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 STCW Codes: Comparison Chart

The codes for STCW compliant licenses or certificates are broken up in several ways. The easy way to think of them is by sections, departments and levels. The departments would include Deck, Engineering, etc. Generally there are three levels of service: Management (Masters, Chief Mates, and Chief Engineers), Operational (Mates & Assistant Engineers) and Support (Ratings). The following list may seem daunting at first, but if you consider the following "Codes" (which refer to the chapters of STCW) it will make it much easier for you to remember where you and your crew fit in. This information will also be listed on your license, certificate of competency or merchant mariners document.

Your Safe Manning Documents may list the required crew and officers in the form of STCW Codes for the license level they must hold to satisfy Flag State manning regulations. This can be confusing sometimes when you are working with crew from various different countries. We have explained how the STCW Codes work and have given samples of the codes and corresponding license levels for both the USCG and the MCA. When a code is written the department is listed first followed by the level.

 When a code is written the department is listed first followed by the level.

For example: II/2 Deck / Management

Departments: Capacities

II Deck
III Engineering

NOTE: STCW Codes that begin with numbers other than II/ or III/ do not designate the capacity a mariner can serve in. They would generally indicate training that had been accomplished, i.e. certificates that show compliance with VI/1 indicate completion of Basic Safety Training because that is the regulation that is defined by chapter VI of the STCW Code. Please refer to the STCW Code book published by the IMO for complete information or call MPT for assistance.

STCW Levels:

1  Operational
2  Management
3  <500 tons or <3000kw or certain restricted certificates varying by administration
4  Ratings (can be an engineering, deck or general yacht rating)

USCG Licenses & Corresponding STCW CODES
 

MCA CoC & Corresponding STCW CODES

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