Understanding sea service requirements
The amount and type of sea service you need depends on the certificate you are applying for. This page explains what counts as sea service, how it is assessed, and what evidence you must provide.
Sea service includes time spent on board a ship that is relevant to the certificate or endorsement you are applying for. This may include:
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time served on commercial vessels in a deck or engine‑room capacity
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navigational watchkeeping time on warships (recognised in full for deck certificates)
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service on warships (recognised in full for engineering certificates)
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service on ships operating in restricted limits, where the vessel must be crewed by people holding unlimited certificates.
Time limits
For new certificate applications unless Maritime Rules state otherwise, all approved sea service must be gained within the 10 years immediately before you apply for a certificate.
For renewal certificate applications, submit your recent continued competency as within 5 years from your application date. You may submit experience that is older than 5 years, list this separately and provide it as a separate record for your assessment.
Each certificate has its own sea‑service requirements, which may include:
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minimum length of service (for example, 12 months or 36 months)
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type of vessel (for example, fishing vessels, commercial ships, or vessels of a specific tonnage)
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operating area (for example, restricted limits, coastal, offshore, or unlimited)
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role or capacity (for example, deck crew, engine‑room watchkeeping, or officer in charge of a navigational watch).
When you use the online seafarer‑application form, it will show you the specific sea‑service requirements for the certificate you are applying for.
When you apply for a certificate, you must provide documented evidence of your sea service.
