A trainee officer serving aboard ship as part of an approved maritime academy programme to gain sea service for certification.
In practice
While aboard, the cadet follows an approved training record book (TRB) that documents competencies acquired under the supervision of the master and senior officers. The ISM Code requires that cadets receive vessel-specific familiarisation training covering emergency procedures, safety equipment, and their onboard responsibilities. Under MLC 2006, cadets are entitled to the same occupational health and safety protections, work and rest hour provisions, and repatriation rights as other seafarers. Cadetships are the primary pipeline for producing certificated officers, and the quality of mentorship provided by senior officers aboard training ships materially affects the competence of the next generation of seafarers.
Regulatory detail & full definition
A cadet is a trainee officer enrolled in an approved maritime education and training programme who serves aboard ship to gain the sea service experience required for certification. STCW chapters II and III specify minimum sea service periods for deck and engine officer certificates respectively, and cadets must complete this service in an approved capacity aboard qualifying vessels. Cadets may be enrolled through maritime academies on full-time degree programmes or through company-sponsored cadetship schemes that combine academy study with structured sea time.
While aboard, the cadet follows an approved training record book (TRB) that documents competencies acquired under the supervision of the master and senior officers. The ISM Code requires that cadets receive vessel-specific familiarisation training covering emergency procedures, safety equipment, and their onboard responsibilities. Under MLC 2006, cadets are entitled to the same occupational health and safety protections, work and rest hour provisions, and repatriation rights as other seafarers. Cadetships are the primary pipeline for producing certificated officers, and the quality of mentorship provided by senior officers aboard training ships materially affects the competence of the next generation of seafarers.
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