Certificate of Proficiency

Able Seafarer Deck

Prior to making your application for your initial Certificate of Proficiency as an Able Seafarer Deck you should ensure that:

• You know your Seafarer ID Number,

• You have successfully completed the required training,

• All your Qualifying Sea Service is supported by Sea Service Testimonials and Discharge Book entries,

• You have a valid Medical Fitness Certificate,

• You have the following valid certificates or refresher training for:

  • Basic Training Elementary First Aid

  • Basic Training Fire Prevention and Firefighting

  • Basic Training Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities

  • Basic Training Personal Survival Techniques

  • Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats,

• You have all other relevant documentation as set out in the application form.

Certificates of Proficiency as Able Seafarer Deck are issued by the Mercantile Marine Office.

Able Seafarer Engine

Prior to making your application for your initial Certificate of Proficiency as an Able Seafarer Engine you should ensure that:

• You know your Seafarer ID Number,

• You have successfully completed the required training,

• All your Qualifying Sea Service is supported by Sea Service Testimonials and Discharge Book entries,

• You have a valid Medical Fitness Certificate,

• You have the following valid certificates or refresher training for:

  • Basic Training Elementary First Aid

  • Basic Training Fire Prevention and Firefighting

  • Basic Training Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities

  • Basic Training Personal Survival Techniques

• You have all other relevant documentation as set out in the application form.

Certificates of Proficiency as Able Seafarer Engine are issued by the Mercantile Marine Office.

Rating forming part of a navigational watch

Every rating forming part of a navigational watch on a ship of 500 gross tonnage or more, other than

ratings under training or whose duties while on watch are of an unskilled nature, shall hold a navigation watch rating certificate. Navigation Watch Rating Certificates STCW 1978, as amended, Regulation II/4 may be issued to ratings who can meet the qualifying conditions set out below, by Companies approved and authorised to issue Watch Rating Certificates or by the Minister. Companies should ensure that a Master holding a Certificate of competency STCW Regulation II/2, ships of 500 gross tonnage, or more has certified that the candidate meets the qualifying conditions.

Every candidate for certification shall have completed the four elements of STCW basic training within the previous 5 years:

• Personal Survival Techniques (STCW A - VI/1-1),
• Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (STCW A-VI/1-2),
• Elementary First Aid (STCW A-VI/1-3),
• Personal safety and social responsibilities (STCW A-VI/1-4).
• Hold a valid Medical Fitness Certificate STCW Reg I/9,
• Be not less than 16 years of age.

Have completed approved:

• Seagoing service including not less than six months of training and experience, or
• Special training either pre-sea or on-board ship, including an approved period of seagoing service which shall not be less than two months.

Have successfully completed the relevant parts of an approved on-board training record book such as the International Shipping Federation (ISF) On Board Training Record Book for Ratings forming part of a Navigational Watch, or equivalent, and submit the book to the Master for evaluation on the vessel(s) on which the training was carried out and have been assessed by a certificated deck officer of the ship as appointed by the company and has been found to have met the requirements and performance standards specified in STCW Code A-II/4. If it is established that a rating meets the requirements of paragraph 1 to 6 then that rating may be issued with a Navigation Watch Rating Certificate using the Seafarer Information System.

Rating forming part of an Engineering Watch

Engine Room Watch Rating Certificates may be issued to ratings, who can meet the qualifying conditions set out below, by Companies approved and authorised to issue Watch Rating Certificates or by the Minister.  Companies should ensure that a Chief Engineer holding a Certificate of Competency STCW Regulation III/2, ships of 3000 kW propulsion power, or more has certified that the candidate meets the qualifying conditions.

Prior to making your application for your Engine Room Watch Rating Certificate you should ensure that:

• You know your Seafarer ID Number,

• You are not less than 16 years of age and

• You have not less than six months of approved training and experience of engine room watchkeeping duties and

• You have a valid Medical Fitness Certificate,

• You have been found competent by a certificated engineer officer in the duties specified in section A-III/4 of the STCW Code and:

• You have successfully completed the relevant parts of an approved on board training record book such as the International Shipping Federation (ISF) On Board Training Record Book for Engine Ratings, or equivalent, and have submitted the book to the Chief Engineer Officer for evaluation on the vessel(s) on which the training was carried out and

• You have the following valid certificates or refresher training for:

• Basic Training Elementary First Aid

• Basic Training Fire Prevention and Firefighting

• Basic Training Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities

• Basic Training Personal Survival Techniques

Electro-technical Rating

Prior to making your application for your initial Certificate of Proficiency as an Able Seafarer Engine you should ensure that:

• You know your Seafarer ID Number,

• You have successfully completed the required training,

• All your Qualifying Sea Service is supported by Sea Service Testimonials and Discharge Book entries,

• You have a valid Medical Fitness Certificate,

• You have the following valid certificates or refresher training for:

  • Basic Training Elementary First Aid

  • Basic Training Fire Prevention and Firefighting

  • Basic Training Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities

  • Basic Training Personal Survival Techniques

• You have all other relevant documentation as set out in the application form.

Cook

Prior to making your application for your initial Certificate of Proficiency as a Cook you should ensure that you have successfully completed the required training contained in Marine Notice 36 of 2015 summarised below.

Recognition of Ships Cook Certificate

Provision  is  also  made  for  the  recognition  of  Ships’ Cooks  Certificates issued  by,  or under the authority of, the Government of other states that are parties to the Convention, or to the Certification of Ships’ Cooks Convention 1946 (No. 69), provided the Minister is satisfied that the level of qualification attained meets the required standard.

In addition to the qualifying criteria listed below, you are required to provide proof of an offer  of  employment  on  an  Irish  vessel  by  way  of  a covering  letter  from  the  owner  or operator of the vessel.

On Irish flagged vessels, companies may employ a person with a Ship’s Cook Certificate issued  by,  or  under  the  authority  of,  the  Government  of  other  states  that  are  parties  to the Convention or to the Certification of Ships’ Cooks Convention 1946 (No. 69), without recognition for a period not exceeding three months. Proof of application for a Certificate of Equivalent Competency should be retained on board.

In order to apply for a Ship’s Cook Certificate or Certificate of Recognition you must:

• Have a Seafarer ID Number,

• Have completed in Ireland an approved QQI Level 6 training course for cooks at an approved  cookery  school  or  other  approved  institution  in  Ireland  or  an  approved training  course  in  trade  cookery  or  cookery  in  Ireland,  passed  the  appropriate examination, and  have  been  issued  an  approved  certificate  or  other  approved document in respect of the training course undertaken; and

• Have  served  for  not  less  than  one  month  at  sea.    Details  of  sea  service  may  be provided  in  a  Discharge  Book  or  alternatively  as  other  certificates  signed  by  the master or owner of ships in which you have served; and

• Hold a valid Seafarer’s Medical Certificate (see Marine Notice No. 38 of 2014 for a list of approved doctors in Ireland); and

• Hold  a  Certificate  of  Proficiency  in  Personal  Survival  Techniques  (STCW  A VI/1-1); and

• Hold a Certificate of Proficiency in Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (STCW A VI/1-2); and

• Hold a Certificate of Proficiency in Elementary First Aid (STCW A-VI/1-3); and

• Hold a Certificate  of  Proficiency  in  Personal  Safety  and  Social  Responsibilities (STCW A-VI/1-4); and

• Be 18 years of age or older.

Refer to Marine Notice 36 of 2015