Careers · Deck officer
Third Officer (Third Mate)
The Third Officer is a junior watchkeeping officer who keeps a safe navigational watch at sea, at anchor and in port, and supports the Safety Officer and Navigation Officer. They report to the Captain, the Staff Captain and the Chief Navigator.
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.
STCW basic safety training
e.g. STCW 2010 · STCW certificates
Certificate of Competency / licence
e.g. Certificate of Competency · CoC · License
Experience / sea time / time in rank
e.g. in rank · 21 years old Preferred Experience · 2-4 years of experience · 6 months' experience
Security awareness / designated duties / SSO
e.g. ISPS
English / Marlins / CES test
e.g. Marlins · Fluent English · English Proficiency
Visa (US C1/D, Schengen)
e.g. Visa · C1/D · visa
Vaccinations (yellow fever, COVID…)
STCW regulation cited
e.g. II/1 · II/2
Where can this role take you?
Map your next certificate: your rank, sea time and certificates in; the next step and its requirements out.