Yachts) Unlimited (Rev. Feb/2021); SICD-24 Preliminary Application Requirements for the Master (Yachts) Unlimited Tonnage Capstone Course (Nov/2022); MI-103 RMI Yacht Code 2026 (Rev. May/2026); MI-108 Maritime Regulations (Rev. Mar/2026); MI-107 Maritime Act (Rev. Aug/2023); MN 7-038-2 Minimum Safe Manning (Rev. Jul/2024); the IRI Manning & Crew Requirements web page; the STCW Code Table A-II/2, COLREG 1972, SOLAS Chapter V, IMO Resolution A.893(21) and the IAMSAR Manual. The capstone week format and simulator scoring are taken from the approved provider's published course page (MPT course 855, secondary source)..

Rule notes (10)

  1. Recent change

    Engineer manning counts only the largest single engine

    Marine Notice 7-038-2 (Rev. Jul/2024, §A.2.19) sets the engineer grade by the power of the single highest-powered propulsion engine, not the total installed power. Industry press reported it in March and April 2024; the rule itself appears to have come in with the Feb/2024 revision. Check the yacht's engine plate figures, not the brochure total.

    Sources

  2. Recent change

    Yacht Code 2026 replaces the 2021 Code

    MI-103 Yacht Code 2026 (Rev. May/2026) took effect on 1 January 2026. Some RMI documents have not caught up: MN 7-038-2 (Jul/2024) still cites the 2021 Code, and MI-103A (Nov/2022) still says the Inventory of Hazardous Materials applies only on EU port calls, which the 2026 Code contradicts. Where they differ, the 2026 Code is the newer text.

    Sources

  3. Sources disagree

    Minimum age for Chief Mate and First Assistant Engineer

    MI-118 (Rev. Mar/2026) gives 21; the MI-280 Filing Agents Manual (Rev. Jan/2025) gives 19. MI-118 is the certification requirement itself and the more recent revision, but confirm with the Administrator if a candidate falls between the two.

    Sources

  4. Sources disagree

    Medical for an older national CoC: one year or two?

    When the national CoC being endorsed is more than a year old, MI-118 §2.11.18 accepts a medical issued within 2 years, MI-118 Annex 7 says 1 year, and form MI-105 says 24 months. Sending a medical under a year old satisfies all three.

    Sources

  5. Rule to know

    CRA and Urgent Authorisation: 90 days, no extension

    A Certificate of Receipt of Application (MI-151B) or an Urgent Authorisation lets an officer serve for up to 90 days while the endorsement is processed. Neither can be extended, because STCW gives the Administrator 90 days to issue. After a UA, the completed MI-105 must arrive within 15 calendar days or the UA may be invalidated.

    Sources

  6. Not confirmed

    List of recognised administrations

    MI-118 Annex 7, which lists the administrations whose CoCs the RMI will endorse, was last updated in Dec/2017 and repeats some countries. Confirm the current list with the Administrator before relying on it.

    Sources

  7. Not confirmed

    No published processing times

    No RMI document gives a normal processing time for a Certificate of Endorsement or an SIRB. The only fixed figure is the 90-day STCW limit covered by a CRA. Fees are published in Marine Notices 1-005-1 and 1-005-2.

    Sources

  8. Sources disagree

    How long is the written exam?

    MI-319Y (Rev. Feb/2021) gives 140 questions over 7 hours. The approved provider's course page lists module times that add up to 11 hours but states a total of 9. Pass marks per MI-319Y: 90% Rules and Regulations, 80% Navigation Problems, 70% the rest.

    Sources

  9. Sources disagree

    Re-sit rules

    MI-319Y's text allows a re-sit as soon as a failure is determined; its Figure 2 says after 3 days; MI-118E §3.10.2 says not before 30 days and at most twice in 12 months. MI-118E Annex 3 allows re-sits of 1–3 failed parts, MI-319Y two. Confirm with the provider before booking travel.

    Sources

  10. Not confirmed

    Simulator assessment scoring

    The three-phase simulator assessment and its scoring (automatic fail for collision, allision, grounding or overtime; fail above 30 deduction points) are published only on the approved provider's course page, not by the RMI. MI-319Y dates from 2021 and may lag the current question bank.

    Sources

RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-M1 · The capstone assessment

2 lessons

RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-M1-A What the written papers and simulator assessment consist of, how they are marked and how to sit them.

In preparation
RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L1.1What the capstone week actually testsThe capstone is an **unlimited-tonnage merchant master's examination with cargo removed**, plus a three-phase simulator assessment. Know the structure before you open a book.PreviewRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L1.2Exam technique for a closed-book master's paperEverything you need is either **in your head or on the proctor's shelf**. Know which is which, and budget minutes per question.Locked

RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-M2 · Navigation at the management level

8 lessons

RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-M2-A The Navigation Problems (80%) and Practical Navigation (70%) papers: compass error, chartwork, sailings, celestial, passage planning, radar and ECDIS.

In preparation
RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L2.1Compass error by amplitude, azimuth and transitEvery navigation paper has a compass error question, and every one has a distractor that applies **variation the wrong way**. Work it the same way every time.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L2.2Chartwork: set and drift, course to steer and ETAChartwork is **vector triangles**. Draw the triangle the right way round and the answer falls out; draw it the wrong way and you get a plausible distractor.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L2.3Sailings: plane, Mercator and great circleThe great-circle question is always worth the time: it combines **distance, initial course and vertex**, and each has its own distractor.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L2.4Celestial: the intercept methodThe intercept is a **sequence of corrections and one spherical triangle**. Most errors happen in the corrections, not the trigonometry.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L2.5Latitude by meridian altitude, Polaris and the time of meridian passageThe noon sight is **the simplest sight and the most frequently botched**, usually because of the name of the zenith distance or the time zone.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L2.6Ocean passage planning and fuel rangeA master's passage plan is judged on the **appraisal**: weather, range, routeing and contingency, as SOLAS V/34 and A.893(21) require.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L2.7Radar and ARPA: CPA, TCPA and the trial manoeuvreThe radar question is a **relative-motion triangle**. Get the triangle right and CPA, TCPA, target course and speed all follow.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L2.8ECDIS at command levelThe master is not tested on which button sets the safety contour. The test is **whether you know what the setting means**, and whether you check your officers' plans.Locked

RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-M3 · Oceans, winds and weather

2 lessons

RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-M3-A The 10-question Oceans, Winds and Weather paper at 70%: weather systems, tropical revolving storms, tides and currents.

In preparation
RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L3.1Weather systems and tropical revolving stormsWith **ten questions and a 70% pass mark**, three wrong answers fail the paper. TRS avoidance is the question you cannot afford to miss.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L3.2Tides, tidal streams and under-keel clearanceLarge-yacht draughts now exceed 5 m. **The tidal window over a bar** is a management-level calculation and a guaranteed paper question.Locked

RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-M4 · Stability, trim and damage control

4 lessons

RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-M4-A The 10-question Stability paper at 70%, worked to master level with the RMI Yacht Code 2026 criteria.

In preparation
RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L4.1GM, free surface and list: lifting the tenderThe crane lift is where a yacht's stability is **lowest in a normal day's work**. The examination tests the suspended-weight rule and free surface every time.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L4.2Trim, drafts and the centre of flotationTrim problems go wrong when **LCF is not amidships**, which on a yacht it rarely is. Split the change of trim by LCF position, not by half.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L4.3The GZ curve and the Yacht Code criteriaThe Stability paper will give you KN values and ask whether a condition complies. **Compute GZ, integrate, and compare against MI-103 Ch. II §7.2.1.**LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L4.4Damage stability, damage control and drydockingThe flooding question tests **lost buoyancy and permeability**. The drydock question tests **the P force at the critical instant**. Both are straightforward if set out.Locked

RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-M5 · Rules, regulations, safety and leadership

5 lessons

RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-M5-A The 50-question Rules and Regulations paper at 90% and the safety half of Safety and Seamanship: COLREG, RMI law, conventions on large yachts, emergencies, SAR and leadership.

In preparation
RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L5.1COLREG at the 90% standardFifty questions, five wrong answers allowed. **The Rules paper is lost on lights, sound signals and Rule 19**, not on Rule 15.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L5.2RMI Maritime Act and Regulations for the masterMI-107 and MI-108 are **on the shelf in the examination room**. Know the structure well enough to find an answer in a minute, and know the master's duties without looking.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L5.3SOLAS, MARPOL, ISM, ISPS and MLC on a large RMI yachtThe regulations paper asks what applies **at what tonnage**. On a yacht over 3,000 GT, almost everything applies; the test is knowing the thresholds and the yacht-specific modifications.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L5.4Emergencies, search and rescue, and medical careSTCW A-II/2 expects you to **coordinate** SAR and **organise** medical care. The paper tests IAMSAR patterns, LSA, fire and distress procedure.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L5.5Leadership, BRM and managing fatigueAt management level you are assessed on **how the bridge team works**, not only on what you know. In the simulator the assessor watches it happen.Locked

RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-M6 · Seamanship, ship handling and the simulator assessment

3 lessons

RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-M6-A The seamanship half of the Safety and Seamanship paper and the three-phase full-mission simulator assessment in a large yacht.

In preparation
RMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L6.1Anchoring, heavy weather and towingSeamanship questions look like common sense and are written to catch common sense. **Anchor with numbers, and handle heavy weather by periods, not feel.**LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L6.2Large yacht ship handling and propulsionA 100 m yacht behaves like a **high-sided ship with a sports car's response**. The simulator punishes masters who handle it like the 50 m yacht they learnt on.LockedRMI-MY-UNL-PREP-L6.3The three-phase simulator assessment and emergencies under stressThe simulator is **pass/fail on command**. It rewards a plan briefed, a track held and a gentle landing, and it fails collision, allision, grounding and overtime outright.Locked