Revalidation of certificates

You may revalidate officer's certificate of competency for international trade by having completed:

1. at least one year (360 days) of relevant seagoing service in the capacity of officer on board in the preceding five years; or
2. at least 3 months (90 days) of seagoing service in the capacity of officer on board relevant to the certificate to be revalidated in the preceding six months; or
3. at least one year (360 days) of service served in a capacity equivalent to the seagoing service* in the preceding five years; or
4. an approved refresher and updating course in accordance with section A-I/11 of the STCW Code in the five years immediately preceding the submission of the application.

*Traficom assesses whether the service is equivalent to seagoing service based on the employer's testimonial and description of tasks and duties.

The application must include:

• a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
• one passport photograph
• a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate, if applicable
• a copy of employer's testimonial of service equivalent to seagoing service, if applicable
• a copy of completed approved refresher and updating course, if applicable

If the previous certificate included a limitation "Not valid on ships equipped with ECDIS", a copy of an ECDIS course certificate needs to be attached to the application to remove the limitation.

Some certificates of proficiency are valid until further notice, in which case the proficiency is automatically transferred to the revalidated certificate. However, most of the certificates of proficiency must be revalidated every 5 years by completing a refresher training*.

*When revalidating a combined certificate of proficiency, instead of a full basic course, a refresher course can be accepted if that certificate of proficiency has previously been listed in the combined certificate of proficiency. The refresher training must be less than five years old and given by an approved Maritime Education and Training (MET) provider.

The following proficiencies that have been issued on the previous combined certificate of proficiency shall be revalidated by completing the relevant refresher training:

• Basic Training (STCW A-VI/1) requires the revalidating of the following trainings:
  • personal survival techniques (STCW A-VI/1-1)
  • fire prevention and fire-fighting (STCW A-VI/1-2)
• Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats (STCW A-VI/2-1)
• Fast Rescue Boats (STCW A-VI/2-2)
• Advanced Fire Fighting (STCW A-VI/3)
• Medical Care STCW (A-VI/4-2)

The following proficiencies that have been issued on the previous combined certificate of proficiency are valid until further notice, and will be automatically transferred to the revalidated certificate:

• Medical First Aid (VI/4.1)
• Security Awareness (VI/6.1)
• Designated Security Duties (VI/6.4)
• Ship Security Officer (VI/5)

When revalidating Basic Training (VI/1), the relevant trainings may be substituted by completing Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats (STCW A-VI/2-1) and Advanced Fire Fighting (STCW A-VI/3) trainings instead.

The combined certificate of proficiency will include all trainings that are valid at the time of application (completed in the last five years). The revalidated certificate of proficiency will be issued for five years ahead although the trainings may have been completed at different points in time.

Holders of certificates of competency shall be deemed to have retained their standard of competence, provided that:

1. they have completed at least one year of relevant seagoing service in the capacity of officer on board in the five years immediately preceding the submission of the application; or
2. they have completed at least 3 months of seagoing service in the preceding six months in the capacity of officer on board relevant to the certificate to be revalidated; or
3. they have at least one year of relevant service served in a capacity equivalent to the seagoing service in the five years immediately preceding the submission of the application; or
4. they have successfully completed a refresher test or specific training for skippers and officers serving on fishing vessels in the five years immediately preceding the submission of the application.

The application must include:

• a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
• one passport photograph
• a copy of seagoing service or equivalent service certificate or a copy of completed refresher test or specific training for skippers and officers serving on fishing vessels

Holders of certificates of proficiency for tanker personnel issued for 5 year period are considered to have retained their standard of competence provided that:

1. they have completed at least 3 months of seagoing service on tankers relevant for the certificate applied for during the five years immediately preceding the submission of the application; or
2. they have, during the five years immediately preceding the application, completed the training or refresher and updating course required for the certificate applied for.

The application must include:

• a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
• a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate, if applicable
• a copy of completed training or refresher and updating course, if applicable

Holders of certificates of proficiency for IGF Code ship personnel shall provide evidence of having retained their standard of competence every five years. As evidence of retaining their competence, they may submit a certificate of completion of a refresher and updating course or a practical test.

The application must include:

• a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
• a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate, if applicable
• a copy of completed training or refresher and updating course, if applicable

Traficom considers that under the Finnish flag, a certificate of proficiency in advanced training for IGF Code ship operations can be accepted even for duties where the lower-level basic training for IGF Code ship operations is required. Hence, a holder of a certificate of proficiency in Advanced IGF does not necessarily need to renew the lower-level certificate of proficiency in Basic IGF.

Holders of certificates of proficiency for ships operating in polar waters shall be deemed to have retained their standard of competence provided that:

1. they have completed at least 2 months of seagoing service in polar areas in the five years immediately preceding the submission of the application in capacities where this proficiency is required; or
2. they have completed at least 2 months of approved seagoing service substituting for service on ships operating in polar waters in the five years immediately preceding the submission of the application; or
3. they have, during the five years immediately preceding the application, completed the training or refresher and updating course required for the certificate to be revalidated.

The application must include:

• a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
• a copy of seagoing service certificate of service in polar areas or approved seagoing service substituting for service on ships operating in polar waters, if applicable
• a copy of completed training or refresher and updating course, if applicable