Theoretical Unit 1. NAUTICAL NOMENCLATURE. UT1 Identification. Definitions of:

• 1.1 Hull. – Hull and deck. – Bow and stern. – Centerline and plane, to define: Starboard and port. – Sides, bow, beam and quarter. – Waterline, to define: Underwater hull (hull) and topsides. – Cockpit and scuppers. – Hatches, main hatch. – Ventilation louvers and vents. – Portholes and skylights. – Handrails, stanchions and lifelines.


• 1.2 Structure. – Keel, stem, sternpost, frames, beams, gunwale, rail, bulkheads, deck and bilge. – Seacocks. – Bilge pumps


• 1.3 Anchoring Equipment. – Windlass: Windlass, clutch, and brake. – Anchor line. Shackle. Parts of the stockless anchor. – Shape of the plow anchor, the Danforth anchor, and the grapnel. – With reference to the anchor and the anchoring maneuver, definitions of: Heaving, filing, hanging, under, weighing, setting sail, clear, and free.


• 1.4 Rudder. – Parts of the rudder: Tiller or wheel, rudder stock, rudder post, rudder guards and blade.


• 1.5 Propeller. – Propeller parts: Shaft, stern tube, hub, blades, and cowling. – Right-handed and left-handed propellers. – Twin outward-turning propellers. – Folding-blade propeller.


• 1.6 Dimensions. – Length, beam and maximum beam, depth, freeboard, bow draft, stern draft, mean draft and trim. – Maximum displacement in recreational craft.

• 1.7 Terminology. – To heel and to right. Windward and leeward.

Theoretical Unit 2. Mooring and Anchoring Elements. UT2 Identification

• 2.1 Mooring elements. – Definitions of: Bollard, mooring blocks, buoys, fenders, boat hook, rope end, bight, standing part and loop, fairlead, pulley, bitts and cleats
• 2.2 Knots. – Indicate the purpose of the following knots: Square knot, anchor bend, clove hitch and bowline

• 2.3 Anchoring. – Choosing the anchorage and holding ground. – Anchoring with one anchor: Maneuver, anchorage length, swing circle. – Dragging anchor. – Watchfulness while anchoring: Marks, depth sounder alarm. – Anchor buoy. – Weighing anchor maneuver.

Theoretical Unit 3. Maritime Safety. UT3 Identification

• 3.1 Stability. – Definitions of: > Roll and pitch. > Transverse and longitudinal static stability (without going into their study). – Steering techniques to avoid roll and pitch. – Importance of not broadside to the sea.
• 3.2 Pre-Sea Checks – Be aware of the need and importance of carrying out a series of pre-sea checks. – Be able to list the following: > Oil levels, water and impurity settling filters, coolant, cooling system, alternator belt, fuel level, fresh water, batteries, navigation lights, radio equipment, watertightness, steering and propulsion system, absence of explosive gases, oil or fuel leaks, weather report, existence and condition of safety equipment (life jackets, life rings, pyrotechnic equipment and fire extinguishers).
• 3.3 Measures to take on board in bad weather. – Stowage and securing for sea conditions. – Check all openings. Close seacocks. – Course to follow: Ride out or run ahead of the storm. – Risks of a leeward coast.
• 3.4 Thunderstorms. – Protection from thunderstorms and influence on the needle.
• 3.5 Low visibility. – Precautions when navigating in fog, radar reflector, avoid maritime traffic. – Precautions for night navigation.
• 3.6 Shallow Waters. – Definition of shallow waters. – Precautions for navigation in shallow waters.
• 3.7 Safety Equipment. Description, recommendations for use and stowage of the following items: – Life jackets. – Harnesses and lifelines. – Life rings and life rafts. – Hand flares, red light rockets and parachutes, and floating smoke signals. – Signal mirror and foghorn. – Portable fire extinguishers and fire buckets.
• 3.8 Man Overboard. – Prevention of a man overboard situation: Safety harness, lighting. – Man overboard: Clearing the propeller, signaling the person in the water, individual buoyancy aids, deploying rescue devices. – Approach maneuvers when the person in the water is visible: Anderson maneuver and Boutakow maneuver. – Search maneuvers when the person in the water is not visible : Square spiral search and sector search. – Use of the Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in case of a man overboard. – Precautions during rescue. – Resuscitation of a person in the water: Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions. – Hypothermia: Concept and measures to take.
• 3.9 Towing. – Approach maneuver, giving and taking the tow, way of navigating the tug and the towed vessel.
• 3.10 Maritime Rescue. – In addition to using the onboard radio station, ways to contact SM: 112 and 900 202 202.

Theoretical Unit 4. Legislation. UT4 Identification

• 4.1 Regulations affecting recreational craft. – Regarding maritime traffic and inland navigation in ports.
• 4.2 Navigation restrictions. – In areas close to the coast. – On unbuoyed beaches. – On buoyed beaches and access channels. – In marine reserves.
• 4.3 Divers and swimmers. Precautions to take in the presence of: – Swimmers. – Divers. “Alpha” flags of the International Code of Signals and modified “Bravo” flag.
• 4.4 Pollution Prevention. – Overview of the regulations governing discharges and dumping into the sea from recreational craft, according to Order FOM 1144/2003 of April 28, or any subsequent legislation that may replace it. – Overview of the regulations governing the delivery of waste generated by recreational craft, according to Royal Decree 1381/2002 of December 20, or any subsequent legislation that may replace it. – Regulations governing the dumping of garbage into the sea according to Chapter V of the MARPOL International Convention:  Scope of application (Regulation 2).  General prohibition of dumping garbage into the sea (Regulation 3).  Dumping garbage outside special areas (Regulation 4).  Dumping garbage within special areas, specifically the Mediterranean Sea (Regulation 6). – Skipper’s liability for pollution. – Conduct in the event of a sighting of pollution during navigation: Obligation to report.
• 4.5 National Flag. – National flag on recreational vessels. – Use of the flag of the Autonomous Community
• 4.6 Rescue. – Obligation to render assistance to persons according to paragraph 1, rule 33, chapter V, of the international SOLAS convention.

• 4.7 Protection of natural marine environments. Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI). Specific case in the Mediterranean: Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows.

Theoretical Unit 5. Beacon Marking. UT5 Identification

• 5.1 IALA Regulations: Region A lateral marks, cardinal marks, isolated danger marks, navigable water marks, and special marks. Each Call for Applications will specify the IALA regulations on which the examinations will be based.

Theoretical Unit 6. International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs). UT6 Identification

• 6.1 Generalities. Rules 1 to 3.
• 6.2 Rules of direction and governance. Rules 4 to 19.
• 6.3 Lights and Markings. Rules 20, 21 and 23 to 31.
• 6.4 Acoustic and luminous signals. Rules 32 to 37.
• 6.5 Danger signs.
• Annex IV. EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED: Rule 22 and Annexes I, II and III. Any interpretation that does not conform to the wording of the Regulation.

PNB theoretical exam

• 1. The exam will consist of 27 multiple-choice questions, each with four possible answers. The maximum duration is 45 minutes.
• 2. The exam will be marked using a dual assessment criterion, such that to pass, a minimum of 17 questions must be answered correctly. In certain subjects, a maximum number of errors is not permitted: a) Buoyage, maximum 2 errors allowed. b) Regulations, maximum 5 errors allowed.
• 3. The distribution of questions according to the exam subjects will be done according to the following table.
  • UT Identification Number of exam questions Maximum number of errors allowed Minimum number of correct answers
  • 1 Nautical Nomenclature. 4 — — — —
  • 2 Mooring and anchoring elements. 2 — — — —
  • 3 Security 4 — — — —
  • 4 Legislation 2 — — — —
  • 5 Beacon 5 2 3 — —
  • 6 Regulations (RIPA) 10 5 5 — —
  • TOTAL EXAM 27 10 17