Near-coastal deck officer (NWKO NCV) via a cadet course
Official reference: TEAP Part A II/7 paras 2.1, 4.1, 6
A 10+2 PCM school-leaver completes an approved one-year pre-sea deck cadet course (or a nautical degree), serves at sea as a cadet under a structured shipboard training programme, attends the NWKO (NCV) competency course and proficiency courses, and qualifies as officer in charge of a navigational watch on near-coastal ships of 500 to 6000 GT. Nautical-degree cadets are exempt from the NWKO 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.
Academic: 10+2 with PCM
TEAP manual, Part A ↗Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
English
TEAP manual, Part A ↗At least 50% in English in Class 10 or Class 12.
Age at start of course
TEAP manual, Part A ↗Not more than 25 years old when the course begins.
Medical fitness (pre-sea standard)
TEAP manual, Part A ↗Medically fit to the pre-sea standard.
Age at issue of certificate
M.S. (STCW) Rules 2014, Rule 26 ↗At least 18 years old when the certificate is issued.
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
Pre-sea: approved 12-month cadet course or nautical degree
The approved 12-month pre-sea course or the approved 3/4-year degree courses for deck cadets.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 2
Basic safety and security courses
The approved safety, pollution-prevention and security courses (the five basics).
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 3
Sea service as Deck Cadet with SSTP / Training Record Book
12 months of sea service as a Deck Cadet, documented in the Training Record Book.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 4
Post-sea NWKO NCV competency course (degree cadets exempt)
Every entry stream except the 3/4-year degree cadets completes the four-month NWKO NCV competency course post-sea.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 5
Examination: NWKO (NCV) functions
The examination for the NWKO (NCV) certificate — watchkeeping officer on near-coastal ships of 500–6000 GT.
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
Rule 26 issues this certificate of competency in Form 7.
The TEAP manual specifies pre-sea education and training for two streams of entry.
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.