How long is the training?

The duration of your training depends on your chosen discipline. Deck Trainees will take between 3 and 3½ years to complete training; Engineer and ETO Trainees will take about 3 years to complete theirs.

Deck Officer (Captain)

The highest seagoing qualification obtainable is an unrestricted Master's Certificate of Competency. This allows the holder to take command of any type or size of vessel operating anywhere in the world.

The first rung on the ladder to Deck Officer is to earn your Officer-of-the-Watch Certificate. Then you can progress to your Master's Certificate.

The holder of a lower certificate may, in certain circumstances, serve as Master or Chief Mate on smaller ships, or vessels operating in more restricted areas, before gaining the higher unrestricted qualifications.

Seafarers Qualifications

Shipping is a well–regulated industry conforming to international and national standards. These include navigation, engineering, operations, ship construction, equipment, safety, radio communications, pollution prevention, security, manning levels and seafarer qualifications and training. All seafarers must be appropriately qualified as either an Officer or rating for service on board a merchant ship.

There are three levels of Deck Officer certificates of competency awarded by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).  They are:

• Master (Captain)
• Chief Mate
• Deck Officer-of-the-Watch

The first level of certificate to which the cadet programmes lead is Officer-of-the-Watch. For the award of this certificate a number of elements must be completed. These are sea service, practical training on-shore and on–board ship, and various academic studies in nautical science. These components are, in most cases, delivered in the form of nationally–recognised EDEXCEL/BTEC or SQA Higher National Diplomas (HND) in Nautical Science – or BSc.

The broad range of subjects covered in these qualifications include:

• Navigation
• Ship construction and stability
• Meteorology
• Cargo work and operations
• Radio communications
• Marine engineering
• Emergency response
• Marine law
• Management
• Business
• Seamanship
• Shipboard safety
• Medical
• Fire fighting
• Survival craft

HNDs and Degrees cover most of the academic requirements for Chief Mate and Master certificates of competency, although some further study and exams are necessary for the award of these higher certificates.

Engineer Officer Qualifications

There are three levels of Engineer Officer certificates of competency awarded by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).  They are:

• Chief Engineer
• Second Engineer
• Second Officer-of-the-Watch

The first level of certificate to which the cadet programmes lead is Officer-of-the-Watch. For the award of this certificate a number of elements must be completed. These are sea service, practical training on-shore and on-board ship, and various academic studies in marine or mechanical engineering.

Engineer Officer certificates may be either steam or motor (the majority being motor) depending on the engines of the ships on which sea service and training has been completed. These components are in most cases, delivered in the form of nationally recognised EDEXCEL/BTEC or SQA Higher National Diplomas (HND) in marine or mechanical engineering – or BSc.

The broad range of subjects covered by these qualifications include:

• Mathematics
• Engineering science
• Propulsion and power systems
• Mechanical plant and processes
• Electrical and electronics
• Instrumentation and control
• Pneumatics and hydraulics
• Naval architecture and design
• Engineering drawing
• Workshop skills
• Management
• Shipboard safety
• Medical
• Fire fighting
• Survival craft

The HNDs and degrees cover most of the academic requirements for Second Engineer and Chief Engineer certificates of competency, although some further study and exams are necessary for the award of these higher certificates.