Rynda Crewing

Seafarer documentsCertificates and qualifications

Certificate of Competency – Master, under 500 GT, near-coastal voyages

  • STCW II/3
  • Full entry
  • Checked 6 October 2026
Document type
Qualification document
Validity
As issued; competence shown every 5 years
Names in other countries
34 countries
Contents6

1 What it covers

Certifies competence in the named capacity within the limitations stated on the certificate.1–3

Who needs it. Masters of ships below 500 GT operating within the administration’s defined near-coastal area.1–3

2 What it consists of

The certificate requirements include training in: Basic Safety Training STCW VI/1Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats Other Than Fast Rescue Boats STCW VI/2Advanced Fire Fighting STCW VI/3Medical First Aid STCW VI/43–5

The standard of competence is set by table A-II/3 of the Code.1–3

3 Validity and renewal

Document validity. The expiry date, if the issuing system sets one, is shown on the document itself. This reference does not calculate personal expiry dates.

Maintaining competence. To continue serving at sea, the holder revalidates the certificate at intervals not exceeding 5 years, showing medical fitness and continued professional competence.6,7

4 Which positions

The need follows from the ship and the duties on board, not from the title of the position. In this reference the document appears in the requirements of these positions:

5 Names in 34 countries

How national systems name this document. The original name is given where the source has it; the English name is our editorial rendering.

Related document

CountryName in the issuing country
UkraineMaster certificatesource
GeorgiaMaster less than 500 GTMaster under 500 GTIssued by: Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia · source
SpainPatrón de Altura de la Marina MercanteMerchant marine skipper (Patrón de Altura)Issued by: Dirección General de la Marina Mercante · source
SpainPatrón de Litoral de la Marina MercanteMerchant marine coastal skipperIssued by: Dirección General de la Marina Mercante · source
SpainPiloto de Segunda Clase de la Marina MercanteMerchant marine deck officer 2nd classIssued by: Dirección General de la Marina Mercante · source

Same document

CountryName in the issuing country
South AfricaMaster (<200 GT near-coastal)Issued by: South African Maritime Safety Authority · source
South AfricaMaster (<500 GT near-coastal)Issued by: South African Maritime Safety Authority · source
EstoniaVäiksema kui 500-se kogumahutavusega laeva kapteni diplomMaster Diploma, vessel under 500 GT, near-coastalIssued by: Transpordiamet · source
BulgariaMaster, ship up to 500 GT in coastal navigationsource
Show all 34 countries

Related document

CountryName in the issuing country
BangladeshDeck Officer Class-4 (Master-Near Coastal Voyage) CertificateIssued by: Department of Shipping · source
FranceBrevet de capitaine 500Master 500 certificateIssued by: French maritime administration · source
China船长Certificate of Competency – Master (船长)Issued by: Maritime Safety Administration, Ministry of Transport · source
NorwayCertificate of Competency Deck Officer Class 2Deck officer Class 2 (D2)Issued by: Norwegian Maritime Authority / Sjøfartsdirektoratet · source
NorwayCertificate of Competency Deck Officer Class 3Deck officer Class 3 (D3)Issued by: Norwegian Maritime Authority / Sjøfartsdirektoratet · source
NorwayCertificate of Competency Deck Officer Class 4Deck officer Class 4 (D4)Issued by: Norwegian Maritime Authority / Sjøfartsdirektoratet · source
NorwayCertificate of Competency Deck Officer Class 5Deck officer Class 5 (D5)Issued by: Norwegian Maritime Authority / Sjøfartsdirektoratet · source
DenmarkStyrmand af 1. gradMate 1st classIssued by: Danish Maritime Authority / Søfartsstyrelsen · source
BelgiumCapitaineMaster certificateIssued by: FPS Mobility and Transport / Scheepvaartcontrole · source
CanadaMaster 500 Gross Tonnage, Near CoastalIssued by: Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security · source
BrazilContramestreBoatswain (CTR)Issued by: Marinha do Brasil, Diretoria de Portos e Costas · source
BrazilMestre de CabotagemCabotage Vessel Master (MCB)Issued by: Marinha do Brasil, Diretoria de Portos e Costas · source
ArgentinaPiloto de Ultramar (Máximo de Cargo)Ocean-going Deck Officer (Maximum Capacity)Issued by: Agencia Nacional de Puertos y Navegación; Prefectura Naval Argentina · source
ColombiaCapitán de buques de arqueo bruto inferior a 500Master, ships under 500 GTIssued by: Dirección General Marítima (DIMAR) · source
Sloveniapoveljnik ladje z bruto tonažo do 500Master, ship up to 500 GTIssued by: Uprava Republike Slovenije za pomorstvo · source
VanuatuMaster <500GT / Master Class 4 or equivalentMaster <500 GT / Master Class 4 or equivalentIssued by: Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority (VMSA); Vanuatu International Shipping Registry (VISR) · source
VanuatuMaster <200GT / Master Class 5 or equivalentMaster <200 GT / Master Class 5 or equivalentIssued by: Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority (VMSA); Vanuatu International Shipping Registry (VISR) · source

Same document

CountryName in the issuing country
PeruCapitán de buques de arqueo bruto inferior a 500, dedicados a viajes próximos a la costaMaster, under 500 GT, Near-coastalIssued by: Dirección General de Capitanías y Guardacostas · source
GermanyKapitän in der küstennahen Fahrt NK 500Near-coastal master, under 500 GT (NK 500)Issued by: BSH · source
PortugalCertificado de competência como comandante em navios ou embarcações de arqueação bruta inferior a 500, em viagens costeirasMaster under 500 GT, near-coastalIssued by: DGRM · source
ThailandMaster,less than500GT,Near CoastalCertificate of Competency – Master, less than 500 GT, Near CoastalIssued by: Marine Department · source
TürkiyeSınırlı kaptanMaster – less than 500 GT, Near CoastalIssued by: Denizcilik Genel Müdürlüğü, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure · source
AlgeriaBrevet d’aptitude de capitaine servant à bord de navires d’une jauge brute inférieure à cinq cents(500)Certificate of Competency – Master, Ships Under 500 GT, Near-CoastalIssued by: Administration chargée de la marine marchande · source
BahamasCertificate of Competency – Master, ships less than 500 GT, near-coastal voyagesIssued by: Bahamas Maritime Authority · source
DenmarkKystskipperMaster home tradeIssued by: Danish Maritime Authority / Søfartsstyrelsen · source
United StatesMaster of vessels of less than 500 GT limited to near-coastal watersIssued by: United States Coast Guard, National Maritime Center · source
Latviakapteinis uz kuģiem, mazākiem par 500 BTCertificate of Competency – Master, less than 500 GT, Near CoastalIssued by: Maritime Administration of Latvia / Latvian Seamen’s Registry · source
ItalyComandante su navi di stazza inferiore a 500 GTMaster under 500 GTIssued by: Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti / maritime administration · source
FinlandLähiliikenteen päällikköMaster's certificate, near-coastal voyagesIssued by: Traficom · source
New ZealandMaster on ships less than 500 GT in near-coastal areaIssued by: Maritime New Zealand · source
MalaysiaMaster <500GT NCCertificate of Competency – Master, less than 500 GT, Near CoastalIssued by: Malaysia Marine Department · source
Sri LankaCertificate of Competency – Master on ships of less than 500 GT engaged in near coastal voyagesIssued by: Merchant Shipping Secretariat / Director General of Merchant Shipping · source
IcelandSkipstjóri B/(1.)Master Certificate B/(1.), under 500 GT, near-coastalIssued by: Samgöngustofa · source
JamaicaMaster – Ships of less than 500grt, NCVMaster – Ships of less than 500 grt, NCVIssued by: Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) · source

"Related document" is a national document of its own system that relates to this type but is not automatically equal to it.

Same code STCW II/3: one code is not always one document. The certificate itself and the limitations written in it show which one you hold. Other types under this code: Certificate of Competency – Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch, under 500 GT, near-coastal voyages1

Master, under 500 GT, near-coastal voyages (STCW II/3) | Rynda Crewing