Seafarer documentsCertificates and qualifications
Certificate of Competency – Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch, under 500 GT, near-coastal voyages
OOW
- 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
- 31 countries
Contents6
1 What it covers
Certifies competence in the named capacity within the limitations stated on the certificate.1–3
Who needs it. Navigational watch officers on ships below 500 GT operating within the 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 31 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
Same document
| Country | Name in the issuing country |
|---|---|
| South Africa | Officer in charge of navigational watch (<500 GT near-coastal)Issued by: South African Maritime Safety Authority · source |
| Estonia | Väiksema kui 500-se kogumahutavusega laeva vahitüürimehe diplomWatchkeeping Mate Diploma, vessel under 500 GT, near-coastalIssued by: Transpordiamet · source |
| Bulgaria | Officer of a Navigational Watch, ship up to 500 GT in coastal navigationsource |
| Peru | Oficial de puente de buques de arqueo bruto inferior a 500, dedicados a viajes próximos a la costaNavigational Watch Officer, under 500 GT, Near-coastalIssued by: Dirección General de Capitanías y Guardacostas · source |
Show all 31 countries
Related document
| Country | Name in the issuing country |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh | Deck Officer Class-5 (Mate-Near Coastal Voyage) CertificateIssued by: Department of Shipping · source |
| France | Brevet de chef de quart 500Officer of the watch 500 certificateIssued by: French maritime administration · source |
| Norway | Certificate of Competency Deck Officer Class 5Deck officer Class 5 (D5)Issued by: Norwegian Maritime Authority / Sjøfartsdirektoratet · source |
| Denmark | BedstemandSecond handIssued by: Danish Maritime Authority / Søfartsstyrelsen · source |
| Belgium | Officier de pontDeck officer certificateIssued by: FPS Mobility and Transport / Scheepvaartcontrole · source |
| Brazil | Segundo Oficial de NáuticaSecond Nautical Officer (2 ON)Issued by: Marinha do Brasil, Diretoria de Portos e Costas · source |
| Colombia | Oficial encargado de la guardia de navegación en buques de arqueo bruto inferior a 500Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch, ships under 500 GTIssued by: Dirección General Marítima (DIMAR) · source |
| Ecuador | Segundo Oficial de Cubierta (Oficial de Cubierta de 2DA)Second Deck OfficerIssued by: Dirección Nacional de los Espacios Acuáticos (DIRNEA), Armada del Ecuador · source |
| Ecuador | Tercer Oficial de Cubierta (Oficial de Cubierta de 3ERA)Third Deck OfficerIssued by: Dirección Nacional de los Espacios Acuáticos (DIRNEA), Armada del Ecuador · source |
| Iceland | Yfirstýrimaður/stýrimaður B/(1.)Chief Mate/Mate Certificate B/(1.), under 500 GT, near-coastalIssued by: Samgöngustofa · source |
| Slovenia | častnik krovne straže na ladji z bruto tonažo do 500Officer of a Navigational Watch, ship up to 500 GTIssued by: Uprava Republike Slovenije za pomorstvo · source |
| Uruguay | Segundo Oficial de PuenteOfficer in Charge of a Navigational WatchIssued by: Prefectura Nacional Naval, Dirección Registral y de Marina Mercante (DIRME) · source |
| Uruguay | Tercer Oficial de PuenteOfficer in Charge of a Navigational WatchIssued by: Prefectura Nacional Naval, Dirección Registral y de Marina Mercante (DIRME) · source |
Same document
| Country | Name in the issuing country |
|---|---|
| Germany | Nautischer Wachoffizier in der küstennahen Fahrt NWO 500Near-coastal watchkeeping officer, under 500 GT (NWO 500)Issued by: BSH · source |
| Portugal | Certificado de competência como oficial chefe de quarto de navegação em navios ou embarcações de arqueação bruta inferior a 500, em viagens costeirasOfficer in charge of a navigational watch under 500 GT, near-coastalIssued by: DGRM · source |
| Thailand | Officer in charge of a navigational watch,less than500GT,Near CoastalCertificate of Competency – Officer in charge of a navigational watch, less than 500 GT, Near CoastalIssued by: Marine Department · source |
| Türkiye | Sınırlı vardiya zabitiOfficer of the Watch – less than 500 GT, Near CoastalIssued by: Denizcilik Genel Müdürlüğü, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure · source |
| Algeria | Brevet d’aptitude d’officier chargé du quart à la passerelle servant à bord de navires d’une jauge brute inférieure à cinq cents(500)Certificate of Competency – OICNW, Ships Under 500 GT, Near-CoastalIssued by: Administration chargée de la marine marchande · source |
| Bahamas | Certificate of Competency – Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch, ships less than 500 GT, near-coastal voyagesIssued by: Bahamas Maritime Authority · source |
| Denmark | Styrmand af 4. gradMate 4th classIssued by: Danish Maritime Authority / Søfartsstyrelsen · source |
| United States | Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch of vessels of less than 500 GT limited to near-coastal watersIssued by: United States Coast Guard, National Maritime Center · source |
| Latvia | sardzes stūrmanis uz kuģiem, mazākiem par 500 BTCertificate of Competency – Officer of the Watch, less than 500 GT, Near CoastalIssued by: Maritime Administration of Latvia / Latvian Seamen’s Registry · source |
| Italy | Ufficiale di coperta su navi di stazza inferiore a 500 GTDeck officer under 500 GTIssued by: Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti / maritime administration · source |
| Finland | Lähiliikenteen perämiesDeck officer's certificate, near-coastal voyagesIssued by: Traficom · source |
| New Zealand | Watchkeeper deck less than 500 GT near-coastalIssued by: Maritime New Zealand · source |
| Malaysia | WKO <500GT NCCertificate of Competency – Navigational Watchkeeping Officer, less than 500 GT, Near CoastalIssued by: Malaysia Marine Department · source |
| Sri Lanka | Certificate of Competency – Officer in charge of navigational watch on ships less than 500 GT engaged in near coastal voyagesIssued by: Merchant Shipping Secretariat / Director General of Merchant Shipping · source |
| Jamaica | OiCNW – Ships of less than 500grt, NCVOiCNW – 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.
6
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 – Master, under 500 GT, near-coastal voyages1