Second Officer CV
CHIEF. CV · STCW II/1
A second officer is the navigation officer, so the CV is read for bridge equipment: which ECDIS, which radars and which voyage planning you did.
The job, and what crewing reads first
The second officer keeps a navigational watch, usually the 12 to 4, and is the navigation officer: passage plans from berth to berth, charts and publications kept up to date, electronic chart updates, and the bridge equipment working. On many ships the second officer also looks after the medical stores and the GMDSS log.
Write the makes and models of ECDIS you hold type-specific familiarisation for: companies need it before you take a watch on that system. Add the trading areas you planned for: high-traffic straits, ice, ECAs, piracy areas.
Certificate of competency: STCW II/1
Issued as: Officer in charge of a navigational watch, ships of 500 GT or more.
STCW II/1 asks for an age of at least 18 and at least 12 months of approved seagoing service as part of an approved training programme documented in a training record book, or otherwise at least 36 months of approved seagoing service. At least six months of it are bridge watchkeeping under the supervision of the master or a qualified officer.
Second and third officers hold the same certificate. The difference is experience and the duties the company gives you; the next certificate is chief mate, after 12 months as an officer of the watch.
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. |
| GMDSS General Operator’s Certificate (GOC) | IV/2 | Radio duties on ships in the GMDSS. Most flags issue their own endorsement of it as well; list both. |
| 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.
Put the ECDIS makes and models in the summary at the top of the CV, and the type-specific familiarisation certificates in the certificate list.
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 OICNW, STCW II/1, unlimited | ••••••• | 30.03.2022 | 29.03.2027 | Valid |
| Flag endorsement | ••••••• | 12.05.2025 | 29.03.2027 | Valid |
| GMDSS GOC | ••••••• | 30.03.2022 | 29.03.2027 | Valid |
Sea time 2/O: 5 months · 3/O: 5 months · Total: 11 months
- Vessel:
- Vessel name
- TEU:
- 8,500
- Flag:
- Liberia
- Built:
- 2018
- Vessel:
- Vessel name
- TEU:
- 4,250
- Flag:
- Singapore
- Built:
- 2011
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
- 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
- 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.