STCW regulations explained

Regulations relevant to certificates of competency

RegulationMeaning
Mandatory training for certification of Officer in charge of a navigation watch on ships of 500 gross
Regulation
tonnage or more. The holder of a Certificate of competency has completed approved education and
II/1
training that meets the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/1 of the STCW Code.
Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of Masters and Chief mates on ships of 500 gross
tonnage or more. The holder of a Certificate of competency has completed approved education and
training and has met the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/2 of the STCW Code for
Regulation Master and Chief mates on ships over 500 gross tonnage.
II/2
The standard of education and training for Master and Chief mates serving on ships between 500 and
3000 gross tonnage may be varied. The holder of a Certificate of competency for service on ships less
than 3000 gross tonnage is restricted to the capacities and limitations listed on their certificate.
Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of Officers in charge of a navigational watch and
Regulation Masters on ships of less than 500 gross tonnage engaged on near coastal voyages. The holder of a
II/3 Certificate of competency has completed approved education and training that meets the standard of
competence specified in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code.
Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of Ratings forming part of a navigational watch. The
Regulation
holder of this certificate of rating meets the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/4 of the
II/4
STCW Code.
Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of Ratings as Able seafarer deck. The holder of this
Regulation
certificate of Rating as Able seafarer deck meets the standard of competence specified Section A-II/5 of
II/5
the STCW Code.
Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of Officers in charge of an engineering watch in a
Regulation manned engine room or designated duty engineers in a periodically unmanned engine room. The holder
III/1 of a Certificate of competency has completed approved education and training that meets the standard of
competence specified in Section A-III/1 of the STCW Code.
Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of Chief engineer and Second engineer officers on
Regulation ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3000 kilowatts propulsion power or more. The holder
III/2 of a Certificate of competency has completed approved education and training and meets the standard of
competence specified in Section A-III/2 of the STCW Code.
Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of Chief engineer officers and Second engineer
Regulation officers power by main propulsion machinery between 750 kilowatts and 3000 kilowatts. The holder of
III/3 a Certificate of competency has completed approved education and training and meets the standard of
competence specified in Section A-III/3 of the STCW Code.
Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of Ratings forming part of a watch in a manned
Regulation
engine room or designated to perform duties in a periodically unmanned engine room. The holder of this
III/4
certificate of Rating meets the standard of competence specified in Section A-III/4 of the STCW Code.
Regulation Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of Ratings as Able seafarer engine in a manned
III/5 engine room or designated to perform duties in a periodically unmanned engine room. The holder of this
certificate of Rating as Able seafarer engine meets the standard of competence specified Section A-III/5
RegulationMeaning
of the STCW Code.
Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of Electro-technical officers. The holder of a
Regulation
Certificate of competency has competed approved education and training and meets the standard of
III/6
competence specified in Section A-III/6 of the STCW Code.
Regulation Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of Electro-technical ratings. The holder of this
III/7 certificate as Rating meets the standard of competence specified in Section A-III/7 of the STCW Code.
Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of GMDSS radio operators. The holder of a
Regulation
certificate has completed approved education and training and meets the standard of competence
IV/2
specified in Section A-IV/2 of the STCW Code.

Regulations relevant to endorsements and short

courses
Regulation Meaning
Oil and chemical tanker familiarisation
Regulation
V/1-1 (1 and The holder of this endorsement has completed approved basic training in oil and chemical tanker
2) operations that meets the standard of competence specified in Section A-V/1-1, paragraph 1 of the
STCW Code.
Advanced training for oil tanker cargo operations
Regulation
V/1-1 (3 and The holder of this endorsement has completed approved advanced training for oil tanker cargo
4) operations that meets the standard of competence specified in Section A-V/1-1, paragraph 2 of the
STCW Code.
Advanced training for chemical tanker cargo operations
Regulation
V/1-1 (5 and The holder of this endorsement has completed approved advanced training for chemical tanker cargo
6) operations that meets the standard of competence specified in Section A-V/1-1, paragraph 3 of the
STCW Code.
Liquefied gas tanker familiarisation
Regulation
V/1-2 (1 and The holder of this endorsement has completed approved basic training for liquefied gas tanker cargo
2) operations that meets the standard of competence specified in Section A-V/1-2, paragraph 1 of the
STCW Code.
Advanced training for liquefied gas tanker cargo operations
Regulation
V/1-2 (3 and The holder of this endorsement has completed approved advanced training for liquefied gas tanker
4) cargo operations that meets the standard of competence specified in Section A-V/1-2, paragraph 2 of
the STCW Code.
Regulation Mandatory minimum requirements for the training and qualifications of Masters, Officers, Ratings
V/2 and other personnel on passenger ships
Levels of training
1. Masters, Officers and other personnel designated on muster lists to assist passengers in emergency
situations on board passenger ships shall have completed training in crowd management as specified
Regulation Meaning
in Section A-V/2, paragraph 1 of the STCW Code.
2. Personnel providing direct service to passengers in passenger spaces on board passenger ships shall
have completed the safety training specified in Section A-V/2, paragraph 2 of the STCW Code.
3. Masters, Officers and every person designated on muster lists shall have completed approved
training in crisis management and human behaviour as specified in Section A-V/2, paragraph 3 of the
STCW Code.
4. Masters, Officers and every person assigned immediate responsibility for embarking and
disembarking passengers, loading, discharging or securing of cargo, or closing hull openings on board
Roll on Roll off (ro-ro) passenger ships shall have completed approved training in passenger safety
and hull integrity as specified in Section A-V/2, paragraph 4 of the STCW Code.
Basic training for the International code of safety for ships using gases or other low-flashpoint fuels
(IGF vessels)
Regulation
V/3 (4 and 5) The holder of this endorsement has completed approved basic training for IGF fuel operations on IGF
Code vessels that meets the standard of competence specified in Section A-V/3, paragraph 1 of the
STCW Code.
Advanced training for the International code of safety for ships using gases or other low-flashpoint
fuels (IGF vessels)
Regulation
V/3 (7 and 8) The holder of this endorsement has completed approved advanced training for IGF fuel operations on
IGF Code vessels that meets the standard of competence specified in Section A-V/3, paragraph 2 of
the STCW Code.
Basic safety training
Mandatory minimum requirements for safety familiarisation, basic safety training and instruction for
all seafarers. The holder of this certificate has completed basic training and instruction in accordance
with Section A-VI/1, paragraph 2 of the STCW Code.

Regulation This basic safety training requires completion of four short courses:
VI/1
1. Personal survival techniques as set out in Table A-VI/1-1
2. Fire prevention and firefighting as set out in Table A-VI/1-2
3. Elementary first aid as set out in Table A-VI/1-3
4. Personal safety and social responsibilities as set out in Table A-VI/1-4.
Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats
Regulation The holder of this endorsement has completed approved training in survival craft and rescue boats,
VI/2 (1) other than fast rescue boats, that meets the standard of competence set out in Section A-VI/2,
paragraphs 1 to 4 of the STCW Code.
Proficiency in fast rescue boats
Regulation
VI/2 (2) The holder of this endorsement has completed approved training in fast rescue boats that meets the
standard of competence set out in Section A-VI/2, paragraphs 7 to 10 of the STCW Code.
Advanced Fire Fighting
Regulation
VI/3 The holder of this endorsement has completed approved training in advanced firefighting that meets
the standard of competence set out in Section A-VI/3, paragraphs 1 to 4 of the STCW Code.
Regulation Meaning
Medical First Aid
Regulation
VI/4 (1) The holder of this endorsement has completed approved training in medical first aid that meets the
standard of competence specified in Section A-VI/4, paragraphs 1 to 3 of the STCW Code.
Medical care on board ships
Regulation
VI/4 (2) The holder of this endorsement has completed approved training in medical care on board ships that
meets the standard of competence specified in Section A-VI/4, paragraphs 4 to 6 of the STCW Code
Ship Security Officer
Regulation
VI/5 The holder of this endorsement has completed approved training for ship security officer that meets
the standard of competence set out in Section A-VI/5, paragraphs 1 to 4 of the STCW Code.
Security awareness
Regulation The holder of this endorsement has completed approved training in familiarisation and security
VI/6 (1) awareness that meets the standard of competence set out in Section A-VI/6, paragraph 4 of the STCW
Code.
Designated security duties
Regulation
VI/6 (4) The holder of this endorsement has completed approved training in designated security duties that
meets the standard of competence specified in Section A-VI/6, paragraphs 6 to 8 of the STCW Code.
Electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS)
The ECDIS competencies are contained Table A-II/1 and Table A-ll/2 of the STCW Code.
Regulation
II/1 ll/2 Evidence of ECDIS training is mandatory for service on ships fitted with ECDIS.
AMSA passport style certificates contain an ECDIS endorsement. AMSA Plastic card certificates
contain a statement – Valid for ships fitted with ECDIS.