Careers · Engineer officer
First Engineer
On cruise ships the First Engineer ranks below the Staff Chief Engineer. At some companies the role keeps an engine-room watch and leads machinery operations; at Royal Caribbean it covers safety systems and deck machinery, is on call around the clock for emergencies and is normally exempt from watchkeeping.
STCW competence
A watch or a day
Watchkeeping
The certificate that gates the job
STCW III/2 (cruise rank above 2nd Engineer — confirm CoC level per brand)
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 III/2
cruise rank above 2nd Engineer — confirm CoC level per brand
STCW V/2
serving on passenger ships (applies to all personnel)
MSN 1857 Amd 1
UK implementation of STCW III/2
MS (STCW) Rules 2014 r.36
India implementation of STCW III/2
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.
Certificate of Competency / licence
e.g. License · COC · Certificate of Competency · CoC
STCW regulation cited
e.g. III/2
STCW basic safety training
e.g. STCW 95 · Basic Safety Training
USPH / VSP knowledge
e.g. Public Health · USPH
Advanced fire fighting
e.g. Advanced Fire Fighting · Advanced Fire fighting
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.