STCW: How to obtain a certificate of competency as Master

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STCW: How to obtain a certificate of competency as Master – SAFETY4SEA

STCW: How to obtain a certificate of competency as Master

The STCW Convention provides details on the general requirements and certificates by rank. With respect to masters, the Convention clarifies which requirements concerning previous certificate & seagoing service, education & training and age should be met for masters serving on ships of 3,000 gross tonnage or 500 — 3,000 gross tonnage or less than 500 gross tonnage and the table in the end summarizes all mentioned requirements.

Maritime Knowledge | 14/08/19 Read in the series:

Ships of 3,000 gross tonnage

Masters must:

  • 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.
  • 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.

Ships of 500 — 3,000 gross tonnage

Masters must:

  • 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.
  • 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 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.

Ships of less than 500 gross tonnage

Masters must:

  • Age: be not less than 20 years of age.
  • Seagoing service: have approved seagoing service of not less than 12 months as officer in charge of a navigational watch.
  • 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.

Certificates and general requirements by rank: Master

Name of CertificateRevalidationReg.
National certificate of competence and endorsementYesI/2, II/2C/R
Flag state endorsement of recognitionYesI/10E/R
GMDSS endorsementYesIV/2C/R
Basic safety training: -Personal survival techniques -Fire prevention and fire fighting -Elementary first aid -Personal safety and social responsibilityAchieved within previous five yearsVI/1D/P
Medical first aidNoVI/4D/P
Survival craft and rescue boatsYesVI/2D/P
Advanced fire fightingYesVI/3D/P
Medical fitnessYesI/9C/R
Basic safety familiarizationOn assignmentVI/1T/O
Ship specific familiarizationOn assignmentI/14T/O
Security familiarizationOn assignmentVI/6T/O

C/R: Certificate Required

D/P: Documentary Proof

T/O: Training Onboard

E/R: Endorsement Required

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