Merchant Navy is a line of work that requires constant up-gradation of knowledge, primarily professionally. The end of maritime college just marks a slight beginning in a long tenure of academic correlation because in a highly professional field such as this, the necessity to remain at the top of the game is indispensable.
Most colleges make the cadets undergo the mandatory STCW courses. Upon graduating, there’s a host of other courses that need to be completed by cadets, for example, Oil Tanker Familiarization There’s also a fair number of courses to be completed at the end of the cadet-ship on board such as GMDSS course.
Below is a comprehensive list of the courses required to be completed by a junior officer:
1. Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) Course – It’s about radio communication and distress situations; Communication in times of distress and emergency, the equipment used and how they’re used. Urgency, distress, safety and routine communication with radio equipment on board and their overall operation. GOC is the General Operator’s certificate given to the person who successfully finishes this course.
2. Radar Observer Course (ROC/ ARPA) – This course deals with usage of the ship radar and the plotting system. Details about the user-functions of the radar are also included.
3. Elementary First Aid (EFA) – Includes knowledge of basic first aid equipment and skills required on ships.
4. Medical First Aid (MFA) – It includes detailed first aid knowledge required for ships, i.e, an enhanced version of EFA.
5. Basic Fire Fighting (BFF) – Teaches skills and requirements of basic fire fighting techniques on ships (basic fire fighting equipment and its use/operation).
6. Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF) – Advanced fire fighting skills are taught in this course (Includes advanced fire fighting equipment and its use. An enhanced version of BFF).
7. Personal Survival Techniques (PST) – Officers are taught personal survival techniques that are required at the sea (basic survival techniques and life saving appliances available on ships).
8. Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boat (PSCRB) – Provides knowledge on survival craft and rescue boat of ships (It’s an enhanced version of PST. details of lifeboat/rescue boat, MOB-boat).
9. CTF/OTF/GTF – Container/Oil/Gas tanker familiarization course – Deals with all the important aspects of each type of ship.
10. PSSR – Personal Safety and Social Responsibility – Provides knowledge required by seafarers to ensure their personal safety and social responsibility on ships.
11. ECDIS Training – As per the new STCW, the use and operation of ECDIS and its features as an enhanced navigational equipment are mandatory. This course teaches all the aspects of ECDIS course.
12. Certificate of Competency (CoC) – The 2MFG (2nd Mate’s Foreign Going) license required by deck officers to work on ships.
Apart from the above mentioned courses, the presence of a valid Medical Certificate needs to be supplemented by the deck officers. It is advisable for cadets booking their courses at a specific institute to check the validity of the course at that very institute prior to booking.
The DG Shipping website (for Indian candidates) has a list of approved training institutes and the courses they’re allowed to conduct as per the rules of the Government. It is possible that a few courses for some of the institutes are pending verification, whereas for a few others, the validity of the courses might have been withheld. It is therefore extremely necessary that deck cadets do a thorough research on the institutes, their courses and the validity to avoid unnecessary hassles and problems in future.
Are we missing any important maritime courses? Let us know.
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Photo credit : Vivek bondi ( 3rd Officer)
sunil dhakad says
pls help n sugestion to join marchant navy
ABRAHAM says
I am a Nigerian deck cadet with twelve months sea time. I wish to get my coc 2nd mate FG, I want to know about all the accredited institutions where I can get my 2nd mate fg cert.
tanks.
Capt. Brar says
Good article. Keep up the good work.
However, fails to mention SSO / STSDSD on Security which is mandatory under ISPS / STCW2010.
Gary Braden says
classes you forgot, 1. Celestrial navigation
2 . flashing light. 3. radar observer unlimited.
Gary Braden says
Sorry I forgot one, 4. Bridge resource management.
samuel says
Pls what are ther financial implications and the duration of taking the dynamic positioning course.
Steven says
Oh, I will consider this! Should I take another course to get the position? I hope my current school offers some of these courses. By the way, http://www.pntc.edu.ph/ is my school.
Muliadi says
I am muliadi from Indonesian seafarers.I have experienced deck cadet on container ship as long as twelfth months.after get experienced as deck cadet I’m continued studied and finished exam.
Now i’ve COC class III.I hope my current can get a job as well…I need information to get a job on ship as officer deck can sailing and get experienced anymore…!
Thanks
Raunek says
Have you visited our jobs section. Please submit your resume for free there =>> http://jobs.marineinsight.com/
Muhsin mp says
Pls help sugetion in joining marchent navy
Anish says
@Muship; First you need to select in which stream you want to join?
Nishan Chamling says
Is there any institute to provide short term courses about it in UAE ??
Anish says
Please post your queries in the forums: forums.marineinsight.com
Rahul says
Sir I have panama cdc with 40 moth experience. I want to do advance course for becoming officer but which academy I have to join plz suggest. How I can be a officer
Harshad Maruti Wagh says
sir I 12th Pass Student I have to join Merchant navy plz suggest.
Anish says
@Harshad: Please check this article for the complete details and process: https://www.marineinsight.com/careers-2/joining-merchant-navy-class-12th-india/
Mridul says
My age is passing to 26 …can I study any marine course and get the job??
I’m already completed 3 yr diploma in tool and die making.,and two year experience
Anish says
@Mridul: The minimum age is 17 years and the maximum is 25 years to be eligible for examinations pertaining to the merchant navy on the basis of 10+2 marks. If your diploma is equivalent to a mechanical diploma, you can try for GME course.
Hussain Siddique says
Can a male at 52 yr age join as deck officer or any other suitable job without any Marine certificate or education and experience as starter or fresher ? Pl suggest or advice. .
Anish says
@Hussain: There are age requirements and a 52 year old person is not eligible.
Yash chavan says
Sir I’m yash chavan now I’m 18 years old. Last month my operation has done of intestines because of typhoid n ulcer, n I want to join Marchant navy, there is time to start this career, in have given 10th exam this year, is there any chance to join Marchant navy, plz reply sir, I need this job.
Shinigamy says
Hi sir I am shinigamy pls I want to know if I can work at the deck department but I’m an engineering cadet is that possible ?
Anish says
No. You need deck cadet course for that.