MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Master Mariners and Deck Officers are responsible for the navigation of the ship, the loading/discharge of cargo, voyage planning, radio communication, environmental issues, health and safety issues, administration duties and the control/safety of the crew and passengers.

Masters, also known as Captains, are in overall command of the ship and are responsible for the safety, efficiency and commercial feasibility of the ship. Their duties are navigational at sea, whilst in ports they are responsible for cargo operations. Working under the Master is the Chief Officer (Chief Mate), Second Officer (2nd Mate), Third Officer (3rd Mate) and Trainee Deck Cadet Officer.

Certification Requirements

All must be valid, including those that previously had no expiry date:

• Certificate of Competency or Certificate of Equivalent Competency – specified to rank and flag of vessel
• GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress Safety System)
• ENG1 or equivalent Medical

Basic Training

• STCW Personal Survival Techniques
• STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities
• STCW Elementary First Aid
• STCW Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
• Proficiency in Security Awareness
• Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (Designated Security Duties training is now increasingly required by certain companies)

Advanced Training

• Proficiency in Medical First Aid or Proficiency in Medical Care
• Proficiency in Advanced Fire Fighting
• Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSC & RB) other than Fast Rescue Boats
• Radar and ARPA Simulator Training – Management Level
• Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS)
  It is becoming almost universally necessary that evidence of ECDIS Training be provided, either by means of a separate Training Certificate or by a Certificate of Competency issued after 01/01/2017 which does not include a “no ECDIS” endorsement.

Marine Engineers ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the ship’s mechanical and electrical equipment on-board, including carrying out repairs, inspections and maintenance programmes of propulsion systems, refrigeration machinery, desk machinery and passenger systems. They also manage power, fuelling and distributions systems.

The Chief Engineering Officer is in charge of the engineering department and is responsible for working of all equipment on-board be it electrical, mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic. They supervise the work of the engine room and are assisted by a team of engineers including the Second Engineering Officer, Third Engineer, Junior Engineer and Trainee Engineering Officer/Cadet.

Certification Requirements

All must be valid, including those that previously had no expiry date.

• Certificate of Competency or Certificate of Equivalent Competency – specified to rank and flag of vessel
• ENG1 or equivalent Medical

Basic Training

• STCW Personal Survival Techniques
• STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities
• STCW Elementary First Aid
• STCW Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
• Proficiency in Security Awareness
• Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (Designated Security Duties training is now increasingly required by certain companies)

Advanced Training

• Proficiency in Medical First Aid
• Proficiency in Advanced Fire Fighting
• Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSC & RB) other than Fast Rescue Boats

It is becoming increasingly necessary that evidence of High Voltage Training be provided, either by means of a separate Training Certificate or by a Certificate of Competency issued after 01/01/2017 which does not include a “no High Voltage” endorsement.

Electro-Technical Officers (ETOs) are responsible for the maintenance and testing of all electrical equipment on-board ships, including engine room, bridge systems, refrigeration, and passenger areas. ETO’s play a particularly important role when working on cruise ships where they are required to manage all electrical equipment of the ship and passenger areas.

Certification Requirements

All must be valid including those that previously had no expiry date.

• Certificate of Competency Electro Technical Officer (From 2017 it is essential for all ETO’s to hold an ETO CoC – please review the MCA website for further information)
• ENG1 or equivalent Medical

Basic Training

• STCW Personal Survival Techniques
• STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities
• STCW Elementary First Aid
• STCW Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
• Proficiency in Security Awareness
• Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (Designated Security Duties training is now increasingly required by certain companies)

Advanced Training

• Proficiency in Medical First Aid
• Proficiency in Advanced Fire Fighting
• Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSC & RB) other than Fast Rescue Boats

It is becoming increasingly necessary that Electro-Technical Officers hold also High Voltage Training.

An Able Seaman (AB) or Efficient Deck Hand (EDH) work as an unlicensed member of the deck department. Deck ratings are responsible for cleaning, sweeping, chipping of rust, polishing, etc. They help in loading and unloading of cargo and in port they assist in the mooring of the ship as well as taking a watch at sea. They are also members of the emergency team, lifesaving, damage control, and safety equipment.

Certification Requirements

All must be valid including those that previously had no expiry date.

• Efficient Deck Hand (EDH)
• Able Seaman certificate
• Navigational Watch Rating Certificate
• ENG1 or equivalent Medical

Basic Training

• STCW Personal Survival Techniques
• STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities
• STCW Elementary First Aid
• STCW Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
• Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSC & RB) other than Fast Rescue Boats
• Proficiency in Security Awareness
• Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (Designated Security Duties training is now increasingly required by certain companies)

Motormen are responsible for day to day cleaning, repair and routine maintenance of the engine room on-board the ship.

Certification Requirements

All must be valid including those that previously had no expiry date.

• Certificate of Proficiency Able Seafarer (Engine Room)
• Certificate of Proficiency Watch Rating (Engine Room)
• Certificate of Proficiency Electro Technical Rating (Engine Room)
• ENG1 or equivalent Medical

Basic Training

• STCW Personal Survival Techniques
• STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities
• STCW Elementary First Aid
• STCW Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
• Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSC & RB) other than Fast Rescue Boats
• Proficiency in Security Awareness
• Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (Designated Security Duties training is now increasingly required by certain companies)

This department is responsible for serving food to the crew and passengers, cleaning accommodation and public areas and serving customers on passenger vessels. The department is headed by the Chief Purser / On-board Services Manager who is in charge of the Cooks and Stewards.

Certification Requirements

All must be valid including those that previously had no expiry date.

• ENG1 or equivalent Medical

Basic Training

• STCW Personal Survival Techniques
• STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities
• STCW Elementary First Aid
• STCW Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
• Proficiency in Security Awareness
• Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (Designated Security Duties training is now increasingly required by certain companies)
• Basic Food Safety & Hygiene or HACCP trainings are now increasingly required, but not a minimum requirement.

Cooks are responsible for preparing all meals for the crew and passengers on board the ship.

Certification Requirements

All must be valid including those that previously had no expiry date.

• Ships Cook Certificate
• ENG1 or equivalent Medical

Basic Training

• STCW Personal Survival Techniques
• STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities
• STCW Elementary First Aid
• STCW Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
• Proficiency in Security Awareness
• Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSC & RB) other than Fast Rescue Boats sometimes required
• Medical Care sometimes required
• Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (Designated Security Duties training is now increasingly required by certain companies)
• Basic Food Safety & Hygiene or HACCP trainings are now increasingly required, but not a minimum requirement.

UK Ship’s Cooks Certificates issued under the Merchant Shipping (Certificate of Ships Cooks) Regulations 1981 (and any equivalent certificates under the same regulations, issued by UK establishments) may be issued with a UK (MLC 2006) Ship’s Cooks Certificate on completion of the following additional training:

• Food Safety in Catering
• Cultural and Religious Catering Requirements
• Dietary Requirements of Shift Workers

It is an increasing requirement from many companies that some Ranks (and in some cases all Ranks) hold additional qualifications related to passenger services, these include;

Safety Training for Personnel providing  direct service to passengers in passenger spaces A-V/2-2    – for all staff providing direct passenger  service  – to be certificated, but no need to revalidate; can be ship specific and done onboard

Crowd Management  A-V/2-3  – for all staff designated on the Muster list to assist passengers – can be ship-specific and done on board; but must be certificated and refreshed every five years – either by course or by proof of relevant sea-service during previous 5 years

Crisis Management A-V/2-4 – for  Masters, C/O’s, C/E’s, 2/E’s and all others designated on the Muster list as having responsibility for the safety of passengers  – shore (or Company approved trainer) course required, certificated, with revalidation every 5 years – has to be shore refresher course, unless employing Companies are authorised to revalidate

Passenger safety, cargo safety, and hull integrity training A-V/2-5 – for all assigned immediate responsibility for loading and discharging passengers and cargo etc. on ro-ro vessels – can be ship-specific by Company approved trainer or shore course , certificated, with revalidation every 5 years