APPENDIX 'A'

The Merchant Shipping (Examination of Masters and Mates) Rules, 1985

APPENDIX "G"

[See Rule 13(1)]

SIGHT TESTS

PART 1

1. Letter Test: The first test which the candidate shall have to undergo shall be the letter test conducted on snellen's principle by means of sheets of letters. On each sheet the fifth, sixth and seventh lines correspond to standards 6/12, 6/9 and 6/6 respectively.

2. Before the commencement of the test candidate who is not a new entrant shall advise the examiner whether or not he intends to use artificial aids to form vision. Such aids to form vision shall constitute of either spectacles or contact lenses. Tinted lenses shall not be permitted.

3. Standard of vision required.---

(a) Candidate will be tested in each eye separately;

(b) A candidate, other than a new entrant, who attempts the sight test without the use of aids to form vision shall be required to read down to and including the seventh line with the better eye and down to and including the sixth line with the other eye;

(i) with aids to form vision, to read correctly down to and including the seventh line with the better eye and down to and including the sixth line with the other eye; and

(ii) without aids to form vision, to read correctly down to and including the fifth line with the better eye and down to and including the third line with the other eye.

(d) A candidate who is a new entrant, i.e. a candidate who is going out to sea to serve in the deck department for the first time, shall be tested with each eye separately. He shall be required to read down to and including the seventh line with the better eye and to read down to and including the sixth line with the other eye. He shall also be required to read all letters in the seventh line with both the eyes. A new entrant shall not be permitted to use aids to form vision.

4. Method of testing:

(a) The test card shall be mounted at a convenient height and shall properly illuminated. Daylight shall not be used. The testing room shall be moderately lighted so that extreme contrast between the test card and background is avoided.

(b) The candidate shall stand exactly 6 metres from the card facing its squarely. He shall then be required to read the letters on the sheet from left to right, beginning at the top and going downwards.

(c) Care shall be taken by varying the order of the test sheets to guard against the possibility of any deception on the part of the candidate.

5. Failiure.—If the candidate fails to reach the standard required on the first sheet, he shall be tested with at least 4 sheets. If he fails to reach the standard in atleast 3 of the 4 sheets the following alternatives may be explained to him :

(a) He may break off the test and present himself of re-testing in not less than three months. In which case a certificate of failure shall be issued to him; or

(b) If he is not a new entrant and has not used aids to form vision at his first attempt, he may present himself for re-testing any time with artificial aids to form vision; or

(c) He may proceed to the lantern test. In this case, a record of all mistakes made in the letter test and all mistakes. If any, made in the lantern test shall be forwarded the letter test and all mistakes, if any, whether the candidate has passed or failed in the sight test.

PART II

6. Lantern test---Apparatus.---

(a) A special lantern and a mirror shall be provided for this test. The test is to be conducted in a room so darkened as to exclude all light.

(b) The lantern shall be placed directly in front of the mirror, so that the front part of the lantern shall be exactly 3.05 metres from the mirror, and in such a position that the lights reflected in the mirror show clearly when viewed by the candidate on the left of the lantern.

7. (1) A candidate other than a new entrant who has used artificial aids to form vision in the letter test may continue to use such aids in the lantern test.

(2) Darkness adaptation.—If a candidate makes mistakes at the beginning of the lantern test be shall be kept in a completely or partially darkened room for at least a quarter of an hour and shall then begin the test again.

(3) Method of testing.—(a) The lantern supplied for the test shall be so constructed as to allow 1 large or 2 small lights to be visible, and is fitted with 9 glasses of 3 colours---red, white and green. At the beginning of the test the candidate shall be shown a series of lights through the large aperture, and he shall be required to name the colours as they appear. Care shall be taken in showing the fact that this light is not a pure while, if a candidate makes a mistake in calling this light "red" a proper red light shall be shown immediately after and this attention directed to the difference between the two.

(b) After a series of lights through the large aperture has been shown, 4 circuits and 1 broken circuit with the 2 small apertures shall be made with the candidate naming the colours of each set of 2 lights from left to right.

8. Passing or failure.---(1) If a candidate does not make any mistake in the lantern test after passing the letter test, he shall be deemed to have passed the whole test and the examiner shall issue a certificate to that effect.

(2) If, with either the large aperture of the lantern a candidate mistakes red for green or green for red, he shall be considered to have failed in the lantern test.

(3) If a candidate makes any other mistakes with the lantern i.e. if he calls white "red" or red "white" or confuses green and white, his case shall be submitted to the Chief Examiner, and he shall be informed that the decision as to whether he is passed or failed, or must undergo a further test shall be communicated to him in due course. Pending the receipt of the Chief Examiner's instructions. a candidate shall only be allowed to proceed with his examination for a Certificate of Competency on the express understanding that this examination will be cancelled in the event of failure in the sight tests. In every such case the candidate shall be notified by the Examiner of his success or failure or that his case has been referred for special consideration.

9. Retesting of unsuccessful candidate.---A candidate who fails to pass the local lantern test shall not again be tested locally, unless the Chief Examiner directs that he may be so tested. The certificate issued to the candidate shall state whether or not he may be tested locally.

PART III

Special Examination & Appeals

10. Special Examination—Referred cases—In the case of any candidate who is referred to the Chief Examiner under the provisions of sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 11, the Chief Examiner may make arrangements for a special examination. In any such case, no additional fee shall be charged for the special examination.

11. Appeals.---(1) A candidate who is adjudged to have failed in the local lantern test may appeal for a review. In every such case, the Chief Examiner shall make arrangements for Examination of the candidate by a special body of examiner.

(2) Every such appellant shall pay an appropriate a fee as prescribed in appendix 1 which shall be refunded to him if he is declared to have passed the appeal examination.

12. Examination Board.---The special and appeal examinations shall be conducted by a Board consisting of Chief Examiner of Masters and Mates on his nominee and a specialist adviser on eye sight appointed by the Chief Examiner.

13. Intimation regarding examination.---when any special or appeal examination by Board is arranged, the Chief Examiner shall give a sufficient advance notice of the date and time of such examination to the candidate.

14. Punctual attendance.---(1) Every candidate shall acknowledge notice received by him from the Chief Examiner regarding date and time of special, or, as the case may be , appeal examination. Any candidate who is unable to attend examination shall immediately inform the Chief Examiner of his inability and reasons therefore. If satisfied of such reasons, the Chief Examiner may alter the programme of examination and give notice to the candidate of revised time schedule of the examination.

(2) If any candidate, being a candidate referred to Chief Examiner under paragraph 13, fails to appear for the examination at the appointed date and time, the Chief Examiner may defer his special examination by an indefinite period.

(3) If any candidate, being an appellant under paragraph 14 fails to appear for the examination at the appointed date and time, the fee paid by him shall be forfeited. Arrangement for his examination by the Board on any other date may be made on his payment of a further fee under paragraph 11.

15. Failures.—(1) Where, on examination, any candidate appearing before the Board under paragraph 10 or 11 is found to have a permanent defect in his eye sight which renders him unfit for a sea career, such candidate shall be finally rejected and may not be permitted to appear for sight test on any occasion in future :

Provided that any candidate declared failed at the examination by Board may apply for re-examination by the Board under provision of paragraph 16 in the presence of an ophthalmic surgeon appearing in his behalf.

(2) Any candidate who fails in the examination but is not finally rejected by reason of being found to be free from any permanent eye defect, may, at his choice appear before the Board for examination to an appellant under paragraph 11 after a lapse of three months from the date of examination or seek re-examination under paragraph 16, in either case, on payment of appropriate fees.

16. Re-examination—Any candidate seeking re-examination by the Board shall pay an appropriate fee as prescribed in Appendix I. This fee shall not be refundable whether the candidate is finally adjudged passed or failed.

NOTE: All candidates who have passed the sight tests with artificial aids, are advised to use such aids when on watch keeping duties at sea and port and to carry a spare pair of properly corrected spectacles at all time for use in emergency.