Second Engineer CV
CHIEF. CV · STCW III/2
The second engineer runs the engine room day to day, so the CV is read for hands-on work: which engines, which overhauls, which dry-docks.
The job, and what crewing reads first
The second engineer, called first assistant engineer in some fleets, organises the daily work of the engine room: the planned maintenance, the main engine, the work of the other engineers and ratings, the spare parts on board and the safety of the work. The second engineer takes over from the chief engineer when needed.
Write the overhauls you led: main engine units, turbochargers, fuel pumps and injectors, crankcase inspections, purifiers. Add the dry-docks and the planned maintenance software you used.
Certificate of competency: STCW III/2
Issued as: Second engineer officer, 3,000 kW propulsion power or more.
You hold the certificate of officer in charge of an engineering watch (STCW III/1). For second engineer on ships of 3,000 kW or more, STCW asks for at least 12 months of approved seagoing service as assistant engineer officer or engineer officer, and you pass the management-level exams of your administration.
The next step is chief engineer: 36 months of approved seagoing service, or 24 if 12 of them are as second engineer.
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. |
| Advanced Fire Fighting | VI/3 | For seafarers who control fire-fighting operations: in practice every officer. Refreshed every five years. |
| Medical First Aid | VI/4-1 | For seafarers designated to give first aid on board. Asked for before an officer’s CoC. |
| 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, the company that employed you, sign-on and sign-off dates, and the machinery: main engine make and model, propulsion power in kW, the generators and the electrical power.
For a second engineer, each contract carries the main engine and the generators: makes, models and power, as in the sample.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoC Second Engineer, STCW III/2, unlimited | ••••••• | 02.10.2024 | 01.10.2029 | Valid |
| Flag endorsement | ••••••• | 27.02.2025 | 01.10.2029 | Valid |
Sea time 2/E: 5 months · 3/E: 6 months · Total: 11 months
- Vessel:
- Vessel name
- TEU:
- 14,000
- Flag:
- Liberia
- Built:
- 2015
- M/E:
- make, model
- Power:
- 72,240 kW
- Generators:
- 4 × make, 3,840 kW each
- Vessel:
- Vessel name
- TEU:
- 14,000
- Flag:
- Malta
- Built:
- 2008
- M/E:
- make, model
- Power:
- 36,560 kW
- Generators:
- 4 × make, 2,280 kW each
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
- 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
- ABAble SeamanSTCW II/5 · Able seafarer deck
- 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.