A certificate of professional competence, such as a Master's certificate or a repairman's certificate, is called a certificate of competency. Certificates of competency are divided into the following categories: deck officers, engine officers, crew and catering department. Listed below are all certificates of competency issued in Finland.
In addition to Certificates of Competency, there are Certificates of Proficiency that show completion of safety training, such as Basic Training and Security Awareness.
For information about revalidation requirements for Certificates of Competency and Certificates of Proficiency, please see page Revalidation of certificates .
The training required for issuance of Certificates of Competency (CoC) and Certificates of Proficiency (CoP) must be provided by a Maritime Education and Training (MET) provider approved by Finland. Mainly these approved MET providers are located in Finland. On the basis of training conducted not in Finland, a CoC or CoP is sought from the authority who approved that training, usually the maritime authorities of that country.
Deck Officers
Every candidate for certification as master shall:
- have completed Master training (STCW A-II/2)
- hold a deck officer certificate (STCW II/1)
- have completed the following seagoing service on a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more:
- 36 months as deck officer or
- 24 months as deck officer, of which not less than 12 months shall be service as chief officer.
At least 12 months of the seagoing service shall be service on a vessel of 3,000 gross tonnage or more, engaged on international voyages.
A maximum of 6 months of the seagoing service may be completed on a vessel engaged in domestic trade.
A master’s certificate of competency is valid for 5 years.
The application must include
- a copy of the master’s training certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate
- one passport photograph
- a copy of an ECDIS course certificate if available.
Every candidate for certification as chief officer shall:
- have completed Master training (STCW A-II/2)
- hold a deck officer certificate (STCW II/1)
- have completed 12 months of seagoing service as deck officer on vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more.
A maximum of 6 months of the seagoing service may be completed on a vessel engaged in domestic trade.
If the chief officer certificate entitles the holder to serve as master of a vessel of less than 3,000 gross tonnage, the candidate shall have completed the training specified in section AII/2, paragraph 5 of the STCW Code as well as 36 months of approved seagoing service as watchkeeping officer or 24 months as watchkeeping officer, of which 12 months as chief officer, on vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more.
A chief mate’s certificate can give the right to be master of a European or world-wide trade with a gross tonnage of less than 500, if in addition the applicant has 36 months seagoing experience as a mate or 24 months as a mate of which at least 12 months have been as chief mate.
Application can still be made for a restricted chief mate’s certificate of competency (chief mate/master) on the basis of the previous requirements as long as the required seagoing service has been undertaken before January 1, 2017. The requirements can be found in Traficom’s regulation TRAFI/301394/03.04.01.00/2017 (pdf)(External link).
In other cases a chief mate’s certificate give the right to work as master:
- on a vessel in domestic trade with a gross tonnage less than 3,000
- on a vessel in near-coastal voyages with a gross tonnage less than 500.
A chief mate’s certificate of competency is valid for 5 years.
The application must include
- a copy of the master’s training certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate
- one passport photograph
- a copy of an ECDIS course certificate if available.
Every candidate for certification as deck officer shall:
- be at least 18 years of age;
- have completed deck officer training (STCW A-II/1);
- have completed the following seagoing service:
- as part of the training programme for deck officers referred to in paragraph 2, not less than 12 months of supervised onboard training in the deck department on a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more, engaged on international voyages; or
- not less than 36 months in the deck department of a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more, engaged on international voyages.
The seagoing service shall include not less than 6 months of watchkeeping duties on the navigational bridge under the direct supervision of a deck officer.
The supervised onboard training may in part be completed in one or several of the following manners in the deck department, provided that the training is entered in an approved training record book:
- approved simulator training for a period not exceeding 1 month. Six hours of simulator training corresponds to one day of seagoing service;
- training on board a training vessel of at least 15 meters in length for a period not exceeding 2 months;
- training on board a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more in domestic trade for a period not exceeding 1 month;
- training not exceeding 2 months received during military service.
A deck officer’s certificate gives the right to work as master:
- on a passenger vessel with a gross tonnage of less than 300 in domestic trade areas I and II
- on a cargo vessel with a gross tonnage of less than 1,000 in domestic trade.
If a person has a deck officer’s certificate and 12 months’ seagoing service as a deck officer, the person can work as a master:
- on a passenger vessel with a gross tonnage of less than 1,000 in domestic trade.
If a person has a deck officer’s certificate and 36 months’ seagoing service as a deck officer (24 months is sufficient if 12 months has been in service as chief mate), the person can work as a master:
- on a vessel in domestic trade with a gross tonnage less than 3,000.
A deck officer certificate of competency is valid for 5 years.
The application must include
- a copy of a deck officer training certificate (as well as a copy of any possible supervised training undertaken)
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate
- one passport photograph
- a copy of an ECDIS course certificate if available.
Every candidate for certification as master on vessels engaged on near-coastal voyages shall:
- be at least 20 years of age
- have completed master's training (STCW A-II/3)
- have completed not less than 12 months of approved seagoing service as a deck officer on a ship of 30 gross tonnage or more.
Master, near-coastal voyages certificate is valid for 5 years.
The application must include
- a copy of the training certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate
- a copy of an ECDIS course certificate if available.
A master’s certificate for near-coastal voyages gives the right to be master:
- on a vessel with a gross tonnage of less than 500 in the Baltic Sea or near-coastal voyages
NB! Application can still be made for a master’s certificate for near-coastal voyages on the basis of the previous requirements as long as the required seagoing service has been undertaken before 01/01/2017. The requirements can be found in Trafi’s regulation TRAFI/301394/03.04.01.00/2017 (pdf)(External link).
Every candidate for certification as deck officer on vessels engaged on near-coastal voyages shall:
- be at least 18 years of age;
- have completed deck officer or master training (STCW A-II/3)
- have completed the following seagoing service on a vessel of 30 gross tonnage or more:
- as part of the training programme, not less than 8 months of supervised onboard training. The supervised onboard training may in part be approved simulator training for a period not exceeding 1 month. Six hours of simulator training corresponds to one day of seagoing service; or
- not less than 36 months of approved seagoing service in the deck department.
NB! The deck officer’s certificate for near-coastal voyages may also be issued to a seafarer who has applied for it no later than 31 December 2021, and who commenced their seagoing service required for the certificate before 1 June 2020 on a vessel of 30 gross tonnage or less.
Deck officer, near-coastal voyages certificate is valid for 5 years.
The application must include:
- a copy of the training certificate (as well as a copy of any possible supervised training undertaken)
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate
- one passport photograph
- a copy of an ECDIS course certificate if available.
Every candidate for certification as skipper in domestic service shall:
- be at least 18 years of age
- have completed the training required of skippers
- have completed 8 months of seagoing service in the deck department, of which no more than 1 month can be substituted by appropriate simulator training. Six hours of simulator training corresponds to one day of seagoing service. The seagoing service may include not more than 2 months of engineering service.
Skipper’s certificate is valid until further notice.
The application must include
- a copy of an inland skipper’s training certificate
- a copy of seagoing service certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph.
A Skipper’s certificate gives the right to work as master:
- on a cargo vessel with a gross tonnage of less than 500 in domestic trade
- on a passenger vessel with a gross tonnage of less than 300 and which sails in domestic trade areas I and II.
If a person has skipper’s certificate and 12 months’ seafaring service in a deck officer role, the person can work as a master:
- on a passenger vessel with a gross tonnage of less than 300 and which sails in domestic trade area III.
- on a passenger vessel with a gross tonnage of at least 300 but less than 500 in domestic trade.
Skipper's licence is not a certificate of competency, but a licence issued by Traficom in accordance with Act on Transport Services 320/2017 II part chapter 10 section 4 subsection 3 (pdf)(External link), giving the right to work as master of a cargo ship of less than 100 gross tonnage, engaged on domestic voyages in trading areas II and III.
Every candidate for certification as skipper in domestic service shall:
at least 18 years of age
training as an skipper:
a separate training certificate or
training has been completed as part of a Vocational upper secondary qualification in Seafaring (mentioned in the qualification certificate)
4 months (120 days) seagoing service.
The application must include:
- a copy of an inland skipper’s training certificate
- a copy of the seagoing service certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate.
A skipper's licence is valid until further notice.
Every candidate for certification as boatmaster shall:
- be at least 18 years of age;
- have completed the training required of boatmasters; and
- have completed 3 months of seagoing service in the deck or engine department, or 3 months of seagoing service on a pleasure craft or pleasure yacht of more than 10 metres in length and powered by main propulsion machinery of 50 kW propulsion power or more.
Boatmaster’s certificate is valid until further notice.
The application must include
- a copy of a boatmaster’s training certificate
- a copy of the seagoing service certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph.
A boatmaster’s certificate gives the right to work as master:
- on a passenger vessel with a gross tonnage of less than 100 and which sails in domestic trade area I in a specified and restricted area
- on a cargo vessel with a gross tonnage of less than 100 in area I in domestic trade.
Every candidate for certification as skipper (category A) on board fishing vessels shall:
1) be at least 18 years of age;
2) be a qualified fishing vessel skipper; and
3) have completed 12 months of seagoing service as deck officer or skipper of a fishing vessel of not less than 12 metres in length.
The training may be substituted by education and training for watchkeeping officers. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency may approve the substitution of a maximum of 6 months of the seagoing service as a deck officer on a cargo or passenger ship.
Skipper’s certificate (category A) for fishing vessels is valid for 5 years.
The application must include:
- a copy of the approved training undertaken
- a copy of the seagoing service certificate (see instructions)
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph.
A skipper’s certificate (category A) for fishing vessels gives the right to work as master on all fishing vessels in all catch areas.
Every candidate for certification as skipper (category B) on board fishing vessels shall:
- be at least 18 years of age;
- be a qualified fishing vessel skipper; and
- have completed 24 months of seagoing service in the deck department of a fishing vessel of not less than 12 metres in length.
The training may be substituted by education and training for watchkeeping officers. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency may approve the substitution of a maximum of 12 months of the seagoing service by training or supervised onboard training included in the education and training for watchkeeping officers.
Skipper’s certificate (category B) for fishing vessels is valid for 5 years.
The application must include:
- a copy of the approved training undertaken
- a copy of the seagoing service certificate (see instructions)
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph
A fishing vessel skipper certificate B gives the right to work as master on class I and II fishing vessels in all catch areas.
A fishing vessel skipper certificate B gives the right to work as mate on class III fishing vessels in all catch areas.
Every candidate for certification as boatmaster (category A) on board fishing vessels shall:
- be at least 18 years of age;
- be a qualified fishing vessel skipper or a skipper in domestic service; and
- have completed 8 months of seagoing service in the deck department of a fishing, cargo or passenger vessel.
The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency may approve the substitution of a maximum of 4 months of the seagoing service by supervised onboard training.
Boatmaster’s certificate (category A) for fishing vessels is valid until further notice.
The application must include:
- a copy of the approved training undertaken
- a copy of the seagoing service certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph.
A boatmaster’s certificate (category A) for fishing vessels gives the right to work as master on class I and II fishing vessels in all catch areas.
Every candidate for certification as boatmaster (category B) on board fishing vessels shall:
- be at least 18 years of age;
- have completed relevant training:
- a certificate issued by a university of applied sciences or institute providing maritime education and training or by an institute entitled to provide education and training leading to a vocational qualification in fishery, or
- a certificate issued by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency to the effect that the candidate is familiar with*:
- the Rules of the Road at Sea and the Rules of the Road on Inland Waterways, aids to navigation, nautical charts, the compass, how to plot bearings and courses, and how to use the log and the lead line;
- the provisions on ship surveys and on the master’s responsibilities, as applicable, and the basic maritime legislation on social security matters; and
- to a sufficient extent, the construction, maintenance and operation of internal combustion engines, as well as the major provisions concerning them; and
- have completed not less than 12 months of seagoing service in the deck department of a fishing, cargo or passenger vessel.
*The requirements for training may be substituted by boatmaster training.
The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency may approve the substitution of the seagoing service by seagoing service on board other vessels than fishing, cargo or passenger vessels.
Boatmaster’s certificate (category B) for fishing vessels is valid until further notice.
The application must include:
- a copy of a certificate given by a maritime training establishment or by Traficom or a copy of a boatmaster’s training certificate
- a copy of the seagoing service certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph.
A boatmaster’s certificate (category B) for fishing vessels gives the right to work as master on a class I fishing vessel in catch areas I and II.
Engine Officers
Every candidate for certification as chief engineer officer shall:
- hold a watchkeeping engineer’s certificate (STCW III/1);
- have completed chief engineer officers training (STCW A-III/2); and
- have completed seagoing service and practical training:
- 36 months in a capacity requiring as a minimum the competence of watchkeeping engineer, in accordance with the chief engineer officer certificate applied for, either on a motor vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 1,500 kW propulsion power or more or on a steamship with a boiler power figure of 5,000 or more; or
- not less than 24 months of seagoing service in a capacity requiring, as a minimum, the competence of watchkeeping engineer, in accordance with the chief engineer officer certificate applied for; either on a motor vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 1,500 kW propulsion power or more or on a steamship with a boiler power figure of 5,000 or more. At least 12 months of the seagoing service shall be service as second engineer officer.
At least 12 months of the seagoing service shall be service on board a vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW propulsion power or more.
A chief engineer officer certificate for motor vessels may be issued to holders of a chief engineer officer certificate for steamships. The candidate shall have at least 6 months of seagoing service, completed following the seagoing service required for an engineer officer certificate for motor vessels, in engineering officer duties on board a motor vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW propulsion power or more.
A chief engineer officer certificate for steamships may be issued to holders of a chief engineer officer certificate for motor vessels. The candidate shall have completed at least 18 months of engineering service in engineering officer duties on a vessel or in a power plant ashore with a boiler power figure of 5,000 or more. Not more than 12 months of this service may be completed on a vessel or in a power plant ashore with a boiler power figure of 500 or more, of which not more than 6 months on a vessel or in a power plant ashore with a boiler power figure of 100 or more.
Chief engineer's certificate is valid for 5 years.
The application must include
- a copy of a chief engineer’s training certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate.
Every candidate for certification as second engineer officer shall:
- hold a watchkeeping engineer’s certificate;
- have achieved the standard of competence required of chief engineer officers specified in section A III/2 of the STCW Code; and
- have completed not less than 12 months of seagoing service in a capacity where a watchkeeping engineer’s competence or higher is required, in accordance with the certificate applied for, either on board a motor vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW propulsion power or more or on board a steamship with a boiler power of 500 or more.
A second engineer officer certificate for steamships may be issued to a holder of a second engineer officer certificate or higher for motor vessels. The candidate shall have completed at least 12 months of engineering service in engineering officer duties on a vessel or in a power plant ashore with a boiler power figure of 500 or more. Not more than 6 months of this service may be completed on a vessel or in a power plant ashore with a boiler power figure of 100 or more.
A second engineer officer certificate for motor vessels may be issued to a holder of an second engineer officer certificate or higher for steamships. The candidate shall have at least 6 months of seagoing service, completed following seagoing service entitling to a watchkeeping engineer’s certificate for motor vessels, in engineering officer duties on board a motor vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW propulsion power or more.
A second engineer officer certificate is valid for 5 years.
The application must include:
- a copy of a chief engineer’s training certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate.
Every candidate for certification as chief engineer officer shall:
- meet the requirements for being granted an engineer officer certificate for vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of less than 3,000 kW; and
- have completed not less than 12 months of seagoing service as engineer officer in engineering officer duties on a motor vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more.
Chief engineer officer's certificate, vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of less than 3,000 kW propulsion power is valid for 5 years.
The application must include:
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate.
NB! Application can still be made for a chief engineer’s certificate, vessels less than 3,000 kW, on the basis of the previous requirements as long as the required seagoing service has been undertaken before January 1, 2017. The requirements can be found in Trafi’s regulation TRAFI/301394/03.04.01.00/2017 (pdf)(External link).
Every candidate for certification as engineer officer shall:
- hold a watchkeeping engineer’s certificate;
- have completed chief engineer training according to STCW A-III/3; and
- have completed not less than 12 months of seagoing service as an engineer officer in engineering officer duties on a motor vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more.
Engineer officer certificate, vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of less than 3,000 kW propulsion power is valid for 5 years.
The application must include:
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate.
Every candidate for certification as watchkeeping engineer shall:
- be at least 18 years of age;
- have completed watchkeeping engineer training (STCW A-III/1); and
- have completed the following in-service training:
- either, as part of the training, at least 12 months of a combination of training in mechanical workshop skills and approved seagoing service including an approved programme of supervised onboard training on a vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power. Such training shall be documented in an approved training record book in accordance with section A-III/1 of the STCW Code; or
- at least 36 months of seagoing service and training in mechanical workshop skills, including not less than 30 months of seagoing service in the engine department in accordance with the watchkeeping engineer’s certificate applied for, either on a motor vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more, or on a steamship with a boiler power figure of 100 or more;
- during the seagoing service, 6 months of duties relating to engine watchkeeping, closely supervised and monitored by the chief engineer officer or a qualified and certificated engineer officer.
The training required shall include training in mechanical and electrical work at an educational institution or a mechanical workshop that develops the vocational skills required of a watchkeeping engineer. The seagoing service may in part be performed in one or several of the following ways in the engine department, provided that the service is documented in an approved training record book:
- not more than 1 month of approved simulator training. Six hours of simulator training corresponds to one day of seagoing service;
- not more than 2 months of training on a training ship powered by main propulsion machinery of less than 750 kW propulsion power;
- not more than 2 months of training during the military service on a vessel powered by main propulsion power of less than 750 kW propulsion power.
A watchkeeping engineer’s certificate for steamships is issued to a holder of a watchkeeping engineer’s certificate or higher for motor vessels if the candidate has not less than 6 months in total of: 1) engineering service on a steamship; or 2) service as a boiler operator on a motor vessel with a boiler power figure of 100 or more. The service may also be completed in a power plant ashore with a boiler power figure of 100 or more.
A watchkeeping engineer’s certificate for motor vessels may be issued to a holder of a watchkeeping engineer’s certificate or higher for steamships if the candidate has completed not less than 6 months of engineering service on a motor vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more.
A watchkeeping engineer certificate gives the right to work as a chief engineer on a vessel in domestic trade with a propulsion power of less than 750 kilowatts.
If, as well as a watchkeeping engineer certificate, a person has 12 months’ seagoing service, an engineering officer can work as a chief engineer:
- on a vessel in domestic trade with a propulsion power of less than 3,000 kilowatts.
- on a vessel in international trade with a propulsion power of less than 750 kilowatts.
Watchkeeping engineer's certificate is valid for 5 years.
The application must include
- a copy of a watchkeeping engineer training certificate (as well as a copy of any possible supervised training undertaken)
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate.
Every candidate for certification as electro-technical officer shall:
- be at least 18 years of age;
- have achieved the standard of competence required of electro-technical officers specified in section III/6 of the STCW Code; and
- have completed the following in-service training:
- as part of an approved training programme, not less than 12 months of a combination of training in electronic and electrical workshop skills and approved seagoing service, including not less than 6 months of supervised onboard training meeting the requirements specified in section A-III/6 of the STCW Code and documented in an approved training record book; or
- not less than 36 months of a combination of seagoing service and training in electronic and electrical workshop skills, including not less than 30 months of seagoing service in the engine department on a vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more.
The training in electronic and electrical workshop skills above means duties performed at an educational institution or on a workplace relevant to electrical technology and electronics that develop the vocational skills required of an electrotechnical officer.
Not more than 1 month of the approved seagoing service above can be substituted by simulator training, provided that the training is documented in an approved supervised onboard training record book. Six hours of simulator training corresponds to one day of seagoing service.
Electro-technical officer's certificate is valid for 5 years.
The application must include:
- a copy of an electro-technical training certificate (as well as of a certificate from supervised training)
- a copy of an onboard training certificate
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate one passport photograph.
Every candidate for certification as engine attendant for steamships and engine attendant for motor vessels shall:
- be at least 18 years of age;
- have the required training for engine attendants; and
- have completed not less than 8 months of seagoing service in the engine department in accordance with the engine attendant’s certificate applied for, either on a motor vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 75 kW propulsion power or more or on a steamship with a boiler power figure of 7 or more. Not more than 2 months of service in the deck department or in the engine department of a motor vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of less than 75 kW propulsion power or on a steamship may be included in the engineering service. In addition a period not exceeding 1 month can be approved simulator training. Six hours of simulator training corresponds to one day of seagoing service.
Holders of engine attendant’s certificates for motor vessels are required to complete 4 months of engineering service on a steamship or 4 months of service as boiler operator on a motor vessel with a boiler power figure of 7 or more, or 6 months as a boiler operator in a power plant ashore with a boiler power figure of 80 or more, in order to obtain an engine attendant’s certificate for steamships.
Holders of engine attendant’s certificates for steamships are required to complete 4 months of engineering service on a motor vessel in order to obtain an engine attendant’s certificate for motor vessels.
Engine attendant’s certificate is valid until further notice.
An engine attendant's certificate gives the right to work as a chief engineer on a vessel in domestic trade with a propulsion power of less than 750 kilowatts.
If, as well as an engine attendant’s certificate, a person has 12 months’ seagoing service in an engineering officer’s role, they can work as a chief engineer on a vessel in Baltic Sea with a propulsion power of less than 750 kilowatts.
The application must include:
- a copy of the engine operator’s training certificate
- a copy of the seagoing service certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph.
Crew
Certificates of competency for crew are valid until further notice.
Every candidate for certification as watchkeeping rating deck shall:
- be at least 16 years of age
- have completed training for watchkeeping ratings of the deck department (STCW A-II/4), including at least 2 months of supervised onboard training in the deck department of a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more, engaged on international voyages. The supervised onboard training shall relate to watchkeeping and other duties performed under the supervision and monitoring of a deck officer or a qualified rating. The supervised onboard training may be performed on a training vessel of less than 500 gross tonnage.
The supervised onboard training can be substituted by at least 6 months of seagoing service in the deck department of a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more, engaged on international voyages.
The application must include
- a copy of a deck watchkeeping rating’s training certificate which shows the supervised training undertaken
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- a passport photograph.
Every candidate for certification as watchkeeping rating engine shall:
- be at least 16 years of age
- have completed training for watchkeeping ratings of the engine department (STCW A-III/4), including at least 2 months of supervised onboard training in the engine department of a vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more. The supervised onboard training shall relate to engineering watch and other duties performed under the supervision and monitoring of an engineer officer or a qualified rating. The supervised onboard training may be completed on a training ship powered by main propulsion machinery of 350 to 750 kW propulsion power.
The supervised onboard training can be substituted by at least 6 months of seagoing service in the engine department of a vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more.
The application must include
- a copy of an engine watchkeeping rating’s training certificate which shows the supervised training undertaken
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph.
Every candidate for certification as able seafarer shall:
- be at least 18 years of age
- have met the requirements for certification as watchkeeping rating or watchkeeping rating deck (training and at least 2 months of seagoing service in the deck department).
- have completed able seafarer, deck training (STCW A-II/5)
- have completed additional 12 months of seagoing service in the deck department of a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more.
The application must include
- a copy of an able seafarer training certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate
- one passport photograph.
Every candidate for certification as motorman shall:
- be at least 18 years of age
- have met the requirements for certification as watchkeeping rating or watchkeeping rating engine (training and at least 2 months of seagoing service in the engine department).
- have completed able seafarer, engine training (STCW A-III/5)
- have completed additional 6 months of seagoing service in the engine department of a vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more.
The application must include:
- a copy of able seafarer, engine training certificate or competence-based qualification
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- A copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate
- one passport photograph.
Every candidate for certification as boatswain shall:
- hold an able seafarer, deck’s certificate (STCW II/5); or have completed the training required of able seafarers, deck (STCW A-II/5) or have a competency-based qualification; and
- have additional 18 months of seagoing service, completed after the service entitling to the able seafarer’s certificate, in the deck department on a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more.
The application must include:
- a copy of an able seafarer, deck training certificate or competence-based qualification or able seafarer, deck’s certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate
- one passport photograph.
Every candidate for certification as repairman shall:
- hold an able seafarer, engine’s certificate (STCW III/5); or have completed the training required of able seafarer, engine (STCW A-III/5), or have a competency-based qualification; and
- have additional 18 months of seagoing service, completed after the service entitling to the able seafarer, engine's certificate, in the engine department on a vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 350 kW propulsion power or more.
The application must include:
- a copy of able seafarer, engine's training certificate or competence-based qualification or able seafarer, engine’s certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate
- one passport photograph.
Every candidate for certification as electro-technical rating shall:
- be at least 18 years of age;
- have completed the training required of electro-technical ratings (STCW A-III/7); and
- have completed 3 months of approved seagoing service on a vessel powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more.
The application must include:
- a copy of an electro-technical rating’s training certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate
- one passport photograph.
Various combinations of certificates of competency for crew can be made if the requirements for obtaining both certificates of competency are fulfilled.
Watchkeeping rating, deck/engine
- Watchkeeping rating, deck - Watchkeeping rating, engine (STCW II/4 & III/4)
Able seafarer, deck
- Able seafarer, deck - Watchkeeping rating, engine (STCW II/5 & III/4)
Able seafarer, engine
- Able seafarer, engine - Watchkeeping rating, deck (STCW III/5 & II/4)
Able seafarer, deck / Able seafarer, engine
- Able seafarer, deck - Able seafarer, engine (STCW II/5 & III/5)
Repairman
- Repairman - Watchkeeping rating, deck (STCW III/5 & II/4)
- Repairman - Able seafarer, deck (STCW III/5 & II/5)
Boatswain
- Boatswain - Watchkeeping rating, engine (STCW II/5 & III/4)
- Boatswain - Able seafarer, engine (STCW II/5 & III/5)
In the application form for a certificate of competency and in My e-services, dual purpose certificates of competency other than the watchkeeping rating, deck/engine certificate of competency and the Able seafarer, deck / Able seafarer, engine certificate of competency are not shown, but the names of the certificates of competency given above can be seen.
Catering department
Certificates of competency for the catering department are valid until further notice.
Every candidate for certification as chief steward shall have completed the training* required of chief stewards and have not less than 24 months of experience in a professional kitchen, including not less than 12 months of seagoing service as cook.
* If the training is undertaken other than in a maritime training establishment, a separate statement written by a maritime training establishment must be supplied confirming that the training corresponds to training that gives entitlement to a certificate of competency. Traficom does not have the authority to accept training other than from maritime training establishments and only an approved maritime training establishment can provide the basic training that gives entitlement to a certificate of competency.
The application must include:
- a copy of a Chief Steward’s training certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- a copy of a certificate of employment if there is employment other than service at sea
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate
- one passport photograph.
Every candidate for certification as cook steward shall:
- be at least 18 years of age and
- have completed the relevant training*:
- training required of chief stewards, or
- training required of ship’s cooks and not less than 12 months of seagoing service as cook.
* If the training is undertaken other than in a maritime training establishment, a separate statement written by a maritime training establishment must be supplied confirming that the training corresponds to training that gives entitlement to a certificate of competency. Traficom does not have the authority to accept training other than from maritime training establishments and only an approved maritime training establishment can provide the basic training that gives entitlement to a certificate of competency.
The application must include:
- a copy of a Chief Steward’s training certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- a copy of any foreign seagoing service certificate
- one passport photograph.
Every candidate for certification as ship’s cook shall be at least 18 years of age and have completed the training* required of ship’s cooks.
* If the training is undertaken other than in a maritime training establishment, a separate statement written by a maritime training establishment must be supplied confirming that the training corresponds to training that gives entitlement to a certificate of competency. Traficom does not have the authority to accept training other than from maritime training establishments and only an approved maritime training establishment can provide the basic training that gives entitlement to a certificate of competency.
The application must include:
- a copy of a ship’s cook’s training certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph.
Every candidate for certification as catering assistant shall be at least 17 years of age and have completed the training* required of catering assistants.
* If the training is undertaken other than in a maritime training establishment, a separate statement written by a maritime training establishment must be supplied confirming that the training corresponds to training that gives entitlement to a certificate of competency. Traficom does not have the authority to accept training other than from maritime training establishments and only an approved maritime training establishment can provide the basic training that gives entitlement to a certificate of competency.
The application must include:
- a copy of a catering assistant’s training certificate
- a copy of a valid seafarer’s medical certificate
- one passport photograph.
Services:
INQUIRIES
E-mail
merimiesyksikko (at) traficom.fi
Telephone service
+358 29 534 5133
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9-11