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When FPSO or FSO can count towards qualifying sea service
You can use your sea service on a FPSO and FSO as part of your qualifying sea service.
How the sea service is counted depends on whether the unit is in stated operations or not.
Stated operations
Stated operations are when the FPSO or FSO is:
- anchored
- connected
- made fast to a riser on a long term or permanent basis.
When the unit is in stated operations, the FPSO or FSO is not considered underway.
Service during stated operations may be eligible to count toward sea service if it meets the requirements for your certificate. The amount that can be used depends on the limits set for each certificate type.
Not on stated operations
Periods when the FPSO or FSO is not connected or made fast to a riser are considered ‘not on stated operations’. This includes when an FPSO or FSO relocates from one port to another under its own propulsion, cyclone avoidance, repositioning or other movements.
During these periods, the FPSO or FSO is treated as a vessel underway of its own gross tonnage.
Service gained while the FPSO or FSO is not on stated operations is counted toward sea service if it meets the requirements for your certificate. You can count this service in full.
FPSO/FSO sea service for new certificates
If you have worked on an FPSO or FSO, you can use this experience as part of your qualifying sea service for certain qualifications.
The caps and conditions for each certificate are listed below.
Check your qualifying sea service requirements
Make sure you confirm the qualifying sea service requirements for your certificate before you apply FPSO or FSO service.
- Watchkeeper deck
Deck cadet pathway
General requirement Accepted FPSO/FSO service Vessel, voyage or certificate requirements Total qualifying sea service (18 months) Up to 3 months may be during stated operations
May be:
- continuous
- served across 24 months
- served across 36 months
Unlimited when not on stated operations
Must meet required gross tonnage Remaining sea service (15 months) All service must be when not on stated operations Must meet required gross tonnage
Must be on voyages ≥ 24 hours
Officer of the watch understudy (6 months) All service must be when not on stated operations Must be on vessels ≥ 500 GT and voyages ≥ 24 hours Front end deck cadet pathway
General requirement Accepted FPSO/FSO service Vessel, voyage or certificate requirements Total qualifying sea service (18 months) Up to 3 months may be during stated operations
Unlimited when not on stated operations
Must meet required gross tonnage Remaining sea service (15 months) All service must be when not on stated operations Must meet required gross tonnage
Must be on voyages ≥ 24 hours
Officer of the watch understudy (6 months) All service must be when not on stated operations Must be on vessels ≥ 500 GT and voyages ≥ 24 hours Integrated rating pathway
General requirement Accepted FPSO/FSO service Vessel, voyage or certificate requirements Total qualifying sea service (24 months) Up to 3 months may be during stated operations
Unlimited when not on stated operations
Must be served as a rating Officer of the watch understudy (6 months) All service must be when not on stated operations Must be on vessels ≥ 500 GT and voyages ≥ 24 hours. Complete requirements: Watchkeeper deck
- Trainee integrated ratings
General requirement Accepted FPSO/FSO service Vessel, voyage or certificate requirements Total qualifying sea service
Up to one quarter of total sea service may be during stated operations
Unlimited when not on stated operations
Must meet required gross tonnage Remaining sea service All service must be when not on stated operations Must meet trainee IR sea service requirements Complete requirements: Integrated ratings
- Chief mate
General requirement Accepted FPSO/FSO service Vessel, voyage or certificate requirements Total qualifying sea service (12 months) Up to 4 months may be during stated operations
Unlimited when not on stated operations
Must meet required gross tonnage Remaining sea service All service must be when not on stated operations Must be on voyages ≥ 24 hours and vessels of required gross tonnage Complete requirements: Chief mate
- Master
Pathway Accepted FPSO/FSO service What that service counts toward Other requirements If you hold a Deck watchkeeping certificate (36 months total required) Up to 8 months during stated operations Counts only toward the total 36 months required Does not count toward the required 24 months on voyages ≥ 24 hours If you hold a Chief mate certificate (12 months required) Up to 4 months during stated operations Counts only toward the total 12 months required Does not count toward the required 24 months on voyages ≥ 24 hours Additional requirements (apply to both Master pathways)
- Of the required 24 months on voyages ≥ 24 hours, FPSO/FSO stated-operations service cannot be counted.
- You cannot complete all required sea service on an FPSO/FSO during stated operations.
- You must complete the remaining sea service on a vessel of appropriate gross tonnage, on voyages of 24 hours or more.
- FPSO/FSO service not on stated operations (for example, relocation) may count toward voyage and tonnage requirements if those conditions are met.
Complete requirements: Master
FPSO/FSO sea service for revalidation
Service on an FPSO or FSO may count toward the sea service required to revalidate your STCW certificate.
The limits and conditions for each certificate type are set out below.
Check the sea service requirements for revalidation
Make sure you confirm the sea service requirements for your certificate before you apply FPSO or FSO service.
- Deck certificates
Requirement Accepted FPSO/FSO service Other requirements 12 months sea service (in 5 years prior to application) Up to 6 months may be during stated operations.
Unlimited when not on stated operations.
Must meet required gross tonnage 3 months sea service (in the 6 months prior to application) Stated-operations service is not accepted in this period.
All service must be when not on stated operations.
Must be on voyages ≥ 24 hours and vessels of required gross tonnage. Remaining sea service All service must be when not on stated operations. Must meet required gross tonnage and voyage duration requirements Complete requirements: Revalidation STCW master and deck certificates
- Deck certificates with GMDSS radio operators certificate
Requirement Accepted FPSO/FSO service Other requirements 12 months sea service (in 5 years prior to application) Standard pathway: Up to 6 months may be during stated operations
Unlimited when not on stated operations
Equivalent functions pathway: Up to 12 months of FPSO/FSO service may be accepted if you meet the additional continued competence requirements
Must meet required gross tonnage
Additional continued competence requirements apply if using the equivalent functions pathway
3 months sea service (in the 6 months prior to application) Stated-operations service is not accepted in this period
All service must be when not on stated operations
Must be on vessels of required tonnage and voyages ≥ 24 hours Remaining sea service All service must be when not on stated operations Must meet required gross tonnage and voyage duration requirements You must also:
- meet the standard revalidation requirements for your STCW certificate (including Part B revalidation course)
- revalidate your GMDSS radio operator’s certificate at the same time as your deck certificate.
Complete requirements: Revalidation STCW master and deck certificates and revalidation
- GMDSS radio operator’s certificate (GMDSS ROC)
Requirement Accepted FPSO/FSO service Other requirements 12 months sea service (in 5 years prior to application) Stated-operations service is not accepted in this period
All service must be when not on stated operations
Must meet all other GMDSS revalidation requirements 3 months sea service (in the 6 months prior to application) Stated-operations service is not accepted in this period
All service must be when not on stated operations
Must meet all other GMDSS revalidation requirements If you cannot meet the sea service requirement, you must complete an AMSA approved 4 day GMDSS revalidation course.
Important disclaimer
This information is summary information only.
We make decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014 , Marine Order 71 (Master and deck officers) 2023, Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers) 2014 , Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014 and Marine Order 74 (Masters and deck officers – yachts) 2015 .
Please refer to these marine orders for full details of eligibility and other requirements for certificate applications.