Intensive tuition to prepare engineer officers for the MCA oral examination required to obtain a Second Engineer Certificate of Competency under STCW Regulation III/2.
The 2nd Engineer Orals Preparation course is an intensive, privately-run tuition programme designed to equip engineer officers with the knowledge and confidence to pass the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) oral examination for the Second Engineer Certificate of Competency (CoC). The course is not itself an MCA-approved qualification — the certificate is awarded by the MCA following a successful oral examination conducted by an MCA-appointed examiner. The oral examination and certificate are governed by the STCW Convention Regulations III/2 (Second Engineer Officer, unlimited) and III/3 (vessels less than 3,000 kW), by MCA Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1857 (M+F), and by Marine Information Note MIN 654 (Amendment 1, November 2024) which sets out the current Engineering and Electro-technical Officer Oral Exam Syllabus.
The oral examination tests management-level engineering competence across a broad syllabus: operation, maintenance and management of marine propulsion and auxiliary machinery; troubleshooting and fault diagnosis; electrical and control systems; ship stability and stress; MARPOL, SOLAS, STCW, ISM and ISPS legislation and flag state requirements; port state control procedures; carriage of dangerous goods; health and safety; and personnel management. Critically, the examination tests whether a candidate is ready to assume the Chief Engineer's responsibilities should that officer become incapacitated during a voyage — a core management-level competency under STCW. Instruction methods typically include formal lectures, structured Q&A sessions, practice oral scenarios with tutors, directed self-study and a mock oral conducted under exam conditions before the real assessment.
Any merchant navy engineer officer progressing from EOOW (Engineer Officer of the Watch, STCW III/1) to Second Engineer rank on a seagoing vessel must pass this MCA oral examination. This applies to all commercial vessel types, including commercially operated superyachts over 500 GT where STCW certification is legally required. The course is not an RYA qualification and is not applicable to small-craft recreational sailing. Delivery formats vary: most UK colleges run two- to three-week classroom programmes; online or blended formats of up to six weeks are also available from some providers.
A Second Engineer CoC (STCW III/2 unlimited) qualifies an officer to serve as Second Engineer Officer on any seagoing merchant vessel regardless of engine power. The certificate is internationally recognised as an STCW CoC, valid on vessels flagged by all STCW signatory states. In the UK, the MCA issues motor-ship and steam-ship endorsements depending on the propulsion written papers taken; a combined endorsement requires six months of watchkeeping experience in each propulsion type. Officers holding the Second Engineer CoC are also required to be capable of assuming the Chief Engineer's responsibilities should that officer become incapacitated — a competence explicitly tested in the oral examination and covered in depth during preparation tuition. The certificate additionally underpins shore-side roles in marine surveying, and superintendent and technical management positions within ship management companies and flag state administrations.
The MCA oral examination fee is charged separately by the MCA and is not included in any provider's course fee. Funding routes for the course include employer sponsorship, government further education loans, and IMarEST scholarships (offering £750 grants to eligible engineers). Confirm current fees and funding eligibility directly with your provider and the MCA before enrolling.