Shipping is a well regulated industry conforming to international and national standards which include navigation, engineering, operations, ship construction, equipment, safety, radio communications, pollution prevention, security, manning levels, and seafarer qualifications and training. All seafarers must be appropriately qualified as either an officer or rating for service on board a merchant ship.
International standards are developed and defined by a United Nations Agency called the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which has over one hundred and sixty member countries representing the vast majority of the world's merchant shipping. IMO establishes international standards through a number of Conventions which are agreed by the member countries.
Individual countries implement IMO conventions through their own national legislation. In the case of the UK the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) of the Department for Transport is the regulatory body for the UK shipping industry.
The IMO convention dealing with seafarer qualifications and training is known as STCW which stands for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. The Department for Transport and MCA define these requirements for the UK through various Merchant Shipping Acts, Statutory Instruments (regulations), and other more detailed notices and publications.
The MCA issues certificates of competency and other qualifications required for service at sea. The MCA and Merchant Navy Training Board approve programmes leading to these certificates, the required education and training usually being delivered through the national education and qualification system.
Deck Officer Qualifications
There are three levels of deck officer certificates of competency awarded by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) -
Master (Captain)
Chief Mate
Deck Officer of the Watch
The first level of certificate is Officer Of The Watch to which the cadet programmes lead. For the award of this certificate a number of elements must be completed, namely sea service, practical training ashore and on board ship, and various academic studies in nautical science. These components are, in most cases, delivered in the form of nationally recognised EDEXCEL/BTEC or SQA Higher National Diplomas (HND) in Nautical Science, or B.Sc. Degrees in the same subject areas, complemented in all cases by appropriate National or Scottish Vocational Qualifications in Marine Vessel Operations. The broad range of subjects covered in these qualifications include -
- Navigation
- Ship construction and stability
- Meteorology
- Cargo work and operations
- Radio communications
- Marine Engineering
- Emergency response
- Marine law
- Management
- Business
- Seamanship
- Shipboard safety
- Medical
- Firefighting
- Survival craft
The HND's and Degrees cover most of the academic requirements for Chief Mate and Master certificates of competency, although some further study and exams are necessary for the award of these higher certificates.
Engineer Officer Qualifications
There are three levels of engineer officer certificates of competency awarded by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) –
Chief Engineer
Second Engineer
Engineer Officer of the Watch
The first level of certificate is Officer Of The Watch to which the cadet programmes lead. For the award of this certificate a number of elements must be completed, namely sea service, practical training ashore and on board ship, and various academic studies in marine or mechanical engineering. Engineer Officer certificates may be either steam or motor (the majority being motor) depending on the type of main propulsion of the ships on which sea service and training has been completed. These components are, in most cases, delivered in the form of nationally recognised EDEXCEL/BTEC or SQA Higher National Diplomas (HND) in marine or mechanical engineering, or B.Sc. Degrees in the same subject areas, complemented in all cases by appropriate National or Scottish Vocational Qualifications in Marine Engineering Operations. The broad range of subjects covered in these qualifications include -
- Mathematics
- Engineering science
- Propulsion and power systems
- Mechanical plant and processes
- Electrical and electronics
- Instrumentation and control
- Pnuematics and Hydraulics
- Naval architecture and design
- Engineering drawing
- Workshop skills
- Management
- Shipboard safety
- Medical
- Firefighting
- Survival craft