Watch-keeping officer on near-coastal ships under 500 GT
Official reference: TEAP Part A II/12 · Rule 31
For small near-coastal ships the officer in charge of a navigational watch qualifies through sea service in the deck department — shortened if the candidate completes special training specified by the Directorate — after first completing the basic safety courses, followed by the NWKO NCV competency course and proficiency courses.
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.
Age at issue of certificate
M.S. (STCW) Rules 2014, Rule 31 ↗At least 18 years old when the certificate is issued.
Step by step
- 1
Basic safety courses before going to sea
The approved safety and pollution-prevention courses must be completed before sea service begins.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 2
Sea service in the deck department
36 months of sea service in the deck department.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 3
…or shorter sea service with special training
With the special training the DGS specifies, the sea-service requirement drops to 12 months.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 4
Post-sea NWKO NCV competency course
The four-month NWKO NCV competency course.
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Rules made under the repealed Merchant Shipping Act 1958 continue in force under section 324(2)(a) of the Merchant Shipping Act 2025.
MS Act 2025 s.324(2)(a): rules made under the repealed MS Act 1958 continue in force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 31 issues this certificate of competency in Form 10.
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.