Careers · Galley / catering
Messman (Mess Attendant)
The Messman (Mess Attendant) supports the crew's daily needs by keeping the crew mess clean and helping serve meals. On cargo ships the role also covers housekeeping, laundry, helping the cook prepare food, managing provisions and disposing of waste properly.
A watch or a day
Day work
The certificate that gates the job
STCW V/2 (serving on passenger ships (applies to all personnel))
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 V/2
serving on passenger ships (applies to all personnel)
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.
Visa (US C1/D, Schengen)
e.g. C1/D · Visa · US VISA
Food hygiene / HACCP / ship's cook certificate
e.g. food safety
STCW basic safety training
e.g. STCW 2010
Seafarer medical (ENG1 / ML5 / PEME / flag medical)
e.g. medical certificate
Vaccinations (yellow fever, COVID…)
e.g. Yellow fever
Seaman's book / CDC / passport
e.g. Passport · Seamans book
Also known as
Where can this role take you?
See how to reach this role — and the ladder above it — in the Route Finder.