Which STCW certificates do you actually need? It depends on your role, your ship type and your employer. A training matrix is simply a table that matches each role on board to its required training. This guide gives you a simplified STCW training matrix by crew role, so you can check what you hold and what is missing.

This is a general guide. Your employer’s own training matrix, and the requirements of the ship’s flag, always take priority.

Required for Almost Everyone

• STCW Basic Safety Training (A-VI/1): Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid, and Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities. Available as bundles for Liberia, Panama and Belize.
• Security training (A-VI/6): Security Awareness for all crew, or Designated Security Duties for crew with security tasks.
• A valid seafarer medical certificate.

Hotel, Catering and Guest Services Crew

• Basic Safety Training and Security Awareness.
• On passenger ships: Crowd Management (A-V/2-1) for crew who assist passengers in emergencies.
• Supervisors with passenger safety responsibilities: Crisis Management and Human Behaviour (A-V/2-2).
• Galley crew: food safety training and, for ship’s cooks, training under MLC Regulation 3.2.

Deck Ratings

• Basic Safety Training and security training (often Designated Security Duties).
• Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (II/4) or Able Seafarer Deck (II/5), depending on rank.
• Often PSCRB for crew assigned to survival craft.

Engine Ratings

• Basic Safety Training and security training.
• Rating Forming Part of an Engineering Watch (III/4) or Able Seafarer Engine (III/5), depending on rank.
• Electro-technical ratings: STCW III/7.

Officers

• Certificate of competency for their rank, plus flag endorsement where required.
• Typically Advanced Fire Fighting, Medical First Aid (Medical Care for senior roles) and PSCRB.
• Deck officers: GMDSS, ECDIS and leadership and teamwork training as required.
• Ship Security Officer for the officer designated as SSO, such as our Liberia or Panama SSO courses.

Ship-Type Extras

• Ro-ro passenger ships: Passenger Safety, Cargo Safety and Hull Integrity for relevant crew.
• Oil and chemical tankers: Oil and Chemical Tanker Basic for crew with cargo duties; advanced training for those in charge.
• Liquefied gas tankers and gas-fuelled ships: specific STCW Chapter V training.
• Polar waters: Polar Code training for masters and deck officers.

How to Use This Matrix

1. Find your role and ship type.
2. List the certificates you hold, with expiry dates.
3. Compare against the matrix and your employer’s requirements.
4. Confirm accepted flag approvals before booking missing courses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all cruise ship crew need Crowd Management?
It is required for crew assigned to assist passengers in emergencies, and many cruise lines require it for most crew.

Is Security Awareness enough for deck ratings?
Not if they have designated security duties, such as gangway watches. Those crew need Designated Security Duties.

Where can I see my employer’s training matrix?
Ask your crewing office or HR department. Many companies send a joining checklist for each position.

Fill the Gaps With Confidence

Knowing the training matrix for your role helps you buy only what you need and stay ready for your next contract. Browse Marine Pro Academy’s flag-approved STCW courses and bundles.