Indian Navy specialist executive officer to deck officer (foreign-going): OOW, Chief Mate, Master
Executive branch officers with a specialisation (Long Navigation and Direction, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Communication, Gunnery or NBCD) qualify for the foreign-going watchkeeping officer certificate on naval sea service with bridge and cargo duties, a course and modular courses, and written and oral examinations; further service and courses lead to Chief Mate and Master.
Official reference: DGS Order 17/2022 Part B, section A
Where this route can take you
Who can apply
Each requirement is summarised from the official publication linked beside it.
Specialist executive officer
DGS Order 17 of 2022 ↗Executive branch officers specialised in Long Navigation and Direction, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Communication, Gunnery, or Nuclear, Biological, Chemical and Damage Control.
Sea service for the watchkeeping officer certificate
DGS Order 17 of 2022 ↗At least 30 months at sea on Navy ships of 500 GT or more, including 6 months of bridge watchkeeping with a Navy watchkeeping certificate.
Cargo duties
DGS Order 17 of 2022 ↗6 months of cargo duties, such as explosive cargo on Navy ships of 500 GT or more, or cargo duties on Navy or merchant ships.
Medical, INDoS, basic training and CDC first
DGS Order 17 of 2022 ↗Step by step
- 1
Course and modular courses (radar, ARPA, ECDIS, GMDSS and others)
DGS Order 17 of 2022 ↗ - 2
Oral assessment at the operational level
Written examination and an oral assessment at the operational level for foreign-going ships.
DGS Order 17 of 2022 ↗ - 3
Chief Mate: 12 more months holding a watchkeeping certificate
Chief Mate: 12 more months at sea on Navy or merchant ships of 500 GT or more while holding a watchkeeping certificate, with 6 months of cargo duties, then the Chief Mate courses and examinations.
DGS Order 17 of 2022 ↗ - 4
Master: 12 months as Executive Officer or Commanding Officer
Master: at least 12 months as Executive Officer or Commanding Officer of a Navy ship, the advanced shipboard management course and the Master examination.
DGS Order 17 of 2022 ↗ - 5
Two weeks' familiarisation on merchant ships
Two weeks' familiarisation on merchant ships before the certificate is handed over.
DGS Order 17 of 2022 ↗
The rules behind this route
This page summarises the published rules of DGMA (the Directorate General of Maritime Administration, formerly DG Shipping) in plain language. Each requirement links to the official publication for the exact wording. Rules made under the old Merchant Shipping Act 1958 still apply under the Merchant Shipping Act 2025.