BSc Nautical Sciences SOT I Syllabus - Mumbai University 2026

Module I: GENERAL

• 1 Introduction to SOLAS & STCW
• 2 Type of Ships
• 3 Names of various parts of ship –  Hull  Ship’s Deck  Fore Castle  Poop Deck  Poop Deck  Accommodation  Bridge:  Monkey Island  Cargo Spaces (Cargo Holds, Tanks)  Cargo Handling Gear (Derricks, Cranes, Grabs, Pumps)  Machinery Space (Engine Room/Pump room)
• 4 Names and timings of watches.
• 5 Sea terms - Common terms used onboard from Nautical Dictionary
• 6 Look-out – Ref. STCW Chapter 8 –Part 4-1
• 7 Compass points – Boxing the Compass
• 8 Safety wearing apparel (PPE) – Requirements for various works.
• 9 Preparing a surface for painting - Need for surface preparation
• 10 Various tools used for Surface Preparation & Painting
• 11 Painting defects and their prevention.
• 12 Cleaning of wooden decks.
• 13 Cleaning and polishing of brass and copper. CODE OF SAFE WORKING PRACTICES
• 1 Contents of code of safe working practices for merchant seamen
• 2 Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Module II: LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES

• 1 Classification of ships for Life Saving Appliances – LSA Rules, Latest
• 2 LSA requirements for cargo ships -Life Boat: - Description of Lifeboat. Construction and parts of lifeboat. Buoyancy tanks. Means of propulsion. Different types of lifeboats used. Motor lifeboats, Totally enclosed lifeboats, partially enclosed life boats, Free fall Lifeboat
• 3 Determining the carrying capacity of a lifeboat.
• 4 Life boat Equipment, rations
• 5 Types of boat davits and their method of operation
• 6 FPD and recovery strops – their uses
• 7 On Load & Off Load release mechanism CODE OF SAFE WORKING PRACTICES
• 1 Procedures for manual lifting and carrying of weights;
• 2 Precautions while working aloft, over side

Module III: LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES – Contd

• 1 Liferaft: - inflatable and rigid. Construction and parts of life raft.
• 2 Methods of launching Liferaft – Davit, Manual, Use of HRU
• 3 Life raft equipment, ration and distress signals.
• 4 Repairing leaks and punctures.
• 5 Getting into a liferaft.
• 6 Inflatable chute, Marine evacuation System (MES)
• 7 Life Buoy: - Description & Specification of a lifebuoy. Correct procedure for use of a lifebuoy. Lifebuoy with line, with SI light and Lifebuoy used with MOB Marker
• 8 Life jacket: - description of a life jacket. Buoyant material used. The correct method of putting on a life jacket and jumping into water.
• 9 Line throwing appliances: - description and use of line throwing appliance.
• 10 Care and maintenance of life saving appliances CODE OF SAFE WORKING PRACTICES
• 1 Marking obstructions on the passage way on deck;
• 2 Safety precautions whilst walking/ working on deck;

Module Practical

• 1) To make and understand the use of various knots, bends and hitches.
• 2 Mousing hooks and shackles. Breaking flags.
• 3 Making fast tug/ship’s lines on bitts, Racking & Parbuckling.
• 4 To apply rope and chain stoppers.
• 5 To make various types of whippings.
• 6 To perform various splices on natural and synthetic fibre ropes.
• 7 To perform various splices on wire ropes.
• 8 Worming, parcelling and serving of hawsers.
• 9 Throwing a heaving line & Passing the messenger line
• 10 Heaving the Hand lead line and calling out soundings.
• 11 Slinging a stage, Precautions when using stages.
• 12 Rigging a Bosun’s chair - Safety precautions while using.
• 13 Canvass sewing & Use of grommets.
• 14 Seizing: flat, round.
• 15 Changing boat falls - Demonstration.
• 16 Operating windlass and winches.
• 17 Demonstrate taking soundings and ullage to find quantity of liquid in a tank using Calibration Table.
• 18 Demonstrate taking hold temperature.
• 19 Removing rust by chipping hammers for preparing a surface and painting.
• 20 Cleaning of wooden decks – deck washing compounds

Reference Books

This paper runs across both semesters of the year and the University prints one list of reference books for it, at the end of the second half. Her list is repeated here so that this half is not read as a paper she recommends no reading for.

• 1 Survival in Lifeboat and Liferaft Capt. S.K. Puri
• 2 Survival at Sea C.H. Wright
• 3 Theory and Practice of Seamanship Danton
• 4 Seamanship Notes Kemp & Young
• 5 Life saving Appliances Rules Govt. of India
• 6 Fire fighting Appliances Rules Govt. of India
• 7 SOLAS, 1974 as amended IMO
• 8 LSA Code IMO
• 9 FSS Code IMO
• 10 STCW 1978, as amended IMO