Basic Requirements

This page will give you some very basic information to enable you to obtain sea service, and gives an example of the skill-sets and academic requirements that an engineer will require in order to qualify as an Officer of the Watch, and obtain a Certificate of Competency.

Prior to going to sea, candidates will have to complete the following 4 STCW '95 (Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping) basic safety training courses at an MCA approved training provider:

• Personal Survival Technicques (STCW Code A-VI/1-1)
• Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (STCW Code A-VI/1-2)
• Elementary First Aid (STCW Code A-VI/1-3)
• Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (STCW Code A-VI/1-4)

Prior to going to sea, candidates will also have to obtain a "Sefarers Medical Certificate (ENG 1)" from an MCA approved doctor.

Please visit the Download Centre for a list of medical standards and approved doctors.

Candidates will have to complete 6 months sea service whether following the Vocational Qualification (VQ) route, or not. This service must be carried out in the Engine Room Department of a Merchant Ship, 4 months of which must be in a watchkeeping capacity as an Assistant to the Engineer Officer of the Watch.

At the end of each period of sea service, candidates will be issued with a testimonial from the Chief Engineer Officer and the relevant ship's stamp in your Discharge Book or on a Certificate of Discharge. These must be kept in a safe place as they will have to be presented with your application for the STCW '95 Engineer Officer of the Watch (EOOW) Certificate of Competency, and any subsequent certificate applications you make.

During this period, you will have to complete one of the following:

• If following the VQ route - NVQ/SVQ level 3 in Merchant Vessel Engineering sea phase portfolio.
• If following the non-VQ route - International Shipping Federation (ISF) "onboard Training Record Book for Engineer Cadets".

• If following the VQ route - Short NVQ/SVQ level 3 in Merchant Vessel Engineering at anMCA approved training provider.
• If following the non-VQ route - MCA approved education leading to a pass in the IAMI ritten EOOW examinations.

Candidates will have to complete a period of engineering workshop training at an MCA approvied training provider. During this period you will have to satisfy the competency requirements of the Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) Engineering Workshop Skills STCW operational level.

Prior to going to obtaining your EOOW certificate of competency, you will have to complete the following 3 STCW '95 advanced safety training courses at an MCA approved training provider:

• Proficiency in a Survival Craft and Rescue Boat (PSC&RB) (STCW A-VI/2-1)
• Training in Advanced Fire Fighting (STCW A-VI/3)
• Proficiency in Medical First Aid  (STCW A-V/4-1)

Once you have satisfactorily completed these requirements, you can apply for a Notice of Eligibility (NOE) to sit the EOOW oral examination with an MCA examiner at a marine office of your choice.

When you make an application, you must include your sea service testimonials and safety training certificates, all of which must be originals.