How to become a seafarer: two routes to sea

Checked 6 October 2026

Contents8

1 In short

There are two routes to sea: a cadetship with a maritime academy or college leading to an officer certificate, or a basic course and a first job as a rating such as ordinary seaman, wiper or messman. You can work on a ship from 16 with a medical certificate and training for personal safety on board; seafarers with safety or pollution-prevention duties need basic safety training, and on ships covered by the ISPS Code every seafarer needs security-awareness training. An officer of the watch certificate is issued from 18, after approved sea service and training.^1,2

2 Two routes to sea

Question	Officer route	Rating route
Where you start	A maritime academy or college and onboard training as a deck, engine or ETO cadet	Basic safety training and a first job as ordinary seaman, wiper, messman or steward
First certificate	Officer of the watch certificate of competency (STCW II/1 or III/1), or the electro-technical officer certificate (STCW III/6) for an ETO cadet; from 18³ MoreLess	Watch rating certificate of proficiency (STCW II/4 or III/4), from 16⁴
Sea service before it	Deck: 12 months in an approved training programme with a training record book, or 36 months of approved sea service. Engine: workshop skills training and 12 months in such a programme, or 36 months, of which 30 in the engine department. ETO: 12 months of workshop skills training and sea service, including 6 months at sea in such a programme, or 36 months, of which 30 in the engine department⁵ MoreLess	Approved sea service with at least 6 months of training and experience, or special training with at least 2 months at sea⁶
Next steps	Second officer, chief officer and master; second engineer and chief engineer	Able seafarer and bosun; the officer route stays open

3 Minimum age

No one under 16 may be employed, engaged or work on a ship. Seafarers under 18 may not work at night, with exceptions for training programmes, may not do work likely to jeopardise their health or safety, and may not work as a ship’s cook.⁷

Certificates have their own minimum ages: 16 for a watch rating certificate, 18 for able seafarer and officer of the watch certificates.⁸

4 First documents

Before the first contract every seafarer needs a medical certificate and training for personal safety on board. Seafarers with designated safety or pollution-prevention duties also need basic safety training; on ships covered by the ISPS Code every seafarer also needs security-related familiarization and security-awareness training, or training for designated security duties. In practice employers ask every crew member for basic safety training, so plan it before the first job. STCW certificates list^9–11

Document	What it is for	Validity	Rule
Seafarer Medical Fitness Certificate	Certifies medical fitness for shipboard duties, subject to any restrictions recorded by the medical examiner¹²	By the certificate, at most 2 years	I/9
Shipboard Safety Familiarisation	Records familiarisation with the vessel, equipment and procedures before assigned duties begin¹³	As shown on the issued document	A-VI/1.1
Basic Safety Training	Covers four foundations of shipboard safety: survival, fire prevention and fighting, elementary first aid, and personal safety and social responsibilities¹⁴ MoreLess	As issued; competence shown every 5 years	VI/1
Security Awareness Training	Evidences awareness of ship-security threats, their recognition and reporting procedures¹⁵	As shown on the issued document	VI/6
Seaman’s Book / Sea Service Record Book	Records service aboard vessels and sea-service history¹⁶	As shown on the issued document
Seafarers’ Identity Document (SID)	Identifies a seafarer for shore leave, joining a vessel and repatriation procedures covered by the applicable agreement¹⁷	As shown on the issued document

5 Becoming a cadet

A deck cadet follows an approved training programme with systematic practical training on board under the supervision of qualified officers, recorded in a training record book. Deck cadet¹⁸

An engine cadet combines workshop skills training with onboard training supervised by a certificated engineer officer, also recorded in a training record book. Engine cadet Maritime schools¹⁹

6 Finding the first contract

Entry-level jobs – ordinary seaman, wiper, messman, galley hand, steward and cadet vacancies in one list.
Seafarer CV – list your documents with their numbers and expiry dates, so an employer sees at once what you hold.
Recruitment and placement services may not charge seafarers for finding them employment; a seafarer pays only for his or her own medical certificate, seafarer’s book and passport, and visa costs are borne by the shipowner.²⁰

This is practice, not a rule

The order of the first steps depends on the country, the training centre and the medical examiner: check with them in advance.

7 Read about a first rank

Duties, documents and career path of each rank

8 Frequently asked questions

How to become a seaman with no experience?

Start in an entry-level rank such as ordinary seaman, wiper or messman, or apply for a cadetship. You need a medical certificate and the safety training your duties require; in practice employers ask every crew member for basic safety training. A rating under training does not need a watch rating certificate, and the sea service counts towards it only if it is associated with watchkeeping and performed under the direct supervision of the officer of the watch, a qualified engineer officer or a qualified rating. Entry-level jobs²¹

What is the minimum age to work on a ship?

16 years under the MLC 2006; under 18, night work (with exceptions for training programmes), work likely to jeopardise health or safety and work as a ship’s cook are prohibited. A watch rating certificate is issued from 16, and able seafarer and officer of the watch certificates from 18.^7,22

How long does it take to become a deck officer?

The officer of the watch certificate needs 12 months of approved sea service in a training programme with a training record book, or 36 months of approved sea service, including at least 6 months of bridge watchkeeping, plus approved education and training. Officer of the watch²³

Do I need a degree to work on a ship?

Not for ratings. For an officer certificate the Convention requires approved education and training that meets the standard of competence; in practice it is usually completed at a maritime academy or college.²⁴

Do I have to pay to get a job at sea?

No. Under the MLC 2006 recruitment and placement services may not charge seafarers for finding them employment; the seafarer pays only for his or her own medical certificate, seafarer’s book and passport, and visa costs are borne by the shipowner. Rynda Crewing does not charge seafarers for finding a job.²⁰