Navigation Officers & Rating Courses

Chapter 2 of the STCW Code for Standards Regarding the Master and Deck Department (Certification) address the requirements for navigation officers and ratings.  STCW II/1 – 5 address the requirements as follows:

  1. Officers in Charge of a Navigational Watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more
  2. Masters and Chief Mates on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more
  3. Officers in Charge of a Navigational Watch and of Masters on ships of less than 500 gross tonnage, engaged on near-coastal voyages
  4. Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch
  5. Ratings as Able Seafarer Deck

The responsibilities are broadly broken up into two categories:

Management Level:

  • The Master (Mariner Master or Captain), and
  • Chief Mate

Operations Level:

  • Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW) is an operational level endorsement for the other deck officers on a sea going ship, who are called the 2nd mate or the 3rd mate or 2nd officer or the 3rd officer.
  • There are various ranks of deck ratings called the Able Seaman or AB, the Able Seafarer Deck (AS-D or AB Deck) and they are qualified ratings at the deck department on ocean going vessels

Management Level Courses – Master/Chief Mate Unlimited Tonnage

Advanced Cargo Operations

This course is required for all 2nd Mates upgrading to Chief Mate/Master and covers the following areas of study

Advanced Meteorology & Ocean Science

The Advanced Meteorology & Ocean Science course is required for an individual to upgrade their license to Chief Mate/Master, applicable to vessels greater than 3000 gross tons.

Advanced Stability

This course is required for all 2nd Mates upgrading to Chief Mate/Master. The course provides – This course is required for all 2nd Mates upgrading to Chief Mate/Master. The course provides

Advanced Watchkeeping

This course is for junior officers upgrading to Chief Mate/Master. The course provides instructions designed to provide experienced Deck Officers with advanced training and understanding

Advanced Ship Handling

This course, offered as two stand-along modules, is required for all 2nd Mates upgrading to Chief Mate/Master. Both modules must be completed successfully before a STCW compliant

Marine Propulsion Plants

This course is required for all 2nd Mates upgrading to Chief Mate/Master. The Marine propulsion Plants course is designed to give the attendee an understanding of the operation of remote controls

Operations Level Courses

Officer in Charge of Navigational Watch (OICNW-2)

This program will prepare the candidate for his/her Cadetship to obtain the sea service component and eventually qualify as a Deck Officer and sail as a third/second mate on a deep-sea vessel

Able Seaman (AB01)

This course trains candidates involved in navigation at the support level. To prepare for this role, they will – learn to keep a proper look-out by sight and hearing

Lifeboatman (LB01)

This course teaches preparation and maintenance of survival craft, embarkation of passengers and crew, launching survival craft, managing lifeboats and liferafts, using survival equipment, and saving the lives of those on board.

Lifeboatman – Limited (LB02)

This course is designed to reflect the general requirements for Lifeboatman – Limited endorsements, under 46 CFR 12.409. This is for Seafarers at the entry-level to effectively carry out all the duties that may be required of a Lifeboatman, taking charge of a rescue boat, liferaft, or other lifesaving apparatus during and after launch.