Mandatory STCW human-factors training for engineering officers — covering communication, decision-making, leadership, and situational awareness in the engine room team.
Engine Room Resource Management (ERM) is the engineering equivalent of Bridge Resource Management. It addresses the non-technical, human factors skills that underpin safe engine room operations: how teams communicate, assign tasks, maintain situational awareness, and make sound decisions under pressure. The course uses case studies of real machinery-space casualties and simulator exercises to bring these principles to life in context.
The course is grounded in IMO Model Course 7.17 (Engine-Room Resource Management, 2023 edition), developed to help national administrations approve training programmes that meet the competency requirements introduced by the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention. In the UK, these requirements are given domestic force through the Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/782), and the MCA approves providers under its short-course approval regime.
ERM is required at two levels: operational level for Officers in Charge of an Engineering Watch (STCW Regulation III/1, Table A-III/1) and management level for Second Engineer Officers and Chief Engineer Officers (STCW Regulation III/2, Table A-III/2 — "Use leadership and managerial skills"). It is embedded in the training pathway for any engineer officer seeking a UK MCA Certificate of Competency (CoC) at either level, and is also required during management-level CoC revalidation by some flag states and training authorities.
ERM is a core stepping-stone across the full engineering officer career ladder. At operational level it unlocks the EOOW CoC for officers taking charge of an engineering watch on propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more. At management level it is one of the mandatory components for Second Engineer and Chief Engineer CoC applications under STCW III/2 and III/3, making it relevant both to newly qualifying officers and to experienced engineers progressing to command of the engine department. Some providers, including Warsash Maritime, run the course for mixed-rank engine room teams (Chief, First/Second, Second/Third, Third/Fourth Engineer together), so it also works as company-specific team training.
ERM is also offered by a number of other UK and international providers including Warsash Maritime (Solent University) and Glasgow Maritime Academy — contact them directly or search the full directory for current availability.
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