SEAFARERS CERTIFICATION – DEFINITIONS / STCW;
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended, sets the standards of competence for seafarers internationally.
Seafarers Certifications
The term ‘certificates’ covers all official documents required under STCW. It includes certificates of competence, endorsements, certificates of proficiency, and any documentary evidence showing that a requirement of the convention has been met.
Seafarers Certifications are important as they are the main paper evidence you have on hand to prove that your level of maritime education and training, your length of service at sea, your professional competence, medical fitness and age all comply with STCW standards.
Certificate of competence | Seafarers Certification
This certificate is issued to captains, officers, radio operators and ratings that form part of a watch that meets standards competence related to their specific functions and levels Responsibility on board.
Endorsement | Seafarers Certification
A document issued to masters and officers as part of the certificate or as a separate document. It certifies (confirms) that the national certificate has been issued in accordance with all STCW requirements. However, due to the ongoing problem of fraudulently issued certificates, the amended 2010 STCW Convention has made significant changes to regulation I/2 to tighten the approval process.
Recognition approval | Seafarers Certification
This certificate is issued by one authority to formally recognize the validity of a certificate issued by another authority. This procedure is necessary as many merchant ships employ seafarers who are certified by other administrations.
Certificates of proficiency | Seafarers Certification
These are documents issued to the seafarer to certify that he or she has met the required standard of competence in a specific duty. These certficates include certificates for personnel serving on certain types of ship (tankers, and passenger ships) and for those assigned with safety, security and pollution prevention duties.
Documentary evidence | Seafarers Certification
This is a document which is not necessarily issued or recognised by the administration. Documents issued by the shipowner or master of the vessel to attest that the seafarer has participated in a safety drill or has completed some type of training are examples of documentary evidence. It is important to keep these documents since they are one of the accepted ways of demonstrating that you have achieved proficiency in a given task.
Before you join a ship;
Make sure you have all the valid certificates you need to cover the functions you will be performing on board. This documentary evidence is proof of your competence and will be subject to inspection by the master, flag state and port state inspectors.
To obtain an STCW certificate you first need to successfully complete a training programme approved by the issuing administration or to complete a period of approved seagoing service.
General requirements for officers | Seafarers Certification
If you are an officer, you must meet minimum requirements in respect of standards of competence, seagoing service time, medical fittness and age. You should be in possession of a valid certificate of competence according to your rank and functions on-board.
Seafarers Certification
General requirements to obtain a certificate of competency as master
Masters on ships of 3,000 gross tonnage or more must
a) Previous certificate & seagoing service: meet requirements for certification as an officer in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more and have at least 36 months approved seagoing service in that capacity; however, this period may be reduced to not less than 24 months if not less than 12 months of such seagoing service has been served as chief mate.
b) Education & Training: have completed a period of approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in section A-II/2 of the STCW Code for masters on ships of 3,000 gross tonnage or more
Masters on ships of 500 — 3,000 gross tonnage must:
Previous certificate & seagoing service:
Education & training | Seafarers Certification
Have completed a period of approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in section A-II/2 of the STCW Code for masters on ships of between 500 and 3,000 gross tonnage.
Note: The same requirements apply for masters on ships of less than 500 gross tonnage not engaged on near-coastal voyages.
Masters on ships of less than 500 gross tonnage must:
a) Age: be not less than 20 years of age.
b) Seagoing service: have approved seagoing service of not less than 12 months as officer in charge of a navigational watch.
c) Education & Training: have completed a period of approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in section A-II/3 of the STCW Code for masters on ships of less than 500 gross tonnage engaged in near-coastal voyages.
General requirements to obtain a certificate of competency as chief mate
Chief mates on ships of 3,000 gross tonnage or more must:
a) Previous certificate & seagoing service: meet requirements for certification as an officer in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more and have at least 12 months approved seagoing service in that capacity.
b) Education & Training: have completed approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in section A-II/2 of the STCW Code for masters and chief mates on ships of 3,000 gross tonnage or more.
Chief mates on ships of 500 — 3,000 gross tonnage must:
Education & training | Seafarers Certification
Have completed a period of approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in section A- II/2 of the STCW Code for masters and chief mates on ships of between 500 and 3,000 gross tonnage.
Note: The master and chief mate competencies now include bridge resource management and require leadership, teamwork and management skills.
General requirements to obtain a certificate of competency as officer in charge of a navigational watch
Officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more must:
a) Age: be not less than 18 years of age.
b) Seagoing service: have approved seagoing service of not less than one year as part of an approved training programme, including onboard training. This training must meet the requirements of section A-II/1 of the STCW Code and be documented in an approved training record book. Otherwise, the seafarer must have approved seagoing service of not less than 36 months.
c) Bridge watch-keeping duties: have performed, during the required seagoing service, bridge watch-keeping duties under the supervision of the master or a qualified officer for a period of not less than six months.
d) Radio duties: meet the applicable requirements of the regulations in chapter IV (GMDSS), as appropriate, for performing designated radio duties in accordance with the radio regulations.
e) Education and Training: have completed a period of approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in section A-II/1 of the STCW Code.
Officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships of less than 500 gross tonnage must:
Ships not engaged on near-coastal voyages:
a) Certificate: hold an appropriate certificate for ships of 500 gross tonnage or more.
Ships engaged on near coastal voyages:
a) Age: be not less than 18 years of age.
b) Seagoing service: have completed special training, including an appropriate period of seagoing service as required by the administration, or approved seagoing service in the deck department of not less than 36 months.
c) Radio duties: meet the applicable requirements of the regulations in chapter IV (GMDSS), as appropriate, for performing designated radio duties in accordance with the Radio Regulations.
d) Education & training: have completed a period of approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in section A-II/3 of the STCW Code for officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships of less than 500 gross tonnage engaged in near-coastal voyages.
General requirements to obtain a certificate of competency as a rating forming part of a navigational watch
Applies only for service on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more.
The rating must:
a) Age: be not less than 16 years of age.
b) Seagoing service: have completed approved seagoing service, including not less than six months’ training and experience, or
c) Education & training: have received special training, either pre-sea or onboard ship, including an approved period of seagoing service which shall not be less than two months; and
d) Competence: meet the standard of competence specified in section A-II/4.
General requirements to obtain a certificate of competency as an able seafarer deck
Applies only for service on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more.
The rating must:
a) Age: be not less than 18 years of age.
b) Meet the requirements for certification as a rating forming part of a navigational watch.
c) Seagoing service: have completed 18 months approved seagoing service in the deck department, or 12 months and completed approved training.
d) Education & training: onboard training documented in a training book or approved training ashore with a minimum of 12 months sea service.
e) Competence: meet the standard of competence specified in section A-II/5.
Note: There are also alternative training options for integrated ratings in A-VII/2, and seafarers should make enquires with their national administrations.
General requirements to obtain a certificate of competency as a GMDSS operator
a) Age: be not less than 18 years of age.
b) Education & training: have completed a period of approved education and training and meet the standard of competence.
General requirements to obtain a certificate of competency as a chief engineer
Chief engineer officers on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW propulsion power or more must:
a) Previous certificate & seagoing service: meet the requirements for certification as an officer in charge of an engineering watch and have not less than 36 months approved seagoing service, of which not less than 12 months shall have been served as an engineer officer in a position of responsibility while qualified to serve as second engineer officer.
b) Education & training: have completed approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in section A-III/2 of the STCW Code.
Chief engineer officers on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW propulsion power or more must:
a) Previous certificate & seagoing service: meet the requirements for certification as an officer in charge of an engineering watch and have not less than 24 months approved seagoing service, of which not less than 12 months shall have been served while qualified to serve as second engineer officer.
b) Education & training: Have completed approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in section A-III/3 of the STCW Code.
General requirements to obtain a certificate as a second engineer
Second engineer officers on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW propulsion power or more must:
a) Previous certificate & seagoing service: meet the requirements for certification as an officer in charge of an engineering watch and have not less than 12 months approved seagoing service as assistant engineer officer or engineer officer.
b) Education & training: have completed approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in section A-III/2 of the STCW Code.
Second engineer officers on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW — 3,000 kW propulsion power must:
a) Previous certificate & seagoing service: meet the requirements for certification as an officer in charge of an engineering watch and have not less than 12 months approved seagoing service as assistant engineer officer or engineer officer.
b) Education & training: have completed approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in section A-III/3 of the STCW Code.
Note: The chief engineer and second engineer competencies now include engine resource management and require leadership, teamwork and management skills.
General requirements to obtain a certificate of competency as an officer in charge of an engineering watch
Officers in charge of an engineering watch in a manned engine-room or designated duty engineers in a periodically unmanned engine-room (750 kW propulsion power or more) must:
a) Age: be not less than 18 years of age.
b) Seagoing service: have completed not less than 12 months of combined workshop skills training and approved seagoing service of which not less than 6 months shall be seagoing service as part of an approved training programme or; not less than 36 months of combined workshop skills training and approved seagoing service of which not less than 30 months shall be seagoing service in the engine department. This must be documented in an approved training record book.
c) have performed, during the required seagoing service, engine-room watch-keeping duties under the supervision of the chief engineer or a qualified engineer officer for a period of not less than six months.
d) Education & training: have completed approved education and training and meet the standards of competence specified in section A-III/1 of the STCW Code.
General requirements to obtain a certificate of competency as an electro-technical officer
Electro-technical officers serving on a seagoing ship powered by a main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more must be:
a) Age: not less than 18 years of age.
b) Seagoing service: have completed not less than 12 months of combined workshop skills training and approved seagoing service of which not less than six months shall be seagoing service as part of an approved training programme or;
not less than 36 months of combined workshop skills training and approved seagoing service of which not less than 30 months shall be seagoing service in the engine department. This must be documented in an approved training record book.
c) Education & training: have completed approved education and training programme meeting the standards of competence specified in section A-III/6 of the STCW Code.
General requirements to obtain a certificate of competency as a rating forming part of a watch in a manned engine-room or designated to perform duties in a periodically unmanned engine room
Applies only for service on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more.
The rating must | Seafarers Certification
a) Age: be not less than 16 years of age.
b) Seagoing service: have completed approved seagoing service including not less than six months training and experience, or
c) Education & training: special training, either pre-sea or onboard ship, including an approved period of seagoing service which shall not be less than two months; and
d) meet the standard of competence specified in section
General requirements to obtain a certificate of competency as an able seafarer engine
Applies only for service on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more.
The rating must | Seafarers Certification
a) Age: be not less than 18 years of age.
b) Meet the requirements for certification as a rating forming part of a engine watch.
c) Seagoing service: have completed 12 months approved seagoing service in the deck department, or six months and completed approved training.
d) Education & training: onboard training documented in a training book or approved training ashore with a minimum of 12 months sea service.
e) Competence: meet the standard of competence specified in section A-III/5.
Note;
There are also alternative training options for integrated ratings in A-VII/2 and seafarers should make enquires with their national administrations.
General requirements to obtain a certification as a electro-technical rating
Electro-technical rating serving on a seagoing ship powered by a main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more must be:
a) Age: be not less than 18 years of age.
b) Seagoing service: have
– completed approved seagoing service including not less than 12 months training and experience, or
– completed approved training, including an approved period of seagoing service which shall not be less than six months or,
– qualifications that meet the technical competences in table A-III/7 and an no less than three months approved period of seagoing service.
This must be documented in an approved training record book.
c) Education & training: education and training programme meeting the standards of competence specified in section A-III/7 of the STCW Code.
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