Transitional: existing deck cadets from discontinued 3/6-month pre-sea courses
Official reference: TEAP Part A II/1 para 5.8 · II/7 para 2.3
Cadets who completed the discontinued three- or six-month pre-sea deck cadet courses remain eligible: longer sea service (reducible with a structured shipboard training programme) with supervised bridge watch-keeping, the foundation course and the Second Mate courses and examinations, or the near-coastal NWKO (NCV) certificate. Closed to new entrants: the courses are no longer run.
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.
Completed a discontinued 3/6-month pre-sea deck cadet course
TEAP manual, Part A ↗Completed an approved 3- or 6-month pre-sea Deck Cadet course (courses no longer conducted).
Pre-sea medical examination by a DGS-approved medical examiner
Medical Examination Rules 2000, Rule 6 ↗A medical examination by a DGS-approved medical examiner, done after selection for pre-sea training.
MS (Medical Examination) Rules 2000 are the operative rules. TEAP I/9 names 'Medical Examination Rules 2013', which DGMA does not publish; the MS (Medical) Rules 2026 (r.22 same arrangement) are PROPOSED — gazette number G.S.R. XX — and replace the 2000 Rules only on publication
Step by step
- 1
Sea service, reducible with SSTP
36 months of sea service, of which up to 12 may be remitted for completing an approved SSTP.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 2
Post-sea Second Mate (F.G.) competency course
The post-sea Second Mate competency course applies to candidates from every other entry stream.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 3
Post-sea proficiency courses (ROSC, ARPA, ECDIS, GMDSS GOC, PSCRB, AFF, MFA, security)
The post-sea proficiency courses — ROSC, ARPA, ECDIS, GMDSS GOC, PSCRB, AFF, MFA and the security course.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 4
Examination: Navigation at the Operational Level (written, oral, visual signalling)
An approved competency course, then the written, oral and visual-signalling examinations.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 5
Examination: Cargo Handling and Stowage; Controlling the Operation of the Ship (written and oral)
The written and oral examination in Cargo Handling and Stowage at the operational level.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 6
Certificate of Competency: Second Mate of a foreign-going ship (OIC NW, Form 1)
The Certificate of Competency is issued in Form 1 (Second Mate, foreign-going).
M.S. (STCW) Rules 2014, Rule 20 ↗
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
The TEAP manual carries a transitional provision for deck cadets who completed the now-discontinued 3/6-month pre-sea courses.
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.