Careers · Deck officer
Second Officer (Second Mate)
The Second Officer is a certificated watchkeeping officer who keeps a safe navigational watch at sea, at anchor and in port. They assist with navigation, safety equipment and safety training, and support the Safety Officer and Navigation Officer under the Master's or Staff Captain's instructions.
STCW competence
A watch or a day
Watchkeeping
The certificate that gates the job
STCW II/1
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/1
STCW V/2
serving on passenger ships (applies to all personnel)
MSN 1856 Amd 1
UK implementation of STCW II/1
MS (STCW) Rules 2014 r.20
India implementation of STCW II/1
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.
Certificate of Competency / licence
e.g. Certificate of Competency · License · license · CoC
STCW basic safety training
e.g. STCW certificates · STCW 2010 · Basic training · STCW 95
OOW / EOOW
e.g. OOW · Officer of the watch · Officer of the Watch
English / Marlins / CES test
e.g. Marlins · English Proficiency · fluent in English · Fluent English
Experience / sea time / time in rank
e.g. 21 years old Preferred Experience · 2-4 years of experience · 2 years) Experience · in rank
STCW regulation cited
e.g. II/2 · II/1
Security awareness / designated duties / SSO
e.g. ISPS
USPH / VSP knowledge
e.g. USPH
Where can this role take you?
Map your next certificate: your rank, sea time and certificates in; the next step and its requirements out.