Careers · Deck rating
Able Seaman (AB) / Able Seafarer Deck
The Able Seaman is a skilled deck rating who keeps watches, helps keep the life-saving and fire-fighting equipment ready, and helps maintain the ship's exterior surfaces and open decks as part of the deck department.
STCW competence
A watch or a day
Watchkeeping
The certificate that gates the job
STCW II/5
The certification behind this rank
What the rules require for this role — STCW, Indian and UK implementation.
Plus the certificates every seafarer holds: medical, basic safety, security awareness, and passenger-ship training on a cruise ship.
STCW II/5
STCW II/4
watch rating
STCW V/2
serving on passenger ships (applies to all personnel)
MSN 1862 Amd 1
UK implementation of STCW II/5
MS (STCW) Rules 2014 r.34
India implementation of STCW II/5
MSN 1862 Amd 1
UK implementation of STCW II/4
MS (STCW) Rules 2014 r.33
India implementation of STCW II/4
MSN 1866 Amd 2
UK implementation of STCW V/2
MS (STCW) Rules 2014 r.55
India implementation of STCW V/2
What employers ask for
Seen across employer job postings — a guide to what recruiters look for, not a legal requirement.
STCW basic safety training
e.g. STCW 2010 · Basic Safety Training · Personal Survival
Visa (US C1/D, Schengen)
e.g. C1/D · Visa · visa · Schengen
Experience / sea time / time in rank
e.g. sea service · 12 months of shipboard experience · 1-2 years of experience · 12 months LNG experience
English / Marlins / CES test
e.g. Fluent English · English Proficiency
Tanker training / DCE (oil, chemical, gas)
e.g. DCE
Seafarer medical (ENG1 / ML5 / PEME / flag medical)
e.g. medical fitness · Seafarers Medical · medical certificate
Seaman's book / CDC / passport
e.g. passport · seaman book · Passport · Seamans book
STCW regulation cited
e.g. II/5 · II/1 · II/2 · V/2
Also known as
Where can this role take you?
See how to reach this role — and the ladder above it — in the Route Finder.