STCW II/2 MCA Career Advancement Deck — Management Level

Chief Mate CoC

The management-level deck certificate required to serve as Chief Officer (Chief Mate) on merchant vessels, cruise ships, tankers and large yachts worldwide.

Duration 12–16 weeks (full programme)
Issuing body MCA (UK) / national administration
Validity 5 years
WHAT IS THIS COURSE?

Course Overview

The Chief Mate Certificate of Competency (Chief Mate CoC) is a professional maritime qualification issued under STCW Regulation II/2 — the IMO framework that sets minimum standards for masters and chief mates on ships of 500 GT or more. In the UK it is awarded by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) following successful completion of SQA written examinations (Navigation; Stability and Structure) and an MCA Oral Examination. Equivalent certificates are issued by other national administrations, including the Irish Maritime Administration (Marine Survey Office) at NMCI Cork.

The preparation programme typically integrates academic tuition for the SQA written papers with mandated STCW component courses: NAEST(M) (navigation and radar simulator training at management level, IMO Model Course 1.07), HELM(M) (human element, leadership and management at management level, STCW Table A-II/2), ECDIS type-specific or generic training, Advanced Fire Fighting, and Proficiency in Medical Care on Board Ship (STCW Table A-VI/4-2), which must be held before sitting the MCA Oral Examination. Full-time programmes run for approximately 12 to 16 weeks; candidates who already hold NAEST(M) and HELM(M) from separate attendance may attend shorter assessment-preparation periods.

The certificate is a legal requirement under the Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/782) for any officer serving as Chief Mate on a UK-flagged vessel of 500 GT or more. A separate near-coastal or yacht endorsement exists for the under-3,000 GT route (Oral D), which requires only six months' watchkeeping service post-OOW rather than twelve.

Prerequisites

  • Valid OOW Unlimited CoC (STCW II/1) issued by an IMO White List administration
  • Minimum 12 months' watchkeeping service as a deck officer under OOW II/1 (6 months for the <3,000 GT route)
  • Valid ENG1 medical fitness certificate (or accepted equivalent)
  • NAEST(M) — navigation and radar simulator training at management level
  • HELM(M) — human element, leadership and management at management level
  • ECDIS type-specific or generic training (MCA-approved)
  • Advanced Fire Fighting (STCW A-VI/3)
  • Proficiency in Medical First Aid (STCW A-VI/4-1)
  • Proficiency in Medical Care on Board Ship (STCW A-VI/4-2) — required before MCA oral

What You'll Study

  • Advanced navigation and passage planning at management level
  • Ship stability, stowage and cargo operations
  • Bridge resource management and watchkeeping at management level
  • ECDIS — electronic chart display and information systems
  • Marine meteorology and maritime law
  • Shipboard operations management
  • Emergency procedures and crisis management
  • Human element, leadership and management (HELM-M)
  • SQA written exams: Navigation; Stability and Structure
  • MCA Oral Examination B (unlimited) or Oral D (<3,000 GT)
WHERE IT TAKES YOU

Career Progression

The Chief Mate CoC sits at management level in the STCW deck officer career ladder — one step below Master. It is reached after accumulating watchkeeping sea service as an OOW and passing management-level examinations and assessments.

BEFORE
OOW Unlimited CoC (STCW II/1)
Officer of the Watch certificate, typically obtained following a nautical science cadetship (HND, FdSc, BSc) or equivalent. Requires a minimum of 12 months' approved sea service as a deck officer before progressing to Chief Mate.
THIS CERTIFICATE
Chief Mate CoC (STCW II/2)
Certifies the holder to serve as Chief Officer (Chief Mate) on any vessel worldwide — the second in command, head of the deck department, responsible for navigation, cargo, stability and safety management at management level.
NEXT STEP
Master (Unlimited) CoC (STCW II/2)
Additional sea service as Chief Mate or Master on vessels 500 GT or more, plus further SQA written papers (Meteorology; Chart Work; Ship Business) and MCA Oral A, leads to Master (Unlimited) — command of any vessel on any route worldwide.

Roles this certificate qualifies you for

Chief Officer / Chief Mate Chief Officer — Merchant Navy Chief Officer — Cruise Ships Chief Officer — Tankers Chief Officer — Bulk Carriers Chief Officer — Offshore Vessels Chief Officer — Superyachts (>500 GT) Master (<3,000 GT) — with additional requirements
COURSE AT A GLANCE

Key Facts

Duration
12–16 weeks
Typical Cost
~£5,000–£10,000
Issuing Body
MCA (UK)
Certificate Validity
5 years
STCW Regulation
II/2
Min. Sea Service
12 months OOW
Revalidation: The Chief Mate CoC is valid for five years from the date of issue. Revalidation under STCW Regulation I/11 is mandatory before expiry. The most common route is proving at least 12 months' sea service as a master or deck officer on seagoing vessels over 80 GT or 24 m in length within the previous five years. Where that sea service has not been accrued, an approved refresher or updating training route is available. Ancillary safety certificates — including STCW Basic Safety Training, Medical First Aid and Medical Care on Board Ship — carry their own renewal cycles and must also be kept current. The MCA revalidation application is an administrative process; contact revalidation@mcga.gov.uk for current guidance.
WHERE TO STUDY

Schools Offering This Course

National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI)
Ringaskiddy, Ireland
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NMCI Cork delivers MCA-equivalent Chief Mate CoC preparation under the Irish Maritime Administration (Marine Survey Office). Course schedules and current fees are not published publicly — contact NMCI directly at NMCI.Reception@mtu.ie or visit nmci.ie for current availability.

Important: Course dates, availability and prices shown on this page are indicative only and were gathered from providers' public websites. Always confirm current dates, availability and pricing directly with the training provider before making any booking or payment. All bookings are made directly with the provider — YachtSync is not a party to any booking and accepts no responsibility for date changes, cancellations, pricing errors or any other changes made by providers. Course information is for guidance only; verify requirements with the relevant authority (MCA, RYA, STCW) before enrolling.