Careers · Deck officer
Chief Officer (Chief Mate)
The Chief Officer (Chief Mate) is second in command of the vessel. They assist the Master in emergencies and in implementing company policies and the Safety Management System, keep a navigational watch, and maintain the vessel's stability and trim. On offshore DP vessels the Chief Officer also acts as Senior DP Operator.
STCW competence
A watch or a day
Watchkeeping
The certificate that gates the job
STCW II/2
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/2
STCW V/2
serving on passenger ships (applies to all personnel)
MSN 1856 Amd 1
UK implementation of STCW II/2
MS (STCW) Rules 2014 r.21
India implementation of STCW II/2
MS (STCW) Rules 2014 r.24
India implementation of STCW II/2
MSN 1866 Amd 2
UK implementation of STCW V/2
MS (STCW) Rules 2014 r.55
India implementation of STCW V/2
MSN 1858 Amd 2
UK yacht CoC, valid on yachts only; owner: a commercial STCW CoC supersedes it (no yacht ticket needed if held)
What employers ask for
Seen across employer job postings — a guide to what recruiters look for, not a legal requirement.
Experience / sea time / time in rank
e.g. in rank · 24 months experience · 12 months Rank experience · 12 months in rank
Visa (US C1/D, Schengen)
e.g. C1/D · Visa · visa · US Visa
Certificate of Competency / licence
e.g. COC · Certificate of Competency · License · license
Vaccinations (yellow fever, COVID…)
e.g. Vaccin
Security awareness / designated duties / SSO
e.g. ISPS · Ship Security Officer
STCW basic safety training
e.g. STCW 2010 · STCW Certificates
English / Marlins / CES test
e.g. Marlins · English language
Power / tonnage limit (kW, GT)
e.g. 93193 GT · 4500 GT · 44639 GT
Also known as
Where can this role take you?
Map your next certificate: your rank, sea time and certificates in; the next step and its requirements out.