2.

2.3
Table 2 Deck Officer Certificate Structure II/2
Master
* Note The total watchkeeping sea service required between an OOW (unlimited) and Master (unlimited) certificate of

illustrated in Table 2 below.

Further information on the various requirements for progression to each level of certification is
(see Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1692(M) or subsequent amendments).
issued to ease the transition between the existing standards and those of STCW 95
Under transitional arrangements, additional categories of deck officer certificates may be
unlimited
competency being awarded is 36 months. For VQ candidates this may be reduced to 24 months if the candidate
II/2 Oral A
completes 12 months watchkeeping sea service as Chief Mate after qualifying for the Chief Mate (unlimited) II/2
certificate of competency. Candidates not following the VQ route must complete 18 months watch keeping sea service Master
after qualifying for the Chief Mate (unlimited) II/2 certificate of competency. less than 3,000gt unlimited
more than 3,000gt near-coastal

VQ see note*
II/3 Master II/2 Exam
less than 3,000gt 12 months Ch Mate 18 months
Master
Domestic passenger vessels only within a or
II/1 more than 500gt
specified area. 24 months OOW
OOW near-coastal
Oral H unlimited Oral G Nil
12 months sea service in operating area II/2
required before issue of this certificate Chief Mate
VQ 12 months unlimited
Nil E&T ‘D’ plus Oral B
Exam 18 months

6 months
II/3 E&T II/2
E&T ‘C’
Master ‘B’ Nil Chief Mate Nil
less than 500gt more than 3,000gt
4

near-coastal 6 months near-coastal

Oral D E&T ‘C’ plus Oral F

VQ 12 months VQ 12 months
VQ 12 months
Exam 18 months Exam 18 months
Exam 18 months
VQ 12 months
II/2 II/3 Master II/2
Exam 18 months
Chief Mate less than 500gt Chief Mate
12 months less than 3,000gt near-coastal less than 3,000gt
near-coastal unlimited
OralD Oral D
12 months
6 months
Nil 12 months
6 months

II/3 II/1
OOW less than 500gt OOW
near-coastal unlimited
E&T ‘A’ plus Oral E E&T ‘A’ + ‘B’ plus Oral C

Key: E&T = Education and Training

ENTRY POINT Oral = MCA oral examination