Rating progression: Able Seafarer Deck
Official reference: TEAP Part A II/15 · Rule 34
A deck watch rating (R-NW) becomes Able Seafarer Deck after further sea service in the deck department with on-board training in the rating training record book, shorter with an approved training course.
Where this route can take you
Who can apply
Each requirement is summarised from the official publication linked beside it — follow the link for the exact wording.
Holds the R-NW certificate of proficiency
TEAP manual, Part A ↗Holds the Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (R-NW) certificate of proficiency.
Step by step
- 1
Sea service in the deck department after R-NW
At least 18 months in the deck department after the R-NW certificate.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 2
…or shorter with an approved training course
The approved ratings training course reduces the requirement to 12 months.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 3
Assessment: sea service and RTRB
The assessment centre scrutinises the on-board training and RTRB.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗
The rules behind this route
Rules made under the repealed Merchant Shipping Act 1958 continue in force under section 324(2)(a) of the Merchant Shipping Act 2025.
MS Act 2025 s.324(2)(a): rules made under the repealed MS Act 1958 continue in force
Able Seafarer Deck certification applies to sea-going ships of 500 GT and above.
This page is built from the official DGS Training and Examination Advisory Programme (the TEAP manual) and the current orders of DGMA (the Directorate General of Maritime Administration, called DG Shipping until June 2026). Requirements are summarised in plain language — every section links to the official publication for the exact wording. Requirements made under the old Merchant Shipping Act 1958 still apply under the new Merchant Shipping Act 2025.