STCW certifications

STCW Rating

• Able Seafarer Deck · A-II/5 · 80h

  STCW Reg. II/5 Able Seafarer Deck rating; AB equivalent under STCW 2010.

• Able Seafarer Engine · A-III/5 · 80h

  STCW Reg. III/5 Able Seafarer Engine rating; equivalent of motorman / oiler under STCW 2010.

• Electro-Technical Rating (STCW III/7) · A-III/7

  STCW Reg. III/7 Electro-Technical Rating for engine-room electricians.

• Rating Forming Part of Engineering Watch · A-III/4 · 60h

  STCW Reg. III/4 RFPEW certificate for engine-room ratings keeping watch.

• Rating Forming Part of Navigational Watch · A-II/4 · 60h

  STCW Reg. II/4 RFPNW certificate for ratings keeping bridge lookouts.

Inland

• ADN Tankerman / Dry-Cargo · · 24h · valid 5y

  European inland waterway dangerous goods training under ADN; basic, gas, chemical specialisation tracks.

• CEVNI Endorsement · · 8h

  European Inland Waterways navigation rules endorsement (Code Européen des Voies de la Navigation Intérieure); required for transit of EU inland waterways.

• MCA Boatmaster Tier 1 · · valid 5y

  UK Boatmaster Licence Tier 1 for inland and limited estuarial passenger / cargo vessels.

STCW Advanced

• Advanced Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations · A-V/1-1-3 · 56h

  Advanced training for officers responsible for chemical tanker cargo operations, building on basic chem familiarisation. Covers IBC Code, cargo segregation, MARPOL Annex II categorisation, tank cleaning, MARPOL prewash, ODMCS.

• Advanced Fire Fighting · A-VI/3 · 32h · valid 5y

  Advanced Fire-Fighting under STCW A-VI/3 — required of officers and any rating designated to control fire-fighting operations. Covers fire-prevention strategy, fire-fighting organisation, ventilation control, fixed installations (CO2, foam, sprinkler), command of fire teams, post-fire investigation. Practical refresher every five years.

• Advanced Gas Tanker Cargo Operations · A-V/1-2-2 · 60h

  Advanced training under IGC Code for LNG/LPG carrier cargo officers. Covers cargo containment systems, BOG management, ESD-1/2, custody transfer, gassing-up/cool-down, reliquefaction.

• Tanker Cargo Operations Officer (Specialised) · A-V/1-1-2 · 56h

  STCW Reg. V/1-1 advanced training for officers in charge of cargo operations on oil tankers, going beyond the basic familiarisation course. Covers cargo handling, ballast operations, gauging, ESD, ISGOTT compliance, vapour control, COW, IGS.

Cargo Tanker

• Advanced Chemical Tanker Operations · A-V/1-1-3 · 40h · valid 5y

  Advanced Training for Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations under STCW A-V/1-1-3 — required of officers with immediate cargo responsibility on a chemical tanker. Cargo compatibility, IBC Code, tank cleaning between cargoes, vapour and slops control, MARPOL Annex II compliance.

• Advanced Liquefied Gas Tanker Operations · A-V/1-2-2 · 50h · valid 5y

  Advanced Training for Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operations under STCW A-V/1-2-2 — required of officers with immediate cargo responsibility on a gas carrier. Cargo containment systems (membrane, MOSS, type C), cargo handling design, BOG management, custody transfer, IGC Code compliance, emergency systems.

• Advanced Oil Tanker Operations · A-V/1-1-2 · 40h · valid 5y

  Advanced Training for Oil Tanker Cargo Operations under STCW A-V/1-1-2 — required of Masters, Chief Mates, Chief Engineers, Second Engineers and any officer with immediate cargo responsibility on an oil tanker. Cargo handling design and equipment, loading and discharge with focus on stress and stability, inert-gas systems, tank cleaning, COW, vapour return.

• Basic Liquefied Gas Tanker Familiarization · A-V/1-2-1 · 24h

  Basic Training for Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operations under STCW A-V/1-2-1 — minimum requirement for any seafarer with designated cargo duties on a gas carrier (LNG, LPG, ethylene, ammonia). Cargo properties, IGC Code overview, cargo containment systems, basic operations, emergencies.

• Basic Tanker Familiarization (Oil & Chemical) · A-V/1-1-1 · 24h

  Basic Training for Oil and Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations under STCW A-V/1-1-1 — minimum requirement for any seafarer with designated cargo duties on an oil or chemical tanker. Cargo properties, hazards, basic operations, fire prevention, emergencies. Pre-requisite for the advanced endorsements.

STCW Refresher

• Advanced Fire Fighting (Refresher) · A-VI/3 · 16h · valid 5y

  5-yearly refresher in advanced fire fighting for officers controlling fire-fighting operations.

• Medical Care On Board (Refresher) · A-VI/4-2 · 16h

  Periodic refresher for designated medical-care officer on board; addresses telemedicine, MFAG updates, advanced life support.

• Medical First Aid (Refresher) · A-VI/4-1 · 8h

  Recommended periodic refresher in medical first aid, although STCW does not mandate the interval.

• Polar Code Basic Refresher · A-V/4 · 16h · valid 5y

  Refresher for masters, chief mates and OOWs on ships in polar waters; reinforces STCW V/4 basic competencies in ice navigation, hull stress in ice, polar emergencies.

• Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats (Refresher) · A-VI/2-2 · 16h · valid 5y

  5-yearly refresher for FRB operators; covers updates to launch and recovery procedures, casualty handling.

• Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boat (Refresher) · A-VI/2-1 · 16h · valid 5y

  5-yearly refresher in operation of survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats; ongoing professional competence per STCW 2010.

• Ro-Ro Passenger Ship Crowd Management Refresher · A-V/2 · 8h · valid 5y

  5-yearly refresher for crew on ro-ro passenger ships covering crowd management, crisis management, evacuation, and passenger safety per STCW Reg. V/2.

• Tanker Safety Refresher · A-V/1-1-2 · 16h · valid 5y

  Periodic refresher for tanker officers covering updates to ISGOTT, MARPOL, ESD, IGC Code where applicable.

Alternative Fuels

• Ammonia as Fuel — Awareness · · 16h

  Ammonia as marine fuel — emerging course aligned with the IGF Code amendments under development at IMO MSC 110+ (expected entry-into-force mid-2020s). Toxicity, leak detection, scrubber requirements for slip, double-walled fuel piping, bunkering protocol. Course content varies by training provider during the transition.

• IGF Code — Liquefied Gas as Fuel · A-V/3 · 24h · valid 5y

  Basic / Advanced Training for service on ships subject to the IGF Code under STCW A-V/3 — required of crew on LNG-fuelled (or other low-flashpoint-fuelled) vessels. Cargo properties, fuel-storage and supply systems, leak and fire response, bunkering procedure, IGF Code structure.

• Methanol as Fuel — Awareness · · 16h

  Methanol as marine fuel — course aligned with IGF Code Part B-1 (MSC.539(107) — adopted 2023, entered into force 2024). Flashpoint and explosion characteristics, double-walled piping and bunkering, fire detection and suppression, crew training requirements under STCW V/3.

National

• AMSA Australia CoC · · valid 5y

  Australian Maritime Safety Authority CoC under Marine Order 70/71/72; STCW-compliant.

• DG Shipping India CoC (NCV/CoC) · · valid 5y

  Government of India Directorate General of Shipping Certificate of Competency; STCW-aligned, common origin for Indian seafarers worldwide.

• DGMM Spain CoC · · valid 5y

  Dirección General de la Marina Mercante CoC; Spanish flag-state STCW certification.

• MARINA Philippines CoC · · valid 5y

  Philippine Maritime Industry Authority CoC; primary certification body for Filipino seafarers under STCW.

• Sjøfartsdirektoratet CoC (Norway) · · valid 5y

  Norwegian Maritime Authority CoC; STCW-compliant, recognised on most international flags.

• Transport Canada CoC · · valid 5y

  Transport Canada Marine Certification under TP 2293; STCW-compliant for Canadian seafarers.

• USCG Able Seaman Unlimited · · valid 5y

  USCG Able Seaman rating unlimited; STCW A-II/4 / A-II/5 endorsement available.

• USCG Master ≤1,600 GRT · · valid 5y

  United States Coast Guard Master licence for vessels up to 1,600 GRT (3,000 ITC); STCW endorsement available for international voyages.

• USCG Master ≤3,000 GT · · valid 5y

  USCG Master licence ≤3,000 GT; STCW Reg. II/2 endorsement available.

• USCG Tankerman-PIC · · 40h · valid 5y

  Person In Charge tanker endorsement on a USCG MMC; required for transferring liquid cargo on US tank vessels and barges.

Security

• Anti-Piracy & BMP-5 · · 8h

  BMP5 / piracy-area transit preparation — for Masters and Chief Mates planning transits of high-risk areas (Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Guinea, southern Red Sea). UKMTO/MDAT-GoG reporting, citadel use, hardening measures, armed-guard interface (PCASP), post-incident debrief and IMB reporting.

Inspection

• ASNT NDT Level II · · 80h · valid 5y

  American Society for Non-Destructive Testing Level II qualification (UT, MT, PT, RT, ET); required for class-required NDT.

• Class-Approved UTM Operator · · valid 5y

  Class-society approval (DNV, LR, BV, ABS, ClassNK) for ultrasonic thickness measurement firms / operators carrying out class-required hull gaugings.

• CSWIP 3.1 Welding Inspector · · 80h · valid 5y

  TWI Certification Scheme for Welding Inspectors Level 3.1; widely required for shipyard QA/QC and class-witnessed welding.

Environment

• Ballast Water Management · · 16h

  Ballast Water Management training — required by the BWM Convention (in force 2017) for officers responsible for BWM operations. BWMS operation, sampling and reporting, BWMP execution, port-state checks under D-2 standard, exemption regimes (D-1 exchange where still permitted).

• Oil Spill Response (IMO Level 1) · · 16h

  Oil Spill Response training — required of crew designated to operate the ship's SOPEP (Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan) under MARPOL Annex I Reg 37. Scope of SOPEP, response equipment onboard, reporting under Article 8 of MARPOL, interface with shore response (OSRO) and flag-state authorities.

STCW Basic

• Basic Safety Training · A-VI/1 · 40h · valid 5y

  Basic Safety Training under STCW A-VI/1 — four mandatory modules: personal survival techniques (PST), fire prevention and fire-fighting (FPFF), elementary first aid (EFA), and personal safety and social responsibilities (PSSR). Required of every seafarer with designated duties on a sea-going ship. Refresher in PST and FPFF every five years; EFA and PSSR are one-time.

Navigation

• Bridge Resource Management · A-II/1, A-II/2 · 32h · valid 5y

  Bridge Resource Management (BRM) / Bridge Team Management under STCW A-II/1 and A-II/2. Human-element course covering leadership, situational awareness, communication, error-trapping, fatigue management, decision-making under pressure. Required for OOW and Master ranks; commonly refreshed every five years as part of CoC revalidation.

• ECDIS Generic Training · A-II/1, A-II/2 · 40h · valid 5y

  ECDIS generic training under STCW A-II/1 and IMO Model Course 1.27 — required of every deck OOW serving on a vessel that uses ECDIS as the primary means of navigation. Generic ECDIS theory and operational use; type-specific (vendor) training is a separate requirement before joining a ship with an unfamiliar ECDIS model.

• ECDIS Type-Specific Familiarisation · A-II/1, A-II/2 · 8h · valid 5y

  Type-specific (vendor) ECDIS familiarisation — required by the ISM Code for any officer joining a vessel with an unfamiliar ECDIS model, in addition to the generic ECDIS course (STCW A-II/1). Typically a 1- or 2-day vendor course (Furuno, JRC, Transas / Wartsila, Sperry, Kongsberg, Raytheon) or an equivalent CBT module backed by onboard familiarisation.

• Radar / ARPA Management Level · A-II/2 · 40h · valid 5y

  Radar and ARPA at the management level under STCW A-II/2 — required of Master and Chief Mate. Builds on operational level: management of multi-target encounters, use of ARPA in restricted visibility, integration with ECDIS and AIS, vetting of ARPA performance after installation.

• Radar / ARPA Operational Level · A-II/1 · 40h · valid 5y

  Radar Navigation and ARPA at the operational level under STCW A-II/1 — required of OOW. Range and bearing accuracy, target acquisition, true-vector vs relative-vector display, parallel indexing, anti-collision use of ARPA, performance limits. Often delivered with bridge simulator hours per IMO Model Course 1.07.

• Ship Handling Simulator — Deck · A-II/2 (recommended) · 40h · valid 5y

  Ship Handling Simulator course (deck) — non-STCW but required by many flag states and by most pilot authorities for Master and Chief Mate. Covers manoeuvring characteristics, pivot point, squat, bank effect, tug operations, port-approach planning. Typically 5 days at an accredited simulator.

• UK MCA OOW Unlimited · A-II/1 · valid 5y

  UK MCA Certificate of Competency (Deck) — issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency under the UK transposition of STCW. Pathway: cadet → OOW (STCW II/1) → Chief Mate (II/2) → Master Unlimited (II/2). Five-year validity with sea-time + medical revalidation.

Engineering

• BWMS Operator (OEM-Specific) · · 16h

  Manufacturer-specific BWMS operator training (Alfa Laval PureBallast, Optimarin, Wärtsilä Aquarius UV/EC).

• EGCS / Scrubber Operator · · 24h

  OEM-specific training on operation and maintenance of exhaust gas cleaning systems; required by some flag states under MARPOL Annex VI scrubber inspection regime.

• Engine Room Resource Management · A-III/1, A-III/2 · 32h · valid 5y

  Engine Room Resource Management under STCW A-III/1 and A-III/2 — engine-room counterpart to BRM. Watchkeeping team coordination, leadership, decision-making under engine-room emergencies, communication with bridge during failure events. Required for engineer OOW and management-level engineers.

• High Voltage Management Level · A-III/2 · 32h

  Management-level competence in HV systems for chief engineers per STCW Reg. III/2 amendments.

• High Voltage Safety & Operations · A-III/1, A-III/2 · 35h · valid 5y

  High Voltage Operation and Safety under STCW A-III/2 (operational and management level) — required of engineers serving on vessels with HV (>1 kV) installations. Electrical safety isolation, switching procedures, arc-flash hazards, permit-to-work systems for HV work, switchgear maintenance.

• Two-Stroke Engine Maintainer (MAN ES / WinGD) · · 40h

  OEM-issued course (e.g. MAN PrimeServ Academy, WinGD Training) on operation and maintenance of low-speed two-stroke main engines.

• UK MCA Engineer Officer of the Watch (EOOW) · A-III/1 · valid 5y

  UK MCA Certificate of Competency (Engine) — issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency under the UK transposition of STCW. Pathway: cadet → OOW Engine (STCW III/1) → Second Engineer (III/2) → Chief Engineer Unlimited (III/2). Five-year validity with sea-time + medical revalidation.

• Wärtsilä Medium-Speed Engine Course · · 40h

  OEM training (Wärtsilä Land & Sea Academy) on 4-stroke medium-speed diesel engines used in OSVs, ferries, smaller cargo ships.

Vetting

• CDI Marine Inspector · · 80h · valid 2y

  CDI accreditation for chemical-tanker inspectors; covers IBC Code, CDI questionnaire, tank cleaning verification.

• OCIMF SIRE 2.0 Inspector Accreditation · · 80h · valid 3y

  OCIMF accreditation for SIRE 2.0 tanker inspectors; rigorous assessment with 3-yearly revalidation.

• RightShip Inspector · · 40h · valid 3y

  RightShip accredited bulker inspector; conducts pre-fixture inspections and supports the dry-bulk vetting database.

Management

• Company Security Officer · A-VI/5 · 24h

  ISPS Code Part B 13 Company Security Officer training; covers risk assessment, ship security plan approval, audit oversight.

• Designated Person Ashore Training · · 24h

  ISM Code Section 4 DPA training; required before assuming the Designated Person role linking ship and shore management.

Passenger Ships

• Crisis Management & Human Behaviour (Passenger Ships) · A-V/2 · 16h · valid 5y

  Crisis Management and Human Behaviour training for personnel serving on passenger ships under STCW A-V/2-2 — for officers with passenger-safety responsibility. Crowd dynamics in emergencies, casualty management, communications under pressure, multi-language announcements.

• Crowd Management, Passenger Safety & Safety Training · A-V/2 · 16h · valid 5y

  Crowd Management training for personnel serving on passenger ships under STCW A-V/2 — for all crew who assist passengers in emergencies. Crowd dynamics, evacuation procedures, communicating with passengers, lifesaving-appliance operation. Required for any rank rostered to a muster station role.

• Passenger Safety, Cargo Safety & Hull Integrity (Passenger Ships) · A-V/2 · 16h · valid 5y

  Familiarisation training for personnel serving on passenger ships under STCW A-V/2-1 — required of every crew member on a passenger vessel. Vessel layout, evacuation routes, passenger assistance, life-jacket donning instruction.

STCW Lifeboat

• Davit-Launched Liferaft Operations · A-VI/2-1 · 8h · valid 5y

  Davit-launched liferaft operation — required where the ship's lifesaving appliances include davit-launched liferafts (typical on offshore standby vessels and many passenger ships). Launching, recovery, weight-testing, davit maintenance.

• Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats · A-VI/2-2 · 28h · valid 5y

  Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats under STCW A-VI/2-2 — qualifies the holder to take charge of a fast rescue boat (offshore standby vessels, ferries with FRBs). Surf launch and recovery, righting after capsize, search patterns, casualty recovery. Practical refresher every five years.

• Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats · A-VI/2-1 · 32h · valid 5y

  Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats under STCW A-VI/2-1 — qualifies the holder to take charge of a survival craft or rescue boat in an abandon-ship situation. Launching, recovery, stability, sea-anchor, location signals, helicopter pickup. Practical refresher every five years.

Dynamic Positioning

• DP Advanced (Nautical Institute) · · 40h

  Dynamic Positioning Advanced (Phase 4) per the IMO Nautical Institute scheme — for officers who hold the Limited DP certificate and require Unlimited. Advanced FMEA review, capability plots, drive-off and drift-off, IMCA M 117 / MTS DP guidance.

• DP Induction (Nautical Institute) · · 40h

  Dynamic Positioning Induction (Phase 1) per the IMO Nautical Institute scheme — entry-level DP course for officers serving on DP class 1, 2 or 3 vessels. Theory of DP system architecture (sensors, references, thrusters, power), watch responsibilities, FMEA basics. Followed by 60 days of DP sea time and the DP Simulator (Phase 2) before logbook accreditation.

STCW Officer

• Electro-Technical Officer (STCW III/6) · A-III/6 · valid 5y

  STCW Reg. III/6 Electro-Technical Officer CoC; specialist electrical / electronic officer rank introduced 2010.

Safety

• Enclosed Space Entry & Rescue · A-VI/1 · 8h

  Enclosed Space Entry under SOLAS III/19 (the 2015 amendment introduced mandatory drills) — required of every seafarer who enters or rescues from an enclosed space. Atmospheric testing (O2, LEL, H2S, CO), permit-to-work, breathing apparatus, communication, rescue equipment, mandatory drill every two months.

• Enclosed Space Rescue (Specialised) · · 16h · valid 2y

  Specialist enclosed-space-rescue training for designated rescue team members; goes beyond the SOLAS III/19 enclosed-space entry drill.

• First Aid + AED · · 8h · valid 3y

  Basic first-aid + Automated External Defibrillator certificate; supplements but does not replace STCW medical first aid.

• Hot Work Safety & Permits · · 8h

  Hot Work training under SOLAS II-2/10 and the company's Permit-To-Work system — required of any crew who carry out welding, grinding, or open-flame work onboard. Risk assessment, hot-work permit issuance, fire watch organisation, gas freeing of confined spaces, isolation of paint and hydrocarbon stores. Typically refreshed annually as part of company SMS drills.

• IOSH Managing Safely · · 24h

  Institution of Occupational Safety and Health Managing Safely course; common refresher for shore-side managers and ship superintendents.

• IOSH Working Safely · · 8h

  Entry-level IOSH HSE course for all employees; common terminal-side requirement.

• NEBOSH International General Certificate · · 80h

  Internationally recognised HSE qualification; widely required of marine superintendents, terminal supervisors, port HSE staff.

• SCBA Cylinder Inspector / Tester · · 16h · valid 5y

  Competence to test and recharge self-contained breathing apparatus cylinders aboard ship; usually a manufacturer-issued certificate.

Radio

• General Operator's Certificate (GMDSS) · A-IV/2 · 84h · valid 5y

  GMDSS General Operator Certificate under STCW A-IV/2 and ITU Radio Regulations Article 47 — mandatory for any officer designated to operate the GMDSS suite on a vessel in any sea area (A1, A2, A3, A4). DSC distress alerting, MF/HF and Inmarsat-C / FleetBroadband / Iridium operation, NAVTEX, EPIRB and SART maintenance.

• Restricted Operator's Certificate (GMDSS) · A-IV/2 · 35h · valid 5y

  GMDSS Restricted Operator Certificate under STCW A-IV/2 — for vessels operating only in sea area A1 (within VHF coverage of a coast station). Limited to VHF DSC distress alerting and routine VHF traffic; a vessel sailing into A2/A3/A4 requires a GOC holder onboard.

Offshore

• Helicopter Approach Manoeuvre / Hoist Operations · · 8h

  Helicopter Approach and Manoeuvring training — for OOW on vessels that receive helicopter visits. Bridge procedures during helicopter approach, communication with the pilot, course and speed orders, rescue-net and winching protocols.

• Helicopter Landing Officer (HLO) · · 40h · valid 2y

  Helicopter Landing Officer — non-STCW; required by OPITO and most North Sea / Brazilian / Australian offshore operators for personnel supervising helicopter operations on a vessel with a helideck. Pre-flight checks, deck-party briefing, fire-fighting in the event of crash, refuelling supervision, passenger handling.

STCW Management

• Human Element, Leadership and Management — Management · A-II/2, A-III/2 · 32h · valid 5y

  Human Element, Leadership and Management at the management level under STCW A-II/2 and A-III/2 — required of Master, Chief Mate, Chief Engineer, Second Engineer. Strategic leadership, organisational culture, change management, mentoring, performance assessment of subordinates.

• Human Element, Leadership and Management — Operational · A-II/1, A-III/1 · 24h · valid 5y

  Human Element, Leadership and Management at the operational level under STCW A-II/1, A-III/1, A-VII/2 — required of all OOW. Workload and resource management, decision-making under pressure, leadership style, motivation, conflict handling. Often combined with BRM/ERM in delivery.

Port

• IALA V-103/2 VTS Supervisor · · 80h · valid 5y

  International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation V-103/2 supervisor course for Vessel Traffic Service shift supervisors.

• IALA V-103/3 VTS On-the-Job Trainer · · 40h · valid 5y

  IALA V-103/3 OJT trainer course for senior VTS operators conducting structured on-the-job training of new VTSOs.

• Port Facility Security Officer · · 32h

  ISPS Part A 17 PFSO training; required for the named security officer at every regulated port facility.

Professional

• IMarEST Chartered Marine Engineer / Technologist ·

  Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology chartered status (CMarEng / CMarTech / CMarSci).

• Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Diploma ·

  ICS Professional Qualifying Examinations / Diploma; pathway to MICS/FICS chartered status.

• Lloyd's MII Marine Insurance Certificate ·

  Lloyd's Maritime Institute introductory marine insurance certificate; recognised qualification for marine cargo / hull underwriters and brokers.

• Nautical Institute Fellowship / Membership ·

  Nautical Institute professional membership (AFNI, MNI, FNI); requires demonstrated experience and CPD.

Subsea

• IMCA Air Diving Supervisor · · 80h

  IMCA D 014 Diving Supervisor certificate for surface-supplied air diving; required for offshore supervisor work.

• IMCA Life Support Technician · · 80h

  IMCA D 013 LST scheme for technicians operating saturation diving life-support systems.

• IMCA Saturation Diver · · 240h

  Closed-bell saturation diver — IMCA D 015 logbook scheme; pre-eminent qualification for deep offshore work.

• IMCA Trainee ROV Pilot Technician · · 40h

  International Marine Contractors Association R 002 logbook scheme for trainee ROV Pilot Technicians; demonstrates competence to industry standard.

Pilot

• IMO Pilot Training Category A · · 240h

  Pilot training meeting IMO Resolution A.960(23) recommendations; common minimum for entry-level pilots in many ports.

Working at Height

• IRATA Level 1 Rope Access · · 40h · valid 3y

  International Rope Access Trade Association Level 1 technician certificate; common requirement for hull/derrick/wind turbine inspection.

Compliance

• ISM Internal Auditor · · 24h

  ISM Internal Auditor training — non-STCW; required by company QSE/SMS to qualify auditors for internal SMS audits under ISM Code Element 12. Audit planning, evidence collection, non-conformity reporting, root-cause analysis, audit-trail documentation. Refresher cadence is set by the company DPA.

• ISPS Internal Auditor · · 16h

  ISPS Internal Auditor training — required by the company SSP to qualify auditors for the annual ISPS internal audit (ISPS Code A/13). Often delivered together with the ISM auditor course.

• MLC 2006 Onboard Compliance · · 8h

  MLC 2006 Port State Control awareness — for Masters, Chief Officers, and Designated Persons Ashore. Reviews the MLC inspection process under Regulation 5.2 and Standard A5.2.1, the role of the DMLC Part I/II, the onboard complaints procedure under A5.1.5, and the typical PSC officer focus areas (rest hours, recruitment fees, accommodation, food, wages).

Auditor

• ISO 14001 Lead Auditor · · 40h · valid 3y

  Lead Auditor for environmental management systems; relevant to ship operators tracking ISO 14001 EMS for vetting.

• ISO 45001 Lead Auditor · · 40h · valid 3y

  Lead Auditor for occupational health & safety management systems; relevant to ship operators with integrated SHEQ systems.

• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor · · 40h · valid 3y

  IRCA-registered Lead Auditor course for ISO 9001 quality management systems; common for shipyard, manning agency, port-facility QMS.

• MLC 2006 Lead Auditor · · 40h · valid 3y

  Lead Auditor course covering ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 inspection regime; used by RSO surveyors.

Cyber

• ISO 27001 Information Security Lead Implementer · · 40h · valid 3y

  Information security management system implementer; relevant since IMO Resolution MSC.428(98) on cyber-risk management in SMS.

• Maritime Cyber Risk Management · · 16h · valid 3y

  Training aligned with IMO MSC.428(98) and BIMCO Guidelines on Cyber Security On Board Ships v.4 (2020).

Lifting

• LOLER Thorough Examination Competent Person · · 40h

  UK competent-person training for thorough examination of lifting equipment under LOLER 1998; widely accepted for shipboard cargo gear examination under ILO C152.

• OPITO Banksman & Slinger · · 16h · valid 2y

  Competence training for personnel directing crane lifts and slinging loads on offshore installations.

• OPITO Stage 3 Crane Operator · · 80h · valid 2y

  OPITO Stage 3 competence-based assessment for offshore crane operators; covers static and dynamic lifts, personnel transfer, cargo handling.

Yacht

• MCA Master <200 GT (Yacht) · · valid 5y

  UK MCA Master licence for commercial yachts under 200 GT; STCW-recognised.

• MCA Master <3000 GT (Yacht) · · valid 5y

  UK MCA Master licence for large yachts up to 3000 GT.

• MCA Master <500 GT (Yacht) · · valid 5y

  UK MCA Master licence for commercial yachts under 500 GT; widely held in superyacht industry.

• RYA / MCA Yachtmaster Offshore · · valid 5y

  Royal Yachting Association coastal/offshore Yachtmaster certificate; commercially endorsed via MCA for yachts <200 GT in commercial use.

• RYA Yachtmaster Ocean · · valid 5y

  Highest RYA leisure-side certificate; ocean-going celestial navigation and full astro sight.

STCW Medical

• Medical Care · A-VI/4-2 · 48h · valid 5y

  Medical Care under STCW A-VI/4-2 — required of every Master and any officer designated to take charge of medical care onboard. Builds on MEDFA: anatomy and physiology, advanced patient assessment, medication administration including controlled drugs, suturing and minor procedures, ship medical inventory under STCW Code, MEDEVAC and TMAS protocols. Refresher every five years.

• Medical First Aid · A-VI/4-1 · 24h · valid 5y

  Medical First Aid under STCW A-VI/4-1 — for seafarers designated to provide medical first aid onboard. Patient assessment, immediate trauma and medical emergencies (cardiac, stroke, sepsis, drowning), use of the ship medical guide and TMAS consultation, MEDEVAC coordination. Refresher every five years.

DP

• Nautical Institute DP Limited Certificate · · valid 5y

  DP Operator certificate limited to DP Class 1 vessels; intermediate scheme bridging DP Induction and full DP Operator.

• Nautical Institute DP Maintenance Course · · 40h

  Five-day course for ETOs and electricians maintaining DP control systems; required for those issuing DP work permits or troubleshooting DP equipment.

• Nautical Institute DP Revalidation · · 32h · valid 5y

  5-yearly DP Operator revalidation by either 150+ days DP sea time, an approved DP simulator course, or an NI assessment.

Offshore Survival

• OPITO BOSIET · · 24h · valid 4y

  OPITO Standard 5750 Basic Offshore Safety Induction & Emergency Training: 3-day course including HUET, fire, escape, first aid; mandatory for new offshore travellers worldwide.

• OPITO FOET · · 8h · valid 4y

  OPITO Further Offshore Emergency Training: 1-day refresher for BOSIET, required every 4 years to remain valid for offshore travel.

• OPITO H2S Perimeter · · 8h · valid 2y

  Hydrogen-sulphide awareness and escape training for personnel working in sour environments; covers detection, escape sets, casualty handling.

• OPITO Minimum Industry Safety Training · · 16h · valid 2y

  Industry-standard induction for personnel new to UKCS oil and gas installations; covers hazards, control of work, manual handling, working at height.

• OPITO Offshore Tropical Survival · · 16h · valid 4y

  Offshore tropical survival training including helicopter ditching, life raft, sea survival in warm-water environments.

• OPITO Tropical HUET · · 16h · valid 4y

  Helicopter Underwater Escape Training tailored for tropical / warm-water regions; common requirement for SE Asia, West Africa, Brazil offshore work.

Offshore Management

• OPITO OIM Controlling Emergencies · · 40h · valid 3y

  Offshore Installation Manager command-and-control simulator assessment for major emergencies; required for OIMs on UKCS installations.

Polar

• Polar Code Advanced Training · A-V/4-2 · 35h · valid 5y

  Advanced Training for service on ships operating in polar waters under STCW A-V/4-2 — required for Master and Chief Mate of ships operating in polar waters. Advanced ice navigation, POLARIS risk-assessment, PWOM, search-and-rescue in polar conditions, ice-class limitations and operating restrictions.

• Polar Code Basic Training · A-V/4-1 · 30h · valid 5y

  Basic Training for service on ships operating in polar waters under STCW A-V/4-1 — required for officers serving on ships that operate in polar regions under the Polar Code. Ice and weather hazards, safe operation in low-temperature environments, ice-class limitations, crew-cold-weather safety.

STCW Welfare

• Prevention of Bullying and Harassment (2026 STCW Update) · A-VI/1 (2026 Amendment) · 8h

  Prevention of Bullying and Harassment training introduced under the 2026 STCW comprehensive review — mandatory for every seafarer once national administrations transpose. Covers definitions, reporting routes (onboard procedure under MLC 5.1.5, DPA, flag administration, ITF, ISWAN), the Master's responsibilities, and confidentiality protections. Schedule and rollout vary by flag state during the transition period.

Cargo

• Refrigerated Cargo Handling · · 24h

  Refrigerated Cargo Operations — non-STCW but required by major reefer-trade operators. Refrigeration cycle, cargo physiology, set-point and dew-point control, controlled-atmosphere (CA) cargoes, pre-trip inspection of integral reefer containers, plug-in/clip-on patterns on container ships.

• Shore Tank Cleaning Certified Operator · · 24h · valid 5y

  Specialist tank-cleaning certificate (e.g. STASCO, Miracle) for chemical cargo cleanings; required by many vetting departments.

STCW Security

• Security Awareness Training · A-VI/6-1 · 4h

  Security Awareness training under STCW A-VI/6-1 — required of every seafarer working on a ship subject to ISPS. Covers threat recognition, suspicious-package handling, communications, and the seafarer's role in maintaining the SSP. Mandatory across the fleet; one-time training but companies often refresh with annual security drills.

• Security-Related Training for Seafarers with Designated Security Duties · A-VI/6-2 · 8h

  Security-related training for seafarers with designated security duties under STCW A-VI/6-2. For crew assigned a SSP role beyond awareness — gangway watch, screening, restricted-area control. One-time training; no formal refresher.

• Ship Security Officer · A-VI/5 · 16h · valid 5y

  Ship Security Officer under STCW A-VI/5 — appointed in writing by the Company under ISPS A/12 and accountable to the Master for ship security. Maintains the Ship Security Plan (SSP), conducts security drills and exercises, audits security at the three security levels, liaises with the CSO and the PFSO. No formal refresher required, but companies typically renew with the SSP.

Catering

• Ship's Cook Certificate ·

  MLC 2006 Reg. 3.2 ship's cook certificate; required for cooks on ships ≥10 crew operating internationally.

Tanker

• SIRE 2.0 Inspector Familiarisation · · 8h

  OCIMF SIRE 2.0 inspector or vetting-coordinator preparation — for senior officers preparing a vessel for a SIRE 2.0 inspection. Covers the eight HVPQ chapters, the Person-Specific element, observation grading, the inspector reporting workflow, common findings and how to evidence corrective action.

Fishing

• STCW-F Basic Safety (Fishing) · · 40h · valid 5y

  Basic safety training for fishing vessel personnel under STCW-F 1995, distinct from STCW A-VI/1 BST.

• STCW-F Engineer Fishing Vessel · · valid 5y

  Certificate of competency for engineers of fishing vessels under STCW-F 1995.

• STCW-F Master Fishing Vessel · · valid 5y

  Certificate of competency for masters of fishing vessels under STCW-F 1995 (entered force 2012).

Shore-based

• Vessel Traffic Services Operator (V-103/1) · · 80h

  VTS Operator training — for personnel staffing a Vessel Traffic Service centre ashore (not for ship's officers). IMO Resolution A.857(20), IALA V-103/1 syllabus. Outside the seafarer scope; included here for completeness.

STCW certifications: FAQ

What is STCW?

The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) is the IMO convention that sets minimum mandatory training and certification standards for seafarers worldwide. STCW is the framework under which national maritime administrations (MCA, USCG, DGS-India, MARINA, etc.) issue Certificates of Competency and STCW certificates. The current convention is STCW 1978 as amended through the 2010 Manila amendments and subsequent updates.

Are STCW certificates issued by one country valid in another?

Yes — STCW certificates are internationally recognised, but for a seafarer to serve as an officer on a vessel of a different flag, the flag administration must issue an endorsement (or Certificate of Recognition) confirming acceptance of the seafarer's CoC. Our /flags pages list the endorsement procedure for each flag where available.

How long is an STCW certificate valid?

Most STCW certificates of competency are valid for 5 years, with revalidation requiring evidence of recent sea service and refresher training in safety modules (advanced fire-fighting, GMDSS, etc.). Specific validity is on the certification detail pages. Plan your refresher courses before the expiry date — lapsed certificates may require re-sitting the full course.

Where can I take an STCW course?

Use the country filters on the /certifications hub or the dedicated /training-centres directory to find approved providers near you. The flag administration of your seaman's book also publishes a list of accepted providers; not every domestic course is accepted by every flag, so check before paying.

Who needs the Basic Safety Training (BST)?

Every seafarer with designated duties on a sea-going ship needs BST — the STCW A-VI/1 package of personal survival, fire-fighting, first aid, and personal safety. PSSR and EFA modules are one-time; PST and FPFF require refresher training every 5 years.