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STCW regulations explained

The full STCW Convention and Code are published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Find out more about the STCW regulations relevant to AMSA-issued certificates, endorsements and training.

On this page:

How STCW regulations and the STCW Code work

STCW regulations identify the minimum requirements for different seafarer certificates, duties and types of training.

The corresponding sections of the STCW Code set out the detailed standards of competence a seafarer must meet.

For example:

  • STCW Regulation II/1 covers officers in charge of a navigational watch
  • section A-II/1 of the STCW Code sets out the required competence standards.

Australia applies these requirements through the Navigation Act 2012 and Marine Orders 70 to 73.

AMSA issues certificates and endorsements to seafarers who meet the relevant training, assessment, sea service and other eligibility requirements.

You do not need to identify the relevant regulation before applying. To find out the requirements for your certificate or endorsement, go to STCW certificates and training.

Deck certificates

Regulation II/1 — Watchkeeper Deck

Regulation II/1 sets the training and certification requirements for officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more.

You must complete approved education and training and meet the competence standards in section A-II/1 of the STCW Code.

Regulation II/2 — Master and Chief Mate

Regulation II/2 sets the training and certification requirements for masters and chief mates on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more.

Different requirements may apply to masters and chief mates serving on ships between 500 and 3000 gross tonnage.

Your certificate may restrict the vessel size, capacity or duties in which you can serve.

You must complete approved education and training and meet the competence standards in section A-II/2 of the STCW Code.

Regulation II/3 — Master and Watchkeeper Deck under 500 GT

Regulation II/3 sets the training and certification requirements for:

officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships under 500 gross tonnage operating on near-coastal voyages

masters of ships under 500 gross tonnage operating on near-coastal voyages.

You must complete approved education and training and meet the competence standards in section A-II/3 of the STCW Code.

Engineer certificates

Regulation III/1 — Engineer Watchkeeper

Regulation III/1 sets the training and certification requirements for:

  • officers in charge of an engineering watch in a crewed engine room
  • designated duty engineers in a periodically unattended engine room.

You must complete approved education and training and meet the competence standards in section A-III/1 of the STCW Code.

Regulation III/2 — Engineer Class 1 (Chief Engineer) and Engineer Class 2 (Second Engineer)

Regulation III/2 sets the training and certification requirements for chief engineers and second engineer officers serving on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3000 kilowatts or more.

You must complete approved education and training and meet the competence standards in section A-III/2 of the STCW Code.

Regulation III/3 — Engineer Class 1 (Chief Engineer) and Engineer Class 2 (Second Engineer)

Regulation III/3 sets the training and certification requirements for chief engineers and second engineer officers serving on ships powered by main propulsion machinery between 750 and 3000 kilowatts.

You must complete approved education and training and meet the competence standards in section A-III/3 of the STCW Code.

Ratings

Regulation II/4 — Rating forming part of a navigational watch

Regulation II/4 sets the certification requirements for ratings who form part of a navigational watch.

You must meet the competence standards in section A-II/4 of the STCW Code.

Regulation II/5 — Able Seafarer – Deck

Regulation II/5 sets the certification requirements for ratings serving as an Able Seafarer – Deck.

You must meet the competence standards in section A-II/5 of the STCW Code.

Regulation III/4 — Rating forming part of an engineering watch

Regulation III/4 sets the certification requirements for ratings who:

  • form part of a watch in a crewed engine room
  • are designated to perform duties in a periodically unattended engine room.

You must meet the competence standards in section A-III/4 of the STCW Code.

Regulation III/5 — Able Seafarer – Engine

Regulation III/5 sets the certification requirements for ratings serving as an Able Seafarer – Engine in:

  • a crewed engine room
  • an engine room designated as periodically unattended.

You must meet the competence standards in section A-III/5 of the STCW Code.

Electro-technical certificates

Regulation III/6 — Electro-technical Officer

Regulation III/6 sets the training and certification requirements for electro-technical officers.

You must complete approved education and training and meet the competence standards in section A-III/6 of the STCW Code.

Regulation III/7 — Electro-technical Rating

Regulation III/7 sets the certification requirements for electro-technical ratings.

You must meet the competence standards in section A-III/7 of the STCW Code.

Radio operator certificates

Regulation IV/2 — GMDSS radio operators

Regulation IV/2 sets the training and certification requirements for Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) radio operators.

You must complete approved education and training and meet the competence standards in section A-IV/2 of the STCW Code.

Tanker training

Regulation V/1-1 — Oil and chemical tankers

Regulation V/1-1 sets the training requirements for seafarers with duties relating to cargo or cargo equipment on oil and chemical tankers.

The training you need depends on your duties and level of responsibility.

Basic training for oil and chemical tanker cargo operations

This training is for personnel assigned specific duties and responsibilities relating to cargo or cargo equipment on oil or chemical tankers.

You must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-V/1-1, paragraph 1 of the STCW Code.

Advanced training for oil tanker cargo operations

This training is for masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and other personnel with immediate responsibility for oil tanker cargo operations.

You must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-V/1-1, paragraph 2 of the STCW Code.

Advanced training for chemical tanker cargo operations

This training is for masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and other personnel with immediate responsibility for chemical tanker cargo operations.

You must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-V/1-1, paragraph 3 of the STCW Code.

Regulation V/1-2 — Liquefied gas tankers

Regulation V/1-2 sets the training requirements for seafarers with duties relating to cargo or cargo equipment on liquefied gas tankers.

The training you need depends on your duties and level of responsibility.

Basic training for liquefied gas tanker cargo operations

This training is for personnel assigned specific duties and responsibilities relating to cargo or cargo equipment on liquefied gas tankers.

You must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-V/1-2, paragraph 1 of the STCW Code.

Advanced training for liquefied gas tanker cargo operations

This training is for masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and other personnel with immediate responsibility for liquefied gas tanker cargo operations.

You must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-V/1-2, paragraph 2 of the STCW Code.

Passenger ship training

Regulation V/2 — Passenger ships

Regulation V/2 sets the training requirements for masters, officers, ratings and other personnel working on passenger ships.

The training you need depends on your assigned duties.

Crowd management

Masters, officers and other personnel designated on muster lists to assist passengers in an emergency must complete crowd management training.

The training must meet the requirements in section A-V/2, paragraph 1 of the STCW Code.

Safety training for personnel providing direct service to passengers

Personnel who provide direct services to passengers in passenger spaces must complete the required passenger safety training.

The training must meet the requirements in section A-V/2, paragraph 2 of the STCW Code.

Crisis management and human behaviour

Masters, officers and other personnel designated on muster lists as responsible for passenger safety in an emergency must complete approved training in crisis management and human behaviour.

The training must meet the requirements in section A-V/2, paragraph 3 of the STCW Code.

Passenger safety, cargo safety and hull integrity

Masters, officers and other personnel assigned immediate responsibility for certain duties on roll-on/roll-off passenger ships must complete approved training in passenger safety, cargo safety and hull integrity.

These duties include:

  • embarking and disembarking passengers
  • loading, discharging or securing cargo
  • closing hull openings.

The training must meet the requirements in section A-V/2, paragraph 4 of the STCW Code.

IGF vessel training

Regulation V/3 — Ships using gases or other low-flashpoint fuels

Regulation V/3 sets the training requirements for personnel working on ships subject to the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code).

The training you need depends on your duties and level of responsibility.

Basic training for IGF vessel operations

Basic training is required for personnel with designated safety duties associated with the care, use or emergency response to fuel on an IGF Code vessel.

You must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-V/3, paragraph 1 of the STCW Code.

Advanced training for IGF vessel operations

Advanced training is required for masters, engineer officers and other personnel with immediate responsibility for the care and use of fuels and fuel systems on an IGF Code vessel.

You must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-V/3, paragraph 2 of the STCW Code.

Safety and emergency training

Regulation VI/1 — Basic safety training

Regulation VI/1 sets the minimum safety familiarisation and basic safety training requirements for seafarers.

Basic safety training consists of:

  • personal survival techniques as set out in Table A-VI/1-1
  • fire prevention and firefighting as set out in Table A-VI/1-2
  • elementary first aid as set out in Table A-VI/1-3
  • personal safety and social responsibilities as set out in Table A-VI/1-4.

You must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-VI/1 of the STCW Code.

Regulation VI/2 — Survival craft and rescue boats

Regulation VI/2 sets training requirements for personnel assigned duties involving survival craft and rescue boats.

Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats

You must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-VI/2, paragraphs 1 to 4 of the STCW Code.

Proficiency in fast rescue boats

You must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-VI/2, paragraphs 7 to 10 of the STCW Code.

Regulation VI/3 — Advanced firefighting

Regulation VI/3 sets the training requirements for seafarers designated to control firefighting operations.

You must complete approved advanced firefighting training that meets the competence standards in section A-VI/3, paragraphs 1 to 4 of the STCW Code.

Medical training

Regulation VI/4 — Medical first aid and medical care

Regulation VI/4 sets training requirements for seafarers assigned responsibility for providing medical first aid or medical care on board a ship.

Medical first aid

Seafarers designated to provide medical first aid on board must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-VI/4, paragraphs 1 to 3 of the STCW Code.

Medical care on board ships

Seafarers responsible for providing medical care on board must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-VI/4, paragraphs 4 to 6 of the STCW Code.

Security training

Regulation VI/5 — Ship Security Officer

Regulation VI/5 sets the training requirements for Ship Security Officers.

You must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-VI/5, paragraphs 1 to 4 of the STCW Code.

Regulation VI/6 — Security awareness and designated security duties

Regulation VI/6 sets the security familiarisation and training requirements for seafarers.

Security awareness training

Security awareness training is required for seafarers who do not have designated security duties.

You must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-VI/6, paragraph 4 of the STCW Code.

Designated security duties

This training is required for seafarers assigned designated security duties as part of a ship security plan.

You must complete approved training that meets the competence standards in section A-VI/6, paragraphs 6 to 8 of the STCW Code.

ECDIS training

Regulations II/1 and II/2 — Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems

The competence requirements for using Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) are contained in tables A-II/1 and A-II/2 of the STCW Code.

You need evidence of ECDIS training to serve on a ship fitted with ECDIS in a position that requires you to use the system.

AMSA-issued certificates may include an endorsement or statement confirming that the holder is qualified to serve on ships fitted with ECDIS.

Legislation and standards

Australia implements its obligations under the STCW Convention through:

For information about the international Convention, visit the International Maritime Organization’s STCW page.

Last updated: 11 September 2026

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