Renewal of a certificate without sufficient seagoing service
Do you have work experience that you believe may be accepted or considered equivalent to seagoing service when applying for renewal of a certificate?
Seagoing service is normally documented by means of a seagoing service confirmation issued by a shipping company. If you have not accrued sufficient seagoing service, you may nevertheless submit a written application from your employer describing the duties and responsibilities you perform or have performed in your position.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority does not grant advance approval of any form of work experience or seagoing service, nor do we approve specific shore-based positions solely on the basis of information about the position.
When applying for renewal of a certificate, all relevant documentation must be enclosed with the application. The documentation will then be assessed by a case officer.
Relevant work experience may replace the requirement for 12 months of seagoing service accrued within the last 5 years.
A confirmation issued by an employer shall, as a minimum, contain the following information:
- Name of the employer and place of work
- Job description, including duties and position title
- For deck officers, the work experience shall, as a general rule, have been gained in a position which includes, inter alia, bridge watchkeeping, cargo loading and unloading operations, safety-related maintenance and emergency procedures
- For engine officers, the work experience or practical service shall have been gained in a capacity on a level relevant to service in the engine department comprising engineering watch, safety-related maintenance and emergency preparedness procedures
- For an electro-technical officer (ETO), the work experience or practical service shall have been gained in a position at a relevant level involving electro-technical officer duties, including service and maintenance of electrical installations at shipboard or industrial level, as well as supervision of construction and installation of electrical systems on board ships
- The confirmation shall also state the extent to which the requirements set out in the relevant STCW tables are fulfilled
- In cases where the requirements in the tables are not met, reference shall be made to satisfactory compensatory measures
- It shall be described how the requirement for 12 months of practical service is fulfilled, for example through rotation schemes, shift work or day work
- All documents submitted with the application shall be signed by both the employee and the employer
Professional experience accepted for deck officers, engine officers and electro-technical officers
- Teachers who provide instruction covering all functions set out in the STCW Code and who also act as simulator instructors must submit documentation from their employer
- Norwegian state pilots who perform active pilotage service must submit a confirmation issued by the Norwegian Coastal Administration
The possiblity of applying for a renewal of a certificate without seagoing service fom ships is set out in section 16 (9) of the Regulations on qualifications and certificates for seafarers.
Professional experience accepted for GOC/ROC
- Teachers or instructors who provide instruction in GMDSS subjects must submit a confirmation from their employer showing at least one year of relevant teaching experience within the last five years.
- Radio technicians and radio inspectors who carry out installation and inspection of GMDSS radio equipment, respectively, must submit a confirmation from their employer showing at least one year of relevan work within the last five years.