Able Seaman CV
CHIEF. CV · STCW II/5
An AB’s CV is read for deck work: mooring, cargo, maintenance, and the ship types where you did it.
The job, and what crewing reads first
The able seaman keeps lookout and steers on the bridge watch, works the mooring stations, keeps the deck in order and helps with cargo: hatches and lashings, hoses and manifolds, gangway and access watches in port. Maintenance takes most of the day: chipping and painting, greasing, rigging and wire work.
Write the ship types and the deck skills a bosun or chief officer will ask about: mooring winches, crane or derrick work, welding, enclosed space entry, working aloft and over the side. If you also have tanker training, put it with the certificates: it widens the ships you can join.
Certificate of proficiency: STCW II/5
Issued as: Able seafarer deck.
You first qualify as a rating forming part of a navigational watch (STCW II/4): an age of at least 16 and approved seagoing service with at least six months of training and experience, or special training including at least two months of approved seagoing service.
For able seafarer deck (STCW II/5) you then serve in the deck department for at least 18 months, or at least 12 months with approved training, and you are at least 18 years old.
Certificates to list
The STCW certificates this rank is asked for. List each with its number, issue date, expiry date and the country that issued it.
| Certificate | STCW | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Safety Training | VI/1 | Personal survival, fire prevention and fire fighting, elementary first aid, personal safety and social responsibilities. Every seafarer; the survival and fire parts are refreshed every five years. |
| Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSCRB) | VI/2-1 | Asked for by administrations before an officer’s CoC and by most companies for anyone in charge of a lifeboat. Refreshed every five years. |
| Security Awareness or Designated Security Duties | VI/6 | Every seafarer has security awareness training. Anyone with security duties in the ship security plan needs the designated security duties certificate. |
| Medical fitness certificate | I/9 | Valid for two years at most, one year under the age of 18. Name the type, for example ENG1, and the issuing country. |
Depending on the ship
Ship types add their own training. List what you hold even when the next ship does not need it: it widens the ships you can join.
| Ships | STCW | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Oil, chemical and liquefied gas tankers | V/1-1, V/1-2 | Basic training for everyone with cargo duties; advanced training for the master, chief engineer, chief mate, second engineer and anyone directly responsible for the cargo. |
| Passenger ships | V/2 | Crowd management, crisis management and human behaviour, passenger safety, cargo safety and hull integrity on ro-ro passenger ships, by duty on board. |
| Ships using gas or low-flashpoint fuel (IGF Code) | V/3 | Basic training for everyone with duties on the fuel; advanced for the master, engineer officers and anyone directly responsible for the fuel. |
| Ships in polar waters | V/4 | Basic training for officers of the watch; advanced training for the master and chief mate. |
Add your passport, seaman’s book and visas with their numbers and expiry dates. Crewing checks that each one is valid for the whole contract.
Sea service: what to write
For each contract: rank, vessel name and IMO number, vessel type, flag, gross tonnage or deadweight, year built, the company that employed you (manager or owner), sign-on and sign-off dates, and the trading area.
For an AB, write the vessel type and size on each line: the deck work on a VLCC and on a feeder container ship is not the same.
Sample CV
The layout of the CV that CHIEF. exports to PDF and Word. CVs go to crewing companies in English. Numbers, names and contacts are placeholders.
| Type | Number | Issued | Expires | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoP Able Seafarer Deck, STCW II/5 | ••••••• | 17.04.2023 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| CoP Rating NW, STCW II/4 | ••••••• | 02.09.2021 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Sea time AB: 13 months · Total: 13 months
- Vessel:
- Vessel name
- DWT:
- 115,000
- Flag:
- Liberia
- Built:
- 2017
- Vessel:
- Vessel name
- TEU:
- 1,700
- Flag:
- Portugal
- Built:
- 2009
Other ranks
- MasterMasterSTCW II/2 · Master, ships of 500 GT or more
- C/OChief OfficerSTCW II/2 · Chief mate, ships of 500 GT or more
- 2/OSecond OfficerSTCW II/1 · Officer in charge of a navigational watch, ships of 500 GT or more
- 3/OThird OfficerSTCW II/1 · Officer in charge of a navigational watch, ships of 500 GT or more
- C/EChief EngineerSTCW III/2 · Chief engineer officer, 3,000 kW propulsion power or more
- 2/ESecond EngineerSTCW III/2 · Second engineer officer, 3,000 kW propulsion power or more
- 3/EThird EngineerSTCW III/1 · Officer in charge of an engineering watch, 750 kW or more
- ETOElectro-Technical OfficerSTCW III/6 · Electro-technical officer, 750 kW or more
- OilerOilerSTCW III/4 · Rating forming part of an engineering watch
Sources
These are the STCW minimums. The administration that issues your certificate decides, and it can ask for more: check its current rules.